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

Rest and relax amidst the paddy fields

The pond and the gazebos

FOR those who have worked in the paddy fields,  they know it is not an easy task. However there are those who have never worked in one before. To them visiting the green patch of land where paddy are planted is a treat; as it indeed is. It is an educational and inspiring experience that one should indulge in at least once in one's life.

Michael Asik

In Kg Tempasuk 1, Kota Belud, there is a piece of land that has been developed into an area when guests can reminisce life of times gone by, while others revel in the wonder of another's way of life.

Owner Michael Asik, 47, says he developed the 1.5 acre of land where he constructed a pond for visitors to play on paddle boats or just sit around and enjoy the view.

They may also feed the fish in the pond, he shares, adding that they do hold fishing competitions too. Those who catches a fish can either keep it at a cost or release it back, especially if its too small.

During the right time, visitors can participate in harvesting paddy, separating them from the stalks, de-husking and other such work that pertains to paddy.

"Or during ploughing, they can held to plough, comb and flatten the land to get ready for planting," he said.

There are several small gazebos on the developed piece of land on the paddy fields, where one can picnic or sit around just to get out of the sun.

The paddy fields beyond

"We do not cater any food for our guests as yet, but we will cater upon demand. We hope to establish an eatery within the area in the near future," he shared.

Micheal also runs a six-room homestay nearby. The rooms are comfortable and the houses are surrounded by a vilage's natural environment, so guests can experience a real stay in the homes of a local.

The views from his homestay is fantastic as guests can view Mount Kinabalu very clearly on a good day. The mountain and the paddy fields makes for excellent photographs.

Those who wish to sojourn briefly at the paddy fields have to pay an entry fee of RM5 for adults and RM3 for children. It opens from 8am to 6pm.

Michael said wedding photographers usually came in to take their clients photos here due to the beautiful view.

"In fact one can hold a wedding here. We can easily accommodate a substantial crowd, but they must consult with us first so that we can arrange the event for them properly," he stressed.

Michael's homestay is under Kadamaian Tourism Association (KATA). More information on his homestay can be acquired from him at 013 8048485.-MSN