We took a holiday break from Taiwan and headed over to
Sabah, part of East Malaysia, with quick and easy flight connections from
Kaohsiung in Taiwan. Our stay at the Tanjung Aru Resort, operated by
Shangri La Hotels, was one of the best hotel stays we have had - well
recommended to any of our visitors. With special evening dinner / cultural
events put on over the Xmas and New Year period, we were always
entertained at the Resort - see the photos and video below for evidence!!.
The traditional cultural dance show with Malay band and singers was
certainly a highlight, along with the Pirate New Year Eve Theme dinner.
There was lots to do just around the Hotel Resort - island
boat trips, snorkelling, scuba, golf and even helicopter trips direct from
the hotel lawn. A regular hotel bus schedule makes it easy to take the 20
minute trip into Kota Kinabalu town for sightseeing, shopping or
eating-out. However, there is a terrific new Food and Entertainment centre
opened up on Tanjung Aru Beach front, with an excellent live band on while
we were there - a simple 10 minute walk from the Hotel.
A 4-day hire car
arrangement also got us travelling around the countryside, with day trips
up North to visit a country market and longhouse lifestyle; a trip over
the mountains and to the South with terrific scenery, a close-up visit to
see one of the world's largest flowers (the Rafflesia) and some work in
the Padi fields with the locals; a visit to the Kadazan tribe Cultural
Centre and a day upto the Kota Kinabalu National Park to go walkies in the
jungle. Just too much to take in and other activities will need to wait
for another chance to visit Sabah.
Of course, we were extremely fortunate not to
have traveled to several other destinations in Asia that were affected by
the Tsunami on 26 December. No impact was felt on Sabah. However, the
residents and hotel guests paid respects to those lost by sending out
candlelit boats from the beachside into the China Sea just as the New Year
was welcomed in.
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Sabah Photos |
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Christmas Eve Dinner
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Christmas Eve Dinner |
Christmas Eve |
Christmas day |
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Christmas Day - View of Kota Kinabalu from Hotel Balcony |
Christmas Day - Tanjung Aru |
New Year's Eve Pirates Dinner |
Christmas Day - Tanjung Aru |
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Pirate Girl |
Pirate Girl with Headhunter Skull |
Pirate Girl being Serenaded |
Pirate Girl in Mask |
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The Black Pirate- oh arr! |
Pirates on the Beach |
The Black Pirate coming aboard |
The Black Pirate posing |
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Sabah Costumes |
Kadazan Tribe - New Members |
Sabah Man |
Sabah Girl |
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With the Kadazan Dancers |
With the Kadazan Dancers |
Kadazan Dancers |
Kadazan Dancers |
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http://www.monsopiad.com/index.html
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Kadazan Village Longhouse |
Kadazan Tribe Sacred Standing Stone |
Inside the Longhouse - Entertainment |
Kadazan Guide |
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Longhouse Cooking Facilities
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State of the Art |
Felicia remembers this
from her Kampung |
Pounding the Grain for rice |
Rice making area |
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Longhouse Decoration |
Kadazan Musical Instruments |
View out from the
Tribal Culture Hall |
Kadazan Decorations |
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Felicia and the Bridge of Doom |
The Brave Felicia has no fear of the Crocodiles lurking below |
The Kadazan Queen |
Kadazan Totum Poles |
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Padi Fields near Tambunan
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Local Girls Harvesting Rice |
Golden Rice Padi Fields ready for Harvest |
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Felicia beats up the rice sheath |
Ian earning pocket money
in the Padi field |
Felicia with the golden rice |
Working in the Padi field |
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Rungus Longhouse |
Rungus Longhouse near Kudat |
New tenants in the Longhouse |
Felicia airing the washing |
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Longhouse view - animals underneath |
A
prime choice for the Headhunters! |
Girl looking for belongings after Longhouse Fire |
30 Families were made homeless on 24 December, while at Church, when
their Longhouse was burned down - We contributed to their rebuilding
Fund |
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Mt Kinabalu - Evening |
Mt Kinabalu - Morning |
Mountain Top Teh Tarik |
Enjoying the Mountain View |
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Mountain Range |
Kinabalu Park |
Kinabalu Park |
Taking a rest - Kinabalu Park |
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Kinabalu Park Centre |
Kinabalu Park Jungle Trip |
Jungle Girl |
Jungle Stream |
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In the Jungle |
Resting by the Stream |
Abandoned Bridge & Waterfall |
The Rafflesia Flower |
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Market Ladies |
Market Fish Lady |
Cows Munching the Market Leftovers |
Rafflesia |
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Teh Tarik Stall at Tanjung Aru Beach |
Cultural Dancers |
Cultural Dancers |
Sabah Dancers |
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Warrior Dancer |
Blowpipe Warrior |
Warrior Dancers |
Sabah Warrior |
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Sabah Coolie Hat |
Sabah Coolie Hat |
Lampshade Man |
New Year Lantern Float - in Memory of the Tsunami Victims |
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Floating Village |
Floating Village Scene |
Boy in Floating Village House |
Lantern Float needs re-launched |
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Floating Village House |
House on Stilts |
Scenic House at Floating Village |
New Year 2005 Man |
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Tanjung Aru Hotel View |
Garden and Seaview - Tanjung Aru |
Tanjung Aru Hotel
Garden Pond |
Tanjung Aru Hotel
Garden Scene |
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State Mosque
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State Mosque |
State Mosque |
Mt Kinabalu Rare Flower |
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