Sabah, Malaysian Borneo Travel and Pictures

Sungai Pegalan (Pegalan River)

2010-06-01T16:15:00.003+08:00

These are two pictures from my collection of Pegalan River.

You can easily get this views if you go on straight from the main road and pass through Kg. Tigot, Keningau. There's a small path leading to Pegalan river=)

Pegalan river is a source of income and livelihood for most people along its pathway. It's origin is from Tambunan , where it passes through Keningau and eventually merges with Padas river in Tenom.

Taman Bandukan

2010-05-17T19:41:00.004+08:00

I had the opportunity to visit Taman Bandukan, at Kg. Bunsit, Bingkor Keningau last March.
At that time, Sabah was still under the drought spell, so everything was kind of dry and a bit yellowish. Nevertheless, the setting was perfect. I had a very relaxing swim in the river and there were not so many people then. Just nice for a short escapade from a hard day's work!

It was a bit autumn like here. I like the colour of the grass.

same picture different setting. sorry for the bad quality picture. I hope I will afford a decent camera soon :D

Kipandi Butterfly Park

2010-04-04T14:15:00.005+08:00

After looking for pictures worth posting, I ended up looking at my last visit to Kipandi Butterfly Park pictures.

Here are some of the information about the park:

The Kipandi Butterfly Park is located at the Kg. Kipandi, Moyog about 36km from Kota Kinabalu city via Penampang-Tambunan road and can be easily reach from Kota Kinabalu. It’s great place to relax, in the mountain air of the Crocker Range.

The Park surrounded by the hills of the Crocker Range and lies at 700m altitude and rich in entomofauna. It’s great place to relax, in the mountain air of the Crocker Range. It’s a great place to photography these beautiful butterflies, native orchids, exotic flowering plants and the amazing insects collection especially the butterflies and beetles.

The Crocker Range is among the best insects diversity in Sabah. Many rare and endemic species of butterflies and beetles which only can found in this range, especially the family of stag beetles(Lucanidae) like Cyclommatus chewi, Odontolabis katsurai and Odontolabis schenki among the rare and localized species it known only from the mountain forests surrounding Crocker Range and endemic of Sabah.

Over 100 species of butterflies have been recorded in the park area and many butterflies come into the garden to suck nectar from many flowering shrubs, including the most rare and endemic mountains species butterflies family of Papilionidae especially Graphium procles, Graphium stratiotes and Troides andromache (Borneo Birdwing).

My personal experience about the park:

* Cool and refreshing air :)

* Many flowers and rare plants :)

* Good park assistants :)

The rare Pitcher Plant

Orchids are also available there

If you're lucky, you might be able to see and touch the caterpillars. Like this students did. * Butterfly caterpillars are different than Moth caterpillars. They are more spiky and colourful and do not cause itchiness when you touch them.

The park workers then put the caterpillar cocoons into a special hut which is covered by nets to prevent predators from devouring them. Little did I know that there are actually many animals who enjoys eating them such as birds and if I'm not mistaken the workers there also said rats! erm..correct me if I'm wrong.

The butterflies are then preserved and displayed at the exhibition room. You can also see many insects such as spiders etc. Some of the specimens are from overseas so its a very informative experience if you have the chance to visit this park.

For more information please visit this site:

or just Google Kipandi Butterfly Park

From http://kipandipark.com/ more information also available at http://www.sabahtourism.com/en/destination/181-kipandi-butterfly-park/ (okay, this is obviously free advertisement! but nevermind I am just trying to promote sabah!)

* the first image is taken from kipandipark.com

Good day everyone!

Tambunan the Switzerland of the East 2

2009-10-07T16:23:00.003+08:00

You will see this view if you travel from Penampang to Tambunan..

If you have time stop a moment by the roadside...morning or evening during a sunny day!

I always think this looks fascinating..

Even if it is not covered in snow...can see the rice fields...and village houses underneath

The population you can see is Kg. Sunsuron...nice view indeed...wish I have a better camera to capture this

CENTRE POINT, KK FROM SINSURAN WALKWAY

2009-10-05T19:43:00.001+08:00

Walk another two minutes and you will reach centre point :)

Papar Old Town 2

2009-10-05T19:20:00.005+08:00

Recently I went to Papar. Another town along the west coastline of Sabah.

Papar has a lot of old buildings with its characteristic blue colour.

The above is a roundabout near Kg. Langkawit (if I'm not mistaken)...In Sabah there are many places where in the middle of the roundabout the district municipal council put an "identity icon" to represent the place..as in Papar they put the traditional white Hat..I don't know what they call it in Kadazan...anyone knows??

This is the market...The old wooden market has been replaced by this..after a great fire consumed it..

Ah...this is the old wooden shop building I'm talking about..It has been there since the colonial era..a great heritage for Papar indeed..

There used to be many old shop lots but..some have been caught by fire. The remaining ones must be preserved.

Selamat Hari Raya

2009-09-29T10:01:00.002+08:00

Selamat Hari Raya to all Muslims in Sabah, Malaysia and Planet Earth...:)

Well, this is a picture of the biscuits I managed to take..its sweet and tasty....YUM...

I explain what I know..in the middle is pineapple "tart", kuih makmur - (White balls) the whitish is icing sugar...Cornflakes biscuit...and the rest I don't know.. But I tell you, its good!

MV Doulos In Kota Kinabalu

2009-09-08T20:11:00.003+08:00

Last friday, I had a chance to go to MV Doulos Kota Kinabalu, for a short visit to the floating book fair..It was fun and a special experience for me. Lots of books particularly Christian books..

MV Doulos is in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah from 29th August till 21 September 2009.

Here's a brief history of the ship:(wikipedia.com)

The MV Doulos is the world's oldest active ocean-faring passenger ship. She is now owned by the German charity Gute Bücher für Alle (English: Good Books for All), and is used as a floating bookshop. The ship has previously been known as the SS Medina, the SS Roma, and the MV Franca C.

The Medina was built in 1914 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company for the Mallory Steamship Company of the United States. She was a freighter serving the Atlantic; during World War II she served with the United States Coast Guard.

The Panamanian company Naviera San Miguel SA acquired the Medina in 1948; they renamed the ship the Roma, and converted her into a passenger ship with cabins for 287 people, and dormitories for an additional 694 people.

In 1952 Naviera San Miguel resold the Roma to Linea Costa, an Italian company. At this time the SS Roma, a steamship, was converted into a motor vessel and renamed the MV Franca C. She carried passengers between Italy and Argentina. In 1959, the Franca C was adapted into a cruise liner, principally cruising the Mediterranean.

In 1977, Gute Bücher für Alle acquired the Franca C, and renamed her the Doulos (Greek for servant). In her current role, she is manned by a volunteer crew and visits sea ports world-wide.

The MV Doulos currently holds the biggest floating library in the world. Normally there is somewhere around 3000 to 5000 books on the shelf and half a million in the hold.

For details on their current port and a list of future ports, visit official website.

She is currently doing her last world tour and was planned to be de-commissioned in 2010 when the SOLAS regulations are due to be introduced.

Durian

2009-09-03T17:53:00.004+08:00

By the way, do you know this?

Haha, this is Durian.

Known for it sweet-smelling odour (some called it sweet-sickly smell). It is undeniably the most popular fruit in Malaysia.

It has a white-yellowish tender flesh and taste tart to sweet depending on its species, enwrapped in its thorny thick "skin"

Majority of people love to eat durian. Some like it Fresh or even Pickled (tempoyak).

One sure thing is that, you can't bring it to hotel or inside the aeroplane...(sigh!)

But, frankly speaking..I'm not a real fan of durian..:) :)

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

2009-09-03T17:44:00.003+08:00

Sorry guys, haven't updated for months.

I've pored upon my photos, and found that this might interest you

" Queen Elizabeth General Hospital, located along Jalan Penampang is the largest public hospital in Sabah. Built in 1957, it is the most important healthcare centre in the city and one of only three general hospital in Sabah." Stated in wikipedia.com

But as you can see the hospital now is being renovated (if not demolished) due to structural damage. It is indeed a Historical Hospital because it was built even before the Independence of Sabah and the formation of Malaysia.

Kotobian Tadau Kaamatan

2009-06-02T08:23:00.002+08:00

I would like to take this opportunity to greet everyone a happy "Tadau Kaamatan"

May the spirit of goodwill be with you all this year.

(Photo taken from undukngadau.com)

Tuaran Crocodile Park - Part 2

2009-03-23T21:04:00.006+08:00

BAMBOO HOUSE

the park also built a very decent bamboo house and with a big hall for the dance show.

The interior reminds me of a very traditional-style bamboo house. Which is prevalent in interior sabah tens of year ago. (not very long though).This must be preserved as this is one of the proud heritage of Sabahan.

Its very cool and spacious and comfortable.Even without TV, PC, Telephone,etc etc.

The stairs. Orientally sabahan style.

The outer verandah of the house (is it the right word). My English has gone from bad to worse lately.

The park also gave a traditional dance show. Sadly only 2 dancers turn out. Where are the rest?

ANIMALS ON DISPLAY

In this category I will put two types of animals. DEAD and ALIVE.

I start from the dead ones.

This is a preserved buffalo. (is it). I forgot its name.

Perhaps this is a buffalo also.

A horse.

A goat.

And this is the picture of some very beautiful chinese clay-works (I dont know whether to call it porcelain or jars, or whether is even the right word to write).

All these are underneath the big beautiful bamboo+wooden made Hall.

LIVING ANIMALS

The crocs a.k.a the boss. There are many crocs displayed in cages. Got smaller ones and big ones. I think I must have been pretty much disgusted that I only took 1 picture of a large croc relaxing under the tropical sun.

Small tortoises. The ones that pretty much must have defeated the Hare.

Ostriches.

Deer.

And I don't know the name of this one. I know that its under the "deer" family also.

LandScapes

This is among the landscapes that I managed to snap on that day.

A very tropical one.

Garden-style arrangement.

Greenish and smelly waters where the crocs thrives.

And this one too.

I really encourage all of you to visit this place.Its hot but its very good, plus, its still developing and I'm sure many more interesting stuffs will be around soon.

Forgot to tell, there's also a croc-leather handicraft sold at the main entrance of the park. The goods ranges from Croc's penis, gallbladder, egg, oil which cost a few hundred and some lady handbags made with croc's leather which costs a fortune. After all, a tiny handbag that I saw is sold at RM4K a piece. Isn't that a fortune?

Tuaran still has a lot of things to explore. The Beaches (Pantai Dalit), The Resorts (Rasa Ria Resort), and The Seafood restaurants scattered along. So make sure you'll visit Tuaran if u go to Sabah.

Ok, Till then bye.

Tuaran Crocodile Park

2009-03-23T20:27:00.006+08:00

At last, I managed to find some time to visit another place in Sabah

Which is the Tuaran Crocodile Park or "Taman Buaya". Went there with a group of friends.

As you can see the Admission for Malaysian is RM15.00, for Non-Malaysian its extra RM5.(roughly about USD4.00)

This is the entrance landscape. And this is the entrance greeting

This is a preserved croc.

This crocodile was killed by some villagers coz it attacked one of the villagers. Luckily it was preserved for others to know about its story.

And this one also. (I'd be dead if its alive). To my surprise the park also displays some exotic animals for visitors to see.

and a real phyton (of course in a cage)

two pools of fishes..this one is kinda disgusting..where u can buy the food for RM1 and feed them. They're Starving!

A kind of Bear..if I'm not mistaken.

And a Large preserved fish.

CROCODILE SHOW

At 11.00am and 3.00pm Daily, The park will organize a crocodile show.

This is a preparation before beginning the show. The "stuntmen" were splashing some water on the hot floor before beginning the show.The announcer said this is to make the crocodile "comfortable" of which I have a doubt about it.

Here, they are persuading the crocodile to "cooperate" with the show. They use a long bamboo stick to guide the croc.

This is the How-to-tie-a-Croc's-mouth demonstration done by a young lady.

And this is the stunt where the guy are persuading the crocs so that it wont bite him when he kiss it.

There you are - an essentially nonsense crocodile kiss. A friend bet me RM5 if the guy would put his head inside the mouth. Which of course was not performed.

Besides this there are also several shows such as "dancing with the croc" which lasted barely 3 seconds, and "brushing the croc's teeth" demo.

Quite a nonsense but still a Daring show. Mind you, I still can't imagine being inside the large cage with several hungry crocs!

To be continued...

Sunflower

2009-03-10T10:50:00.003+08:00

It was raining season again. Most evenings are filled with thunder and downpour. I browsed over my past collection and thought that this one will brighten someone's spirit.

Yes, this is a picture of a sunflower grown in Sabah. Wishing days will be more filled with sunshine so that I will get chance to travel more :)

Keningau Town - Aerial View

2009-01-12T18:44:00.002+08:00

I Got a Chance to go to Hotel Juta in Keningau...so got a chance to snap two pics from above

I might try to take a few pictures at night though..

Happy New year 2009!

2009-01-01T19:26:00.003+08:00

Happy New Year 2009!

May God Bless Us Throughout The Journey This Year

Thanks to http://ziedesign.com

Merry Christmas Part 1

2008-12-28T10:37:00.003+08:00

Hi...its been a long holiday for me and I don't have much time for updating my blog (sorry guys)

BUT

I still wanna wish everyone and each of you "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

Yes..Its a different christmas every year but of course Christmas is to commemorate the birth of Jesus...

So I guess this picture will tell us lots of words..till then Merry Christmas

Tambunan Village Resort Centre

2008-11-07T16:03:00.004+08:00

Situated along the Pegalan River in Tambunan, that provides accommodation facilities for visitors to Tambunan.

TVRC offers visitors the experience of staying in Traditional-Type chalets made of split bamboo while enjoying the spring-like climate and peaceful nights of Tambunan.

For camera buffs and nature lovers, Tambunan offers the experience of a lifetime to view the world’s largest flower, picnic by crystal clear waterfalls (turns muddy during rainy days), discover local orchids, and climb Sabah’s second highest peak, Mt. Trusmadi. Relax in the fresh mountain climate amidst breath-taking scenery and discover the tradition of the Tambunan Kadazan / Dusun people.

TVRC can assist visitors to visit places of interest around Tambunan through prior arrangement.

Tambunan Village Resort Centre Sdn. Bhd.
W.D.T 24, 89650 Tambunan
Sabah, Malaysia
Tel : +60 087-774076, 774197
Fax : +60 087-774205

Source: http://tvrc.tripod.com/

Ordinary Scenery during Drizzle

2008-11-07T13:59:00.002+08:00

This is what you will see if you go at almost any places in Sabah..an ordinary scenery

Mount Kinabalu

2008-10-28T22:15:00.005+08:00

Mt. Kinabalu

Old as you are,

A witness to the dawn of civilization,

Of a place called the Land below the wind,

A monument of endurance and perseverance,

A memento of faith and goodwill among us,

A guide for travellers from afar,

An identity of the people,

You will always be in my heart,

No matter how far I'll go,

For you will always be,

A mount worth remembering.

Sook Town

2008-10-19T14:44:00.006+08:00

For those, who haven't been to Sook..here is a simple glimpse of Sook town.

Its small and isolated. Sook is mainly an agricultural town. And is increasingly an important Palm Plantation area. Sook is situated roughly 40KM from Keningau...roughly about 180KM from Kota Kinabalu

UMS

2008-10-07T19:03:00.003+08:00

Aha..I think its time for me to post a picture or two of UMS, didnt have much time to snap many pics though last time..I forgot to snap the faculty pics but u can owez try to look at www.ums.edu.my

Guess where is this..

Chancellor Hall...

Ahaa...this is the administrative building of UMS...worth visiting

Keningau Town

2008-10-05T17:49:00.007+08:00

Recently I got a chance to visit keningau town..this is what i managed to snap.. enjoy

the post office

this is the plot for the keningau night
market, surely will be full and busy at night

This is the pasar malam entrance..notice the sign "pasar Malam keningau"
Ok, "pasar malam" is the night market.

ahaa..the servay building...

see the Juta Hotel at the distance..its the tallest building..(i guess) in Keningau!

Ok..see u next time

Missing sunny days

2008-09-18T19:01:00.003+08:00

Lately, the weather has not been so cheerful..rain and not many sunshine aroung

I browsed through my old pics and Here's a glimpse of what would be a Sunny Day in Sabah.

KK City 2

2008-08-24T21:10:00.012+08:00

Huh sorry guys...Just found the time to stroll along the "city" and took some pics..explanation will be brief but fellow sabahan will have no problem to identify it with themselves..come on you knew it..

Ahh..you knew it..CENTRE POINT!
No..I won't snap pictures inside it for the moment

These are among the proliferating foreign cafes in front of the waterfront...there's Australian Bar..Indian food and UK ones if i'm not mistaken...

I'm very sure this will lighten up vibrantly in the evening

A view in front of Warisan Plaza

Its good to see some trees are thriving ...then its right the municipal council call this a "nature city"

Yeah..the alley going to one of the cafes

Ahh.. needless to say where this is

Among the Newest part of KK..not to mention 1borneo

And this is the "Tugu Peringatan Malaysia" which is near the Gaya Street..
And the Bird is not real..really