Weston Wetland (Beaufort)

Tuesday, April 6, 2010 comments (0)

Weston Town

One of Sabah's hidden treasures, Weston Wetland is a fantastic getaway for the nature-lover. Make your way to the small town of Weston. Your boat ride to the Weston Wetland Retreat begins from the 100-year old jetty by the village.

The lodge is an establishment built in the heart of Weston's swamp area, offering plenty to see and do. Lodging is basic and dormitory-style; a wooden ‘longhouse' with common bathrooms. Go on a river cruise in search of the elusive Proboscis Monkey, cheeky macaques and flying fox. Along the way, learn crab-catching the traditional way.

A hike along the nature trail will lead you to many exotic pitcher plants growing wild. In the evening, enjoy a home-cooked meal at the Kingfisher Lounge, built on stilts and offering a panoramic view of the wetlands. When the lights go off, it's show time! Hundreds of fireflies light up the trees, illuminating the stillness of the night. Another must-do activity? Star-gazing.

The brilliant night sky dazzling with stars will be a sight not soon forgotten right here at the Weston Wetland.

  • Weston is about 2 hours drive south from Kota Kinabalu. The journey takes you through other seldom-ventured towns, such as the rice bowl of Papar and the cozy Beaufort.
  • The town centre consists of mosque, a school and a row of shops.
  • There is a 100 year old jetty near by the village which used to be a large ships used to dock here buck in Weston's heyday when the town was a hub of merchant activity.

Getting There
Weston is a two-hour drive from Kota Kinabalu and only 20 minutes from the district of Beaufort. Transportation arrangements can be made with the operator of Weston Wetland Retreat, Borneo Eco Stay

Rates
Please contact Borneo Eco Stay for rates

Contact
Mr. Tay Wee Let
Telephone: +6088-239476 / 019 821 8038
E-mail: tayweelet@westonwetland.com
Website: http://www.westonwetland.com

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Starcevich Memorial Stone (Beaufort)

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Private Thomas Leslie Starcevich enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in April 1941. In December 1941 he joined the 2/43rd Battalion, 24th Brigade, 9th Division in Palestine.

In April 1945, the 9th Division left for Borneo in the closing months of World War 11. There in Beaufort town and with his unit under fire from the enemy, Starcevich displayed tremendous bravery when he twice approached enemy fire, rushing forward and firing from his Bren gun. With the enemy machine-gun posts knocked out, his ‘B' Company was able to continue their assault.

Thomas L. Starcevich was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery and on 28th August 1947, he received his Victoria Cross medal at Western Australia where he eventually returned to farming. He is buried in the Esperance Public Lawn Cemetery, Western Australia.

After the War, the road where the action took place was named Victoria Cross Road by the local townsfolk and a Memorial Stone was erected along it. It is located just near the present-day Beaufort Police station. The inscription on it reads ‘In June 1945, on this hill, by his valour and disregard of danger, Private L.T Starcevich of 2/43rd Battalion A.I.F (Australian Imperial Forces), routed the Japanese defenders.'



Getting there
Beaufort town is an hour and a half away from Kota Kinabalu City and you can take a bus, self-drive or take a leisurely two hour diesel train ride. You can also contact a local tour operator. Please check under the Directory section.

By train, board from the Tanjung Aru Train Station. Fares are RM4.80 one way.
Schedule Departure : Mon - Sun 7.45am , Sun 1.35pm.
Return from Beaufort : Mon - Sun 9.55am , Sun 10am

You can take a Mini Bus from the Bus Station in front of Wawasan Plaza in KK City with departures throughout the day, starting from early morning. A one-way fare is RM5.00.

Taxis leave from the station at Padang Merdeka in KK.



for more info about Sir Starcevich, click HERE

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Regatta Lepa 2010

Sunday, April 4, 2010 comments (0)

Queen of Lepa Festival

The distinctive lifestyle of the nomadic Sea Bajau community in Sabah’s East Coast is characterized by their living on Lepa—they only come to the mainland for food, water supply and funerals..

Lepa is Bajau for single masted sailing boat which is usually made of Ubar Suluk or Red Seraya Wood. It is an ancient legacy which originates from fishing community inhabiting the coast of Semporna and the Bum-Bum Islands has long been the focal point of Lepa making.

The body of the Lepa consists of the pointed bow (tujjah), its body part (lepa), the walled-house structure (tapi) and the sago palm leaves-made roofing (kajang). The centre of the boat is called ‘pakajjangan’, the place for the oars called ‘panga’, and the stern called ‘pemalung’. A typical Lepa is 5 meters long and 1.5 meters wide. However, in competitions the Lepa sizes may vary.

Lepa uses two types of sails—the bigger sail, ‘lamak bua’an’; a name derived from a type of fish called ‘Bebang’, has one concave end resembling a fish’s mouth. The smaller sized sail is called ‘lamak kapis’ and is rectangular shaped. Lepa usually has colorful sailcloth made from medium weight cotton—heavier fabrics can sever the topes and break the mast during strong winds.

The Lepa would be ornately decorated with colorful decorative cloths such as ‘tipas-tipas’, which is a triangular shaped sambulayang, or ‘panji-panji’, which is rectangular shaped for festivities and weddings. Sets of traditional instruments called ‘tagungguh’ will be played on the Lepa for cultural shows.

For the Bajau people, Lepa possesses many uses apart from as a fishing vessel and as a means of transportation. It is also utilized for wedding venues and cultural performances. Nowadays, the practice of this traditional lifestyle is slowly dispersing with modernity. Few modern Bajaus use the Lepa today as many of them migrated to the mainland. Nonetheless, Lepa remains a symbol of tradition and a precious legacy for the Semporna Bajau community.

Witness a thrilling parade of flamboyant Lepas competing for the title of most beautiful. Other exciting events include a lineup of Sea Sports and the Lepa Queen pageant. Don’t miss it!

Map location of Semporna, Sabah


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Sabah Fest 2010 - The Legend of Arung Salamiah

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With this year’s theme, ‘The Legend of Arung Salamiah’, Sabah Fest 2010 kicks off on May 1st 2010 with a two-day Cultural Extravaganza show at the Magellan Grand Ballroom, Sutera Harbour Resort in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, starting at 8.00pm.

This year’s Sabah Fest celebration is based on one of the many legends of Semporna entitled ‘Arung Salamiah’ which has been orally passed down throughout the generations. Witness exciting cultural dances and traditional musical performances such as the Panansang performance, a ritual healing dance performed by both male and female dancers for a healing ceremony called Magkalamat; the Zepen Suara Siam, Lumumbai, Dang Mangalai, and the Magunatip—the Murut warrior bamboo dance.


There will also be handicraft-making demonstrations by the respective ethnic groups. Don’t miss the opportunity to see skilled craftspeople at work during the handicraft exhibition and get a chance to purchase hard find items, from hand-woven baskets to intricately carved Sea Bajau lepas (wooden boat replicas). Love tasting new food? Grab the chance to sample Sabah’s traditional favourite delicacies such as bambangan and hinava, as well as scrumptious local cakes such as pinjaram and kuih cincin.


Sabah Fest continues with ‘A Cultural Experience at the Sabah Museum Heritage Village’. The Village is a replica of the traditional houses of various tribes found in Sabah, all built as one ‘village’. Here, you can interact with the various tribes, watch them perform traditional dances and taste their local delicacies. There’s plenty to enjoy for the young and old, including bamboo-stilt walking (a traditional pastime of the Kadazandusun people), slingshot contests and a fishing competition, to name a few. There will also be rarely-seen rituals and rites performed by healers and priestesses.

We welcome you to Sabah Fest—come and celebrate Sabah’s natural charms!

Sabah Fest is brought to you by the Sabah Tourism Board and its wholly-owned subsidiary Sri Pelancongan Sabah, under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah. For more information, please contact Susan Shahira (Event Manager II) at +6088-232121 or e-mail shahira@sabahtourism.com.

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Klias Peninsula (Beaufort)

Saturday, April 3, 2010 comments (0)


Located on the Klias Peninsula is the Klias Wetland, a Mangrove Forest Reserve. With the bizarre-looking proboscis monkey gaining as much popularity with the tourists as the orang utan, the Klias Wetland with its large proboscis population is fast becoming the latest ecotourism destination in Sabah.

These tree-dwelling animals normally hunt for food in the evenings so many boat cruises depart the Kota Klias jetty at around 3.00pm.Other riverside residents that may be spotted are macaques, crocodiles, moniter lizards, tree snakes and birds such as the eagle.

Back on the jetty, enjoy a natural light show when hundreds of fireflies put on a glowing performance for your benefit.

  • 2 hours drive via the coastal highway Kota Kinabalu / Beaufort, towards the southwest of Sabah.
  • There are 3 take-off points which consist of Garama, Klias and Bintuka.
  • Hop in the boat to cruise in comfort through the tranquil serenity of mangroves, nipah palms, scrubs and secondary vegetation.
  • Enjoy the serene setting and nature's river trail, while searching for the Proboscis Monkey and others inhabitants of the wetlands.
Getting There
Located 110km south of Kota Kinabalu, Klias is about a 2 hour drive from Kota Kinabalu City. You may want to arrange your visit with a local tour operator.


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Beaufort Town

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Beaufort Mosque

Beaufort, a name that bears the meaning ‘the beautiful fort’ in old French, sits pretty at the southwest region of Sabah. This quiet provincial town is situated less than 2 hours away, roughly 97 kilometers away from Kota Kinabalu.

A sister to the Beaufort town in North Carolina, Beaufort is mainly inhabited by the Bisaya, Brunei, Murut, and Chinese denizens. The Beaufort tamu (weekly market) is held every Friday and Saturday. It is famous for its local produce especially the fresh selections of local tropical fruits. When in Beaufort, don’t miss the chance to sample the scrumptiously well-known Beaufort Mee—a noodle dish served either dry or with soup.

  • One of the most popular places for transit passengers boarding to Tenom.
  • From Beaufort, travelers can choose to go to Menumbok by land and then to Federal Territory Labuan by ferry.
  • Beaufort is a fast-growing town situated around 90.5 km from Kota Kinabalu.
  • The Padas River snakes is way through this town.
  • Its only 1.5 hours journey drive from Kota Kinabalu.
  • Padas River (Level 3 and 4) is a famous destination for white water rafting.

Beaufort Town Satellite Image (Click image to enlarge)


How to get there

By bus (from KK)
Price: Price range between RM10 - RM 15 per person.
Departure point: Padang Merdeka (Merdeka Field)

There's no fix schedule bus will leave once it fully occupied

Taxi
Price: *RM120.00 per taxi


- (*) Subject to changes

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Greetings! Welcome to Sabah

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Introduction

Welcome to the land of awe-inspiring natural scenery, lush primary rainforests, vibrant coral reefs and mysterious indigenous cultures!

Situated on the beautiful island of Borneo, Sabah is one of the thirteen states which Malaysia is made of. Sabah is the second largest state in Malaysia and shares the island of Borneo with Sarawak, Brunei, and Indonesian Kalimantan.

An ideal destination for backpackers, Sabah is richly blessed with nature diversity, unique cultures, fun adventure, beautiful beaches, and fantastic cuisines for the adventurous taste buds.

From mountaineering and scuba diving to wildlife spotting or just simply relaxing at the beach, Sabah is the ultimate place to go. We have it all here, from the world's largest flower; the Rafflesia, to the highest mountain is South East Asia; Mount Kinabalu, to one of the world's best dive sites; Sipadan Island.

Not only will you be amazed by the places to see and things to do here, you will also get to meet warm and friendly people in Sabah who are very hospitable. Get immersed in the unique culture and tradition of Sabah, not forgetting the sweet memories to last a lifetime.




Governance of Sabah

Sabah is a state with a democratic political system with universal suffrage. Here, the Yang di-Pertua Negeri sits on top of the hierarchy, followed by the State Legislative Assembly and the State Cabinet. A general Election takes place every five years for both the State and the Federal level officials.



Sabah and her people

The people of Sabah are known as Sabahans. Sabah is the third most populous state in Malaysia after Selangor and Johor; it also has one of the highest population growth rates in the country.

There are currently 32 officially recognized ethnic groups in Sabah with the largest non-indigenous ethnic group being the Chinese and the largest indigenous group being the Kadazan-Dusun people. Two other larger ethnic groups in Sabah are the Bajau and Murut, compared to other states in the country; Sabah has relatively very small population of Indians and South Asians.


The Sabahan Economy

Sabah's economy was traditionally lumber dependent. However, with the increasing depletion of natural forests as well as ecological efforts to conserve the rainforest; palm oil has proven to be more sustainable resource.

Other than that, Sabah's economy is highly dependent on agricultural products such rubber and cocoa. Sabah also exports other produces such as vegetables and seafood. Tourism, particularly eco-tourism, is presently the second largest contributor to the economy.

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