sabah malaysian borneo buletin september 2008

8/14/2019 Sabah Malaysian Borneo Buletin September 2008

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RM 1.00

NSIDE:Ramadhan Bazaar, Mooncake Celebrations, The Nose Flute and mo

September 2008 Volume 91September 2008 Volume 91

ParadiseIslands


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Welcome to Sabah!

With the prominence of the

presence of the Chinese

community here in Sabah,

the mooncake festival which falls in themonth of September is quite an affair.

Thousands of boxes of mooncakes are

bought and exchanged this month to

celebrate the Mooncake Festival, also

known as the Mid-Autumn festival.

Check out our Happenings and

Highlights pages to join the Chinese

community as they celebrate the occa-

sion with displays of song and dance.

September is also the Ramadhan fast-

ing month this year, but it is also a time

when its all about food. It is during this

time that food stalls are specially set up

to sell all sorts of delicious food for

breaking fast. Youll find local favourites

sold at these stalls, a perfect time for vis-

itors to sample some of what the locals

love to eat.

We would like to give a special thank

you to Ivan Choong, the Field Editor

with Scuba Diver Australasia magazine,

whose article on the creatures immersed

in the waters surrounding the islands

Sipadan, Kapalai and Mabul are

spread out in our feature pages. Go

straight to pages 10 to 11 to get a

depiction of Sabahs east coast ocean

life.

Many more things fill this months

pages, so let me leave you to enjoy therest of you read.

Until next month, jumpa lagi!

Yolanda Graham

Editor

Contents3 Happenings & Highlights

Ramadhan Bazaar

Mooncake Celebrations

Malaysia Day

2008 Borneo International Football Cups

Borneo International Marathon

News - Cebu Flight, Aussie Visit, MICE - Nokia Philippines

5 Eating OutAlu Alu Restaurant

Bintulu Korean Delight

7 LeisureSunset in Kota Kinabalu

8 Places of Inter estMt. Trusmadi & Trusmadi Forest Reserve

9 LeisureKK Paintball Centre

10 FeatureParadise Islands

12 Th roug h Th e Len sSK Khoo

14 CultureThe Story of the Nose Flute

15 Products o f t he Month at KadaikuSabah Souvenirs & Handicrafts

16 Bahasa Malaysia Sect ion

18 Ch inese Sect ion

20 Japanese Sect ion

22 Kor ea n Section

24 Di rect or y Li st ings

25 Saba h Map & Listings

26 Aquarium and Marine Museum UMS (AMUMS)

ADVISORYBhg. Dato Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin / Sitti B. Damsal

EDITOR Yolanda Graham

DESIGNERTrevor Thomson Lam C.W.

Charlieking Padasian (Kadaiku Sections)

PUBLISHERSabah Tourism Board / Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn. Bhd.51 Gaya Street, 88000 Kota Kinabalu

BAHASA MALAYSIA EDITOR Puan Hjh. Asmiah Ajamain TRANSLATORS Chin Yen Sang (Chinese)

(Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka) Rie Harada (Japanese)

Emzee Lee (Korean)

DESIGNED & PRINTED BY Cover: scubazoo.com

Inna Kinabalu Sdn Bhd

(Publisher of The New Sabah Times)

Jalan Pusat Pembangunan Masyarakat, Sembulan

88100 Kota Kinabalu

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is

correct at the time of publi cation. The publisher cannot be held responsibl e for any

inaccuracies, omissions and alterations which may occur as a result of last minute

changes. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permis-

sion of th e Sabah Touri sm Boar d.

Message fromthe Edi tor


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Ramadhan Bazaar1-30 September 2008The Ramadhan Bazaar is open to the pub-lic during the month-long fasting periodprior to the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.Local mouth-watering delicacies are onsale during the bazaar at various locations

in Kota Kinabalu.Organiser:Kota Kinabalu City HallVenue: Please refer to schedule on page 3For further info:Elizabeth BorubuiTel: +60 88 521800Fax: +60 88 316137Email: [email protected]

Luyang Mooncake Celebration 20087 September 2008The Sabah Progressive Party brings theMooncake festivities to the district ofLuyang, known for its strong Chinese com-

munity. Children will be parading theircolourful lanterns while others can enjoy a

variety of entertainment and browsethrough the stalls set up for the day.Organiser:Sabah Progressive PartyVenue: Taman Foh Sang, LuyangFor further info:Datuk Richard Yong We KongTel: +60 88 242107Fax: +60 88 249188Email: [email protected]

Gaya Street MooncakeCelebration 200813 September 2008Head to Gaya Street this month for more

Mooncake Festival celebrations. Visit thevarious stalls and enjoy the stage perform-ances. Dont forget to purchase yourfavourite mooncake.Organiser:Sabah Progressive PartyVenue: Gaya StreetFor further info:Datuk Richard Yong We KongTel: +60 88 242107Fax: +60 88 249188Email: [email protected]

Malaysia Day & Birthday of SabahsHead of State16 September 2008The Federation of Malaysia was formed onthis date and it is also celebrated as theofficial Birthday of His Excellency the Headof State of Sabah. A series of activities willbe held in conjunction with HisExcellencys birthday. However as it fallswithin the Muslim fasting month this year,the Malaysia Day parade has been post-poned to October 11. This is declared apublic holiday in Sabah.Organiser:Kota Kinabalu City HallVenue: Padang MerdekaFor further info:Elizabeth BorubuiTel: +60 88 521800Fax: +60 88 316137

Email: [email protected]


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H a p p e n i n g s & H i g h l i g h t s 3

Ramadhan BazaarSeptember 2008While the month of Ramadan is the fasting month for the Moslemsthe world over, it also the time when food stalls start to emerge,selling tantalizing food for breaking fast. But the bazaar is not just forthose taking part in the fasting month. Mention the Ramadan Bazaarand food lovers will perk up with excitement. A huge variety of food anddrinks will be sold for takeaway. Look out for food items like chicken rice,soto(noodle soup), kebabs and an array of colourful local cakes. Try outextraordinary looking drinks such as cincau(grass jelly drink), chendol(green jelly drink) or air bandung(a pink drink made out of milk and rose

syrup).

Visit these bazaars in the fasting month of September:

Location TimeSembulanAsia City MarketLintasan Deasoka, Gaya StreetWawasan Plaza 1.30pm to 6.30pmSinsuran Night MarketInanam Traditional TamuIndah Permai (near the Giant Hypermarket)

For further information, contact Elizabeth Borubui of the Kota

Kinabalu City Hall at 088 521800, fax 088 316137 or [email protected]

Mooncake CelebrationsSeptember 2008

This year the Chinese mooncake festival falls on the 14th September,a celebration also known as the Lantern Festival or the Mid-AutumnFestival. The most famous legend surrounding the mooncake festival isconnected to the role of the mooncake in Chinese history, which datesback to a 14th century revolt by the Chinese against the Mongols. In

1376, the Chinese overthrew the Yuan (Mongols) dynasty (1280-1376)in an uprising brilliantly devised by lantern-bearing messengers whodelivered mooncakes. Legend has it that the time and place of revolu-tion were concealed in the mooncakes send to friends and relatives.The midnight massacre of the Mongols was led by Liu Bowen whohelped to establish a new era the Ming Dynasty.

Throughout the month of September, several areas around KotaKinabalu will be gaily decorated with Chinese ornaments in a celebra-tion of the Mooncake Festival. The colourful occasion will be filled withlion dances, live entertainment and food fairs - a grand affair indeed!This years special highlight will be the acrobatic lion dances by the YitNam Lion Dancing Troupe which won the coveted title in the world LionKing championship held in China last year. The Yit Nam Troupe is welltrained in the Martial arts (Kung Fu) and their members are skilled acro-bats. Other attractions of the variety show include a magic show, folk

dancing and a fashion parade.

Check out the Mooncake celebrations below:

Location Date and Time

Luyang Mooncake Celebration 7 SeptemberFoh Sang shopping area 7.00pm- 9.30pm

Gaya Street Mooncake Celebration 13 SeptemberGaya Street 7.00pm- 9.30pm

For further information, contact Datuk Richard Yong We Kong at088 242107, fax 088 249188 or email [email protected]


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4 H a p p e n i n g s & H i g h l i g h t s

NewsFigos Borneo Football Cup,October-November 2008

In October and November, the inaugural Figos Borneo Football Cup willtake place at the Likas Stadium, Kota Kinabalu, seeing amateur teamswithin Australasia compete in 5 football match categories: Under 12, 14, 16,18 and Veterans. Aiming to provide budding and senior footballers with theopportunity to play in a well organised tournament against teams from dif-ferent countries and cultures! Currently, football-loving teams from Australia,Brunei, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur have already signed up to take part inthis exciting event, and the organisers are inviting local teams from Sabah

to participate! What are you waiting for, check out their website www.borne-ofootballcup.com or call 088 249002 for information and updates!

In October

The BorneoInternational Marathon

Registration is still open for this OctobersBorneo International Marathon, an eventthat has already pulled in some interesting par-ticipants for a challenging race. Among the run-ners who have registered for the event are

Nathan Kiplimo from Kenya (winner of theAmbank KL Marathon), British elite runnerMark Williams and Singaporean Chan MengHui, who at age 78 is their oldest participant so far. In the half-marathonraces, marathon celebrity Ms. Jenap M Said, the noted "catwoman" of SouthEast Asia who has a penchant for running in full catwoman costume andMalaysia's most popular blogger Kenny Sia will be among the runners. If thefull marathon and the half marathon sound a little daunting, there is also a10km run and for children, 800m and 400m runs. Registration forms andinformation are available at www.borneomarathon.com.

Malaya gained its independence on the 31st August 1957 but Malaysia Day markthe joining together of Malaya (now Peninsula Malaysia), North Borneo (noSabah), Sarawak and Singapore to form Malaysia on 16th September 1963. As thyear the occasion falls in the Ramadan fasting month, celebrations have been posponed to the 11th October 2008.This day is also the Birthday of Sabahs Head of State and is

public holiday.

Sabah Minister of Tourism,Culture and EnvironmentVisits AustraliaThe Minister of Tourism, Culture andEnvironment Sabah, YB Datuk MasidiManjun, went on a 5 day- working trip toAustralia, namely to the cities of Brisbaneand Sydney. The Ministers trip was

primarily a market development and business meetings with Airlines andwholesale tourism partners. This is the first business trip led by the Ministerto Australia, a market that is fast growing for Sabah. During the visit, YBDatuk Masidi expressed his sincere appreciation for the trust and confidence

by the Australian agents in promoting Sabah as a choice of holidaydestination to their clients. He also voiced the commitment of our Ministry ofTourism to continue our joint promotions and marketing with the agentsthrough the Sabah Tourism Board. The joint promotions would be mainly inembarking on familiarization trips to Sabah for the frontliners and productmanagers of both wholesale and retail agents in Australia.

Cebu Pacific Starts DirectManila-Kota Kinabalu ServiceCebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippinesleading carrier to the ASEAN regioninaugurated its direct service from Manila

to Kota Kinabalu in July. Using CEBsbrand new Airbus A319 aircraft, the flightdeparts from Ninoy Aquino InternationalAirport Terminal 1 at 4.40pm and arrivesat Kota Kinabalu International Airport at 6.30pm. The return flight leaves forManila at 7.00pm and arrives at 8.50 pm. The flight operates every Mondayand Friday. CEB is the only Filipino carrier operating this route and KotaKinabalu is the second city that CEB flies to in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur.

Nokia Philippines Picks SabahThe Nokia Phillipines DealersConvention was held in Kota Kinabalulast July, bringing in a total of 151participants to the sunny shores ofSabah. Among the activities they enjoyedwhile they were here were team buildingactivities on Sapi and Manukan Islands

just 15 minutes away from the city. It wasmost memorable experience, quippedone of the participants. Last year their convention was held in Macau.

Editorial errorIn the back page of the August 2008 issue, photos of Mabul water

Bungalow Resort were used to accompany the article on Sipadan WaterVillage. We apologise to the management of both resorts for this unsightlyerror and for any inconvenience it may have caused.

Malaysia Day

and Birthday

of SabahsHead of State

16th September

2008


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Ea t i n g O u t 5

How about zipping to an island just off the coast of the city for a lus-cious meal of fresh seafood? Gaya Island is a short 10 minutes awayfrom the city, and tucked in the calm-water cove of the Malohom Bay isthe luxurious Gayana Eco Resort. Its newly opened restaurant, Alu Alu,houses a large array of live seafood to be caught and cooked for guestswho choose so dine over the South China Sea. At the Alu Alu Over WaterLive Seafood Restaurant, the food is cooked with a touch of Asianfinesse. The chef will recommend the live coral trout steamed andserved Cantonese style or the wok fried Kam Heong (literally translatedas gold and fragrant) style crab and says there is no better way to taste

some of Sabahs best seafood. Come here for lunch and enjoy the sightof wide blue waters or dine at dusk for the sunset hues, at the capacityof up to 200 people, the Alu Alu restaurant is a prime location for anevening out with friends or a special treat with the colleagues at lunch.Dining here at Alu Alu requires purchasing packages which will includereturn boat transfers, restaurant credit, taxes and service charge. Andwhile you are there, why not visit the Marine Ecology Research Centre,where youll get to see a diverse display of marine life in their aquariums!For bookings and information, contact their reservations team at088 380390 or email [email protected]

For those with a taste for Korean food, Bintulu is a popular mealtime destination. Servingup over 80 Korean delights, the people at Bintulu know what makes a good Koreanmeal. They advise you to order in advance because they prepare and serve their foodfresh, which may take some time, but will reward you with the best flavours! Find theirrestaurant on the 1st floor of Block E in Lintas Plaza and sit yourselves down at one oftheir tables or on the floor in the inner sanctum of the restaurant for that authentic feel. Werecommend Korean favourites like the bulgogi beef, thin slices of prime cut beef, marinat-ed with a mixture of soy sauce, sugar and other ingredients such as scallions and mush-rooms, grilled on your table top with a little garlic. Wrap it in a lettuce leaf which comeswith your meal, along with one or more of the seven saucers of sauces put alongside yourmeal. We also liked the kimchee, the a traditional Korean fermented dish made ofvegetables with varied seasonings. And we loved thejab chae, which is the marinated andfried glass noodles. Dont worry if youve never had Korean cuisine before the menu con-sists of a photo album so you can see and pick what you like and the waitresses thereare always ready to show you how to savour the food, Korean style!

Bintulu is located at Lot 1-1, 1st Floor, Block E, Lorong Lintas Plaza 3, Lintas Plaza,Kota Kinabalu. For further information call 088 270370 / 019 8148826 or fax 088245040

Alu-Alu Restaurant

at Gayana Eco Resort

Korean Delights at Bintulu


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6 P l a c e s o f I n t e r e s t

Situated on 30 acres of lush green spurs of hills,valleys and forested ridge, this humble and homelyaccommodation is located 35km south of Sabahs

capital city, Kota Kinabalu. A 40-minute leisurely drive willtake you through green landscapes to Kampung Gana inthe district of Papar.

Within this village is a quaint abode called Mai Aman, aplace named after a much-loved school teacher from the1950s. Mai Aman a serene getaway from the buzz of the

city and a popular destination for those wanting a taste ofthe simple and peaceful kampung life.

Your time here will be a fun yet relaxing treat breathein the fresh air, listen to the sounds of birds chirping in thetrees while you sit back by the pond and wait for your fish-ing rod to hook a fish. Once youve caught one or two, youcan ask the kitchen staff to cook it for your dinner or put iton the barbecue yourself! Maybe you should try the Vutodor sago grubs, a local delicacy. Mai Aman is especiallyknown to prepare these just so you can have a taste.

On days when you fancy a little activity, sign up for thebuffalo ride, a considerably delightful experience, or trekthrough the nearby jungles and look out for traditional

herbs, exotic plants and maybe encounter one or two ofSabahs wild creatures. The Mai Aman grounds also has anorchard of local fruit trees, so if youre lucky enough youmight have a taste of fresh cempedak, tarap, jackfruit, dahit(wild durian) or bambangan. If it rains at night, venture outwith a torchlight and go frog-catching! Edible frogs like thebongkok Taiwan (Hoplobatrachus rugulosus) are known tohop around the compounds of Mai Aman.

Guests can choose from a few types of rooms to stay inat Mai Aman, from double or twin-sharing rooms to hostel-type rooms. Future plans are already in the making at MaiAman, partnering with Carey Real Estate (Sabah) Sdn.Bhd. to transform Mai Aman into semi-retirement homesthat would consist of 2 and 3-bedroom units with livingspace and kitchenettes. These homes would have accessto on-site healthcare amenities and facilities. Mai Amanwould also consist of villas with state-of the art facilities andamenities for modern living, in line with its ambition todevelop into integrated, eco-friendly, resort-style livingunits, specifically for the Malaysia My Second Home(MM2H) project.

But for now, Mai Aman is a hideaway for those seekingto sample the basic, quiet, stress-free Kampung life-style.

For enquiries and reservations, cal Mai Aman Gardenand Homestay at 088 914486, 088 915273 (Fax and Tel),Carey Real Estate (Sabah) S/B at 088262729 or [email protected]

Mai Aman


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7L e i s u r e

Beautiful and romantic, there arent manythings that are more mesmerising than a stun-ning sunset. The city of Kota Kinabalu is locat-

ed along the western coast of Sabah, which makesit a perfect location to sit back and savour this visu-al pleasure.

Tanjung Aru BeachLets start with the obvious - the beach is always thebest spot for a view of a good sunset. Tanjung AruBeach is a popular target for people looking for theclassic laid-back scene. This beach is lined with along shoreline, restaurants and food stalls - so a lit-tle stroll before you sit down to enjoy a drink and theview is what you can wish for here.

The WaterfrontHead to The Waterfront, one of Kota Kinabalusmost desirable hang outs. The Waterfront is aboardwalk of hip bars, classic restaurants, quaintcafes and fun karaoke joints right in the city centre.People love to sit outside where the sea breezegently sweeps, to relish good food, good companyand the fiery red sun slowly going down behind theislands in the background.

Luxury Yacht CharterIndulge in a little luxury with a boat cruise off thecoast of the city. You can charter a boat to islandhop and soak in the sun before it sinks into the hori-zon and maybe throw a small get-together andparty on into the night. Whats for sure is that youwont miss the spectacular sunset at dusk on yourcruise. For reservations and enquiries, call 088

383097 or 013 8819332 (Insight Borneo Incentiveand Tours)

Tanjung Lipat / Likas BayTanjung Lipat or the Likas Bay runs parallel withKota Kinabalus coastal highway and is easily oneof the best roads to drive along on a sunny day. Theview is the dazzlingly blue South China Sea in theday and a heart-warming sunset come sundownand you can park on the roadside if you feel youmust stop to enjoy the sights. There is also AnjungSelera, a popular eatery along this stretch if youwant a good meal to go with the sunset.

The Sunset Bar, Shangri-La Tanjung AruResort and SpaThe Sunset Bar is one of the best spot to be whenthe sun sets in Kota Kinabalu. Not only do they havelittle cocktail bar so you can have a drink in onehand while you unwind, its location is unobstructed- when you are there, there is just the South ChinaSea between you and an amazing sunset. For moreinformation, call the resort at 088 327888.

@mosphere / @bar - KKsrevolving restaurant.Located on the 18th floor of Kota Kinabalus iconicMenara Tun Mustapha, @mosphere restaurant and@bar is a all the rage. It is the only floor in the build-ing that revolves for a 360 degree view of the cityand its surroundings so why not sit back and chill tosavour the sights! For more information, call 088425100.

Sunsetin the City


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8 P l a c e s o f I n t e r s t

Want to make good use of those hiking boots? Make your wayto the Trusmadi Forest Reserve in the district of Tambunan,just 2 hours by road from Kota Kinabalu.

Classified as a Class 2 Forest Reserve covering an area of 184,527 hectares, Trusmadi is bordered by 3 districts: Ranau on thenorth, Tambunan on the west and Keningau. The sub-district of Sooklies in the east.

The main highlight of this forest reserve is no doubt MountTrusmadi. At 2642 metres high, it is Malaysias second highest peakafter Mount Kinabalu. Unlike Mount Kinabalus well-trodden paths,Mount Trusmadi has a humbler reputation; until recently, only one ortwo expeditions up to the peak were made each year.

But being the second tallest mountain doesnt mean thatTrusmadi is an easier climb. While Mount Kinabalu requires puttingaside two days, Mount Trusmadis much tougher terrain of steep androcky rise to the top and slow and careful descent requires a goodthree days. The slopes of the mountain are covered with rich vege-tation and are home to many species of birds, animals and plants pure delight for nature lovers.

The view from the top is nothing less than glorious a mostspectacular view of Mount Kinabalu is both breath-taking andrewarding after being winded from the climb!Contact your tour operator to make arrangements.

Mount Trusmadi andTrusmadi Forest Reserve


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L e i s u r e 9

Youre hiding behind a bunker with a gun in your hand, yourminds racing to decide if you should run closer to enemy linesand attack or stay where you are and play defensive. Even just

thinking about a game of paintball gets my heart racing. To me, thisgame is as close as you can get to being in a war zone without realbloodshed.

A few weekends ago, my colleagues and I decided to give paintball

a try for the first time, but only after some persuasive coaxing. After all,the thought of being shot at isnt exactly something you would smile atin nostalgia. The paintball pellets come at you at 300 feet per secondand can leave a bruise bad enough to last you at least a month.

So what convinced us to give in and risk a couple of ruptured capil-laries? First of all, the suited up paintballers looked cool. They weredressed in their paintball team uniforms, complete with head masks,chest guards and joint pads for full protection. You dont want to risk get-ting shot in the head without a mask and the joint pads are for when you

jump for cover, Die Hard John McClane style. Secondly, people whohave played say the thrill is where the fun is.

Since we didnt have uniforms, we wore long clothing to protect theskin. The head masks came complimentary and we rented the chestguards. We split our group of fourteen into two teams and while ourguns got loaded with a couple of hundred paintballs, both squads

exchanged good-natured verbal jabs at each other, vowing to take the

other one down.Our safety briefing came next. First of all, these are not GUNS,

declared Kota Kinabalu Paintball Centres Gabrielle, her eyes sweepingthrough our rookie teams. They are called MARKERS. We sheepish-ly listened to the rest of the briefing and marched into the battlefield,hearts pumping at maximum speed.

For what felt like a lifetime, the fifteen-minute, first round battle was

done. Despite being scared out of my wits, I managed to shoot a cou-ple of enemies and escaped unscathed myself. My team took victorythis time but round two was still to be had. Delia, the other teams cap-tain, glared at me after the defeat and promised round two was going tobe different. It is to my benefit that as editor, I can have it in writing onthis page that we won the second time as well.

Fancy a rematch, Delia?For a piece of paintball action, the Kota Kinabalu Paintball Centreis located 10 minutes from Kota Kinabalu in Kampung Sugud,Penamapang. They are open Tuesdays to Fridays from 10.00am to7.00pm and Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 9.00amto 7.00pm. Contact them at [email protected] for reser-vations or call 088 727445. You can also call 019 5355558 (Tracy -Managing Director) or 016 8459991 (Gabrielle - Field Manager) Findout more about paintball at http://www.kkpaintballcentre.com/con-

tact.html.

Paintball Frenzyat KK Paintball Centre


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Feature10

Mention the oceanic island of Pulau Sipadan to any diver andchances are they have heard of its name. Situated off the eastcoast of Malaysian Borneo, the island was made famous by

Jacques Cousteau in one of his voyages. After producing the documen-tary Ghost of The Sea Turtles in 1983, he reported, I have seen otherplaces like Sipadan, 45 years ago, but now no more. Now we have foundan untouched piece of art. Rising from the ocean in the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin, the biodiversity of this extinct volcano island has one of therichest Jacques has seen.

A stone's throw away from this paradise, associated with the name ofSipadan, lie two other islands of Pulau Mabul and Pulau Kapalai. Bothislands might not have any 600 metres walls that drop to the abyss norendless walls of corals but from the numerous visits I have made, I havefound both islands exploding with small critters.

Small Treasures, Big Rewards

The yields from all my dives on either island always excited me. UnlikeSipadan where turtles, barracudas, jacks, trevallies, bumphead parrot-fishes, sharks and the occasional manta rays are abound. With fantasticcorals squeezed into every nook and cranny on the walls, diving offMabul and Kapalai is like a participation in treasure hunts on every dive.

Slimy sea slugs, yucks?While you chance yourself in catching a glimpse of the big fishes or

even the elusive hammerhead sharks that patrol the depths aroundSipadan island, muck-diving or as it is called while diving in Mabul andKapalai requires a very sharp pair of eyes. A great advantage if you havean eagle-eyed dive guide who can help you along. The rewards canrange form psychedelic nudibranchs that resembled a hybrid-humancharacter in an undersea exploration television series in the 80's. Whileone nudibranch looks out of this world, displaying their vivid colours thatsignal they are poisonous, others are pure cannibals. TheGymnodorididae species, for example, preys on other nudibranchs forfood. Even attacking their meals that are bigger then themselves.Majority of the nudibranchs (By definition, it is a shell-less, marine snailof the suborder Nudibranchia, having external, often branched respirato-ry appendages on the back and sides) feed on soft corals, tunicates andhydroids. Using the toxins from the soft corals they ingested as a defencemechanism to ward off predators that might find this slow moving seaslugs an easy meal.

Underwater frogsThen there are the ugly but adorable frogfishes or anglerfishes

(Antennariidae family). These fishes are bottom dwellers that seldommove and can stay in a location for days. With hands to help them stayrooted to the reef, they sit and wait for their next meal to unknowinglyswim by or by baiting them with their anglers that look like shrimps orworms in most cases. Dangling their bait in front of their mouth and jig-

gling it to make it looks real. When their unsuspecting meal happens toapproach, a fast gulp from the frogfish and the show is all over. Once, Ihad the opportunity to observe a frogfish with its partially eaten meal stillhanging out of its mouth. Obviously, the frogfish ate more than it couldswallow.

Patience sometimes can reward the viewer - to be able to perform afeat by swallowing another fish, they periodically have to stretch their

jaws by yawning. Watching them doing their exercise will be one scenewhere I would guess you wished you could do the same. But do notmove off yet, frogfishes tend to yawn three to four times in succession.So if you missed their first performance, linger on and watch a re-run.Most likely on their third yawn, you can see how wide they can open theirmouths - Talk about bigmouths.


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Pick-me if you canFrom frogfishes to seahorses and what better place to see them at

the dive site under the oilrig turned - resort. The reef offers youencounters of the smallest kind - Measuring just 5mm in length, theseseahorses are normally found on the gorgonian sea fans. The pygmyseahorses (Hippocampus bargibanti) are shy critters and usually faceaway once you have spotted them on the sea fan, making photographya challenge. Not considering that the size is hardly visible on yourcamera's screen, you might need assistance from your guide or buddy topoint them out again. Give it a go and relate to your friends how smallthey are. Do be careful though, long-nosed hawkfishes and trumpetfishes prey on these pygmy seahorses. Before and while you are

photographing them, keep a lookout for theses fishes for they might stealyour subject for their meal instead.

The resort directly facing the oilrig resort has a fabulous house reef toobserve marine life coming to certain spots to be cleaned. Thesecleaning stations are normally anchor points for mooring lines hidden withcleaner shrimps and wrasses. After the day is done, turtles can be seenresting close to these cleaning stations, letting the shrimp and wrassesdo their job of removing parasites and algae.

Kapalai SightsOver at Kapalai's house reef, register yourself for a sunset dive and

watch the breeding ritual of the mandarin fishes. Coming out from hidingamong the rubble, the male searches for his harem and engages inmultiple mating behaviour daily. The repeated performances take onlyseconds from the time they lift off the reef into mid-water, releasing theireggs and sperm each time. Once the entire show plus encore is over,swim along the reef slope and close to the jetty. The proliferation ofmarine life is large mainly because they seek shelter under the jetty.

Most dives around these islands usually last much longer since thedepth between the surface and the seabed is shallow. The perfect

condition for any diver wanting to stay longer or photograph theirsubjects.

Conservation starts with youPoints to take note for divers with cameras are careful when taking

photographs and watch the placement of your fins. Avoid placing them oncorals or damaging them. For personal safety, check to ensure that ven-omous fishes like the stonefishes and lionfishes are not under you.Likewise, check before moving off once you have photographed yoursubject. Refrain from touching corals for support and if necessary use apointer to help stabilize you with the camera, ensuring that the pointerrests on the sand or rubble.

A special note for all - with their minute size, over photographing the

pygmy seahorse is like having huge 2,500-watt floodlights flashing inyour eyes. If you are with a group of photographers, try to limit the num-ber of photographs each one is taking. We never know how many timesthe seahorse has to go through these paparazzi daily.

Some resorts have implemented no-dive timing in the evenings.This is to allow marine life to settle down and the change of shift from dayto night, while others move to cleaning stations. Others resorts have alsoimplemented a no-gloves policy. We can play our part by observing andadhering to these rules in order to preserve the eco-system and tobenefit everyone to enjoy what we have experienced.

The WriterIvan Choong is a Field Editor with Scuba Diver Australasia magazine. Heoften travels around Asia to satisfy his passion for photography and

diving in equal measure. When he is not travelling, you can find theComputer Engineering Diploma holder in front of his computersmanaging his online business www.i-nsc.net

ParadiseIslandsBy Ivan Choong


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T h r o u g h t h e L e n s

To see your photos here contact the editor at 088 232121 oremail: [email protected]


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C u l t u r e1 4

Along time ago the ancestor of theKadazan lived together at the foot of amountain. They built their homes on

higher ground and used the lower groundsand valleys for farming. They planted hillrice, vegetables and many other crops.Over time, the Kadazan race grew populousand the land grew too small for farming andfood became scarce. Soon enough therewas no farming land left and no land to buildhomes.

One day, a family decided to move awayto look for their own land. The name of thefather in the family was Olu and his wifesname was Tindai. They had only one child,a boy whose name was Otu. Otu was still avery young boy when they moved away withhis parents. Olu and Tindai found a suitableplace to settle down and started cultivatingtheir plot of land for rice and other crops.They lived in their home for ten years with-out ever having gone back to visit. It was agreat distance away and there were noroads that led them back to where they hadcome from. Furthermore, Olu and Tindaiwere also afraid to make the journey backbecause there were headhunters aroundthe area.

Then Olu and Tindai became old andOlu passed away. Tindai and Out becamelonely after that. Otu, who used to go hunt-ing with his father, had to hunt all by himself.Tindai herself was also growing older andsoon she felt that her time to die was grow-

ing near. She began to give final instruc-tions to Otu. She told him of many thingsregarding their culture and advised him onhow he should manage when he was on hisown later.

Not long after that Tindai died. Otu wasso overcome by grief when he realised thathe had now lost both his parents. Becausehe was a man, he was not allowed to weepfor this brings disaster into the household.Otu suddenly saw a thin bamboo plant out-side his house. He had an idea and took thepiece and started to smoothen the bambooand made small holes into the stick.

He brought the flute to his nose andbreathed out into the holes of the bambooand a mournful sound came out. Out con-tinued to play the flute to express the griefhe had for his mother. The music from theflute went out from the house and washeard by the people from the neighbouringvillages. The villagers went out of theirhouses to look for the source of the soundand found Otu and his unburied mother.

From this came the tradition of theKadazans to play the nose flute to conveythe news of the death of a loved one.Taken from Kadazan Folklore, a bookcompiled and edited by Rita Lasimbang.The book is available at Kadaiku, Lot 5,Ground Floor, Block L SinsuranComplex, 88000 Kota Kinabalu. ContactKadaiku at 088 232121, fax 265540 oremail [email protected]

The Nose Flute


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16 B a h a s a M a l a y s i a

Piala Bola Sepak

Figos BorneoOktober-November 2008

Pada Oktober dan November, Piala Bola Sepak Figos Borneo yangpertama akan berlangsung di Kota Kinabalu. Kita akan menyak-sikan pasukan-pasukan amatur sekitar Australasia bertanding dalamlima kategori: Bawah 12, 14, 16, 18 tahun dan veteran.

Bertujuan untuk memberikan peluang untuk pemain muda danveteran beraksi dalam pertandingan yang dianjurkan dengan peran-cangan yang baik menentang pasukan-pasukan dari negara danbudaya yang berbeza! Ketika ini, pasukan-pasukan pencinta bolasepak dari Australia, Brunei, Singapura dan Kuala Lumpur telahmengesahkan kesediaan untuk mengambil bahagian dalam kejo-hanan menarik ini, dan penganjur mempelawa pasukan tempatandari Sabah untuk ikut serta! Apa yag anda tunggu lagi, periksa laman

jaring kami atau hubungi 088 249002 untuk maklumat lanjut dan

terkini!

Bazar Ramadhan,September 2008Ketika bulan Ramadan menjadi bulan untuk berpuasa untuk orang Islam diseluruh dunia, ia juga masa gerai-gerai makanan mula muncul untuk menjualmakanan yang menyelerakan untuk berbuka puasa. Bazar ini bukan saja untukmereka yang mengambil bahagian dalam bulan puasa. Sebut saja BazarRamadan, penggemar-penggemar makanan pasti akan rasa teruja. Pelbagai

jenis makanan dan minuman akan dijual untuk dibawa pulang. Carilah makananseperti nasi ayam, soto, kebab dan pelbagai jenis kuih muih yang beranekawarna. Cubalah minuman yang kelihatan luar biasa seperti cincau, cendol danair bandung (minuman berwarna merah jambu yang diperbuat daripada susudan sirap ros).Kunjungan bazar-bazar ini ketika bulan puasa September ini:

Lokasi Masa

Sembulan

Pasar Asia City

Lintasan Deasoka, Jalan Gaya

Wawasan Plaza 1.30 petang hingga 6.30petangPasar Malam Sinsuran

Tamu Tradisional Inanam

Indah Permai (berdekatan Giant Hypermarket)

Untuk maklumat lanjut, hubungi Elizabeth Borubui dari Dewan BandarayaKota Kinabalu di 088 521800, faks 088 316137 atau [email protected]


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Apa kata singgah ke sebuah pulau yang terletak berdekatan pantai Bandar raya untuk menikmati

makanan laut yang segar? Pulau Gaya hanya 10 minit dari Bandar raya, dan terletak diperairan tenang Teluk Malohom ialah Gayana Eco Resort. Restorannya yang baru dibuka iaitu Alu-Alu, menempatkan pelbagai makanan laut hidup untuk ditangkap dan dimasak untuk pengunjungyang memilih untuk makan menghadap Laut China Selatan! Di Alu-Alu Over Water Live SeafoodReataurant, makanannya dimasak dengan sentuhan Asia. Chef akan mengesyorkan agar memilihikan batu karang hidup yang dikukus dan dihidangkan dengan gaya Kantonis atau goreng ketamKam Heong (jika diterjemahkan bermaksud emas dan wangi) dan inilah cara terbaik untukmenikmati makanan laut terbaik di Sabah. Datanglah untuk makan tengah hari dan nikmati peman-dangan lautan biru atau makan malam berlatarkan pemandangan matahari terbenam, pada tempatyang boleh memuatkan sehingga 200 orang. Restoran Alu-Alu adalah lokasi sesuai untuk keluarpetang bersama rakan-rakan atau membelanja rakan-rakan makan tengah hari. Makan di Ali-Alu inimemerlukan pembelian pakej yang termasuklah bot pengangkutan pulang, kredit restoran,bayaran cukai dan perkhidmatan. Dan ketika berada di sana, kenapa tidak kunjungi Pusat KajianEkologi Marin. Di sana anda boleh melihat banyak hidupan laut yang dipamerkan di akuariummereka!

Untuk tempahan dan maklumat lanjut, hubungi pasukan tempahan mereka di talian 088-380390 atau emel [email protected]

Restoran Alu Alu di Gayana Eco Resort

B a h a s a M a l a y s i a

Sediakan kasut pengembaraan anda dan bersiaplah untuk men-

jelajah hutan Bukit Gemok di Tawau yang belum disentuh.Terletak 10 km dari pusat bandar, Bukit Gemok kebelakangan

ini menjadi tempat popular dalam kalangan peminat mendaki dan pelari-pelari rentas desa yang gemarkan cabaran laluan yang lasak. BukitGemok terletak kira-kira 428 meter dari paras laut dan merupakan seba-hagian daripada Hutan Simpan Bukit Gemok, meliputi 445 hektar.

Pendakian bermula dengan laluan mudah menggunakan tangga

konkrit yang akhirnya hilang dan memberi laluan kepada tapak semulajadi. Perjalanan mendaki agak mencabar, terutama sekali buat merekayang masih baharu. Awasi batu-batuan, akar-akar pokok yang membon-

jol dan benda-benda lain yang serupa. Ada bahagian yang curam danada yang lebih sukar, tetapi persekitarannya yang indah membuatkansemua itu berbaloi.

Dalam perjalanan, terlalu banyak yang boleh dikagumi, seperti pokokgergasi yang tinggi yang seakan-akan mencecah awan dan makhluk-makhluk yang jarang ditemui. Ada tujuh pondok sepanjang perjalananuntuk pejalan berehat dan bersantai. Selepas mendaki lebih kurang

sejam (bergantung kepada tahap kecergasan anda), anda akan tiba dikanopi titian selera. Dengan kepanjangan 231 meter, ia dianggap antaratitian kanopi terpanjang di Sabah. Pergelutan anda untuk sampai kepuncak akan berbaloi sebaik anda melihat sekilas pemandangan indahTawau dari puncak bukit. Pemandangan menakjubkan anda ini terma-suklah pusat bandar, tepian pantai dan kawasan sekitarnya. Perjalananmenuruni Bukit Gemok seharusnya mengambil masa lebih pendek, tetapiperlu diingatkan bahawa laluan menjadi lebih berlumpur dan licin ketika

musim hujan. Jadi anda perlu lebih berwaspada.Hutan simpan ini dibangunkan pada awal 1990 an dan kini dilengkapi

dengan kemudahan asas seperti bilik mandi dan pondok rehat di sepan-jang laluan. Sebarang kenderaan darat boleh digunakan untuk sampai keBukit Gemok. Cuma pastikan anda berpakaian selesa, minum banyak airdan bersedia untuk mengharungi pemandangan cantik yang menghijausepanjang laluan Bukit Gemok.Untuk maklumat lanjut, hubungi Pejabat Perhutanan Daerah Tawaudi: 089-761883/761835/761863 atau Pegawai Perhutanan En. MiskonSimin di talian 089-770604.

Masa Lapang Mengembara di Bukit Gemok

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Ambulance

/Police -999

Police Hotline

HQ SABAH 088- 253555

KK 088-221191

Airport - 088-238555

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

088-218166

Damai Specialist Centre088-222922

Information Services

088-280600/ 280631/ 280641

Useful

Numbers

Yayasan Sabah Ambulance088-326655

InternationalTelephone Directory

Assistance -108Sabah Medical Centre088-211333

Fire Department - 994SANDAKAN (08 9)

!Hospital 212111

! Airport 660405

!Immigrations 668308

TAWAU (089 )!Hospital 773533

! Airport 950013


LABUAN ( 087 )

!Hospital 413333

! Airport 415015


Saba h Tourism BoardNo.51, Jalan Gaya, 88000, Kota KinabaluTel: 088-212121 Fax: 088-212075Email: [email protected]: www.sabahtourism.comOpen: 8:00am to 5:00pm (Mon-Fri)

9:00am to 4:00pm (Weekend & PH)

Sri Pelancongan Saba h Sdn BhdLot 4, Ground Floor, Block L, Sinsuran Complex,88000, Kota KinabaluTel: 088-232121 Fax: 088-265540Email: [email protected]: www.sabahtourism.comOpen: 8:00amto 5:00pm (Mon-Fri)

8:00am-4:00pm (Weekend & PH)

Touri sm Mala ysia (Saba h)Lot 1-0-7, Ground Floor, Block 1, Lorong Api-Api1, Api Api Centre, 88000, Kota KinabaluTel:088-248698/ 211732E-mail : [email protected]: www.tourism.gov.myOpen: 8:00am to 5:00pm (Mon-Fri)

Closed on weekends

Kota KinabaluGaya Street Fair - SundayKampung Air - Sunday

PenampangDonggongonThursday & Friday

PaparLok Kawi Sabindo - Saturday

SandakanSandakan Town - SundayGua Mantong Jaya - Sunday

TawauBandar Tawau - Sunday

RanauPekan Kundasang - Friday

KudatMatunggong Lama - Saturday

Matunggong Baru - Thursday

Kota MaruduPekan Kota Marudu - Saturday &Sunday

TuaranPekan Tuaran - SundayKiulu - Tuesday

TamparuliPekan Tamparuli - Wednesday

TambunanBingkor - Thursday

Kota BeludPekan Kota Belud - Sunday

SipitangSindumin - Saturday

* m ost tamus operate as early as 6am an d close by 2pm.KOTA KIN ABALUSabah State MuseumMon Sun: 9.00am 5.00pmJln. Bukit Istana Lama, Kota KinabaluTel: 088-253199/ 263551

Sabah IslamicCivilisation MuseumMon Sun: 9.00am 5.00pmJalan Menteri, off Jalan Tunku AbdulRahman,Kota KinabaluTel: 088-538227/ 538228

Sabah Ethnobotani calHeritage Mu seumMon Sun: 9.00am 5.00pmBukit Istana Lama, Kota KinabaluTel: 088-253199/ 263551

Second World WarMemorial PetagasOpen dailyTel:088-253199

Kinarut Mansion Ruins MuseumMon Sun: 9.00am 5.00pmTel: 088-253199/ 263551

Tun Mustapha GalleryMon - Sat: 8.00am to 5.00pmAras Podium, Yayasan SabahTel: 088-321153 / 326683

SANDAKANAgnes Keith House, Sandak anMon - Sun: 9.00am - 5.00pmTel: 089-222679

Sandakan Memorial ParkMon - Sun: 9am-5pmSibuga Forest ReserveMile 7 , Jalan Labuk, SandakanTel: 016 8221616 (Doris)

Sandakan Heritage MuseumMon - Sun: 9am-5pmWisma Warisan, SandakanTel: 089-222679

Batu Tulug Archaeological SiteMuseum, KinabatanganMon Sun: 9.00am 5.00pmTel: 088-253199

TAWAUTeck Guan Cocoa MuseumMon-Fri: 8am -11:30am

1:30pm-4:30pmSat: 8am-12pm Sun: ClosedMile 2, Tanjung Batu Laut, Teck GuanFactory, TawauTel:089-775566 ext 2601

Bukit Tengkor ak ArchaelogicalSite Museum, SempornaMon Sun: 9.00am 5.00pmTel: 088-253199

OTHER DISTRICTSMurut Museum (Sabah MurutCultural Centre , Tenom)Mon Sun: 9.00 am 5.00 pmLembaga Kebudayaan Negeri Sabah(Tenom Branch) W.D.T 72, 89909Tenom.Tel: 087-734506

Mat Salleh Memor ial, TambunanOpen DailyKg. Tibabar, TambunanTel :088-253199/ 263551

Kundasang War Memorial,Open daily including Public HolidaysTel: 019 899 2041 (Mr. SeveeCharuruks)

Quailey HillOpen daily including Public Holidays8.00am to 5.00pmSabah Tea Garden, KM 17 JalanRanau-Sandakan, Kg N alapak, Ranau.

MUSEUMS & MEMORIALS

TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES

TAMU MARKETS


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Get up close and personal with Sabahs marinelife without having to get your hair wet atUniversity Malaysia Sabahs Aquarium and

Marine Museum. Doubling as the Borneo MarineResearch Institute, the facility is home to one of thebest marine aquarium facilities in Borneo!

As soon as you walk through the doors, look aboveyou to see a Sipadan deep dive diorama. What you willsee is a replication of a scene off the reefs edge inSipadan waters, alive with all sorts of marine life,including a dummy scuba diver. Begin your tour on theleft to look at a collection of Bornean reef corals, whereover 50 species of coral are displayed. Charts andstories are plastered on the walls to the visitorsbenefit, revealing the history and future of Sabahsprecious waters.

The Aquarium and Marine Museum houses freestanding exhibition tanks for the little creatures of thesea, while the live deep reef dive exhibition centre is anawesome display of larger creatures, including a

couple of green turtles. Learn about the conservationefforts and the research being done at the university toprotect and preserve Sabahs underwater life. TheAquarium and Marine Museum has several interactiveinformation kiosks for you to use.

The Aquarium and Marine Museum is a place youdefinitely want to introduce to your family and friends

you will be awed by what you see!

AMUMS is located at University Malaysia Sabah inKota Kinabalu. Visiting days and hours are Mondays,Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays from9.30am - 12.30pm and 2.00pm - 4.30pm. Fridays from9 30am 11 30am and 2 00pm 4 30pm AMUMS is

Aquarium and MarineMuseum UMS (AMUMS)

sabah malaysian borneo buletin september 2008

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