Sabah, The Land Below The Wind

Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its south-west. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south. In spite of its status as a Malaysian state, Sabah remains a disputed territory; the Philippines has a dormant claim over much of the eastern part of the territory. The capital of Sabah is Kota Kinabalu, formerly known as Jesselton. Sabah is known as "Sabah, negeri di bawah bayu", which means "Sabah, the land below the wind", because of its location just south of the typhoon-prone region around the Philippines. 

Double Six Monument (Kota Kinabalu, The Capital City)

The Double Six Monument is located in Sembulan, marking a significant tragedy in the history of Sabah. On June 6th, 1976, an airplane carrying Sabah’s fifth Chief Minister, Tun Mohd. Fuad Stephens and six other State ministers crashed, killing all on board. The Double Six monument was erected on the exact spot of the fatal crash.

Getting There
The monument is a 10-minute drive from Kota Kinabalu city. A taxi ride from the city centre will cost approximately RM15.00 (one way). Take Bus no. 17B (marked ‘Putatan’) from the bus station in front of Wawasan Plaza for RM1.50 per person (one way). Buses run from 6:30am to 8:00pm.

Sipadan Island (Semporna)

Sipadan is the only oceanic island in Malaysia, rising 600 metres (2,000 ft) from the seabed. It is located in the Celebes Sea east of the major town of Tawau and off the coast of Borneo, East Indonesia on the island of Borneo. It was formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct volcanic cone that took thousands of years to develop. Sipadan is located at the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin, the centre of one of the richest marine habitats in the world. More than 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in this ecosystem. Sipadan has been rated by many dive journals as one of the top dive destinations in the world.

Normally, rare diving scenes are frequently seen in the waters around Sipadan: schools of green and hawksbill turtles nesting and mating, schools of barracuda and big-eye trevally in tornado-like formations, pelagic species such as manta rays, eagle rays, scalloped hammerhead sharks and whale sharks.

A turtle tomb lies underneath the column of the island, formed by an underwater limestone cave with a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that contain many skeletal remains of turtles that become lost and drown before finding the surface.

Tamu Tamparuli (Tuaran)

Welcome to Tamparuli - home of the famous ‘Jambatan Tamparuli', a favourite folk song of theKadazandusun people of Sabah which tells of a hanging bridge and the story a young girl who accidentally loses her shoe while crossing. Located some 42km from Kota Kinabalu, Tamparuli holds its weekly tamu (market) every Wednesday in the town centre.

Like most tamu, this is the best place to watch the local folks mingle as they do business. Fresh produce is often on display, as well as a variety of unique delicacies such as bambangan (a sour mango-like fruit preserved in jars and often served to complement main meals) and rice wine, known as tapai or lihing. You can find just about anything here, from clothing to livestock - so it's sure to be a shopping experience like no other!

Held on
Wednesday at Tamparuli Town

Opening hours
Most ‘tamu' operate as early as 6am and close by 2pm

Getting there
Tamparuli is only 40 minutes by car from KK City. Take a bus from the bus station in front of Wawasan Plaza for RM3.00 per person per way. Be sure to communicate with the bus driver to indicate your drop-off point. The drop-off point is usually also the pick-up point for your return journey. Buses run from 7:30am to 5:00pm.

Tabin Wildlife Reserve (Lahad Datu)

Imagine a close encounter with wildlife as if starring in a National Geographic documentary; and getting in touch with Mother Nature in her purest, most untouched form-Tabin Wildlife Reserve gives you this and more.

Nestled amidst 120, 500 hectares of dipterocarp rainforest, Tabin Wildlife Reserve is home to various endangered wildlife such as the Borneo Pygmy elephant, the Sumatran rhino, Tembadau and exotic birdlife. Wildlife photography aficionados and birdwatching enthusiasts will find their visit to Tabin a truly priceless experience! 

Getting There
By Air

Daily flights connect Kota Kinabalu to Lahad Datu. Flight duration is about 1 hour. From Lahad Datu, a 1:15 hour drive, part of it on gravel road, will take you to Tabin.

By Road

• Kota Kinabalu to Lahad Datu (7 hours)
• Sandakan to Lahad Datu (4 hours)
• Tawau to Lahad Datu (4 hours)