DELICIOUS FOOD

Bajau dishes



Kuih Cincin, Sagol Pari and Kuih Penyaram

The Bajau people, which makes up the second largest group in Sabah has a no less impressive selection of delicious Sabah cuisine for you to try out.
As a traditional seafaring people, their cuisine also reflects their lifestyle with its variety of traditional seafood dishes on offer. The dish is made from boiled stingray meat mixed with crushed turmeric, and drenched with stingray liver oil.
Pinjaram, penyaram or kuih UFO as some would call it, is a deep fried kuih that has a nice, chewy texture with a tantalizing pandan aroma.
Kuih Cincin is a sweet biscuit that is fried twice. Apparently this kuih can hardly be found in West Malaysia.
Those who have the recipe, you're most welcome to share with us here!


Another dish that needs to be mentioned is Ambuyat.
Damai Roti Kahwin




What’s so special about roti kahwin? This roti, don’t play play. Got story wan.. let me tell you.This bread has revolutionized the fate of shoplots at Damai. The kopitiam, call Foo Yuen , makes the most awesome bread in the world that it *melts* in your mouth the moment you put it in. I am having difficulty on how to put this into proper words, you have to try it yourself.This restaurant has practically changed the face of the street, many new food businesses appeared to cope with the hungry crowds, shops around closed down and converted into restaurants, attracted many stalls too.




Nasi Kuning Sabah



They sold this near my house. It looks similiar to nasi lemak, but is yellow in colour and with a lot of fresh tumeric taste, a slice of hard boiled egg and sambal with a small piece of fried chicken. It's called Nasi Kuning Sabah (Sabah Yellow Rice). I asked the seller and he told me in Sabah, they have this instead of the usual nasi lemak. I could not verify this. I have been to Sabah a few times but have not seen this sold anywhere.Anyway it tastes nice.


Kadazandusun food



Left: Butod (My Sabah), Right: Pinasakan
Butod is the worm from the sago plant. Can be eaten raw or deep fried
Pinasakan, is a traditional Kadazandusun dish of braised basung fish mixed with takob akob (a tangy wild fruit mainly harvested for its skin), fresh turmeric, salt and bambangan slices.




Left: Manuk Lihing, Right: Tuhau

Lihing (Kadazan-Penampang for rice wine) is made from glutinous rice (pulut) and natural yeast, called ‘sasad’. Manuk Lihing is chicken soup made with sweet rice wine. Sometimes, lihing is referred to as hiing (certain Dusun languages), and others call it kinomol, segantang, kinarung, kinopi, linahas, and even tapai. They are all different (but always fermented, rice-based) beverages.
Tuhau is a Kadazandusun side dish that is a combination of strong tasting ingredients with the tuhau ginger as the main ingredient. Not something that can be found in the west.

FESTIVALS

Pesta Kaamatana


Most native Sabahans consider rice to be more important than just the main staple food. There is a certain sacredness attached to it, for it is a food given to them by Kinoingan, the Almighty Creator so that his people should never want for food. He sacrificed His only daughter- Huminodun and from her body parts, padi (rice) grew. This was Kinoingan's ultimate act of benevolence and to this day, His people repay the deed by conducting various ceremonies to honour Bambaazon, the spirit of Huminodun as embodied in rice.
The most well-known of these is Pesta Kaamatan or Harvest Festival which begins on the first of May and celebrated throughout Sabah. Of major importance to this thanksgiving ceremony is the Magavau - a ritual to invite Bambaazon to the Pesta and is conducted only by the Bobohizan or high priestess. Festivities cannot proceed without the presence of Bambaazon and it is through Magavau that the Rice Spirit is invoked.
In the past, Magavau was conducted in the padi fields on the first full moon night after the harvest. A party of Bobohizan led by the foremost senior, would weave a slow procession through the fields chanting prayers to Bambaazon. A male warrior would walk ahead of this group waving a sword in the air, to ward off any evil that might try to disrupt the ritual. The food offered must be of the best quality. When the spirits come, only the Bobohizan will be able to feel their presence. The spirits will find, neatly laid out for them on banana leaves, the choicest chicken meat, eggs, betel leaves and pinang (areca nut), tobacco and kirai ("rollie"). The finest tapai or rice wine is offered to the spirits.
A second offering arranged in a winnowing tray is placed on a specially built bamboo platform. This is for the spirits to bring back to the spirit world to feed those creatures that would otherwise feed off the padi. Pesta Kaamatan around the state culminates in the state level celebrations on May 30 and 31 every year with Magavau being enacted indoors before the celebrations begin.


Regatta Lepa Semporna



The Sabah East Coast Bajau community has a unique lifestyle. In their dialect, lepa means "boat". The lepa is usually made of Ubar Suluk or Red Seraya wood. The lepa is a cultural legacy inherited by the people from many generations ago. The existence of lepa is believed to originate from the fishing community who live in Bum Bum Island and used by the Pa'alau people along the coast of Semporna.
The Regatta Lepa has been celebrated every year since 1994 to commemorate the Bajau tradition of building these splendid boats. Semporna comes to life as the colourful sails take to the sea to compete for the prize of the most beautiful lepa. This is judged based on its decoration, local ethnic music and dances performed on board, sambulayang (sails) and tapis-tapis (small flags).
Other attractions include sea sports such as rowboat, sailing and kelleh-kelleh (small dugout boat) competitions, lepa tug of war, children swimming and duck catching competition. A colorful cultural night performance put on by this community is certainly not to be missed.
Visit Semporna and witness this spectacular annual event of the Bajau community in Sabah!



Pesta Rumbia 

Kuala Penyu, approximately 2 hours drive from Kota Kinabalu city celebrates this special event every year. Rumbia or sago comes from the family of palmae. It is mostly found in Kuala Penyu and the surrounding districts of Beaufort and Papar. The starch or sago that is rich in carbohydrate is an alternative staple food for the Bisayas and Kadazan (Dusun Tatana) people and is locally known as "ambuyut".
No part of the sago palm is discarded. The locals use the leaves as roofing materials and the branches (known locally as kumbar) for making their house's walls. Floor mats and baskets are just some examples of things made entirely from the plant.
A rumbia information center is located at Kampung Kasugira in Kuala Penyu and it also provides displays of sago and its uses, handicrafts as well as demonstrations of sago delicacies.



Pesta Kelapa



The coconut, an ever-popular fruit of the tropics is celebrated in a special festival at Tomborungus in the northern district of Kudat. Coconut is grown extensively here covering an area of more than 5,741 hectares or about 14,000 acres planted.
The festival highlights the coconut industry and recognition of its significant contribution to the social and economic welfare of the rural folks in Kudat. Its launching date coincides with World Coconut Day and a host of exciting activities are lined up for visitors including the highly entertaining coconut shoe race, squeezing coconut milk competition, food and drink exhibition, handicraft displays, coconut fashion show and a wildlife exhibition for the entire duration of the festival.
Highly recommended for visitors to Sabah, this fest is an occasion that is worth adding into a programme to further enhance your holiday experience. Getting there is easy plus there are other tourist attractions in the area that should not be missed. Drop by at the famous Rungus Longhouse at the village of Kampung Bavanggazo, witness gong making at Kampung Sumangkap, handicraft making at Kampung Tinagol and how pure fresh honey is made at Kampung Gombizau

NICE PLACE AT SABAH

Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary



Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre is located about 25 kilometers west of Sandakan in the state of Sabah, East Malaysia.The centre opened in 1964 as the first official orangutan rehabilitation project for rescued orphaned baby orangutans from logging sites, plantations, illegal hunting or kept as pets.The orphaned orangutans are trained to survive again in the wild and are released as soon as they are ready. The sanctuary is located within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve which covers an area of 4,294 ha (10,610 acres), much of which is virgin rainforest.Today around 60 to 80 orangutans are living free in the reserve. It has become one of Sabah's tourist attractions.Entry Costs (Malaysian/ Non-Malaysian nationals): Adult- RM5/ RM30 Child- RM2/ RM15 Ticket is valid for the day of purchase, so you can attend both feeding times on the same ticket.Camera Cost: RM10Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday- 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm. Fridays 9am-11am and 2pm to 4pm.Orangutan feeding times: 10am and 3pm. It is recommended to arrive 30 minutes before feeding time.Facilities: Souvenir shop, information center showing a video 6 times a day, cafe and toilets.Getting there: Many organised tours leave from around Sabah at varying prices. Public bus #14 departs from Sandakan taking approximately 45-60 minutes, costing RM5. The Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan bus can also drop you at junction Jalan Sepilok, around 2.5km from the Center. Journey approximately 5 hours from KK.Taxis are usually available outside the centre (RM40 to Sandakan).


KINABALU 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.


Sipadan






Sipadan is the only oceanic island in Malaysia, rising 600 metres (2,000 ft) from the seabed. It is located in the Celebes Sea off the east coast ofSabah, East Malaysia (which is on the island of Borneo). 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. Sipadan has been rated by many dive journals as one of the top destinations for diving in the world.







Hawksbill Turtle.


Frequently seen in the waters around Sipadan: green and hawksbill turtles (which mate and nest there), enormous schools of barracuda in tornado-like formations as well as large schools of big-eye trevally, and bumphead parrotfish. Pelagic species such as manta rays, eagle rays, scalloped hammerhead sharks and whale sharks also visit Sipadan.
A 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 that become lost and drown before finding the surface.


Sandakan Crocodile Farm



Sandakan Crocodile Farm is located on the way toward Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. One can easily find this place through the signboard along the way.



Tawau Hills National Park




Tawau Hills Park, was established in 1979, primarily as a protection for the water catchment area of Tawau town, in Sabah, east Malaysiaon the island of Borneo. It is located 24 kilometers from Tawau, and comprises 279.72 km² of lowland dipterocarp rainforest, surrounded byoil palm and cacao plantations. The park offers picnic areas, camping sites, and chalets. The Park contains rugged volcanic landscapes including a hot spring and spectacular waterfalls. The highest point in the park is Gunung Magdalena (1310 m). It is administered by theSabah Parks.