HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE TIP OF BORNEO?

Tip of Borneo is located in Kudat peninsular about 3 and a half hour or 215 kms drive from Kota Kinabalu. You will enjoy the drive with the passing views of paddy fields, villages, oil palm plantation, local stalls selling handicraft and food items. Be prepared for the long journey, bring a lot of snacks and water. A stop-over at Tuaran for the famous "Tuaran mee" is recommended. After visiting the Tip of Borneo, drive over to Kudat town. The seafood there is very fresh and the cooking at the market place is one of the best in Borneo.

It's a real leisure drive through the countryside of northen Borneo

Be very careful when driving through the villages of Kota Belud. Watch out for those " lembu"(cows) on the road.

To get to the tip of Borneo, you have to drive through a bit of "rough" road of the coconut country.

Approaching the "Tip" via beautiful beaches. Magnificent view of the Sulu Sea

Enjoy the breeze of wind blowing from the Sulu sea

The northen-most tip rocks of Borneo

SUNDAY AT DONGGONGON - PENAMPANG

Donggongon is in the district of Panampang. It is about 10 kms from the Kinabalu city. I only go to Donggongon for the "Ngui Chap" (the beef noodle soup) which is the best in Kinabalu. After church this morning we decided to have our breakfast there. Being a Sunday, the streets of Donggongon were crowded with people peddling their wares comprising of food, vegetables and fruits etc. Here are some of the pictures I captured after our breakfast.


The local favourite - Piasang Goreng ( Fried banana)

Local delicacies

Mobile Local breakfast(s) stall

Another stall of Local delicacies

Farmers' product

A variety of local fruits.

KAMPONG PAPAGA - PAPAR - BORNEO

Kampong Papaga is a beautiful and quiet kampong (village) lies 40 kms south of Kota Kinabalu. Kampong Papaga is an ideal location to experience the rich culture and lifestyle of the Kadazandusun. Kadazandusun is the largest ethnic group of Borneo. There is a homestay programme called the Koposizon Homestay managed by the local Kadazandusun community there. I had the opportunity of taking a group of young Japanese Junior high school students to visit this Kampong. They spent almost a day having a good time in exchanging ideas and culture with the local children. They were so amazed at their lifestyle and the warm hospitality of the community.

Plenty of "green" in the kampong

Walking across the Papar river on this hanging bridge at Kampong Papaga was a challenge and new experience. A very warm welcome by the Kampong Papaga folks and children

The Kadazandusun children dressed in their best traditional costume for the occasion

Welcome refreshment from the Kampong

Kampong delicacies - Pisang Goreng ( fried banana)

After the refreshment, William, the host showed the visitors the tapping and collecting of latex from a rubber tree.

It was the first time for the Japanese children to see coconut trees (live)

The cultural show "SUMAZAU" traditional dance of the Kadazandusun.

"The "band" with their traditional musical instrutments

More music from the children

Dance on!

Everybody SUMAZAU

Time to say good bye " SAYONARA" !!!

THE RIVER OF BORNEO: KLIAS-GARAMA

After a one and a half hour of scenic country drive, we finally arrived at this wetland river's jetty.

The Kampung style hospitality was really wonderful.

Cruising along in search of the ???

Alamak! KING of the river spotted!

Beautiful sunset as we were crusing back to jetty.







DINNER TIME!!!

The day ended with a delicious Malay buffet dinner. With a full stomach, we were ready to head for home.

ORCHID AT HOME

KINABALU CHA CHA

GREASE LIGHTNING AT HOME

THE OLD HOUSE IS STILL STANDING

This was my home in TENOM in the 50s.

It is amazing to see that the old house is still standing!

BORNEO PYGMY ELEPHANTS

Going through my photo album, I found these

memorable photos which I captured while driving through the jungle of Tabin 2 years ago.

According to the conservationists, there are roughly 1000 of these Borneo Pygmy elephants exist today. This was as a result of logging and commercial plantations encroaching on their habitat.

I plan to visit the Tabin jungle again next year. Will I be able to see them again?

As I was driving home through Jalan Lintas, the cars speeding in front of me suddenly slowed down. I thought there was an accident. There were at least three Traffic policemen talking to a double cabin's driver whom I believed had "jump queue" using the emergency lance. There was another double cabin on the road divider on the opposite side. Was the driver trying to "jump queue" too?

I used this road almost everyday but I have never seen any patrolling by Police. Perhaps, their presence had caught every one by surprise!!!

Guard dog of Borneo

BEAUTIFUL CARNATIONS FOR MOTHER'S DAY

Fish and Chips + Yaki Bee Hon "Borneo style"