Bubye Sabah..Boeing 737-800

10 June 2011, a day I've been waiting for almost a month but it just ends so fast. I wake up early but ended up rushing to airport since my friend who supposes to drop me at airport wake up late. Thank god that we made it, i can’t afford for a new ticket especially in Malaysia Airlines. Once weighted, our total luggage weight is 66kg for 3 people. It suppose to be 20kg per person, luckily the kind-hearted person in charge didn't include the extra weight. Each extra kg would cost us RM15. 

Upon entered into the flight, i notice the flight is kinda different from other flight that I took before this. It was the new Boeing 737-800. It has a new dynamic livery, higher ceiling and mood lighting. 

Once settle with my hand-carry and sat on the comfortable seat, I notice something on the back of my front passenger seat. It looks like a mini LCD TV. Being curious, started to use it, it is pretty easy to handle. It is the new in-flight entertainment digital LCD screen. 

 This time i felt the traveling is much less hectic. Next time i gonna travel, MAS would be my 1^st choice. They provide comfortable, food and entertainment at reasonable price. Since i'm back to KL after so long, its time to relax and enjoy with family and friends =)

 

Say goodbye, never say goodbye..

When I first came here, I know I would come across this day. All this while, I’ve been so excited about it, but now, as the time for me leaving this place getting lesser and lesser, my heart feels heavier. As I’m packing my stuffs I feel something is missing in my luggage. Try to find for it all over my room but I’m sure I left nothing behind. Am I leaving something so important in here? A feeling I felt when I had to leave my home 4 years back. Feeling which say u belong here.

Although our acquaintance wasn’t long, u guys made a big impact in my life. The friendship that you guys have given me, the joy you guys bring my soul has filled me with such strength that would resides in me until end. We maybe start like total strangers, have different opinions and judgement, different culture, race and belief but I’m glad we manage to establish friendships out from all this. A friendship that I hope would last forever.

To think now, 4 years seems like such a long time.  Many ups and downs but we manage to get through all. Thanx for the memories, for the laughter and the tears. They would linger in my heart. When I have a glance of it, feel like it’s all a dream, I couldn’t help but think and I realized then this was no dream, all those years that passed us by when I feel what I did was just a blink.

No matter what, I need to move on, there is a future waiting ahead for me and so do u. I’m not sure where it gonna lead me but along the way, I wish I have the chance to meet u guys at least once again in my life. To cherish the good moments we had together. I’m not perfect, if there is any resentment along our journey together, please accept my sincere apology as it is not intended. Thank you everyone..

-I won’t say goodbye my friend, for you and I will meet again-

Dedicated to everyone who been a part of my 4 years life in Sabah..

-G-

Kaamatan Festival @ Sabah

Been 4 years in Sabah, but didn’t even once get chance to be a part in the Kaamatan Festival. Kaamatan is the Harvest Festival for Sabah ethnic tribes such as Kadazans and Dusuns. The essence of this festival is as thanksgiving for a plentiful harvest. It is held on the 30^th and 31^st of May every year. Usually, I’ll be home during this period but since this is my last year here, I’ve planned to attend this festival.

On May 1^st of each year, the Kaamatan Festival is launched. This gives chances to numerous ethnic communities to promote their unique cultural heritage as well as multi-cultural peace, understanding and harmony.  30^th and 31^st is the final days of the Kaamatan Festival.

Enterance of KDCA

We went to KDCA, Penampang where the festival is held. It also sometimes referred as Hongkod Koisaan (Unity Hall). Here, we can visit all the ethnic groups at their respective houses. The style and design of the houses varies according to their native costumes. 

I even come across bouncing floor that really amazes me. It’s a lifetime experience.

Bouncing floor

 To the multi-sounds and tempo of traditional music, multi-ethnic cultural dances are performed to show guests and visitors the rhythm of life that they too can experience for a moment in time by their participation in action.

  

All around are cheap sales of local products, where one can have the best of choices and great bargains in purchasing the finest native handicrafts direct from the producers themselves. I didn’t get one since already got few but my friends spend quite a time there.

Numerous varieties of unique traditional food and beverages are served too. Various local deserts and delectable rice and coconut wines are completely free until they last.

And lastly for the main highlight of the Kaamatan Festival, Unduk Ngadau. This event stirs the crowd towards the main hall. I didn’t get a good spot to enjoy watching since it is packed until full capacity. But I manage to sneak in for few of the Unduk Ngadau selection.

 Pretty girls, not from the Unduk Ngadau 

To the Kadazandusun, paddy is not only their staple food, it is also a sacred plant, a living symbol of Kinoingan's love for his people. Many believe that “without rice, there is no life”..