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December 14th 2007

Published: December 14th 2007

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Naga Keningau

Tamu

Kota Belud Tamu (Market)

A dozen of us, colleagues and business associates spend 9 days holidaying in Sabah from November 22nd, 2007. We are Malaysian exploring the most beautiful state of Malaysia. Generally the weather was wet throughout Malaysia but I must say that we are blessed that wherever we were, the weather was good for our activities.

We landed in KK at noon on the 22nd and our KK friend, nicknamed “Sabah" took us for a sumptuous seafood noodle lunch. The first day is sort of a free day for us to get ready for the activities for the rest of the trip. We spend our time shopping for food and gears.

We had contacted our guide for our first activity, a Homestay at the fishing village at Mantanani Island. We scouted this for the web. The weather was fine in KK but according to our guide Ms. Gon, the sea was rough and she advised that we changed our plan from Mantanani to a homestay in Kuala Abai near Kota Belud on the mainland. The journey from KK to the fishing village took over an hour. On the way, we stopped at Kota Belud market (Tamu) to get some fruits and

Kota Belud Tamu

Buying the Golden Papaya

vegetables for our host. Over here, we are lucky to have bought some lovely papaya which flesh is golden in colour and had a very delicate sweet taste which is unlike the normal red or orange colour papaya.

Ms. Gon operate alone. She is also a Bajau. She was a trained Forest ranger as well as a Diver. She setting up this business to help these fishermen to supplement their income especially during the monsoon period and at the same time to educate these fishermen to protect the environment especially the corals. In the past, the fishermen were bombing out the corals as an easy way to fish. Her operating outfit is called, Jomoborneo and can be contacted at +0613-5400031 or +60-88-976059 and her akugone@yahoo.com.

We do have a good time at the village, savoring the clean fresh air, good environment and good simple food served. Activities included, taking a walk in the fishing village, visiting the adult training center for the locals, going out to the swamps to catch crabs, picnic at a bay, visiting a rubber plantation cum orchard owned by a Dusun. The 6 of us shared 2 coconuts plucked by us from Pak Longan,

Bajau Child

Playing by the seaside

(the Dusun owner) farm. We savour every drop of the coconut juice which is much sweeter that those sold outside as we have the drink was fresh from the tree. Pak Longan welcome us to stay with him if we do visit Kota Belud again. We learnt that Pak Longan is quite an accompolish violin player and he also make violin. We hope that we will have the opportunity to hear him play.

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