Postcards from Seremban
Seremban was once known as Sungai Ujung, one of the founding territories of Negeri Sembilan. It is now the state capital located about 30-mins drive from KLIA and 45-mins drive south from Kuala Lumpur via the North-South Expressway.
These pictures you see here were taken last weekend, so it's probably the most up-to-date view you can get of Seremban on the Net!
I hope you enjoy them as well as the short commentary that follows. This is really for all you guys and gals out there who need a break from all the depressing news we have been getting in the local front lately.
This building above is the first you will see upon entering the Taman Seni Budaya or State Cultural Complex, located near the main exit from the North-South Expressway to Seremban town centre. I think it is the administrative building.
Not to confuse newcomers to Seremban, the angle for this shot was taken from inside looking out onto the road leading into the complex.
The buildings within this state cultural complex stand out for the Minangkabau architectural styles, brought centuries ago by migrants from Sumatra across the Straits of Malacca. Minangkabau influence in Negeri Sembilan is reflected in the upswept roofs shaped like Buffalo horns found on traditional houses and modern state buildings, the hot and spicy traditional food and the thick Minang dialect.
The above building is the handicraft centre located opposite the Teratak Perpatih.
This main building is called the Teratak Perpatih. It stands next to the administrative building. It was initially built for a Quran Recital Competition and is now the State Museum displaying the historical roots and matrilineal traditions of Negeri Sembilan including artifacts, ancient tools, craft collections as well as traditional costumes and jewellery.
Descendents of the Minangkabau still practise Adat Perpatih, a unique matrilineal social system in which females head the household and inherit property, unlike the patrilineal Adat Temenggong in other states.
The picture below is an inside view of the Teratak Perpatih taken from the bottom of the staircase leading to the upper floor of the building.
Next is the Istana Ampang Tinggi, a royal palace originally built in 1865 in Kampung Ampang Tinggi. Made entirely out of wood, with fine wall carvings and a pair of heavy sliding doors, the palace was rebuilt here and remains sturdy to this day.
It houses historical artifacts such as weapons, brassware and silverware and a fableau portraying a grand royal wedding.
This picture below is a replica of an actual Minangkabau traditional house, called the Rumah Minang or Rumah Negeri Sembilan.
Stone megaliths from Port Kempas.
A view of Seremban Lake Gardens, above and below.
This park is located in the heart of Seremban town. It is ringed by the Istana Hinggap, the city palace of the State's Ruler, the State Mosque, the State Library and the State Assembly Building.
There used to be a Bird Park here but somehow, it was torn down during the massive rebuilding and landscaping exercise that was carried out a few years ago. I wonder why ... even the ducks that used to glide in the lake are gone. (Bird flu??)
This is the main street (Jalan Dato' Bandar Tunggal) in Seremban town. As you can see, there is nothing much to see here.
This is how sleepy it looks on a Sunday late afternoon.
Quote of the day:-
"Do you know that you would have to apply for at least 36 types of licences to build a single hotel (in Negeri Sembilan) ? Have less red tape, less bureaucracy... and they (investors in the tourism industry) will come."
This revelation came courtesy of Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who is set to welcome tourists to Negeri Sembilan in an effort to boost revenue as a measure against the recent decline in foreign direct investment (FDI).
It will be interesting to see how the Yang Berhormat MB plan to shake Seremban out of its giant slumber.
Related websites on tourism in Negeri Sembilan:
http://www.tourismnegerisembilan.com here
http://www.virtualmalaysia.com/map/negerisembilan.cfm here
http://www.tripadvisor.com here on Negeri Sembilan hotels and traveler's forum
http://www.2malaysia.com/negeri_sembilan here
posted by Arena Green at 6:53 pm
7 Comments:
How is it that I am not reading those articles earlier. It seemed you have the last article on 16th Feb and suddenly flashes so many today?
Is it that your site was down or that I could not access?
hi,
nice entry..at least this could be an escapade from all those hustle last week.. :-D
Mave: I think the problem is probably on your side - I've got some comment postings earlier so it seems like my site is OK. Btw, glad to know that you enjoy the posts. Makes me happy too :)
Traveler: I'm trying to compete with u in this photo-blog contest, hehe. Glad u like this too after the aerial shots.
sure..can compete one..
i really appreciate any form of art..take more photo, we can learn from each other
Whoa, great fotos. The last i was in Seremban was so, so so long ago.
Are you from Seremban? Can i get a guided tour when i am next there? Thanks in anticipation!
Hello Lone! Thanks for visiting and am happy that you enjoy this entry too.
Seremban is where I spent my happy childhood years and although the main town centre has remained pretty much the same for the past 20 years, there's been a lot going on outside of it.
A new township called Seremban 2 has sprung up which is located about 5 km from the KL-Seremban toll plaza. That is where the new administrative centre is centralised, eg the police station, fire dept, courts, sports complex, & others are now, .. ala Putrajaya on a very much smaller scale.
And Seremban's latest shopping centre Jusco is also located in S2. The only commercial link missing is the banks which have so far not taken the initiative to move their businesses here.
So, much of the action has shifted away from the old town centre, contributing to the almost desolate streets on weekends.
Did you notice the almost total absence of human subject in my photos? Except for the lone motorcylist in one of the photos of the main street, it looks like Seremban is totally devoid of inhabitants to the general observer. Eerie, isn't it? Like a scene from Twilight Zone...
The truth is that it's not at all what it appears to be. I managed to capture that shot because it happened that the traffic light was on the red!
Well, if you should want to drop by Seremban someday soon, do let me know by e-mail at arenagreen1@gmail.com. You might be interested to know where you can find the best (& famous) hakka noodles, beef noodles, banana leaf restaurant, Seremban siew-pau, wantan mee, fried crabs, ...
I don't profess to know Seremban too well to give a guided tour though. Probably someone from Seremban reading this will roll on the floor laughing at the thought of "touring" Seremban, hehehe, like I said, there's not much to see from a local's point of view.
But it's a great place to be, if you like to live a quiet and unhurried life.
Cheers!
Thank you for sharing
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