A Sanctuary for the Proboscis of Borneo

Proboscis Feeding time

The Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary in Sandakan is a place where you don’t need to walk like the fictional pink panther in the forest to sight these arboreal creatures. You can see them almost everywhere; some sitting quietly on a branch, others jumping from branch to branch nonchalantly while some others watch you as you pass by. This is not surprising as there are more than 300 of these primates in the 260 hectares of land.

Actually, the land was supposed to be a part of a plantation, Michael Lee Hing Huat, the owner shared.

In 1997, after they acquired the land, they set about clearing it. They had engaged several workers to do the job for them. The workers went to work very early but before they left, they kneaded flour to make into pancakes when they returned for their coffee break.

However, they had a shock one day to find out that their dough was missing. They looked high and low for it but couldn’t find the dough and they surmised that somebody had stolen it. A few days of monitoring and they found out that Proboscis Monkeys had entered the house and stolen the dough.

Michael Lee

So, they set up a trap for the primates, which was a success, as they saw the red-haired creature staring at them when next they looked into their trap. They showed the monkey to their boss, Lee’s late brother, who was quite amazed with the catch. It was later confirmed that the primate was a Proboscis monkey.

 “We realised that the Monkeys encroached into human dwelling as they were finding it hard to find food. The severe drought brought about by El Nino had impacted on their food source badly. To boot it all we had encroached into their natural habitat. They had no choice but to steal food,” Lee said adding that this prompt their next decision that resulted into the sanctuary they have today.

“We decided to leave that area alone for the proboscis monkeys to ensure that they still have their dwelling place even as we developed the land adjacent to this area.”

The two workers who caught the monkey was later assigned to specifically look after the primates.

“They went inside the jungle to survey their population and also to construct a five-feet-high platform to feed the monkeys. However, as time goes by, the raised platform was gradually lowered for the convenience of the monkeys and the workers. Soon, the monkeys felt safe and began to come out in numbers.”

By that time, Lee had constructed a building and observation balcony there as well as low feeding platforms for the primates to dine on.

Silver Langur eating his vegetables

And on that note, the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary came into being where more than 300 of these primates’ roam on 260-hectare land earmarked for their protection and mangrove forest conservation.

“We are still feeding the primates, although it is more like a supplement for them. Not everyone come to feed at the platform. We may see about 40 or so coming to the platform and eat. Sometimes more, but not all of them come. So, it’s more of a supplement for their natural food. There are four feeding hours for them and for visitors to see. Feeding time are 9.30am and 2.30pm at platform A, and 11.30am and 4.30pm at platform B. Both the platforms are located 1.1-kilometre apart.”

Lee believed that there may be an additional 10 to 20 monkeys a year and to ensure that the primates have ample space an additional 17-hectare land was purchased for this purpose, from a neighbouring landowner, recently.

The proboscis monkeys are not the only group to enjoy the sanctuary though; there are dozens of silver langur famously known as ‘David Beckham’ (England football player) due to its spiky hairstyle.

“The silver langurs actually follow the proboscis monkeys to the feeding platform so we give them long beans, a supplement to keep them healthy,” Lee said.

In fact, during my visit they were languishing on the floor of the look out area, sitting on tables and shelves as well as on the balustrades. They were not shy at all. A baby was seen running from one adult to the other.

Other primates spotted include the pig-tailed macaque and long-tailed macaque.

The orang utans saunter by sometimes to look for ripe fruits, he added.

One of the chalets

For those who wish to visit Labuk to watch the primates, they can also stay overnight as there are six units of timber chalets with air-conditioning that can fit between 20 and 30 persons, two dormitories that can cater for up to 40-60 people.

To get there, travel to Samawang Village at Labuk Bay, Sandakan; it is 38km away from the airport and takes about an hour to get there. More information can be acquired from 089 672 133.-AV/MSN

Relax with Nature at Kinabatangan

Nature Lodge Kinabatangan

Reaching the banks of Kinabatangan River late in the evening when the sun had set and flickers of electricity lights were the only illumination could be quite daunting. This was more so with the knowledge that the river was home to hordes of crocodiles, who bear no reverence to mammon, man or beasts.

A fellow journalist and I travelled the long drive from Kota Kinabalu, the State Capital to Kinabatangan River, in Kinabatangan district, Sandakan Division.  Our travel was dotted by pit stops, some quite unintended as we ventured into roads other than towards Kampung Bilit, our actual destination.

A cosy bed

When we did reach the river banks where the boat from Nature Lodge Kinabatangan, our host, waited, we had travelled some 350 kilometres in ten hours of driving. It was indeed a long journey and all we wanted to do was check in, eat and sleep.

Checking in was absolutely heavenly, for the cabin was cosy, the bed pristine and inviting and of course, there was hot water in our shower. Nothing could be more important to the weary traveller.

A crocodile languishing in the mud

The Nature lodge have 13 units of these wooden chalets and fitted with air-conditioning, ceiling fan and bathroom. They could accommodate two people and an extra mattress upon request. I thought the room sized chalet well-appointed and quite comfortable.

Dormitory units equipped with double bunk beds cater for large group especially students, Front Office Supervisor, Sahnita Bani informed us later adding that guests could also choose to set up their tent at a camping site nearby.

Dinner at Café Haji Awang was filling, where lots of local food were served with a choice of coffee and tea as well orange juice and water.

Tourists on a boat

Sleep was a spiral into a comfortable dreamless state that was only interrupted with the muezzin call the faithful to prayers.

Malaysian style breakfast was our fare. We had fried noodles, eggs and baked beans among others. There was also pancakes and bread. A filling breakfast to start the new day.

After breakfast we were scheduled for a morning river cruise to get a glimpse of wildlife along the river. I was excited to get on this cruise, as my last sojourn in this area was about six over years ago. The one and a half hour of cruising was very fruitful, thanks to our boatman Mohamad Juri. He did have a very keen eye and could spot macaques walking around the bank, birds flitting by and yes, crocodiles. We saw a huge one which he said was about four metres long. I thought it looked quite wide too. We also saw two smaller ones, about two metres long each and a baby croc, floating by. We clicked away of course.

After the cruise, there was a nature walk lasting 45 minutes. For those who love nature, a slow meander should be taken on the trail. Just don’t forget to spray on mosquito repellent. Later we took a walk on the trail without anybody else. It was a surreal walk. Quiet except for the periodic bird call, I enjoyed the walk under the coolness of the shade, with the sunlight filtered through the tree tops. Lunch was served at 12noon where we gratefully walked towards the restaurant to have our fill of delicious filling food. There was chicken curry and mixed vegetables for lunch.

Sahtina Bani

After lunch, we had a quick rest and then joined in the afternoon river cruise with our boatman Mohamad and a tour guide Zulayqah Roderick, who was born in Kg Bilit. A true local who knew everything about that area.

This afternoon was very interesting indeed as we went into another side of the river, and saw a lot of wildlife including birds such as kingfishers and darters. We also saw proboscis monkeys. They were all over the trees, and seemed to put up a show. They jumped from one tree branch to the other and crashing and hurtling from one branch to the other like boisterous boys. Some of them would pause on a branch as if to pose for our furiously clicking camera and phone camera. Some walked on the ground for a few seconds before running up the tree again.

Zulaygah Roderick

We moved on to another area and watched a congregation of pig-tailed macaque just chilling around on branches and watching us. Some little ones were running around on the ground, playing roll-over and jump. The older one, the parents perhaps, sat on some logs watching their young. Other adults just kept a look out, watching us. We were watching them as much as they were watching us. I wondered how we looked like in their eyes.

We went back to the restaurant, had our tea and relaxed. Other guests went for the walks or siesta.

Pig Tailed Monkeys 

We had a brief chat with the staff there where we found out that they offered a lot of interesting activities for guests.

For instance, they hold a cooking class for the guests. The fare was usually traditional Ubian food. I thought that was interesting as I had never learned to cook their traditional food. The tourists would go home with such knowledge. Besides that they would also be able to try their hand in batik painting.  

The Proboscis Monkeys

“Other than that, we also have tree planting and river cleaning activities by visitors especially groups of students. We had been visited by British student groups. They usually stay between two and five nights,” she said. 

People from all over the world had visited the area and stayed at Nature Lodge, she said, and they come from countries such as South Korea, Australia, America, Argentina, Estonia, China, Spain and Hungary among others.

She shared that an additional five chalets will be constructed soon, thereby augmenting the present number of rooms.

We checked out a day afterwards, bidding fond farewell to the friendly staff. I looked at the chalets among the trees for a while and once again marvelled at the beauty of nature; and how with a little effort, human formations can be incorporated into the environment without compromising it.

For those who wish to visit this area, you are advised to call 0133516263 for more information.-AV/MSN

UNIQUE UBIAN DANCE FROM USUKAN KOTA BELUD 0

Stargazing at Tegudon

By the river of Togudon

Stargazing is an interesting pastime or hobby and for those who wish to indulge in this  activity, there is a place to go to in Kota Belud that will not disappoint. It’s a village  where a river passes busily by and along its banks the paddy fields flourish.  It is called Kg Tegudon, and the site in particular is the Tegudon Tourism Village (TTV).

TTV hospitality bureau committee member Jakunis Gindua enthused that Kampung Tegudon is the third most popular stargazing sites in Malaysia. They officially welcomed visitors to gaze at the sky in May 2017 and since then there has been an endless stream of stargazers flocking to this area.

“Last year we carried out three events here, and the stargazers who came were not disappointed as they could always see the clear night sky full of stars and meteor showers in the dark,” she shared adding that the stargazers would lie down on their back looking at the clear night sky while others would be glued to their telescope.

Jakunis Gindua

Guests coming from Sabah, Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore and Indonesia visited this area and according to her there were no complaints from among them, they all went away happy with their experiences.

2017 was a memorable time for them and of course the stargazers were awed as they recorded a total of 1,284 meteor showers and 18 fireballs blazing across the night sky, she said adding that they were visible to the naked eye.

Presently, they are working closely with Sabah Stargazing Association who will inform and guide them about the best time to look up the sky and be amazed at the sights.

“The stargazers usually gather at the open space and lie on the ground the whole night until the wee hours looking up at the night sky,” Jakunis said, adding that all the lights at the site would be switched off to optimise their vision.

She shared that those who wish to stargaze at their site should let them know two weeks advance so they don’t miss out on space. The space is quite limited and allow only 500 people at any one time. They also rent out tents with costs according to the tent sizes.

If there are walk in guests, they are still welcomed but they would have to sleep in their vehicles when there’s no space for them, she shared.

The huts at TTV

TTV boasts picturesque views of clear water river and paddy fields with Mount Kinabalu in the distance. The village is located 15 kilometres away from Kota Belud Township.

Information can be acquired from Jakunis Gindua at 012 8287814.-MSN

Enjoying Nature at its best

The River at 3V

We all love splashing around in a river with crystal clear water. It is reminiscent of a childhood in an innocent past. Many who grew up in the village will have experienced this sort of environment. 

When I visited Kg Nahaba in Kota Belud, nostalgia was the first emotion that hit me; especially when I visited 3V  which stands for Villa Valley View.  A river runs through  the valley, rushing its crystal clear water on the pebbly water riverbed.

Deren Liging

The river is under the tagal system, which means no one is allowed to harvest the fish there for a year or two until the tagal committee decides otherwise. The fish are then harvested by the villagers.

Meanwhile, a group of people are taking care of the three kilometres of tagal river promoting it as a tourism destination. This group of people called the area 3V and promoting it as a place to picnic, to camp out and bath in the river, as well as fish feeding.

This group is led by Deren Liging, 46, who shared that some 80 people are actively involved in the endeavor.

“The river called Woriu is direct from Mount Kinabalu, therefore its crystal clear most of the time. We have lots of fish in the river and we are now trying to make them a little tamer by feeding them as we want to promote fish spa and fish feeding here too.”

“We also encourage our guests to hold picnics here as this is a cool place, with tranquil natural environment that most people will enjoy. We have several huts for our picnickers. These huts can be rented out for overnight stays,” he disclosed.

Feeding the fishes

According to him, they are currently clearing out a trail for those who like jungle trekking. The track will be about three kilometres round trip and the destination is a waterfall they call ‘Wasai Ponohuan’ which means ‘waterfall for fish to lay eggs’ in Dusun. When the trail is completed, guests will be able to enjoy bird watching. Besides the flora and fauna, they will also be able to enjoy the freshness and challenge of a jungle walk.

The camping ground is spacious enough to accommodate 14 tents and students from SK Narinang has camped there once quite comfortably, he shared, adding that their guests in the past comprised of Malaysians and Singaporeans with a few westerners.

“We hope that more tourists will come and enjoy our nature here and what we have to offer. We can also accommodate those who wants to hold their functions here such as birthdays or other types of gatherings. Our site can accommodate some 300 people.”

“As for food, we can provide food upon request. We usually cook traditional food. We don’t have an eatery as yet but we hope to open up one soon,” Deren said.

They also hope to embark on the homestay programme where they will be able to share their lifestyle and daily activities with their guests. The people who live in Kg Nahaba are traditionally paddy planters and rubber tappers.

For more information, call Deren at 018 9720839.-BNN

Edna Homestay, within sight of the sacred mountain

From right: Petrus, Edna and Edna's father

Waking up with nature is the best holiday you can have especially when the air is invigoratingly cool. One of the best place to go to experience such an atmosphere is Edna Homestay. This homestay  is sited in a beautiful area of Melangkap Kota Belud. 

I am sure many visitors are sorry to leave the homestay after a few days sojourn. This is because it is a beautiful place that one wish one can stay forever. It is also because the people there are so friendly and warm, that it almost feels like family

The three-storey house is right in a place where waking up in the morning is an invigorating experience. If your bed room is in the right position, you will see Mount Kinabalu, in its full glory every time you wake wake.

Other Homestay near Edna

Spokesperson for the homestay, Petrus Sualan shares that they have three units of single houses, newly renovated to ensure full comfort for their guests.

Guests have choices in this homestay. They can stay in any of the to offer more choices and comfort

with four rooms in each floor. They can also choose the dormitory where eight people can fit in very comfortably.

Edna Homestay

The rental fee per floor is RM540 for the ground level (four rooms) with attached kitchen and refrigerator, the first and second floors with three standard rooms and one VIP room is RM600.

“Visitors can rent the whole house for RM1,400 and save RM200. Many groups have stayed with us as we can accommodate up to 50 people including those who bed down in the living room. We do provide them with extra mattresses,” he shares.

Breakfast and dinner are provided unless told otherwise. He says they are working with a caterer from Kota Belud township for the halal menu.

Not that it is confined to these foods, as they also offer Asian fusion food. In fact one can also request for local traditional food but they must be informed in advance.  

“Not everyone likes traditional food,” he quips adding that although he likes to promote such food as one of their packages, he also serves guests according to their desires.

Those who come to stay in his homestay usually go around to explore the surrounding villages, ride his ATV (all terrain vehicle) or go fishing. Most enjoy photography due to the scenic surrounding. The sky, the river, the forests and the mountains are good backdrops for photographs, especially selfies.

Most of his guests are domestic, he shares, adding that they come from Lahad Datu, Tawau and Limbang (Sarawak) as well as Peninsula Malaysia.

Petrus shares that sometimes Edna homestay may get full occupancy but he does not really worry much about it as his sisters in law are running homestays too and he just check in his guests at their homestay. Later the guests can gather in a common hall.

Mt Kinabalu seen from another spot in Melangkap

 “Though they are staying in different house, they can always gather at the open hall here for buffet style breakfast or dinner,” he says adding that the hall can accommodate up to 120 people,” he said,

Nearby his homestay is Liza homestay with 10 rooms, Eva Homestay has three rooms whilst his father-in-law has four rooms. His guests are mostly church group. Juliet homestay has 10 rooms and will be adding another three more whilst Larraine Homestay has seven rooms.

Petrus says business has been good and attribute it to the good road condition in that area. He expresses his hopes that it will keep on getting better due to eco-tourism awareness and promotions.

To meet the rising demands, he is planning to develop more rooms along the riverbanks, where two units of air-conditioned houses with attached bathroom will be constructed.

Petrus is also the chairman of Melangkap Kota Belud Tourism and Accommodation Association which boasts 47 homestay operators with 22 active members. There are nine ecotourism-based operators and 13 homestay operators, providing a total of 200 rooms.

They are promoting Culture, Adventure and Nature (CAN). Culture includes   Dusun traditional dance, music and farming to entertain visitors. The traditional dance is usually performed to welcome guests or before the start of a function upon request from the visitors coming here to experience the rural Lifestyle.

One of Edna's bedroom

A is for adventure seekers who wants to test their endurance by trekking up Kapa, Noriou, Tiong and Sayat Baru or even Mount Melangkap which can be quite a challenge.

Another site that they had just discovered and cleared is the Gunung Parang Melangkap or Mount Machete. He says that it looks like a machete is seen from the foot of Mt Kinabalu.

N is for nature where guests can learn about medicinal plants along the trail, he says.

With all the things they have to offer, I believe that periodic return is in order. After all what better way to wake up in the morning but to see the awesome Mt. Kinabalu in the distance.

Information can be acquired from Petrus at 014 650 1940.-BNN

By the Rivers of Telungan

By the River of Telungan

Visiting Kampung Talungan in Kota Belud is an unforgettable experience. The drive towards this village is scenic, if a little bumpy. The air is invigorating, the atmosphere very rural and the people are absolutely welcoming. For all that,  it is a typical village, sited among gentle hills and two rivers that come together there and flow towards a larger river. The people are mostly sustenance farmers and rubber tappers, eking their livelihood from the land and sending their children to school.

Harlina Daiti

With the onset of education, some of the people there are now government servants while others work in the city in the private sector. With knowledge comes their desire for their own betterment and one of the ventures that they had gone into is ecotourism. This village has plenty to show where eco-tourism is concerned. This community based-tourism has brought the villagers side income to complement their revenue.

Talungan which means ‘the meeting of two rivers’ is one of the earliest villages to embark on the venture. With its picturesque rolling hills and rushing river, the villagers who were encouraged by other ecotourism players, embarked on this venture and the rest as they say is history.

Journalists and Kadamaian Tourism Association (KATA)
member (right) visiting Kg Telungan

The main tourism attraction there is of course the river, which is teeming with fish as the villagers practiced an ancient form of river management called ‘tagal’ or ‘Bombon’ where the harvesting is done only once every year or once every two years. This allows the fish to grow and also to multiply, ensuring that the river is every populated with fish.

The Bombon Committee usually decides when to harvest and all the fish caught at that time are divided equally among the members, or villages.

The villagers of Kg Talungan formed their committee in 1996 and  in 2015 they decided to promote their destination as Tagal Village Ecotourism Talungan.

Entrance to the site

Chairperson of Tagal Village Ecotourism Talungan, Harlina Daiti  said it was officially launched by the Rural Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedict who was then political secretary to Deputy Chief Minister cum Agriculture and Food Industry Minister in 2016.

She shared that there are 76 members in the working committee divided into three groups to manage the ecotourism site voluntarily without salary. Each group is headed by a leader and assisted by a deputy.

A school teacher St Edmund in Kota Belud, Harlina shared that she usually worked at the site on Saturdays.

Tourists who visit the village will enjoy the drive through the countryside. The scenic route is marred by the bumpy road, but this could all be chalked up as an adventure. Upon reaching the village they will be able to walk around and bath in the river or feed the fish.

The Tagal Village Ecotourism Talungan is located about 21 kilometres away from Kota Belud town via Jalan Sayap and Jalan Tambulian Piasau.

It takes about 30 minutes’ drive to reach the destination but the road condition to the village is still very poor only a short distance is tarred whilst the remainder is gravel and dirt road.

For those who wish to visit this village, they may call 013 6052421 for more information. -MSN

Dining with setting sun

Sumptuous Food

Blazing sunsets never fail to amaze most of us. It is wondrous to behold especially all the colours that seem to mix together in all its brilliant hues. Most people think of the sunset as a promise of another amazing da, while others might think of it as a tapestry of nature that makes up the universe…for the poetic, it’s nature’s painting in all its brilliance. It all boils down to admiration of a beautiful scene.

To see one in all its brilliance, one should watch it from Sutera Harbour's Horizons Sky Bar and Cigar Lounge.  The sunset seen from this location is awesome as there is nothing on its way. The mix of colours lighting up the horizon are just so brilliantly diverse that one can only admire it with the almighty creator in mind.

Overlooking other properties

While at the site, enjoy what the Horizons Sky Bar and Cigar Lounge has to offer. It is one of the hotel's newest addition in the food and beverage department. Sited at the rooftop, this outlet comes alive at sunset, which is anytime from 5pm onward. The blazing sunset usually occurs at 5.45pm to 6.30pm and then the sky will slowly turn dark. There are of course lights from the city and the occasional plane that flies overhead, but nothing beats the sunset.

At the Cigar Lounge

Those who wish to dine in the outlet will be able to sample delicious Italian food. They are delicious in its moderate portion but very filling to.

There are two sets of menus to choose from; both sumptuous and will titillate the palate enough to make one a return diner. The mesclun salad with smoked duck breasts is incredibly good and should be followed by the crab meat soup. The mushroom risotto with cheese is nicely filling. As for the mains, the lamb shank with beer and rosemary is good but a personal favourite is the Atlantic cod fish fillet with poached egg and spinach.

Horizon Sky Bar 

To savour all the delectable food served, visit the outlet and indulge in the sumptuous food served. While you are at it, enjoy the blazing sunset, the cool evening air and the cosy ambiance in that rooftop outlet. With good music in the background, this is a place where one goes to at the end of the day after a hard day’s work and enjoy the end of the day.

For those who wish to get a couple of drinks, this is the best place to be. There is an assortment of drinks at the bar from 7pm onward. It's closed on Monday though.

The Pacific Sutera Hotel is a five-star establishment in Kota Kinabalu with 500 well-appointed rooms and suites. It is about 20 minutes’ drive away from the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) and 10 minutes’ drive from the city centre.

Information can be acquired from 088 303 240.-MSN

Fun and games with Gelsoft, now in Sabah

Darrel speaking to reporters

Extreme Sports fans can now indulge in a game that requires them not only to exercise vigorously, but enhance their stamina and alertness.  These great toys can be a lot of fun especially for those who want to ‘battle’ it out in the garden or hold a ‘shoot out’ against one another’s team.

 The good news is Gelsoft Sabah was officially launched today at a leading hotel by the Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Datuk Darrel Leiking.

 

During the event, he also witnessed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between Sabah and led by George Tann Junior and Australia represented by Siva Sara the Chief International Officer of Gelsoft Australia.

Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Darrell said the extreme sport started with only a few interested individuals but now boasted 32 groups in 10 locations in the State.

He said this augured well for the sport as it had caught the attention of like-minded youth, which enhanced interaction and rapport among them.

Darrel (3rd right) with Tann (4th left) and Siva (3rd left)

“This is a healthy sport where they can sweat out. It is better for them to sweat out (in the sport) and interact.”

 On another note, he said Tann wanted to apply to the Government to create a business manufacturing these gel soft blasters. With the technology between Australia and Sabah, they would be able to export the products from out of the State.

 “Of course, first of all they have to sort out any legalities, I think they are doing it. We have the relevant authorities here that want to help them out. I support this, as a lot of our children stay at home, which is good, but could be unhealthy for them.”

On the national focus for youth development, he said in MITI the focus was in manufacturing which is an industry that we want to bring to Sabah. But this has to be an initiative by investors. We support them but they have to acquire permission and license from the Government to manufacture gel soft blaster.

“In Warisan, we encourage our youth to look into business ventures that can give them a good lifestyle. We must no longer be blaming the people for our own shortcomings. We must find something that will group people together.”

Meanwhile, Tann said their first step would be carrying out safety awareness campaign to the public throughout Sabah because some might not understand the sport.

He said they would show members of the public what the game was all about, adding that they would hold a road show around Sabah.

The 'arsenal' exhibited.

“We will work with the relevant authorities in our endeavors, including the police,” he said.

Some 300 people attended the event. An exhibition of the ‘weapons’ and costumes were also held.

    Also present during today’s events were Minister of Youth and Sports Phoong Jin Tze,  Sabah Police      Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah and Social and Digital Media Manager of Gelsoft Australia Gilly Palacios,  Chief Operations Officer of Gelsoft Australia Joe Zarillo,  Chief International officer of Gelsoft Australia Siva Sara, Chief Deputy Superintendent of Penampang District Police Mohd Haris Hj Ibrahim an officer from the Penampang District Police, Insector Arisanti Aziz.-MSN

Sojourn in the garden of peace, Capernaum

Sit and relax

 One should stay more than a couple of days at Capernaum Garden in Narinang Kota Belud. The peace and tranquility of that place can be a balm to tired and weary individuals who wish to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city once in a while. It also brings to mind a certain Galilean Ministry some 2000 years ago, where miracles were  performed and the greatest religion was founded.  

The garden in Kota Belud is a place where one goes to relax and enjoy the tranquility and calmness of a countryside. There one can enjoy the sounds of the forests and the river that flows nearby the garden. This is a place where night falls in utter calmness….no cars revving up or motorbikes passing by with its engines cranked high.

River Pool

Capernaum Garden boasts two swimming pools, one for adults at four and a half feet deep and one two and a half feet deep. The water in the pool is from the river that passes nearby.

There is also a natural pool in the river, where guests can enjoy cool and fresh flowing water, with fruit trees and natural bushes along the river.

Michael Liman

Its owner Michael Liman, 51, shares he also planted fruit trees around his property and when it’s in season, guests will be able to enjoy jackfruits and durians among others. Besides that they also plant their own vegetables.

Besides fruit trees, there are also herbs planted in the vicinity. Guests can request Michael for a walk thru for this where he will share the uses of the herbs concerned.

Those who wish to stay in Capernaum can choose to stay in any of the four cabins or dorm style at the Longhouse. The cabins are quite comfortable and well aired.

There is also a kitchen available for those who wish to cook, but if they require the host to cook for them  they have to inform the management in advance. The food will not be included in the accommodation prices.

At Capernaum Garden

Michael says that he will be upgrading his homestay soon, where he will build more washrooms nearer the cabins as well as an eatery. He will also look into constructing more cabins.

For those who wish to stay in Capernaum and enjoy the peaceful ambiance of the garden, they may call Michael at 018 8748845 for more information.-MSN

At the beach in Toburon, Kota Belud

Tobilung House

THE houses and chalets by the beach are stuff that dreams are made of. A place where one wish one can enjoy the beach front and the mangroves without ever having to leave. It is a place that most visitors feel like staying for a long time, if not forever. Alas, one can only visit and stay as long as one can, but  have to leave afterwards.

This is Toburon  Beach, a tourism site developed based on the concept of the Dusun Tobilung community in Kota Belud.

The beach

The house stands at 40 by 60 feet showing an ancient architecture utilised by the people in that area. It is a basic house for guests, who wish to experience the people’s old way of life, where beds were piled on the bamboo floor.

Its  Manager Abar Gumpai said he got the idea to build the traditional house after the Kadamaian Tourism Association (KATA), President Walter Kandayon  and Panorama Paradise Ecotourism Resort, Operator Sylvester Junid came to inspect the site in 2017 at Abar's invitation.

He said he wanted his place to be unique and stand out on its own, so he abstained from building just another house or chalets.

He said he is quite pleased with the outcome as many international tourists have expressed their appreciation for its authenticity.

He initially wanted to build it as a family home but since tourists took interest in it, he decided to rent it out as a homestay.

Traditional Food

This encouraged him to build nine more huts there, where one can utilize for a day stay.   He doesn’t encourage overnight stay in the huts as guests can be exposed to the elements, being that they are very close to the sea.

For guests who wish to explore the mangrove area, he has a boat ready for river cruises. The six-seater boat stands ready at the jetty to bring tourists around. They can travel for two kilometres upriver and thereabout.

He is not about to rest in his laurels and enjoy his achievement thus far. In future he plans to establish an eatery where he will serve food, notably local food upon demand. He also plans construct a hall and a swimming pool for guests convenience and enjoyment.

Abar is already welcoming visitors from as far as Korea and he hopes that more international and domestic tourists will come and enjoy his hospitality.

For photography buffs they will enjoy the beach as the sunset is spectacular.

Overnight guests at the eco resort will be provided with three meals; breakfast, lunch and dinner with the selling prices from RM10 to RM15.

The traditional menus are also available but it will only be served upon request from the visitors. Besides that, the visitors can also do their own cooking at the kitchen and for those staying at the chalets they can rent the stove.

For those who wish to enjoy Abar’s place, don’t hesitate to call him at 012 8391045.-MSN