RM 1.00

INSIDE: KK Jazz Festival, Traditional Games, Vote for Sipadan and more!

June 2009 Volume 100June 2009 Volume 100

Contents3 Happenings & Highlights

24th Sabah Dragon Boat RaceJazz FestivalTraditional Games1st Sabah State Music CampNews: -TYT Votes Sipadan

-Ongoing voting for Sipadan at Shopping Centres-Kadaiku launches Plush Toy Corner-World Enviroment Day-Dragon Inn Semporna Named Top 10 Floating-Resort in the World

6 Eating OutFrankincenseIkan Bakar Pasar Sim Sim

7 Places of InterestPromenade Hotel Tawau

8 Places of InterestTanjung Aru Bridal House

9 LeisureKK Heritage Walk

10 FeaturePom Pom Island Resort

12 Through The LensScenes of the Sabah Dragon Boat Race

14 CultureHistory of the Dragon Boat Race

15 Products of the Month at KadaikuSabah Souvenirs & Handicrafts

16 Bahasa Malaysia Section

18 Chinese Section

20 Japanese Section

22 Korean Section

24 Directory Listings

25 Sabah Map & Listings

26 Vote for Sipadan!

ADVISOR YBhg. Dato’ Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin / Sitti B. Damsal

EDITOR Melissa Leong

DESIGNER Trevor Thomson Brian Sean Gomic

Charlieking Padasian Faizal Jaini (Kadaiku Section)

PUBLISHER Sabah Tourism Board / Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn. Bhd.51 Gaya Street, 88000 Kota Kinabalu

TRANSLATORS Chin Yen Sang (Chinese) Rie Harada (Japanese) Emzee Lee (Korean) BM EDITOR Puan Hjh. Asmiah Ajamain, Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka

DESIGNED & PRINTED BY COVER BY CV Chong

Inna Kinabalu Sdn Bhd(Publisher of The New Sabah Times)Jalan Pusat Pembangunan Masyarakat, Sembulan88100 Kota Kinabalu

Every effor t has been made to ensure that the informat ion is correct at the time of publication. The publisher cannot be held responsible forany inaccuracies, omissions and alterations which may occur as a result of lastminute changes. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the Sabah Tourism Board.

Melissa LeongEditor

As the revelry of the Harvest Festivaldies down, we gear up for moreexciting activities coming our way as

June rolls around. The gliding of fiercedragons along the South China Seaaccompanied by the beating of Chinesedrums marks the Duan Wu or Dragon BoatFestival. Sabah has a strong Chinesecommunity and like many other festivals,we celebrate this with as much grandeuras possible! The most significant event inthe month of June is none other than theSabah Dragon Boat Race which takesplace on the 20th and 21st of June at theLikas Bay in Kota Kinabalu. Entering its24th year, the race continues to attractsome of the top Dragon Boat teams fromaround the world, including Indonesia,Japan, China, Australia, Singapore,Penang and the Philippines to name a few.It’s an exciting time of the year as LikasBay comes alive with ‘racing dragons’ anddancing lions! You won’t want to miss thisannual race.

It’s also the month go green and be nicerto Mother Nature as we celebrate WorldEnvironment Day. I had the immensepleasure of speaking with Shangri-La’sTanjung Aru Resort and Spa’s GeneralManager, Andrew Steele (p.3) who sharesmy passion for all things Sabah andagrees with the sentiment that one lessplastic bag with each purchase can go along way. Another easy tip is to carpool.Not only is it gentler on the environmentbut reduces the growing traffic jam woes!Join the World Environment Day pro-gramme at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park onthe 13th of June (see our Happenings &Higlights page for more details) and seehow you can play your part in keeping theearth clean and green. Also noteworthythis month is the KK Jazz Festival at theSutera Harbour Marina – Forget rock and

country ballads! Let loose with the suavesounds of jazz performed by internationaland local talents.

Be sure to check out the other sections ofour magazine such as the Places ofInterest and Eating Out for more ‘makan’ideas. Every month, we look forward tobring you the best of Sabah MalaysianBorneo. Need more help? Visit our TouristInformation Counters at the SabahTourism Board office along Jalan Gaya orat Sri Pelancongan Sabah in Sinsuran. InSandakan, swing by the Sandakan TouristInformation centre located in the heart ofthe city. From racing dragons to jazzy sessions, mark your calendar for anotherbusy month in Sabah. Make this a holidayto remember!

Message from the Editor

Traditional Games ExhibitionEvery Saturday and Sunday for themonth of June 2009Here’s your chance to try out some of thelittle-known traditional games of Sabah.From congkak to bamboo-stilt walking,many of these unique games are stillfavourites and often played in the kampong (village) areas. Organiser:Monsopiad Cultural VillageTime: 9:00 am – 5:00 pmFor further info:Monsopiad Cultural VillageTel: 088 774337, 761336Fax: 088 761680Email: info@monsopiad.com

Kaamatan Festival National LevelOpen House7 June 2009Join the festivities of the Ka’amatan orHarvest Festival at a grand scale right hereat the University Malaysia Sabah. Beentertained by a variety of stage perform-ances, sample local fare and indulge in themerriment. Everyone is invited!Organiser:Ministry of Information, Communicationand Culture For further info: Puan Ruhani Binti Mamat,Ministry of Information, Communicationand CultureTel: 012 306 5762

1st Sabah State Music Camp8 – 13 June 2009Open to students and adults, the campincludes full ensemble rehearsals, section-als, master classes, tutorials, music

appreciation classes, chamber musiccoaching (for more advanced students)and ample supervised practice time.Participants will be able to focus what theylike best, to take casual interest or seriously study technique and theory.Organiser:Jesselton Philharmonic OrchestraFor further info:Yap Ling (Conductor)Tel: 088 722230, 016 8333034 (Alice), 0128203733 (Yap Ling)Fax: 088 722230Email: jporchestra@gmail.com

Music Camp Concert8 June 2009The Music Camp Concert is the finale performed by the participants of the 1stSabah State Music Camp held for 5 daysprior to the concert. The concert willShowcase the talent outcomes of theJesselton Philharmonic Orchestra’s musiccamp which was held in an effort to contribute to the culture and musicalgrowth of the local community.Organiser:Jesselton Philharmonic OrchestraFor further info: Yap Ling (Conductor)Tel: 088 722230, 016 8333034 (Alice), 012 8203733 (Yap Ling)Fax: 088 722230Email: jporchestra@gmail.com

Remembering Double Six6 June 2009Ceremonies to commemorate the ‘DoubleSix’ tragedy in which some of the State’stop leaders were killed in a plane crash onthe 6th of June 1976. The event takesplace at the Double Six Monument inGrace Point, Sembulan.Organiser:Kota Kinabalu City HallFor further info: Syron TunggolouTel: 088 521800Fax: 088 316137

Environmental Week by the MalaysianAssociation of Hotels, Sabah Chapter13 June 2009Various activities are organized during theenvironmental week, which includes acompetition to build rafts made of recyclable materials, a myriad of environ-mental projects by individual hotels and aconservation programme for the public.Organiser:Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH),Sabah/Labuan ChapterFor further info: Tulip NoorazyzeTel: 088 227880 Fax: 088 244871Email: Tulip.Noorazyze@shangri-la.com

World Environment Day13 June Swing by the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park thisJune and be a part of World EnvironmentDay! Activities include tree-planting, adrawing competition for school childrenand a treasure hunt. Visitors can also learnstep-by-step garden composting methods.Enjoy 50 percent off the Wildlife Park’sentrance fee in conjunction with WorldEnvironment Day.Organiser: Sabah Wildlife DepartmentFor further info:Tel: +6088-215353 / 214442 Fax: +6088-222476E-mail: jhlsabah@tm.net.my

Sandakan Festival21 June 2009The annual Sandakan Festival takes offwith the official launching ceremony,organized by the Sandakan MunicipalCouncil. The festival was introduced in theyear 2000 as means to promote the manytourism attractions Sandakan has to offer.Organiser:Sandakan Municipal CouncilFor further info: Catherin ChuaTel: 089 224026Fax: 089 272112, 213452, 274659Email:Catherin.Chua@sabah.gov.my

3rd KK Jazz Festival19 – 20 June 2009Groove and sway to thesounds of international andlocal jazz acts for 2 days at theSutera Harbour Marina TennisClub from 6:30pm onwards.The event aims to build uplocal talents and boost theinterest and participation in theperforming arts scene of KotaKinabalu. Performers includeUK-based Son2nos and homegrown talents DoubleTake and Jonathan Ngu.

Organiser:Society of Performing Arts Kota Kinabalu,Sabah (SPARKS)For further info:Datuk Adeline Leong (President)George Ngui (Organizing Chairman)Tel: 019 8539922 (Datuk Adeline), 088230245 Fax: 088 222985Email: adeline@iec.com.my,kuangkee@yahoo.com, sparksmalaysia@gmail.com

24th Sabah Dragon Boat Race 200920 – 21 June 2009A traditional Chinese event that evolvedfrom myths and legends that has growninto one of the main highlights of the year.This exciting race has attracted manyteams from as far as Australia, HongKong, Japan, China and Brunei.Organisers:Sabah Tourism BoardSri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn BhdSabah Chinese Culture AssociationFor further info:Zachary S. MobijohnTel: 088 232121, 260431Fax: 088 265540, 219401Email: zachary@sabahtourism.com

Sandakan Founding Day21 June 2009An event to commemorate the daySandakan was established in 1879.Organised by the Sandakan MunicipalCouncil, this is the third year SandakanFounding Day is celebrated.Organiser: Sandakan Municipal CouncilFor further info:Secretary of Sandakan Municipal CouncilTel: 089 273994Fax: 089 272112, 274659, 213452Email: Catherin.Chua@sabah.gov.my

Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen’s Day25 – 28 June 2009An annual event running for the 10th consecutive year held at the PadangBandaran Sandakan, held over four dayswith many exhibitions and sales of highland and lowland fresh vegetables,tropical fruits, herbs, flowers, seafood andlocal handicrafts. Everyone is invited!Organiser:Ministry of Agriculture and Food IndustryFor further info: D’Jamil KamarudinTel: 088 283688, 019 8604535Fax: 088 234834

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You can take the man out of Sabahbut with Andrew Steele, it seemslike you can never take Sabah out of

the man. Having been in Sabah between2003 to early 2005, Andrew is back on ourshores and could not be happier. “I lovethis place. I have always had a strongaffinity for Sabah. In fact, I was probably aSabahan in my previous life!”

Now serving as the General Managerof Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort andSpa (STARs), Andrew’s career of almost20 years literally spans the globe. HongKong, Shanghai, Xi’an, Taipei, Koh Samui,Hayman Island, Jakarta and New Delhi arejust some of the locations Andrew hasfound himself in, but he asserts none ofthem quite live up to Kota Kinabalu. “Theysay you don’t know heaven if you’ve neverbeen to hell and Sabah is definitely heaven! Some of my postings have beenhellish and emotionally confronting, sobeing back here is a breath of fresh air,” hesays.

Andrew is impressed with the changeshe sees here in Sabah. “From theWaterfront to 1Borneo, it is apparent thatKK continues to grow and prosper. Butmore importantly, I am impressed at howthe City is really starting to ‘clean up’. Andfor this, I give credit to the Mayor for all hisefforts,” he says, adding that Datuk IlyasIbrahim’s background as the formerCommissioner of Police gives him the dis-cipline, dedication and motivation to turnKK into the city it is today. “Our next bigchallenge is cleaning up the sea and riverswhich are often littered with plastic bagsand the like,” says Andrew, who is also theChairperson for the Malaysian Associationof Hotels (MAH) Safety, Security andEnvironment Committee. In fact, as part oftheir Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR), STARs ‘adopts’ schools in Kota

Kinabalu to be part of the environmentalawareness programmes, and clean-up sessions or gotong-royong are organised atTanjung Aru’s First Beach. “We work hand inhand with local communities and assist ineducation efforts,” he adds. The resort alsoadopts four children from the Sri MengasihSchool, a school for children with specialneeds, sponsoring their education for a year.

Andrew cannot stress enough how heloves all things Sabah. “You have such adiversification of offerings. From dive sites toMount Kinabalu and your rainforests areamazing. But most of all, you have the mostwonderful people. With all this, other destinations pale in comparison with whatSabah has to offer,” he enthuses, adding thathis recent trip to Danum Valley was one ofthe most unforgettable experiences duringhis time here. His passion for Sabah has ledhim together with their sister resort, Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort in Tuaran, toteam up and package the best of Sabah.“The General Manager of Rasa Ria, TimothyWright, is simply excellent to work with. Weare coming up with packages that allow visitors to have the complete BorneoExperience. For example, they can enjoy thesun, sea and city life during a 3-night stay inSTARs and get up close with the Orang Utanand other wildlife at Rasa Ria for another 3nights. It’s the best of both worlds,” heexplains. He also mentions plans to worktogether with Yayasan Sabah to bring gueststo Danum Valley as part of this package.

“We don’t want visitors to come to Sabahand laze by the pool every day! We wantthem to get out there, visit the islands, trekthe rainforests and meet the wonderful people so that they get a real feel of Sabah,”he says.

Andrew concludes by saying apart fromtheir goal to be positioned as a premier resortin the state alongside with Rasa Ria, he sincerely hopes to play a part in puttingSabah where she belongs: as one of the top10 destinations in the world. “We want Sabahto be on everyone Bucket List – a placewhere you MUST go at least once in yourlife,” he explains. “But once you’re here I urgeyou to get out, explore and even walk into acoffee shop and you will be surprised at howopen and friendly Sabahans are,” he adds.Andrew’s dedication also lies in continuallyimproving the environment, “Sabah is trulybeautiful, but paradise remains paradise provided its taken care of.” He ends the interview with a smile, “I think Marco Polo gotits wrong when he said Hangzhou was heaven. That title belongs to Sabah.”

Sabah’s Man of SteeleAndrew Steele General Manager of Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa

“ “

“I love this place. Ihave always had astrong affinity forSabah. In fact, Iwas probably aSabahan in my previous life!”

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Fast and furious dragons glide over the South China Sea to the poundingof drums this June during the 24th Sabah Dragon Race. The Dragon

Boat Festival or Duan Wu, which originates from China and dates back tothe 4th century, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunarcalendar. This is when the Chinese pay homage to their ancestors andappease the Dragon (Controller of the Water) to ensure adequate rainfall toripen their crops. The race also commemorates the Chinese poet and countryman, Qu Yan who threw himself into Milo River to commit suicide.People began to row out in boats to search for his body and they threw ricedumplings into the river to console his spirit. The throwing of dumplings orchung tze into the sea is now a symbolic gesture and marks the start of theevent each year.

Initiated by the Sabah Chinese Cultural Association (SCCA) 23 yearsago, the Race was placed under the responsibility of the Sabah TourismBoard in 1996. The race was then briefly under the organization of theMinistry of Youth & Sports in the years 2002 and 2003 but is now (since2004) back in the hands of the Sabah Tourism Board with the support of theSCCA.

This year, some 50 teams are expected to participate, both local and foreign, including teams from Brunei, Kalimantan, Singapore and China.Teams will be vying for nine trophies:

• Sabah Head Of State Trophy – International & Top Malaysian Men’s Teams• Sabah Chief Minister Trophy – Malaysian Men’s Teams• Sabah Dragon Trophy – International & Malaysian Mixed Teams• SCCA President Trophy – Chinese Men’s Teams• SCCA President Trophy – Chinese Mixed Teams• Kinabalu Dragon Trophy – Junior Team Under 21 Years Old• Men’s Team Open 200 Metre Race – Open to all Men’s Teams • Mix Team Open 200 Metre Race – Open to all Mixed Teams• Charity Race – Open to all teams

The newly-introduced Charity Race is a unique category in which teamsselect a charitable organization to represent. The name of the organizationmust be incorporated in the team name when registering for this event. Allcash prizes of the winning team will then be donated to the respective charitable organisation. This year, the total cash prize for this year isRM43,000. The Heats for all categories take place on the 20th of June whilethe Finals are held the following day.

In between races, enjoy the spectacular dragon and lion dance performances and a

24-Chinese drum presentation. On the 20th of June, visitors can alsoparticipate in a host of events at Likas Bay including beach soccer matchesorganised by KK Futsal Centre, canoeing by the Sabah Canoe Associationand sailing activities by the Kinabalu Yacht Club and Sabah SailingAssociation. Come and catch the excitement this June at Likas Bay! Theevent kicks off at 8:00am.For more information, please contact Zachary Mobijohn (OrganisingSecretary) at +6088-232121, fax +6088-265540 or e-mailzachary@sabahtourism.com. Visit the website athttp://dragonboat.sabahtourism.com

20 & 21 June 2009Venue: Likas Bay, Kota Kinabalu

24th Sabah Dragon Boat Race

Sway, shake and shimmy to the sounds ofjazz maestros from around the world! This

year’s KK Jazz Festival takes place at theTennis Arena, Sutera Marina Club from6:30pm to 11:00pm. Indulge in the musicalstylings of Sabah’s very own Double Take,featuring Roger Wang and Mia Palencia,Malaysian vocal harmony group Six2Eight,Hong Kong’s Junk Unit, Nah Youn Sun fromKorea, UK-based Son2nos, Rimba, SIA JazzSyndicate and Jonathan Tse. Music enthusi-asts will also have the chance to jam with theperformers on the 7th and 14th of June from

3pm to 5pm at the Sutera Harbour Resort.Tickets for the 2-day access are priced atRM50.00 and RM100.00 and can be purchased at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf outlets around Kota Kinabalu.This event is organized by the Rotary Clubof Kota Kinabalu (RCKK) with the supportof the Society of Performing Arts KotaKinabalu Sabah (SPArKS). For moredetails, contact the organizers at 088230245 or e-mail sparksmalaysia@gmail.com

The Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival 2009,19-20 June

Get Ready!The Borneo International Marathon 2009 takesplace on the 11th of October right here in KotaKinabalu. Here’s a handy runner’s tip:Combine your running with strength training.

Don’t shy away from pumping iron in the gym - Itcan help enhance endurance, reduce risk of

repetitive stress injuries and increase lean body mass.For more info on the marathon, visit www.borneomarathon.com

World Environment Day, 13 June Think green and join us at this year’s World Environment Day at the

Lok Kawi Wildlife Park! With the collaboration of various agenciesunder the helm of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment,members of the public are invited to be a part of this event. Activitiesinclude tree-planting, a drawing competition for school children and atreasure hunt. Visitors can also learn step-by-step garden compostingmethods. Enjoy 50 percent off the Wildlife Park’s entrance fee in conjunction with World Environment Day! The event kicks off at7:00am until noon.For more information, please contact the organizers at 088-215353 or 214442 (Sabah Wildlife Department).

NEWSNEWS

5

Traditional Games Exhibition

The 1st Sabah State Music Camp8-13 JuneIt will be a week of musical fusion, fellowship and fun at the 1st Sabah State

Music Camp this June. Amateur musicians and music students of all agesand nationalities are invited to be a part of this amazing experience. The participants will gain concentrated knowledge in their particular area of interest and in depth study of their instruments or voice during the camp.The program for the week will include tutorials, sectional practices, orchestral and choral rehearsals, chamber music, master classes, camprecitals, recreation activities and sight-seeing. Held at Universiti MalaysiaSabah (UMS), the camp will be conducted in English. However Mandarinand Bahasa Malaysia will be used where necessary and translators areavailable. The camp culminates in a full orchestral and choral performanceof the Camp Finale Concert at the UMS Recital Hall on 13 June.For more information, please contact Yap Ling at 016 820 0355.

TYT Votes for SipadanHis Excellency Sabah’s Head of State, TYT Yangdi-Pertua Negeri Sabah Tun Datuk Seri PanglimaHaji Ahmadshah Bin Abdullah casts his vote forSipadan in its bid to be nominated as one of the 7Wonders of Nature. In April, the Chief Minister ofSabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman led

the way by casting his vote during the DUN Assembly. Cast your vote by loggingon to www.votesipadan.com.

Vote For Sipadan Campaign Going Strong in ShoppingCentresThe campaign for Sipadan to be listed as one of the nominees for the New 7Wonders of Nature continues in shopping centres around Kota Kinabalu. Boothsare set up by Sabah Tourism Board, the official supporting committee for the campaign, giving shoppers a chance to do live voting at selected shopping centres. Visit our booths and show your support!

Semporna’s Dragon Inn Listed as Top10 Floating HotelsPopular website www.askmen.com recently namedSemporna’s Dragon Inn Floating Resort as one ofthe Top1 10 Floating Hotels in the world. Dragon Innwas listed as number 7 on the list, joining the ranksof the Six Senses Soneva Gili Resort in Maldives,

Reefworld, Great Barrier Reef in Australia and Dubai’s Floating and RotatingHotel Tower.

Kadaiku sets up the Plush Toy Mini Sanctuary CornerKadaiku, located next to the Sri Pelancongan Sabah Tourist Information office inSinsuran, recently set up its Plush Toy Mini Sanctuary Corner. The Sabah souvenir and handicraft store features its exclusive collection of plush soft toysincluding Simbo the Orang Utan and his family, Lucky Laki the Proboscis Monkeyand Kuno the Rhinoceros. Bring one home today! Check out page 15 to seewhat’s new at Kadaiku.

From bamboo stilt-walking(rampanau) to top-spinning

(gasing), traditional games area aplenty at the MonsopiadCultural Village inPenampang. Every weekend,join the fun and games of thetraditional folk. Revive age-oldpast times, many of whichrequire agility, skill and plentyof hand-eye coordination. It’sall happening at theMonsopiad Cultural Village!The exhibition runs from9:00am to 5:00pm. For more information, pleasecontact the organizers at 088-774337 / 761336 or e-mailinfo@monsopiad.com

Every Saturday

& Sunday

throughout

the month of June

When in Sandakan, find your way to the much-raved about Pasar SimSim. At first glance it appears to be your average market, but Pasar

Sim Sim’s main attraction is the Ikan Bakar (Grilled Fish) stalls. Locals flockhere during lunch and dinner to enjoy some of the arguably best grilled fishin this part of Sabah. According to Sandakan folk, Pasar Sim Sim startedout as a modest market selling fresh produce and the like. But it wasn’t until2004 that it gained popularity for its ikan bakar stalls. The friendly ‘makcik’(aunties) and their assistants are proud to show their array of fresh fish,including grouper, ikan bahulu¸ ikan belays, ikan merah (red snapper) andikan putih (trevally). Many visitors from the west coast (namely KotaKinabalu) even claim that no trip to Sandakan is complete without an ikanbakar adventure!

The ikan bakar is best served with plain white rice and a generous serv-ing of sambal belacan (shrimp paste) – it might be a tad spicy, so go easyon the belacan! There are also plenty of side dishes to go with your ikanbakar, from local vegetables to pickled delights. Be adventurous and try abit of everything! The market is open daily from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.It is located on Jalan Buli Sim Sim, Sandakan.

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Looking for a dose of hearty home-cooked food? Swing byFrankincense, a quaint family-friendly café located at the Sri Kepayan

Commercial Centre in Kota Kinabalu. Set up by husband and wife teamof Casey and Cathy Lee, Frankincense offers the unique combination ofBaba & Nyonya cuisine (of Malay-Chinese influence most popular in theMalaysians states of Melaka and Penang) and local Kadazandusun fare.On the menu you will find plenty of coffee shop favourites including toast,nasi lemak and fried noodles. But the real crowd-puller here is the variety of Baba Nyonya & local dishes, best enjoyed with a plate ofsteamed rice. Try the Ayam Pongteh, a simple chicken stew cooked withsoya sauce and sengkuang (a crunchy type of fruit with an apple-like tex-ture). According to Casey, the Ayam Pongteh dish is a must-have for theBaba Nyonya community on Chinese New Year Eve. Also served here isthe Ayam Tempera, a chicken dish cooked with green pepper and vinegar served in a delicious gravy. The Nenas Masak Lemak is popularpick among the regulars – pineapple slices cooked in a coconut milk. Youwon’t be disappointed! Complement your meal with unforgettableSabahan delights such as the hinava (pickled Spanish mackerel), tuhau(a pounded ginger-like plant mixed with lime juice, onions and chillies)and cincalok (a zesty shrimp paste served with lime and chillies). Endyour meal with a cup of Jenny’s Yogurt Ice Cream – some diners havebeen known to bring more than a cup or two home! The best part is alldishes are priced under RM10.00. Frankincense truly lives up to its ‘family-friendly’ concept with its Kids Corner. Tiny tots simply love thepint-sized tables and chairs and the reading corner keeps them busy.The café can seat up to 50 people. For a cozy dining experience for thewhole family, look no further than Frankincense!Frankincense is open Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 10:00 pm. Itis located at No. 17, Ground Floor, Block H, Lot 3, Sri KepayanCommercial Centre (within the Austral Park housing estate). Doesnot serve pork. For more information, please contact Casey Lee at016 813 9119

– A Family Cafe

Ikan Bakar Pasar Sim Sim

Frankincense

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Promenade Hotel has opened its doors inthe east coast town of Tawau! With 180rooms and suites, this 16-storey hotel is

the tallest hotel in town and is adjacent toEastern Plaza - the biggest shopping complexin Tawau. Strategically located less than 1.5 kmfrom the bustling town centre, PromenadeHotel Tawau is within reach of Governmentadministrative offices, business, shopping andentertainment centres.

The state’s latest 4-star business hotel wasofficially launched on Saturday, 2 May 2009 bythe Chief Minister of Sabah, Yang AmatBerhormat (YAB) Datuk Seri Panglima MusaHaji Aman in a lavish ceremony which includeda High Tea buffet for more than 500 guests atthe hotel’s Promenade Grand Ballroom on the6th Floor.

The Grand Launch of the Promenade HotelTawau at Kuhara Point, which was held consecutively with the launching of EasternPlaza Shopping Complex, received the ‘thumbsup’ from the Guest of Honour, Sabah’s ChiefMinister YAB Datuk Seri Panglima Musa HajiAman, who lauded the opening of the hotel andthe shopping complex as a positive step in thetown’s development, citing that better accom-modation and shopping facilities will attractmore visitors to Tawau.

Besides being the tallest hotel and having thelargest ballroom in the state (with a seatingcapacity of 1,300 persons), Promenade HotelTawau also houses the biggest and only comprehensive gymnasium at its LeisureCentre on the 5th Floor. It also has a 24-hourcoffeehouse Café@se7en on the 7th Floor, aLobby Lounge with a Deli and Cigar Corner, acontemporary Zsa Zsa Zsu fun pub on theLower Ground Floor with live band performanc-es from the Philippines, a business centre,three meeting rooms (Berlian, Seraya & Agatis)and an exclusive Promenade Club Floor withan exclusive club lounge on the 15th Floor.

For frequent hotel-goers or frequent visitors toTawau, Promenade Hotel Tawau has itsPromenade Platinum Tawau Membership(PPTM), which entitles cardholders to accommodation and dining discounts atPromenade Hotel Tawau, Promenade HotelKota Kinabalu, Promenade Hotel Apartments,Marina Court Resort Condominium andColonnades Condominium.

Catching up with the Managing Director ofPromenade Hotel Sdn Bhd, Kong Hock Sian,during the event, Kong quipped, “We are proudto say that with our existing strong corporatemanagement team at Promenade Hotel KotaKinabalu, who happen to be all Malaysians, weare indeed looking forward to building up thePromenade Brand and facing more challengesby encapsulating our credos in line with our

Prime Minister’s and Chief Minister’s 1MalaysiaConcept by working hand in hand towardsachieving Vision 2020.”

In conjunction with the Grand Launch ofPromenade Hotel Tawau and Eastern PlazaShopping Centre, a Grand Opening concertwas held at the Eastern Plaza ShoppingComplex on Sunday night. That was followedwith an exciting post-concert party at the latestand most happening fun pub in Tawau, Zsa ZsaZsu Fun Pub on the Lower Ground Floor ofPromenade Hotel Tawau.

The Zsa Zsa Zsu Fun Pub is open daily from5:00 pm (except for Sundays). Ladies Night is every Wednesday – a perfect excuse for somemidweek fun! Daily Happy Hours are from 5:00– 9:00 pm with 50% off on all house-pouringbrands and beers. This June, be entertained bythe upbeat 7-piece band ‘7th Theory’.

For more information, please call theMarketing Communications (MARCOM)Department at Tel: 089 – 982 888 or Email:comm_tawau@promenade.com.my.

Promenade Hotel Tawau Welcomes You!

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Planning to tie the knot in Sabah? Opt for ahassle-free experience with the help of

Tanjung Aru Bridal House in Kota Kinabalu.Nestled in a leafy spot facing the Tanjung AruBeach and a stone’s throw from the Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa, thisestablishment is the answer to every weddingcouples’ prayers! The one-stop bridal houseoffers a variety of services for your big day, fromwedding gown rentals to professional photosessions.

The ‘bridal house’ is actually a colonial-stylebuilding with a sprawling garden that is barely ahundred metres from the beach. With suchbeautiful scenery, you can be sure of breathtaking backgrounds for your weddingalbum. Tanjung Aru Bridal House offers a veryrelaxed atmosphere, where each couple is personally attended to. Take your time tobrowse through more than 100 gowns, eveningdresses and men’s suits. The gowns are thecreation of an in-house designer and includethe latest fashions hot off the latest bridal

runway. Still can’t decide? Then why not custom-make your gown? Another fantasticservice offered by these wedding professionals.

The bridal house offers hard to resist packages which are not only value for moneybut tailored to suit your needs. Most packagesinclude the rental of gowns, hair and make-upservices, wedding portraits, personalised wedding favours and a professional photo session – a coffee-table album of your desiredsize is included as well as a soft copy of all theimages taken during your shoot. Be it a romantic beach wedding or a tropical rainforesttheme, the photographers will cater to any set-ting you wish. You can even opt to include awedding video montage in the package. Sinceopening its doors in February this year, TanjungAru Bridal House has received rave reviews forits range of wedding packages to suit a widevariety of budgets. Nothing beats the conven-ience of having your wedding dilemmas solvedunder one roof!

Tanjung Aru Bridal House can also produce

family and individual portraits and offers wedding day event photography and videography services as well as corporateevents photography.

The professionals here are happy to help youwith any wedding-related inquiries such as venues and catering suggestions. Make yourwedding in Sabah Malaysian Borneo an unforgettable experience with Tanjung AruBridal House.Tanjung Aru Bridal House is open from10:00am to 6:00pm from Monday to Thursdayand from 10:00am to 8:00pm from Friday toSunday. It is located at no. 19 Jalan Aru,Tanjung Aru. For more information, please con-tact the Marketing Manager, Jean Tan at +6017823 8131 or Sale Manager, Abdul Muis at+6017 813 1933. E-mail: arubridal@gmail.com

Just when you think you know a place, there’salways something more to discover. The KKHeritage Walk unravels Kota Kinabalu’s rich

history as you stroll along its streets. The walk is aguided tour of the city’s streets and landmarks, eachwith an interesting story of its own which dates back topre-war, post-war and post-independence days.

The 2-hour walk begins from the Independence Field(Padang Merdeka) and takes you through various partsof the city. First stop is Australia Place, one of the oldest established sections of Kota Kinabalu. Today,many backpacker lodges are found here as well asprinting companies. A quick pit stop at the MuseumKopitiam gives you a glimpse of a bygone era. Thekopitiam (coffee shop) stays true to its original conceptback in the 1940s, complete with framed photographsof pre-war and post-war days adorning its walls. Thewalk then brings you to other historical buildings andmonuments such as the Atkinson Clock, CommunityCentre, Sabah Tourism Building, Jesselton Hotel,Malaysia Monument, War Memorial and the City CouncilBuilding. For added fun, a short treasure hunt is conducted. This is where you should keep your eyesand ears peeled! Apart from getting a historical tour ofKK, the walk is a great opportunity to experience thecity’s sights and sounds.

The KK Heritage Walk is held every Tuesday andThursday (other days, except Sundays, are available byprior arrangement with a minimum of four persons pergroup) and is conducted by professional licensedtourist guides. Participants will also receive a KKHeritage Cap and ‘A Guide To KK Heritage Walk’booklet.

For more information, please contact Grace Leong at012 802 8823 or e-mail info@kkheritagewalk.com. Visitthe website at http://kkheritagewalk.com

With a name like Pom Pom, it’s hard to forgetthis gem of an island located on the eastcoast of Sabah. Our trip to Pom Pom Island

was already an adventure by itself – The pelting rainfollowed us on the boat ride all the way fromSemporna; by the time my team and I arrived, wewere drenched but happy to see land! Thankfully,nothing but sunshine paved the way for the rest ofour trip.

Pom Pom Island Resort is located some 40 minutes by speedboat from the town of Semporna,Tawau. Originally the island was named Pom Pongbut over time, the name Pom Pom proved to bemore catchy and easier to remember. The resort isbuilt on 40 acres of land with a sprawling frontage.The long stretch of beach offers ample sunbathingspots for you to soak up the sun! However, the firstthing that caught my eye was the huge dining andreception area. Never before have I seen such amassive wooden structure at an island resort – it isa beautiful piece of architecture and I was fascinated with the detail. As I further explored theresort, I noticed the attention to detail in each of thestructures. There are currently three types of accommodation: Water Bungalows, Beach Villasand Garden Villas. A combination of natural materials was used to construct the buildings, fromcoconut tree bark for the walls, selangan batu timber for the floors and for the ceiling, the very sturdy belian wood. I was also impressed with thetasteful décor in each room – simple with an eleganttouch, giving the rooms a ‘clean’ look with very littleclutter.

Our friendly guide Ronnie gave us a tour of theresort. The Beach and Garden Villas are for everyone, from travelling friends to honeymoon couples on – not only are they spacious but I lovedthe idea of having the beach literally at yourdoorstep. I spent a good portion of my afternoonsfalling asleep on a hammock, listening to the gentlelapping of the waves. But for the ultimate luxury, stayat the Water Bungalows. Imagine diving right intothe ocean at your own personal ‘jetty’ and enjoy themarine life swimming right below you. Located nearby is a special bungalow that provides much-needed body massages and heavenly reflexologysessions. All this with a fantastic view of the sea!

Back on land, we were given a tour of the island’svery own vegetable and fruit garden. Ronnieexplained that the resort supplies its own fresh produce where possible. We saw a colourful combination of eggplant, chillies, bananas, papayas andeven dragonfruit just begging to be on the kitchentable. Another unique aspect of the resort is the use

of RO (reverse osmosis) water. This meansthat the water supply is filtered several times,making it purer than what is normally found inour household taps. According to PeterLoong, the owner of the resort, Pom Pom isthe first resort to implement the use of ROwater. We further traipsed the resort andfound it well-equipped with a meeting room, agames room for a round of billiards and darts,a souvenir and convenience store and inter-net services. Plenty to do should you everdecide to peel yourself away from the lure ofthe beach!

Scuba divers are well taken care of by theexperienced divemasters working here. Apartfrom the surrounding marine attractions ofPom Pom, divers can opt to explore nearby

diving sites, such as those of Mataking,Timba Timba, Kalapuan, Pandanan andBohey Dulang (which is part of the TunSakaran Marine Park).

As the sun begins to set, nothing beats awalk along the starfish-studded beach. Diversflock to the common area come dinner time toshare their amazing underwater photos andexchange dive experiences. Need a drink?Nothing the friendly bartender can’t fix.Whether you wish to explore the oceanicwonders of the East Coast or escape thehumdrum of the city, the pleasures of Pom Pom will not disappoint.For more info, visit http://pompomisland.comor call 088-233966/959 or fax 088-234088. E-mail info@pompomisland.com

A trip to the nearby Buhay Dulang

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The amazing architecture seen at the dining hall

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The Dragon Boat Festival or Tuan Wu, has its origins in the 4thcentury BC. It falls on the “Dragon fifth” – the fifth day of the

fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. It is one of the threedays in the lunar year when all debts must be settled. It is also atime to pay homage to ancestors and to appease the dragon,believed to be the Controller of the Water, ensuring adequaterain to ripen the crops. The most exciting part of this traditionalfestival, however, involves the Dragon Boat Race.

The race is held to commemorate the death of Chu Yuan, thelegendary Chinese poet and patriot who lived during the Choudynasty. He held a high position in the court of one of the majorstates of China but was eventually exiled by corrupt governmentofficials.

Chu Yuan wrote many poems to express his great love for hiscountry and people, lamenting his own fate. As a final protestagainst the government, Chu Yuan cast himself into the Miloriver.

The local fisherman were so moved by his gesture that theyraced in their boats to try to recover his body, beating the waterwith paddles to prevent the fishes from devouring him. They alsothrew rice dumpling into the water to appease his spirit. To prevent sea serpents from eating the rice offerings, thedumplings were wrapped in silk bound with five threads in thecolour of the Emperor.Sabah FolkloreIn Sabah native folklore, the Dragon holds a significant place asthe guardian of Mount Kinabalu, the Sacred Mountain and theSummit of Borneo. Mount Kinabalu is believed to be the restingplace of spirits of the dead and that somewhere deep inside theMountain are many precious stones guarded by dragons.

Origins of theDragon Boat Race

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Perlumbaan Perahu Naga Ke-2420 & 21 Jun 2009Teluk Likas, Kota Kinabalu

Gegak-gempita perahu naga meluncur di Laut China Selatan mengikutirama paluan gendang Jun ini ketika Perlumbaan Perahu Naga

Sabah ke-24. Festival Perahu Naga atau Duan Wu yang berasal dariChina dan bermula sejak abad ke-4 ini, jatuh pada hari kelima bulankelima dalam kalendar lunar Cina. Ketika inilah orang-orang Cina memberikan penghormatan kepada nenek moyang mereka danmemuaskan Naga (Pengawal Air) bagi memastikan hujan yang cukupuntuk menyuburkan tanaman mereka. Perlumbaan ini juga adalah untukmemperingati penyair China, Qu Yan yang terjun ke Sungai Milo untukmembunuh diri. Orang ramai berdayung menaiki perahu untuk mencarimayatnya dan menabur ladu beras ke sungai untuk menenangkanrohnya. Perbuatan menabur ladu atau chung tze ke laut kini menjadi simbol isyarat dan menandakan permulaan acara itu setiap tahun.

Dimulakan oleh Persatuan Kebudayaan China Sabah (SCCA) 23 tahunyang lalu, Perlumbaan ini diletakkan di bawah tanggungjawab LembagaPelancongan Sabah pada 1996. Perlumbaan ini kemudiannya beradaseketika di bawah penganjuran Kementerian Belia dan Sukan pada tahun2002 dan 2003 tetapi kini (sejak 2004) kembali dilaksanakan olehLembaga Pelancongan Sabah dengan sokongan SCCA.

Pada tahun ini, sekitar 50 pasukan dari dalam dan luar negara dijangkamengambil bahagian, dari dalam dan luar negara, termasuk pasukan dariBrunei, Kalimantan, Singapura dan China. Mereka akan berentap merebut sembilan piala secara keseluruhan.

Perlumbaan Amal yang baharu diperkenalkan adalah kategori unik.Pasukan-pasukan memilih sebuah badan amal untuk diwakili. Namabadan tersebut perlu digabungkan dengan nama pasukan apabilamendaftar untuk acara ini. Semua hadiah wang tunai yang dimenangipasukan itu akan disumbangkan kepada badan amal masing-masing.Tahun ini, hadiah wang tunai keseluruhan ialah RM43,000. Saringanuntuk semua kategori akan berlangsung pada 20 Jun, manakala pusinganakhir akan diadakan pada hari yang berikutnya.

Selingan perlumbaan yang dapat dinikmati ialah persembahan hebat tarian naga dan singa serta 24-gendang Cina. Pada 20 Jun, pengunjungjuga boleh menyertai acara pelbagai di Teluk Likas, termasuklah perlawanan bola sepak pantai yang dianjurkan oleh KK Futsal Centre,bersampan anjuran Persatuan Kenu Sabah dan aktiviti berlayar anjuranKelab Perahu Layar Kinabalu serta Persatuan Perahu Layar Sabah.Datang dan rasai kemeriahannya Jun ini di Teluk Likas! Acara bermula8:00 pagi.Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila hubungi Zachary Mobijohn (SetiausahaPenganjur) di talian +6088-232121, faks +6088265540 atau e-melzachary@sabahtourism.com. Kunjungi laman web http://dragonboat.sabahtourism.com

Pameran Permainan TradisionalSetiap Sabtu dan Ahad sepanjangbulan Jun

Daripada rampanau (berjalan bertongkatkan buluh) sehinggalahgasing, banyak permainan tradisional yang boleh disaksikan di

Kampung Budaya Monsopiad di Penampang. Setiap hujung minggu,sertailah keseronokan dan permainan orang dulu-dulu. Kembalikanmasa lalu, banyak daripadanya memerlukan kemahiran danketangkasan serta banyak daripadanya memerlukan gabungan tangan-mata. Semuanya berlaku di Kampung Budaya Monsopiad!Pameran ini berlangsung dari 9:00 pagi sehingga 5:00 petang.Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila hubungi penganjur di talian 088-774337/761336 atau e-mel info@monsopiad.com

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Tiada apa yang dapat mengatasi pemandangan dari puncak dan untukmembuktikannya, pergilah ke Menara Tinjau Signal Hill di Kota Kinabalu.

Tempat terkenal itu baru-baru ini membuka semula pintunya semula kepadaorang ramai, menawarkan pemandangan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu menerusipandangan dari udara. Dengan sudut yang strategik, pengunjung boleh meli-hat pemandangan bangunan-bangunan utama di bandar ini, lot kedai malahpesisir pantainya yang menakjubkan. Saksikan kesibukan bandar ini danpada sebelah petang, nikmatilah pemandangan romantik matahari terbenamdan angin sepoi-sepoi yang nyaman. Menara ini juga dilengkapi dengan tan-das awam dan pagar yang tinggi untuk tujuan keselamatan. Pintunya dibukaantara pukul 8:00 pagi hingga 12:00 tengah malam setiap hari dan masukadalah percuma. Bagaimana untuk ke sana: Pengunjung boleh memilih untuk menggunakankenderaan persendirian atau pergi dengan teksi. Menara ini terletak lebihkurang lima minit memandu dari pusat bandar.

Festival JazzKota Kinabalu

200919-20 Jun

Hayatilah keasyikan irama daripada pemuzik-pemuzik

jazz hebat dari seluruh dunia!Festival Jazz KK tahun iniberlangsung di Tennis Arena,Sutera Marina Club dari 6:30petang hingga 11:00 malam.Dengarlah gaya muzik DoubleTake yang berasal dari Sabah,menampilkan Roger Wang danMia Palencia, kumpulan vokalharmoni Malaysia Six2Eight,Junk Unit dari Hong Kong, NahYoun Sun dari Korea, Son2nos yang berpangkalan di UK, Rimba, SIAJazz Syndicate dan Jonathan Tse. Peminat muzik juga berpeluanguntuk jam bersama-sama pemuzik pada 7 dan 14 Jun dari pukul 3hingga 5 petang di Sutera Harbour Resort. Tiket-tiket masuk untukdua hari ini berharga RM50.00 dan RM100.00 dan boleh dibeli dicawangan The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf di sekitar Kota Kinabalu.Acara ini dianjurkan oleh Kelab Rotary Kota Kinabalu (RCKK)dengan sokongan Kesatuan Persembahan Seni Kota KinabaluSabah (SPArKS). Untuk maklumat lanjut, hubungi penganjur ditalian 088 230245 atau e-mel sparksmalaysia@gmail.com

Apabila berada di Sandakan, carilah jalan untuk ke Pasar Sim Sim yangterkenal itu. Daripada pandangan pertama, pasar itu dilihat seperti

pasar biasa tetapi tarikan utama Pasar Sim-Sim ialah gerai-gerai IkanBakar. Penduduk tempatan berkumpul di sini ketika makan tengah hari danmakan malam untuk menikmati ikan bakar yang diakui terbaik di bahagianini di Sabah. Menurut penduduk Sandakan, Pasar Sim Sim bermula sebagai pasar biasa yang menjual hasil ikan segar dan seumpamanya;sehinggalah pada tahun 2004, pasar ini mula menjadi terkenal keranagerai-gerai ikan bakarnya. ‘Mak Cik-mak cik’ dan penolong mereka yangperamah dengan bangga menunjukkan pelbagai jenis ikan segar terma-suklah antaranya kerapu, ikan bahulu, ikan belais, ikan merah dan ikanputih. Ramai pengunjung dari Pantai Barat (terutamanya Kota Kinabalu)turut mendakwa perjalanan ke Sandakan tidak sah tanpa menikmati ikanbakarnya!

Ikan bakar paling sesuai dihidangkan bersama-sama nasi dan sambalbelacan – sambal ini mungkin agak pedas jadi berhati-hatilah dengan bela-can! Ada juga beberapa hidangan sampingan yang sesuai dimakan denganikan bakar, daripada sayur-sayuran tempatan sehinggalah jeruk. Cubalahrasai semuanya! Pasar ini dibuka setiap hari dari 10:00 pagi sehingga10:00 malam. Pasar ini terletak di Jalan Buli Sim-Sim, Sandakan.

Mari Makan

Tempat-tempat MenarikMenara Tinjau Signal Hill

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