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Tourism Malaysia

Sunset Music Festival

Sunset Music Festival

http://www.sabahtourism.com/events/sunset-music-fest-tip-borneo-kudat-1

Embark on a musical journey at Tanjung Simpang Mengayau in the northern-most district of Kudat. Be serenaded with classical favorites and contemporary tunes as the sun sets in the horizon. You won’t want to miss this amazing musical experience at one of Sabah’s most breath-taking locations, the Tip of Borneo.

 

Date: 5th – 6th June 2015

Venue: Tip of Borneo, Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, Kudat, Sabah

Organizer: Sabah Tourism Board, Sri Pelancongan Sabah

Phone: +60 88 232121

Categories
Wonderful Malaysia

Karambunai Beach & Kudat, Sabah

Sabah is definitely a spot you don’t want to miss out on whilst traveling your list of perfect getaways in South East Asia. Not only is it one of the most popular retreats for active mountain climbers due to notorious Mount Kinabalu, Sabah is also home to the most fresh seafood and beautiful flora everywhere. It’s time to get in touch with your side that pines for adventure in the nature!

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Karambunai Beach is only a mere 45-minute drive from KK airport, on this beach you can find a hotel named Nexus Karambunai Beach Resort Spa which has beautiful chalets literally on the sand, you can step out onto the balcony and find yourself watching the waves crash down on the sand. Not only will you be dumbfounded by the incredibly cheap rates Nexus provides which also are inclusive of a delicious breakfast buffet, but also the facilities are stellar. They include the use of a large swimming pool which is a few steps away from the beach, amongst the beach you can find small huts where friendly masseuses await your massage-yearning bodies, a large human-sized chess set, a large bar facing the waves on Karambunai Beach and several others.

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Nexus Karambunai Beach Resort Spa is only a 15-minute drive from the center of town in KK where you will be able to find small malls, including many stores amongst market stalls offering anything your mind could possibly desire in terms of seafood and local Asian delights. The ever-notorious Sabah Chili-Padi chocolate is a must-try along with several other local delicacies. The town is also very expat-friendly and the cobbled streets in Chinatown are very welcoming for tourists to take a drink at the many cafes and bars. Do not be fooled, Sabah might be small, but boy does it turn into a lively place at night!

You might not possibly have a remote interest in leaving Karambunai Beach or KK, but if you rent a car and take an hour’s road-trip up to Kudat Beach, which is at The Tip of Borneo, you might find yourself in another heaven-on-earth situation. There is a reason The Tip of Borneo is named such way, because it literally is the only little tip of cliff facing the baby blue waves crashing upon the shower. Amongst many other nicknames such as ‘Surfer’s Paradise’ or ‘The Tip of The World’, Kudat is found to be an ecological haven full of green flora and lively fauna everywhere.

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When reaching Kudat, you will be able to find many hostels and fit-for-your-typical-backpacker lodgings where are a large community of come-and-go expats can be found, be it surfers or simple tourists searching for an adventure. Another thing I thoroughly enjoyed throughout our long road-trip from KK to Kudat was the exceptionally green scenery as previously mentioned above, we would pass by mini ‘kampungs’ (small and local villages/huts) which were literally 4-5 colorful shacks every other 10km we drove right on the roadside that portrayed such a calm and serene vibe.

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On an additional note, don’t forget Sabah is also a goldmine for divers, as you can easily travel to Mabul and Kapalai resorts to busk in the ocean and snorkel and dive, alongside many other little islands you can take a look at surrounding those areas, you can see why people have wet dreams about diving and surfing in Sabah. The people, I find have a much friendlier and warm attitude towards newcomers and expats, you will obviously get the usual locals who will try to scam a bit of cash off you, but that you can find, happens everywhere in the world. All in all, you need to be able to tick Sabah off your list of places to travel in South East Asia!

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About the author

Amanda Chini was born in Kuala Lumpur, lived in Mexico for 12 years, is culturally diverse and a third-cultured kid who’s been to Greece, Spain, England, Ireland, LA, NY, San Antonio, Colorado, Mexico, Aruba, Tenerife, Singapore and plans to travel to many more! Amanda is fluent in both English and Spanish, and her interests include photography, reading, writing and good food.

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Tourism Malaysia

The natural wonders of Tawau Hills Park, Malaysia

The natural wonders of Tawau Hills Park, Malaysia

Tawau Hills Park, just 24 kilometres from the town of Tawau in Sabah on Malaysian Borneo, features some of the largest and smallest of nature’s species on the planet.

Initially established as a protected water catchment area for Tawau, the park’s rainforest attracts visitors for trekking, picnicking, camping and staying at chalets and lodges in the park. Several major rivers originate in the park and the Tawau River provides many of its pools and waterfalls – some of which are a three-hour hike away.

Surrounded by oil palm and cacao plantations, the rainforest, measuring 28,000 hectares, initially appears dense, but as my husband and I make our way along the well-marked paths our guide Ben begins to point out various species of mushrooms, flowers and the curious-appearing ‘pill box’ millipedes, which curl into a perfect sphere when they sense danger.

As we walk further into the forest, our guide tells us about this lowland dipterocarp forest, consisting of tropical lowland rainforest trees. The trees are highly-valued as a source of timber in Borneo and most of the forest below 500 metres has been previously logged. As you climb above 1,000 metres the vegetation transforms into a thick damp mossy forest. ?

Dipterocarp forest. Pic: Tianyake, Flickr.

Dipterocarp forest. Pic: Tianyake, Flickr.

Our walk today won’t be taking us to those heights, but it will still give us a taste of what the forest offers the visitor – many of whom are locals who come here for walks and picnics on the weekends.

Our hike to see one of the biggest things in the forest continues with our guide preparing us for what we might see on our trek. There are not only many fascinating examples of flora, including some amazing orchids – and Malaysia’s tiniest orchid! – but also fauna, such as long tailed macaques and the red leaf monkeys, although our guide warns us that it’s rare to see the elusive primates here.
Birdlife is also widespread with six of the eight species of hornbill in Sabah being found here. As our guide talks to us we can hear them in the trees, and we’re hopeful we’ll spot one in the wild today.

What we do spot first is a red-naped trogon, a bird under threat from loss of its habitat. It’s a particularly good bird to try to spot because it blends so well with the rainforest.
As we walk further on to the sound of countless cicadas singing their tune, we see a small rodent literally zipping between tree branches. It’s moving so fast we struggle to get a photo of it until it pauses on a branch momentarily. Our guide informs us that it’s a plain pygmy squirrel, a tiny brown squirrel endemic here and one of the smallest species in the world. Before we can focus our lenses, it’s off again darting between branches to comic effect.

As the trees get taller, our guide points out a giant yam with massive leaves. While we’re no big fans of eating yams, our guide tells us we must try the yam-flavoured ice-cream, while we’re in Borneo.
While we don’t see the rafflesia, the largest flower in the world, which grows here, nor the smallest orchid, the orchid podochilus, nor the phalaenopsis gigantean or ‘Elephant Ear Orchid’, native to Borneo, we soon arrive at the viewing platform for the world’s largest tropical tree.

Identified in 2006, this shorea faguetiana, called ‘pokok Seraya Siput Kuning’, was recorded at a height of 88.32 m, while several others in the area were discovered to also be over 80 metres. It’s so monumental we find it almost impossible to grasp the scale of the trunk of the tree or take a photo to meaningfully demonstrate its size!

As we begin our walk back to the park office, we are disappointed that we have not spotted any monkeys. Our guide tells us we have to be really lucky to spot them here, as they like to stay high in the trees.

Just as we cross a small bridge close to the entrance of the park, we hear a rustling in the trees just off the path. Clearly more than just the wind blowing through the trees, we guess it must be a troop of monkeys.

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Red leaf monkeys. Pic: Paul Williams, Flickr.

Red leaf monkeys. Pic: Paul Williams, Flickr.

To our surprise it’s not the more common long tailed macaques, but a small troop of the rarer red leaf monkeys. As sunlight steams through the trees they are sitting in, we can clearly see their stunning russet red fur. While several small monkeys play in the trees a mother with her baby clinging on joins in the fun. Our guide happily tells us that it’s only the second time he’s ever seen them this close.

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Tourism Malaysia

Exploring Malaysia’s biodiversity with a Kinabatangan River cruise

Exploring Malaysia’s biodiversity with a Kinabatangan River cruise

The Kinabatangan River originates in the Crocker range in Malaysia and stretches for 560 miles before merging into the Sulu Sea east of Sandakan in Sabah, Borneo. It is the second longest river in Malaysia after the Rajang River. Sandakan is the second largest city in Sabah and is the base for many wildlife adventures like the Turtle Islands Park, Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, Gomantong Caves and of course the Kinabatangan River cruises that offer unparalleled opportunities for observing wildlife.

Beautiful Sandakan, Borneo, Malaysia. Pic: Steven888, Creative Commons.

Beautiful Sandakan, Borneo, Malaysia. Pic: Steven888, Creative Commons.

Along the banks of Kinabatangan river thrives amazing wildlife that attracts tourists from all corners of the globe. The region is home to both orangutans and proboscis monkeys, as well as other primates. The conservation status of both the species is endangered. A large section of the lower Kinabatangan floodplain is now a wildlife sanctuary in order to preserve the natural habitat of these primates. In all, 10 varieties of primates are found in the region.

Apart from the orangutans and proboscis monkeys there are salt water crocodiles, Borneo pygmy elephants, macaques and many more reptiles and insects. The area is also rich in birds with chances of sighting eagles, kingfishers, hornbills, egrets, storks and more. Given the biodiversity and scenic beauty of the mangrove forests, a Kinabatangan river cruise makes for an unforgettable adventure.

The closest town for the river safari is Sukau ,which is 135 kilometers away from Sandakan by road. Road transfer typically takes 3 hours. The public transport to and from Sandakan to Sukau is limited to one trip per day. There is an airport at Sandakan which connects to Kota Kinabalu. There are a few lodges at Sukau which offer basic amenities for a comfortable stay. Homestay options are also available in the town. Sukau has just one road, with the town growing alongside it.

An Orangutan in the Wild. Pic: Eleifert, Creative Commons.

An Orangutan in the Wild. Pic: Eleifert, Creative Commons.

Early mornings, late afternoons and evenings are the best times to go on a river cruise as the chances of spotting wildlife are at their best at these times. Animals and birds come out at these times for food and water. It is also easier to spot wildlife with guides as they know the animals’ habitats and behaviors. Animals and birds are also masters of camouflage so having the expert eyes of the guides always increases the chance of spotting them. The excitement in the boat becomes palpable whenever the people get lucky in spotting something like an orangutan, proboscis monkey or a pygmy elephant. Some even get lucky enough to sight rhinos.

There are night cruises available as well that give an opportunity to observe the nocturnal behavior of the animals. It is quite a thrill to see salt water crocodiles at night, and many eyes shining from the trees. But day or night, in the end spotting wildlife is also a matter of luck and a true nature lover enjoys the experience rather than expecting a show of animals similar to a zoo. The adventure is in spotting whatever comes.

A Borneo Pygmy Elephant. Pic: ArtMechanic, Creative Commons.

A Borneo Pygmy Elephant. Pic: ArtMechanic, Creative Commons.

A camera with a good zoom is highly recommended to photograph these creatures effectively, as they are elusive. Be careful though, I have seen quite a few watery graves for cameras when tourists get overexcited. Also make sure you can protect not only yourself but your camera gear if it rains.

November to March is the rainy season. The boat rides get cancelled frequently due to heavy rains. Photography also becomes difficult in this season. April to October is drier and flowers are also in bloom. Also, taking precautions against mosquitoes and other insects is a good idea.

People usually spend two to three nights in the Kinabatangan area as that means more safaris and better chances of sightings. Getting back to Sandakan takes three hours or so. The public transport leaves early in the morning from Sukau. Most of the transport and packages can be arranged by the lodge.

The Kinabatangan river area is so rich in wildlife that almost everyone comes away with special memories and a few good photographs. The memories of the trip will last for a lifetime.

Categories
Cuisine in Melaka

WILDLIFE THEATRE TO CELEBRATE 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

View wildlife up close and personal

By NEENA ATEERAH MOHD NOR AND NABIIHAH RHAIHANA ABDULLAH | streets@nstp.com.my 0 comments

MALACCA: DO you know that a baby sea lion can recognise its mother’s distinctive calls amid a multitude of other sea lions? Or that the boa actually gives birth instead of laying eggs?

Rio performing for the audience at a bird show

These facts might not be known to many but, at the Kinderzoo programme, children and adults alike have the opportunity to be enlightened on the rare and unique world of sea lions, reptiles and birds at Wildlife Theatre Melaka.

Kinderzoo, which caters to children from as young as preschool age up to secondary level, is aimed at creating an educational wildlife programme outside the classroom, to impart knowledge and to encourage interaction with the animals as environmental and wildlife conservation takes on a more important role in our modern world.
Its manager and curator Azman Ghazali has 17 years’ experience of working with animals. He said the Kinderzoo provides a unique curriculum pertaining to the conservation of the environment and wildlife.

“We are not running a zoo. Our focus is on small groups of people because we want to give the real learning process like what the children have in their school. We believe that by dividing the children into several groups, they can absorb the knowledge more easily,” he said.

The children will usually be divided into three groups, as there are three dedicated classes on birds, sea lions and reptiles.

“The trainers would also teach the children on how to treat animals well. We want to educate these young people to be more responsible for the fauna as we are concerned about the animals’ extinction,” he said.

Located at the manmade island of Pulau Melaka, the Wildlife Theatre Melaka is home to three lovable sea lions, colourful birds, captivating reptiles and a mysterious tribe from the tropical rainforest of Borneo.

Wildlife Theatre Melaka corporate communications executive Katherine Fam said besides the Kinderzoo, visitors would also be entertained in a show by the trio of sea lions — John, Mary and Ann — as well as the band of slithery reptiles and colourful exotic birds from all over the world.

During the 90-minute show, held at an amphitheatre that could accommodate up to 800 people, animal acts and antics would be showcased.

Guests would also be entertained by a native Borneo tribe with their exciting jungle rhythms while being taken on a cultural journey.

The Wildlife Theatre Melaka will be celebrating its first anniversary with a carnival on Nov 17, from 10.30am to 9pm.

“To mark our inaugural anniversary this year, we will be hosting a full-day carnival with exciting activities and spectacular performances. It will be packed with fun, educational activities and nutritious food for the whole family,” said Fam.

Among the activities lined up from morning to night are snake guessing game, traditional congkak game, naming the baby raccoons game and Borneo cultural dance. The programme will climax with a grand finale featuring fire-eating performances.
“We will be running four shows, at 10.30am, 3pm, 5pm and 7.30pm. And as a show of appreciation, our tickets will be sold on a Buy 1, Free 1 basis,” said Fam.

“Except for the 5pm performance, the tickets for the shows will be priced at RM20 for adults and RM15 for children and senior citizens. The tickets for the 5pm show will be RM25 for adults and RM20 for children and senior citizens, as there will also be a magic show.

“On the day of the carnival, visitors can also be part of our history by participating in the naming of baby raccoons. We currently have a pair of two-month-old raccoons from Procyon Lotor species originating from North America, and they do not have a name yet, so there will be a contest to select the most suitable name for the babies.”

Pulau Melaka is about half a kilometre off the coast of Taman Melaka Raya, and merely five minutes’ drive from A’Famosa and Jonker Walk.

For details, visit www.wildlifetheatre.com.my or Wildlife Theatre Melaka’s Facebook page.