Sabah: ECO Treaure Trove

Fondly called  “The Land Below the Wind’, as it lies below the typhoon and monsoon belt, the State of Sabah is a nature lovers paradise come true. Sheltered from the more extreme quirks of tropical weather it is home to diverse flora and fauna it its majestic mountains, great swathes of lush tropical rainforests and beautiful, beguiling islands off its coastline. Peopled by around 32 colourful ethnic communities with unique cultures of their own, Sabah offers an unforgettable mix of pleasures.

Geography
Sabah is the second largest state in Malaysia covering 74,500 sq km. It is also one of the two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Situated in the northeast of the island, Sabah shares borders with sister state, Sarawak, and Kalimantan (part of Indonesia). Its long 1,400km stretch of coast line is lapped by the South China Sea on the West and the Sulu and Celebes Seas on the east. Scattered off its coast are many island paradises. Sabah's rugged terrain is dominated by the 4,095m Mt. Kinabalu while much of the State is covered by relatively untouched rainforests.

Sabah’s capital Kota Kinabalu, formerly called Jesselton, is a thriving city which features a mix of the old and new. Well served by world class resorts and hotels it is an ideal location for a holiday as well as a seminar or conference venue. It is also the departure point for the idyllic and popular islands off the coast of Sabah.

History & Culture
Historically, Sabah was under several chieftains and traded with the Chinese as early as the 9th century A.D. Later, the state started trading with the Spanish as well as the Portuguese. The state became under the control of the Sultan of Brunei during the 15th century and later, under the power of the Chartered Company of British North Borneo. After the Japanese occupation during World War II it became a British Crown Colony. In 1963, it gained independence and also became part of Malaysia.

The population of Sabah is made up of more than 30 ethnic groups who all have their own culture, traditions and languages and dialects. The main indigenous groups are the Kadazan-Dusun, Murut and Bajau. The largest and arguably most important group of non-indigenous people of Sabah are the local Chinese with other smaller minority groups.

Getting There and About
Being located on a large island, the main access to Sabah is by air. The main airport in Sabah is the international airport terminal in Kota Kinabalu. In addition to this there is also a budget terminal nearby. The two terminals are referred to as Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 respectively. Being a large sprawling state travel within the state is chiefly through air and water transportation with regular internal flights operating between Labuan, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, and Tawau.

The capital, Kota Kinabalu, and its surroundings are well served by an extensive road system which is in the process of being further developed. The capital city is compact and a traveler should be able to traverse the entire city on foot in a relatively short time. Getting out and around the city you have a rail network that stretches from Kota Kinabalu to Tenom. Buses, taxis and boats are also available.

Heritage Discovery
Sabah State Museum
Located on Bukit Istana Lama, the Sabah State Museum holds a wealth of historical and tribal treasures and handicrafts made by the indigenous peoples. It also has an art gallery, a Science Centre and an ethno-botanical garden. The major highlights are the exhibits of life-size traditional houses belonging to six ethnic groups.

Atkinson Clock tower
Built in 1903 in memory of Francis George Atkinson, the first District Officer of Kota Kinabalu, the Atkinson Tower used to be lit to act as a beacon for travelling ships. The quaint structure is made of entirely of wood and with no nails. It is said to be the oldest structure in the whole of Sabah, having even survived the destruction of Jesselton town during World War II.

Signal Hill Observatory
Perched on Bukit Bendera (Signal Hill), the Observatory grants a great view of Kota Kinabalu city and the harbour.

War Memorial
A war memorial erected in 1962 in memory of the soldiers and locals killed during World War II is at Kundasang, a small town about five kilometres from the main entrance of Kinabalu Park. It comprises 4 beautiful gardens.

Arts & Cultural Exploration
Kampung Monsopiad (Monsopiad Cultural Village)
The Monsopiad Cultural Village, named after the Kadazan headhunter and warrior, Monsopiad, is run by his direct descendents. The chief attraction is the Siou Do Mohoing, or the House of Skulls, where all 42 skulls hang from the rafters. Other attractions are ceramic jars, padi grinders, bamboo items as well as the costume of Bobohizan Inai Bianti, a direct descendant of Monsopiad who was a high priestess. Cultural performances featuring traditional dances are staged at scheduled times at the main hall.

Water Villages
The water villages are the settlement of the ‘Bajau’ descendents who are now fishermen. The thatched houses which stand on stilts in the water are inter-connected by narrow wooden planks and are surrounded by mangrove swamps

Sabah State Mosque
The gold-domed state mosque reflects contemporary Islamic architecture. The mosque can accommodate up to 5,000 worshippers at one time. There is also a special balcony exclusively allocated for Muslim women with room for up to 500. Centrally positioned it overlooks most of the town.

St. Michael's and All Angels Church.
The church is one of the first stone buildings in Sabah. Located in Sandakan construction of the building began in 1893 and was completed only in 1906. Designed by New Zealander Mr. B.W Mountfort, it was first constructed with belian wood, followed by brick and finlly stone. The stone is said to have from the nearby Buli Sim Sim, delivered by prison labour. The white stones that adorn the windows and doors are from Hong Kong.

Great City Destinations
Menara Tun Mustapha (Tun Mustapha Tower)
Formerly known as the Sabah Foundation Building this 30-storey circular glass building, which apparently has 72 sides, is a striking landmark in Kota Kinabalu, visible from much of the city and beyond

Coasts & Beaches
Tanjung Aru Beach
Located about 15 minutes from Kota Kinabalu, the Tanjung Aru beach stretch is famous for its beautiful seascape and offshore islands. Taking its name from the casuarinas or aru trees that fringe the fine white sandy it is an ideal location for swimming, windsurfing and boating or watching the glorious sunset.

Sipadan Island
Sipadan Island is the jewel in the crown of Sabah’s dive sites, offering spectacular diving spots. This island which the famous Jacques Cousteau described as an “untouched piece of art.” is now a Marine Park and also a bird sanctuary

Favourite diving spots around Sipadan are Barracuda Point, Hanging Gardens and South Point where you will encounter splendid coral formations, and exotic fishes and turtles. The turtle tomb, another favourite among divers is an underwater limestone labyrinth of tunnels and chambers contains many skeletal remains of turtles. The island, which is partially covered by lush rainforest, is also home to exotic birds, monitor lizards and coconut crabs.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Park
The Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park comprises Pulau Gaya, Pulau Sapi, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutik and Pulau Sulug.

The islands are home to a wide variety of plant species such as the Keruing, Seraya and Nibong palm. Wildlife is also abundant and you can see the likes of scaly pangolins and the Bearded Pig. An intriguing bird species found here is the Burung Tambun (Megapode) species which looks like a chicken with large feet but meows like a cat!

The park is ideal for snorkelling, diving and swimming. The variety of marine creatures here includes the butterfly fish, barracudas, clown fish, dragon fish, bigger species such as red grouper, barracuda and catfish or even giant clams, sea cucumbers, the beautiful feather starfish, sea urchins in brilliant hues, cowrie and scorpion shells.

The best coral reefs can be found between Pulau Sapi and Pulau Gaya. Mid Reef, a submerged reef detached from the island and located at the east of Pulau Manukan is another favourite diving spot. Pulau Mamutik the smallest of the group, is endowed with rich coral life and Pulau Sulug, the least developed and the farthest from the other islands is ideal for those seeking tranquillity, and has beautiful patches of reefs at the southern end. Pulau Sapi, which has great white soft sandy beaches, has a coastline fringed with beautiful coral reefs. Here you can also get onto a glass boat to view the corals. Hiking trails to the interior offer excellent opportunity for nature appreciation.

Pulau Tiga Park (Three Island Park)
There are three islands in this park, namely Pulau Tiga, Pulau Kelampunian Besar and Pulau Kelampunian Damit. Pulau Tiga, the largest of the three islands is dubbed
‘Survivor Island’, being the main location of the popular
‘Survivor’ TV programme in 1999. Pulau Kalampunian Damit is home to hundreds of amphibious sea snakes, while Pulau Kalampunian Besar is popular with the many species of birds.

Turtle Islands Park
The park comprises the three islands of Pulau Selingan, Pulau Bakungan Kecil and Pulau Gulisan. Located about 40km from Sandakan in the Sulu Sea off the east coast of Sabah, Turtle Island Park was registered as a marine park in 1977 in a bid to protect green and hawksbill turtles, which come ashore to lay their eggs. The park covers about 1,740 ha and has hatcheries to conserve these turtle species.

Pulau Selingan is the main nesting area for green turtles and Pulau Gulisan for the hawksbill turtles. The best time to catch a glimpse of these turtles is between July and October although they lay their eggs throughout the year.

Layang-Layang
This oceanic atoll has a rich growth of hard corals; some so shallow that they break surface during low tides. The island is man-made and was initially constructed for the Malaysian Navy and later developed as a dive resort. The deep waters around it attracts numerous pelagics with sharks and stingrays being regular visitors here. Fast developing into a prime dive site it boasts of a resort, a naval base and nesting colony of migratory birds.

Pulau Mabul
This island, about 30 minutes from Semporna, has a reputation of being one of the best muck-diving sites in the world. It is home to a diverse range of macro marine inhabitants that inhabit its coral rubble and sea grass sites. Dive sites include the Eel Garden, which is one of the deeper sites around the area, Ray Point and Mandarin Valley.

Mataking Island
Mataking Island which lies to the north of Mabul is about 40 minutes boat ride from Semporna. It lies on the edge of the continental shelf and is surrounded by fringing reef of hard and soft corals. During low tide the sandy beach stretches out joining the two islands of Mataking Kecil and Mataking Besar. In addition to being a divers paradise the islands are home to seasonal turtle sightings and also fireflies and coconut crabs.

The Reef Dive Resort at Mataking Island is an exclusive, romantic diving destination. Built from local natural timber it reflects traditional local architecture which blends well with the serenity of the natural environment. In addition to the beauty of the natural surroundings visitors will be pampered at its Jamu Spa which offers signature treatments and traditional massage.

An old cargo ship which was sunk at the famous house reef dive in front of the resort to create an artificial reef is called the
‘Shipwreck Post’. A mailbox placed in the wheelhouse of the boat acts as the
‘first underwater post office’ in Malaysia where divers can
‘post’ their letters underwater. The Mataking ‘Two Islands, One Resort & Spa’ offers visitors an ideal getaway whether for diving, honeymooners, spa lovers and others.

Cool Retreats & Eco-Adventures
National Parks & Reserves
Kinabalu Park
Covering 754 square kilometers, the Kinabalu National Park with the 4,101m high Mount Kinabalu as the focal point, is one of Sabah’s star attractions. The name Kinabalu is derived from the Kadazandusun words aki and nabalu, where aki literally means 'ancestor' and 'nabalu' is the Kadazandusun word for 'mountain'. The local Kadazandusun believed their spirits dwell on the mountaintop and as such the mountain is considered sacred by them.

The Park was declared Malaysia’s First World Heritage Site in 2000, a testament to the land’s diversity in plant, animal, insect and bird life. Stretching an area of about 7,537 square kilometres, it is a favourite spot among rock climbers, botanists, bird watchers and adventure seekers. Trekking here is the ultimate experience as well as the main attraction. There are several trails that lead to the summit of Mount Kinabalu. It takes at least two days and a night to reach the peak.

There are also some 5,000 to 6,000 species of vascular plants here, about 1,000 species of orchids, 30 species of wild ginger, over 600 species of ferns and two species of Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower. You will also have a chance to see rare plants like slipper orchids, medicinal plants, and pitcher plants in the Kinabalu Mountain Garden. The park is also said to be home to more than 300 species of birds.

Tabin Wildlife Reserve
Tabin Wildlife Reserve, which covers an area of around 120,500ha, is an enormous dipterocarp rainforest landscape in the eastern part of Sabah, with a great diversity of flora and fauna many of which are endangered and protected species. The resident wildlife includes the Sumatran Rhinoceros, the Borneo Pygmy Elephants and the Crested Serpent Eagles. The varied birdlife includes about 42 indigenous families from 220 species, which include at least 7 out of Sabah’s 8 hornbill specites and a variety of others. In addition to the flora and fauna the star attraction within the park are the unique “Mud Volcanoes” which create a mineral salt lick for most of the residents of the forest.

Crocker Range National Park
This park is about 139,919 ha and is made up of dense forest. It is located in the craggy Range dividing the western coastal plains from the rest of Sabah. The Rafflesia, can also be found here as well as other flora and fauna. It is also home to primates such as the orang utan, gibbons and furry tarsiers. Long-tailed macaques, bears, civet cats and wild pigs and bird species such as hornbills, pheasants and partridges.

Agrotourism attractions
Sabah Agriculture Park
Located about 150km from Kota Kinabalu in Tenom, the Sabah Agriculture Park provides educational and recreational facilities. There are a variety of attractions such as the specially-designed gardens. The Evolution Garden showcases the different stages of plant evolution from as far as 4.5 billion years ago. The Giant Water Lily (Victoria amazonica), is one of the main attractions of the park, while the Native Orchid Centre is recognised worldwide for its indigenous Borneo Orchid collection. Its Bee Centre has gained the reputation of being one of the best Bee Research Centres in the world and the Native Fruit Orchard will introduce you to fruits such as the Pangi, Takob-Takob and Peruput, unique to this part of the world. Besides these attractions you can also fish and go boating in the man-made lake! If you are thinking of staying overnight, hostels and campsites are provided.

Orchid De Villa
Located at Kampung Kawakaan, about 45 minutes from Kota Kinabalu by road, Orchid De Villa boasts an exotic collection of orchids, which encompass Commercial Orchids and Hybrids from Thailand and West Malaysia, and Borneo Orchids. The facility also features a fishing pond, a cactus garden and collections of indoor plants.

Other Natural Wonders
Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary
Set in the lush 4,300-hectare Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, the Centre is the world’s largest sanctuary for the Orang Utans. Some 25km from Sandakan, this shelter houses orphaned and once illegally confined primates. They are rehabilitated until able to go back to living in the wild. The best time to visit is during feeding time from 10.00 am to 2.30pm when the primates emerge from the forest.

Gomantong Caves
The two caves, Simud Hitam and Simud Puteh, home to thousands of swiflets are situated south of Sandakan Bay. Harvesters climb networks of rattan ladders and ropes to get to the nests of the swiftlets, a priced delicacy. The stalactite and stalagmite within the caves are also interesting.

Kinabatangan River
Sabah’s longest river, the Kinabatangan River, is a great place for spotting wildlife. One of the most famous is the proboscis monkey with its pendulous nose. You may also be able to spot other fascinating creatures such as the orang utans, macaques, elephants, clouded leopards, hornbills, crocodiles, civet cats, otters and a great variety of birds. River safaris can be arranged.

Poring Hot Springs
The Poring Hot Springs, about 39km from the Kinabalu Park headquarters has open-air hot sulphur baths set amidst a landscaped garden.
The hot sulphur bath reputedly has curative properties. You can also visit the Orchid garden that contains a wide selection of the local species, or make you way across the tree top canopy walkway.

Events, Fiestas, Fairs & Festivals
Pesta Kaamatan
The most well-known of the myriad celebrations in Sabah is Pesta Kaamatan or Harvest Festival which is celebrated throughout Sabah. Of major importance to this thanksgiving ceremony is the Magavau - a ritual to invite Bambaazon (the Rice Spirit) to the festivities and which can only be conducted by the Bobohizan or high priestess. Festivities cannot proceed without the presence of Bambaazon.

Shopping
Ethnic woodcarvings, woven textile, bamboo and rattan baskets, ethnic jewellery, pottery and paintings are good mementoes to buy in Sabah. The different types of handicraft in Sabah are reflective of the lifestyles of those who made them. The Kadazandusun are known for their woven baskets and musical instruments made from bamboo; the Rungus for their intricate beadwork; the Bajau are experts at weaving bright and colourful tudung saji (food covers) as well as mats; while the Murut are known for their blowpipes, used widely by the tribe for hunting in the jungles. The handicraft market next to the Central Market in Kota Kinabalu is one of the best spots to find these treasures. At Jalan Gaya, in the heart of Kota Kinabalu, open-air street markets are held every Sunday with traders selling a variety of farm produce, handicraft and foodstuff.

Warisan Square on the other hand offers the trendiest shopping experience in Kota Kinabalu. Overlooking the KK waterfront it is based on the street mall concept integrating shop office buildings and the central building which also house two hotels. The mall houses international and regional retailers as well as F & B operators in addition to heath and beauty spas, offering a hip and happening one stop center for all the needs of city folks and tourists alike.

Another new shopping destination located adjacent to University Malaysia Sabah is the 1 Borneo mixed development. 1 Borneo features integrated components consisting of a hypermall, 4 international and regional hotels. 4 condominiums, an Autocity, Oceanarium & Discovery Centre, Handicraft & Cultural Centre, Spa & Fitness Centre, Bowling & Amusement Centre, Gourmet Lane and Cineplex. The concept stores include luxury watch boutiques, jewelers, international and regional fashion boutiques among others.

Sabah is also famous for its seafood. The Fish and General Market situated at Jalan Gaya close to the waterfront is a bargain hunters paradise for seafood, meat and fresh vegetables. Frozen seafood is also available at outlets located close to the Market.

Thes Sunday Tamu at Kota Belud, situated 75km northeast of Kota Kinabalu, is where you can soak in the carnival atmosphere of the market as well as glimpse into the lives of indigenous people such as the Bajau, Rungus and Kadazan-Dusun. It is where horsemen from these tribes, dressed in their traditional costumes, usually ride in from the countryside to sell their wares.

Culinary Delights & Nightlife
Kota Kinabalu, is the main destination for night life in Sabah. Pubs and other entertainment outlets can be found in different parts of the city. Sabah is also well known for its large selection of excellent sea food. Here you can find Malaysian, Chinese and many different local cuisines as well as Western food.Most of the large hotels have good local and international cuisine.

In Tanjung Aru an elaborate food stall complex at the beachfront serves a decent cross section of Malaysian cuisine and other food from the region.The Waterfront along the harbour area features many lively night spots and restaurants, as well as some souvenir and clothing stores. Sugarbun Plaza, is a square connecting a little area of eateries and nightspots. Patrons at the various fast food outlets, restaurants, eateries, bars and entertainment outlets are treated to live entertainment events regularly staged at the centre of the square.

Tourism Information Centre
The Sabah Tourism Promotion Corporation (STPC)
51 Jalan Gaya,
Kota Kinabalu.
Tel : 088-212121