Sabah Malaysian Borneo Buletin September 2008

September 2008 2008 Volume Volume 91 91 September

RM 1.00

Paradise Islands

INSIDE: Ramadhan Bazaar, Mooncake Celebrations, The Nose Flute and more!

Contents

ADVISOR YBhg. Dato’ Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin / Sitti B. Damsal EDITOR Yolanda Graham DESIGNER Trevor Thomson Lam C.W. Charlieking Padasian (Kadaiku Sections) PUBLISHER Sabah Tourism Board / Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn. Bhd. 51 Gaya Street, 88000 Kota Kinabalu BAHASA MALAYSIA EDITOR Puan Hjh. Asmiah Ajamain (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka) DESIGNED & PRINTED BY

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Happenings & Highlights Ramadhan Bazaar Mooncake Celebrations Malaysia Day 2008 Borneo International Football Cups Borneo International Marathon News - Cebu Flight, Aussie Visit, MICE - Nokia Philippines

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Eating Out

TRANSLATORS Chin Yen Sang (Chinese) Rie Harada (Japanese) Emzee Lee (Korean) Cover: scubazoo.com

Inna Kinabalu Sdn Bhd (Publisher of The New Sabah Times) Jalan Pusat Pembangunan Masyarakat, Sembulan 88100 Kota Kinabalu Ever y effort has been made to ensure that the information is correct at the time of publication. The publisher cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies, omissions and alterations which may occur as a result of last minute changes. No par t of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the Sabah Tourism Board.

Alu Alu Restaurant Bintulu Korean Delight

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Leisure Sunset in Kota Kinabalu

Message from the Editor

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Mt. Trusmadi & Trusmadi Forest Reserve

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September is also the Ramadhan fasting month this year, but it is also a time when it’s all about food. It is during this time that food stalls are specially set up to sell all sorts of delicious food for breaking fast. You’ll find local favourites sold at these stalls, a perfect time for visitors to sample some of what the locals love to eat. We would like to give a special thank you to Ivan Choong, the Field Editor with Scuba Diver Australasia magazine, whose article on the creatures immersed in the waters surrounding the islands

Feature Paradise Islands

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Check out our Happenings and Highlights pages to join the Chinese community as they celebrate the occasion with displays of song and dance.

Leisure KK Paintball Centre

Welcome to Sabah! ith the prominence of the presence of the Chinese community here in Sabah, the mooncake festival which falls in the month of September is quite an affair. Thousands of boxes of mooncakes are bought and exchanged this month to celebrate the Mooncake Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn festival.

Places of Interest

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Through The Lens SK Khoo

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Culture The Story of the Nose Flute

15 Sipadan, Kapalai and Mabul are spread out in our feature pages. Go straight to pages 10 to 11 to get a depiction of Sabah’s east coast ocean life. Many more things fill this month’s pages, so let me leave you to enjoy the rest of you read. Until next month, jumpa lagi!

Yolanda Graham Editor

Products of the Month at Kadaiku Sabah Souvenirs & Handicrafts

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Bahasa Malaysia Section

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Chinese Section

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Japanese Section

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Korean Section

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Directory Listings

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Sabah Map & Listings

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Aquarium and Marine Museum UMS (AMUMS)

Ramadhan Bazaar 1-30 September 2008 The Ramadhan Bazaar is open to the public during the month-long fasting period prior to the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration. Local mouth-watering delicacies are on sale during the bazaar at various locations in Kota Kinabalu. Organiser: Kota Kinabalu City Hall Venue: Please refer to schedule on page 3 For further info: Elizabeth Borubui Tel: +60 88 521800 Fax: +60 88 316137 Email: [email protected]

Luyang Mooncake Celebration 2008 7 September 2008 The Sabah Progressive Party brings the Mooncake festivities to the district of Luyang, known for its strong Chinese community. Children will be parading their colourful lanterns while others can enjoy a

variety of entertainment and browse through the stalls set up for the day. Organiser: Sabah Progressive Party Venue: Taman Foh Sang, Luyang For further info: Datuk Richard Yong We Kong Tel: +60 88 242107 Fax: +60 88 249188 Email: [email protected]

Gaya Street Mooncake Celebration 2008 13 September 2008 Head to Gaya Street this month for more Mooncake Festival celebrations. Visit the various stalls and enjoy the stage performances. Don’t forget to purchase your favourite mooncake. Organiser: Sabah Progressive Party Venue: Gaya Street For further info: Datuk Richard Yong We Kong Tel: +60 88 242107 Fax: +60 88 249188 Email: [email protected]

Malaysia Day & Birthday of Sabah’s Head of State 16 September 2008 The Federation of Malaysia was formed on this date and it is also celebrated as the official Birthday of His Excellency the Head of State of Sabah. A series of activities will be held in conjunction with His Excellency’s birthday. However as it falls within the Muslim fasting month this year, the Malaysia Day parade has been postponed to October 11. This is declared a public holiday in Sabah. Organiser: Kota Kinabalu City Hall Venue: Padang Merdeka For further info: Elizabeth Borubui Tel: +60 88 521800 Fax: +60 88 316137 Email: [email protected]

Happenings & Highlights

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Mooncake Celebrations September 2008

hile the month of Ramadan is the fasting month for the Moslems the world over, it also the time when food stalls start to emerge, selling tantalizing food for breaking fast. But the bazaar is not just for those taking part in the fasting month. Mention the Ramadan Bazaar and food lovers will perk up with excitement. A huge variety of food and drinks will be sold for takeaway. Look out for food items like chicken rice, soto (noodle soup), kebabs and an array of colourful local cakes. Try out extraordinary looking drinks such as cincau (grass jelly drink), chendol (green jelly drink) or air bandung (a pink drink made out of milk and rose syrup).

his year the Chinese mooncake festival falls on the 14th September, a celebration also known as the Lantern Festival or the Mid-Autumn Festival. The most famous legend surrounding the mooncake festival is connected to the role of the mooncake in Chinese history, which dates back to a 14th century revolt by the Chinese against the Mongols. In 1376, the Chinese overthrew the Yuan (Mongols) dynasty (1280-1376) in an uprising brilliantly devised by lantern-bearing messengers who delivered mooncakes. Legend has it that the time and place of revolution were concealed in the mooncakes send to friends and relatives. The midnight massacre of the Mongols was led by Liu Bowen who helped to establish a new era the Ming Dynasty. Throughout the month of September, several areas around Kota Kinabalu will be gaily decorated with Chinese ornaments in a celebration of the Mooncake Festival. The colourful occasion will be filled with lion dances, live entertainment and food fairs - a grand affair indeed! This year’s special highlight will be the acrobatic lion dances by the Yit Nam Lion Dancing Troupe which won the coveted title in “the world Lion King” championship held in China last year. The Yit Nam Troupe is well trained in the Martial arts (Kung Fu) and their members are skilled acrobats. Other attractions of the variety show include a magic show, folk dancing and a fashion parade.

Visit these bazaars in the fasting month of September:

Check out the Mooncake celebrations below:

Location

Location

Date and Time

Luyang Mooncake Celebration Foh Sang shopping area

7 September 7.00pm- 9.30pm

Gaya Street Mooncake Celebration Gaya Street

13 September 7.00pm- 9.30pm

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Ramadhan Bazaar September 2008 W

Sembulan Asia City Market Lintasan Deasoka, Gaya Street Wawasan Plaza Sinsuran Night Market Inanam Traditional Tamu Indah Permai (near the Giant Hypermarket)

Time

1.30pm to 6.30pm

For further information, contact Elizabeth Borubui of the Kota Kinabalu City Hall at 088 521800, fax 088 316137 or email [email protected]

For further information, contact Datuk Richard Yong We Kong at 088 242107, fax 088 249188 or email [email protected]

Happenings & Highlights

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Malaysia Day and Birthday of Sabah’s Head of State 16th September 2008

alaya gained its independence on the 31st August 1957 but Malaysia Day marks the joining together of Malaya (now Peninsula Malaysia), North Borneo (now Sabah), Sarawak and Singapore to form Malaysia on 16th September 1963. As this year the occasion falls in the Ramadan fasting month, celebrations have been postponed to the 11th October 2008. This day is also the Birthday of Sabah’s Head of State and is a public holiday.

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Figos Borneo Football Cup, October-November 2008 n October and November, the inaugural Figos Borneo Football Cup will take place at the Likas Stadium, Kota Kinabalu, seeing amateur teams within Australasia compete in 5 football match categories: Under 12, 14, 16, 18 and Veterans. Aiming to provide budding and senior footballers with the opportunity to play in a well organised tournament against teams from different countries and cultures! Currently, football-loving teams from Australia, Brunei, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur have already signed up to take part in this exciting event, and the organisers are inviting local teams from Sabah to participate! What are you waiting for, check out their website www.borneofootballcup.com or call 088 249002 for information and updates!

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In October

The Borneo International Marathon egistration is still open for this October’s Borneo International Marathon, an event that has already pulled in some interesting participants for a challenging race. Among the runners who have registered for the event are Nathan Kiplimo from Kenya (winner of the Ambank KL Marathon), British elite runner Mark Williams and Singaporean Chan Meng Hui, who at age 78 is their oldest participant so far. In the half-marathon races, marathon celebrity Ms. Jenap M Said, the noted "catwoman" of South East Asia who has a penchant for running in full catwoman costume and Malaysia's most popular blogger Kenny Sia will be among the runners. If the full marathon and the half marathon sound a little daunting, there is also a 10km run and for children, 800m and 400m runs. Registration forms and information are available at www.borneomarathon.com.

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Editorial error In the back page of the August 2008 issue, photos of Mabul water Bungalow Resort were used to accompany the article on Sipadan Water Village. We apologise to the management of both resorts for this unsightly error and for any inconvenience it may have caused.

News Sabah Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Visits Australia The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah, YB Datuk Masidi Manjun, went on a 5 day- working trip to Australia, namely to the cities of Brisbane and Sydney. The Minister’s trip was primarily a market development and business meetings with Airlines and wholesale tourism partners. This is the first business trip led by the Minister to Australia, a market that is fast growing for Sabah. During the visit, YB Datuk Masidi expressed his sincere appreciation for the trust and confidence by the Australian agents in promoting Sabah as a choice of holiday destination to their clients. He also voiced the commitment of our Ministry of Tourism to continue our joint promotions and marketing with the agents through the Sabah Tourism Board. The joint promotions would be mainly in embarking on familiarization trips to Sabah for the frontliners and product managers of both wholesale and retail agents in Australia.

Cebu Pacific Starts Direct Manila-Kota Kinabalu Service Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ leading carrier to the ASEAN region inaugurated its direct service from Manila to Kota Kinabalu in July. Using CEB’s brand new Airbus A319 aircraft, the flight departs from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 at 4.40pm and arrives at Kota Kinabalu International Airport at 6.30pm. The return flight leaves for Manila at 7.00pm and arrives at 8.50 pm. The flight operates every Monday and Friday. CEB is the only Filipino carrier operating this route and Kota Kinabalu is the second city that CEB flies to in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur.

Nokia Philippines Picks Sabah The Nokia Phillipines Dealers’ Convention was held in Kota Kinabalu last July, bringing in a total of 151 participants to the sunny shores of Sabah. Among the activities they enjoyed while they were here were team building activities on Sapi and Manukan Islands just 15 minutes away from the city. “It was most memorable experience”, quipped one of the participants. Last year their convention was held in Macau.

Eating Out

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Alu-Alu Restaurant at Gayana Eco Resort ow about zipping to an island just off the coast of the city for a luscious meal of fresh seafood? Gaya Island is a short 10 minutes away from the city, and tucked in the calm-water cove of the Malohom Bay is the luxurious Gayana Eco Resort. Its newly opened restaurant, Alu Alu, houses a large array of live seafood to be caught and cooked for guests who choose so dine over the South China Sea. At the Alu Alu Over Water Live Seafood Restaurant, the food is cooked with a touch of Asian finesse. The chef will recommend the live coral trout steamed and served Cantonese style or the wok fried ‘Kam Heong’ (literally translated as gold and fragrant) style crab and says there is no better way to taste

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some of Sabah’s best seafood. Come here for lunch and enjoy the sight of wide blue waters or dine at dusk for the sunset hues, at the capacity of up to 200 people, the Alu Alu restaurant is a prime location for an evening out with friends or a special treat with the colleagues at lunch. Dining here at Alu Alu requires purchasing packages which will include return boat transfers, restaurant credit, taxes and service charge. And while you are there, why not visit the Marine Ecology Research Centre, where you’ll get to see a diverse display of marine life in their aquariums! For bookings and information, contact their reservations team at 088 380390 or email [email protected]

Korean Delights at Bintulu or those with a taste for Korean food, Bintulu is a popular mealtime destination. Serving up over 80 Korean delights, the people at Bintulu know what makes a good Korean meal. They advise you to order in advance because they prepare and serve their food fresh, which may take some time, but will reward you with the best flavours! Find their restaurant on the 1st floor of Block E in Lintas Plaza and sit yourselves down at one of their tables or on the floor in the inner sanctum of the restaurant for that authentic feel. We recommend Korean favourites like the bulgogi beef, thin slices of prime cut beef, marinated with a mixture of soy sauce, sugar and other ingredients such as scallions and mushrooms, grilled on your table top with a little garlic. Wrap it in a lettuce leaf which comes with your meal, along with one or more of the seven saucers of sauces put alongside your meal. We also liked the kimchee, the a traditional Korean fermented dish made of vegetables with varied seasonings. And we loved the jab chae, which is the marinated and fried glass noodles. Don’t worry if you’ve never had Korean cuisine before – the menu consists of a photo album so you can see and pick what you like – and the waitresses there are always ready to show you how to savour the food, Korean style! Bintulu is located at Lot 1-1, 1st Floor, Block E, Lorong Lintas Plaza 3, Lintas Plaza, Kota Kinabalu. For further information call 088 270370 / 019 8148826 or fax 088 245040

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Places of Interest

“Mai Aman” S

ituated on 30 acres of lush green spurs of hills, valleys and forested ridge, this humble and homely accommodation is located 35km south of Sabah’s capital city, Kota Kinabalu. A 40-minute leisurely drive will take you through green landscapes to Kampung Gana in the district of Papar. Within this village is a quaint abode called Mai Aman, a place named after a much-loved school teacher from the 1950s. Mai Aman a serene getaway from the buzz of the city and a popular destination for those wanting a taste of the simple and peaceful ‘kampung’ life. Your time here will be a fun yet relaxing treat – breathe in the fresh air, listen to the sounds of birds chirping in the trees while you sit back by the pond and wait for your fishing rod to hook a fish. Once you’ve caught one or two, you can ask the kitchen staff to cook it for your dinner or put it on the barbecue yourself! Maybe you should try the ‘Vutod’ or sago grubs, a local delicacy. Mai Aman is especially known to prepare these just so you can have a taste. On days when you fancy a little activity, sign up for the buffalo ride, a considerably delightful experience, or trek through the nearby jungles and look out for traditional herbs, exotic plants and maybe encounter one or two of Sabah’s wild creatures. The Mai Aman grounds also has an orchard of local fruit trees, so if you’re lucky enough you might have a taste of fresh cempedak, tarap, jackfruit, dahit (wild durian) or bambangan. If it rains at night, venture out with a torchlight and go frog-catching! Edible frogs like the ‘bongkok Taiwan’ (Hoplobatrachus rugulosus) are known to hop around the compounds of Mai Aman. Guests can choose from a few types of rooms to stay in at Mai Aman, from double or twin-sharing rooms to hosteltype rooms. Future plans are already in the making at Mai Aman, partnering with Carey Real Estate (Sabah) Sdn. Bhd. to transform Mai Aman into semi-retirement homes that would consist of 2 and 3-bedroom units with living space and kitchenettes. These homes would have access to on-site healthcare amenities and facilities. Mai Aman would also consist of villas with state-of the art facilities and amenities for modern living, in line with its ambition to develop into integrated, eco-friendly, resort-style living units, specifically for the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) project. But for now, Mai Aman is a hideaway for those seeking to sample the basic, quiet, stress-free Kampung life-style. For enquiries and reservations, cal Mai Aman Garden and Homestay at 088 914486, 088 915273 (Fax and Tel), Carey Real Estate (Sabah) S/B at 088262729 or email [email protected]

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Leisure

Sunset

in the City

eautiful and romantic, there aren’t many things that are more mesmerising than a stunning sunset. The city of Kota Kinabalu is located along the western coast of Sabah, which makes it a perfect location to sit back and savour this visual pleasure.

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Tanjung Aru Beach Let’s start with the obvious - the beach is always the best spot for a view of a good sunset. Tanjung Aru Beach is a popular target for people looking for the classic laid-back scene. This beach is lined with a long shoreline, restaurants and food stalls - so a little stroll before you sit down to enjoy a drink and the view is what you can wish for here.

The Waterfront Head to The Waterfront, one of Kota Kinabalu’s most desirable hang outs. The Waterfront is a boardwalk of hip bars, classic restaurants, quaint cafes and fun karaoke joints right in the city centre. People love to sit outside where the sea breeze gently sweeps, to relish good food, good company and the fiery red sun slowly going down behind the islands in the background.

Luxury Yacht Charter Indulge in a little luxury with a boat cruise off the coast of the city. You can charter a boat to island hop and soak in the sun before it sinks into the horizon and maybe throw a small get-together and party on into the night. What’s for sure is that you won’t miss the spectacular sunset at dusk on your cruise. For reservations and enquiries, call 088

383097 or 013 8819332 (Insight Borneo Incentive and Tours)

Tanjung Lipat / Likas Bay Tanjung Lipat or the Likas Bay runs parallel with Kota Kinabalu’s coastal highway and is easily one of the best roads to drive along on a sunny day. The view is the dazzlingly blue South China Sea in the day and a heart-warming sunset come sundown and you can park on the roadside if you feel you must stop to enjoy the sights. There is also Anjung Selera, a popular eatery along this stretch if you want a good meal to go with the sunset.

The Sunset Bar, Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa The Sunset Bar is one of the best spot to be when the sun sets in Kota Kinabalu. Not only do they have little cocktail bar so you can have a drink in one hand while you unwind, its location is unobstructed - when you are there, there is just the South China Sea between you and an amazing sunset. For more information, call the resort at 088 327888.

@mosphere / @bar - KK’s revolving restaurant. Located on the 18th floor of Kota Kinabalu’s iconic Menara Tun Mustapha, @mosphere restaurant and @bar is a all the rage. It is the only floor in the building that revolves for a 360 degree view of the city and its surroundings so why not sit back and chill to savour the sights! For more information, call 088 425100.

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P l a c e s

o f

I n t e r s t

Mount Trusmadi and Trusmadi Forest Reserve ant to make good use of those hiking boots? Make your way to the Trusmadi Forest Reserve in the district of Tambunan, just 2 hours by road from Kota Kinabalu. Classified as a Class 2 Forest Reserve covering an area of 184, 527 hectares, Trusmadi is bordered by 3 districts: Ranau on the north, Tambunan on the west and Keningau. The sub-district of Sook lies in the east. The main highlight of this forest reserve is no doubt Mount Trusmadi. At 2642 metres high, it is Malaysia’s second highest peak after Mount Kinabalu. Unlike Mount Kinabalu’s well-trodden paths, Mount Trusmadi has a humbler reputation; until recently, only one or two expeditions up to the peak were made each year. But being the second tallest mountain doesn’t mean that Trusmadi is an easier climb. While Mount Kinabalu requires putting aside two days, Mount Trusmadi’s much tougher terrain of steep and rocky rise to the top and slow and careful descent requires a good three days. The slopes of the mountain are covered with rich vegetation and are home to many species of birds, animals and plants – pure delight for nature lovers. The view from the top is nothing less than glorious – a most spectacular view of Mount Kinabalu is both breath-taking and rewarding after being winded from the climb! Contact your tour operator to make arrangements.

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L e i s u r e

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Paintball Frenzy at KK Paintball Centre ou’re hiding behind a bunker with a ‘gun’ in your hand, your mind’s racing to decide if you should run closer to enemy lines and attack or stay where you are and play defensive. Even just thinking about a game of paintball gets my heart racing. To me, this game is as close as you can get to being in a war zone without real bloodshed. A few weekends ago, my colleagues and I decided to give paintball a try for the first time, but only after some persuasive coaxing. After all, the thought of being shot at isn’t exactly something you would smile at in nostalgia. The paintball pellets come at you at 300 feet per second and can leave a bruise bad enough to last you at least a month. So what convinced us to give in and risk a couple of ruptured capillaries? First of all, the suited up paintballers looked cool. They were dressed in their paintball team uniforms, complete with head masks, chest guards and joint pads for full protection. You don’t want to risk getting shot in the head without a mask and the joint pads are for when you jump for cover, Die Hard John McClane style. Secondly, people who have played say the thrill is where the fun is. Since we didn’t have uniforms, we wore long clothing to protect the skin. The head masks came complimentary and we rented the chest guards. We split our group of fourteen into two teams and while our ‘guns’ got loaded with a couple of hundred paintballs, both squads exchanged good-natured verbal jabs at each other, vowing to take the

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other one down. Our safety briefing came next. “First of all, these are not GUNS,” declared Kota Kinabalu Paintball Centre’s Gabrielle, her eyes sweeping through our rookie teams. “They are called MARKERS.” We sheepishly listened to the rest of the briefing and marched into the battlefield, hearts pumping at maximum speed. For what felt like a lifetime, the fifteen-minute, first round battle was done. Despite being scared out of my wits, I managed to shoot a couple of enemies and escaped unscathed myself. My team took victory this time but round two was still to be had. Delia, the other team’s captain, glared at me after the defeat and promised round two was going to be different. It is to my benefit that as editor, I can have it in writing on this page that we won the second time as well. Fancy a rematch, Delia? For a piece of paintball action, the Kota Kinabalu Paintball Centre is located 10 minutes from Kota Kinabalu in Kampung Sugud, Penamapang. They are open Tuesdays to Fridays from 10.00am to 7.00pm and Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 9.00am to 7.00pm. Contact them at [email protected] for reservations or call 088 727445. You can also call 019 5355558 (Tracy Managing Director) or 016 8459991 (Gabrielle - Field Manager) Find out more about paintball at http://www.kkpaintballcentre.com/contact.html.

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Feature

ention the oceanic island of Pulau Sipadan to any diver and chances are they have heard of its name. Situated off the east coast of Malaysian Borneo, the island was made famous by Jacques Cousteau in one of his voyages. After producing the documentary “Ghost of The Sea Turtles” in 1983, he reported, “I have seen other places like Sipadan, 45 years ago, but now no more. Now we have found an untouched piece of art.” Rising from the ocean in the heart of the IndoPacific basin, the biodiversity of this extinct volcano island has one of the richest Jacques has seen.

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A stone's throw away from this paradise, associated with the name of Sipadan, lie two other islands of Pulau Mabul and Pulau Kapalai. Both islands might not have any 600 metres walls that drop to the abyss nor endless walls of corals but from the numerous visits I have made, I have found both islands exploding with small critters.

Small Treasures, Big Rewards Underwater frogs Then there are the ugly but adorable frogfishes or anglerfishes (Antennariidae family). These fishes are bottom dwellers that seldom move and can stay in a location for days. With “hands” to help them stay rooted to the reef, they sit and wait for their next meal to unknowingly swim by or by baiting them with their anglers – that look like shrimps or worms in most cases. Dangling their “bait” in front of their mouth and jiggling it to make it looks real. When their unsuspecting meal happens to approach, a fast gulp from the frogfish and the show is all over. Once, I had the opportunity to observe a frogfish with its partially eaten meal still hanging out of its mouth. Obviously, the frogfish ate more than it could swallow.

The yields from all my dives on either island always excited me. Unlike Sipadan where turtles, barracudas, jacks, trevallies, bumphead parrotfishes, sharks and the occasional manta rays are abound. With fantastic corals squeezed into every nook and cranny on the walls, diving off Mabul and Kapalai is like a participation in treasure hunts on every dive.

Slimy sea slugs, yucks? While you chance yourself in catching a glimpse of the big fishes or even the elusive hammerhead sharks that patrol the depths around Sipadan island, muck-diving or as it is called while diving in Mabul and Kapalai requires a very sharp pair of eyes. A great advantage if you have an eagle-eyed dive guide who can help you along. The rewards can range form psychedelic nudibranchs that resembled a hybrid-human character in an undersea exploration television series in the 80's. While one nudibranch looks out of this world, displaying their vivid colours that signal they are poisonous, others are pure cannibals. The Gymnodorididae species, for example, preys on other nudibranchs for food. Even attacking their meals that are bigger then themselves. Majority of the nudibranchs (By definition, it is a shell-less, marine snail of the suborder Nudibranchia, having external, often branched respiratory appendages on the back and sides) feed on soft corals, tunicates and hydroids. Using the toxins from the soft corals they ingested as a defence mechanism to ward off predators that might find this slow moving sea slugs an easy meal.

Patience sometimes can reward the viewer - to be able to perform a feat by swallowing another fish, they periodically have to stretch their jaws by yawning. Watching them doing their exercise will be one scene where I would guess you wished you could do the same. But do not move off yet, frogfishes tend to yawn three to four times in succession. So if you missed their first performance, linger on and watch a re-run. Most likely on their third yawn, you can see how wide they can open their mouths - Talk about bigmouths.

Paradise Islands By Ivan Choong Pick-me if you can

Kapalai Sights

From frogfishes to seahorses and what better place to see them at the dive site under the oilrig –turned - resort. The reef offers you encounters of the smallest kind - Measuring just 5mm in length, these seahorses are normally found on the gorgonian sea fans. The pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus bargibanti) are shy critters and usually face away once you have spotted them on the sea fan, making photography a challenge. Not considering that the size is hardly visible on your camera's screen, you might need assistance from your guide or buddy to point them out again. Give it a go and relate to your friends how small they are. Do be careful though, long-nosed hawkfishes and trumpet fishes prey on these pygmy seahorses. Before and while you are photographing them, keep a lookout for theses fishes for they might steal your subject for their meal instead.

Over at Kapalai's house reef, register yourself for a sunset dive and watch the breeding ritual of the mandarin fishes. Coming out from hiding among the rubble, the male searches for his harem and engages in multiple mating behaviour daily. The repeated performances take only seconds from the time they lift off the reef into mid-water, releasing their eggs and sperm each time. Once the entire show plus encore is over, swim along the reef slope and close to the jetty. The proliferation of marine life is large mainly because they seek shelter under the jetty. Most dives around these islands usually last much longer since the depth between the surface and the seabed is shallow. The perfect condition for any diver wanting to stay longer or photograph their subjects.

Conservation starts with you Points to take note for divers with cameras are careful when taking photographs and watch the placement of your fins. Avoid placing them on corals or damaging them. For personal safety, check to ensure that venomous fishes like the stonefishes and lionfishes are not under you. Likewise, check before moving off once you have photographed your subject. Refrain from touching corals for support and if necessary use a pointer to help stabilize you with the camera, ensuring that the pointer rests on the sand or rubble. A special note for all - with their minute size, over photographing the pygmy seahorse is like having huge 2,500-watt floodlights flashing in your eyes. If you are with a group of photographers, try to limit the number of photographs each one is taking. We never know how many times the seahorse has to go through these paparazzi daily. Some resorts have implemented “no-dive” timing in the evenings. This is to allow marine life to settle down and the change of shift from day to night, while others move to cleaning stations. Others resorts have also implemented a “no-gloves” policy. We can play our part by observing and adhering to these rules in order to preserve the eco-system and to benefit everyone to enjoy what we have experienced. The resort directly facing the oilrig resort has a fabulous house reef to observe marine life coming to certain spots to be cleaned. These cleaning stations are normally anchor points for mooring lines hidden with cleaner shrimps and wrasses. After the day is done, turtles can be seen resting close to these cleaning stations, letting the shrimp and wrasses do their job of removing parasites and algae.

The Writer Ivan Choong is a Field Editor with Scuba Diver Australasia magazine. He often travels around Asia to satisfy his passion for photography and diving in equal measure. When he is not travelling, you can find the Computer Engineering Diploma holder in front of his computers managing his online business – www.i-nsc.net

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Through the Lens

To see your photos here contact the editor at 088 232121 or email: [email protected]

Culture

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TheNoseFlute

long time ago the ancestor of the Kadazan lived together at the foot of a mountain. They built their homes on higher ground and used the lower grounds and valleys for farming. They planted hill rice, vegetables and many other crops. Over time, the Kadazan race grew populous and the land grew too small for farming and food became scarce. Soon enough there was no farming land left and no land to build homes. One day, a family decided to move away to look for their own land. The name of the father in the family was Olu and his wife’s name was Tindai. They had only one child, a boy whose name was Otu. Otu was still a very young boy when they moved away with his parents. Olu and Tindai found a suitable place to settle down and started cultivating their plot of land for rice and other crops. They lived in their home for ten years without ever having gone back to visit. It was a great distance away and there were no roads that led them back to where they had come from. Furthermore, Olu and Tindai were also afraid to make the journey back because there were headhunters around the area. Then Olu and Tindai became old and Olu passed away. Tindai and Out became lonely after that. Otu, who used to go hunting with his father, had to hunt all by himself. Tindai herself was also growing older and soon she felt that her time to die was grow-

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ing near. She began to give final instructions to Otu. She told him of many things regarding their culture and advised him on how he should manage when he was on his own later. Not long after that Tindai died. Otu was so overcome by grief when he realised that he had now lost both his parents. Because he was a man, he was not allowed to weep for this brings disaster into the household. Otu suddenly saw a thin bamboo plant outside his house. He had an idea and took the piece and started to smoothen the bamboo and made small holes into the stick. He brought the flute to his nose and breathed out into the holes of the bamboo and a mournful sound came out. Out continued to play the flute to express the grief he had for his mother. The music from the flute went out from the house and was heard by the people from the neighbouring villages. The villagers went out of their houses to look for the source of the sound and found Otu and his unburied mother. From this came the tradition of the Kadazans to play the nose flute to convey the news of the death of a loved one. Taken from “Kadazan Folklore”, a book compiled and edited by Rita Lasimbang. The book is available at Kadaiku, Lot 5, Ground Floor, Block L Sinsuran Complex, 88000 Kota Kinabalu. Contact Kadaiku at 088 232121, fax 265540 or email [email protected]

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Bahasa Malaysia

Bazar Ramadhan, September 2008 etika bulan Ramadan menjadi bulan untuk berpuasa untuk orang Islam di seluruh dunia, ia juga masa gerai-gerai makanan mula muncul untuk menjual makanan yang menyelerakan untuk berbuka puasa. Bazar ini bukan saja untuk mereka yang mengambil bahagian dalam bulan puasa. Sebut saja Bazar Ramadan, penggemar-penggemar makanan pasti akan rasa teruja. Pelbagai jenis makanan dan minuman akan dijual untuk dibawa pulang. Carilah makanan seperti nasi ayam, soto, kebab dan pelbagai jenis kuih muih yang beraneka warna. Cubalah minuman yang kelihatan luar biasa seperti cincau, cendol dan air bandung (minuman berwarna merah jambu yang diperbuat daripada susu dan sirap ros). Kunjungan bazar-bazar ini ketika bulan puasa September ini:

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Lokasi

Masa

Sembulan Pasar Asia City Lintasan Deasoka, Jalan Gaya Wawasan Plaza

1.30 petang hingga 6.30petang

Pasar Malam Sinsuran Tamu Tradisional Inanam Indah Permai (berdekatan Giant Hypermarket) Untuk maklumat lanjut, hubungi Elizabeth Borubui dari Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu di 088 521800, faks 088 316137 atau e-mail [email protected]

Piala Bola Sepak Figos Borneo Oktober-November 2008

ada Oktober dan November, Piala Bola Sepak Figos Borneo yang pertama akan berlangsung di Kota Kinabalu. Kita akan menyaksikan pasukan-pasukan amatur sekitar Australasia bertanding dalam lima kategori: Bawah 12, 14, 16, 18 tahun dan veteran. Bertujuan untuk memberikan peluang untuk pemain muda dan veteran beraksi dalam pertandingan yang dianjurkan dengan perancangan yang baik menentang pasukan-pasukan dari negara dan budaya yang berbeza! Ketika ini, pasukan-pasukan pencinta bola sepak dari Australia, Brunei, Singapura dan Kuala Lumpur telah mengesahkan kesediaan untuk mengambil bahagian dalam kejohanan menarik ini, dan penganjur mempelawa pasukan tempatan dari Sabah untuk ikut serta! Apa yag anda tunggu lagi, periksa laman jaring kami atau hubungi 088 249002 untuk maklumat lanjut dan terkini!

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Masa Lapang Mengembara di Bukit Gemok ediakan kasut pengembaraan anda dan bersiaplah untuk menjelajah hutan Bukit Gemok di Tawau yang belum disentuh. Terletak 10 km dari pusat bandar, Bukit Gemok kebelakangan ini menjadi tempat popular dalam kalangan peminat mendaki dan pelaripelari rentas desa yang gemarkan cabaran laluan yang lasak. Bukit Gemok terletak kira-kira 428 meter dari paras laut dan merupakan sebahagian daripada Hutan Simpan Bukit Gemok, meliputi 445 hektar. Pendakian bermula dengan laluan mudah menggunakan tangga konkrit yang akhirnya ‘hilang’ dan memberi laluan kepada tapak semula jadi. Perjalanan mendaki agak mencabar, terutama sekali buat mereka yang masih baharu. Awasi batu-batuan, akar-akar pokok yang membonjol dan benda-benda lain yang serupa. Ada bahagian yang curam dan ada yang lebih sukar, tetapi persekitarannya yang indah membuatkan semua itu berbaloi. Dalam perjalanan, terlalu banyak yang boleh dikagumi, seperti pokok gergasi yang tinggi yang seakan-akan mencecah awan dan makhlukmakhluk yang jarang ditemui. Ada tujuh pondok sepanjang perjalanan untuk pejalan berehat dan bersantai. Selepas mendaki lebih kurang

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sejam (bergantung kepada tahap kecergasan anda), anda akan tiba di kanopi titian selera. Dengan kepanjangan 231 meter, ia dianggap antara titian kanopi terpanjang di Sabah. ‘Pergelutan’ anda untuk sampai ke puncak akan berbaloi sebaik anda melihat sekilas pemandangan indah Tawau dari puncak bukit. Pemandangan menakjubkan anda ini termasuklah pusat bandar, tepian pantai dan kawasan sekitarnya. Perjalanan menuruni Bukit Gemok seharusnya mengambil masa lebih pendek, tetapi perlu diingatkan bahawa laluan menjadi lebih berlumpur dan licin ketika musim hujan. Jadi anda perlu lebih berwaspada. Hutan simpan ini dibangunkan pada awal 1990 an dan kini dilengkapi dengan kemudahan asas seperti bilik mandi dan pondok rehat di sepanjang laluan. Sebarang kenderaan darat boleh digunakan untuk sampai ke Bukit Gemok. Cuma pastikan anda berpakaian selesa, minum banyak air dan bersedia untuk mengharungi pemandangan cantik yang menghijau sepanjang laluan Bukit Gemok. Untuk maklumat lanjut, hubungi Pejabat Perhutanan Daerah Tawau di: 089-761883/761835/761863 atau Pegawai Perhutanan En. Miskon Simin di talian 089-770604.

Restoran Alu Alu di Gayana Eco Resort pa kata singgah ke sebuah pulau yang terletak berdekatan pantai Bandar raya untuk menikmati makanan laut yang segar? Pulau Gaya hanya 10 minit dari Bandar raya, dan terletak di perairan tenang Teluk Malohom ialah Gayana Eco Resort. Restorannya yang baru dibuka iaitu AluAlu, menempatkan pelbagai makanan laut hidup untuk ditangkap dan dimasak untuk pengunjung yang memilih untuk makan menghadap Laut China Selatan! Di Alu-Alu Over Water Live Seafood Reataurant, makanannya dimasak dengan sentuhan Asia. Chef akan mengesyorkan agar memilih ikan batu karang hidup yang dikukus dan dihidangkan dengan gaya Kantonis atau goreng ketam ‘Kam Heong’ (jika diterjemahkan bermaksud emas dan wangi) dan inilah cara terbaik untuk menikmati makanan laut terbaik di Sabah. Datanglah untuk makan tengah hari dan nikmati pemandangan lautan biru atau makan malam berlatarkan pemandangan matahari terbenam, pada tempat yang boleh memuatkan sehingga 200 orang. Restoran Alu-Alu adalah lokasi sesuai untuk keluar petang bersama rakan-rakan atau membelanja rakan-rakan makan tengah hari. Makan di Ali-Alu ini memerlukan pembelian pakej yang termasuklah bot pengangkutan pulang, kredit restoran, bayaran cukai dan perkhidmatan. Dan ketika berada di sana, kenapa tidak kunjungi Pusat Kajian Ekologi Marin. Di sana anda boleh melihat banyak hidupan laut yang dipamerkan di akuarium mereka! Untuk tempahan dan maklumat lanjut, hubungi pasukan tempahan mereka di talian 088380390 atau emel [email protected]

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Japanese

Japanese

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Korean

Korean

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MUSEUMS & MEMORIALS

TAMU MARKETS * most tamus operate as early as 6am and close by 2pm. Matunggong Baru - Thursday

Kota Kinabalu

Gaya Street Fair - Sunday Kampung Air - Sunday

Penampang

Donggongon Thursday & Friday

Kota Marudu

Pekan Kota Marudu - Saturday & Sunday

Tuaran

Pekan Tuaran - Sunday Kiulu - Tuesday

Papar

Lok Kawi Sabindo - Saturday

Tamparuli

Pekan Tamparuli - Wednesday

Sandakan

Sandakan Town - Sunday Gua Mantong Jaya - Sunday

Tawau

Bandar Tawau - Sunday

Ranau

Pekan Kundasang - Friday

Kudat

Tambunan

KOTA KINABALU

Sabah State Museum Mon – Sun: 9.00am – 5.00pm Jln. Bukit Istana Lama, Kota Kinabalu Tel: 088-253199/263551 Sabah Islamic Civilisation Museum Mon – Sun: 9.00am – 5.00pm Jalan Menteri, off Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kota Kinabalu Tel: 088-538227/538228 Sabah Ethnobotanical Heritage Museum Mon – Sun: 9.00am – 5.00pm Bukit Istana Lama, Kota Kinabalu Tel: 088-253199/263551

Kota Belud

Second World War Memorial Petagas Open daily Tel:088-253199

Sipitang

Kinarut Mansion Ruins Museum Mon – Sun: 9.00am – 5.00pm Tel: 088-253199/263551

Bingkor - Thursday Pekan Kota Belud - Sunday Sindumin - Saturday

Matunggong Lama - Saturday

Tun Mustapha Gallery Mon - Sat: 8.00am to 5.00pm Aras Podium, Yayasan Sabah Tel: 088-321153 / 326683

SANDAKAN

Bukit Tengkorak Archaelogical Site Museum, Semporna Mon – Sun: 9.00am – 5.00pm Tel: 088-253199

Sandakan Memorial Park Mon - Sun: 9am-5pm Sibuga Forest Reserve Mile 7, Jalan Labuk, Sandakan Tel: 016 8221616 (Doris)

OTHER DISTRICTS

Agnes Keith House, Sandakan Mon - Sun: 9.00am - 5.00pm Tel: 089-222679

Murut Museum (Sabah Murut Cultural Centre , Tenom) Mon – Sun: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm Lembaga Kebudayaan Negeri Sabah (Tenom Branch) W.D.T 72, 89909 Tenom. Tel: 087-734506

Sandakan Heritage Museum Mon - Sun: 9am-5pm Wisma Warisan, Sandakan Tel: 089-222679 Batu Tulug Archaeological Site Museum, Kinabatangan Mon – Sun: 9.00am – 5.00pm Tel: 088-253199

TAWAU

Teck Guan Cocoa Museum Mon-Fri: 8am -11:30am 1:30pm-4:30pm Sat: 8am-12pm Sun: Closed Mile 2, Tanjung Batu Laut, Teck Guan Factory, Tawau Tel:089-775566 ext 2601

Mat Salleh Memorial, Tambunan Open Daily Kg. Tibabar, Tambunan Tel :088-253199/ 263551 Kundasang War Memorial, Open daily including Public Holidays Tel: 019 899 2041 (Mr. Sevee Charuruks) Quailey Hill Open daily including Public Holidays 8.00am to 5.00pm Sabah Tea Garden, KM 17 Jalan Ranau-Sandakan, Kg Nalapak, Ranau.

TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES Sabah Tourism Board

Useful Numbers

No.51, Jalan Gaya, 88000, Kota Kinabalu Tel: 088-212121 Fax: 088-212075 Email: [email protected] Website: www.sabahtourism.com Open: 8:00am to 5:00pm (Mon-Fri) 9:00am to 4:00pm (Weekend & PH)

Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd

Lot 4, Ground Floor, Block L, Sinsuran Complex, 88000, Kota Kinabalu Tel: 088-232121 Fax: 088-265540 Email: [email protected] Website: www.sabahtourism.com Open: 8:00amto 5:00pm (Mon-Fri) 8:00am-4:00pm (Weekend & PH)

Fire Department - 994 Ambulance /Police -999 Police Hotline HQ SABAH – 088-253555 KK – 088-221191 Airport - 088-238555

Yayasan Sabah Ambulance 088-326655

Tourism Malaysia (Sabah)

Lot 1-0-7, Ground Floor, Block 1, Lorong Api-Api 1, Api Api Centre, 88000, Kota Kinabalu Tel:088-248698/ 211732 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.tourism.gov.my Open: 8:00am to 5:00pm (Mon-Fri) Closed on weekends SANDAKAN (089) !Hospital 212111

LABUAN (087)

660405

!Hospital 413333

!Airport

Queen Elizabeth Hospital 088-218166 Damai Specialist Centre 088-222922 Sabah Medical Centre 088-211333

Information Services 088-280600/ 280631/ 280641

!Immigrations 668308

415015

!Immigrations 412298 TAWAU (089)

International Telephone Directory Assistance -108

!Airport

!Hospital 773533 !Airport

950013

!Immigrations 773343

Aquarium and Marine Museum UMS (AMUMS) et up close and personal with Sabah’s marine life without having to get your hair wet at University Malaysia Sabah’s Aquarium and Marine Museum. Doubling as the Borneo Marine Research Institute, the facility is home to one of the best marine aquarium facilities in Borneo!

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As soon as you walk through the doors, look above you to see a Sipadan deep dive diorama. What you will see is a replication of a scene off the reef’s edge in Sipadan waters, ‘alive’ with all sorts of marine life, including a dummy scuba diver. Begin your tour on the left to look at a collection of Bornean reef corals, where over 50 species of coral are displayed. Charts and stories are plastered on the walls to the visitor’s benefit, revealing the history and future of Sabah’s precious waters. The Aquarium and Marine Museum houses free standing exhibition tanks for the little creatures of the sea, while the live deep reef dive exhibition centre is an awesome display of larger creatures, including a couple of green turtles. Learn about the conservation efforts and the research being done at the university to protect and preserve Sabah’s underwater life. The Aquarium and Marine Museum has several interactive information kiosks for you to use. The Aquarium and Marine Museum is a place you definitely want to introduce to your family and friends – you will be awed by what you see! AMUMS is located at University Malaysia Sabah in Kota Kinabalu. Visiting days and hours are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays from 9.30am - 12.30pm and 2.00pm - 4.30pm. Fridays from 9.30am - 11.30am and 2.00pm - 4.30pm. AMUMS is closed on Wednesdays and public holidays. For more information, contact 088 320000 ext 2631, fax 088 320261 or email [email protected]