Category Archives: Sabah

Jungle Spirits

Hopefully when we go back to Sabah this December, I will get a chance to re-visit the Mahua waterfall in my father’s kampung – some of my photos taken during our last trip here.

I plan to focus more on wildlife and hope to get more time going down on my knees to see the kind of insects and plants that grow in abundance in this semi-virgin forests – which solely depends on my husband’s patience.

Another problem is, I was just told of an incident where a photo taken in a similar forest includes an unwanted subject of the supernatural kind – unless it’s a trick of the light or camera sensor gone wrong?

Worse, if I had told my mother – the typical superstitious Asian – she would straightaway conclude it with an of-course-it’s-a-you-know-what! But “trained” by her constant stories cum lessons on jungle-spirits survival, I sort of know what to do.

Sprinklings of holy water, verses of prayers and the native way of keeping safe in a forest, “Minta maaf, saya tidak nampak kamu ni..” – forgive me, I cannot see you.

(And I do NOT want to see you in my photos too – just need to figure out how to communicate this part).

Busy Week

Going online is a short activity for me these days. I still scroll through the news headlines but there are few news that I will really pay attention to.

Fortunately there are things that I wanted to publish here otherwise this site will be conveniently forgotten. Luckily too that this site is on a reliable and dedicated hosting server so I never need to worry of any issues when I need it to work.

So what exactly have I been busy with?

For one thing, it is the Christmas season which meant preparations to be made. Then we are home which meant socialisings to be done. Also being on holiday meant there are places to visit. Finally, doing so many more things while dealing with triple the crowd and traffic meant that I get tired even after just half a day of outing.

But that’s life in Kota Kinabalu.

*Picture : UMS Marine Museum & Aquarium

Suites On Signal Hill

So Many Places To Explore At Signal Hill, Kota KinabaluThere is a building on Signal Hill, overlooking Kota Kinabalu city with signboard prominently displaying its name : Habiba Suites.

This building which has been around for decades has been converted in an apartel consisting of units with 3 bedrooms and kitchen/living room.

I am not sure what the service is like at this place but one thing is for sure : what a magnificent view this place offers!

Definitely one of the best place to stay in town for a few days for anyone who wants to wake up with a view of the city, sea and the islands but could not afford the 7 to 8 digits cost of staying long-term in the condominiums along this road that gives the same view.

The rates sounds reasonable for an old building as long as they have renovated the facilities and refurbished every thing from lighting to mattress to carpets.

One of these days, we will drive up to Signal Hill to check this place out.

*Click picture for photographer’s credit*

Family Road Trips

The general rule of thumb is that a road trip should only be taken when you have a good car – comfortable and spacious.

But during our childhood, the cars we had then were neither spacious nor comfortable, yet road trips were fun.

My family did a lot of those then due to the nature of my father’s job and also because my parents’ had relatives pretty much everywhere.

My husband had his share of family road trips too although for them, it was only to Tutong or Bandar Seri Begawan – not as adventurous as ours, I dare say!

From the time when I was barely a few months old, I was taken to towns like Ranau to Tambunan to Tenom to Keningau to Kota Belud to Kudat – nearly the whole of interior and west coast Sabah!

In those days, travelling between these places were not the smooth ride that they are now – even if we used one of those cool trailers with 5th wheel warranty. Gravel roads, windy routes, muddy and dusty rides – I have experienced them all. I remember clearly too how I like to sit in the middle of the back seat so I could chat with my father who answered every questions I had – patiently.

And this memory say only one thing – we need to be more patient with road trips chats from my even more inquisitive children.

A Piece Of Karambunai Heavan

One of the place that we visited on our weekend road trip was Nexus Karambunai, best known for their “some say it’s heaven” catchphrase.

Since we have not been to this place for more than 10 years, we have forgotten that it was not as near (as I thought) and not as far (as my husband thought).

The resort itself was as I remember it – except for the new additions, which was the reason why I wanted to visit this place.

A few two bedrooms pool villa with “…a lap pool, spacious living and dining area and a private garden. A master bedroom, second bedroom with 2 single beds and a fully equipped kitchen…” – at reasonable rates too!

Unfortunately we did not get to see the villas but it was a pleasure just walking around the resort garden, breathing in the clean air not courtesy of any home dehumidifier but from the fact that this place is far from the city or busy highways.

Definitely a place we have to stay in one of these days.

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