Funny how sometimes opportunity pops into your door.  Danum Valley is one of THE place that I fancied visiting.  It is in my list of must-go.  I was offered a place in a limited Environmental Education Course participation from the 11th-14th this month.   Actually I was called in to replace a friend who couldn't attend.  

My luck.  

The planned activities were interesting, on paper.  However, due to unforeseen circumstances, most of the activities were not carried out.  There was early morning bird-watching session.  And oh.. the 3.2km hike to Tembaling Waterfalls.  

With Japora inside the hostel

At Tembaling Falls

(picture courtesy of Mona and her amazing Canon camera)

***************

The Annual Staff Dinner was held in Grand Borneo 1B on the 2nd November.  I did my best scouting for a red dress to wear during the dinner since the theme for this year is Glamorous in Red.  Hah.. mine is color closer to orange.  This was the only 'safe' design I could find that fit my size.. (cuz dang.. I put on some unwanted pounds)

I had decided to go to Ramlah's for the make-up and hair.  Just felt like looking different that night.  And I did look different.  With the fake eyelashes and the curled hair, I felt like a retro HongKong artist. :)

There was lucky draw that night (which I think shouldn't be dubbed so, as all who attended went home with a gift).  The only lucky element in the lucky draw was the kind of gift that you won.  Some went home with tupperware containers, some with stainless steel cooking pans, hampers (foodstuff) and the most expensive was a night's stay at Berjaya Palace.  I went home with a hamper.

Oh well...

jalan-jalan cuci mata

I was contemplating on where to eat for breakfast today last night (talk about planning..)and was sorely tempted to find that TOmYam place again in Sinsuran. I thought about the jam and the difficulty in finding a parking space and what other sane reason to go to that neck of the woods other than just to sample the TomYam one more time.. and slept on it.
This morning I woke up nearly 8 and immediately thought of the TomYam. That's it, I thought! I had drifted off into sleep last night thinking of doing my credit card pay-ups today via on foot. How? Park at one spot and walk around KK!
Ok. So I drove off to KK.. around 9-ish I was already around the SInsuran blocks, doing my first round for parking search. I have this thing about parking and going to a particular place..if I'm meant to go and have a looksee at a place, parking would find me. If not, then i should go find at somewhere else. So, if i was meant to eat TomYam today, a car would vacate a parking spot for me. Which..on the 2nd try.. a car did. Great!
I had my Tomyam..and thought..the one in Beverly HIlls is spicier, had more ingredients in it..much bigger bowl.. but this one was just right.

Noted the 'Mongolian chicken' stall in the same kedai and made a mental note to get a tapau from there when I got back.
After breakfast, I walked. Walked past the Bank Negara. Walked across the streets to the Aussie Monument. Walked pass the Menumbok/Beaufort Bus Station. Walked across the streets again towards the DBKK building. Then walked the length of the blocks of building at Gaya St. and went to do my business with all the banks that my wallet is painfully attached to. And walked some more.. and finally finished my monthly errands at Standard Chartered.
And then scooted over to the new shopping centre. Suria. So not crowded I could rollerblade inside there and be the happy gilmore. I spotted this signboard that spelled out TIMES BOOKSTORE and my heart gave a leap! Oh yea... promising! and went over to the escalators. I could smell the glue and new books(really now..) from the moment i stepped off the moving stairs. The staff were uniformly in black Tee-s and pants. I was in black Tee-s too..hey..
So, i walked two steps into heaven, i mean, the store and paused and surveyed my surroundings. hmm... might recall that heaven bit for a while.. Ok laarr ( i opined)... and noticed this section next to the counter. I can't recall what the books there were housed under.. but I of course zeroed in on the ones within eye level. Lo and behold!... there..right there.. was the book i'd been looking for for so long. I'd already read it... but didn't buy it then for reasons i can't quite fathom.. There... Ken Follet's Pillars of the Earth. Such an epic of a novel it is. Reading it is comparable (at least to me) to having this sumptuous feast of all the delicacies that satisfy the five senses..and burping(oh i beg your pardon) with the gratitude of being sated afterwards. But of course I must have the book now. Called up Yus to ask if she managed to find the book 'cuz much as i love the book, having two would be most unacceptable. Bought it I did. Yess... And yea.. chatted with the boy ( i feel so ancient that i must call this boy a boy) who was manning the counter. Asked him where the local writer section was, perchance the other book i was looking for would be around. He was like this shy puppy hesitant to please the master as he pointed towards where I might find books by local writers. If i didn't gently ask for the balance money for the book i bought, he'd've ushered me to the said shelves. The book, in addition to the membership fee (Yes, i'm a store member now.. can get discounts next visit) cost RM43.63. So I gave the cute puppy RM53.60. All the while I was making small chitchats with him. He punched in the numbers and took out a few notes...which i noticed weren't supposed to be that much given back to me.. He looked a bit lost and was about to push back the slot when I interrupted his thoughts... 'just 10 ringgit'. He wavered a bit.. i smiled and counted the maths with him... i think he punched in the wrong numbers..and he gave an embarrassed smile and said 'sorry, bingung-bingung ni..'. aluuu...
After paying, he did show me the shelves where the supposed books of local writers can be had. Hmm... extensive not at all. oh well, got what i wanted. and went out of the bookstore and out of the building.
And walked across the street towards Wisma Sabah. Went into that tunnel-like corridor and walked on. Now I think i've passed through this corridor a few times before but i've never until then noticed this small shop where local traditional ethnic costumes were displayed and sold(apparently). This being a curious day, I followed my curiousity and walked in. I was greeted by this very friendly lady whom i later found out was named Lina Angkat. Very forthcoming with her conversation and information. Found out a lot of things today from her.
And so...(being long-winded today), I walked into Wisma Merdeka, went into this jewellry store, found out the girl behind the counter was a former student, got myself another hematite ring, bought some unripe slices of mangos and thought that was that.
I resumed my walk back to Sinsuran and back to my car. It was nearly 1pm. Just before going to my car, I returned to that restaurant where I had my TomYam breakfast and tapau-ed a chicken rice for lunch. Went to my car, and went home.
Interesting day today. I just might make this a monthly affair.

Weekender

JulietPapaGolf and his wife, Elizabeth participated in the recent Sabah Darts Open Championship recently. Mona and I were around to watch them, Elizabeth at least. This was held at Nexus, Karambunai Beach Resort. They didn't win, but dapat certificate la.

Mahal tu...

iklan minuman? or iklan gigi?

Elizabeth: Sedang membujak

Visitor sakai..

After that, Mona and I went jalan-jalan at 1Borneo. Mona, the Nike fan, bought herself a Nike water bottle. Ni la... fan betul.. sampai water bottle pun Nike brand.

For makan, Mona suggested we go to NewYorkNewYork. I wanted to try the Lambshanks...

no luck. The lambchops pun no luck. Ada di menu...tapi daging habis. Adaka...
So, I had the Irish potato salad and Spaghetti Bolognase with Giant Meatballs.

Mona had smoked salmon salad and Chicken Chops. For drinks I had Strawberry shakes.

Mona's main meal... Chicken chops

Mona ordered the Giant rootbeer float.

Ok la juga. I thought my potato salad dressing was a tad salty. Mona said her salmon was a bit salty juga. I couldn't finish my spaghetti oo... oiyo... sayang juga tidak finish. Very filling..
Next time maybe pigi cuba the Chinese food over at the other end of the same floor.

Pesta Kobis Kundasang 2008

Last Saturday, me and the girls were at Kundasang for the Pesta Kobis. Before we went to see the Kobis (Cabbages), we took time to watch the 4 X 4 Challenge.

So exciting pulak watching these cars going all out
in powerful modified engines.. Revving through rough and

slippery terrains. Mona was clapping hands whenever the

4 X 4 managed to get over the obstacles.

Mighty car stuck in the mud

the 'illegal' spectators atop the 'baku-baku'



Later on, we stopped by the Kundasang War Memorial. Beautiful gardens inside.

Mona and Mer in front of the entrance.

Don't know the name of this three.. unique though..
with batik-like bark..


'I'm dreaming of Australia, the land we left behind, Dreaming of loved ones-we could always bear in mind. Although its only fancy Our hearts within us yearn. But we'll make up for lost moments-When to Aussie we return.

There'd be sailing on the harbour, the showboat our first choice. Or maybe we'd be dancing-Listening to our sweetheart's voice. Although its only fancy Our hearts within us yearn. But we'll make up for lost moments-When to Aussie we return.'

'This memorial garden is dedicated to the memory of 1,800 Australian and 600 British servicemen who perished in the P.O.W camps in Sandakan and in the three forced marches from Sandakan to Ranau, and of the many Sabahans who suffered death in trying to assist them.

In Sandakan

From Sandakan to Ranau

1944-1945

"Let them not depart from thine eyes, keep them

in the midst of thine heart."

inside the English Garden

me-teva

mona-teva

mer-power

Charlie's Angels

tiang..sukar dilepaskan

fresh produce

bagus ni kalu buli angkat pulang

sebelah lagi besar
Uuh..bekalan 1 bulan

tukang peluk kobis

The Kobis Girls

Mansau-ansau

The angels trio...or charlie's angels...hehehe...whose the Charlie now?
Well, a trip with Mona's D-max took us to Tambunan and Keningau on Saturday. I wanted to see the Batu Gong in Tambunan but we missed the simpang. We have this one friend who said she was in Tambunan for 6 months but tidak pun tau where the Batu Gong was... We did have a brief visit to Datu Paduka Mat Salleh Memorial Park though.

When we reached Keningau, heheh... the same friend could point out the many happy spots to visit (nite happy spots) kan Mer kan?...
We had lunch at Permata Club for want of a good atmosphere where there was air-con. Unfortunately after we had sat down our tired buns then we were told the air-con was't really working. Anyway, the food was ok. I liked my carrot susu juice.
Later after lunch, we met julietpapagolf at RedBulls. He and Elizabeth(the Mrs) are apparently the regular patrons of RedBulls. They even won the men and women's dart competition recently. Huu....bestnya husband & wife sama wavelength.

julietpapagolf's jalopy antenna...really reaching for the sky oo...

I tried my hands at dart. heheh...ada jugala yang landed on the dart board itself. Played a couple of games of pool with Elizabeth. Punya lama tidak pigang pool stick... the balls were hit all over the table.

me--the beginner

sifu : gini baa...

It was fun catching up with julietpapagolf. He's taking KDP now. Found out also some other friends are also in the KDP.
We had so much fun catching up with old funny stories that it was almost 7 when we started our journey back to Tambunan to go beraya at Tn DJ's place. Somewhere simpang Sg. Monsurulung. Today I found out that it used to be the old road connecting Tambunan to Keningau. Adventurous road oo going to Tn DJ's residence. Tabik la sama Savvy Julietpapagolf.
Tn DJ greeted us open armed. It was so good to see him again. I bet Mona and Mer would agree too. It was such a homey atmosphere. There were already many visitors there. Chatting and laughing and enjoying themselves. And the food, chicken curry was just nice, the rendang I regretably didn't take as my gums were quietly protesting against it. I did take the Kelupis - a type of steamed starchy rice with santan. Almost like lemang but wrapped in a kind of leaf, not steamed in bamboo. I took two packets of Kelupis as I wanted to concentrate later on the Kuih Raya. Mer helped herself liberally with the kelupis and chicken curry. I know sadap ba tu.. I would have rivalled you Mer tapi tau la... gigi macam mana... hahahaha...

Kelupis.. sedap...
Oh ya, the kuih raya..makmur, ulat bulu, dahlia, kuih kelapa, almond london (tangan tidak sampai huhu...) batang buruk, kacang-kacangan, kek lapis... huih...so many types. All delicious i'd say.
Chit chat chit chat... Tengok tengok... it was nearly 8pm.. It was nearly 10 something I arrived at Sierra and 11 something for Mer to reach home safe an sound. All in all it was a good outing. Next plan. Sayap Waterfalls maybe?

Kipandi Butterfly Park

It's yet another Sunday. Instead of going to the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, i decided to go to Kipandi Butterfly Park. Lok Kawi zoo is having another open day. It surely will be packed with tourists local and non-local. Texted Mona if she was at home. She said she was going to the zoo with some kids at 2pm. Told her that I wanted to visit the butterfly park. She asked me to swing by around 10.

So, around 10.20 I arrived. Off we went to Kipandi Butterfly Park (KBP). From Inobong, it wasn't that far going to KBP. Very beautiful la the scenery!! The entrance fee is RM10 per person, and it's open daily (including public hols) from 9-4.30 (i think). A very helpful staff gave us a tour of the place. Quiet and shy, Moidi, his name was. A local from Kg. Kipandi itself. "Dakat ruma sia. Tidak jau mo jalan.' the nice boy said.

There was the insect museum where local and non-local insects were showcased. There was the butterfly enclosure. Then there were two orchid gardens. Hehehe... Mona went around saying,' ini di ruma sia ada, itu pun. Ini lagi gumuk di ruma.." heheh.. buli buat taman juga tu di ruma ko o...

Took some pics. Not as professional as I would like it to be but here they are.

Looks like something the Scouts tied together with sticks and strings...

Me: Sia mau trabang macam ni na..

Mona: Ko saja ka? Sia pun ba..

Birds' Nest Ferns (Paku Langsuyar) and Stag's Horn Ferns (Tanduk Rusa)

Orchids and orchids... Mona taking a closer look at the young orchids.

"Ni macam ada di ruma ja ni.."

View of the coast from Kipandi Hills