Semporna

Location Info

Address: Sipadan Island, Sabah, Malaysia

District » Semporna

Location

The exclusive Sipadan Island is located in the Celebes Sea. The island was formed thousands of years ago on top of and extinct volcanic cone. From there, corals started to grow there and that was the precursor of the island. Slowly and gradually, it grew and grew to 600 meters from the seabed. The marine life here is the reason why the Sipadan Island is so famous. It has the most diverse marine life in the world and is also known as a top diving site among diving enthusiasts.

Overview

Back in 1933, the Sipadan Island was only recognized as a bird sanctuary. It was in 2004 that all facilities on the island were shutdown to preserve its prized wealth of lush greenery and diverse creatures living on the island as well as underwater. The Sipadan Island is located at the center of the Indo-Pacific basin where it is known to be the richest underwater habitat in the entire world. Other than being rich in marine life, Sipadan Island is also renowned for the large number of turtles that live there. It is a common sight to see such magnificent creatures swim underwater.

The Sipadan Island is also the sacred place which safeguards more than 3000 species of fish and hundreds of species of corals. The jungle on the island is the home to many species of exotic birds like the Grey Imperial-pigeon. Tourists who have gotten to the island will be amazed with what they are about to see. For a small island like Sipadan, its beauty is by far better than many islands in the world. It is rated by many to be one of the top five diving destinations in the world. The best time to dive here is between January and August when the water is so clear that visibility underwater is over 30 meters. But do bear in mind that the currents here may be quite tough for beginners. That is why guides usually bring tourists to easier routes to avoid having that complication.

Fishing is not allowed on the island to preserve the ecosystem here. Corals, sand or dead shells are prohibited from being collected. This island is so exclusive that everyone who wishes to visit the island will be required to get a special permit. The island is a place everyone should visit at least once in their life. The best time to visit Sipadan is between April and June but the best time to watch turtles lay their eggs would be between May and August. There are plenty of other places to visit and see in Sabah. Do not miss the chance to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of Sabah. Accommodations in Sabah are plentiful and ranges from a wide price range that will suit your budget.

Transport

You can take a flight to Tawau and then get on a bus to reach to Semporna where the island is at. And from Semporna, the speedboat ride to Sipadan Island will take about an hour plus. If you do not want to wait for the bus from Tawau to Semporna, you can also take a taxi there from the Tawau Airport to Semporna.

Link source;http://sabah.attractionsinmalaysia.com/Sipadan-Island.php

Pulau Mabul 
Mabul Island is reputed to be one of the best places for underwater macro photography in the world. Located in the clear waters of the Celebes Sea off the mainland of Sabah, it is surrounded by gentle sloping reefs two to 40m deep. Covering some 21 ha., it is considerably larger than the nearby Sipadan Island and is home to the Bajau Laut tribe, one of many ethnic groups in Sabah. Diving is the main activity on this island, and it can be done all year round. Marine life that can be seen here includes sea horses, exotic starfish, fire gobies, crocodile fish, pipefish and snake eels. There are over eight popular dive spots, each with its own specialty. Three resorts cater to scuba divers - two are on the island itself while one is on a converted oil rig platform about 500m offshore. The offshore resort is called Sipadan Water Village Resort. Sipadan Water Village is a resort beautifully constructed with Bajau architectural design. The entire resort is built over water on stilts made of Belian Wood commonly called ironwood, laid in certain points so as to minimise damage to the existing reef. In its design, Sipadan Water Village has achieved near utopia in its over-the-water layout, splendid water cottage accommodations with flowered sidewalks, wonderfully prepared Asian and Continental cuisine, and impeccable and personable service. All of the resorts provide day trips for their guests to the nearby Pulau Sipadan and Kapalai Island. To reach Mabul Island, it is a 30-minute boat ride from Semporna and 20 minutes from Sipadan Island.

Pulau Mataking   
Mataking is an island not far from Sipadan. Located to the north of Mabul, Mataking is three times the size of Sipadan and is only a 40 minute boat ride away from Semporna on the mainland. The size of the island is about 40 acres. Indeed, it is the promised island with majestic treasures for divers, holiday makers and honeymooners alike. Back on land, the night life can be exciting watching fire flies. Green and Hawksbill turtles come up to lay their eggs in the sands of Mataking Island. During the day, bask on the snow white sandy beach and enjoy the sight of the island’s coconut crab scurrying up a tree. You can also take a walk while listening to the bird’s singing in exotic garden. If you prefer a bird’s eye view of Mataking, climb up the King’s Watchtower and enjoy the breathtaking sight. If you are more adventurous, grab a few friends and explore the lushness of the tropical island vegetation or have some fun playing beach volleyball & beach soccer. You can also stroll down the 1km sandbar that connects Mataking and Mataking Kecil at low tide.  When the crystal turquoise waters of Mataking beckons, it is an offer that cannot be refused. Suit up and explore the 30 or so dive sites in and around Mataking and the surrounding islands of Pandanan, Bohayan and Buhai Dulang.

Pulau Kapalai   
Between Sipadan and Mabul Island lays a sandbar that sits on the reef known as the Ligitan Reefs. The reef, a very extensive stretch bordering the deep and vast Celebes Sea, is the foundation of a best-kept secret dive destination called the Kapalai Island. With all the wonderful muck diving opportunities available in the South Pacific region, Kapalai is not just another place to do it. It is where discerning divers come face to face with amazing marine creatures and skills at spotting minute and cleverly camouflaged oddities are well rewarded. Rare subjects such as cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, sea moths and mating mandarinfish are seen on a regular basis. Other frequently sighted creatures are the crocodilefish, lionfish and scorpionfish. Giant frogfish, ribbon eels, harlequin ghost pipefish and crab-eye gobies are seen on many of the dive sites. The jetty dive itself has plenty to offer including leaf scorpionfish, pink-eye gobies, ambonian shrimps and the comical antics of the mantis shrimp.

The sole resort occupying the island is the Sipadan-Kapalai Resort. Protruding above the water, it is elegantly built in a traditional water village style. At one end of the resort boasts a rather long sandbar of blindingly white sand where one can sunbathe in total recluse during low-tides. The resort serves great food at the open terrace and offers twin-sharing wooden chalets with en-suite baths. Guests are also able to observe the antics of squids and needlefish swimming below from the roomy balconies.


Although Kapalai is just a few minutes away by boat from Sipadan, one can expect a completely contrastable dive. Diving in Kapalai can be considered ideal for the beginners, yet diversely exciting to satisfy the most experienced diver.

Getting to the islands
Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia provide flights departing from Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru to Kota Kinabalu. From Kota Kinabalu you fly with Malaysia Airlines in 50 minutes to Tawau. 

At the new Tawau airport you are picked up by minivan and transferred in 1,5 hours to the fishing village Semporna. If you arrive there in the afternoon it is better to stay there one night and travel to the islands on the next day.

From Semporna all operators bring their guests by speedboat to the islands.
Semporna - Mabul 30 Min.
Semporna - Kapalai 45 Min.

Semporna - Sipadan 60 Min

Sandakan Nature City...Amazing!!

Sandakan is a port city located in the mouth of Sandakan Bay, facing the Sulu Sea in the east coast of Sabah. Sandakan is one of the oldest surviving cities in Sabah, having been established in 1879 by an Englishman, William B. Pryer. Originally, named as Elopura which means 'beautiful city', Elopura thrived under the rule of the British and become an important trading post for the British in North Borneo. Elopura was later renamed as Sandakan which means 'a place that was pawned' in Sulu. It became the capital city of Sabah (or North Borneo) when the British North Borneo Chartered Company (BNBCC) was appointed by the British Government to administer North Borneo in 1881. The city have been used by the British since then as their administrative center until 1946 when it suffered heavy damage by Allied bombings and the burning of the town's building by the retreating Japanese army during the World War II.

After World War II, the city was rebuilt and many shops were back in business within a few years as the people tried to get back with their life after the hardship and suffering of the war where many of the locals died. Today, it is the second largest city in Sabah with a population of more than half a million people. It is the administrative center for the Sandakan division and is an important gateway to the surrounding areas.

The city is also an important stop-over for visitors coming to visit the area unique nature and wildlife during their Sabah vacation. Just outside the city, with less than an hour road journey, visitors can visit the forest reserves and animal sanctuary to view exotic animals such as orangutan, proboscis monkey, pygmy elephant and many more. Visitors can also go spelunking in the limestone caves which are famous for its birds’ nests. A short boat ride will bring visitors to the many beautiful pristine tropical island paradise located off its coast. The city has flourished to become the prime eco-tourism destination and was aptly declared as the "Nature City of Sabah' in 2004.

Getting There: By road, Sandakan is about 185 miles (300 km) from Kota Kinabalu and is about six to eight hour ride across some hilly and winding road. The beautiful and picturesque views along the roads will help to break up the monotony of the ride during your Sabah vacation. By air, the flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan takes about 40 minutes.

Link source: http://www.amazingsabahborneotravel.com

Attraction in sandakan

1. Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre

Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre is a sanctuary for orangutans (Pongo borneo) in Sabah. It is located about 25 kilometers to the west of Sandakan, on the eastern side of the state. The centre is within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, which covers an area of 5529 hectares.

Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre was established in 1964. Its main purpose was to rehabilitate orphaned orangutans whose habitat was disrupted by logging, deforestation and poaching. Included are orangutans that were rescued or confiscated from unlicensed owners. The orangutans are trained to adapt to the jungle environment so that they could be eventually released to the wild. This is done by providing the animals with monotonous food, to encourage them to forage in the jungle on their own. The feeding of the orangutans which takes place twice a day, there are various natural trials and walks within the reserve; from

2. Rainforest Discovery Centre

The Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) is located within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, and only 2km from the Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre.

The RDC is an education facility run by the Sabah Forestry Department, primarily to create public awareness and appreciation of the importance of conserving forests, as well as the sustainable use of forest resources. Visitors should allow themselves about half a day to fully appreciate what the Centre has to offer.

3. Agnes Keith House

Agnes Keith House is a heritage building in Sandakan, Sabah, that was once the home of famous American writer Agnes Newton Keith. It is located on the hill with Sandakan Bay in front of it, and the Sulu Sea behind it. Agnes Keith came to live in Sabah with her husband in the 1930’s. While she was in Sabah, Keith wrote several novels, the most famous of which was Land Below the Wind, written in 1939.

Agnes Keith’s house was destroyed during the Second World War. During that time, Agnes Keith endured imprisonment under the Japanese, while at the same time trying to raise her young son. This is documented in the house.

In 1946, following the war, the government rebuilt it on the same foundation. The Keiths continued to stay in there house, as Mr Keith worked for the government as the conservator of forests. Their son George was born in the house. After the Keiths left Sabah in 1952, the house continued to be known as the Agnes Keith House. It fell into disrepair by the 1990’s, but was eventually restored and conserved as a heritage building, providing visitors a glimpse of life during the British administration of North Borneo. There is also an English Tea House within the compound – a departure from Agnes Keith’s attempt to make her home more American and less British.

4. English Tea House

The English Tea House is superbly situated within the grounds of the historic Agnes Keith House Museum and is housed in a renovated colonial house surrounded by 1.5 acres of perfectly manicured lawns.

Enjoy the spectacular views of the town and Sandakan Bay as you relax with a cocktail in the garden or enjoy a wide selection of beverages at the long bar. Offering fine teas from around the world, scones & clotted cream, delicious cakes & pastries and a wide a la carte selection of Asian and traditional Specialties.

5. Rotary Observation Pavilion

 

Rotary Club Observation Pavillion is a viewpoint near the English Tea House, just across the road from the Agnes Keith House, in Sandakan, Sabah. From here, one can get nice views of Sandakan below.

6. Trig Hill Rotary Tower

One of the tallest point to view of Sandakan town. Check out the Sandakan view when you walk up the stairs to the tallest point and you will see the view of Sandakan town.

7. Chinese and Japanese Cemetery

There is a Japanese cemetery in Sandakan, Sabah. This is the resting place of a small Japanese community that settled here in the late 19th century. As in the case with many other towns in Malaya, Sandakan saw an influx of impoverished Japanese immigrants at the tail end of the 19th century. They came mostly from rural villages. In Sandakan, they worked as labourers and prostitutes, known as karayuki san, literally “Miss Gone Overseas”. The situation here is no different from that in Penang (read Cintra Street and Penang Japanese Cemetery). According to the records, there were 20 brothels and 71 Japanese prostitutes in Sabah in 1891.

The Japanese Cemetery of Sandakan was established by a Japanese women by the name of Kinoshita Kuni, better known as O-kuni. The majority of the graves belonged to Japanese women, many of whom earned a living from prostitution.

8. Sandakan Harbour Square

 Sandakan Harbour Square, or SHS, is a retail development on reclaimed land under construction in Sandakan, Sabah. It comprises a central market, fish market and integrated shopping mall. The Central Market will have over one thousand four hundred stalls. The 4-storey Shopping Retail Complex will be the biggest shopping mall in Sandakan. There is also a pedestrian mall that is modelled after the Bintang Walk in Kuala Lumpur. And to top it off, Sandakan Harbour Square will have a 5-star hotel with 800 rooms.

9. Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary – Up close and personal with Borneo primates;

In the centre of the mangrove forests of Semawang is the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, where you can see Borneo’s indigenous proboscis monkeys. This privately-owned sanctuary located within an oil palm estate gives you the chance to observe these animals up close and personal.

The remarkable males sport big dangling noses, reddish flat-top hairstyles, white tails and markings, and pot bellies. The females on the other hand, are much smaller and have up-turned noses.

Take a night tour for a chance to see wild boars, flying squirrels, fireflies and crocodiles. The sanctuary also has a lodge with aircondtioned twin or double rooms, family chalet and dormitaries for those who wish to stay overnight.
10. St Michael’s and All Angels Church
St Michael’s and All Angels Church is a 19th century church in Sandakan, Sabah. It is one of the heritage buildings in Sandakan.
   
St Michael’s and All Angels Church was the first building in Sabah to be built of stone. Work began in 1893, but it was only completed thirty years later. The building was designed by a New Zealander, B.W. Mountfort. Conscripted prisoners were used to build the church. The structure was built with a belian timberframe, followed by bricks and then stones. The stones came from nearby Kampung Buli Sim Sim. In addition, white stones were also imported from Hong Kong.
The nave and transepts were dedicated on 30 September 1906, in conjunction with the Michaelmas celebration.

11. Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple
Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple is a Buddhist temple in Sandakan, Sabah. It is located on a hill about 4 km to the west of Sandakan town centre. From here, there’s a panoramic vista of Sandakan Bay below compared with the otherChinese and Buddhist temples in Sandakan, Puu Jih Shih is pretty new, having come into the picture only in 1987 at a cost of RM5 million.

Puu Jih Shih is extravagant, and is likely built to awe. It is built in a grand scale, with giant undulating dragons, golden Buddha statues and more.








12. Sandakan Crocodile Farm
 There is a crocodile farm in Sandakan, Sabah. It is located about 9 km from the town of Sandakan, at Labuk Road, which is on the way to the Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary. With over 3,000 crocodiles, it is one of the largest crocodile farms in Malaysia.

13. Sandakan Memorial Park
The Sandakan Memorial Park is adjacent to the World War Two prison camp, on the site of the massacre of 2,400 Australian and British prisoners-of-war in the hands of the Japanese, in the closing days of the Second World War, between January and August 1945. It is located about 11 km from the centre of Sandakan. Memorials to those who perished in the war can be seen in the park, surrounded by greeneries and ponds. There is also a small museum that documents the war history, along with rusting relics of the war.

14. Sam Sing Kung Temple
Sam Sing Kung Temple is a Chinese temple in Sandakan, Sabah. It faces the municipal field of Sandakan. The name “Sam Sing Kung” means “three saints temple”, and refer to Kwan Woon Cheung, the saint of righteousness, goddess Tin Hou, a deity worshipped by fishermen, and Emperor Min Cheong, a patron deity of students, worshipped for good examination results.
Sam Sing Kung Temple was built by the four main Chinese communities in Sandakan, namely the Hakka, Cantonese, Hainanese and Teochew. It was completed in 1887, making it the oldest structure still standing in Sandakan.

15. Buli Sim Sim
Kampung Buli Sim Sim is a stilt village on the coast of Sandakan, Sabah. This is the original site of Sandakan when William Burges Pryer, the British Resident of Sandakan, established the township back in 21 June 1879.

16. Sandakan Heritage Trail
The Sandakan Heritage Trail is a comprehensive walk that covers the town’s important and interesting sites which have contributed to her rich historical past. A leaflet will map out the entire trail for you and it covers about fifteen spots.
a.) Masjid Jamek
b.) MPS Square / William B. Pryer Monument
C.) Stairs with 100 steps
d.) World War II Chinese Memorial
e.) Japanese Cemetary
f.) Agnes Keith’s House
g.) Rotary Observation Pavillion
h.) Ancient Graveyard
i.) Old Stairs
J.) Goddess of Mercy Chinese Temple
K.) St. Michael’s & All Angels Church
l.) Sam Sing Kung Chinese Temple
m.) Malaysia Fountain
n.) Sandakan Heritage Musuem
o.) Tourist Information Centre

17. Sandakan Heritage Museum
Sandakan Heritage Museum is one of the museums in Sandakan, Sabah. It was opened on 5 December 2003 to document the history of Sandakan.
   
Sandakan had a headstart over other cities in Asia in terms of development – it was the capital of British North Borneo from 1884 until the end of the Second World War, In 1923, it was installed with an automatic telephone exchange, and this was even before Hong Kong and Shanghai got theirs.
Sandakan Heritage Museum is housed inside Wisma Warisan, which was a British government building during colonial times. The office of the British Resident was located on the first floor of the building, while on the ground floor, there was a post office where the Tourist Information Centre is located today.

18. Sandakan Rainforest Park
Sandakan Rainforest Park (SRFP) is located about 9 km away from the centre of the coastal town of Sandakan in Sabah, Malaysia. The Park, covering an area of 148.6 hectares, is situated at a site where some of the earliest botanical explorations in Borneo were carried out. The Park is the locality of about 110 type specimens; as such, it a very important site for research on plant diversity in Borneo. The core area of this Park is still in pristine condition. Many lowland species of flora and fauna of Borneo are found in this forest.

19. Sandakan Batu Sapi
Batu Sapi is a rock formation beside the river to the south of Sandakan, Sabah. This rock formation was created by water erosion, current and waves over millions of years. It now stands at the estuary surrounded by mangrove and the fast encroaching Sandakan town.

20. Masjid Jamek Sandakan
Masjid Jamek Sandakan is a mosque in the town of Sandakan, Sabah. It was originally built in the 1890’s as a place of worship for the Muslims in Sandakan. Muslims sought refuge here during the Second World War, and it even acted as a hiding place for a few Europeans.
Linksource: https://cedricchai.wordpress.com

About Sabah

Sabah: The Culture & People

Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its south-west. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south. In spite of its status as a Malaysian state, Sabah remains a disputed territory; the Philippines has a dormant claim over much of the eastern part of the territory. The capital of Sabah is Kota Kinabalu, formerly known as Jesselton. Sabah is known as "Sabah, negeri di bawah bayu", which means "Sabah, the land below the wind", because of its location just south of the typhoon-prone region around the Philippines
The region of present-day Sabah was discovered by Europeans around the early 16th century. This was during the period when the Sultanate was in its 'golden era'. The region was known as Sava to Portuguese explorers. In 1658 the Sultan of Brunei ceded the northeast portion of Borneo to the Sultan of Sulu in compensation for the latter's help in settling a civil war in the Brunei Sultanate. In 1761 an officer of the British East India Company, Alexander Dalrymple, concluded an agreement with the Sultan of Sulu to allow him to set up a trading post in the region. This, together with other attempts to build a settlement and a military station centering around Pulau Balambangan, proved to be a failure. There was minimal foreign interest in this region afterward and control over most parts of north Borneo seems to have remained under the Sultanate of Brunei. The southern portion of Palawan was once part of Sabah, due to Palawan's proximity to Borneo. Southern portions of the island were under the control of the Sultanate of Borneo for more than two centuries, and Islam was introduced. During the same period, trade relations flourished, and intermarriages among the natives and Chinese, Japanese, Arab, and Hindu peoples became commonplace. The intermixing of blood resulted in a distinct breed of Palaweños, both in physical stature and features. In 1749, the Sultanate of Borneo ceded southern Palawan to Spain.[4]

In 1865 the American Consul of Brunei, Claude Lee Moses, obtained a 10-year lease over North Borneo from the Sultan of Brunei. Ownership was then passed to an American trading company owned by J.W. Torrey, T.B. Harris and some Chinese merchants. They set up a base and settlement in Kimanis but this too failed due to financial reasons. The rights of the trading company were then sold to Baron Von Overbeck, the Austrian Consul in Hong Kong, and he later obtained another 10-year renewal of the lease. The rights were subsequently transferred to Alfred Dent, whom in 1881 formed the British North Borneo Provisional Association Ltd.
In the following year, the British North Borneo Company was formed and Kudat was made its capital. In 1883 the capital was moved to Sandakan to capitalise on its potential of vast timber resources. In 1888 North Borneo became a protectorate of the United Kingdom. Administration and control over North Borneo remained in the hands of the Company despite being a protectorate and they effectively ruled until 1942.
Post World War Two, Malaysia joined the Malaya Federation and is now one of the 13 states of Malaysia.

The Geography

The western part of Sabah is generally mountainous, containing the three highest mountains in Malaysia. The most prominent range is the Crocker Range which houses several mountains of varying height from about 1,000 metres to 4,000 metres. At the height of 4,095 metres, Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in South East Asia . The jungles of Sabah are classified as rainforests and host a diverse array of plant and animal species. Kinabalu National Park was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2000 because of its richness in plant diversity combined with its unique geological, topographical, and climatic conditions.
Lying nearby Mount Kinabalu is Mount Tambuyukon. At a height of 2,579 metres, it is the third highest peak in the country. Adjacent to the Crocker Range is the Trus Madi Range which houses the second highest peak in the country, Mount Trus Madi, at a height of 2,642 metres. There are lower ranges of hills extending towards the western coasts, southern plains, and the interior or central part of Sabah. These mountains and hills are traversed by an extensive network of river valleys and are in most cases covered with dense rainforest.
The central and eastern portion of Sabah are generally lower mountain ranges and plains with occasional hills. Kinabatangan River begins from the western ranges and snakes its way through the central region towards the east coast out into the Sulu Sea. It is the second longest river in Malaysia after Rejang River at a length of 560 kilometres. The forests surrounding the river valley also contains an array of wildlife habitats, and is the largest forest-covered floodplain in Malaysia.
Other important wildlife regions in Sabah include Maliau Basin, Danum Valley, Tabin, Imbak Canyon and Sepilok. These places are either designated as national parks, wildlife reserves, virgin jungle reserves, or protection forest reserve.
Over three quarters of the human population inhabit the coastal plains. Major towns and urban centers have sprouted along the coasts of Sabah. The interior region remains sparsely populated with only villages, and the occasional small towns or townships.
Beyond the coasts of Sabah lie a number of islands and coral reefs, including the largest island in Malaysia, Pulau Banggi. Other large islands include, Pulau Jambongan, Pulau Balambangan, Pulau Timbun Mata, Pulau Bumbun, and Pulau Sebatik. Other popular islands mainly for tourism are, Pulau Sipadan, Pulau Selingan, Pulau Gaya, Pulau Tiga, and Pulau Layang-Layang.

The People

The people of Sabah are divided into 32 officially recognised ethnic groups. Amongst the various ethnic groups are the kadazan, dusun, murut, bajau, bugis, rungus,suluk, Lotud, illanau, Brunei, orang sungai,  bisaya, kedayan, tidong and many other important ethinic groups. The largest non-bumiputra ethnic group is the Chinese. The predominant Chinese dialect group in Sabah is Hakka, followed by Cantonese and Hokkien. Most Chinese people in Sabah are concentrated in the major cities and towns, namely Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau. The largest indigenous ethnic group is Kadazan-Dusun, followed by Bajau, and Murut. There is a much smaller proportion of Indians and other South Asians in Sabah compared to other parts of Malaysia. Cocos people is a minority ethnic residing in Sabah especially at the Tawau Division. Collectively, all persons coming from Sabah are known as Sabahans and identify themselves as such.
Malay (Bahasa Malaysia) is the national language spoken across ethnicities, although the spoken Sabahan dialect of Malay differs much in inflection and intonation from the West Malaysian version.  English, Mandarin as well as Hakka and Cantonese are widely understood. In addition, Kadazan-Dusun, Bajau, Murut and other smaller groups also have distinct ethnic languages.

Tourism

Tourism, particularly eco-tourism, is a major contributor to the economy of Sabah. In 2006, 2,000,000 tourists visited Sabah and it is estimated that the number will continue to rise following vigorous promotional activities by the state and national tourism boards and also increased stability and security in the region. Sabah currently has six national parks. One of these, the Kinabalu National Park, was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2000. It is the first of two sites in Malaysia to obtain this status, the other being the Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak. These parks are maintained and controlled by Sabah Parks under the Parks Enactment 1984. The Sabah Wildlife Department also has conservation, utilization, and management responsibilities.

Please visit the official Sabah Tourism website for more information on travel and tourism destinations within Sabah.
Link: http://www.sabahtourism.com/sabah-malaysian-borneo/en/home/

Homestay

Homestay essentially means spending a day and a night living with a local family at their home and perhaps also sitting down over a meal or two and learning about their way of life and also a little bit about the culture and lifestyle of the Kadazandusun's of North Borneo.
The SAC experince allows competitors to see a part of Sabah they would otherwise not have an opportunity to see during their time in North Borneo and also the possibilities that Malaysia has to offer as an eco-tourist destination and an adventure haven.
Competitors will traditionally spend at least one night with a local family during the course of the event together with their team mates or with competitors from other teams.
The SAC does not profit from the homestay program and is supporting the state homestay program by creating awarness and attempting to build bonds and bridges between the communities.

Link source :http://sabahadventurechallenge.com/