Four World War II tunnels earmarked as KotaKinabalu tourist attractions

KOTA KINABALU: Four tunnels dating back to World War II have been identified in and around the city area and are planned to be developed into tourist attractions.

The Kota Kinabalu City Hall through its tourism committee is looking for new sites with potentials to become tourism products, the latest of which are the tunnels situated behind the Kota Kinabalu Community Hall and on the hills of Kampung Kopungit.

Its director-general, Datuk Joannes Solidau, said there would be continuous effort to discover historical sites because Kota Kinabalu had not many interesting places for tourists to visit.

“These tunnels are among the ones with the most potential for development because they are not far from the city centre, so it’s quite strategic.

“Moreover, the view from Bukit Kopungit is priceless because it overlooks the city and Tanjung Aru, all the way to Penampang.

“When tourists come here, not only do they get to see the historical tunnels, they will also enjoy a magnificent view,” said Joannes, during a site inspection with the media, yesterday.

The two tunnels on Bukit Kopungit are between 50 to 60 feet long, although the path is quite challenging and needs maintenance before visitors are permitted, to ensure safety.

Joannes said the second tunnel on Bukit Kopungit was the largest of the four inspected yesterday,  large enough for people to stand in.

“These tunnels were used by the Japanese in World War II as shelter, and bigger ones even led to larger spaces where they set up underground hospitals.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Four World War II tunnels earmarked as Kota Kinabalu tourist attractions

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Emily's World: Beautiful Borneo

Borneo is somewhere I have wanted to visit for years, mainly because of my love for orangutans and my long-term dream of seeing them in their natural habitat. As I did some research, I realised I might also be able to see my other two favourite animals in Borneo too; elephants and turtles.

I love elephants and was lucky enough to volunteer with them in Thailand a few years back but I had never seen them in the wild, nor had I ever seen a Pygmy Asian elephant, which are only found in Borneo! I also really love turtles and another big bucket-list dream of mine I’ve had for years, is to see turtles laying their eggs on the beach.

So off I went to Borneo with high hopes to fulfil my jungle dreams!

Kota Kinabalu

Borneo is a large island in Southeast Asia shared by Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. As I did some research, I read that despite being the smaller share of the island, the Malaysian part of Borneo is the more well trodden path than the Indonesian so this is where I headed- to the state of Sabah, in the north.

I flew from Bali to Kuala Lumpur and then straight on to Kota Kinabalu, the capital of the state of Sabah, landing late at night. I hadn’t had any internet for most of the previous week, so when I got up that first morning and did some proper research, I realised that Borneo was not only way bigger than I had anticipated- it is the third largest island in the world- but also I actually wasn’t anywhere near where I wanted to be!

I wanted to be in Sepilok, in order to visit a well renowned Orangutan sanctuary there but unfortunately it was actually a six hour drive away from KK on a public bus. Instead of wasting the extra day travelling there, I decided to book an early flight to the nearest airport Sandakan for the following day.

At this point I was still with my friend from home Jordan who had come with me to the Komodo Islands, so I booked for us both. All admin done, we then went exploring the city of Kota Kinabalu.

When thinking about Borneo, I thought only about the jungle and rainforest so I was kind of surprised by the size and craziness of the city of Kota Kinabalu; it was really busy, with big buildings and hectic roads.

As the day went on though, we realised that although the city was busy, there weren’t many other tourists around at all. We definitely stood out and got so many stares! KK is a coastal city but the beach wasn’t within walking distance, so we spent the day exploring the streets, finding the odd food market where we bought some tropical fruit and I tried a spicy chicken laksa. 

Surprisingly we also found a large, modern shopping mall with many western shops- which was something we wouldn’t have expected to see at all in this non-touristy city. Quite sad when you think about it! My Great Auntie actually lived in KK back in 1965 (called Jessleton back then) and I sent her photos- it would have been interesting to see how it was back then, untouched by the western world.

Later that evening, my friend and I caught a public minibus to the main beach Tanjung Aru, to view the sunset. There were soooo many tourists taking photos but mostly Asian tourists; I had read that Borneo is popular amongst Singaporeans and Malaysians from the mainland.

It was the most incredible pink sunset- which then turned into heavy rain shortly after, so we sheltered under a nearby shelter which fortunately turned out to be another really big/ cheap food market! This is one excellent thing about being in a non-touristy place- everything is sooo much cheaper!

Sepilok – Orangutans

The taxi came at 5am the following day to take us to the airport for our short flight from KK to Sandakan. On arrival, we got a taxi to Sepilok which took about half an hour. We were staying at Forest Edge Resort which fortunately was just down the road from Sepilok Orangutang Rehabiliation Centre, so we headed straight there.

I have always loved Orangutans and wanted to see them looking happy and healthy, ideally in the wild but if not possible, then in as close to their natural habitat as possible, in a good sanctuary that treated them nicely. (In the wild your chances of spotting one are very slim- how it should be.) So I did lots of research on this- and the day was every bit as good I had hoped.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Emily's World: Beautiful Borneo

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The Road To Somewhere: Sabah, Borneo – Apes and Mistakes

Kota Kinabalu – Beaches, Markets and Cheap Food

Kota Kinabalu was not the most scenic place we’ve been, or the cheapest. Yet it was still one on my favourite places.

It had a slight western feel to some areas, especially the harbour, and you could see the areas where the wealth of international business had started to make an impression.

Yet it still had a distinctly Malaysian heart. The streets were the meeting place for everybody.

It seemed like life was lived outside. Cafes, restaurants, park benches. Everybody was outdoors.

The market at the top end of the town had everything! Cheap juice drinks, fruit on a stick, every vegetable, spice or noodle you could wish to find.

We had heard rumours of the must-see sunset over at Tanjung Aru beach.

We tried to walk it there one day, but after 3 hours and one argument walking in the hot Malay sun, we gave up and got a taxi.

We arrived about half an hour before sunset and already the beach was heaving.

People had come from everywhere to watch the sun go down over this uninterrupted view.

We grabbed a mango juice and sat on the sand waiting. Sand flies were everywhere!

They won’t hurt you, they just like to roll the sand up into little balls and make pretty patterns but the little crabs might give you a nudge if you’re in their way.

The sun finally set and what a view. It was worth the wait.

The rumours are all true, it is a beautiful place to watch the sun go down and if you ever have the chance, I thoroughly recommend going to see it.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: The Road To Somewhere: Sabah, Borneo – Apes and Mistakes

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Places Faces Blog: The land of the proboscis and little transport - Sabah, Borneo

Sabah is the one place that I didn’t feel we were able to do justice. We had heard about the beautiful scenery from many people (which didn’t disappoint) but sadly in reality it was much harder to travel round and transport relied on chance and having a fair amount of cash.

Now of course this is just our personal experience and perhaps others had more luck but without spending money on taxis, which outside of the town were a real pocket bleeder, we wouldn’t have seen many places at all.

Additionally due to the unrest on the eastern and southern coasts, even locals recommended that we didn’t visit coastal towns and islands (there are real life pirates… Not the fun ones from Disney films!).

If you are still wanting to travel to Sabah it’s worth checking out your government website to see what they say as if they don’t recommend it and you need to claim anything from your insurance, it can be made invalid.

Our new plan meant our flights to Sandakan were disregarded and instead we flew to and from Kota Kinabalu, the ‘KL’ of Bornean Malaysia. We both enjoyed this cosmopolitan city as it had some great restaurants and bars and the islands and beaches aren’t too far away.

We initially stayed a couple of nights and enjoyed a variety of food, wandered the markets and tried to run as fast as we could away from the stench of any durian!

Things to do

Tanjung Aru beach

A short taxi ride away (less than 10 ringit) is Tanjung Aru beach which is the ideal sunset spot. Despite there being some stunning (…) cargo ships on the horizon, the sunset was probably one of the best I’ve ever seen. The beach was full of locals wanting to take in the moment too but oddly no one was swimming, when we asked why we were just told that the sand wasn’t very nice!

We moseyed along the beach for hours watching the sun lower and seeing the bright colours spread across the sky. It was a real highlight of KK and is a lot more spectacular than the Signal Hill viewing platform which is nice but don’t go with too higher expectations.

Sunday market

A street market full of the typical touristy bits but also aimed at locals with clothes and home bits. It’s worth getting there mid morning as we arrived at 12.30 and things were beginning to be put away. Bought some nice nic nacs and tried some durian chocolate which was pretty vile to say the least..!

Waterside markets

There are many different markets placed on the water front and it’s easy to get lost walking between the food and craft markets. Sellers aren’t too pushy and so it’s a relaxing time just wandering around seeing all the different nic-nacs and grabbing a fresh juice (remaining hydrated in the extreme humidity seemed like a mammoth task).

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Places Faces Blog: The land of the proboscis and little transport - Sabah, Borneo

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Cartoon Run to Give sees sister hotels Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan and Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu join hands for charity

KOTA KINABALU: Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan continues with its good deeds.

This time around the hotel joined hands with their sister establishment, Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu for their annual charity run – themed the Cartoon Run to Give.

The run which was carried out simultaneously at Marriott and Starwood hotels in South East Asia took place at Perdana Park in Tanjung Aru on Sunday.

Some 25 associates from Four Points by Sheraton, Sandakan made their way to participate in this good deed.

A total of 300 participants including senior citizens and children and also associates from Le Meridian KK took part in the fun.

Continue reading at: Cartoon Run to Give sees sister hotels Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan and Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu join hands for charity

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CuriosTraveller: North Borneo Railway Part 2 - The Experience

It left our beloved civilization, from the concrete jungle into the real green jungle.  It went through some villages, mangroves, jungles and plantations until it reached a small town where the locals were a bit slower in doing things in comparison to those in state capital. They looked pretty happy with what they are doing daily. We both kind of loving that way of life, free from the city’s stress. There’s no massive traffic jam here.

Local kids were excited to see the train coming, waving hands as if they are mates of us. We saw them waved again during the return trip. Did they actually wait? Welcome to North Borneo Railway, Arman said to us and we wish you the same, a great service by Sutera Harbour Resort & Sabah State Railway Department.

Pre-departure

That beautiful and sunny morning of September 24, 2016 we found ourselves checking in for the train ride, a return same day trip to Papar from Tanjung Aru Station. Checking in was easy, thanks to Linda who’s also one of the crew serving passengers. We’re excited like kids getting that passports, a mini booklet actually where a crew will stamp the destination names.

Then there was Dg Sarimah standing at the entry point, sincerely smiling all the time. She quickly assigned us to the seats in Tanjung Aru carriage or unit, if we may say that. The experience began even before boarding. The team were readily available to personally escorting each passenger to his or her seat.

At the Boarding area there’s Arman, who continuously smiled, sincerely to each arriving passengers! The passengers couldn’t stop smiling as well, a sign that they were pretty pleased with such great attentiveness given to them. It’s pretty mind blogging how each crew was able to escort each passenger to the designated unit when actually more passengers coming at the entry point. None of them waited long enough, soon after arriving they were whisked away to their seats in respective carriage, in record time!

We’re amazed with the carriages, both the interior and exterior. Inside our Tanjung Aru cariiage, beautiful decorated seats with darker wood panels as the wall pretty much implying the luxury feel, a perfect combination between new and old refurbishing style. The rotating ceiling fans gave cool air to the entire coach. Wall lights cleverly installed at each side of the window panels. The brand’s logo neatly carved on smaller metal pieces, embedded on each seat.

The exterior has the right colors that resembles the olden days train, green and white with the logo on each carriage. Inside, the unit we were in was pretty immaculate, there’s not even one microscopic litter can be seen, looks like the crews did their job perfectly, looking after the train cleanliness inside out. Everyone were here and there, inside and outside the train, capturing moments through the camera lenses. Nevertheless, crews managed to assemble all back into the units so that they can start the service with pre- departure safety presentation followed by serving refreshing lemonade.

Overall, pre-departure service was excellent. Crews were very professional in handling passengers arrival. While crew ensured passengers safety and comfort, they did it soulfully, with all their heart,  in full smile which in return made the passengers smiled. Not a single complaint heard, at least in our carriage.

The Train Master, Mr Jual Husin, went around ticking the boxes in his check list. He ensured each passenger comfort and in full-swing, ready for the journey. Having completed his round in all 5 carriages, he proceeded with the thumbs-up for that harmonious sound of whistle and bells, an indication that the train is ready to leave Tanjung Aru Station.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: CuriosTraveller: North Borneo Railway Part 2 - The Experience

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CuriosTraveller: North Borneo Railway Part 1- About and History

No other experience on other train service is able to beat our experience being on board the North Borneo Railway. The experience will last forever in our thoughts. Yes, this is not the Eastern & Oriental service but this service is in North Borneo, Sabah Malaysia, it’s a ride on a classic train. Not the Shinkansen or bullet train as in Tokyo to all over Japan either but the return trip to Papar from Tanjung Aru station by North Railway Borneo took us to the ‘past’. It made us understand one big thing, the history. It made us ably to appreciate all the elements of a classic train by just being on a single ride! A ride of a lifetime that we strongly recommend to all of you, without any hesitation, not even a second!

Prelude

We are truly grateful and shall be sharing all our experience so that you will be inspired and hop on the train service by North Borneo Railway soon! If you do, please do contact us and share your experience in this blog! We love guests post anyway! After all, sharing is caring. The ride is not about indulging in luxury, it is about ‘visiting the past’, enjoying that amazing views, making friends with the other passengers, capture all that beautiful landmarks (for photographers), moving at a slower pace as how the older generations did during the British era and perhaps waving hands to all the people outside (they are excited too!).

About

Credit: Sutera Harbour Resort & Sabah State Railway Department

North Borneo Railway is the oldest running steam train in Sabah and Borneo. The nostalgic romance of an old steam train relives memories of a bygone era. Passing through villages and coastal towns, paddy fields, rainforests and plantations of rubber and coffee, a ride on North Borneo Railway is truly a journey of rediscovery into the heart of Borneo.

The North Borneo Railway is a joint venture project between Sutera Harbour Resort and the Sabah State Railway Department (Jabatan Keretapi Negeri Sabah), signifying a historical collaboration between the private sector and the state government. The primary goals of the project are to enhance existing infrastructure as well as help in efforts to promote Sabah as a destination for domestic and international tourism. The North Borneo Railway was officially launched on 22nd January 2000 in honour of Kota Kinabalu achieving city status on 2nd February 2000.

The North Borneo Railway offers passengers an opportunity to experience the bygone era of British North Borneo while transporting passengers along the lifeline of Sabah. Refurbished to recreate the nostalgic romance of people travelling by steam train in the days of the Chartered Company and the British Colonial Office, both the exterior and interior provide an environment that would have been typical of stepping onto a train in the 1900s.

The exterior utilizes the traditional deep green and cream of the original North Borneo Railway, with carved brass logos showcasing the original design of a tiger holding a rail wheel, standing on the royal crown.

The interior highlights the natural woods of Sabah and unless the train is fully booked, passengers are offered free seating on one of the five colonial-style passenger train carriages.

The Vulcan’s Origin

Credit: The Engine Museum (United Kingdom) & Sutera Harbour Resort

The steam locomotive from the North Borneo Railway was manufactured by the Vulcan Foundry Ltd in Newton-le-willows in Lanchashire, United Kingdom. As quoted from the Engine Museum in the UK:

“Vulcan Foundry received its final order in 1954 from the North Borneo Railway for three locomotives-the result a neat 2-6-2 tender locomotive of 58'-0? length, weighing 85 tons.”

Not only do these steam engines represent the last of a fleet that have piled the tracks through Borneo since the late 1880’s, they are also part of the only few functional wood burners in the world.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: CuriosTraveller: North Borneo Railway Part 1- About and History

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Tanjung Aru Eco Development involves reclaiming 226 ha

KOTA KINABALU: About 226 hectares (558 acres) of land reclamation would be carried out for the Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED).

Project management director Peter Adam told a press conference here yesterday this would encompass 65 percent of the entire project area of about 348 hectares or 860 acres.

Reporters were given the assurance that the reclamation work that would be carried out for TAED would not adversely impact the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TARP) or the surrounding coral areas.

It was also mentioned that hydraulic studies have been done to ensure the reclamation works carried out would not pose a problem and the Tanjung Aru beach would remain stable (not erode).

It is a known fact that the Tanjung Aru beach, including the Prince Philip Park, had undergone serious erosion issues for years and the studies carried out would hopefully help to mitigate the issue.

Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai told reporters that the Tanjung Aru beach has been facing erosion problem since 1985.

“This is one chance for us to transform the beach,” he said.

Yeo also reminded that among the most beautiful developments in the city, the Sutera Harbour Resort, was made possible through land reclamation and that areas in the city such as Segama was also formerly part of the sea that was reclaimed.

He added that he has been involved in the National Coastal Erosion Study and in the protection of beaches since 1985.

He also disclosed that the environment undergoes dynamic changes all the time and goes through a lot of transformation. Yeo also mentioned that studies carried out on the beach water found large concentration of e-coli of between 3,000 to 4,000.

“There will be no more emission of septic tank wastes into Tanjung Aru (beach),” he said.

Yeo also said that efforts will be made to transplant the heritage trees that would be affected by the development. He said they were “cracking their heads” figuring how to maintain and ensure the survival of as many trees as possible.

He also said that the City Hall kept an inventory of all the heritage trees and mentioned that there were about 200 of them with 600 large trees.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Tanjung Aru Eco Development involves reclaiming 226 ha

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The best beaches of Borneo

This guide will provide you with a brief overview of the best beaches in Borneo. Choosing your seaside experience can depend on various factors, you may want to consider geographical location, snorkeling and diving opportunities and FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK) advice. Here I give you an overview of the best beach options to help you make the right decisions for your Borneo holiday.

Borneo’s beaches are mainly clustered in the eastern state of Sabah including Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park’s beaches, Tanjung Aru Beach and Shangri-la's Rasa Ria Beach near the major city of Kota Kinabalu. In the western state of Sarawak there is the rustic Permai Rainforest Resort with a wonderful private beach. Finally there are some incredible choices to the far east of Malaysian Borneo’s coast. In this area of the island though we must consider FCO advice and factor in whether travel insurance will cover your stay in this region.

Sabah Beaches

Shangri La Rasa Ria beach

Pantai Dalit Beach is surrounded by 400 acres of lush tropical vegetation making it the perfect location for beach and nature lovers. The hotel itself is host to numerous amenities, beautiful gardens, and is set right on a private beach making this option ideal for families. There are a vast array of places for food and drink in the hotel and you will not be disappointed by a sunset cocktail at the Sampan Bar.

Tanjung Aru beach

6 kilometres south of Kota Kinabalu near the Shangri La Tanjung Aru is Tanjung Aru beach, a very local area with few tourists and an abundance of restaurants and food stalls in the evening all of a great variety. It’s the perfect place to sample some of the local cuisine, our favourites being the fresh seafood, steaming bowls of Laksa and Roti Chenai. This is a great place to visit if you’re looking to soak up everyday Bornean life.

Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park

A 15-minute speed boat from Kota Kinabalu, Gaya Island is largest of 5 islands with three great resorts – Gaya Island Resort, Bungaraya Island Resort and Gayana Ecolodge. The latter two share a beach, being sister properties, Gaya Island Resort has a rather magnificent setting on its own beach whilst also providing guests with access to a very secluded private beach at Tavajun Bay a short boat ride away.  The sand here is a perfect white colour with crystal clear waters and an abundance of marine life. Here you can also explore Gaya’s vast rainforest and visit the resort’s own marine centre where incredibly knowledgeable naturalists can tell you all you need to know about the wildlife and conservation efforts of the area.

Other surrounding islands that are worth a visit are Manukan, Sapi, Mamutik and Sulug, all beaches that are lined with barbeque stalls teeming with activity, giving visitors a great glimpse into the local way of life. Gaya and Sapi are also excellent places for diving, with the calm surrounding sea being a great advantage.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: The best beaches of Borneo

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Magnificent Sunset View @ Tanjung Aru Beach

The Tanjung Aru Beach is located about 6 Kilometers from Kota Kinabalu City. Locals here flock to this area during weekends and tourist come like everyday to view the magnificent sunset.

Tanjung Aru name is taken from the Casuarinas or Aru Trees. The main attraction is always the 2nd beach as it has food stalls serving local food and drinks that open till late at night.

You can get some coconut and sugarcane juice, chicken or beef satay and steamed peanuts and corn.

I lived in this area during my teen years so I do know that locals divided the beach to 3 sections. The 1st beach, 2nd beach and 3rd beach.

The 1st beach mainly is the area from the Kinabalu Golf Club/Kinabalu Yacht Club to the luxurios Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort.

The 2nd as I mentioned earlier is where the stalls are located and up to the Prince Philip Park.

There used to be a place named ‘Art Street’ before but currently that place (adjacent to the food stalls) is under renovation.

Perhaps the City Hall is planning much better facilities to all. Hopefully!.

The 3rd beach is generally from the skating rink area up to the area where you get to see the runway of Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

From our previous visit, we always took pictures in front of a mural in one of the building in the Art Street corner.

Sadly, that mural is nowhere to be seen when we came recently. Hopefully there will be a bigger  mural. Yeah, we love murals.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Magnificent Sunset View @ Tanjung Aru Beach

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Kota Kinabalu, naturally

As mentioned previously, I've recently returned from a somewhat unexpected visit to Malaysian Borneo, and in that previous posting I promised more material from that exciting experience. 

Here's the first instalment. You might like to follow the link above to the previous posting for some background if you missed it, but it's certainly not essential.

Kota Kinabalu (pronounced ki-na-BAH-lu) is the capital of Sabah, in north-eastern Borneo.

It is a busy - but by no means intimidating by developing nation standards - port city of around half a million.

For travellers there are two general accommodation options. You can stay in city centre, near the port, or you can stay near the airport south of the city centre. I did both at different stages.

During the trip, which started and ended at KK (to use the familiar name used by many locals) we returned partway through en route to Sarawak, and stayed in the centre, just a block from the waterfront.

Even here wildlife was quite good (even aside from the very large and presumably exotic rats which pottered about the wonderful fish market, and the gang of introduced House Crows, the only ones in Borneo, which also loiter thereabouts).

House Swifts and Glossy Swiftlets breed on buildings, and there are herons and terns in the port and various passerines in empty land nearby.

My favourite was near the airport, where I stayed at the start and end of the trip, close to the popular Tanjung Aru Beach (tanjung is a cape, and it's always abbreviated to Tg Aru), backed by extensive parklands with the unlikely name of Prince Philip Park.

I stayed at the Casuarina Hotel, cheap and pleasant and just a few minutes walk from the beach and park.

Just looking out the windows was a good introduction to the local birdlife.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Kota Kinabalu, naturally

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10 Things to Do in Kota Kinabalu with Kids

If Malaysia isn’t on your family holiday to-do list, there are many reasons why it should be. My daughter and I recently visited Kota Kinabalu in the state of Sabah on the western side of Borneo. It’s a popular destination for those who would like to take a break from city life to enjoy a tropical vacation in an incredible biodiverse part of the world.

We had a brilliant time experiencing the area’s extraordinary wildlife, attractions and luxury hotels. It may surprise you to know that there are many things to do in Kota Kinabalu with kids, some of which are mentioned below.

1. Go Snorkeling

The snorkeling off the coast of Kota Kinabalu in the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park is amazing.

A particularly excellent option is Mamutik Island which we had direct access to it via Shangri-la's Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa’s STAR Marina private boats. But the park has five islands in total: Gaya, Mamutik, Manukan, Sapi and Sulug. Snorkeling and diving can be done around most of them.

You’ll see a variety of tropical fish, eels, rays, black-nosed sharks, jellyfish (the harmless kind), stunning coral and so much more in often clear waters. A number of tours run from Kota Kinabalu and it only takes a few minutes to reach the islands by boat.

2. Visit an Orangutan Sanctuary

A family vacation to Kota Kinabalu with kids (or without) is not complete without a visit to an orang utan sanctuary. We were short on time so could not visit the famous Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Sanctuary, which may require a flight or a long (over 5 hours) bus ride. I have heard that if you can swing it, a visit here is well worth it. It is larger than others, with 40-60 orang utans there at any given time, and by far the most famous for viewing these amazing rescued animals in their natural habitat.

Instead of Sepilok, we attended a morning orang utan viewing at Shangri-la's Rasa Ria Resort and Spa Nature Reserve where some orang utans are rehabilitated before being transferred to Sepilok to relearn life skills prior to release. After learning about orang utans and Borneo wildlife in general, we walked to a viewing platform where we enjoyed a close-up look at the two orang utans in residence (my daughter also participated in Ranger for a Day where she cut up the fruit and veg they ate).

3. Watch a Sunset

The sunsets in Kota Kinabalu are nothing short of amazing. The sun appears larger closer to the equator, the air quality is good and the tropical clouds create an incredibly dramatic effect. Witness the magic of a Borneo sunset at Tanjung Aru Beach, the Sunset Bar at Shangri-la's Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa or Sutera Harbour.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: 10 Things to Do in Kota Kinabalu with Kids

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They have trains in Borneo?

After thinking Borneo was all jungle and wildlife, I decided to take a day trip from Kota Kinabalu and went full steam ahead on the North Borneo Railway!

The line begins at Tanjung Aru and continues all the way down to Tenom, nearly 140km away.

This is a nice area for tourists with lots of cool natural and historic attractions, and I found lots of friendly people in Papar, too.

That is becoming the norm in Malaysia, as everybody seems so friendly here towards tourists.

The future of the railway has also been brightened by the increasing use of it by tourists.

The Beaufort to Tenom stretch of track runs through the Padas River gorge and is regarded as incredibly scenic.

In addition the railway itself is something of an attraction to some, and a historic North Borneo Railway tourist train is operated by Sutera Harbour Resort especially to capture this market.

With the growth of Sabah as a “light adventure” destination, the use of the railway by tourist traffic is quite likely to increase.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: They have trains in Borneo?

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Aramaiti Art Fest in Tanjung Aru

KOTA KINABALU: Those interested in the arts and culture of Sabah are welcome to visit the Aramaiti Art Fest at the Aruba Cafe in Tanjung Aru.

Among the many things which would be available to the public are busking, batik painting, temporary henna tattoo making, caricature drawing, stone painting and copper carving.

According to art consultant, Khalid Shamsuddin Arshad, the event would start at a small scale to see what they could achieve in the future.

“Next time, it would be more systematic. We will be doing this every weekend, as Tanjung Aru is one of the best places to see the sunset,” said the Kuala Lumpur native when interviewed.

Khalid also stated that as it was a tourist spot, there was the opportunity to do a lot of things, further adding that he was very happy with the outcome of the event.

He told reporters that he was looking for support and was planning to propose the idea to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment as he believes that such an event would help increase tourism in Sabah.

Meanwhile, William Cheng, who is the organizer for Aruba, said that they were aiming to create an “Arts and Cultural Street” and the event will continue tomorrow and every weekend.

“People can bring family members here; their children can enjoy the beach and join in painting as this is a very educational program,” William said.

He also added that more local products would be brought to the event.

Continue reading at: Aramaiti Art Fest in Tanjung Aru

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Nature’s artistic patterns at Borneo sandy beaches

MAY I ask the reader for the answers to two simple questions? Question 1: What have the following words in common: hermit, fiddler and bubbler? Question 2: What have Bako, Damai, Sematan and Tanjung Aru in common? Whilst there are no prizes for the answers, you will most likely already have guessed crabs and sandy beaches.

Hermit crabs are usually seen in rocky foreshore pools and fiddler crabs on many a mudflat but the bubbler crab (Scopimera globosa) is only found on the sandy beaches mentioned earlier, where it is the most artistic of all crab species.

Its intricate artistic patterns are only found at low tide.

It was first described in detail by a Dutch zoologist Wilhem de Haan in 1835.

For many years, I have been fascinated by an intricate piece of Indonesian batik which hangs on my sitting room wall – given to me by a former student.

I have marvelled at the little gold painted spots on the outline of figures on this folk artwork.

It was much later, in 1992, when strolling along the public beach at low tide at Tanjung Aru in Kota Kinabalu that I observed small rounded pellets of sand aligned in an orderly fashion and not dissimilar from the detail of my Indonesian batik.

I have more recently seen similar sand pellets on the Nature’s artistic patterns By Alan Rogers beaches of Sematan and Damai Central and on other sandy beaches around the Indo-Pacific Ocean.

Amongst these minute sand ball pellets are two to three small holes in the sand from which the lines of sand balls radiate in arcs.

Each pattern is uniquely created on the damp sand by an individual artist, but how did this pattern emerge between high and low tides on the beach? The minute, shy, Scopimera crab is not unlike the street artist Banksie, who has painted talented works of art on blank walls in England but has never been seen in action! Scuttling out of their holes, these bubbler crabs specialise in sieving microscopic organisms, such as stranded plankton, trapped on the surfaces of sand grains.

Scooping up the grains with their small claws into their mouths they only ingest organic material and then spit out the sand, as residue to create the sand balls that we see.

When threatened by the squelching of human feet or the shadows of humans or by preying seabirds, this crab scuttles very quickly into its burrow – its air-raid shelter.

Measuring from one to 1.5 centimetres in width across its upper exoskeleton, with eyes on very short stalks to be lowered into its body whilst scurrying into its burrow, its upper meral joints (equivalent to our humerus bones leading down to our elbows) have membranous disks.

These disks are breathing organisms, used in gas exchange, when the crab is in its burrow or when on the sand surface to absorb atmospheric oxygen.

Zoologists frequently refer to these membranes as gas windows.

When the tide has ebbed, the crabs quickly emerge from their burrows, creating pathways or grooves as they eject indigestible sand in pellet form.

Almost chameleon-like in its ability to change colour, the bubbler crab adopts the same colour of the sand from which it feeds.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Nature’s artistic patterns at Borneo sandy beaches

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Surfing in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Surfing in Sabah is relatively still a new adventure sport but it is catching up among a very small fraction of the local population, who are mostly youths and young adults.

But when people think of surfing in Asia, Indonesia comes to mind, having established itself as a destination for surfers much earlier because of its big waves.

And it was about five years ago when a surf enthusiast, local Ivan Nicolai, banded with some friends and decided to give the waves, initially at Tanjung Aru, a go.

From thereon, there was no turning back for the small group of friends and as word spread around, the number swelled to more than 20.

Ivan started with bodyboarding about 1990 and switched to surfing only eight years later in 1998 after he went to Bali and got his own board.

"Most of my bodyboard buddies left the scene and back then I never see or hear any surfers (in Sabah) so I stopped (surfing).

"I only started to really surf again when I met my friends Charles and Kanesh in 2005," he said.

While the waves in Sabah are considered mild, which are more suitable for beginners, it didn't stop the interest on it from growing.

There is even a surf lesson that will be held soon for those who want to give surfing a go.

For the benefit of those who are unaware of it, there is the Sabah Borneo Surf Club or Sabah Surfing Association (SSA), which is about to be formed soon.

A website that is dedicated to surfing in Sabah said Ivan and his friends regularly invite friends from other parts of the globe such as Japan, Brazil, Australia and the UK.

And they usually hit the waves at Simpang Mengayau in Kudat where the size varies from two feet to nine feet.

"December to March is when the wind changes to the Northwest monsoon and that's when the swells start coming in more frequently in Tuaran and further up north in Kudat," according to Ivan.

Continue reading at: Surfing in Sabah

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Tanjung Aru Eco Development project: Building resilience through inclusivity

KOTA KINABALU: Tanjung Aru beach stands to benefit from a sensitive and thoughtful revitalization that truly returns this historic piece of Sabah to its people, Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP) said yesterday.

Responding to over a year of debate on the pros and cons of the Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED) project, LEAP Executive Director Cynthia Ong raised the need to appreciate the beach as a commons – a resource that belongs to the whole community.

“LEAP advocates and supports an inclusive process in the revitalization of Tanjung Aru’s historic coastline.

“The development of this public space affects our entire community, and decisions about its future should be made with the community, for the community,” Cynthia said in a statement yesterday.

The revitalization of Tanjung Aru Beach calls for a deeper acknowledgment and understanding of the importance of the commons and a truly inclusive process to determine how it can be developed in a way that builds the resilience of the community and preserves the essence of this iconic beach.

Cynthia shared that the commons refer to cultural and natural resources that are available to all members of society and these include water and air. Such resources are held in common, over which people have certain rights, unless this property is transformed into private property through enclosure or privatisation.

“All over the globe, we are losing our commons – our shared and public spaces – to privatisation, and these decisions impact everyone.

“We need to think carefully about the legacy we want to leave future generations, and care for these precious resources for our future mutual benefit. Whether the decision is to privatise or maintain as commons, or a balance between the two, our concern is that the spirit is inclusivity in both process and decision-making,” she said.

Continue reading at: Tanjung Aru Eco Development project: Building resilience through inclusivity

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For the Love of …. The NORTH BORNEO RAILWAY

Last week, I flew across the South China Sea, to catch a train.

Not just any ordinary train, but the Vulcan steam locomotive … and a mighty fine hunk of steel to ride on! Heh.

I love trains, and yes, I do jump up and down at the sight of them when no one’s looking... I don’t know much about the mechanics, but what I do know is that this particular ride is a heritage in its own right, one not to be missed. 

To hear the whistles blowing as the massive locomotive goes chug-a-chugging through the countryside got my heart bouncing around like a big ball of happiness and my face permanently plastered with a sloppy grin from start to finish!

Everything about this special train ride is either old or old-fashioned.

The vintage locomotive runs on the North Borneo Railway tracks which dates back to the 1890's (when the British colonists decided that building railways was the best way to tap the rich resources of Borneo).

It draws 5 Kawasaki-designed carriages that were built in the 70's. Both the exterior and interior were modified to reflect the era of the steam train. In each carriage, passengers are seated in comfy diner-styled seats, with opened windows and ceiling fans to enhance the overall heritage experience.

Buying tickets and boarding the train at Tanjung Aru Station was in itself a step back in time of the bygone era. Passengers are greeted by a bevy of station staffs, all smiling widely and proudly, in their colonial-style uniforms: crisp white shirt over khaki shorts, complete with a planter’s hat!

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: For the Love of …. The NORTH BORNEO RAILWAY

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Surf's up in Borneo

The song “ surfing USA” keeps playing in my head and visions of lean muscled tanned bodies with hair, bleached blond by the Sun and sea, runs around in my mind.

When one thinks of surfing, we always think of the beaches of Hawaii , Australia and Bali  and we would never associate Sabah with this sport. 

However there is an ardent group of local and international surfers who are slowly but surely putting some of Sabah’s beaches on the surfers map.

The surf beaches in Sabah are found on the west coast, from Tanjung Aru beach in Kota Kinabalu to Tuaran and northwards to Kudat. 

These beaches face the South China Sea and are dependent on the monsoon to produce suitable waves.

The surf in Sabah will never be as great as the surf in Bali or other well know surfing beaches as the South China Sea is not as large as the Indian or Pacific oceans which produce very large waves, however it is still pretty good and perfect if you want to learn the sport.

The southwest monsoon blows from late May till September and brings with it waves between 1 to 5 ft (Looking from the back of the wave).

Tanjung Aru, which is the closest to the city, is also the best place to learn surfing as the waves are usually between 1 – 3ft, with the occasional 5 footer. 

However if you’re an experienced surfer, forget Tanjung Aru and head out North to the beaches of Karambunai and Kudat.

The waves get bigger as you travel north and the best time for this is during the Northwest monsoon which is from November to March. 

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Surf's up in Borneo

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Tanjung Aru beach access guaranteed

KOTA KINABALU: Tanjung Aru Eco Development Sdn Bhd (TAED), the company redeveloping Tanjung Aru into a world class destination, yesterday said that public access to the beach is guaranteed.

It said that that more than 50 percent of Tanjung Aru area will be dedicated to public park, open spaces, walkways, bicycle lanes and others.

“We fully acknowledge that the beachfront of Tanjung Aru belongs to the people of Sabah, and this recreational area will always remain a perpetual heritage to be enjoyed by all generations. As such the public beach is a key component of the development masterplan and it is intended for the new beach not only to be larger but all encompassing,” the company said in a statement yesterday.

It was responding to the recent queries and concerns regarding the project highlighted by Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA) concerned about access to the beach.

TAED also confirmed that Prince Philip Park will be expanded and rejuvenated to bring back its charm for public enjoyment with a much larger increase in acreage. In fact, the park will be double its present size.

An EIA consultant, DHI Water & Environment, has been appointed and the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the EIA is in preparation. The TOR will be submitted to the State Environment Protection Department for their review to ascertain whether a normal or a special EIA is required.

“We acknowledge that there have been different versions of the masterplan in circulation, which reflects the fact that the concept is still in its preliminary stages based on the inputs from the local and international consultants in the field of environmental impact, environmental sustainability, hydraulics, water quality, coastal engineering and landscape architects among others.

“Their inputs are shaping the development concept, but the preservation and rejuvenation of the area’s cultural heritage, namely the public beach and Prince Philip Park, has always been a cornerstone of the development concept and there will be no compromise on this,” said the company.

It added that the masterplan has not been finalised as the various consultants have not completed their studies. When the draft final design of the masterplan is completed, it will be displayed and accessible to the public before the next phase of the design works is implemented.

The Board of Directors of TAED, mainly comprising of top civil servants are committed to ensure that the interest of the public will always take precedence for this development.

Concerned groups are calling for a special environmental impact assessment for the proposed massive redevelopment of the scenic Tanjung Aru beach area here.

Continue reading at: Tanjung Aru beach access guaranteed
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