B O R N E O K O L O R Z: April 2008

April 30, 2008

Elephant Paints Self Portrait

Elephant Paints Self Portrait Amazing Vide

April 17, 2008

SARAWAK CULTURAL VILLAGE IS ALL SET FOR ANOTHER SPECTACULAR WORLD HARVEST FESTIVAL.

To Create a colorful, dynamic and vibrant Harvest Festival apart from promoting understanding, goodwill and increases the appreciation for the traditions and cultures of the Harvest Festival.

A fascinating place of all, the Sarawak Cultural Village was created 18 years ago to showcase and enlighten people on the many wonders of Sarawak, focusing on the rich cultural heritage of its people.

You can see and experience some of the most interesting, entertaining and cultural events in this part of the world in Sarawak Cultural Village, that is World Harvest Festival (WHF), held to steer and commemorate the unique Gawai or Harvest festival, celebrated by most of the ethnic community of Sarawak.

The World Harvest Festival (WHF) is in its 4th year and it will once again be organized at the Sarawak Cultural Village from 24th to 25th of May 2008

Come to Sarawak Cultural Village on May 24, 2008 and celebrate the fun-filled festival with your love ones. Make it a family affair. The typical Sarawakian hospitality awaits you!

More info pls. Click Here>>Worlh Harvest Festival 2008

April 16, 2008

Sabah Malaysian Borneo

April 15, 2008

Pesta Kaamatan-Harvest Festival 2008

26 - 27 April 2008

Most native Sabahans consider rice to be more important than just the main staple food. There is a certain sacredness attached to it, for it is a food given to them by Kinoingan, the Almighty Creator so that his people should never want for food. He sacrificed His only daughter- Huminodun and from her body parts, padi (rice) grew. This was Kinoingan's ultimate act of benevolence and to this day, His people repay the deed by conducting various ceremonies to honour Bambaazon, the spirit of Huminodun as embodied in rice.

The most well-known of these is Pesta Kaamatan or Harvest Festival which begins on the first of May and celebrated throughout Sabah. Of major importance to this thanksgiving ceremony is the Magavau - a ritual to invite Bambaazon to the Pesta and is conducted only by the Bobohizan or high priestess. Festivities cannot proceed without the presence of Bambaazon and it is through Magavau that the Rice Spirit is invoked.

In the past, Magavau was conducted in the padi fields on the first full moon night after the harvest. A party of Bobohizan led by the foremost senior, would weave a slow procession through the fields chanting prayers to Bambaazon. A male warrior would walk ahead of this group waving a sword in the air, to ward off any evil that might try to disrupt the ritual. The food offered must be of the best quality. When the spirits come, only the Bobohizan will be able to feel their presence. The spirits will find, neatly laid out for them on banana leaves, the choicest chicken meat, eggs, betel leaves and pinang (areca nut), tobacco and kirai ("rollie"). The finest tapai or rice wine is offered to the spirits.

A second offering arranged in a winnowing tray is placed on a specially built bamboo platform. This is for the spirits to bring back to the spirit world to feed those creatures that would otherwise feed off the padi. Pesta Kaamatan around the state culminates in the state level celebrations on May 30 and 31 every year with Magavau being enacted indoors before the celebrations begin.

Regatta Lepa Semporna - last year

Regatta Lepa Semporna 2008

15th Regatta Lepa Semporna 2008-Water Festival
18 - 20 April 2008

The Sabah East Coast Bajau community has a unique lifestyle. In their dialect, lepa means "boat". The lepa is usually made of Ubar Suluk or Red Seraya wood. The lepa is a cultural legacy inherited by the people from many generations ago. The existence of lepa is believed to originate from the fishing community who live in Bum Bum Island and used by the Pa'alau people along the coast of Semporna.

The Regatta Lepa has been celebrated every year since 1994 to commemorate the Bajau tradition of building these splendid boats. Semporna comes to life as the colourful sails take to the sea to compete for the prize of the most beautiful lepa. This is judged based on its decoration, local ethnic music and dances performed on board, sambulayang (sails) and tapis-tapis (small flags).

Other attractions include sea sports such as rowboat, sailing and kelleh-kelleh (small dugout boat) competitions, lepa tug of war, children swimming and duck catching competition. A colorful cultural night performance put on by this community is certainly not to be missed.

Visit Semporna and witness this spectacular annual event of the Bajau community in Sabah!

April 14, 2008

Proboscis Monkey Borneo Malaysia 2008

Amazing Monkeys
Labuk Bay Sanctuary Sandakan
Leaf-Monkey (Langur), Macaque and Proboscis Monkey.

Sipadan Island

Pulau Sipadan offers some of the best wall diving in the world. The water's edge presents a drop of more than 609.6m (2,000ft) just 9.14m (30ft) from the beach, and all dive sites are within easy reach by boat. Thousands of marine life, be it big or small, make Pulau Sipadan their home, making it one of the most exciting dive locations in the world.

How To Get There

Pulau Sipadan is about 30 minute’s boat ride from its jumping off point, Semporna.

MIRI RESORT CITY

Located in Northern Sarawak, Miri is the gateway to this region and is also adjacent to the neighbouring country Brunei. Being the first oil town in Malaysia, the petroleum industry has played a significant role in Miri's initial economic development, and subsequently other industries such as timber, oil palm and tourism have also contributed to its prosperity today.
Miri's natural diversity offers visitors a wide range of attractions including the renowned Mulu Caves, spectacular Niah Caves, beautiful beaches, exciting game fishing, colourful coral reefs, natural tropical rainforests and many many more.

Sarawak Cultural Village

Deer Cave, Mulu

This is the largest cave passage in the world. Shot on expedition in 1994 this shows the show cave and some of the 3 million bats which exit the cave each evening.

royal mulu resort sarawak malaysia

Kinabalu Mountain of Sabah

Via Ferrata on Mt Kinabalu

World's highest via ferrata (final version), located in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

North Borneo Railway, Sabah, Malaysia

This railway runs twice a week between the state captal, Kota kinabula and Papar, a distance of 66 Kms, here on this the Third largest island in the world. Motive power is provided by a Vaulcan steam locomotive, built in 1954 at Newton-le-Willows, England.