HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN ASIA ( MOUNT KINABALU )

MOUNT KINABALU 

  

  

Mount Kinabalu is the most dramatic feature in Sabah and the tallest peak between the Himalayas & the New Guinea. Towering at 4,095 metres (13,435 feet), Mount Kinabalu exerts a magical quality that is both indescribable and unbelievable. The granite peaks are constantly veiled in wisps of clouds which sometimes resemble a graceful woman peeping coyly from behind the veil. At times during a clear day, the summit reveals a distinct glacier carved pinnacles, rising from the smooth granite dome, exuberating tranquility and peacefulness.
The mountain itself represents one of the world’s youngest batholiths: an old magna chamber that was forced through the earth’s crust. Though young, it is the central focus of Kinabalu Park and the legends of the KadasanDusun people, Sabah’s largest ethnic group. The KadasanDunsun believe that the mountain is the sacred resting ground of the spirits of their ancestors

There are many folklores and fables that tell stories of how Kinabalu got its name. The local KadazanDusun people believe that the word is derived from “Aki Nabalu”, which translates into “revered place of the dead”. The mysterious KadazanDusun tribe believes that spirits dwell on the mountain top. According to another popular folklore, the name Kinabalu actually meant “Cina Balu”. “Cina Balu” translates into “chinese widow”. Legend tells a story of a Chinese prince who ascends from the mountain in search of a huge pearl guarded by a ferocious dragon. He married a Kadazan woman upon his successful conquest, whom he soon abandoned for return to China. His heartbroken wife wandered into the mountains to mourn whereby eventually she turned into stone.

On the rainforest-clad island of Borneo lies Kinabalu Park, Malaysia’s first World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO. Kinabalu Park was established in 1964 to protect Mount Kinabalu and its plant and animal life. The biggest attraction in Kinabalu Park would be Mount Kinabalu, one of the world’s most prominent mountains, and the Mount Kinabalu Botanical Garden. Kinabalu Park is a scenic 2-hour drive from Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah. The Park covers an area of 754 square kilometers (291 square mile), has four climatic zones and also one of the richest collections of flora and fauna in the world.

BEAUTY OF MOSQUE SABAH

SABAH MOSQUE

   

                                                     


State Mosque is located in the circle pop-ups, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kota Kinabalu. Construction of the mosque began in 1970 Masihi and was completed in 1975 Masihi. Opening was officiated by His Royal Highness Tuanku Yahya Petra, son of the late Sultan Ibrahim on 11 Rajab 1397 Hijri corresponding June 28, 1977 Masihi . Sabah State Mosque site is an area of 14.5 acres and is located in a strategic location because it is surrounded by complex governmental, USIA building, the Sabah Foundation building, Tabung Haji building and several educational institutions, schools, and villages pop-ups.

Sabah State Mosque was classified as the most beautiful mosque in Asia. Concept design of the mosque is provided by Architect Threesome by combining the design concept in the Middle East and the modern concept. Large domes situated on six Sagang or large pillar in the mosque Qiblah show those features plus decorative golden honeycomb-shaped mark of excellence in the Islamic state. This dome rises 132 feet above the ground and cross the 70-foot diameter.

A tower erected as a landmark mosque together with the building. It rises 215 feet and is located on the site of the mosque entrance. The concept is inspired from mosques in Istanbul and Isfahan represents the height and glory of Islam. At the foot of the tower provided water pool and showers of stone mosaic and coupled with colorful lights as decoration. In addition, this mosque was accompanied by 16 other pole vaulted gold color synch with each other. Dililitan each pillar is decorated with verses of the Qur'an bertintakan gold color.

The main prayer hall of the mosque is surrounded by a wide verandah space to the rear. It can accommodate a congregation of 5,000 people at a time. While women's prayer hall on the ground floor can accommodate over 500 people.

BANDARAYA MOSQUE OF LIKAS MALAYSIA

  

  

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque gets its name according to their position as the largest mosque in the area of ​​the City. However, the role of the State Mosque in constant pop-ups as the main mosque in Sabah.

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque is located in a beautiful area in the beautiful coastal landscapes show the City environment with sea views facing the beautiful islands.

This mosque is located in the heart of the congregation from the village Likas, complex commercial office buildings Likas, Sabah Foundation, Prentice Hall, Universiti Malaysia Sabah and others.

The mosque is in governed by a committee, a coalition of professionals in various fields and the scholars and preachers to strengthen the functions of the mosque, in line with today's needs. Department of State Affairs (JHEAINS) collaborating with the City to improve the facilities and requirements of this mosque from time to time.

Some angle views and outside the mosque has several elements in common with a view angle of the Prophet's Mosque Al-Munawwarah. This makes it look so unique, beautiful and amazing.

The mosque was built on its site today is of determination and effort as well as an idea of ​​the proposed Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Hj. Said Keruak, President of the State of the 7th.

Originally the site of the mosque is coastal and offshore waters Kampung Likas. Site measuring 14.83 acres began buried in July 1989 and was completed in August 1989. This was followed by site preparation work began in September 1990 and completed in June 1991. Piling work commenced on June 22, 1992 and was completed on March 23, 1993.

This construction project could not proceed due to financial problems and just continued in 1994.

POPULAR EVENT IN SABAH

PESTA KAAMATAN

   

   

Most native Sabahans Consider IMPORTANT rice to be more than just the main staple food. CERTAIN There is a sacredness attached to it, for it is a food given to Them by Kinoingan, the Almighty Creator so that's Should his people never want for food. He Graded-Huminodun His only daughter and from her body parts, paddy (rice) grew. This was Kinoingan's ultimate act of benevolence and to this day, His people repay the deed by conducting various Bambaazon CEREMONIES to honor, the spirit of Huminodun as embodied in rice.

The Most well-known of These is Harvest Festival or Harvest Festival Selatan begins on the first of May and celebrated throughout Sabah. Of Major Importance to this is the Magavau thanksgiving ceremony - a ritual to invite Bambaazon to the festival and is conducted only by the Bobohizan or high priestess. Festivities can not proceed without the presence of Bambaazon and it is through Magavau that's the Rice Spirit is invoked.

 In the past, Magavau was conducted in the paddy fields on the first full moon night after it the harvest. A party of Bobohizan led by the senior Foremost, 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 water, to ward off any evil that's MIGHT try to Disrupt the ritual. OFFERED The food must be of the best quality. When the spirits come, only the Bobohizan will be Able to feel are solely for presence. The spirits will find, neatly laid out for Them on banana leaves, the choicest chicken meat, eggs, betel leaves and betel nut (Areca nut), tobacco and long strip ("Rollie"). The finest rice wine or rice wine is OFFERED to the spirits.

A second offerings arranged in a winnowing tray is placed on a specially built bamboo platforms. This is for the spirits to Bring back to the spirit world to feed Otherwise Those Creatures that's would feed off the rice. Harvest Festival culminates around the state in the state-level celebrations on May 30 and 31 every year with Magavau Being Indoors enacted BEFORE the celebrations begin.

PESTA BETITIK

  

This festival is to celebrate the culture of Borneo Bajau community featuring a range of performances Betitik (Bajau traditional music) and a four-day homestay program for those keen to learn the art Betitik. Betitik history exhibition and sale of handicrafts and food were also held during the festival.

WONDERFULL ISLAND OF SABAH

SIMPADAN ISLAND

   

   

It is Malaysia's only Oceanic island, rising 600 meters (2,000 ft) from the seabed and formed by living corals Growing on top of a volcanic cone. It lies in the Celebes Sea just off the east coast of Malaysian Borneo, close to the borders of Indonesia and the Philippines. Although, the center 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 dive destinations in the world. Above water, the island is covered in a lush tropical jungle and home to The annual birds kingfishers, sea-eagles, Sunbirds, starlings and Wood Pigeons.

There are also fruit Bats and monitor at Honeysuckle Lizards and a turtle may come to lay her eggs on the beach while coconut Crabs Scurry into the water at the slightest sound. It was declared a bird sanctuary as early as 1933 and in 2004, the Sipadan was gazetted as marine park and all accommodation facilities on Sipadan were closed to further protect this pristine natural treasure. The island is about 45 minutes by speedboat from Semporna town in calm seas.

MABUL ISLAND

   

   

Mention Mabul Island and Visions of swaying coconut trees and idyllic water villages come to mind. And that's just above the water. Located only about 15 minutes by speedboat from the famous Sipadan Island, Mabul has gained its own recognition as one of the best Muck-diving (a term Used to describe limited visibility dives at Shallow sites with sandy Usually Bottoms) sites in the world.
Mabul is a small oval-shaped island Fringed by sandy beaches and Perched on the northwest corner of a larger 200-hectare reef. The reef is on the edge of the continental shelf and the seabed surrounding the reef slopes out to 25-30m deep.
Mabul is also Renowned for its amazing array of macrolife, making it an underwater photographer's dream location to capture missing of the rarest ecological species on film. Flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, spike-fin gobies, frogfish and moray eels are just missing of the spectacular critters you will Encounter Beneath the waters of Mabul.
Although all the Excitement is underwater, you-can always set your scuba gear aside for a day to Laze on Mabul's soft sand to work on your tan.

PLACE OF INTEREST OF SABAH

KUNDASANG WAR MEMORIAL 

A must-visit in Kundasang is the Kundasang War Memorial. Established in 1962, this was one of the first memorials to commemorate the brave Australian and British Prisoners of War who Died in Sandakan and the Infamous Sulawesi Marches to Ranau death Sulawesi World War II. The memorial also remembers the people of North Borneo who risked lives to help are solely for the POWs.

The Memorial is made ​​up of four beautiful gardens - the Australian Garden, the Bahasa Inggeris Garden, the Borneo Garden and the Contemplation Garden and Pool - to represent the Different Nationalities. With its Towering pine trees and Blooming roses, a walk in the gardens is Reminiscent to that of a stroll in a quaint Bahasa Inggeris garden. The Scent of roses lingers in the water and the serene atmosphere photographs shown the Kundasang War Memorial an ideal place to contemplate and remember the heroes of the war. Visitors cans also opt to view a brief video on the history of the Sandakan Death March.

Getting There

Kundasang is located 90km, about 2 hrs driving from Kota Kinabalu and only 10 minutes driving from Kinabalu Park. Take a bus from the Esplanade Bus Terminal to Kundasang or Ranau for approximately RM17.00 per person. A taxi from the Ranau Taxi Stand (located beside the Merdeka Field) or from your hotel should cost around RM160.00 to RM300.00 per taxi.

Opening hours

Open daily from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm

maintenance fee

MyKad holders: RM2.00

Others: RM10.00

PORING HOT SPRING RANAU

  

The Poring Hot Springs ranger station lying 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Kinabalu Park HQ in the humid lowlands is a complete contrast to the cool environment of Kinabalu Park HQ. The sealed road to Poring leads past the cabbage and flower farms of Kundasang and beyond to the town of Ranau and the lowlands.

From the road just beyond Kundasang, magnificent vistas can be had on a clear day of the mountain's eastern summit and long eastern ridge. The bare scar of the recently closed Mamut Copper Mine can be seen on th eastern flank of the mountain and once past Ranau the mine's huge sludge pond becomes visible in the distance.

The road leads past the sludge pond before turning in towards the mountain again and to Poring itself, which can be recognised by the ever increasing number of local gift stalls that have been set up just outside the entrance gate. A speciality here is the variety of beautiful rock souvenirs ranging from jade-green malachite and golden pyrites through purply-gold iridescent peacock-ore to stark black and white granite.

The headquarters of the Poring Hot Springs ranger station, at an elevation of 550 meters (1,800 feet), lies on the Park boundry at the edge of Mamut river. Offices, visitor chalets and hostels are situated here as well as the Orchid Conservation Centre and the fenced 5 acre tropical garden nearby containing an animal rehabilitation centre. The main attractions here are the hot and cool pools in a forest clearing on the other side of Mamut river.

Within 1 1/4 hectre (3 acre) area there are 5 hot springs with temperature ranging from 49º to 60º C (120º to 140º F). The steamy sulphur water is channeled into several tiled pools and tubs. These have replaced the priginal wooden ones installed by the Japanese during wartime occupation. Soaking in a hot water bath is an ideal way to recurperate from an ardous mountain climb. After a cool dip in the swimming pool you should feel completely refreshed. Most people who visit Poring come just for the day - over 150,000 a year, to enjoy the hot waters.

Other attractions across the river are a small butterfly enclosure, a forest trail system, a Canopy walkway and picnic area. The chalets and hostels can accommodate 90 persons per night and all have self-catering facilities. You can book a place to stay from Sutera Sanctuary Lodges. There are also stalls serving local food just outside the entrance gate, and a restaurant at the hot pools clearing, serving both western and oriental food.

ETHNIC INSTRUMENT OF KADAZAN-DUSUN AND BUGIS

SOMPOTON


Sompoton made ​​from the dried gourd. Eight small bamboo sticks arranged in two layers and put the pumpkin with the drill. Kelulut glue used to attach the bamboo rods and also to withstand the wind from coming out through the cracks when the blast made ​​of bamboo. One of the bamboo does not work. It is only used to balance the bundle. Some small pieces of bamboo plate placed at the bottom of every love bamboo edge to produce sound according to a predetermined code.

KECAPI



One of the traditional plucked instrument especially the Bugis of South Sulawesi, Makassar and Bugis Bugis Mandar. According to historical harp found or created by a sailor, so it looks like the boat that has two wires, taken as findings of halyard boat. Usually appear on the pickup event guests, marriage, hajatan, even entertainment on the anniversary.