'K' Stands for KUNDASANG! Part I

Hello readers! Another post about my trip with friends but this time free from all rules and lecturer! Ha~ Okay, here's the story...

Date:
18th - 19th December 2010

Place:
Kundasang, Desa Farm, Kundasang War Memorial, Hot Spring

Trip's members:
Esther Donny, Judy Bea Wong(Judy), Georgianne George (Jojo), Sharon Lentz, Azmi, Gary Ting Kha King (Ting), Noralawaiyah (Mala), Fransisca Robert, Gerard Jerome (J.j), Siti Fatimah (Fatim), Siti Sahara (sara), Al-Nasdin ( Nash)

Dec 18th Day of the trip
Really a "blockbuster" trip for me coz it was my first time having a trip to Kundasang with my twins and all my friends. Well to be honest, me and my twin ever did a trip to Kundasang. Yup not even with our family as financial crisis always landed in our family.
Okay, first thing me and my twins do was ....of course waiting for others to come but since we come at 5:30am in the morning, we went to coffeeshop nearby and have a little hot drinks and talk about what we're going to do when we reach our destination. The departure time for this trip was actually at 7:30am but turned out that after waiting the others to come ( who's late...) we finally depart at 9:30am. Great! What a waste of time.

There's only about 13 people going to this trip which include the 2 of us. We're really excited as the scenery was really amazing! So all the remaining hour inside the van we busy admiring the beauty of nature and have fun moment together. The bus driver told us that Mount Kinabalu has it own uniqueness, legends and superstitious. He said that the early Kadazan/Dusun also used to believe that when a person dies, the soul will go up to Mount Kinabalu for R.I.P. It is therefore advisable that whenever one wants to climb the mountain, an offering must be made to the ‘pogigion’ or those dwellers around Kinabalu or something bad will befall on you ( Hmm...really?). I don't know about that but my mom used to told me not to say anything about going up there because the sprit would come to know of my intention and something terrible might happen.
“When you are climbing,” she said, “You must walk silently. Do not pluck anything or those dwellers will follow you home and make you sick”.
( mom used to climb the mmountain too)

My friend, Nash ( Al-Nasdin) were an international student ( from Philipines) was really excited after hearing about the tradition in Sabah, well since this was his first time too! Well I'm not really believe in superstitious or such but sometimes it's really attach to your way of living....sort of Karma I guest. So we stop for a while in Pekan Nabalu for short break and anyone who wish for photoshoot are welcome here.

First destination Poring Hot Spring which located approximately 47KM away from Kinabalu National Park passing through Kundasang and Ranau and guest what...the name Poring, stands for the tall bamboo plant that is abundant in that area. Whoa! Well since it's holiday, the place was really crowded with kids, tourist and of course teens like me....God, Save me!
What I don't like about that place during the were some old men with a bunch of kids who act like as if they were single again. Yikes! And a Korean mom yelling at her children which I think " poor kid". Some of our friends ( Judy and Esther)went for a swim, Gary Ting and Nash....I don't know where they going, Jojo, Lentz, and Azmi ...well eating lunch I guest. And lastly me and my twins with other 3 friends ( Mala, Fransisca, and Gerard) went to stroll the entire area of swimming pool.( Google the place you know the swimming area was not the kind that you got at home.
We manage take a few photo's

Well I can say was the first destination was not really a great place but pretty amazing though.

.....
Are you there? Okay.

On our next trip to 2nd destination, we stop by at a small market near Ranau to buy some goodies for us. And by goodies I mean food for vegan and non-vegan. So fresh and delicious too. Oh did I mention that we went there by using 2 van instead of 1? Yup, now you know.
Alright, another pit stops for us was near the Kundasang War Memorial ....we had to wait for another 6. While we wait, I notice that the place was getting colder and colder but the scenery was really great. And better I tell you! So many pine tree grew over here which are rare in South East Asia.15 minutes of waiting finally they arrived. Then my friend, Mala suggest that we better go to top of the hill where there's another tourist attraction which are the Desa Dairy Farm Kundasang. I was like ....WHAT!! But this place really a great place and I myself recommend you guys readers to go there if you have some time.


Desa Dairy Farm - the largest in Sabah with an area of 199 hectares, is located at the Mesilau Plateau, Kundasang about 30 minutes drive from Mt.Kinabalu National Park. The green meadows stretching all over the area was so refreshing at 2100 meters above sea level. We arrived just in time for the milking process. Hundreds of cows were rounded up for milking.

It was amazing that to see cows lining up or rather queuing up to the milking station without being guided. They knew exactly what to do!
And for the record, not just cows, but you also can see horses in here too!

My friends bought a few packages of this milk for home

Yes of course we take some picture of us

That's all of us hehehe

Look at those cows at the back...HA! they surely had good time too!

After a good long hours in Desa Dairy Farm and a few photos, we went back down the hill and directly toward the 3rd stop in our trip which are and finally the Kundasang War Memorial. The Kundasang War memorial was split into 4 garden - the Australian Garden, the English Garden, the Borneo Garden and the Contemplation Garden Pool.

Check it out!

Joyful moment

Before I continue, please grab some snack and drinks and enjoy the post. During the day we had so much fun, everyone was tired, so we went to our place of stay which are D'Villa Rina Ria Lodge, Kinabalu Park ~ Kundasang...That place was really COLD!! Okay I'm a girl who live in a tropic country and going to somewhere cold really doesn't suits me well...(Mommyyyy...) Ngeh...guest no choice after all.

Same room with my twins sister, we're very lucky our bed are much bigger than the 3 of our friends..hehehehe
Dinners was prepared by our friend Gary Ting, who handles all the chicken and sausages helped by Azmi, hmm...loyal friends I guest. Poor Gary Ting that he had to face the heat as well.
Ha ~ when everybody was preparing for dinner, suddenly our lecturer a.k.a friend pop out in the middle of us and I was really suprised when I look at him. They said he's been cycling from K.K to Kundasang. WHOA!!
And yes we had dinner together, jokes, drinks, and everything... really fun though. Usually the only entertainment for me was reading books and singing inside my bedroom but actually it take more than that. Thanks to all my friends. Joy moment will not last forever but the memories surely does. Me and my twins went to bed at 1:30am in the morning.

Continue in Part II

13 days to Christmas !

Christmas is the time to have fun with your near ones. Tickle the funny bones of your friends by cracking these funny jokes in the Christmas party and have a good laugh. Enjoy!

Why does Santa always go down the chimney?
Because it soots him!


What do snowmen eat for breakfast?
Snowflakes.



Why does Santa like to work in his garden?
Because he likes to hoe, hoe, hoe!



What do you call someone who doesn't believe in Father Christmas?
A rebel without a Claus!



What's red & white and red & white and red & white?
Santa rolling down a hill!



What nationality is Santa Claus?
North Polish!


What does Santa get if he gets stuck in a chimney?
Claustrophobic!



What would you call Father Christmas if he became a detective?
Santa Clues!


Where do elves go to vote?
The North Poll.



And finally here is a detail of the Clause family.


St. Nicholas is the main Claus. His wife is a relative Claus. His children are dependent Clauses. Their Dutch uncle is a restrictive Claus. As a group, they're all renouned Clauses. Santa's elves are subordinate Clauses.

Kudat Field Trip Part IV

 Our destination at the most beautifull place ever in Sabah....Welcome to The Tips of Borneo Everyone!!

On our way to the famous landmarks at the Tips of Borneo....WHOOSH!!

Look at the sea....AH ~~ the breeze....so calm and relax

The view really are beautifull...

Blue sky and gentle wave...

Beautifull people and friends...always with you no matter who you are...

Yup,that's me!!

This is our last destination for the trip...really enjoying every moment of it.....

Double Satoimo ( Taro Root) with miso

Satoimo (taro root)is in season right now in Japan .
Although satoimo is available year round these days, it’s still considered a harbinger of the fall season, because of its dense, homey texture. This way of preparing them is a variation of on a very traditional country recipe, the Japanese name for which is satoimo no tomo ae, or satoimo dressed with itself. This just means that some mashed up satoimo is mixed into the sauce that coats the satoimo pieces, giving it a wonderfully creamy texture.

Kudat Field Trips Part II

Hello everyone, I'm just back from Kudat.
Ahhh...what an experiences I had way back from that place....tired yet so many sweet and great memories I'd gain from the trip fields and it's all with my fellow classmate. Cheers to all memories!

Okay on the way to our first destination, well you know how everybody was really excited about it.... some of my classmate even bought a guitar and play it along the journey. Well actually I never thought she was good in playing the guitar. Yup SHE. Who can resist good music from your friends and fall asleep? The journey to our firt destination takes about 2 hour from Kota Kinabalu. Thats a really long journey you know. As far as I remember, there's like three bus for this trip and of course DTM and DHM must stick together, right?

Okay back to topics, first destination was the Gombizou Honeybee Farm located in Matunggong, Kudat. You can read about this place in Sabah Tourism webpage. Sorry no picture for but I promise I'll include some picture later. We've some research by interviewing the people who manage the honeybee farm...the thing makes me itchy about this place was all the bees surrounding the lady who demonstrate about the honey-making...Ha I shoot some picture and run away from that place. Same goes to my sister too, we really hate bugs and all that stuff since we're little kid.
There's also honey that already been process and sold around....I think the big bottle was RM100, medium sized bottle was RM32 and the small one was RM14. After the honeybee, we went to the house where they present us their traditional dance called "Mogigol dance". And guest what I got the chance dancing with them. Although its a little embarassing, but hey let just think this way, the next time go there you won't be to dance with them because all the dancer ...in their golden age. So its worth it.

Next, we went to our second destination which are the great Gong Makaing Factory which was the place for the Rungus people makes it muscial instrument which played durinf festivities and even weddings. According to the villagers, the place has been part of World Record which I think really amazing. Such a cultural and tradition that still exist till today and still continuing the great living tradition from the past.
This place located not far from the Gombizou Honeybee Farm where it only takes about 5 minutes from there.Before we leave, they present us with 2 traditional dances which are the " Manaradan" and "Mogigol" at the Sumangkap Village community Hall. Same with the previous one but just a bit different actually. Then we went to another house where Ms Rohana demonstrate on how to make the gong. She brief us all about 15 minutes on how to measure the surface before you actually can knock it, how many inches for the center ( its 3 inches for sure..). She said that it takes about 3 days to get the goong-making done. So its kinda a lot of work you know. All the goong are label acccording to numbers. We also went to the biggest goong (20 feet high) and its was really awsome.
We take a lot of picture with friends plus the goong itself. So great that the big goong will never fall down when there's strong wind blowing it.( except for apocolypse I think) Fun moment!

Next destination, we went to the Bavanggazoo(Rungus Longhouse), a very long house made of natural material such as bamboo and some straw. Funny things happen here, when we first arrive at the place we found the right longhouse, but somebody I don't know who,Shout from the back of our group and told us we get the wrong longhouse, we supposed to climb the hill 10 minutes away from that place to get to the right place. So we all climb the hill but I run.... You should look at my face....tired but fun too.
At the longhouse, I take some picture of the Rungus people selling some cultural bracelet and stuff. GORGEOUS
The door if you pay a visit to the place, you'll notice that the doors or the rooms names are labels according to birds name. I was attracted to this traditional puzzle for the Rungus but I don't even remember the name the people told that once this game was take serious for the women ONLY in the village where if they cannot solve the puzzle, they won't be able to get married. Hmmm....interesting. But my future doesn't depend on that thing for god sake!
And yes, they present with similar dance and some my friends are dancing too but one thing for sure attract when the old lady present a song by playing the flutes using her nose. Yes, her NOSE!!! She played graceful and delicated. I was like amaze by that, well some my friend are asleep (silly pig... ).
We can't get to Tamu Kudatbecause we're running out off time. Ngeh...

Next stop, Our resting place...its not some fancy hotel or something but good enough for us to sleep in. This what people said " back to basic" hehehehe . Okay I was group with my sister and two friends ( Micheal L. and Marilyn K.)which I think really great because their really nice people. 3 hour rest fine with me but I don't know the other including my sister. We then at 7.30p.m played a game ( passing puzzle )which was so....okay so lame but quite fun if you played with all total 70 plus of student in one night!
There few student incharge in this game where a cup of glass full of water was passing around in a circle of student with some music playing. And if the music stop or the water from the glass splash when you trying passing it, you'll get some punishment that totally embarrasing you. Ha ~~ I've once get the punishment by shuffling in front of everybody. But not for this trip! No way!
Funny thing was there's a girl were been punish by counting all the star and you know what she kept counting it. Hello ~~ just say crazy things like its has 8 billion star or something but she kept counting, counting and counting. Good luck with that! I'm really hungry at the time so I was just going with the flow.

After activity has ended, some student went into their room and some stil hanging around or having late night snack or something. Micheal went to dinner with Ah Tee and Vincent and my sister are just went straight back to our room. As for me, I went to department store with my friend Marilyn K. I bought food some cup instant noodles for me and my sister and for the dessert, just cocoa pie are enough good enough for your hungry little tummy!
Same goes to Marilyn K.
15 minutes after we came back to our room, we eat and done some talk in our room. Girls talk! Then Micheal and the boys went to the room which makes me quite suprised! Dull moment arose so us girl put make up to those 2 boys. Well the boys look so funny when their in make up especially Vincent whose face really looks like a girl!! All I can says was he's face looks pretty ugly but cute.
Surely I had lot of fun that night....in a good way of course!
It was fun and tiring, so I slept early eventhought I actually can't sleep over there....


 
To be Continue in Part III