The Ramadan Month and Its Delights

Ramadan falls on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The lunar calendar is being used by Islam where the sighting of the new moon marks the beginning of each month. Due to the lunar calendar being eleven days shorter than the solar calendar, Islamic holidays "change"  each year. This year, 2012, Ramadan began last month at the sundown on July 19th.

Ramadan is the month where Muslims around the world pray, fast and do charity. Fasting in the Ramadan month means that Muslims do not consume or drink anything including water while the sun is still up. Besides fasting, Muslims are also encouraged to give alms and donations to the poor.

It is the usual practice for Muslim families to get up early for Sahur, a meal taken before the sun rises. After the sun sets, the fast is broken with a meal known as Buka Puasa or breaking of fast. Buka Puasa usually begins with dates and sweet drinks that provide a quick energy boost.

Fasting is one of the five duties of Islam. As with other Islamic duties, all able Muslims take part in the puasa starting from the age of twelve.

Here in Malaysia, restaurants owned by Muslims are closed until at about 3pm, the time when Ramadan bazaar begins. Muslim civil government workers are also allowed to leave their office early, this privilege given only to the female workers, so that they can prepare the 'breaking fast' meals.

The Pasar Ramadan or Ramadan Bazaar are not the same as the night and Sunday markets as the Ramadan Bazaars sell mostly food and drinks for the breaking of fast.

Ramadan ends on the first of Shawal which is less than two weeks from the date of this posting. When the new moon is sighted, Muslims all over the world celebrate Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. In Sabah and Malaysia, it is known as Hari Raya Puasa.

The food sellers, who are given short-term license at allotted spaces by the local authority, usually conduct their businesses at wooden stalls or just using a foldable table and under canopies or huge umbrellas.

Normally, Ramadan stalls are open for business as early as 3.00pm and by late evening the bazaar would be packed with people of all races, Muslims and non-Muslims, all busy looking and buying their favourite foods. It is a once-a-year delicacies and favourite food event not to be missed.

Ramadan Bazaar at Lembah Impian, Penampang

Ramadan Bazaar at open-space near Servay Putatan

Ramadan Bazaar at open-space behind Standard Supermarket, Putatan

Ramadan Bazaar at Sembulan

For the food sellers, some of them being part-timers, it is a time when they can generate extra income for their families which they can use to buy necessities and luxuries to celebrate the Hari Raya Puasa.

From afar you can already smell the inviting aroma of the grilled fish or ikan bakar and the roast chicken or ayam panggang. Some of the dishes, local cakes, cookies and snacks are those that are not easily found in one place during normal days. This is also one of the reasons why Ramadan Bazaar is very popular.

From dates or kurma, you can also find your favorite food, like nasi kerabu, nasi dagang, nasi beriyani or traditional cakes, like kosui, popiah, pulut udang, wajik, kuih lapis, lepat pisang and popular drinks, like cendol, abc, coconut, sugar-cane and cincau.

You can find dishes of ayam and ikan percik, the evergreen Malay dishes like gulai masak pedas, rendang, ikan kari, ikan patin and many other favorite dishes.

There will also be the always-popular light food and snacks like roti jawa, murtabak, noodles dishes like mee kari, mee bandung, mee goreng, rojak and laksa.

For the fast-breakers, food will certainly look extra-delicious after a full day of fasting, and in fact they indeed are!!! And for the non-fast-breakers, it's a time for food celebration!!!

When the Ramadan is nearing its end, you will see more food and other essentials for Hari Raya Puasa being sold, like the ketupat, lemang and rendang.

You can find Ramadan Bazaars wherever there are big population or residents in an area, and they are usually located in open-area spaces (or parking lots) in the middle of towns, residential estates and villages.

Ramadan month is a time of unique events and attractions in Sabah and the whole of Malaysia. Tourists or travelers who visit Kota kinabalu or other parts of Sabah during the Ramadan month will definitely cannot afford to avoid it as it is one of the main highlights in our annual calendar event.


All pictures are copyrighted @kotakinabalutourism.com

Kota Kinabalu's Unduk Ngadau 2012 (Part 3)

Miss Fenney Doimis is crowned as Kota Kinabalu Unduk Ngadau 2012! 

She bagged the RM4,000 cash prize, a winning trophy, RM3,000 worth of jewelery from Diamoney and other goodies from the organisers. She earned the right to represent the city at the State-level Unduk Ngadau contest to be held at the Hongkod Koisaan on May 31.

Charlyn Christopher Sherman, 18, was declared the first runner-up and besides claiming the RM3,000 cash prize, a trophy, jewelery from Diamoney worth RM2,000 and goodies, she will represent Likas at the State-level contest.

Meanwhile, 25-year-old Vanessa Samantha Manih was the second runner-up and with it the right to represent Tanjung Aru at the State-level contest in addition to winning the RM2,000 cash prize, a trophy, RM1,500 worth of jewelery from Diamoney and goodies.

Fourth and fifth places were won by 22-year-old Jun Mitchelle Maisi and Frederica Fabian Peter and each received RM800 and RM500 cash prizes respectively with goodies from the organisers.

After receiving the most bouquets and flowers from the audience, Fiona Anthony Lijua was awarded the subsidiary title of Miss Popular, while Debra Maclene Sylvester was declared Miss Digi.

Presentation of prizes to the winners

 

Datuk and Datin Mayor presenting prizes to the winners

 

KK Unduk Ngadau 2011 passing on the crown to her successor

 

Miss Unduk Ngadau makes her family proud

 

Miss Fenney Doimis is KK's Unduk Ngadau 2012

  

KK Unduk Ngadau Winners

All Pictures Copyright @kotakinabalutourism.com

Kota Kinabalu's Unduk Ngadau 2012 (Part 2)

Unduk Ngadau owes its origin from the part of the KadazanDusun genesis story which pertains to the sacrifice of Huminodun, Kinoingan's only daughter. The Unduk Ngadau which derives its name from Tunduk do Tadau which means "Zenith of the Sun" crowned in the 'afternoon' completed the meaning of the Kaamatan (Harvest) Festival as the Unduk Ngadau is indeed the Tunduk which can grow and be the new shoot.

To this day, the KadazanDusun people have included the Unduk Ngadau Pageant as a grand part of their Kaamatan Festivals. It is a manifestation to the deep sense of respect and admiration that the KadazanDusun people have for the legendary Huminodun.

Here is the Part 2...the next 7 KK Unduk Ngadau Finalists.

Contestant No. 15 - Colleen Ineme Bernard

 

Contestant No. 14 - Jun Mitchelle Maisi

 

Contestant No. 13 - Fenney Doimis

 

Contestant No. 12 - Rounnah Beb Robert Sylvester

Contestant No. 11 - Vanessa Samantha Manih

Contestant No. 10 - Fiona Anthony Lijua

  

Contestant No. 9 - Frederica Fabian Peter

All Pictures Copyright @kotakinabalutourism.com

Kota Kinabalu's Unduk Ngadau 2012 (Part 1)

The KadazanDusunMurut (KDM) Kaamatan festival (also called Harvest Festival) is perhaps the most indigenous and grandest festival in Sabah. Merry celebrations are held at all levels commencing from the kampong (village), then the district and climaxing at the state level.

To the KDM, the Kaamatan festival is particularly significant as it marks the occasion to thank God for their bountiful harvest and for His generosity in prolonging life on  earth. It is also an occasion where the promise of friendship and brotherhood is renewed through mutual forgiveness as manifested in the open-to-all sharing-caring Kaamatan festival.

In every Kaamatan festival, the Unduk Ngadau (beauty queen)  Contest assumes the highlight of the day's occasion. To the KDM, it is the culmination of all the activities undertaken as symbolic response to Kinoingan's ever-bounding love for his people.

The Unduk Ngadau Contest for the City of Kota Kinabalu this year, 2012, was held on the 18 of May  at the City Hall and 15 beautiful contestants (all finalists) had participated in the contest.

The Unduk Ngadau was commenced with a brief speech
by  Datuk Abidin Madingkir, Kota Kinabalu's Mayor

Let's take a look at  the contestants for KK Unduk Ngadau...

Contestant No. 8 - Anjelica Gantasim

 

Contestant No. 7 - Charlyn Sylvester Sherman

 

Contestant No. 6 - Debra Maclene Sylvester

 

Contestant No. 5 - Natasha Aprillia

 

Contestant No. 4 - Samantha Natasha Miles

 

Contestant No. 3 - Cassandra Devi

 

Contestant No. 2 - Vera Ginsu

Contestant No. 1 - Petronas Pitoro

All the 15 KK's beautiful Unduk Ngadau contestants...Round 1

To be continued...


All Pictures Copyright @kotakinabalutourism.com

Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival (KKIFF) 2012

Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival (KKIFF) is an annual event in KK and this year, 2012, is its 4th year. KKIFF states that this year it will be organizing an even more exciting and memorable event. The event, to be held from 08 to 14 June, will provide to the people of Kota Kinabalu exciting opportunities and be able to enjoy various international and local movies while increasing their knowledge on film-making.

Firstly, it will be showing several foreign films from countries such as France, Japan, Germany and the Philippines. Secondly, a filmmakers’ competition called ‘Links5’ (which it has already announced and will end on May 9) in which 3 cash prizes totaling RM8,000 will be presented to the winners. This competition is opened to Malaysians who live in Malaysia. A workshop for the ‘Links5’ Filmmakers’ Competition will be held at which reviews and comments will be made for chosen entries.

This year the Sabah Film Forum, held over the weekend of 09 and 10 June will present four workshops: ‘Story-telling’, ‘The Work of the Producer’, ‘What a Cinematographer’s Work Involves’ and ‘How to Write Proposals to Get Funding for Your Movie’. The workshop front runners will come from KL and beyond -  famous people in the film industry. There are no fees charged and anyone who is interested in film-making can attend these workshops.

Also for the first time, KKIFF 2012 welcomes short film submissions from Malaysian movie makers and selected submissions will be shown for free on 10 June from 7.30pm-9.30pm. There will be Questions and Answers session after the screening of each film so that people at these workshops will have a better understanding of what each director is trying to express through his work.

The video above is one of the short films submitted for the 'Links5' competition. The film "Treasure" is directed by Dulie Hamdan and acted by Artorbelly Evali, Robinson Ken, Jeremy Alsten and Nathasius Julian.

Trade Fair Scheme Unveiled to Promote Responsibility In Tourism Related Business

On January 12, 2012, Kota Kinabalu City Hall unveiled its 'Fair Trade Tourism Select- An Accredited Outlet' programme to give recognition to tourism related small business premises which put into practice aspects of accountability and fairness in their business.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun who launched the programme said, "This implies that business premises picked in this programme have been evaluated by City Hall to satisfy all of the terms and conditions to help them to be recognized as reliable businesses."

"The Ministry is thrilled with this programme as it will increase benefit to the existing services and products provided to tourists."

According to the minister, every single outlet that is certified will obtain a certificate which will then be shown on the outside of the business premises.

The purpose of exhibiting this certificate is to assure tourists and shoppers that they will be receiving a great service and a fair selling price as the certification is a promise that the premises will not charge them an irrational price."

The launching of the program was made at Kadaiku, located at Sinsuran, a handicraft and souvenir business outlet run by Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd because it is the very first recognized tourism related business outlet under the Programme.

According to Masidi, the main reason the programme was launched was because these business outlets provide the first line of  reaction for tourism in Sabah.

"They reveal what Sabah is all about to international visitors. If we are fair and deal with them well and we don't 'cut' them with excessive profits then certainly they will keep returning to Sabah to purchase things."

He said it is a strategy whereby a business will continue to make profit by asking for a fair sum to all the customers.

"This programme has been applied in Hong Kong and it's one of the boosting factors for the tourism sector in Hong Kong.

Masidi also proposed that once an outlet is accredited under the program and after it has been in operation for a year without any issues then it will be awarded with a two year certification.

Kota Kinabalu Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir added that the outlets under the programme will be supervised by City Hall to make sure they follow the conditions of the certification.

Datuk Nancy Ho, who is one of City Hall's Advisory Board member and Tourism, Culture and International Communications Committee Chairwoman who said the launching of the certification was the first held in Sabah, hoped the business would function as a very good role model as a primary shop for the State.

"We hope to see more participation,  like 50 more outlets in Sabah doing business in tourism related products by the end of this year," she said.

Application forms are readily available for download for the serious businesses at City Hall's and the Ministry of Tourism Culture and Environment websites.

The event was also attended by Ministry Permanent Secretary Datuk Michael Emban, Sabah Tourism Board Chairman Datuk Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin and City Hall Deputy Director cum Programme Organising Chairman Bahari Hassan.