Nostalgic Journey to Sabah: May 2 to 5, 2014

NOSTALGIC JOURNEY TO SABAH: May 2 to 5, 2014

  1. Introduction. The three-day trip to Sabah, extending from May 2 to 5, made initially as a working visit to look at a few pieces of land for herbal development, at the invitation of a friend, turned out to be a nostalgic journey as I managed to cover a few things which include participating at a Kaamatan Festival. Visit Places of Interest, renew bond with old friends.  I was accompanied by Dato' Kamaruddin Kachar.  Our hospitable hosts were Dato' Joseph P. Lantip, Group Executive Director, Senarah Borneo Sdn Bhd and Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa, an old friend.
 2. Visit to Kundasang.  Dato' Joseph is interested in developing his land for the herbal industry, from the cultivation of suitable herbal species to the processing of herbal products ranging from perfumery, cosmetics and health and also considering the agro-tourism aspect of the farm development.  A consulting team is needed to come out with the various proposals of this development.  Visiting his pieces of land took us to Kundasang, Ranau and Kinabalu National Park. We had lunch at a popular restaurant, Anjung Selera, owned by a pretty divorcee in Ranau, followed by having desert at a stall, though the desert of durian is still expensive in Sabah ( at this stall we paid RM 135 for 4 fruits). At Kinabalu National Park, drove up to the point of ascent of Mt Kinabalu, Timpohon.  Recollected the 15 times I have scaled it - the first in 1990- the most challenging as I underrated it, thinking that the climb was going to be easy.  Subsequent climb was easier as I learnt the finer points of going up - do not hurry, enjoy the scenery around and before you know it you are at Laban Rata.  Why so many times scaling up - one gets the feeling of achieving a goal once reaching the summit.

 

 The reception office of Senarah Borneo Sdn Bhd

 From right: Dato' Joseph Lantip, Dato' Kamarudin Kachar, Datuk Zainei Aucasa at the corridor

of a resort in Kundasang

 Beautiful view of Kundasang

 The well- known  vegetable market  of Kundasang

 Anjung Selera Restaurant in Ranau

 The many faces of Mt Kinabalu.  It was covered by clouds the morning we were there



            The roadside stall where we had the durian desert 

    3. The Harvest Festival Dinner.  We were the guests of Dato' Joseph at the Pesta Kaamatan dinner held at the Kg. Nelayan Restaurant Hall.  The programme for the night was the cultural show and the contest for the Unduk Ngadau for the InanamDistrict. The Unduk Ngadau contest is a tribute to Huminodun. a beautiful daughter of Kinoingan and Suminundu from Nunuk Ragang, a village now known as  Tampias, Ranau (re article entitled Harvest Festival - a KDM cultural heritage by Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Herman Luping in Daily Express May 4). According to legendary tales, Huminodun had sacrificed her life for her community when the community was facing famine throughout the country due to drought and the subsequent shortage of the staple food of the people-rice. During my ten year stay in Sabah from 1990 to 2000, Pesta Kaamatan with the Unduk Ngadau contests were festivals I did not want to miss.

 The backdrop of the Pesta Keamatan Dinner and the Unduk Ngadau contest

of the Inanam District

 With guests at Table VIP 1 at the Dinner

 The cultural show as a prelude to the Unduk Ngadau contest

 The contestants at the Unduk Ngadau pageant

 The winners of the various categories

 

 

Group photo with the winners

 

  4,  Tamu at Tuaran.  Another attraction visiting Sabah is the Tamu, the weekly market where the people bring their goods: traditional vegetables, herbs, marine products, wildlife, handicrafts etc for sale.  During my days in Sabah the tamu at Tuaran or Gaya Street or Kinarut was  where I got my pegaga, pucuk paku, terong pipit, durian belanda etc. On this trip we visited the Tamu at Tuaran. It was still busy.  However, Tuaran town landscape has changed considerably.

 

 The varied agricultural products available at the Tamu

Various types of ginger











    

  5. Tour Around Kota Kinabalu City.  Kota Kinabalu or KK to the local is a vibrant city with many new development areas around One Borneo, KK 2 and KK 3.  Visited the Philippines market where it is wellknown to get pearls, handicrafts from the Philippines and marine products such as ikan bilis, udang kering, sea cucumber.  Bought a few pieces of pearls for my daughter who was celebrating her birthday and ikan bilis for home consumption especially to accompany the nasi lemak breakfast.  Also visited the wet fish market to assess the species and size of fishes being sold there.  Very glad to see the diversity of species of fishes and se-shells and surprising to see the large sizes available.

 

 The popular Philippines market

 Seafood products at the Philippines market

 The diversity of species of fishes

 The sea-shells

 

  6. Strengthening bondage among Old Friends.  One of the most satisfying things in life is being able to meet friends and make new ones.  Among those I met were friends in Rotary, those associated with me in environmental organizations, connected through academic and alumni links and friends who have worked with me in the Malaysian Cocoa Board and Promenade Hotel. We recollected the great times at work, play and community service.  Life has been very happy journeys indeed, particularly my ten years in Sabah

  

 Back row: from left Omar (MNS), Datuk Zainei (Sabah Wetlands& Archery), Frankie Foo (Rotary)

Front row: from right Dato' Kamarudin Kachar, Datuk Seri Panglima Kamaruzzaman Ampon of UMS

 Presentingmy latest book ' A Senior Citizen's Journeys of Happiness' to the Vice-Chancellor,

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), who is an alumnus of UPM

 Enjoying the singing by the group at the Lounge of Promenade Hotel

 

 With friends Kamarudin Yusoff (1st left in photo) and Asso. Prof. Mariam of UMS

Ex- officers of the Malaysian Cocoa Board and Tokojaya Sdn Bhd, who remain friends