Donggongon a town of contrasting scenes

The town of Donggongon in Sabah can very well be the definition of the word contrast.

Located on the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu, Donggongan is the administrative centre of Penampang district.

Here, Sabah’s longest mall is just across the road from a tamu or traditional farmers’ market.

While the latest handphones and electronic devices as well as a supermarket chain can be found at the Megalong mall, it is a different scene altogether at the tamu across the road.

As they have been doing for generations, rural folk living along the Crocker Range and other areas bring their produce to the tamu.

Local vegetables such as losun or wild spring onions, bambangan or wild mango, tuhau or wild ginger, timadang or tarap fruit and karok freshwater fish are just some of myriad of local produce sold at the tamu held every Thursday.

Also to be found there are gongs, sigup or local tobacco and delicacies such as kuih pajaram or fried pancakes and kuih terang bulan or peanut pancakes.

For those looking for a more exotic fare, butod or insect larvae found in the sago palm is also available at the tamu.

The tamu that attracts hundreds of people to Donggongon as early as 6am every Thursday causes the weekly traffic slowdown in the town.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Donggongon a town of contrasting scenes

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Mañana Borneo, Kota Belud – Going Incommunicado At The Beach

“We’ve been here all day and my phone’s battery is still 90 percent!,” exclaimed Alia in amazement.

A wonderful feat for a PR practitioner where her trade demands constant usage of a smartphone to the point of charging the gadget three times a day and lugging it along with a bulky power bank.

On that day, there was no need for any of those items because there were no electricity, no telephone coverage and definitely no apps to scroll over.

For the three of us, it was only the sun, sea and sand at Mañana Borneo.

Tamu

Our journey began at the town of Kota Belud where we visited the bustling Sunday market, or Tamu.

I was looking for tarap, a cousin of the jackfruit and when we finally found one, we devoured it right away.

The inside is filled with smooth and creamy arils like an overripe mango and it was so addictive we had another one a few days later in Kota Kinabalu!

The drive from Kota Belud to the nearest village to Mañana took a solid 20 minutes as Faisal, our driver, expertly navigated through the tight roads over farms and hills.

We meandered up to a sweeping bay and made our way down to Kampung Pituru Laut, where a boat was slowly chugging across the choppy waters to take us to our intended destination.

What took 10 minutes felt like an eternity when we had to persevere through the crashing waves, purportedly caused by the tail-end of a typhoon from the Pacific Ocean.

Once we hit the shore we were greeted by Ali G, the chief caretaker, who quickly helped unload our bags from the boat and brought us on a quick tour of this place.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Mañana Borneo, Kota Belud – Going Incommunicado At The Beach

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Lots to do in Tamparuli

Pak pak kang ku doh, Sumunsui doh jambatan, Jambatan doh Tamparuli, Bakasut tinggi oku.

So goes the opening line of the Kadazandusun folk song called Jabatan Tamparuli.

The song dating back to the 1970s tells about how a young Kadazandusun lass garbed in her finest is heading to the weekly tamu at Tamparuli town on a Wednesday.

As she crosses the town’s suspension bridge, her high-heel shoes get stuck in the wooden planks and she can’t pull them out.

Left with her stockings, she can do little but to continue her trip to the tamu barefooted.

Like many Sabahans, veteran tour guide Daniel Doughty immediately thinks of that song whenever he hears the word Tamparuli, the name of a town about 35km from Kota Kinabalu.

The song brought fame to the town at the foothills of the Crocker Range.

Tamparuli is popular stop for travellers heading to the Kinabalu Park, Kundasang, Ranau and the east coast of Sabah as it is located along the Kota Kinabalu-Sandakan trunk road.

The suspension bridge has become an attraction in its own right as tourists love taking photographs of local folk using the swaying structure located about six metres above the Sungai Kiulu.

Just next to it is a low-lying bridge with vehicles crossing the river barely 0.3m above the waterline.

The normally quiet Tamparuli town is a hive of activity every Wednesday when the tamu or farmers’ market is held along the banks of the river.

There farmers from nearby villages bring their produce such as tuhau or wild ginger, local fruits such tarap and vegetables to be sold there.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Lots to do in Tamparuli

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Sabah’s annual Tamu Besar still going 136 years on

KOTA BELUD: Sabah’s annual Tamu Besar celebrates the unique tamu concept which still remains relevant in today’s modern society after it was first held 136 years ago.

“The Tamu is a living symbol of Sabah’s multi-cultural heritage which gathers together people from all walks of life and diverse cultures throughout the state to join in the thrill of trading,” said Kota Belud District Officer Abdul Gari Itam.

Today, the traditional open-air tamu has become an inseparable part of Sabahan life ever since it started in 1878 by the British Resident at Tempasuk who hosted the festival for the leaders to meet the people.

“This festival’s growing popularity eventually inspired other districts to host their own tamu which adds to the vibrant and bustling splendour of Sabah’s multicultural heritage,” said Abdul Gari.

Yesterday’s Tamu Besar festival was vibrant with music, food and smiles from the tens of thousands of people who thronged the affair, one of Sabah’s biggest and most anticipated events of the year.

Great fanfare and camaraderie permeated the festival that put on display Sabah’s profusion of cultures and traditions.

The Tamu Besar transformed into a multi-cultural marketplace, teeming with shoppers and vendors selling an array of traditional snacks, fresh fruits and local handicraft.

The momentous occasion was graced by Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Seri Panglima Norlidah R.M. Jasni.

During the opening ceremony, local talent treated the dignitaries and crowd to a winning display of traditional dances, songs and silat performances.

Among the major attractions was the traditional Ratu Serimpak and the Tanjak Pahlawan – a contest to find the fairest lass and the most dashing lad in town.

Continue reading at: Sabah’s annual Tamu Besar still going 136 years on

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North Borneo Train: Melalap The Final Station

In some parts of the interior of Sabah, train still serves as the main transport for people to get around. Just to name a few train main stops like Saliwangan Baru, Halogilat, Rayoh, and Pangi along the Beaufort-Tenom route are the places which depend solely on train service. In the old days, the North Borneo Train spanned it service starting from Jesselton to Melalap as its final station.

According to history, the Tenom-Melalap route was opened in 1906. And was closed in 1970.

Back in 1975 to 1976, the station was used as Melalap Police Station. It served as a quarters at the same time. If I am not mistaken a policeman and his family lived there during the period. I was in Primary One then. I remember studying in the same class with the policeman son until Primary Two at a school nearby, SK Melalap.

A row of shophouses building is located nearby. The building is as old as the railway station. Even though it has aged but still home a couple of families who run the sundry shops. The are two shops still operating. One is long closed in the late 1990s.

In the past, there used to be a Tamu (market) on Saturdays. The town folks came out with farm produce to sell in exchange for a packet of sugar and coffee. Fish mongers from Tenom came up with salt water fish. It was the day that everyone waited for.

During that time, RM 1.00 for a Land Rover ride from Melalap to Tenom was considered too much to afford. The Tamu then slowly forgotten as most of the new generation work at the government offices in Tenom. Who would want to buy at the Tamu when they could get supplies from Tenom as they wish for daily? Soon after, Melalap has turned out to be a quiet town.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: North Borneo Train: Melalap The Final Station

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Meeting place of Gaya Street

Gaya Street Sunday tamu abuzz with activity

 Plenty of souvenirs can be purchased here

Brass antiques from Sabah on display

 Local snacks and biscuits are a must-try

 Fresh tropical fruits from local orchards are plentiful

Members of the Kinabalu Artist Group put up their paintings for sale every Sunday

Photos courtesy of and Copyright to NYL and Brunei Press Sdn Bhd.

By NYL

Indigenous to Sabah, the tamu has been in existence for hundreds of years. It is an open-air market held at regular intervals in almost every village, town and city. In Sabah, the word "tamu" means "meeting".

Centuries ago, seafaring coastal people would meet regularly with their lowland agricultural folks to exchange fish, salt and woven cloth for rice, tobacco, fruits and forest products. Today, villagers from both land and sea still attend the highlight of their week, the tamu. They come to shop, to sell their surplus produce or just to meet friends. Depending on the location of the tamu, the ethnic composition of the people varies.

At first glance, trading seems to be the only activity at the tamu, but many social events also take place. In the olden days, dancing, singing, cock-fighting and buffalo racing were part of the tamu. However, such events are seldom seen; they are staged only for special occasions.

Native chiefs once held court sessions at the tamu; today these are held in the Native Courts, which are usually located at the District Office. The one activity that has remained unchanged is the meeting of old friends from other villages. Goods, news, gossip and other useful information are still being swapped over food and drinks.

Probably the most known and most visited tamu in Sabah is the Gaya Street Sunday tamu. Located in the heart of Kota Kinabalu, it has now become one of the most popular open-air markets attended each week by many locals and visitors to the state.

More than 300 stalls line Gaya Street, leaving narrow walkways for the customers. Many more vendors squat outside adjoining streets under large colourful umbrellas, with their vegetables and fruits laid on the ground.

The tamu is full of life even before sunrise. There is plenty to see, and there is always something unusual.

The majority of the vendors here are Malays, Chinese, Indians, Filipinos and Kadazandusun. The unique feature of the vendors is although they are of different ethnic groups, cultures and religions, they are able to work in close proximity, selling many common produce. There is a strong sense of respect and tolerance between the vendors, and to maintain the goodwill and peace there is an unwritten rule among them that they will not hassle or pressure customers into buying.

There is something for everyone - handicrafts, antiques, toys, clothing, souvenirs, vegetables and fruits, cooked food, cultivated plants, traditional medicines and musical gongs. It is common to find produce gathered from the jungle such as wild mushroom and wildlife such as fruit bats, monitor lizards and freshwater terrapins.

Members of the Kinabalu Artist Group display their paintings for sale every Sunday.

There is a 'mobile clinic' manned by the Sabah Nurses' Association where visitors can get simple medical tests, including blood pressure checks. In addition, members of the Society for the Blind also provide foot reflexology and massage at RM20 for half an hour.

Away from the vendors, shops along Jalan Gaya - cloth merchants, hardware traders and coffee shops - also do a roaring trade on Sunday.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Sunday

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Kota Belud Tamu Besar Festival on world tourism map

KOTA BELUD: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman wants the culturally-rich Kota Belud Tamu Besar Festival to be given an international flavour.

He wants the festival — a gathering of people of different races, religions and cultures — highlighted on the world tourism map.

Musa welcomed the various initiatives and latest developments in organising the festival, including the parade of Bajau horsemen in their full regalia, and handicraft products such as cloth, mat, hat and rotan products which could be commercialised as tourist items.

“The festival display the rich, unique and special cultures of the local communities. This is actually one of the special features or uniqueness of Tamu Kota Belud which was inherited several decades ago,” he said when opening the Kota Belud Tamu Besar at the Cultural Stage here yesterday.

Continue reading at: Kota Belud Tamu Besar Festival on world tourism map

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Kota Belud Tamu - Meeting place of Kota Belud

Kota Belud Sunday Tamu is one of the most visited tamus in Sabah

Dried salted fish are still being traded at the tamu as they have been for centuries

Variety of snacks sold at the Kota Belud Sunday Tamu

Photos courtesy of and Copyright to NYL and Brunei Press Sdn Bhd.

By NYL

Indigenous to Sabah, the tamu has been in existence for hundreds of years. It is an open-air market held at regular intervals in almost every village, town and city. In Sabah, the word "tamu" means "meeting".

Centuries ago, seafaring coastal people would meet regularly with their lowland agricultural folks to exchange fish, salt and woven cloth for rice, tobacco, fruits and forest products. Today, villagers from both land and sea still attend the highlight of their week, the tamu. They come to shop, to sell their surplus produce or just to meet friends. Depending on the location of the tamu, the ethnic composition of the people varies.

The tamu offers an opportunity to meet the local people, and experience the way they live in distinctly different cultures and yet in harmony with one another and with nature. Noisy, crowded, humid and at the same time, bustling and intriguing, the tamu provides an authentic encounter with the rich cultural, culinary and traditional aspects of the lives of Sabah's many ethnic groups

Probably the most known and most visited tamu in Sabah is the Kota Belud Sunday Tamu, some 75 kilometres northeast from Kota Kinabalu on the road to Kudat. For six days of the week, Kota Belud is a busy but undistinguished town. Each Sunday, however, it springs to life as hordes of villagers from the surrounding countryside congregate at its weekly tamu, undoubtedly the biggest in Sabah.

The market, 10 minutes' walk out of town fulfils a social as much as a commercial role and draws among others Rungus, Kadazandusun and Bajau indigenous groups. At the Sunday tamu, the various ethnic groups tend to cluster together due to the nature of their goods.

The most popular items traded are usually food. Commercially grown fruits and vegetables are widely sold in markets, but the tamu is the place to find wild vegetables, meat and jungle products. This is where you can buy delicacies like sago worms, tadpoles and smoked mouse deer meat.

The Bajau men are famed for their metalworking skills and proudly display their assortment of parang, handmade knives and kris; for practical use in the field and kitchen or as part of their ceremonial costume.

Handmade items for everyday use such as bamboo baskets, rattan mats or for special occasions such as ceremonial daggers, woven headcloths, intricate bead necklaces are also sold.

Traditional medicine made from herbs and other ingredients are also on offer at the tamu.

Kota Belud is the only tamu, which has a purpose-built pound for trading buffaloes. In the past, buffalo trading had to take place in the presence of a chief whose mark had to be branded on the animal to complete the sale. This was to prevent buffalo thieving. Today, with increased reliance on motorised farming and transport, buffalo trading is rare.

In the olden days, dancing, singing, cock-fighting and buffalo racing were part of the tamu. However such events are now seldom seen; they are staged only for special occasions, the most significant one being the annual Kota Belud tamu besar.

However, like everything else, the tamu has been affected by modern life. In the past, the goods on sale at the tamu were natural products from the land or the sea. Now, manufactured goods are taking up more space. Large areas of stalls selling cloths and plastic wares are found within the tamu grounds or nearby. Traditional traders used to be local villagers, but professional vendors, middlemen and migrants also set up shop at the tamu nowadays.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Sunday
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Sabah Tourism: Tamu Besar, Kota Belud

Date: 30 - 31 October 2010

The ‘Tamu' is Borneo's traditional open market. This grand event showcases Sabah’s largest alfresco market while featuring the unique customs and traditions of the Bajau community. Throughout this event, the natives of Kota Belud will be out and about parading in their best traditional costumes.

The Bajau horsemen known as the ‘Cowboys of the East' will dress in their traditional best and ride horses extravagantly decorated with colourful fabrics and jingling bell collars. The younger generation Bajau gentlemen will get in touch with their age-old heritage as horsemen of the east in an exuberant display of horsemanship. There will also be a parade of ponies dressed in gorgeously ornate costumes.

A wild, wild, East experience with a Bornean twist!

Further Information

Organiser: District Office of Kota Belud / Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn. Bhd
Contact Person: Mohd. Najib Muntok (District Officer) / Zachary Mobijohn (Sri Pelancongan Sabah S/B)
Telephone: +6088 976621 / 976542 / 232121
Fax: +6088 977064 / 265540
Email Contact: zachary@sabahtourism.com
Event Website: http://tamubesar.sabahtourism.com

Source: Sabah Tourism

NOTE: Photo Copyright to Sabah Tourism
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Three-day ‘tamu’ to promote local crafts in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: A ‘tamu’ (open market) will be held to promote and enhance the quality of local handicrafts.

Sabah Cultural Board chairman Datuk Wences Anggang in disclosing this said most of the handicrafts in the market are not locally produced, thus depriving locals of the opportunity to showcase theirs.

“One of the problems is the low quality of local handicrafts. We need to find ways to improve them to compete with those in the market today,” he told reporters here yesterday.

Anggang said the first, ‘Sabah Handicrafts Tamu 2010’ is aimed at promoting the uniqueness of local handicrafts; create an avenue for local producers to sell their products and to encourage the public to use handicrafts in their daily lives.

The Sabah Cultural Board is arranging for the three-day event to be held at Sabah Cultural Centre in Penampang beginning March 12.

For entertainment, there will be coconut bowling, blowpipe, walking on bamboo stilts and arm wrestling, to mention but a few. Cash prizes await the first three winners in each contest.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Three-day ‘tamu’ to promote local crafts in Sabah
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Kota Belud Tamu Besar drawing crowds

KOTA BELUD: Colourful and steeped in tradition while showcasing a harmonious blend of cultures and peaceful living, the annual Tamu Besar event never fails to attract people – locals and visitors alike.

The celebration yesterday drew more than 10,000 people turning this town, where the Cowboys of the East roam free, into a veritable carnival.

Ponies dressed in brightly coloured cloths with their equally fancy riders, beauties decked in traditional costumes and the gentle strains of the betitik musical ensemble all combine to make a truly unique festival.

Kota Belud district officer, Mohd Najib Muntok was definitely pleased to witness the large turnout of people.

“They have come to see for themselves how people in Kota Belud all live in peace despite our different cultures. It is a true example of the 1Malaysia concept,” he beamed.

Continue reading at: Kota Belud Tamu Besar drawing crowds
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Sabah Tourism Upcoming Event: Tamu Besar Kota Belud

Date: 24-25 October 2009

Saddle up, culture vultures, for an authentic extravaganza at the annual Tamu Besar Kota Belud held on 24 and 25 October! Located 70km northeast of Kota Kinabalu, the “Land of the Cowboys of the East” plays host to the biggest open-air market in Sabah, which is held at the Kota Belud tamu ground and town field.

This colourful event is a feast for visitors hungry for a taste of the native way of life. Purchase a variety of local goods from farmers, fishermen and vendors or observe unique ceremonies, dance and music displays. Enjoy the sight of Bajau horsemen parading on handsomely dressed steeds, the crowning of the Ratu Sarempak and traditional sports such as buffalo racing.

For more details, contact Zachary Mobijohn (Sri Pelancongan Sabah) at 088 232121/zachary@sabahtourism.com or Mohd. Najib Muntok (Kota Belud District Office) at 088 976621/976542.

Source: Sabah Tourism

NOTE: Photo Copyright to Sabah Tourism
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1,000 top spinners coming for the Sipitang Gasing fest

Kota Kinabalu: The 2009 Sipitang Gasing and Tamu Besar Festival (Gata Sipitang 2009) for the first time will attract the participation of 1,000 gasing (top) spinners from Sipitang, the largest number yet for the festival.

Sipitang Member of Parliament Datuk Sapawi Ahmad said they were currently negotiating with the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) to see if the feat could be entered into the book as it had never been attempted before.

"We were informed that we may need more than 1,000 participants (to qualify) but as a trial, we will bring in Sipitang folk, including students and youths, to participate. We hope the feat can make it into the MBR," he told a media conference here, Thursday.

He said Sipitang was known as a district with many top-spinning courts and had won several national-level competitions. It also made into the MBR in 2003 after building the biggest top in Malaysia, which is now showcased at the State Museum.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek is expected to launch the festival on July 31 at the Sipitang town field. The festival will go on until Aug 2.

Continue reading (incl. pic) at: 1,000 top spinners coming for the Sipitang Gasing fest

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Sabah Tourism Upcoming Event: Tamu Besar Kota Belud

25th – 26th October 2008

The biggest, most colourful and most exciting Tamu is back this October! Check out the vibrant atmosphere at this traditional open-air market, a perfect opportunity for you to get an insight into the life and culture of the people of Kota Belud. It is at this grand 3-day affair where you will find food, fresh produce, seafood, traditional medicines, clothes and even livestock sold by the society of Kota Belud.

The local community will come out fully dressed in their respective traditional attire and the Bajau will stage a spirited display of their riding skills on ponies in dazzling costume. Catch sight of water buffaloes– rarely seen at smaller tamus, they are brought out for racing, competition and for sale at this annual event.

For further information, contact Mohd Najip Muntok at 088 976621 / 976542 or Sri Pelancongan Sabah at 088 232121.

Check out the website at http://tamubesar.sabahtourism.com/

Source: Sabah Tourism

NOTE: Photo Copyright to Sabah Tourism

Kota Belud comes alive with open market

The open food stalls
The Kota Belud Market

Fantastic hats of the local folks

Photos courtesy of and Copyright to Faadzillah Raheemah Safri and Brunei Press Sdn Bhd.

By Faadzillah Raheemah Safri

Kota Belud, the name evokes a macho male dominated culture of the Bajau, an ethnic of Sabah. I was accompanying my uncle on a research trip on discovering the influences of the Brunei Empire around Borneo but found something else.

The trip to Kota Belud can be done on hired car, bus (at random time that only goes when it is full) or even a shared taxi. Prices are negotiable at times and transports go as early as 4am.

Just mind your persons and stuff. The trip takes pone at a range of two or more hours, depending on the driver. If you are driving, beware of police spot checks. Even so, there are many backpackers staying over night at the Kota Belud town in small hotels just for a night or two. Do wear good shoes as it can be muddy and damp at times.

The Pekan of Kota Belud is just as interesting as any sleepy old town but the difference is that it is more lively and with an added zest of personality. The Kota Belud got its name from the surrounding hills that are referred to as Belud in the local language. In that context there was a fort built in relation with the hills and mound that it became the fort of mounds or small hills.

The town of Kota Belud holds its market every Sunday with the Tamu Basar (main market event), which is held once every year in October or November. The market itself is not only a convenient store but is a shop for all.

Both luxurious and daily household items are on sale. Then there is also the mystical pottery, medicines and so forth. These comes from as far as China and Korea and as near as cottage products of the surrounding villages.

Local products as well as sundry goods are also another feature. The one most interesting thing with the market is the quality and prices of the items on sale are very cheap. How do they make an earning?

The common folks said that the items are bought in extremely large quantity thus the prices can be a lot cheaper than the open market prices.

The handicrafts items are also another thing that impresses any bystander or shopper. They look like things imported from Bali and so forth but were actually copies made by the local craftsmen.

The local craftsmen of Bajau, Rungus, Kadazan and others of Sabah are also handicraft churning factory. Magnificent and mind boggling in some cases, especially in the leaf plaited items.

There is this one type of basket that is a product of the Sabahan. When you pour water in it, it will not leak out at all, to my amazement. The colours are also interesting as most use the natural dyes that are abundant, around and free from any cost apart from the efforts of picking and gathering them.

The local folks are also humorous, welcoming and friendly. They were shocked to see my European looking uncle speaking Malay. But still the folks are merry.

The majority of vendors are above 40 years of age. This is a good sign, as they know the products of their trade. The folks spoke about the items they sell fluently, how to use it, what quality it has, how to handle it and the likes. No one is lost in translation, regardless of them not being able to speak English.

The skill of these folks also shows another side, recycling and environmentally friendly, the majority of the vendors sell their items on large yam leaves.

At the same time, stockpiles of the yam leaves are used for wrapping various foods that are sold. How is it environmentally friendly? It's not made from wood (as paper) so a factory is not required to pollute the Earth and the yam leaves are biodegradable. Plus the trimming of the plants encourages the yam to grow healthy.

The vendor that sells the local 'kuih' is the heart of the Kota Belud Market.

The expression while cooking and the skill while making are reflected on the faces of these folks. The food is of course clean and delicious. Eaten still hot with local coffee of Sabah, it's a kick to a drowsy head.

The Sabah government has built stalls that look like a foyer for the vendors to rest, display and gossip over a thick smoke of tobacco.

It is also meant to be durable and weather friendly. The structure is so sturdy that folks can rest and relax at the open-air structure.

After all that walking around, one should stop at the open café inside the main market complex. They serve food for the daring to the muted flavours.

Enjoy the noise as you can pick 10 different dialects that represent the harmony that Sabahan lives on.

So the next time you are around, try Kota Belud.

It is not what you expect that counts, it's what you would experience.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Weekend

Tamu is Borneo's grassroots mall

By Rahmat bin Hj Abdul Rahman

Tamu or Open market on Sundays that made its debut about four decades ago in the old oil town of Seria are a common feature in many parts of Borneo today.

Besides the variety of fare offered by small time vendors the Tamu provides an ideal opportunity for people to converge and meet up with friends and relatives who are doing their Sunday shopping.

The tamu lets small time traders to bring their produce from rural to the urban areas besides exchanging goods and reasonable prices.

Some of the popular items that are hawked in abundance, vegetables, groceries, textiles, cottage products and other agricultural produce.

Kota Kinabalu City is famous for its' Tamu or Sunday Market at Gaya Street that opens from early in the morning until 2 o'clock in the afternoon.

Kota Belud is also known for its Sunday Tamu and the Big Tamu. Sipitang's Tamu is on every Wednesday that runs early in the afternoon up to Thursday evening.

Lawas Tamu is on every Thursday morning to Fridays at 6 o'clock in the evening.

Meanwhile, in Limbang across the Brunei border the tamu is held every Thursday from 6 o'clock in the morning till 6 o'clock in the evening and is located near the public Wet Market in Limbang town. But on Friday, the tamu starts at 6 o'clock in the morning until 2 o'clock in the afternoon.

Some of the agricultural produce sold here come from Sabah. Fruits like avocado, watermelon and pineapples are available around March. Fruits like Rambutan, durian, pulasan, langsat, mangosteen and others were hardly seen at Limbang tamu. These tropical fruits are only available during their season between September to December.

The harvesting of the tropical fruits in Tenom, Sipitang in Sabah, in Merapok and Trusan, Lawas and Limbang varies from a location to another.

Meanwhile, the multi-racial ethnic communities in Sarawak trade in the tamus in harmony.

The ethnic Melayu Brunei, Kedayan, Lundayeh or Lunbawang, Bisaya, Iban and Chinese sit together to sell their goods.

One of the vendors was seen using timber trunks to improvise kitchen utensils like the "gagawi" and "sasaban" and "hulu parang". He made these utensils from the abandoned tree trunks instead of leaving them to simply rot away.

What impressed us mostly was the cottage industrial products made with traditional items like the "utau", "barut", "bantal guling or bantal paluk", pillows made from cotton by local woman for babies and post-natal mothers

Jangan, an officer from Limbang Municipal said, "The tamu operates fairly on a ' first come first served basis'. No booking can be made by prospective vendors leaving their goods during the day and night. The fee for a small plot is only about RM2.00.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Weekend

Kota Belud's 'Tamu Besar' promises exciting event this month

KOTA BELUD: A handicraft exhibition,cultural performances and a colourful Bajau horse parade will be part of the “Tamu Besar” celebration here on Oct 27 and 28.

Member of Parliament for Kota Belud,Datuk Seri salleh Said Keruak said the Tamu Besar or Kota Belud’s big open-air market celebration would provide the best chance for the public to see and appreciate the unique craft work and culture of the local communities.

“Kota Belud is a district rich in cultural heritage from various ethnic groups in Sabah,besides offering a beautiful panoramic view.

Continue reading (incl. pics) at: Kota Belud's 'Tamu Besar' promises exciting event this month

Driving Northward bound from Kota Kinabalu to Kudat

A drive up to the North of the State is a good experience, especially for those who love nature, the country side and the long ride.

The ride starts to be enjoyable as soon as you leave the city centre. The scenery starts to get more picturesque when you pass the University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) area.

This is when you start your drive seriously. As you drive towards Tuaran, you will see quaint villages along the way. At the road side you will see locals selling cockles and shells, as well as coconut. The most interesting item on sale is the roasted coconut (!!!).

The water of roasted coconut is supposed to be good for the heart. Drive on along the Sulaman highway and you will come to a crocodile farm. You can stop by and have breakfast there, and if you have time to kill walk in and look at the 1000-odd reptiles, laying around. You can purchase crocodile meat in the farm as well as leather goods.

As you drive on, you will come to Tuaran. This town ship has a distinctive nine-story Chinese pagoda as a landmark. The tourist attractions in this area are the Mengkabong Water Village and the Penimbawan Water Village, with stilt houses built by the Bajau over the shore.

Every Sunday morning, Tuaran town holds a market known as Tamu locally. Harvests from nearby villages and valleys are brought to the market, such as river turtles, shells, clams and bananas, among many others.

In Tuaran you should not forget to sample Tuaran mee, or ‘noodle of Tuaran’. This is a famous hawker dish of Tuaran.

As you leave Tuaran Township, you will come upon the bridge. From the bridge you can see villages clustered near the river. The water that flows under the bridge is quite sluggish, but it is deep. After leaving the bridge you will travel on the highway onwards to Kota Belud.

Kota Belud is a town located just one hour away from Tuaran. It is a quaint town, used to be called ‘cowboy town’ but it is now fast developing.

The development there can be seen through the construction of new buildings and the establishment of various enterprises. This township is well known for its ‘Tamu Besar’, an annual event that shows off the people’s culture and traditions. During this time, bedecked ponies with their equally colourful ride will take to the field and show off their equally colourful costume.

At that time, jungle and marine produce, as well as handicrafts and food, from all over the area will be displayed and sold in the tamu. Various other activities will be carried out, including sports and tele-match. If you want to taste local food and cakes, the tamu besar at Kota Belud is the best time and place to obtain them.

The Kadazandusun and Bajau is the predominant group in this area.

As you leave Kota Belud, you will notice that houses tend to be located at the roadside. At times the houses seem to near the road for comfort. You may have to be careful when you drive from Kota Belud township right up to the Timbang Menggaris area. This is because the cows there prefer sleeping on asphalt and goats and nannies seem to think that they have a licence plate on their rump.

The scene is beautiful though. This is an area where you can still see the yellowing paddy plants and scare-crow in the fields. As you drive on you will come to a junction where a row of stalls are selling groundnuts and its product. The groundnuts are really sumptuous. Take the left turn as this will take you to Kudat.

Kudat is about 190 kilometers north of Kota Kinabalu. On the west, it faces the South China Sea, and on the east the Sulu Sea.

The ethnic composition is mainly Rungus, a sub-group of the indigenous Kadazan. About 10 of the population is ethnic Chinese, and there are minorities of Bajau, Dusun, Murut, and Malay.

The town was founded by A H Everett of the British North Borneo Company on December 7 1881 to be the first capital of British North Borneo, due to its strategic geographic location.

However, after being repeatedly raided by Bajau, Sulu and Irranun pirates, the capital was shifted to the more secure port of Sandakan, on the east coast.

Since Kudat is the end of the drive, you may want to stay over as there are many interesting sights that you will enjoy in Kudat.

On Sept 8 and 9, the Coconut Festival was held there. There were several activities organised for the occasion.

Anyway, the tamu at Sikuati is one such attraction. This is where you will see various types of food being sold, hardware and many others. There are also sets of gongs for the taking. So check in to Kudat Marina Resort, which will accord you a beautiful sunrise or at Ria Hotel that offer you friendly services.

Among the various local attractions are the Rungus longhouses, gongmaking factory at Bavangazo, where traditional brass gongs and the Honey bee farm at Gombizau.

Or take a walk to Tanjung Simpang Mengayau and enjoy the sea breeze as well as the knowledge that you are at the Tip of Borneo. A fitting end to a driving tour up north.

Courtesy of: New Sabah Times 'In' Sites - Sabah Travel and Leisure Guide

Weekly TAMU (Open Market) in Sabah

Tamus are held in almost every town/district in Sabah. Most local traders gather to buy, sell or barter their farm produce, handicrafts, traditional ware, musical instruments, etc.

Below is a list of day and time of the weekly tamu around each towns in Sabah:

SUNDAY 6am - 2pm
* Kota Belud
* Tuaran
* Putatan
* Papar
* Babagon,
* Tambunan
* Tenom
* Membakut
* Kota Marudu
* Sikuati
* Gaya Street Fair (Kota Kinabalu)

MONDAY 6am - 2pm
* Tandek

TUESDAY 6am - 2pm
* Kiulu

WEDNESDAY 6am - 2pm
* Pinggan-pinggan
* Tamparuli
* Kudat

THURSDAY 6am - 2pm
* Donggongon
* Telipok
* Tenghilan
* Pekan Nabalu
* Sipitang
* Tambunan
* Keningau

FRIDAY 6am - 2pm
* Donggongon
* Sunsuron
* Weston
* Mesapol
* Kanibangan

SATURDAY 6am - 2pm
* Kinarut
* Beaufort
* Sindumin
* Matunggong
* Pekan Pitas

Courtesy of: New Sabah Times 'In' Sites - Sabah Travel and Leisure Guide

More articles on Weekly TAMU

Keningau - Cinnamon town beckons visitors

A local Kadazandusun girl.

The industrious Kadazandusun are creative handicraft makers.

A scene at the busy Keningau open market or tamu.

Copyright © 2006 Brunei Press Sdn Bhd. All right reserved.

By Catherine Goh

Located about 131 km from the capital city of Kota Kinabalu in the "Land Below The Wind" is the district of Keningau, home to the once colourful Keningau Festival.

Famous for its handwoven goods, the name Keningau derives from the word "Koningau," which means cinnamon as it was once the main producer of the crop in Sabah.

Nowadays there are two "tamu" or markets in Keningau, with the first tamu being held in Bingkor on Thursdays and the other tamu in Keningau town's centre on Sundays.

It is a great place to see traders displaying and selling their goods, from fresh produce to a variety of handicrafts.

The discerning travellers who are looking for a great find and bargains can look for their great range of handwoven baskets and trays, a product of the industrious Kadazandusun people.

This is the largest ethnic group in Sabah and is predominantly wet rice and hill rice cultivators, who celebrates the unique annual festival of "Pesta Kaamatan" or Harvest Festival at the end of the harvesting season in May.

Come December, many local and foreign tourists alike would join the people of Keningau as they revive the age-old tradition of the Keningau Fest.

An exciting line-up of activities including a cinnamon product exhibition, photography competition, handicraft exhibition and a night of cultural performances as well as the crowning of the local beauty queen will take place at the Keningau Community Hall and Keningau Cinnamon Hill.

Courtesy of: Borneo Bulletin

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