The Mamutik Episode

I got my Open Water Diver license in 2005. The underwater world fascinates me so but somehow through lack of planning and perseverance, I've only managed to dive only twice since then.
So, in an effort to revive this interest, I've decided to go to Mamutik Island for a fun dive, tomorrow.
I am almost ashamed of myself. A self-confessed water-baby and I don't make the effort to do justice to this title?
Oooo.. tomorrow's going to be interesting!

This is a copied image from the net. Mamutik Island, smallest of all 5 Tunku Abdul Rahman Park Islands, and the nearest to the mainland as well.

L 3

To the owner of this car, the story I'm about to tell is in no way meant to make fun or discredit you. :) ..the car is one of the 'character' in the story.

This story was told to me by my mum, who was told the story by my dad, who was told the story by some other friends. It's possible that the story is true since there's only one car with this plate number in KK. Or...it could've been a tall tale meant liven up a gathering. Or it was made up.. whatever the case, here's one version of it.

So, this story is supposed to have happened more than 30 years ago. Cars were scarce on the road since only the ones with more financial means were the ones who owned cars. Pedestrians were all around the roads too, giving no heed to the cars driving by and those who came down from the kampongs sometimes didn't know what to make of the cars that passed by.
This good fellow from kampong decided to go down town to KK, or Api-Api as Kota Kinabalu was called in those days (some people still call KK by that name now). He was walking down a road when this car with this plate number came too near to him. Or he might have gone too near the car. Anyway, this fellow was so indignant at nearly been hit by this car. He took note of the number and marched towards the police statine.
Now this fellow, who(in the story)reportedly only knew the numbers 7 and 8 in the Malay language. So, he indignantly went to this police officer and said he wanted to make a report. A car had nearly run him over! So the officer asked him for the plate number. The fellow then provided the number as best as he could. Mind you, he only knew the numbers 7 and 8. The officer asked him to repeat the plate number. Again the fellow obliged. The officer asked him to say the numbers one more time and the fellow who was getting impatient, repeated the plate numbers. The officer was almost near losing his temper when he suddenly realised what the fellow was saying. Comprehension dawned and he laughed long and hard.
The fellow had said, "Tujuh tabalik, lapan tidak siap." (seven upside down, eight half-finished).

Sabah Dragon Boat (2nd day)

All pictures courtesy of Freddie A.J (Fred'sAngles)

Radio Communication on board (Race starting point)

Mr. Bonnie

Readyyyy???...Look at the inconsistent rowing... heheh novice paddlers..

Mona, me, Art

Sabah Dragon Boat

Pictures courtesy of Fred'sAngles(Freddie A.J)

Kayak race (organized by Sabah Canoe Association)

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?

Malaysia Day

Historically, Sabah and Sarawak joined Persekutuan Tanah Melayu on the 16th to form Malaysia. So, Happy Malaysia Day 2008. Let's make it work.

Kantin Kem Malangang

After being over-run by wild running river during last month's flash flood, the canteen is now going under reconstruction. (clap! clap! clap! clap! clap!...)

Say what?

Saw these three tags on some plants the other day while walking around Gaya St.. I guess some people have different ways of pronouncing certain plants..

"Pokok Godungdung"
"Pokok Apal Hijau" and "Bulasan"

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

Hikity Hike

I said previously I'd go to Kiulu again, didn't I?
Well, of course I did.
It had rained so heavily yesterday that Putrajaya, Bakut, Telipok and some other unfortunate location were flooded. However, today proved to be a good day. By 8am I was already at Camp. Kiulu river had overflowed its banks oo.. Sad to say the flying fox tower will not be operable for some time (until repaired). Biut the beam atas! Punya la kuat the wind last night.

the bent beam...

the uprooted tree where the 'postal' was anchored to

Anyway, after breakfast which consisted of fried rice and ikan masin, with Chicken Soup Lihing and Kopi Tenom ping (all courtesy of Mona), we started the 'operasi riki air terjun'.

Let's see... we started off about 8.25 am. Walking by padi fields, and later padi bukit fields..

Merenih, Melissa, Me, and Mona

taking a short break..

charlie's angels (kaki jalan)

Teva (me)

Teva (mona)

no brand (apa gia brand slipar ko, mer? heheheh.. )

one of the 3 rivers we had to pass through before reaching the air terjun

We reached the waterfalls around 9.35 am., about an hour and a half later. We passed by paddy hills, hiked up and down ladang getahs, 3 rivers and... look what we found.

Fewitt...

lagi fewitt... the air terjun further up..

close up

sifu...mo pikir apa tu...?

kanak-kanak terlebih umur main air...

the other waterfall on the left hand side.