Borneo Frontiers

Year of the Bunny

2011-01-17T09:14:00.015+08:00

Hi everyone! Colourful Frontiers Travel Sdn Bhd @ Borneo Frontiers wishes everybody a very Happy New Year for 2011.

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2011 is the Year of the Golden Rabbit, which begins on February 3, 2011 and ends on January 22, 2012.

According to Chinese tradition, the Rabbit brings a year in which you can catch your breath and calm your nerves. It is a time for negotiation. Don't try to force issues, because if you do you will ultimately fail. To gain the greatest benefits from this time, focus on home, family, security, diplomacy, and your relationships with women and children. Make it a goal to create a safe, peaceful lifestyle, so you will be able to calmly deal with any problem that may arise.

Reminiscing on yesteryears... Have you ever thought about those nostalgic memories as a kid where you had that backyard treehouse? Believe it or not, you could actually relive those moments and stay at Bunga Raya Island Resort's Treehouse @ RM2,500 per night (inclusive of 2 x breakfast & morning pastry room delivery).

Bunga Raya Island Resort's Treehouse has a romantic jungle walkway to your hideaway in the trees, an intimate outdoor jacuzzi / private jungle plunge pool and a seductive lounge in a villa placed high up among the tree tops. The view from the treetops is absolutely breath-taking and you can enjoy some peace and quiet with your loved one during your stay there.

Interested? =) Click here to enquire more about BRIR's Treehouse > > > > >
http://b-borneo.com/?page_id=213

Christmas/New Year Events (Sabah) 2010

2010-12-15T09:27:00.015+08:00

10th Amazing Carols by Candlelight

Date: December 2010
Organized by: Sutera Harbour Resort

The Amazing Carols by Candlelight enters its 10th year. All are welcome to come together and share in this festive occasion. All proceeds go to Sabah Thalassemia Society.

Contact Adrian Alaska for more information.

(088-303025 / 318888)

Gaya Christmas Carnival

Date: 14th - 17th December 2010

Organized by: Kota Kinabalu City Hall and the Sabah Council of Churches

"The Star of Great Joy" is the theme of the 2010 celebration that will be held at Gaya Street from 7:00PM to 10:00PM. Organized by the Kota Kinabalu City Hall and the Sabah Council of Churches, the event will include colourful stage performances by various churches, organizations and special invited guests.

Over 170 charity and hawker stalls will be erected along the street, making it an ideal venue to scout for a wide selection of items such as food, inexpensive gifts, festive decorations and handicrafts. The Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan, is expected to launch the festivity on the first night.

A Joyous Christmas

Date: 24th - 25th December 2010
Organized by: Le Meridien Hotel

Turkey and stuffing, Yorkshire pudding, roast beef with brown gravy and more await you at Le Meridien Hotel! An elegant buffet filled with Yuletide specialties comes your way on Christmas Eve and Christmas evening to share with family and friends in this season of giving.

Kota Kinabalu City Countdown Concert

Date: 31st December 2010

Organized by: Kota Kinabalu City Hall

Feel the excitement of New Year's countdown celebration with the Lord Mayor of Kota Kinabalu City in Padang Merdeka. Don't miss the energetic and happening concert by local artistes and entertainers, funland for kids, Paintball competition for sports enthusiasts and fireworks display at 12:00am (midnight).

UFO in Sabah, Borneo?!

2010-07-27T15:47:00.006+08:00

July 21st, 2010

(Adapted from The Borneo Post, by Elton Gomes)

KOTA KINABALU: An unidentified flying object (UFO) was reported sighted at beach resort in Tuaran recently.

The round blue object, which was said to be hovering in the sky near the Tuaran Beach Resort, was sighted by resort guests and employees.

Tuaran Beach Resort restaurant manager, James Dungil, 27, who were among the eyewitnesses said the object was sighted on Saturday around 4pm.

Several other guests and employees, who claimed to have also spotted the object, said it hovered in the air for a few minutes before disappearing.

Some even claimed that their handphones "went dead" when they tried to record the object with the devices.

***END***

Our suggestion:-

Why don't you check this resort out? You never know what rare sightings you might see! Book with us today!

English Couple Buys House in Sabah

2010-07-27T11:47:00.007+08:00

July 18th, 2010

(Adapted from The Borneo Post)

KOTA KINABALU: An English couple who fell in love with Sabah decided to retire in the Land Below the Wind.

And as part of Paul and Hazel Tourle's retirement plan, they purchased a house in Taman Sungai Wang, Kinarut.

According to Paul, he had worked in Brunei for eight years since 1999 and the couple would travel to Sabah during their holidays.

"We fell in love with Sabah and its people and now we have so many friends here especially in Kinarut. That is why we decided to buy a house in this area," Paul Said.

Paul and Hazel who are currently renting an apartment in Palm Villa are excited about moving into their own house and retiring in bliss in Sabah.

***END***

Our suggestion:-

If anybody is interested in buying a home here in Sabah, we are more than happy to help you find one.

Price of houses ranging from USD75,000 to USD1,000,000.

Chinese New Year Valentines & William Blake

2010-02-11T14:49:00.003+08:00

'Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry'
[The Tyger by William Blake (1757-1827)]

Chinese New Year 2010 falls on February 14th Valentine's Day and it ushers in the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese Almanac, hence William Blake makes a cameo appearance with a stanza from his poem of The Tyger.

In these last few days before the Chinese New Year, red coloured buntings and decorations have garland the shop fronts and foyers of shopping malls in Kota Kinabalu and elsewhere in Sabah. Red is the auspicious colour for the New Year.

For Chinese families and those adopted into the Chinese culture, the New Year Eve Dinner would be the occasion where family members near and far gather together at the family home and pay respect to their elders. In Sabah most families would have members who work elsewhere as far afield as the Chinese Diaspora takes them - let us the remember the loved ones who may not be able for one reason or the other to make the trip back home this time, spare them a thought as they toil for families far away from home.

Speaking of loved ones, Chinese New Year 2010 is also Valentine's Day, for lovers everywhere a Dozen Red Roses should be the order of the day in keeping with the auspicious colour for the New Year.

A Secret Dream Hideaway - Hillview Gardens Resort Keningau Sabah

2010-01-18T10:59:00.006+08:00

This is indeed a dream hideaway known only to a discerning few, even in Sabah. Granted that it maybe off the beaten track of your canned tours, yet it easily accessible from Kota Kinabalu - Keningau is just 2 hour drive and it is not hassle to go to the Hillview Gardens Resort.

http://www.hillviewgardens.co.nr/

Run by an amicable couple Alfons and Doris, you have the comforts of home in a countryside surroundings - old country charm amidst homely modernity. I can vouch that they do pay attention to their guests.

Maybe you like to consider a visit to this place! Why not include a sojourn to this place next time you are around Sabah, we are only too glad to assist you.

Climbing Mt Kinabalu in 2010 - Traveler Reviews

2010-01-16T10:54:00.005+08:00

I came across this site Mount Kinabalu Traveler Reviews:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g298307-d482160-r53425078-Mount_Kinabalu-Kota_Kinabalu_Sabah.html

I thought I would share this with those who may be contemplating climbing Mt Kinabalu in 2010.

New Year 2010 Ang Pows & Roses Mt Kinabalu Climbs

2010-01-02T10:43:00.002+08:00

We are a decade into the New Millennium and that is an achievement!

There is something special in the year 2010 (CE or AD however you like to name it) - Chinese New Year & St. Valentine Day falls on the same day February 14th.
Hullo young lovers every way, if you do celebrate Chinese New Year then it will be Ang Pow & Roses - sounds very similar to a Heavy Metal Band! But it is the real Ang Pows & Roses we are talking about, and if it is a wedding in June then gives us a run-over at our website: http://b-borneo.com/ there may be a package there to your liking for the honeymoon. Definitively, we would recommend the island retreat of Sipadan Water Village Resort at Mabul Island - have a chat with us and we will tell you more.

The Mount Kinabalu Climb remains the most popular of our tours especially for climbers who want to add this mountain site as a scalp to their belt. Though it is not a climb in the strict sense of the word, but more a vigorous trek or a tramp up the slopes, it is still not for the faint hearted and those that are not physically fit.

Accommodation for the Mount Kinabalu Climb are limited at the "climbing point" at Laban Rata, and all are required to spend the night there before moving up the mountain slopes in the wee hours of the next morning. For anyone contemplating this climb, at least 2 months advance notice must be given for groups of 2 to 4 persons as accommodation are said to be limited and for any larger groups of more than 4 then at least 6 months notice is said to be required. The astute reader would have noted that term "said to be" was highlighted - anyway if you are interested to climb Mount Kinabalu, email us and we will see how best can we fit a program into your tight schedule and in the course of our communication you will better understand why the term "said to be" has been used in the blog.

Sandakan-Ranau Death March 1945

2009-12-03T10:52:00.006+08:00

If there’s anyone that much is owed to, in documenting this episode in the history of British North Borneo (now Sabah), then it’s Sydney-based author Lynette Ramsay Silver. One should read her book which is currently still available in Kota Kinabalu for what happened in the Sandakan Prisoner of War Camp during the closing years of World War II.

Sandakan: A Conspiracy of Silence, 3rd Edition
Silver, Lynette Ramsay
Publisher: Sally Milner Publishing
ISBN-10: 1863512454
ISBN-13: 9781863512459

Nearly 65 years on, the painful memories still linger on for those families who have lost loved ones in this dark episode of history. It’s a pity really that the present generation in Sabah don’t really know much about this period of its history; but with the prevalence of the internet, maybe we should address that short coming by checking out Lynette’s website: http://lynettesilver.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

Lynette Ramsay Silver recently received a special award from the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun at the Sabah Tourism Awards Night on Saturday Nov 21st 2009: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/22slver/Article/index_html

http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=68992

“Two individuals who had contributed immensely to the tourism sector in Sabah were honoured with the Minister Special Awards, with the citation read by Masidi himself. The recipients were Lynette Silver and Dr Michael Patrick Chong.

Lynette is noted for her work in promoting Sabah and the sacrifice of Australian soldiers in World War Two through her research on the Death Walk March and recently The Last Camp Site, also announced in her acceptance speech that the Australian Government would be contributing RM120,000 to the development of the The Last Camp Site.”

Somehow the local press seemed to have missed the Memorial Projects that she’s undertaken to initiate for the people of Sabah: http://lynettesilver.com/content/category/4/14/63/ for her effort , no award can be sufficient enough to express our eternal gratitude.

Lantern Carnival [2009]

2009-10-13T10:51:00.005+08:00

A week ago, one of our staff members attended the Annual Lantern Carnival held at Taman Sri Kepayan's Multi-Purpose Hall on 4th October 2009.

Place: Multi-purpose Hall, Taman Sri Kepayan
Date: 4th October 2009 (Sunday)
Time: 6pm - 9pm

Program:
6pm - 7:30pm
Lantern Making Competition, Chinese Calligraphy Competition

7:30pm - 9pm
Lantern Celebration & Lantern Parade

Special Guest Star: Kelvin Soh (click name to read more about him and his HIStory)

We've got snaps!

(please view slideshow)

Pic credits: Hee Mang @ Facebook.com

Mount Kinabalu Climb

2009-10-10T10:34:00.005+08:00

October is a popular month for climbing Mount Kinabalu. I have managed to come across some articles on climbing Mt Kinabalu which may prove useful information.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A856433

http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Sabah/Mount-Kinabalu/blog-386924.html

http://journals.worldnomads.com/sl0ggs/post/16640.aspx

http://blog.airasia.com/index.php/how-mount-kinabalu-humbles-me

Have a read, decide for yourself whether you want to have a crack at Kinabalu!

Motor Biking around KK

2009-10-09T12:29:00.008+08:00

If you are in Kota Kinabalu as a visitor , moving around can be cumbersome as public transport systems are not organised as you want them to be, nor do they run like a clockwork. Taxis? - these can cost a packet and you can't really take your surroundings at your leisure with a meter ticking away and causing a leakage in you wallet. Shuttle buses from the hotels shunt you from point to point, it's okay if you are prone to regimentation.

But what happens if you want to be free to move around at your own pace and not be restricted by not too reliable a public transport system? Instead of huffing and puffing and just being able to go as far as your legs can carry you, try renting a motorbike. You will get to see, not only Kota Kinabalu but also its outskirts and even far beyond, in fact if you have the time you can go around Sabah on a motorbike.

To do that get in touch with this outfit at http://gogosabah.com/home ask for Joel, he speaks English well and "Joel will fix it". The bikes /scooters are the 125cc categories and well adequate to putter around to where ever you want to be in Sabah. Alternatively you could get in touch with us and we'll put you through to him. If you do get in touch with Joel yourself, kindly let him know that we told you "Joel will fix it"

Hari Raya

2009-09-15T09:18:00.006+08:00

This week is the prelude to Hari Raya and as Ramadan comes to a close, everyone keenly awaits the announcement of the day when Hari Raya should fall, as the Muslim calender is based on a lunar cycle. The anticipation is often greater than the waiting; in KK (Kota Kinabalu) traffic will be a little heavier than usual as the festive mood sets in and householders throng the bazaars, shops, malls and supermarkets for the goodies they have saved up for to celebrate the day as an occaision to remember.

Officially, Hari Raya is celebrated over two (2) days, the first day begins with communal prayers and fellowship at mosques and suraus throughout Malaysia and in fact the world. The first day is often devoted to family reunions and gatherings. It is usually on the second day that we have what is colloquially known as an "Open House" where friends, friends of friends, and even acquaintances. Really in Sabah, there are no hard and fast rules when one may visit our Muslim friends and what's just been said is a rule of thumb. What is peculiarly unique to Sabah, is that non-Muslims more often than not, have Muslim relations; family gatherings at times like these reflect the cross cultural and religious diversity of the people - "only in Sabah does this happen" is what's been often said and observed.

Unofficially and traditionally Hari Raya visitations stretch beyond the official two days holiday and the customary visits takes place over the "month of Raya"

If you happen to be a visitor to Malaysia and especially if you are in Sabah during Hari Raya, it is possible to get an invitation to a home gathering and the hospitality accorded to you will leave an indelible impression. How do you get an invitation? Strike a conversation with the hotel staff, that'll be a good start and if they happen to be celebrating Hari Raya, chances are that in the course of conversation, you may get an invitation to visit them at their home - transportation will not a problem, it will all be arranged, you can bet on it, hospitality Sabah style is something to be experienced. Too often visitors only view Sabah from without and do not get a chance to experience it from within, Hari Raya maybe just be that opportune moment!

Satay

2009-09-10T14:48:00.003+08:00

The first introduction that you may have had to Satay may have been at 39,000 feet on a Malaysian Airlines Flight. For its Satay, Malaysian Airlines was endowed with the award of the Best Signature Dish Airlines by Skytrax for the year 2003/2004.

Satay is authentically a Malay dish, usually made of sliced beef, chicken or minced lamb, skewered on lidi (the dried mid-rib of the coconut leaf) and grilled over a slow burning charcoal fire. The meat is first marinated with cumin, coriander, black pepper and seasoning (a concoction of spices) jealously and secretly guarded as a family or commercial secret. After marinating, the longer this is, the better tasting it will become, it is then grilled over a slow burning charcoal fire.

Traditionally, the cook who grills the satay has a fan in his hand where he oxygenizes (fans) the flames occasionally to control the heat as he or she grills the meat. The secret lies in the right application of heat to get the meat well cooked but yet tender and succulent, an art acquired through experience.

Satay is eaten by dipping the skewer of grilled meat in a specially prepared peanut sauce, the recipe of which is again a closely guarded secret passed from one generation to another. Satay is usually eaten with ketupat (steamed compressed rice cakes) or bread, and sometimes accompanied by sliced cucumbers and raw onions.

It is easy to find Satay stalls in Malaysia, you find them in the food courts and night food stalls; they can be a meal in itself or as an appetizer to a main meal. In Kota Kinabalu satay stalls are also to be found in the kedai kopi (local cafes) along Jalan Pantai (Beach Street) and also in Kampong Ayer. You will not miss one!

For the records: Malaysian Airlines produce 27,000 sticks of Satay & 350 liters of Peanut Sauce daily!

Back Packer Diner

Hot Cross Buns in Kota Kinabalu

2009-09-07T09:46:00.002+08:00

Hot Cross Buns in Kota Kinabalu!? Not exactly but near enough and tasty too. The Western palate can be a little fastidious when it comes to local fare, unless one's innards can go native at an instance but that's more likely the exception than the rule!

If you've no qualms about sitting in a kedai kopi (local cafe) knowing that an orang puteh (white person) is likely to stand out in the crowd , then you ought to give this kedai kopi a runover.
Got to tell you though, that this joint has no sign board but it's not too hard to locate. It's diagonally in front of Jesselton Hotel on Gaya Street - if you're standing with your back to the front entrance of the hotel, it is to your left across the street, by the way there is a tattoo parlour on the first floor above. Don't confuse this joint with the one next door which has an overhead sign board.

You can't really miss the array of 'Baked Buns' & 'Steamed Buns' displayed - the price lists are prominently posted. Indulge yourself! Yes the baked buns does agree with the Western Palate!

Back Packer Diner

The Best Fish & Chips in Town

2009-09-04T12:35:00.003+08:00

If you are in Kota Kinabalu, Pete's Corner is the place, numero uno for fish & chips sans vinegar drenched, salt sprinkled, newspaper wrapped. Lonely Planet must have missed out on Pete's Corner, not to Pete's loss though but more to those of us who are fish & chips afficionados.

What you will get at Pete's is freshly filleted fish coated with his 'secret recipe' (that's what Pete calls it) batter and bread crumbs a far cry from the run of the mill assembly run stuff that passes off for the Real McCoy! Mind you Pete does the early morning marketing himself. Fish from the warmer waters (read that as tropical) taste somehow a little better than those in colder waters - check that out!

How do you get to Pete's Corner? Pete's is at Asia City and it's at a corner, ask around, you wouldn't miss the place. Something more about Pete the man, a pleasant conversationalist be it in English, Malay or Mandarin, and if he's not in - he's around the corner. At Pete'a it's more than what's on the menu, you can talk to the man himself.

Take note though, business at Pete's is only from 7am till 4pm, Mondays to Saturdays.

Back Pack Diner

What's New at Kota Kinabalu in September

2009-09-04T08:49:00.007+08:00

It's Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month which happens to fall between end of August - middle of September of the Gregorian calendar this year (2009), and it is the prelude to Hari Raya Aidilfitri (a religious event which in Sabah as well as in the rest of Malaysia; it is celebrated as a public holiday).

During Ramadan, a feature that is prominent in Kota Kinabalu are the food stalls that come to life only during Ramadan selling 'speciality street food' for the fasting month. Don't take the term 'street food' as a knockdown, they are cuisines in their own right. The hustle and bustle as the locals crowd view the fares on display is a sight to behold.

In Kota Kinabalu, the two best spots to visit and experience the carnival atmosphere are the Asia City and Gaya Street stalls - the better spot being the Asia City stalls and the best time to drop by is between 3pm and 5pm when it's 'peak season'. Browse around the stalls, so long as you have a friendly smile on your face, you are quite likely to find a kindly soul who would answer your curiosity.

As to the kinds of foods available, it is best to see them for yourself and sense the aromas 'a picture is better than a thousand words'. Cuisine-wise, there is yet much to be discovered about Malaysian food which has become a blend of history and various cultures.

However, if you are game for a dare - why not get in touch with us; we could arrange a culinary tour and will recommend the 'delights' that may be more suited to a Westernised Palate - you need not fear the dreaded "Montezuma's Revenge".

A Connection Between the Falklands & Borneo

2009-09-03T16:57:00.004+08:00

Major-General Sir Jeremy Moore KCB, OBE, MC and Bar, Royal Marines, Falklands campaign Land Force Commander 1982, Major-General Commando Forces RM, 1979-82, was born on July 5, 1928. He died on September 15, 2007, aged 79.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article2469102.ece

He was then Captain Jeremy Moore in 1962 at Limbang, Sarawak.

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Borneo/Limbang.html

At the time of the Falklands conflict in 1982, I was squatting in a Shepherd Bush flat not too far away from the Metropolitan Line Station and the Shepherd Bush library across the street.

Tramping around Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (what used to be known as British North Borneo), I made it a point to get into Brunei to cross over to Limbang, the only reason being that I was a history buff who wanted to know more of past military conflicts, hence the discovery of the connection between the Falklands & Borneo.

As a chance would have it, at http://www.b-borneo.com/, I ran into this Anglophile, who over a couple of beers and satays (local variety of kebab) told me that the best way to take in as much of the country was to take a bus to Lawas, Sarawak from Kota Kinabalu, then cross over to Limbang where Captain Jeremy Moore and his gallant men stormed the police station way back in 1962.

In his impeccable English, this local gentleman reminisced as much as he could of what life was like in KK (Jesselton as it was known) then. I took the long road to Limbang - must admit that it was not Greyhound comfort but then I wanted to know what was it like for the men there then.

http://www.onceamerinealwaysamarine.co.uk/dhala2.htm

by 'fizzinator'

Ramblings on The Road to Nambayan

2009-09-01T10:36:00.001+08:00

The road to where?! Nambayan?!
Ha Ha! You may wonder where is this place, it is just after Tambunan town. The road to Tambunan is pretty deserted these days, as the traffic to Keningau from Kota Kinabalu goes through the Papar Kimanis road.

Here I was at 1pm in the afternoon of Friday, 28th August, chugging along the Donggongon to Moyog road, with hardly a vehicle in sight on a warm humid afternoon. I passed 3 trailers up and saw 2 down. How different is it these days, from the hey days of the timber boom.

Has things changed or maybe they are now using the Keningau - Kimanis road. Maybe the trailers are still there but I am not seeing them. One thing though that I noticed about the old road was the perennial road works. On the same spots, with improvements though. At times, I did imagine the span bridges crossing the valleys but that was just a mirage.

What however seemed timeless, was the breath-taking views of the Crocker Range, the picturesque villages albeit with modern amenities and children. Guess the cooler climate gives an impetus to procreation.