North Borneo Cruises in Kota Kinabalu

I can’t remember when or whose social media platform I saw but I remembered that there is a sunset cruise in Kota Kinabalu and one should experience these. When I got the chance to experience this ride I obviously jumped with joy. So off we went, a sunset ride into the sea.

We took the North Borneo Cruises for sunset dinner that departs form Sutera Harbour, Kota Kinabalu. The package we took comes with dinner and like any other cruise, performance is often part of the package so the nonchalant me was unimpressed. But guess what… the band is so entertaining, we start singing along, public karaoke, that mambo-train-line-what-do-you-call-it, we dance, other people dance, cha cha cha started…. It was so much fun. So much so, I forgot to eat cos I don’t want to miss the fun.

This scenic cruise takes you past the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine park and down the central coast, and glides along the city’s famous Waterfront. As you all know, Kota Kinabalu has one of the most beautiful sunset and being able to see it from the cruise perfected this trip.

What I would recommend if you are planning a three or four days Kota Kinabalu trip is to have seafood dinner on one of the nights, and the other night you can book this cruise ride. As for accommodation, the new hotel that we stayed is not bad either. You can stay there here at The Luma Hotel – it is so worth it.

There’s a promotion that is currently ongoing during the I posted this. I costed RM149 and covers :
🎂 Served Buffet Dinner
🌅 Bask in Golden Sunset Radiance
🛥 2 Hours Luxury Cruise Session
💃 Live Band Entertainment

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Murut Culture at Marais Center, Sabah

A great place for you to experience Murut culture is at their community-based Marais Center, located at Kampung Marais in Tenom, Sabah. And I was made to understand that Marais Center is managed by Koperasi Marais Centre where its main objective is to promote sustainability and improve the livelihood of the community here.

This beautiful village is enveloped by mountains, surrounded by paddy field surrounded with river and creeks. Activities offered here depicts their daily lifestyle that has been inherited many generations ago, amongst it are paddy cultivation, rubber tapping, lanjung weaving (a type of Sabah rattan basket), barksloth making (Murut traditional attire), bead crafting and many more. Other activities that for the city folks might be interested paddy field and hillside cycling, rubber tapping, fishing net and trap making and perhaps cooking local delicacies. Of course, these activities have a nominal cost attached to it, worry not as it is not pricey (unless you plan to partake in all activities).

We were also introduced to the Murut traditional attire and some of us donned in their traditional attire for cultural experience. Murut men traditional attire consist of tree bark vest or babaru puputul, a red loincloth, and a headdress decorated with Argus pheasant feathers.

Traditional Attire

Bark Vest (Babaru Puputul)
It is made of the puputul tree, the vest is later decorated with bead motifs. The bark vest is paired with loincloths (aba puputul). You can usually see red is being used as it symbolizes bravery in Murut culture.

Loincloths (Aba Puputul)
Two meters long cloth made of the inner bark of a puputul tree. The cloth worn on the waist where it is passed between the legs. Cotton cloth is used to attached at the front and back part (apron like). Red cloth is common because red is used to symbolise bravery. Sinuzu motifs can be seen on the cloth.

Image credit to : https://www.facebook.com/mrkaamatankunak/

Lalandau or Tupi Sinulatan
Tupi Sinulatan is taken from the word sinulat which means weaving. It is a tree-bark head gear, some were decorated with Argus pheasant feathers (local call it as Tawou).

The other thing that fascinated me was the ladies’ head gear that resulted to me seeking permission to buy them, unfortunate they have none to spare so I told them I wanna have a picture with it. Oh yah, I bought their beautiful bead neckless.

Traditional Dance
Murut Timugon tribe from Tenom is famous for the Magunatip dance, the word Magunatip originated from the word ‘apit’ which means ‘jepit’ or pinch. This dance is commonly known as bamboo dance, performed with two bamboo poles clapping together to the gong rhythm. Dancers will skip/jump in a timing (to the rhythm) to avoid their feet being clapped.

Delicacy

Local delicacy is one not to be missed especially their ampurau, umbus, tuhau, hinava and many more. He ingredients were sources locally and cook with love, a must try and one can easily fall in love with the taste – simple, light and easy on the tummy.

Marais Center

Kampung Marais
Tenom, Sabah
URL : https://www.gotenom.com/marais-center/
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/maraiscentertenom/

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Resort Taman Eko Rimba Komanwel in Rawang, Selangor

Initially I thought this is Templer’s Park being rebrand but NO, I was wrong. It is totally a different place (nearby of course) and much more family-friendly (and Lily-friendly too).

I was totally surprise at first, thinking that it is a camp site area in a ‘jungle’ and to my surprise it is a well equip camp and activity site. This experience was made possible and I owe it to Tourism Selangor when they launch the Resort Taman Eko RImba Komanwel recently.

And you must wonder, what makes this place interesting and different, right?

Designated Glamping Site

There are 3 areas whereby 2 are located by the lake and one is closer to the river (clear running river, worry not. There glamping site has own operator such as Crossover Outdoor and Lubar Camp where you can get hold of and book a tent depending on your crowd. They will prepare and set-up everything for you, you probably need to bring food and knick-knacks jer lah kot.

Build-your-own-tent Site

This one is located by the river itself (more mencabar if you ask me) but safe and convenient enough if you need a toilet of incase of heavy rain (boleh naik atas untuk berteduh).

Forest Cottage

This is a proper accommodation that caters for urban-friendly folks like moi yet nak acah-acah campaign sebab teringin. You will be staying in a comfortable room and can roam around doing outdoor activities within the park.


Little Wood Cottage
Chalet concept ie tiny cabin type of stay, suitable for single of double occupancy, especially those looking for a quick quiet back-to-nature kinda get-away. This is probably good as you won’t be sharing the whole building with strangers.

White Cottage

Ahhhhh… this is the best place to stay. It has 2 rooms and able to fit 6 people comfortably without maximising the sofabed (8 pax if you turn-over the sofa-bed lah). It has its own kitchem, dining area, TV, fully air-conditioned, living hall, veranda, Jacuzzi poll and many more. I personally stayed here and I don’t mind repeating.

Facilities/Amenities

Common toilet and shower (for campers)
One word – CLEAN! You don’t have to worry (this is true at the point of writing this blog post tau, lepas-lepas ni wallahualam).

Cafés

2 cafes where I believe you can ask them to manage your breakfast at a nominal cost. Forest Café has nice nasi lemak and they also have cereal, bread and etc – very very simple breakfast (jangan lah mintak egg benedict bagai pulak).

ATV

This one is a great favourite for those that came during the launch and I believe everyone will also enjoy this ride. And yes yes yes, there’s a cost that ties to it.

Cycling

You can rent a bike and cycling within this area. This is one of the easiest activities if you are here with teenage kids I feel

Scooter

First time trying this, sumpah I suka giler. For those of you thinking to do this in KL city but find it dangerous then I recommend you to try it here, safer and controlled environment for first timer. You won’t regret it.

Canoe

Apparently the lake is only knee deep so they say, so fret not guys. You can row and row plus the fact that it is small, the more reason you should not be worrying. Can even try this with you kids.

Hiking

If you stay here (not available for day-tripper) then you are entitled to register and join the hike. As the hiking area is a private property (if not mistaken) hence public is not allowed thus making the jungle area more pristine.


Camping equipment for rent
You heard me right, alright. If you wanna build your own camp/tent but don’t have the necessary equipment then all you need to do is just rent. Don’t waste money to buy and later have no place to store, or even worst… you gonna use it that one time only. No no… rent is better.


Food
As mentioned earlier there’s 2 cafes inside the park but my advice is to bring your own food/drinks, reason being the main gate closes at 9pm ie no one is allowed to go out nor come it after 9pm. Mati kutu kot nanti.

There is also open spaces for you to conduct activities or telematches as the place is suitable for teambuilding and family day event. Plus the fact that it is near KL (approximately an hour or so) makes it a great place for such event.

Do go and check it out.