Taking a step away from all the heat, haze and madness clouding the nation, we take a look at why most refer to Sabah as the jewel of Southeast Asia:
1. Stunning, jaw-dropping islands!
One of the first things that come to mind when one thinks of Sabah, would definitely be its breathtaking beach strips with blue-green crystal clear waters.
With islands like Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai and more 'virgin' beaches, Sabah serves as the ideal destination to satisfy all your beach holiday cravings!
2. Locals there are probably the warmest and friendliest in the country
If there's anything that travellers most often worry about, it would most probably be language barrier.
However, Malaysians or in this case, Sabahans are mostly multilingual, with many that can speak at least three languages including English, Bahasa Baku, Mandarin, and other indigenous dialects.
3. There's lip-smacking CHEAP seafood and a delectable selection of local cuisine
One of the most popular local fruit in Sabah, 'Bambangan' is a type of wild-mango fruit that is known for its durian-like distinct scent.
The fruit is usually pickled, fried with onions and chillies to make sambal or tossed into a fresh salad.
Bambangan fruits are easily available in wet markets around the state.
Being a coastal state that is pretty much surrounded by the South China Sea, seafood is not only easily available but is also reasonable and rather cheap in Sabah, compared to other states in Malaysia.
To top it off, the eclectic blend of cultures add an interesting twist to the local dishes!
4. There are even dairy farms that resemble quaint little Swiss villages
Located at the foothill of Mount Kinabalu, Desa Cattle Dairy Farm offers one of the most amazing scenery one could envision.
Often chosen as a wedding photography destination, with the majestic Mount Kinabalu overlooking beautiful green pastures, the scenery is breathtaking, not forgetting the cool breeze that Kundasang has to offer.
The real attraction here is the cattle farm, producing about 900,00 litres of milk per year.
The farm is 199 hectares and most of the milking cows are Friesians, the highest milk producers of all cattle breeds.
A mini bonus if you are visiting the Desa Dairy Farm; the Kundasang War Memorial which is located just minutes away from the farm, will surely remind you of the majestic, medieval Scottish highlands!
5. Its lush rainforests could easily rival the Amazon
Did you know that the Borneo tropical rainforest is about 130 million years old, making it one of the oldest in the world?
While many parts of the country is covered in degraded jungles and secondary forests, Borneo's forest remains the only undisturbed virgin forest in the country, with a dizzying number of exquisite flora and fauna.
Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: 38 Gorgeous Photos To Prove That Sabah Is Truly A Rare Gem Of Southeast Asia
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