The Rafflesia Information Center

Rafflesia Information Centre

Location: Sabah

Location Info

Address: Rafflesia Information Centre, Tambunan, Sabah, Malaysia

Office Number: +6088898500

District » Tambunan

Location

The Rafflesia Information Center is little-known center located just under two hours south of Kota Kinabalu. It is probably the best place to view the rare rafflesia flower while in Sabah, if not, in all of Southeast Asia.

Overview

The center only opens from 8am to 3pm from Monday to Saturday. Thus, the timing of your visit is crucial. The center has enough plots and documented flower buds to increase your chances of viewing a rafflesia. With or without catching a rafflesia

in bloom, the center is a great beginning point for exploring Sabah's exquisite Crocker Range National Park. The Crocker Range National Park has a lot to offer but is less visited as compared to the Kinabalu National Park. The steep terrain in the park is home to a diverse array of life and is usually given a miss by the crowds during Borneo's high season.

The Rafflesia is one of the rarest and strangest flowers in the world. It is undeniably the largest you can find in the world as it weighs up to 22 pounds and the looks quite alien-like. It is actually a parasite which can be hosted by only one vine in the world. Rafflesia is only found in Sumatra, Java, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and the Philippines. The flower smells like rotting meat near the end of its life cycle to attract flies and other insects. The flower blooms only for three to five days. The chance of seeing one blooming will require some luck and good timing.

Accommodation at the center is available at the Crocker Range National Park. The accommodation is dormitory style so be ready for some bunk beds. Sabah has so much to offer and so much to explore. A visit here would be wasted if it was just a short one. Do consider extending your stay to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of Sabah. Accommodations in Sabah are more than you can imagine. So do not worry about not having a place to stay.

Transport

It will take two hours from Kota Kinabalu to reach Tambunan. You can get on any bus from Merdeka Field at Kota Kinabalu signed for Tambunan. The center is directly on the main Penampang-Tambunan road. You will need to tell the driver that you wish to stop.
link source:http://sabah.attractionsinmalaysia.com/

Danum Valley Conservation Area

Danum Valley, a protected lowland rainforest, is located towards the southwest of the town of LahadDatu, Sabah’s fourth largest town. After it was declared a national park in 1976, the area came to be called ‘Danum Valley Conservation Area’. Today, it covers more than 400 square kilometres of untouched, virgin forests and is home to some rare species of animals like the orang-utans, Wallace Flying Frog, Sumatran rhinoceros, mouse deer and blue coloured leopard. Some 90% of the conservation area is classified as dipterocarp forest where the

canopy of trees sometimes reaches a height of 70 meters. The Borneo Rainforest Lodge nestled within the magnificent setting of Danum Valley is said to be the first eco resort in the area. It provides all the hotel facilities such as restaurant, bar, and chalets to the visitors who want to explore the diverse and complex ecosystem of Danum Valley. Jungle treks, river swimming, bird watching and night jungle tours are some of the outdoor activities that keep the tourists overwhelmed!

link source:http://www.sabah.com/

Pulau Tiga National Park

Pulau Tiga Park was established in 1978, although the area has been under protection as a forest reserve since 1933. It is located north of Kuala Penyu, opposite the swampy Klias Peninsula, in Sabah, east Malaysia on the island of Borneo.

The park covers 158 square kilometres of mostly ocean, containing the 3 islands of Pulau Tiga, Pulau Kalampunian Besar and Pulau Kalampunian Damit. The islands were formed in 1897 by the eruption of mud volcanos.

Pulau Tiga is now covered in dense

vegetation; however volcanic activity continues in the form of bubbling mud and methane gas venting, although the last major outpouring of mud was in the early 1960s.

Pulau Kalampunian Besar is now little more than a sandbar, eroded away by wave action. Known for its sugar-white sands and clear waters, it is popular for scuba diving and snorkelling.

Pulau Kalampunian Damit, little more than a large rock, is also called Pulau Ular (Snake Island). It is famous as a mating location for highly poisonous sea snakes.

Pulau Tiga Park is administered by Sabah Parks.

link source:http://en.wikipedia.org/

Turtle Islands Park

Turtle Islands Park is located 40 km north of Sandakan and consist of tree islands, Pulau Selingaan, Pulau Bakkungaan Kecil and Pulau Gulisan. The park is known for its protection of the nesting of two endangered species of the sea turtle, the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the smaller hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata). The two turtle species lay their eggs here year-round.

The green turtle can live for a century and grow to 160 kg. They are endangered due to their eggs, which are considered a delicacy. The female come ashore to dig trenches in the sand and lay between 80-165 eggs. The Hawksbill turtle is a bit smaller with a length of the carapace between 70–90 cm. It lays around 100-180 eggs per clutch. Afterwards the turtle returns to the sea.

Back in the park, the eggs are uncovered and collected by the rangers. They are taken to a hatchery to protect them from being hunted and from its natural predators such as lizards. In about 50-60 days the turtles break out of their shells and is put in to the sea by the rangers.

The conservation program was started in 1927 and in 1966 the first hatchery in Malaysia was undertaken on Pulau Selingaan. Today the rangers collects over 600.000 eggs each year just counting Selingaan.

It is possible for visitors to stay overnight at Selingaan Island but it is limited to around 50 people a night. It is only possible to go on a organised tour either through the franchise operator, Crystal Quest, or by agents in Sandakan or Kota Kinabalu.

link source:http://turtleislandborneo.com/

Pesta Ka'amatan

Pesta Ka'amatan

Sabah's Very Own Harvest Festival

by Herman - compiled from various sources; 

also refer to our features Huminodun, and Nunuk Ragang

The Pesta Ka’amatan is Sabah’s very own, joyous and exuberant rice harvest festival. Not so long ago most of Sabah’s indigenous peoples were mainly agrarian folks and subsistence rice farmers. This, they had been for times immemorial, and they have emerged as proud and valiant people with their very own social orders and religious belief systems in which the Bobohizans, the female shamans of Sabah, played a paramount role. The Pesta Ka’amatan, the rice harvest and thanksgiving festival remembers those times in an era where customs and traditions are changing much too fast. If you want a glimpse of Sabah’s many ethnic entities, and capture the true spirit of the mystical “Land Below the Wind”, this is the time to visit us!

The Importance of the Harvest Festival in Sabah

For Borneo’s rural agrarian-based population the rice harvest festival, or Pesta Ka’amatan in Sabah, is intricately connected with rice cultivation, and with the cycle of life. Rice is Sabah’s golden crop, the grain of life, and the Pesta Ka’amatan marks the end of the planting cycle. It is closely associated with religion, culture and social order. People gather in villages to thank God and the spirits for a good harvest and pray for blessings for an even better harvest the following year, very much like other harvest and thanksgiving festivals throughout the world. The life of the peoples of Borneo, not so long ago essentially that of hunters, gatherers and subsistence rice-farmers was a hard one. Preparing rice-fields, be they flooded such as the Kadazan danau, or on steep hills in the interior was an arduous task that was the responsibility of the men. The womenfolk’s’ work was not less backbreaking: clearing fields and collect firewood, weeding, looking after the seedlings, planting and finally harvesting the ripe crop. Aside from the period between harvesting and the new planting season, the work was continuous. But it wasn’t just the labour-intensive nature of rice-cultivation that caused such veneration for the cereal. Not enough rice meant famine. Over thousands of years of rice farming superstitions and taboos sprung up, and no one thanks God for rice more gratefully than the humble farmer who does not know fertilisers and herbicides.

Historical Background of the Pesta Ka’amatan in Sabah 

Since times immemorial it has been the traditional practice of the natives of Sabah (the Kadazandusuns and Muruts in particular) to hold a yearly harvest celebration. Historically and traditionally, the Ka’amatan Festival was usually held at the first sighting of the full moon immediately after the harvesting season. The appearance of the full moon was commonly referred to as the period of tawang (literally: full moon). During the tawang the natives made strict observances and would refrain from hard labour. Instead, they would rest to hold a village celebration that could last for two to three days.

In the district of Tambunan, as in many other areas, the preparations for the Pesta Ka’amatan involved everyone, young and old. The men used to organise group hunting expeditions to provide enough meat for the celebrations, while the women organised themselves to produce enough rice for making rice wine (tapai) and for cooking on the day of the Ka’amatan celebration.

At village (or kampung) level, the eve of the Ka’amatan Festival was lead mainly by the Bobohizans, the ritual specialists paying homage and offering thanksgivings to Bambaazon, the rice spirit, for the good harvest. Then, on the first day traditional sports took place, and on the second day communal reunion through feasting, drinking, music and dancing.

The Ka’amatan Festival is particularly significant as it marks not only the occasion to honour Bambaazon and to thank God for the bountiful harvest and his generosity in prolonging life on earth. It is also an occasion where the promise of friendship and brotherhood is renewed through mutual forgiveness. 

The Kadazan Ka’amatan Festival is perhaps the most indigenous and grandest Festival in Sabah. Merry celebrations are held at all levels, commencing with the kampung (village) level, then district level and climaxing with the state level celebrations on 30th and 31st May.

The Magavau Ceremony

A very important stage of the Pesta Ka’amatan is the Magavau ceremony. The Kadazan word "magavau" or "maga'au", means-to recover what one has lost, by whatever means. In the yearly Ka’amatan Festivals, the Magavau Ceremony refers to the arduous task of the Bobohizans to search and salvage as well as to bring home the lost, stolen or strayed Bambaazon. It is in the traditional belief of the Kadazandusun that Bambaazon is embodied in every part and form of rice, and padi pests and predators such as insects, birds and animals, or calamities such as floods and droughts can harm, hurt and lead away parts of Bambaazon. Furthermore, man may carelessly drop rice grains during the process of harvesting, transporting, winnowing, pounding or milling, thus leaving some of them at the mercy of environmental hazards. Innocently, children may waste some of their rice or the irresponsible drunkard may pour his tapai (rice-wine) all in disregard of Bambaazon's well being.

When the Bobohizan cuts the first ear of ripe padi grains to mark the beginning of the harvesting time, a long, beckoning prayer is recited to invite Bambaazon to return home to the household rice barns to rest until the time comes for selecting the grains to be sown anew.

However, even when the harvesting is over and all the padi grains have been winnowed and stored in the barns, it is believed that many parts of Bambaazon's mystical body are still scattered. The Bobohizans are therefore summoned to perform the Magavau Ceremony, and the rites may be performed at individual households, or on a village-communal level. The village level Magavau is organised and planned by the village elders comprising the village headman, the village Chief Bobohizan (or Bohungkitas) and the informal Council of Elders. In normal cases, the date chosen must not be too far from the winnowing and storage period. In the days of old, the Magavau was performed to coincide with the first appearance of the full moon after the padi was safely stored in the barns. This was necessarily so in order to allow for the Chief Bobohizan and her entourage to actually travel through the harvested rice fields to search, salvage and gather all the strayed parts of Bambaazon and join them with the main mystical body.

Today, the Magavau ‘dance’ as it is performed in the Ka'amatan Festival depicts that part of the Magavau, where the Chief Bobohizans (both men and women) and their followers actually leave their communal longhouse and begin their arduous journey to the open padi fields during the night of the first full moon after the harvest.

The male Bobohizans normally take to the front, waving a warriors sword as if a fight was needed in the process of recovering the lost parts of the Bambaazon. The female Bobohizans mainly perform the praying part and chant to beckon the strayed Bambaazon to come home with them.

The intermittent pangkis (triumphant war-cry) uttered by the male Bobohizans are expressions of joy each time some part of Bambaazon is found and recovered, and welcomed to join the others on their journey home.

Throughout the Magavau ceremony, the Bobohizans and their followers have to stick closely together with their hands on the shoulders of their foreman. This is to maintain an orderly manner of procession and to reduce the risk of stumbling in the night and thus to anger many other unseen spirits in the soil, water, wind and vegetation. 

hould a Magavau participant miss a step or should he have to adjourn for reasons of answering nature's call, he or she has to get the immediate follower behind to occupy his or her position so as to prevent the line from breaking up. He or she would then join the last participant in the manner described earlier.

And so, the Magavau goes on. By all means, welcome and join the line! For in the words of the Bobohizans:

"Each and everyone of us is responsible for the happiness and the well-being of Bambaazon that gives us food to eat......."

"If you must refuse to join us, please be prepared to fast for a day that you may know the ways of Bambaazon....."

Feeding of Bambaazon

While the Magavau is in session, other parties are busy preparing food offerings for Bambaazon. The components of the offerings vary from place to place, however popular inclusions are specially fermented rice or tondut wrapped in leaves, seven bamboo cups (suki) of first class tapai, fermented pickled serawi fish (nonsom), eggs, salt, the feathers of the chicken slaughtered especially for the spirits, and the flower of a banana, amongst others. 

In Tambunan, the ritual specialist leads the procession – often the Magavau congregation – from the main house to the padi-store hut where she leaves the offerings to Bambaazon on a woven bamboo mat covering the padi. After prayers the procession then heads back to the house.

After the feeding of Bambarayon, an open-to-all merry making feast takes place. It used to be celebrated in the main gathering place, and nowadays in the Balai Raya (community centre) of the village, or in the house of an affluent person. Whoever has the chance to be present at the Pesta Ka’amatan in a village is heartily invited to take part in all aspects, regardless of his or her provenance or creed. Traditional foods are served, especially chicken porridge with eggs, and certain meats. It is believed that green vegetables connote disrespect to the guests of Bambaazon. Only the best tapai is served to maintain the qualitative spirit and well being of Bambaazon.

During present day State Level Ka’amatan Festivals it has become increasingly expensive to provide food and drinks to the enormous crowds. Only cultural participants representing the various ethnic populations of Sabah and special guests are catered for. The rest will have to buy from the many side-stalls offering traditional and contemporary dishes.

Nonetheless, where the spirit of sharing, forgiving and fellowship is practised, there Bambaazon thrives. For Bambaazon does not seek to consume its own creation, but gets nourishment from being one with its main mystical divine body effected through the harmonious mingling and interactions of the Ka’amatan celebrants who come from all walks of life, from various colour, creed and cultural traditions.

The feast used to last for days on ends as the Kadazandusun beat the gongs and danced to the joyous rhythm of life that only they have learned to live.

Unduk Ngadau

An integral part of the Pesta Ka’amatan is the Unduk Ngadau Beauty Pageant. There are many legends and myths about Huminodun, the daughter of Kinoringan (the one and only God). Huminodun, sometimes even referred to as Bambaazon, is personified in this popular as well as culture-enhancing event. 

The term "Unduk" or "Tunduk" literally means the shoot of a plant, which, in its most tangible description, signifies youth and progressiveness. Likewise, in its literal meaning, "Ngadadau" or "Tadau" means the noon sun, which connotes the total beauty of the heart, mind and body of an ideal Kadazandusun woman. In essence therefore, the "Unduk Ngadau" is an event of selecting from among the Kadazandusun beauties one who would best resemble the ascribed personality of Huminodun.

There are a number of stories trying to explain why there should be an Unduk Ngadau Beauty Contest during the Harvest Festival, and one goes as follows:

It happened once, so the lore, during one of the Ka’amatan Festivals that questions from the younger minds arose as to how Bambaazon or Huminodun looked like. So the Kadazandusun Bobohizans and elders sat together and made a selection from among the most beautiful, modest and humblest of the young ladies around to provide a resemblance of Bambaazon and described her as the "Unduk Ngadau".

This was how the "Unduk Ngadau" or Ka’amatan Festival Beauty Queen Selection came into being as one of the highlights of the Ka’amatan Festival today.

In every Ka’amatan Festival the "Unduk Ngadau Contest" normally assumes the highlight of the day's occasion. More than being a highlight, to the Kadazandusun the Unduk Ngadau is the culmination of all the activities undertaken, and a symbolic response to Kinoingan's ever-abounding love for his people.

Unduk Ngadau owes its origin to that part of the Kadazan Genesis that pertains to the sacrifice of Huminodun, Kinoingan's only daughter. One of the many variant legends relates the following (for a different legend click here):

One day, Kinoingan started a farm, but after ploughing he realised that he had no seeds to plant. So he set off in search of some seeds with his valuable brass gong which he carried everywhere on his shoulder. On his way, he met birds and animals, and asked them if they had any seeds, to which they replied that they did not have any yet, having just been created by him. Even though Kinoingan knew that they had none, he nevertheless purposely asked this question to make them all realise that they would have to work hard for their livelihood.

Because there were no seeds in the world then, Kinoingan in the end resourced to sacrificing his only, beautiful and obedient daughter so that all his people would have seeds to grow food they needed. Her head gave rise to coconuts, her flesh became rice padi, her blood (the most precious part) red rice, her fingers ginger, her teeth maize, her knees yams and other parts of her body many more edible plants.

When the padi began to ripen, Kinoingan's wife, Suminundu was requested to first pick a little of it, thresh it, fry it, mix it with coconut flesh and its water and share it with her people and pets. Later, when the harvest came and Suminundu cut the stems of the padi with her sickle the voice of her daughter was suddenly heard requesting her to be careful.  

When the time came for Kinoingan and his wife Suminundu to ascend to the heavens Kinoingan informed his wife that they had yet to perform some ceremonies, including a great feast for all the people he had created. For it was the request of Huminodun that it be done to "bestow their love and respect to her for the inheritance of the people of this world". But first he wrote down the customs of each country to guide the people. For those who could not read, he taught priestesses prayers for festive days and for curing sicknesses.

But when the time for the feast came, Kinoingan was not happy. He felt a deep paternal longing for Huminodun and thought that she would surely be leading the feast if she were to be alive. Sadly, he played a tune with his bamboo flute and called his daughter's name.

Miraculously, Huminodun came out of a big jar that was used to hold the remains of the threshed padi. Her return to life added untold joy to the festivities. When the feast was over, Kinoingan, his wife and his daughter disappeared in the heavens, bidding farewell to their guests.

To this day the elderly Kadazandusun believe that when harvesting, such customary practices should be observed, otherwise padi stubble might cut them during the harvest, and they would get sores when consuming rice. Underlying this practice is a universal morality of not taking for granted the abundance of food, and not to waste anything edible. 

The Unduk Ngadau ‘contest’, or Beauty Pageant is thus an integral part of every Kadazan Ka'amatan Festival. It is a further manifest function of the deep sense of respect and admiration that the Kadazans have for Kinoingan, and his legendary daughter Huminodun. Besides the commercially interesting aspect of the Unduk Ngadau Pageant nowadays, the title actually bears sacredness as Huminodun also signifies absolute trust in her father Kinoingan, so much as to become a willing sacrifice for the sake of her father's creation.

Evolution of the Ka’amatan Celebrations

To hold District and State Level Ka’amatan Festival Celebrations was first mooted by the late OKK Sodomon (the Keningau Native Chief) in 1956. At the 6th Annual Native Chiefs Conference in November 1956 OKK Sodomon tabled his proposal that the local government recognise officially the native Ka’amatan Festival, and that the festivity be given a three-day holiday. The proposal was debated and finally agreed upon. April 24, 25 and 26 of each year, irrespective of the full moon, were declared public holidays for the Ka’amatan celebrants, mainly the Kadazandusuns and Muruts. How to organise their Ka’amatan Celebrations was then was left to the different districts.

Meanwhile, at an executive committee meeting of the Society of Kadazans Penampang, the late Tun Fuad Stephens proposed that the Ka’amatan Festival holidays should not be restricted to the Kadazans, Dusuns and Muruts only but should be extended to the entire native population of Sabah (then North Borneo).

On Jun 29, 1960, Tun Fuad made a plea that all the natives of Sabah, "who use the good earth of Sabah for growing their food" should celebrate the Ka’amatan Festival as heartily as the Kadazandusun. Hence the first Sabah State-wide Ka’amatan Festival celebration was proclaimed and held from June 30th to July 1st, 1960 at the old St. Michael's School in Penampang. The two-day state holiday for the Ka’amatan Festival was officially approved by the government in response to the request made by the Society of Kadazans. Letters from various Kadazandusun ethnic groups throughout the State of Sabah to the Society of Kadazan expressed that their members were happy to celebrate the Festival simultaneously with their fellow Kadazans and natives throughout the State.

The first State Level Ka’amatan Festival Celebration began on the morning of June 30th, 1960 with a sung mass followed by a procession of the Holy Eucharist. Fourteen kampungs in the district participated in the presentation of various local dances and sounds of music. For the first time State leaders and community leaders from various districts of Sabah attended the Festival.

Three buffaloes were slaughtered to feed the crowd and over a hundred jars of tapai flowed to quench the people's thirst. Non-stop beating of gongs provided the music and mood for non-stop Sumazau dance. Other highlights included were the "Unduk Ngadau", Orang Tua and Native Chiefs’ traditional dress contests, other local traditional sports, and football matches.

The first State-wide Ka’amatan Festival was a significant step towards the reunion of the various native-ethnic populations of Sabah and this paved the way for the changing of the “Society of the Kadazan Penampang” to “Kadazan Cultural Association (KCA), Sabah” (now KSCA, or Kadazandusun Cultural Association). In the early 60's KCA opened its membership to all Dusuns, Muruts, Rungus, Paitans and other native ethnic groups whose culture and language have close affinity to each other.

The State-wide Ka’amatan Festival has since then been observed and celebrated annually under the active organisation of the Kadazan Cultural Association Sabah. In order to align the celebration with cultural tourism promotion the Kadazan Cultural Association resolved in 1986 that the date be fixed to May 30th and 31st of every year. The Ka’amatan Festival month is to be launched on May 1st each year, to mark the beginning of district and kampung level Ka’amatan celebrations, culminating and climaxing in the State Level Ka’amatan Festival on May 30th and 31st.

The Significance of the Present Day Ka’amatan Festival

Today the Sabah State Level Ka’amatan Festival has become a yearly expectation and epitome of all local cultural communities celebrations and heritage expressions through songs, dances, music, traditional attires, traditional sports, cultural shows, arts and crafts sales, agricultural product exhibitions, local architectural and building competitions.

People of all races, colour, creed and cultural traditions join in to participate and add to the variety, colour and gaiety of the celebration. Indeed, the Ka’amatan Festival has become a vital platform and venue for fostering, preserving and propagating harmony and unity through diversity for the multi-ethnic, multi-racial population of Sabah.

Ka’amatan Highlights

The highlights for kampung and district level Ka’amatan Festivals vary from kampung to kampung and district to district according to the socio-cultural contextual relevance.

Among the common program of activities included are:

Traditional sports such as buffalo race (melumba kalabau), arm wrestling (mipulos), knuckle and finger wrestling (mipansa), wrestling (migogo), blow pipe shooting (monopuk), stilts race (manampanau), tug of war (mitalik dugugk), running (menangkus), bamboo rafting (mamangkar), single-bamboo pole rafting (manampatau) etc

Best tapai (Rice wine) competition

Gong beating competition

Traditional dance competition

Singing contest

"Magahau or Magavau" ceremony

"Unduk Ngadau" or Ka’amatan Queen Selection

The State Level Ka’amatan Festival involves state-wide participation and has an even more elaborate and richer programme. The highlights include:

State level finals for traditional sports

Modern Sports such as football finals, sepak takraw finals

Arts and crafts quality competition, sales and exhibition

Best rice wine competition

Traditional music and gong beating presentations

Traditional dance presentations

Multi-ethnic cultural shows

Singing contest

Magavau Ceremony

Agricultural products exhibition

Traditional architectural huts building competition

Unduk Ngadau or Ka’amatan Queen selection for the year

Open to all participatory traditional dances

Feasting, drinking and dancing

Winners and champions of the various state level contested events are to reign for the year till the next Ka’amatan Festival comes with new challengers.

link source:http://www.flyingdusun.com/

Festival in Sabah

1. Regatta Lepa Semporna (Semporna, 3rd week of April)

The Bajau community is one of the four main ethnic groups in Sabah and they can be found mainly in the town of Semporna, where they have their houses built over the water and retain fishing as their main way of living. Each year, they celebrate this unique lifestyle with the Regatta Lepa Semporna which is highlighted by presence of beautiful, traditional boats made of redwood and adorned with colorful sails and flags, all competing for the prestige of being the finest ‘lepa’ of the year. The winning boat is chosen based on its appearance, as well as the cultural performances aboard it.

Aside from the contest for the best ‘lepa’, there are also boat races, boat tug of wars (one boat for each party which strives to row in the opposite direction), swimming competitions for children and a duck catching competition. The festivities continue into the night, when the boats are all lit and more cultural dances are held.

2. Pesta Kaamatan (all of Sabah, May 1 to 31)

In Sabah, there is a legend that goes that Kinoingan, the Creator, sent seven plagues to punish mankind for their corrupt ways, the last one of which was drought, which caused famine throughout the land. Hungry, the people begged Kinoingan for forgiveness and his daughter, Ponumpuan, also called Huminodin, took pity on them that she agreed to become a sacrifice for them. Thus, her body parts became the seeds in the rice fields, ending the famine, and her soul became the spirit of the paddy, called Bambaazon.

Every year, the people of Sabah commemorate this sacrifice by conducting various ceremonies, particularly the Magavau Ritual which is performed on the first day of the festival by the High Priestess to invoke Bambaazon. There are also many cultural performances held throughout the month, and the offerings of food and rice wine to the spirits.

3. Pesta Rumbia (Kualu Penyu, 2nd week of July)

 Rumbia is the Sabahan term for sago, which is a starch extracted from tropical palm stems most commonly seen in the form of pearls that are used in drinks and desserts, particularly puddings. For the Bisayan and Kadazan people living in Kualu Penyu, however, sago is part of the daily diet, and is rolled into balls or made into pancakes. Even the other parts of the sago tree, which grows abundantly in the area, are used, as well, to make roofs for houses, baskets and mats.

The annual Pesta Rumbia celebrates this tradition and gives visitors the chance to sample various sago delicacies or even learn to make them.

4. Pesta Kelapa (Kudat, 2nd week of September)

This annual celebration in Kudat is perhaps the most fun in Sabah, marked with various competitions that all have something to do with coconuts, which are known locally as kelapa and grown extensively in the area.

Visitors are welcome to participate in the competitions and partake in local dishes made with coconut or simply delight in drinking from a freshly picked coconut in the shade while watching the locals strut around in clothes made from the different parts of coconut trees or perform cultural dances.

5. Tamu Besar Kota Belud (Kota Belud, last week of October)

 Kota Belud is known as the ‘Land of Cowboys of the East’ and it is easy to see why when you come to the annual Tamu Besar, which is highlighted by a parade featuring elaborately dressed ponies. There are also various competitions to showcase the skills of the ponies and their riders. In addition, a buffalo rodeo show is held, which is similar to the rodeos held in the western parts of the US, but with a buffalo instead of a horse. There is also a large open-air market where one can buy local produce and crafts for a fair price.

6. Pesta Jagung (Kota Marudu, middle of November)

Pesta Jagung translates to maize festival which is only a fitting celebration since corn is an important part of living in Kota Marudu, a small town located just a short distance from Kota Kinabalu. There are competitions held here about cooking and planting corn, as well as cultural performances and a fashion show.

Sabah Dragon Boat Race 
Mid June
Sabah Dragon Boat Race is held every year on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, at the Likas Bay. During the race, Dragon Boats and other streamers make their way across the River Milo to the rhythm of pounding drums and cheering from the crowd. Spectators are not only treated to the exciting dragon race but also delicious local fare at the stalls set up along the Likas Bay.

Hari Raya Aidil Fitri 
Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan month and the beginning of Islamic New Year, by praying at mosques and arranging small get together at friend and relative's places. The traditional way of inviting families and friends is by hosting an 'Open House'. Women don customary baju kurung/ baju kebaya and men wear baju melayu to celebrate the festive month. Guests are treated to delicious festive food including beef rending as well as Raya cookies and cakes.

Kinabalu International Climbathon  
Mid October
Mt. Kinabalu's peak point is the aim for every hiker who takes part in this competition held every year in October. Held for over 20 years, the hike is about 12 miles long and tests every participant's physical as well as mental fitness.
Pesta Jagung 
Beginning of November
The Pesta Jagung or maize festival is held in the district of Kota Marudu at the start of November. Maize or jagung is an important crop for the economic survival of the Kadazandusun community in Kota Marudu. Therefore, the people celebrate this festival to highlight its importance in their lives by arranging various competitions such as Jagung cooking and planting competitions, cultural shows, Maize Lantern and Cultural Parade and the Jagung Fashion Queen.

Diwali / Deepawali 
Beginning of November
Diwali or Festival of Lights is a Hindu festival celebrated during the month of Oct-Nov to honour the victory of good over evil. People celebrate this victory by lighting small earthen lamps, decorating their houses with rangolis and hanging lanterns in front of their homes. Friends and family are called over to celebrate the festival and to bow down before God for attainment of wealth, knowledge, peace and fame.

Tamu Besar Kota Belud 
End of November
Kota Belud, located on an hour's drive from Kota Kinabalu, is famous in Malaysia for its cultural diversity. The peaceful co-existence of Muslim Bajau community with other tribes like the Kadazandusun and the Irranun has led to development of a rich, artistic heritage of Kota Belud, unique to the region. Every year, Tamu Besar, the biggest traditional open-air market is held in Sabah, where all the farmers, anglers and traders get together to sell their produce to the consumers. All the communities dress up in the traditional costumes and display their distinctive traditions such as the riding skills of the Bajau community. Buffalo parade, Horsemen Tug of War and the Buffalo race with Sack of Paddy are some of the major attractions of the festival.

Kiulu 4M Challenge 
Beginning of December
The town of Kiulu located about 40 kms away from Kota Kinabalu is the venue for the 4M Challenge. 4M, which stands for four traditional Kadazandusun sports starting with 'M', comprise of managkus (running), mamangkar (bamboo rafting), manampatau (swimming with bamboo) and mamarampanau (walking with bamboo stilts). The K4MC sports contest, which tests mental and physical fitness, is also thoughtful about preservation and protection of nature, especially Kiulu River. The main purpose of this challenge is to promote eco-tourism, traditional sports and environmental consciousness among people.

Christmas 
December
Christmas in Malaysia is similar to those celebrated throughout many other parts of the world. Malays rejoice the birth of Christ by decorating Christmas trees with small ornaments, offering midnight services and prayers, and hosting various activities at resorts and hotels. Streets, homes, hotels and public places are lighted up during this festival, which ends with a bang as the New Year sets in.

WhiteWater Rafting

WhiteWater Rafting 

A new thrill in Sabah is whitewater rafting. This exciting sport of rafting down rivers with foaming and turbulent rapids. Its wide variety of fast flowing rivers matches with scenic splendours of Borneo's pristine jungles.

Padas River

The Padas River located near Tenom that challenges adventure seekers to defy its thundering waves over ten feet high.The boulder-strewn Padas cuts through some impressive lowland forest, and in its upper reaches its raging rapids – with names like 'Headhunter', 'Adrenaline Flow', and 'Merry-Go-Round' -- offer an exhilarating ride of up to grade 3 standard.Hours of spills and thrills are guaranteed for the adventurous rafter, especially in the rainy months between August to January when the river fills to overflowing. The dry season is a good time for the novice to get acquainted with the sport.

Mulau River

While not as turbulent as the Padas River, the Mulau River located in the beautiful Kiulu Valley is a pleasant river to raft. It still provides a grade 2 (and sometimes grade 3) experience, so is suitable for novices. Deep pools punctuate the rapids, providing an opportunity for body rafting and swimming.

The wet months of November and December are particularly good months, but the water level may be too low in the dry months for rafting.

Tips of Borneo (Tanjung Simpang Mengayau)

Tg Simpang Mengayau a.k.a the Tip of Borneo is located 40 kilometres to the northwest of Kudat town. The journey will pass through mostly coconut plantations and remote villages such as Kg Sin San, Kg Tajau, Kg Pinangsoo, Kg Loro and Kg Tiga Papan before finally arriving at Tg Simpang Mengayau. Note that the road from Kudat is partially unpaved, and judging from the way things are, it will take some time before the current road resurfacing project to fully complete. Just get ready for some bumpy and unpleasant rides on the gravel road.

In general, Kudat is located some 3 hours to the north of Kota Kinabalu. It is best to rent a car from Kota Kinabalu for a self-drive tour to Kudat and its vicinity. Otherwise, the only option to get to various tourist attractions in Kudat is by chartered tours which are not exactly economical and does not offer travel flexibility. 

DESCRIPTION:

Today, Tg Simpang Mengayau needs no further introduction. In the advent of this mass-communication era where travel discoveries can propagate like wild fire through the Internet and the print media, this very tip of Borneo Island has slowly done away its unknown state and is fast becoming a must-visit for visitors to Sabah. Not to mention, various tourist facilities have and will be built in the area to accommodate the anticipated influx of visitors to the unique attraction.

The name is rather mind boggling. Tanjung Simpang Mengayau literally means the 'wandering crossroad promontory' which should signify a few things, depending on which literature you read. First and foremost, this is the very point where the South China Sea meets the Sulu Sea. Somehow or rather, it suggests that the water from these two bodies of ocean wanders between each other at the tip. 

History also has it that Ferdinand Magellan, a famous seafarer, had stopped at the crossroad of these two oceans to repair his fleets. The local dialect name for this ocean promontory is Tanjung Sampang Magazo, which means 'a junction where a battle took place'. A tale from the Rungus tribe's folklore had it that the promontory was used as a lookout point to ward off the invading pirates, and naturally a few battles had taken place through the years.

The area is generally well-kept with proper maintenance and adequate facilities. Ample parking space is provided right at the entrance, as well as some shops selling snacks, gifts, etc. One will have to walk a little bit up to the first landmark, The Globe, which looks more of a glorification for the tip of Borneo, if nothing else. The actual tip is still a further walk down the pavement. Soon, from the top of the hill, you will be presented with a triangular rocky outcrop that protrudes some distance into the ocean. The very tip is generally out of bound, as pointed out by various warning signs along the way, due to the slippery rock surface. Nonetheless, there are some locals seen swimming at the very tip, perhaps as a way to tell that soaking up in the heavenly waters of South China Sea and Sulu Sea is a sanctified ritual that is not to be missed.

The view from the hill top is spectacular. To the south is the beautiful stretch of Pantai Kalampunian which boasts crystal-clear waters. To the north and northeast, views of Pulau Banggi and Pulau Balambangan, the former actually being the biggest island in Malaysia, can be enjoyed on clear days. 

In short, Tg Simpang Mengayau holds a very important significance, historically and geographically to the people of Kudat and Malaysians as a whole. It is truly a beautiful place and should not be missed by those visiting Sabah.

Link Source:http://www.malaysiahotelreview.com/

Tower of Heaven (Menara Kayangan)

Sight from tower
Tower of Heaven (Menara Kayangan) is a new tourism facilities attraction in Lahad Datu which was completed in 2011 and launched for public in April 2012. The observation tower rises at 30 meters high built on top of ultramafic coastal forest of Mount Silam at elevation of 884 meters from sea level, the highest point in the Lahad Datu district. The tower is located within the Sapagaya Forest Reserve (Protection Forest Reserve). 


This gives visitors a perfect and tranquillity scenic bird’s eye view of the Darvel Bay Islands and Lahad Datu Town. The tower also offers the plant and animal enthusiasts good views of the forest and birds of Mount Silam. The Mount Silamis also home to a lovely, small, orange-red crab, identified as Geosesarmaaurantium Ng (Grapsidae: Sesarminae). Interestingly, the expert (Prof. Peter K.L. Ng of the National University of Singapore, 1995) believes that this Borneon endemic species is only confined to Mount Silam in Sabah. Unlike many other crabs, this is a land crab that can be found up to 884 m of Mt. Silam, which is the highest point in the Lahad Datu district. Besides the observation tower, the complex also has natural trails, camping ground, guest house and restaurant (under construction).

Gomantong Caves

The Gomantong caves are a source of the highly prized bird’s nest for centuries. The Chinese believe that these bird’s nest have medicinal properties and pay a premium for good quality ones. Many pregnant women would make soup out of the nest and drink them. This way the child will have good skin and behave well. During nesting season, February to April and July to September, you can watch the nests being collected from the cave roof, by men climbing long, precarious looking bamboo poles. The caves are located south of Sandakan. There is a Information centre located at the caves. is accessible along the trail near the information centre. The 45 minute trail, left of the office leads to the top of the mountain and to Simud Putih(White Cave). This cave contains the more valuable white bird’s nest, which can fetch as much as US$500 per kilo. The area around the caves have plenty of flora and fauna. Most tour operators arrange a trip to the caves as a package with Sungai Kinabatangan.

Getting there

If traveling on your own, take the minivan from Sandakan to Sukau, and ask to be dropped at the turn-off for the caves. The ride takes about one hour forty minutes. You then need to walk the remaining 5km to the information centre. A taxi ride from Sandakan will take you straight to the centre.

Ethnic group in sabah

Sabah’s indigenous people include Kadazan-Dusun, Kwijau, Murut, Bajau, Illanun, Lotud, Rungus, Tambanuo, Dumpas, Mangka’ak, Suluk, Illocano, Orang Sungai, Brunei, Kedayan, Tagalog, Bisaya, Tidong, Indonesian, Maragang, Orang Cocos, Paitan, Ida’an, Minoko, Rumanau, Serani, Chinese of mixed bumibutra parentage and Filipino of mixed bumiputra parentage.

Kadazan Dusun

The largest ethnic group of Sabah, the Kadazan Dusuns form about 30% of the state's population. Actually consisting of two tribes; the Kadazan and the Dusun, they were grouped together as they both share the same language and culture. However, the Kadazan are mainly inhabitants of flat valley deltas, which are conducive to paddy field farming, while the Dusun traditionally lived in the hilly and mountainous regions of interior Sabah.

Bajau

The second largest ethnic group in Sabah, the Bajaus make up about 15% of the state's population. Historically, a nomadic sea-faring people that worshipped the Omboh Dilaut of God of the Sea, they are sometimes referred to as the Sea Gypsies. Those who chose to leave their sea-faring ways become farmers and cattle breeders. These land Bajaus are nicknamed 'Cowboys of the East' in tribute to their impressive equestrian skills, which are publicly displayed in the annual Tamu Besar festival at Kota Belud.

Murut

Murut means ‘Men of the Hills’ and they are the third largest ethnic group in Sabah, making up about 3% of the state's population. Traditionally inhabiting the northern inland regions of Borneo, they were the last of Sabah's ethnic groups to renounce headhunting. Now, they are mostly shifting cultivators of hill paddy and tapioca, supplementing their diet with blowpipe hunting and fishing. Like most indigenous tribes in Sabah, their traditional clothing is decorated with distinctive beadwork. ‘Kaansayan Minatong’ means welcome in Murut language.

Kinabatangan River

Kinabatangan River is the second longest river in Malaysia, with a length of 560 kilometers it runs across the state of Sabah on the island of Borneo. It is part of the Sukau-Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary. The beautiful river offers great opportunities to see amazing wildlife. Water takes in a central position, people travel by boat in search of wildlife. During a visit you may encounter an enormous variety of animals. There are numerous small villages along the river; often forming the starting point for tourists that visit the area. Bilit is such a village; from here boats to lodges in the area leave. There are several lodges that accommodate tourists; most of them in and nearby the small town of Sukau (the tourist 'center' within the Kinabatangan area). Kinabatangan River is one of the most popular destinations within Sabah; here you can spot rare animals likeorangutans, proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, elephants, snakes, insects and many bird species, such as varieties of the king fisher and the hornbill.

How to get to Kinabatangan River from Kuala Lumpur

There are daily direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to the city of Sandakan in the eastern part of Sabah. From Sandakan Airport you can arrange transport to the Kinabatangan River. The drive takes around four hours, depending on the weather. During rainfall travel almost comes to a complete standstill as many cars are not able to move through the thick mud. Be sure to drive with a four wheel drive car. We saw many cars and trucks being stuck with no way to go during heavy rains. Luckily our driver had a huge Toyota Landcruiser so we were able to move regardless of the rains. As the trip to the river will take a while, it is advisable to take the earliest flight possible, or to arrive the night before so you can depart early in the morning from your hotel in Sandakan.

It is easy to arrange a trip to the Kinabatangan River up front. There are numerous travel organizations that offer trips to Sabah, specifically to the Kinabatangan area. We booked our trip up front at a local agent in Kota Kinabalu. We paid RM750 per person for a 3D/2N trip; including pickup from Sandakan airport immediately after arrival. Our guide also took us to the orangutan rehabilitation center at Sepilok on the way to the river; and he took us to the Gomantong Caves on the way back. As he was a professional guide; he stayed with us at the jungle camp and also joined us on our river cruises. As we did this trip in 2006; I imagine prices have changed quite a bit since then. Still you should be able to find trips similar to ours for roughly the same prices. If you don't want to make any reservations up front; you get a guide plus transport from the airport as there are many tour offices that offer tours to the Kinabatangan area. You can also just get transport only from the airport and have them bring you to the town of Sukau. There you can arrange your own trips and accommodation. Adventurous travelers can also chose to take the daily ferry from Sandakan harbor to Sukau.

Best time to visit Kinabatangan River
The Kinabatangan River can be visited all year round. A visit during the rainy season (between November to March) has its advantages and disadvantages. Main advantage is that you can venture deeper into the river channels; where you will have a bigger chance of spotting wildlife (especially around the oxbow lakes hidden in the Kinabatangan area). Disadvantages obviously are the heavy rains that make the area pretty much inaccessible (especially during the peak of the monsoon season during December and January when the river and the channels are often flooded). Bird enthusiasts should visit the area from April to October as this is the main flowering and fruiting season.

Impressive experience
When you visit Kinabatangan River you will be exploring the area by doing jungle walks and river cruises. If you buy a package these river cruises will be included; our 3D/2N package for example had 6 cruises in total. If you want to spot wildlife then it is best to wake up early for a morning river cruise or morning walk (with early we mean really early where you are in your boat from the moment the sun rises). During the middle of the day animals tend to sleep and chances are slim you will spot wildlife from the river. The end of the day (before sunset between 4pm to 7pm) chances of spotting wildlife are a bit bigger again, especially proboscis monkeys as they are in search of a place to sleep alongside the river during that time of the day. During a night cruise you might spot crocodile eyes at the surface. The river houses many crocodiles. Although their eyes seem small, these crocodiles are on average well over 2 meters.

At night many nocturnal creatures venture out in the open spaces; clearly visible from the boat if you are in luck. The boatmen use big lanterns to spot animals, which is not that difficult for them as the light from the lantern reflects from the eyes of most animals. The next day we spotted a pygmy elephant family consisting of more than 70 animals, strolling along the river edge. We also saw a mother pygmy elephant and its young crossing the river and were face to face with an orangutan with its cub; an impressive experience. We also spotted different types of wild cats, multiple families of proboscis (Orang Belanda) monkeys, some snakes, and many different species of birds and some pretty nice insects.

Kinabatangan River Trip Tips
• Be as quiet as possible during a river cruise as to not scare away the animals. Also make sure you do not fall out of the boat; IN BOAT = SAFE, OUT BOAT = DANGER!
• Bring along two plastic bags to put over your shoes (especially handy when visiting Gomantong Cave because of the acid bird droppings). Strap it tight with some rubber bands.
• Don't put your camera back in your camera bag. Let it get adjusted to the moist climate. This way you will be able to shoot pictures or videos instantly after spotting wildlife instead of having to wait until the fogged lens is clear again.
• As night cruises are often optional and not part of standard itinerary, check with your guide and make your reservations up front.
• Bring along a small notebook to write down the names of the species you encounter during the day. That way you are able to remember the names (specific names) afterwards when people ask you what you have spotted in the Kinabatangan area.
• Do not feed animals and do not litter. Don't forget to practice responsible tourism  when you're visiting Kinabatangan River.
Link source:

Mount of kinabalu

Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain (Gunung in Bahasa Melayu) in Malaysia and lies within Kinabalu National Park (NP). It is part of the Crocker Range (of mountains). Its summit reaches 4,095.2 meters. From the summit you will have the best view of the rising sun, and when you walk down, you can see several small villages. With good weather you will even be able to see Sabah's biggest city, Kota Kinabalu, at great distance. Visiting the mountain is not easy without any pre planning; you will have to register in advance, best way to do this is with the help of an agent or travel organization. Local government only accepts around 150 people on the mountain at all days, this means only 75 people can go up daily; as the other 75 are doing their descent at the same time. The permits often run out during peak season, so remember to make the necessary arrangements beforehand.

It is important to make reservations beforehand and as early as possible. The Mount Kinabalu Summit Trail is a very popular activity; and daily permits run out months before already. It is not an easy climb, but you will always have the beautiful memories of this amazing adventure. Mount Kinabalu is a relatively easy mountain to climb compared to many other mountains world wide; it is known to be one of the most accessible mountains in the world. To reach the summit you do not have to be in extremely good shape. People with physical limitations however, should not climb the mountain without consulting a physician first. If you are not an experienced climber; then you could consider a different route (Timpohon Trail) that is less strenuous. Yearly, over 20,000 people climb the mountain. The best time of the year to climb the mountain is between April and August. If you have opportunity to time your trip; do it so that you climb the mountain during full moon as then it is lighter at night when you do the final ascent. Everyone who wants to go mountaineering at Mt. Kinabalu is advised (obligated!) to use a mountain guide. Especially at the summit the guide can be very helpful (the last part is quite hard). The guide will be waiting for you at the Park HQ. If you arrange your trip via an agent or travel organization; the mountain guide will automatically be part of the package.

Start your climb as early as possible.

How to get to Mount Kinabalu from Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu is the nearest big city and you need to travel to this city first in order to get to the Kinabalu National Park entrance. There are numerous daily flights to Kota Kinabalu; even a couple of international flights. If you travel by an organized tour your driver will pick you up from the hotel early in the morning. From Kota Kinabalu you can easily travel to Mount Kinabalu yourself by either a taxi or a bus. From the Kota Kinabalu North Bus Terminal there are busses that pass the park entrance. Make sure you ask up front if the bus goes into the direction of the park (the following destinations are on the route to Kundasang where you can find the Kinabalu Park Office; Ranau, Sandakan or Tawau). The drive to the park entrance usually takes over an hour, busses often take a bit more time to reach the park entrance.

Checklist Mount Kinabalu summit trail

• A small and light backpack

• Umbrella or raincoat/poncho

• Headlight (or flashlight though headlight is better as you keep your hands free).

• T-shirt + sweater + windbreaker

• Photo camera of video camera

• Water bottles (though you can drink from fresh water streams too).

• Lunch

• Energy bars

• Walking stick

• Earplugs (so you can sleep when people around you are still awake at Laban Rata).

• Sunglasses and sunscreen (for the way down).

• Lip balm

• Warm hat, scarf and gloves

• Personal first aid kit with Paracetamol/Brufen

• Good hiking boots or sandals (no need for the most expensive 5kg weighing professional hiking boots though).

• Small towel

• 2 extra t-shirts

Mount Kinabalu summit trail tips

• Make your reservations up front as there is a daily limit of how many people are allowed on the mountain each day. The earlier you make reservations the better; there are stories of people arriving at the main office to be told all permits were given out already for that day.

• Watch out with taking your expensive camera all the way to the top of the mountain. Though it is not that cold up at the summit, the pressure and, sometimes harsh, weather are not the best circumstances for electrical devices you carry with you during the summit trail.

• Bring along warm clothing for the last part of the summit trail as it can be around 2 degrees at the top. Especially when it is still dark it can be really cold (with harsh winds). Warm clothing can also be rented at Laban Rata Rest House.

• Try to leave from the main entrance as early as possible, preferably before or around 8am in the morning. Consider to stay the night before at a convenient location nearby the base of the mountain to avoid a drive of 2 hours from Kota Kinabalu city. When you start early, you will arrive at Laban Rata Rest House early which means your body gets more time to adjust to the altitude. Some people that arrived late during the day at Laban Rate had altitude sickness when they tried to do their final descent to Low's Peak summit. They couldn't continue and did not make it to the top. The more hours' rest your body has at Laban Rata the bigger the chance you can reach the summit of Mount Kinabalu.

• Refrain from smoking and alcohol consumption the night before the climb (and the day of the climb).

• People with knee problems should bring along a knee guard (brace) to use on the way down. There will be quite some pressure on your knees during the descent. Most of the injuries which occur on Mount Kinabalu happen on the way down.

• Though prices of packages vary the Mount Kinabalu Summit Trail is not cheap (anymore). Though the activity costs quite the amount of ringgits; the experience will last a lifetime! Mountain guides are not optional; they will save your life should you run into troubles!

• If you forget or are unable to bring along warm clothing you can rent some items at Laban Rata Rest House for a cheap price (they have jackets, gloves and warm hats).

• Try and walk/climb as slowly as possible. This way you will save energy and minimize chances of injuries. You will also be able to enjoy the amazing scenery a bit better; your guide will be able to point out the beautiful pitcher plants for example.

• Backpackers can always take a risk by just showing up in the morning on the day of their intended climb. Though chances are very big that there are no permits left that day; there often are cancellations which free up some of the permits. If you are lucky you can climb the mountain, otherwise you can enjoy the wonderful Kinabalu National Park (which is Malaysia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site).

• You have to begin your climbing before afternoon or you won't be allowed to climb on that day.

• If you bring your camera or video camera along; don't forget to give it to your mountain guide every once a while so he can shoot some pictures or videos of you and your group.

Linksource: http://www.wonderfulmalaysia.com/

http://www.amazing-borneo.com/

History of Mount Kinabalu

The mountain is located on the east Malaysian state of Sabah, on the island of Borneo. Mysterious and moody, but always a magnificent sight, Mt Kinabalu has captured the imagination of locals and explorers for centuries.
Cloaked in swirling mists, puffy clouds, golden sunsets and rich flora and fauna, the mountain is ever-changing in its sights and sounds.
Mt Kinabalu and its surrounding Park has a very wide range of habitats, from rich tropical lowland and hill rainforest to tropical mountain forest, sub-alpine forest and heath on the higher elevations.
In 2000, Mt Kinabalu was included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List to preserve and protect its natural heritage. It has also been designated as a Centre of Plant Diversity for Southeast Asia.

Legends

Kinabalu’s name is a mystery. The most popular view derives it from the Kadazan words, Aki Nabalu, meaning ‘the revered place of the dead’. The local Kadazan people believe that spirits dwell on the mountain top. According to another folklore, the name Kinabalu actually means Cina Balu which translates into ‘Chinese widow’. Legend goes that a Chinese prince ascended the mountain in search of a huge pearl guarded by a ferocious dragon. After his successful conquest, he married a Kadazan woman. But he soon abandoned her and returned to China. Heartbroken, his wife wandered to the mountains to mourn. There, she turned into stone.

Early Climbers

As there is no record of local people climbing Mt Kinabalu, the first honor goes to Sir Hugh Low, a British colonial officer from Labuan, who reached the summit plateau in 1851. However, he did not scale the highest peak, believing that “the highest point is inaccessible to any but winged animals” In honor of his journey, a peak, along with a mile-deep gully, a pitcher plant and a rhododendron were named after him.

The custom of leaving a signed and dated letter in a bottle at the top of the mountain gives a history of the early climbers. In 1858, Sir Hugh Low made a second expedition to Kinabalu with his friend Spencer St John. The highest peak was finally conquered by John Whitehead and his intrepid Kadazan porters in 1888. Whitehead also made the first zoological collection of the mountain’s animals.

In 1910, English botanist Lilian Gibbs became the first woman to scale Kinabalu. Along the way, she collected over a thousand botanical specimens for the British Museum. In the same year, Mt Kinabalu’s first tourist made the ascent, describing the trip as “purely a vacational ramble”.

The Kadazan
The Kadazan people – Sabah’s largest indigeneous community – still live on Mt Kinabalu’s flanks. Traditionally, they practiced shifting cultivation, chopping down forest to plant rice and other vegetables. Gradually, permanent terraced farm plots are replacing shifting agriculture to help slow soil erosion and preserve the natural forest. Many Kadazans now work as rangers and guides for Kinabalu Park.

Mt Kinabalu is located at the high point of the Crocker Range that runs almost from the northern tip of Borneo to its centre. The foundations of Kinabalu were set some 15 million years ago during the Pilocene period when a huge ball of molten rock was forced beneath the Crocker Range, hardening into a granite mound. Kinabalu itself was formed barely 10 million years ago when huge plugs of granite forced their way through crumpled layers of sandstone and shale. During the ice age some 100,000 years ago, glaciers began wearing away the summit plateau. Today, Mt Kinabalu is still growing at a rate of 5mm a year. It is one of the youngest non-volcanic mountains in the world. At its top, a 1.5km-deep gorge splits the mountain down the middle, separating the two arms of the eastern and western summit plateaus 1km apart.

Mt Kinabalu has one of the richest and most diversified fauna and flora in the world. This is all thanks to a wide climatic range (from tropical rainforest in the lowlands to temperate climate at high altitudes), heavy rainfall and diversity of rocks and soils. Many plant and animal species are endemic to Kinabalu and not found anywhere else in the world. More than half of the world’s flowering plants can be found here.

The world’s largest pitcher plant, the intriguing Nepenthes Rajah, grows in the Park. There are also 700 species of orchids, 600 species of ferns and over 24 species of Rhododendrons (one of the most spectacular flowers on Mt Kinabalu). One can also find bamboos, mosses, oak trees and figs among the 6000 plant species growing here.

Altitudinal zones are used to classify the common plant types on Kinabalu. Up to 1200m, lowland rainforest dominates the landscape. In the lower montane zone from 1200-2200m, plants more typical of temperate regions are common. Here, tree are shorter and ferns are abundant. The upper montane forest lies between 2200-3300m where the trees are stunted and covered in mosses – hence the name ‘the mossy forest’. The sub-alpine zone starts from 2200m and goes all the way to the summit where grassy meadow-like vegetation dominates.

Of the many mammals on Mt Kinabalu, black shrews, Kinabalu shrews and Thomas’ pygmy squirrels are endemic to the mountain. Kinabalu is home to over half of Borneo’s 518 bird species. Of the 29 species of birds unique to Borneo, 17 are found in the mountain. These include the red-breasted tree partridge and crimson-headed wood partridge. A common sight on the summit is the mountain blackbird. There are also numerous species of moths, small reptiles, insects and spiders endemic to Mt Kinabalu.
Link source:http://mountaintorq.com/