Kundasang Guesthouse for ultimate comfort

Kundasang Guesthouse

Most travellers are getting more experience oriented and want to savour the sites and sights of their destinations more. They want to sample local cuisines including street food and beverages, as well as the traditional fares of their hosts.

They want to have memorable experiences plus photographs and mementoes to remind them of their trips. Most will post their photos in facebook or other social media outlet to show their friends and families back home their experiences.

Of course with all these experiences, they also want to have good accommodation to rest and relax after a day of adventuring. They want to have comfortable spacious rooms with good amenities. In fact some will opt to get a whole apartment so they can cook their own food to chase down what they ate outside.

Japiril Suhaimin

In Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, travellers will not be disappointed. As soon as they land, they will be greeted warmly by the locals and they can hope to enjoy good food at restaurants immediately. That is in Kota Kinabalu the State Capital of course.

After that the next destination should be Mt Kinabalu and Kinabalu Parks, the world heritage site.

These sites have to be explored well to enjoy more and as such good comfortable accommodation are needed. There is many and various accommodation available in and around the area of course that one can be spoiled for choice.

One of the recommended choices of accommodation is Kundasang Guesthouse. This is a beautiful modern building that reminds one of  houses in temperate countries; Europe, for instance. It has stairs that wind up to pretty little apartments and rooms. There are apartments with three rooms and some with two. These apartments have good serviceable kitchen and spacious dining area. The balcony and terrace are also furnished with tables and chairs for those who wish to dine al fresco.

There are also just rooms for travellers who wish to just rest and leave the cooking to the various restaurants nearby. The rooms are well-appointed and spacious.

The owner Japiril Suhaimin shared that they have a good size hall for those who want to hold events there.

“With the hall, we offer amenities like PA system among others. Guests can hold birthday parties, seminars, talks, workshop and any gathering here. A small wedding can also be accommodated,” he said adding that guests have to notify them in advance to ensure that bookings do not clash.

He added that he can also provide food upon request but they must be notified in advance.

The plus point about staying with the Guesthouse is that guests can enjoy the panoramic view of Mt Kinabalu in its glorious splendor. The morning scene is especially beautiful when the sun first shine its sunrays on the mountain’s craggy face. The yellow ochre hue lends a mystical look on the mountain as the sun slowly rises in the east. It is a sight worth seeing at least once in one’s life.

The invigorating balmy air in the highland is also one of the plus points in staying in the Guesthouse. It is never too hot there and not always cold but one may have to wear a jacket or a cardigan most time, especially during the rainy season.

For those who come and stay with the Guesthouse, they can make it their main point of rest in exploring Kundasang and Ranau.

In Kundasang, guests can take a walk at the War Memorial Park where  they can walk down history briefly. They will be able to see gardens dedicated to Australia and Britain, whose soldiers fought in Borneo and of course Borneo Garden dedicated to the locals who were involved in the fight as well. They can look at the names of those who died during the infamous death march.

Guests can go up the mountain to look at the Desa Cattle Farm. There are good views there for photo opportunities. They can also sample dairy products there.

Additional building and accommodation 

The Kinabalu Park is a must see. Guests can drive up to Timpohon Gate, where the climb to the summit usually starts. Afterwards they can enjoy the Kinabalu Parks ambiance. There are restaurants there that serve good food.

There are many other sights to see and sites to visit such as the Poring Hotspring in Ranau, Fish Spa in Kg Luanti and the Sabah tea Garden nearby. There is a good restaurant there to get one’s meal.

After all the adventure and sightseeing, go back to Kundasang Guesthouse and rest in comfort and serenity.  

 Japiril is slowly expanding his guesthouse and a new building is being constructed adjacent to the initial endeavour. The architecture is unique to the guesthouse, as Japiril himself designed them. He said his inspiration is derived from buildings he saw in his travels as well as social media.

Those who wish to acquire more information may call Nazrin at +60198310396 or 088888396.-AV/MSN

Kinabalu Pines, fantastic views in comfort

Travellers want good rooms to crash in when they reach their destination. They need comfortable beds and clean functioning bathrooms in a room that is spacious and airy.

Some the chalets

Most want terraces, verandas or balconies with good and if possible breathtaking views. They want to sit and relax with pleasant scents of nature, with their feet up.Afterwards they want to have an enjoyable meal in a spacious restaurant with good prompt service and lots of elbow room.

In short they want someone else to make lunch, clean up everything and sit back and enjoy their holiday and the magnificent views.

The Kinabalu Pines Resort Kundasang is just the place for holiday makers who want to have all the features mentioned. They have well-appointed rooms, spacious and airy with good toilets equipped with hot water for showers.

They have a good spacious balcony furnished with chairs to lounge on to enable guests to look out towards the mountains and Mt Kinabalu before them. The sight is absolutely breathtaking so they will not be disappointed. The morning air in this mountain getaway is invigoratingly cool.

More Chalets

The resort is two-hour drive away from Kota Kinabalu, the State Capital. While driving towards this destination, visitors will enjoy the scenes along the way such as hamlets and stalls selling all sorts of food items including vegetables, Pekan Nabalu, a thriving mountain town with a panoramic view of the mountain as well as the Kinabalu Parks. On clear days, majestic Mt Kinabalu can be seen in the distance.

The resort is walking distance to Kundasang Township and the War memorial. The Poring Hotspring in Lohan Ranau is a 45 minutes drive away as well as Fish Spa in Kg Luanti and the Sabah tea Garden. Pines Resort is the perfect place to stay for those who wish to visit all of Kundasang and Ranau. Visitors should stay for a few days so that they can really enjoy Kundasang and the Resort.

Albert Shim

These features and the friendly staff are contributing factors to the success of the Resort since its establishment in February 1995, its Managing Director Albert Shim shared.Before the construction of the resort, the area used to be a vegetable farm.
Albert shared that there were eight of them who had land lots adjacent to one another and after brainstorming about what they want to do with their land, they collectively decided to build weekend houses there with a view to rent them out as holiday chalets in future. They had a good architect in Tan Haw Bin, who is a director of Architect Billings Leong & Tan Sdn. Bhd. He is also the resort chairman.
The chalets run well and lucratively. They developed nice walkways and gardens that won landscaping awards from the tourism authority.  And then the earthquake strike in 2015; they were badly affected.
“There were cracks in some of the chalets. For six months there were hardly any visitors. We were down to one percent. But we persevered. We maintained our staff. They did chores that were not in their job description.”
He said they eventually picked up again which is not surprising as people will always come back to a place of beauty. The earthquake has passed and  has become a mere memory.
He said as visitors are coming again, with help from 20 tour operators that they work with and they will keep on upgrading the services and facilities in the present chalets.
“We will make the toilet a little larger,” he shared, adding that they are also looking into adding 36 rooms to the present 64 rooms.
The 36 rooms will be in six chalets to be constructed further up the slope where the present chalets are.
“We will maintain the architecture and the layout; the veranda most of all because our guests love to look out towards the mountains and the sights beyond,” he stressed.
For those who want to enjoy the cool air of Kundasang in comfort the Kinabalu Pines Resort is the best place to go. Information can be acquired from 088-889 388.- PW/MSN

Continue holding the Climbathon

Mt Kinabalu

The 30th Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon held on Oct 15, 2017 will be the last, it seems as it has since been officially scrapped by the relevant authorities. If it had continued, the climbathon would be held again this year. The previous event saw 116 participants from 18 countries including locals pitting their strength and stamina against one another to emerge the best. At that time Sabahan Safrey Sumping finished first. Sadly he will not be able to repeat his feat.

Albert Shim

The residents of Kundasang are not happy about the cancellation, which to them is a major event. This is the time when domestic and international participants, their family and friends and those who are avid spectators throng to this area. This is a time when residents can sell their wares be it food and beverages or souvenir items to their guests, this is a time when transportation, restaurants, homestays, resorts and hotels and all matters of accommodation are fully utilised. In short the event bring a festive atmosphere to this mountain town, even if only once in a year.

Albert Shim, the managing director of Kinabalu Pines Resort agreed that the event should be continued as it means a lot to the people in the area, and Ranau as a whole. This is the time when tourism spots around in Kundasang gets lot of traffic which is good for business.

"I hope the authority reconsider their decision as the community here look forward to the event as this is the time when everyone gets a piece of the action," he said adding that the climbathon is an international event and helps to promote the area tremendously to the world.  

Japiril Suhaimin

He believed that no matter how famous the mountain and the Kinabalu Parks around it are, it is still necessary to keep on promoting it as a destination not only for climbers and mountaineers but to leisure tourists as well. 

Japiril Suhaiman politician and proprietor of Kundasang Guesthouse, agreed with Shim's opinion saying that the climbathon should be continued to ensure that the people in Kundasang especially food and beverage vendors, accommodation and tourism spots enterprise and similar entrepreneurs have something to look forward to annually.

He said most people in Kundasang and Ranau as a whole wait for that event to be held so that they can enjoy the tourism traffic as well as the exciting, festive and merry atmosphere in the park and Kundasang township. 

"It is a pity that the event is no longer going to be held. Although we have other events like the Cabbage Festival, but that is so different. The climbathon was still the much awaited event," he opined.

Azizul Julirin

Azizul Julirin, Chairman of the Mesilou Atamis Homestay Association believed that scrapping the climbathon is not a good idea and the relevant authorities should consider returning it to the annual calendar of events for Kundasang. He said people in Kundasang such as mountain guides and porters always look forward to the event because they will have more jobs which means they earn more.

He said some mountain guides  are participants too and thus when the event is scrapped it deprived them of an event where they can pit their strength and stamina against more seasoned international participants.

"We have our own Borneo Highland Marathon which has been carried out from 2014 to 2018. Participation have been very encouraging. There may still be sports event here like the marathon but I believe the Climbathon is still very relevant as this event attracts international communities," he stated adding that the Borneo Marathon's participation is mostly local. 

Kohadie Watiman, the Kundasang's Walai Tokou Homestay coordinator and also the Vice President of Malaysia Homestay Association said scrapping the climbathon impacts the tourism industry in Kundasang tremendously.

"We have always looked forward to this event as this is a time when visitors from all over the world congregate in Kundasang. For a whole month at least, participants and their family would be here and they would frequent our eateries, utilise our vehicles, visit our tourism spots and of course stay in our resorts, homestays and hotels."

He expressed his hope that the relevant authorities will rethink their decisions to scrap the event, as it does not only impact Kundasang but Ranau as a whole and of course there is one less sports tourism in the State.

Melidin Giking who works with Sabah Tea Garden in Nalapak Ranau said he personally feels that the climbathon should be carried on. According to him, participants and their family and friends usually visit tourism spots around Ranau too such as the Poring Hot Spring. 

"They should definitely hold the climbathon again," he said.-PW/MSN

Melidin Giking

Don't scrap Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon

Mt Kinabalu

The 30th Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon held on Oct 15, 2017 was it's swan song as it has since been officially scrapped by the relevant authorities. If it had continued, the climbathon would be held again this year. The previous event saw 116 participants from 18 countries including locals pitting their strength and stamina against one another to emerge the best. At that time Sabahan Safrey Sumping finished first.

Kg Sinisian, Kundasang under Walai Tokou Homestay

Kundasang residents are not very happy about the scrapping of the event. They had always looked forward to the event as this is the time when they welcome a lot of visitors into the area. They get a lot of business in accommodation, food and beverage, tour and services as well as transportation. 

Kohadie Watiman, the Kundasang's Walai Tokou Homestay coordinator and also the Vice President of Malaysia Homestay Association said scrapping the climbathon impact the tourism industry in Kundasang tremendously.

"We have always looked forward to this event as this is a time when visitors from all over the world congregate in Kundasang. For a whole month at least, participants and their family would be here and they would frequent our eateries, utilise our vehicles, visit our tourism spots and of course stay in our resorts, homestays and hotels."

Kohadie Watiman

He shared that some homestays has been upgraded after being advised by their visitors during the climbathon. A Homestay in Kg Tudan, Bundu Tuhan has built a 400 steps place called 'Gonipis Steps' for participants to practice with while they were there. Participants run up and down this 400 steps as a mean of training as they can't be on the mountain trail to train everyday. The owner has been looking forward to climbathon participants to use the step.

He expressed his hope that the relevant authorities will rethink their decisions to scrap the event, as it does not only impact Kundasang but Ranau as a whole and of course there is one less sports tourism in the State.

He agreed that there are a lot of other interesting and beautiful places to promote in Sabah but one more will not be an impediment for the promotion. Moreover it concerns the pride of Sabahans, Mount Kinabalu, which should be promoted to the international community as a destination in every way including sports.

There are now 35 homes under Walai Tokou Homestay/Kampung stay in Kundasang with 100 collective accommodation. -pw/MSN

 

Deepavali Mood at The Palace Kinabalu

General Manager Chloe Loo (2nd right) with Chef Marcel Lumangkok(3rd right), Director of Sales and Marketing Stella Moluntang (right) andhuman resource manager Daisy Mak (left) with staff  showing off their pretty kolam

Deepavali will be celebrated in October 26 this year in Sabah and Malaysia. This is a celebration that will see people from all walks of life enjoying the event and the holiday that will fall on Monday, Oct 28.

In Sabah its a celebrated by Hindus, with other races joining in the celebration, which is an identity of cultural, racial and religious tolerance in the state.

In conjunction with this celebration, the Palace Hotel Kinabalu is offering a set menu of special sumptuous  food which include Poppadom, Tomato Chutney, Chapati and Briyani Rice, Green Bean Curry and Indian Potato Patties.

The sumptuous offering

These are chased with Alo Ghobi and Kheer. This meal comes with mango lassi or teh tarik. The delectable food is available for lunch and dinner. This food promotion will last for a month in October, but may become a regular feature according to demand.

The Kinabalu Palace Hotel is a four-star hotel sited 10 kilometres away from Kota Kinabalu International Airport. Guests of the hotel will enjoy a serene tropical rainforest on one side of the hotel and the sights of the city on the other.

More information can be acquired from 088-217222-PW

From Serbia to Mount Kinabalu

The group at the peak of Mt Kinabalu

Visiting a new place and experiencing fresh territory can be exhilarating. This is one of the reasons why people travel to other parts of the world; to be enchanted and be captivated by the sites and sights of other places other than one’s own.

Blown away was the expression from a tour leader to a group of Serbians who visited Sabah, recently. Bojan Maric, the tour leader who brought group of 18 tourists from his country said they enjoyed every minute of their visit.

His group comprised of mountaineers while others were avid sightseers. They had travelled the distance to sightsee in this part of the world with as he had visited the State before and was wowed.

Getting ready for the hike

He had visited this part of the world five years before and liked what he saw and experienced.

“I especially loved visiting Mount Kinabalu and the National Parks, the Kinabatangan River to look at the Proboscis Monkey and of course Sepilok to look at the OranUtans,” he shared, adding that with his knowledge garnered during his previous visit, he was confident with the role of tour guide when he brought his group into this part of the world.

“As soon as we stepped into the Palace Hotel Kinabalu, we loved it. We are impressed with the warmth and friendliness that they showed us. They were so welcoming,” he shared adding that this positive beginning augured well with the group as there was never a time when they had caused to complain.

While they were here, they visit the various sights of the State including Mari Mari Cultural Village, enjoyed white water rafting and the island, among others.

“We wanted to go to Manukan or Sapi initially, but we were told that those places were crowded with tourists and they recommended Sulug instead. It was a lovely sojourn, and we enjoyed the privacy and the clear blue water there,” he said.

On the river

The group also climbed Mt Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Malaysia at 4,095 metres high. They climbed well, being mountaineers, although some did experience some discomfort. They however enjoyed this adventure tremendously.

They did not only enjoy nature during their visit but the local cuisines as well. They enjoyed the different taste, Bojan shared, although some of the food was a tad spicy.

Memorable food and beverage experience was of course part of their visit here and as such would be great memories for them when they return to their home country.

Serbia is so far away that one wonders about their journey. Serbia is located in southeastern Europe near the Adriatic Sea. It is surrounded by other countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria among others.

Bojan said there was no problem about connectivity as there were good airline route nowadays. He said they would come back again one day to enjoy Sabah.-AV

Utamakan pekerja tempatan

KOTA KINABALU:Keputusan kerajaan Negeri untuk mengharamkan perniagaan mesin slot di seluruh negeri menjelang hujung tahun ini telah mengundang bantahan beramai-ramai daripada pemegang taruh di kalangan operator dan pekerja-pekerja premis yang bakal kehilangan pekerja.

Dalam satu kenyataan akhbar Ketua Pemuda UMNO Sabah IR. Abdul Aziz Julkarnain berkata walaupun Pemuda UMNO Sabah bersetuju dengan keputusan pengharaman tersebut, kerajaan negeri perlulah memberi pertimbangan yang sewajarnya terhadap warga Sabah yang terkesan dengan pengharaman tersebut dengan memberikan peluang masa untuk mereka mencari pekerjaan yang baru.

Beliau berkata, dengan keadaan ekonomi yang tidak menentu apatah lagi dengan KDNK negeri (1.5%) yang merosot teruk ditambah lagi dengan kadar pengangguran (5.8%) yang tertinggi di negara ini, bukanlah satu perkara yang mudah untuk mencari peluang pekerjaan yang baru.

“Justeru, kerajaan negeri perlu mencari pendekatan yang lebih baik untuk menyelesaikan isu-isu pembuangan kerja yang sedang berlaku di seluruh negara,” katanya.

Menurut beliau laporan daripada Jabatan Tenaga Kerja (JTK) mendapati 24,600 pekerja diberhentikan majikan bagi tempoh Januari sehingga September lepas.

“Kami menyeru agar kerajaan negeri melanjutkan tempoh penamatan tersebut ke satu tempoh yang wajar memandangkan tempoh tiga (3) bulan tidak cukup untuk mencari pekerjaan baru.”

Kerajaan negeri juga perlu menggunakan agensi-agensi yang ada untuk menyerap pekerja-pekerja tersebut ke dalam satu bentuk latihan seperti vokasional, pelancongan atau bidang-bidang berkaitan memandangkan mereka ini sudah mempunyai pengalaman kerja, tegasnya.

“Pemuda UMNO Sabah juga ingin menegur polisi-polisi kerajaan negeri yang mengutamakan pekerja-pekerja asing dengan pemberian pas kerja untuk pengisian peluang pekerjaan di negeri ini.”

Sebagai peringatan Akta Kerja 1955 telah menetapkan agar keutamaan pilihan diberikan kepada pekerja warganegara manakala pekerja asing sebagai pilihan akhir, katanya.

“Pemberian kerja kepada 600 ribu warga asing akan menyebabkan pengaliran keluar wang keluar negara yang akan merugikan negara kita sendiri dari segi ekonomi dan keselamatan.”-pr/MSN

An appeal to the government

Some of the demonstrators

KOTA KINABALU:Thousands of recreation club employees held a peaceful demonstration  at Venition Club, Penampang to appeal to Sabah Chief Minister to allow the continuation of slot machine license.

According to a statement released by the organisers, with the discontinuance of the license some 10,000 people would be affected.

The peaceful demonstration lead by the President of the Persatuan Kebajikan Pekerja Pekerja Kelab Rekreasi Sabah (PKPKRS) Yap How Nam saw participation by employees of the sports and recreation clubs in Kota Kinabalu.

According to the PKPPKRS President they wanted to send a message to the Sabah Chief Minister and they want to be heard.

"We have sent letter to arrange for an appointment and memorandum of staff petition to the Chief Minister but there was no written response. It is quite disappointing that the voices of “rakyat” are being ignored and neglected," he said adding that this was not the  This is not the “UBAH” they wanted.

"We have voted for a better future with the new government and yet we all losing our jobs by those we have put trust and voted,"Yap stated.

The peaceful demonstration

“Many of our colleagues are worried, not just about themselves but also their families. They are stressed, yet we read these statements in the media knocking us down day by day. It is as if the workers welfare and feeling don’t matter. Why us? If the state government wants to close down all the gambling den in Sabah, why not close the rest of the sports toto/4D outlets too? Why only slot machines?"

The peaceful demonstration lasted for an hour which started with employees singing the national anthem “Negaraku” followed by “Sabah Tanahairku”.

Recently, the Sabah state government announced that they will no longer be renewing trade licences for slot machines.

It is common knowledge that a substantial amount of revenue derived from gaming activities are used to offset the overall cost of operations such as utilities, staff salaries, subsidizing the club members’ benefits on using the facilities in the club as well as the food and beverage outlets. Most of the active trade licences expire at the end of the year, which effectively leave the clubs in financial limbo when 2020 comes around.-pr/MSN

Sights and experiences to enjoy in Sabah

Mt Kinabalu seen from Kota Belud

Walking or driving around in Sabah, the Land of the Sacred Mountain brings many pleasant surprises and constant discovery for visitors. I like the driving part. A friend and I once drove from Kota Belud to Ranau and then to Sandakan, and I loved every moment of it.

I especially like the gigantic trees along meandering roads, intermittently dotted with villages surrounded by small patches of tapioca, yams and sweet potato gardens under shades of various types of fruit trees and flowers. Such quaint sights. They never fail to enchant me. I always gush 'its like going home!'

My village, Kampung Bambangan Inanam in the 1950's and 60's was like that, I recall...sadly. Now its just rose-tinted memories.

Anyway, a drive towards Kiulu in Tuaran is such a place where you will be able to see sights of local villages in its quaint settings. These settlements seem to be part of the greeneries and forests. Of course there are big ultra modern houses there too, but the more traditional settings are more interesting.

The destination in this area should be the Kiulu White Water Rafting, at Kg Pukak, which is recommended for those who want a moderately adventurous and relaxing trip.

Slow walks with many pauses should be the order of the day when visiting the Kinabalu Parks, in Kundasang, one and a half hour drive from Tamparuli.

This beautiful piece of botanical paradise covers an area of 754 square kilometres and encompasses Mount Kinabalu.

There are several trails at this park that are recommended for those admire the diversity of nature. Morning walks are commendable as this is when the invigorating air is crisp and clear. Early birds and nocturnal animals hurrying home are a wonder to behold. And then the treat of looking at the peak of Kinabalu slowly being lighted by the morning sun is of course a definite plus.

Drive on a bit and you will come to Kg Nalapak, Ranau where the Sabah Tea Garden is. This is where your Sabah Tea comes from.

Anyway, its beautiful surroundings are an experience for walkers. With its beautiful backdrop, Mount Kinabalu, walking along the trails available there is just an experience not easily forgotten.

Walking on the trail towards the peak of Kamunsu Hill is a good experience as the jungle is pristine. The trail is also used in the Sabah Tea Adventure Race, a few years ago.

Kundasang Township

The Sabah Tea Garden offers a getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life, while allowing one to see how tea is processed.

And then, of course there is Mesilau, Kundasang. This is a beautiful spot to walk around and enjoy the flora and fauna. Walk along the stream there and look at the plants there.   About 2 kilometres from Kinabalu Park; it is home to pitcher plants and wild orchids and various types of ferns.

The Mesilau Trail, alternative to the Summit Trail, should be enjoyed as this is where nature at its best can be seen and felt. You don’t have to go all the way up if you can’t, for even the few hundred yards towards the summit trail can be invigoratingly intense.

However, if you are not too familiar with the terrain, a guide is recommended.

Before you leave Kundasang, walk around the Kundasang War Memorial. This site was established in 1962 and has undergone a few face-lifts since then. It commemorates the Australian and British Prisoners of War who died in Sandakan and during the infamous death marches to Ranau during World War II. The memorial also remembers the people of North Borneo who risked their lives to help the POWs.

There is a beautiful garden there and a pool. They call it the Contemplation Garden and Pool, an apt name for a sombre place where one can think of the atrocities of war and the pledge to have no more war.

From this area, drive towards Kota Kinabalu and go through a road towards Kota Belud District, the hometown of the Bajau ‘cowboys’ whose claim to fame is in their rearing and handling of horses.

The drive towards the township is very interesting where the road cut through forested hills and hillocks, with quaint villages and bubbling streams rushing by.

The atmosphere is peaceful and tranquil, the villages along the road thriving as they always have since long time past.

The quaint and lively little town of Kota Belud is very interesting if a bit clustered. There is a tamu held there weekly and some people go to this town  just for the tamu.

The best feature there however will always be nature, the river and the people.

From Kota Belud, you can return to Kota Kinabalu passing by Tuaran, Telipok, Menggatal and Inanam along the way. Or you can go from Kota Belud, to Kundasang, to Ranau and then to Sandakan. Coming back you can go from Sandakan to Tambunan and then Keningau and then back through the Crocker Range, to Kimanis Papar and then back to Kota Kinabalu. No contest for the wild side there!

Whatever decisions you make...just enjoy!-AV

A brief Sojourn in Cebu

Lapu Shrine in Cebu -
By Rjruiziii/ commons.wikimedia.org

A walk in Cebu City, Philippines is just like home; we see people that are just like us in Sabah; and the dialects spoken are very familiar, being that there are people who come from this island, residing in Sabah. In fact, I can walk the street although I don't talk the talk. Jokes, aside, it is a beautiful place to visit and my two weeks there a few years ago was very enjoyable. I hope to go back there again one day and enjoy the mango. Tons of them there, I can assure you..YUM!!

To share with you: Cebu is the main centre of commerce, trade, education, and industry in the central and southern islands of the Visayas. It has five-star hotels, casinos, white sand beaches, world-class golf courses, convention centres, and various shopping malls.

For sightseers who wish to know the historical aspect of Cebu, the Casa Gorordo Museum is probably one of the best sites to visit, besides the famous Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.

The Casa Gorordo Museum is well preserved and has been maintained carefully through the years. The wood-and-stone house typical of Spanish era architecture in the Philippines was once called home by four generations of the Gorordo family.

This house was bought by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc in 1980 from the Gorordo family and opened as a museum in 1983.

The foundation hoped that the Casa Gorordo Museum will promote the conservation of cultural heritage and enhance public appreciation of local history.

The preservation of this house, its architectures and the artefacts contained within hoped to perpetuate local history, instil understanding on Cebuano ethnicity and inculcate consciousness on the need to preserve history.

Because of its historical and social significance, the house was declared as a National Landmark in 1991 by the National Historical Institute.

The preservation of this house enable the public and tourists to savour heritage, history, and culture through educational tours and other awareness-raising activities such as history lecture series, art exhibits showcasing Cebuano artists and poetry reading sessions.

After a walk around Casa Gorordo, a visit to the Magellan's Cross is just proper. It is a Christian cross planted by Portuguese and Spanish explorers as ordered by Ferdinand Magellan upon arriving in Cebu in the Philippines on April 21, 1521.

This cross is housed in a chapel next to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño on Magallanes Street, just in front of the city hall of Cebu City. 

Tourists will usually be informed that the original cross is encased within the present cross found at the chapel’s centre.

This is to protect the original cross from being chipped away by souvenir hunters or by superstitious individuals who believed that the cross possesses miraculous power. Soldiers have been known to chip away a piece of the cross and wear it around their neck before going to battle.

Some people however believe that the original cross is lost and has been replaced by the Spaniards after they successfully colonized the Philippines. Magellan's Cross is a symbol of Cebu, and the chapel's image can be found in its city seal. It is also seen as the symbol of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines.

Move on and visit the Port San Pedro or Fuerza de San Pedro. This is a military defence structure, built by Spanish and indigenous Cebuano labourers under the command of Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi and the Spanish Government in Cebu. It is located in the area now called Plaza Independence, in the Pier Area of Cebu City.

Actually this port can be akin to a large mansion and indeed it is believed to be the smallest, oldest triangular bastion fort in the country.

It was built in 1738 to repel raiders and then served as a stronghold for Filipino revolutionaries near the end of the 19th Century. It was the centre of the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines.

The fort is triangular in shape, with two sides facing the sea and the third side fronting the land. The two sides facing the sea were defended with artillery and the front with a strong palisade made of wood.  Fourteen cannons were mounted in their emplacements and most of them are still there, a memento of a bygone era.

The date of construction of the stone fort is uncertain, although there are claims that a Jesuit Antonio Campioni built a stone fort in 1630, and the gate of fort bears the date 1738 together with the arms of Castille and Leon.

According to records, Fort San Pedro became a part of the American Warwick Barracks, a military garrison established in 1899 by American military authorities. It was abandoned in 1917 and from 1937 to 1941 the barracks was converted into a school where many Cebuanos received their formal education.

During World War II from 1942 to 1945, Japanese residents of the City took refuge within the walls. When the battle for liberation was fought, the fort served as an emergency hospital for the wounded.

From 1946 to 1950, Fort San Pedro was an army camp. After 1950, the Cebu Garden Club took over and fixed the inner part and converted it into a miniature garden.

And today, it is a National Shrine but still a garden, playing hosts to photographers and their models, strolling singers with their guitars and curious visitors.

Visiting these historical sites should be made compulsory for those who visit Cebu. For with it we will get a glimpse of the people’s colourful history. In some ways, we get to know the people too, through these visits.-AV

A shopping adventure in Bangkok

Bangkok City

In Bangkok, sightseeing and shopping goes together. It was with such eagerness and excitement that a travel companion and I decided to beat the sidewalk to Patpong Night Market on the second evening of my stay there, recently.

We  wanted to walk, just to breath in the ambiance of a thriving city. This walk was from Sukhumvit Road, a mistake as it took us almost an hour to reach the Silom area. We rested on seats along the walkway, though. On the way we saw a couple sleeping on a mat on the ground. They looked so peaceful there laying on the grass under a shady tree. The dusk lent them an otherworldly look, as if they were floating on a space of 'then and now'...the contrast that is, between a huge bustling city and sleeping on the rough under the stars. Near them slept two dogs, oblivious to their surroundings as if they were just as exhausted as their masters. We wondered about who they were, what they were doing for a living...indeed, what was their life.

Once at Patpong though we forgot about our sore feet and our thoughts on the couple, and gazed, ogled and gawked at the various and many varieties of goods on sale. We just meandered into the crowd and wandered into the busy street.

Chao Praya  River

It was a shopping haven: I was all over the place, looking, touching and admiring all the colourful stuff on display. A pretty lady boy selling handbags spoke to me in Thai and when I told him that I was not Thai and that I come from Malaysia, he said 'you look like Thai lady, I give you good price for bag...for you 400bhat.' Good deal actually, but I did not particularly liked the bags.

Shoppers have to be very careful as they would cite the highest price for their wares, which could include Jimmy Choo, Prada and myriads of ‘branded’ goods. Goods available there ranged from undergarments to lingerie, to handbags wallets and belts, shoes…you name it; all for exorbitant prices. Be wise, haggle.

Good shoppers usually slashed the asking price by half and get away with it.

There were also some interesting outlets with languid girls undulating around on stage. The rather poetic movement were actually beautiful but the incessant come-ons from ‘mummies’ could be a tremendous turn-off. All these were seen from outside, as the doors to the outlets were tantalisingly open.

European or at least Caucasian tourists seemed to congregate in Silom as I saw more of them there than elsewhere, perhaps because of the nightlife available or the food outlets that were found all over the place. 

The girls seemed to frantically want these tourists inside their business enterprise, more so than we Asians, for reasons only known to them. As a woman,  I was practically ignored much to my relief. Blending serves one well when one wants to observe incognito.

Incognito or not, we did not do too well with the Tuk Tuk. Going by Tuk Tuk ‘cab’  a trishaw type transport on motorcycle wheels could be an experience in Bangkok too. Its ...Nice.

However it would be better and wiser to ask the fare from one place to another as they could rip you off. We learned our lesson well when we were asked for 200bhat for a ride that a relatively comfortable taxi charged 90bhat for.

The ride was nerve-wreckingly thrilling to say the least as we held on for dear life during the 15 minutes 'jiggled-juggled and bumped' adventure.

Much to our relief we made it back to our place before we were shaken to bits. -AV

Local traditions trivia

A traditional house in Kiulu

We are always welcoming tourists into the State and some of us, into our homes. However, being the warm, welcoming and considerate people we are, we sometimes do not tell our guests the little things that make up our traditional tapestry. This is especially true about our habits, most of which have been practiced since time immemorial.

To go into a Kadazandusun house, taking off the shoes or slippers before entering is a must. I believe most South East Asians practices this. This is a sign of respect to the hosts. But where practicability is concerned, this ensures that the hosts do not have to sweep and scour the floor after the guests have left. You never know what a person has stepped on before entering the house.

When visiting, guests should not shout, but should cough once or twice. This is to warn the hosts that someone is outside. After that you may knock on the door, but you may have a bit of a problem if the house is on stilts as all traditional homes are. And then this is when you call out, “Anyone home?”

Kadazandusun ladies parading their traditional costume
during a harvest festival beauty pageant

You should never sit by the stairs or doors when you are a guest. You should sit inside, with your back against the wall facing into the house. This is your place as a visitor. The hosts sit in front of you, facing the entrance. If the living room is small they should be sitting against the wall too. In a modern home, where there is furniture, you sit in the same position, albeit on the chair.

While visiting and you see a cute fat baby, do not say the baby is cute and fat. The baby should be referred to as well turn out or ‘odongoo’ in the local dialect, never cute or fat.

Calling the baby fat and cute is believed to be tempting fate and the adverse could happen if evil spirits are around and heard the ‘cute and fat’ comment.

When eating, especially when you are seated on the floor, never hold up the plate to your face. This is considered bad manners. You should always lay the plate down on the floor and bring the food up to your mouth. This may be uncomfortable for some, but it is the norm in a local traditional home. Nowadays most homes have dining tables and chairs so this should not be too much of a problem.

When served dishes that you don’t really recognise, don’t ask your host what it is. If you don’t wish to partake of it, just don’t.

When offered rice wine or any sort of drinks and you want to decline, never push away the drinks. Politely brush your fingertips on the rim of the glass or drinking vessel and say you don’t drink. The hosts may insist, but declining twice should send the message across.

It must be remembered here that there are about 40 ethnic groups in Sabah. Although there are many similarities among the people, there are variants in their local norms. So it may be good to look up the home taboos and traditions before visiting them. Otherwise Sabahans are naturally friendly and an easy going lot.-AV