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.
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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/