Hollanders Rocking the Sumazau Dance

Sumazau Dance by Hollanders and Penampang Homestay Famillies Just last month, 19 retirees from Holland visited Malaysia for a 3 weeks' holiday. They spent 2 weeks in Malacca, Peninsular Malaysia, 1 week in Sandakan, Sabah and the last day of their holiday at homestays at Kg. Putaton Inobong, Penampang, Sabah. Although they only get to spend half a day with the locals, nevertheless, they had a blast!!! Upon their arrival at Putaton homestay, they were divided into several groups and each group was placed under the responsibility of a homestay operator who participated in the proggramme. Then, each...

Think Bambangan, Think Sabah

What is Bambangan? It is a seasonal fruit, is sometimes described as a wild mango, when ripe has thick brown skin and fibrous yellow flesh and gives out a very strong sweet aroma. I don't know why some people say Bambangan gives out a pungent smell. According to dictionary.reference.com, pungent means "acutely distressing to the feelings or mind" which is NOT the case for me. I LOVVVEEE Bambangan, love to eat it, love to smell it, is acutely COMFORTING to my feelings and mind. Bambangan which is about 80% ripe is used to make pickle Bambangan. The young...

The Majestic Mt. Kinabalu: Fourth Highest in Southeast Asia

Mount Kinabalu The tallest mountain in Malaysia is Mt Kinabalu. It is located in Sabah, also famously known as "The Land Below the Wind" as geographically, it is located below the typhoon belt, and it also is part of the Borneo islands. Standing at 4,095 Meters, Mt Kinabalu is not only the highest mountain in the country but also the 4th highest in Southeast Asia. It is home to a rich and diversified flora and fauna which are unique and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Climbing Mount Kinabalu is one of the most fulfilling activities....

Leisure Walking at Poring's Treetop Canopy Walkway

I've heard about my friends' and other people's experiences at Poring canopy walkway, how they said it's an experience not for the faint-hearted and height-phobia people. One friend even told me how once a weak hearted lady almost suffered a heart-attack when a squirrel jumped on her head while she was concentrating on crossing the walkway. Before, I tried to imagine and picture myself, tried to feel what it would be like  walking on a walkway that is about 421 meters above sea-level and could feel my hair rising and my goosebumps getting goosebumps. At the time everything...

Try Sabahan Rendang Ayam Recipe

Hari Raya Puasa is a very important celebration for the Muslims. This year, 2012, the  new moon was sighted on August 19th. Every year, the sighting of new moon at the end of Ramadan month signifies the end of the fasting season and also marked the first day of Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. Muslims, all over the world, start off their day by gathering in the mosques very early in the morning to perform their prayers as well as paying visits to the graves of their loved ones. Hari Raya is welcomed with great joy. Houses are cleaned...

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....

Homestay Penampang Showcasing Traditional Food of the KadazanDusuns

One of the major attractions in Sabah and one that has huge tourism potential is culinary tourism. I consider it as a highly untapped niche as it is a unique tourism package and rarely offered since the product is quite new in Sabah. Its marketing is also still at its infancy stage. It is a great way to attract international travellers who are curious and eager to seek culinary pleasures. There are three main ethnicities in Sabah: the KadazanDusunMurut or KDM (which is the indigenuous group), Malay and Chinese. The races in Sabah have their own distinct identity...