Borneo International Marathon

Strap on those running shoes and head over to Sabah this May for the 6th Borneo International Marathon. The run will be held along the scenic coastal roads of Kota Kinabalu with three main events – 10km, 21.1km (Half Marathon) and 42.2km (Full Marathon).

The Borneo International Marathon has raised money for local charities since its inaugural event in 2008, and this shall remain one of the main goals of BIM 2012. One of the charity events will be “Sky‟s The Limit” category, whereby any runner will try to raise as much money as possible through their friends and families to support their effort.

As an added incentive, the top three fund-raising champions will be rewarded attractive prizes. Runners who register for the run will also have choices of amount to donate to charities, apart from the respective entry fees.

Sandakan Memorial Day

On Sandakan Memorial Day we remember the fallen heroes who perished on the death marches that took place towards the end of the Second World War in 1945.

Australian and British prisoners-of-war were transported to Sandakan to build airstrips, where they were malnourished and tortured. They were forced to walk back from Sandakan to Ranau, an arduous 260km trek through untamed, Borneo jungle.

Only 6 survived by escaped and were hidden and kept by locals.

Every year family and friends travel from afar to Sandakan, to commemorated these brave souls with a memorial service in their honor, held at the Sandakan Memorial Park, once the site of a POW camp.

Sandakan Memorial Day takes place on 15 August. Lest we forget.

Bajau

Tarian Bajau

Bajau

The Bajau people are the second largest indigenous group in Sabah is the Bajau, a collective term for a predominantly Muslim people and their kindred groups. Originally seafarers, there are now two distinct groups, the East Coast Bajau and West Coast Bajau. The West Coast Bajau have now settled down around the Kota Kinabalu to Kota Belud areas and have learnt the art of farming and cattle rearing. They are the famous cowboys of Sabah. Their skills in horsemanship are well known locally and on festive occasions both horses and riders are dressed in colourful costumes. On the east coast however many of the Sea Bajaus still live in the traditional way. Fishing is the main activity. While many have settled on land or in water villages, some are still nomadic boat dwellers. The Bajau are skilled fishermen though there are linguistic and culture differences between those living on the West Coast are predomonaatly farmers and the Bajau, well known for their skilled horsemanship, have been dubbed "cowboys of the east". They are expert "horsemen" rearing ponies, buffaloes and cattle as well as on festival occasions respledent in their colourful costumes riding brightly decorated ponies.

Bajau also commonly known to westerners as "Sea Gypsies," the highly mobile Bajao or Sama Dilaut actually live in small groups as far north as the northern tip of Luzon in their house boats called lepa. The true Bajao are actually a Bornean people, but the Sama Dilaut are often called that by other locals because of the similarity of their lifeways; their language, however, is considerably different. The Bajao have also adapted to Jama-Mapun-style houseboats over shallow seas; these are linked together by small bridges. Interiors of houses are not partitioned, and their most notable ornamentation is a hanayan, or ornate shelving. Like other Sama peoples, the Bajao are a non-aggressive group who take flight in their boats when threatened; they claim to have no weapons. The lepa is a beautiful boat of ancient origins; its sail has a "mouth" which enables the boat to sail almost directly into the wind.

Kadazandusun

The Kadazandusun is the largest ethnic group in Sabah, making up almost 30% of the population. The vast majority of Kadazandusuns live in the hills and upland valley, where they till their lands with padi and vegetables. “Pesta Kaamatan” or Harvest festival is the most celebrated holiday in the calendar year for the Kadazandusun. “Unduk Ngadau” or Harvest Beauty Queen, Rice wine and traditional dances are the highlights of the festival which is celebrated annually on the 30th & 31st of May. Although the rites and customs of the Pesta Kaamatan are practiced by the Native tribes, all Sabahans join in the celebrations one way or the other. The true meaning is to honor the Rice Spirit, by giving thanks for a bountiful harvest.

Keropok Amplang

Keropok Amplang Tawau

Keropok amplang (amplang cracker) which is especially famous in Tawau, is made from Spanish mackerel mixed with tapioca flour and selected spices to bring out a distinctive delicious taste. Amplang Cracker is formed round and fried until crispy before packed in plastic. Amplang Cracker is simply crispy and is suitable to be taken as a snack anywhere and anytime throughout the day.

Rojak

Rojak is a noodle dish served with hearty peanut sauce, beef slices and boiled egg. Like soto, this is a popular Javanese / Indonesian dish eaten by all communities in Sabah. In Peninsular Malaysia, Rojak is a vegetable and fruit salad served with peanut sauce. Soto and Rojak are available at most Malay coffee shops.

Nasi Kuning

Nasi Kuning Moden

"Nasi Kuning" or yellow rice is an Indonesian specialty that cannot be found anywhere else in Malaysia except Tawau.

The rice is cooked with coconut milk and turmeric (known as kunyit in Malay) , hence the name nasi kuning (yellow rice). It is usually served with more variety of side dishes.

It is usually served with a piece of fish deep-fried in dried chili sauce. This can be found in almost any Malay restaurants or stalls around Tawau but sometimes also sold in some Chinese coffee shops. To further enhance the taste, the rice is usually wrapped in banana leaves. Nasi Kuning is usually eaten during special event.

Price ranges from RM 3.00 to RM 5.00 per serving 

Nasi Kuning Kampung

Sipadan Island

Sipadan is the only oceanic island in Malaysia, rising 2,000 feet or 600m from the seabed. It is located east of Tawau (Borneo), in the Celebes Sea. It was formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct volcanic cone that took thousands of years to develop. Sipadan is located at the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin, the centre of one of the richest marine habitats in the world. More than 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in this ecosystem.

Rare diving scenes such as schools of greenback turtles and hawksbill turtles nesting and mating, schools of barracuda & big-eye trevally in tornado-like formations, pelagic species such as manta rays, eagle rays, scalloped hammerhead sharks and whale sharks can be seen here.
A mysterious turtle tomb lies underneath the column of the island, formed by an underwater limestone cave with a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that contain many skeletal remains of turtles.

Kinabalu National Park

Kinabalu National Park

Kinabalu Park which covers an area of 754 sq km was gazetted a park in 1964.The basis for the establishment of a protected area in Kinabalu were formed after a report from the Royal Society Kinabalu Scientific expedition in 1962-1964 led by Prof. Corner. It is the first Park in the Malaysian Borneo’s state of Sabah.

Its main feature is Mount Kinabalu (4,095.2 m), the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea. Its slope is home to a rich assemblage of plants and animal species. It is a hot spot of particularly the plant biodiversity with affinities to flora from the Himalayas, China, Australia, Malay Peninsula, as well as pan-tropical region.


The main entry point for visitors is the Park Headquarters located about 92 km on the Kota Kinabalu – east coast highway lying at an elevation 1,520m above sea levels. Cooler climates attracted over 250,000 visitors in 2009 with about 47,000 made the attempt to conquer the peak.

The administrative center is located in the ‘Conservation Center’ building. Also in the same building is the Research and Education offices and facilities.

Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary

Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary is the most mesmerizing place for animal lovers. Trainers at this sanctuary look after the orphaned orang-utans very well and put their best foot forward to make the animals apt for living in the natural surroundings. The best time to have a close look at these animals and be with them is at 10.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. since this is the time when these primates come down from the trees for their daily feedings of bananas and milk.