June 2009 Volume 100

RM 1.00

INSIDE: KK Jazz Festival, Traditional Games, Vote for Sipadan and more!
 Contents
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 3 Happenings & Highlights
TRANSLATORS Chin Yen Sang (Chinese)
Rie Harada (Japanese)
24th Sabah Dragon Boat Race
Emzee Lee (Korean) BM EDITOR Puan Hjh. Asmiah Ajamain, Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka Jazz Festival
DESIGNED & PRINTED BY COVER BY CV Chong
Traditional Games
1st Sabah State Music Camp
Inna Kinabalu Sdn Bhd News: -TYT Votes Sipadan
(Publisher of The New Sabah Times)
Jalan Pusat Pembangunan Masyarakat, Sembulan
-Ongoing voting for Sipadan at Shopping Centres
88100 Kota Kinabalu -Kadaiku launches Plush Toy Corner
-World Enviroment Day
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is
correct at the time of publication. The publisher cannot be held responsible for -Dragon Inn Semporna Named Top 10 Floating
any inaccuracies, omissions and alterations which may occur as a result of last -Resort in the World
minute changes. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written
permission of the Sabah Tourism Board.

6 Eating Out
Frankincense

Message from the Editor

Ikan Bakar Pasar Sim Sim

7 Places of Interest
Promenade Hotel Tawau

s the revelry of the Harvest Festival

A dies down, we gear up for more

exciting activities coming our way as
June rolls around. The gliding of fierce
8 Places of Interest
Tanjung Aru Bridal House

dragons along the South China Sea 9 Leisure

accompanied by the beating of Chinese KK Heritage Walk
drums marks the Duan Wu or Dragon Boat
Festival. Sabah has a strong Chinese
community and like many other festivals, 10 Feature
we celebrate this with as much grandeur Pom Pom Island Resort
as possible! The most significant event in
the month of June is none other than the 12 Through The Lens
Sabah Dragon Boat Race which takes
place on the 20th and 21st of June at the
Scenes of the Sabah Dragon Boat Race
Likas Bay in Kota Kinabalu. Entering its
24th year, the race continues to attract 14 Culture
some of the top Dragon Boat teams from
around the world, including Indonesia,
History of the Dragon Boat Race
Japan, China, Australia, Singapore,
Penang and the Philippines to name a few. country ballads! Let loose with the suave 15 Products of the Month at Kadaiku
It’s an exciting time of the year as Likas sounds of jazz performed by international
Sabah Souvenirs & Handicrafts
Bay comes alive with ‘racing dragons’ and and local talents.
dancing lions! You won’t want to miss this
annual race. Be sure to check out the other sections of 16 Bahasa Malaysia Section
our magazine such as the Places of
It’s also the month go green and be nicer Interest and Eating Out for more ‘makan’
to Mother Nature as we celebrate World ideas. Every month, we look forward to 18 Chinese Section
Environment Day. I had the immense bring you the best of Sabah Malaysian
pleasure of speaking with Shangri-La’s Borneo. Need more help? Visit our Tourist
Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa’s General Information Counters at the Sabah 20 Japanese Section
Manager, Andrew Steele (p.3) who shares Tourism Board office along Jalan Gaya or
my passion for all things Sabah and at Sri Pelancongan Sabah in Sinsuran. In
agrees with the sentiment that one less Sandakan, swing by the Sandakan Tourist 22 Korean Section
plastic bag with each purchase can go a Information centre located in the heart of
long way. Another easy tip is to carpool. the city. From racing dragons to jazzy
24 Directory Listings
Not only is it gentler on the environment sessions, mark your calendar for another
but reduces the growing traffic jam woes! busy month in Sabah. Make this a holiday
Join the World Environment Day pro- to remember! 25 Sabah Map & Listings
gramme at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park on
the 13th of June (see our Happenings &
Higlights page for more details) and see 26 Vote for Sipadan!
how you can play your part in keeping the
earth clean and green. Also noteworthy
this month is the KK Jazz Festival at the Melissa Leong
Sutera Harbour Marina – Forget rock and Editor
Traditional Games Exhibition
Every Saturday and Sunday for the
month of June 2009
Here’s your chance to try out some of the
little-known traditional games of Sabah.
From congkak to bamboo-stilt walking,
many of these unique games are still
favourites and often played in the
kampong (village) areas.
Organiser:
Monsopiad Cultural Village
Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
For further info:
Monsopiad Cultural Village
Tel: 088 774337, 761336
Fax: 088 761680
Email: info@monsopiad.com
Kaamatan Festival National Level
Open House
7 June 2009
Join the festivities of the Ka’amatan or
Harvest Festival at a grand scale right here
at the University Malaysia Sabah. Be
entertained by a variety of stage perform-
ances, sample local fare and indulge in the
merriment. Everyone is invited!
Organiser:
Ministry of Information, Communication
and Culture
For further info: Puan Ruhani Binti Mamat,
Ministry of Information, Communication
and Culture
Tel: 012 306 5762
1st Sabah State Music Camp
8 – 13 June 2009
Open to students and adults, the camp
includes full ensemble rehearsals, section-
als, master classes, tutorials, music
appreciation classes, chamber music
coaching (for more advanced students)
and ample supervised practice time.
Participants will be able to focus what they
like best, to take casual interest or
seriously study technique and theory.
Organiser:
Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra
For further info:
Yap Ling (Conductor)
Tel: 088 722230, 016 8333034 (Alice), 012
8203733 (Yap Ling)
Fax: 088 722230
Email: jporchestra@gmail.com
Music Camp Concert
8 June 2009
The Music Camp Concert is the finale
performed by the participants of the 1st
Sabah State Music Camp held for 5 days
prior to the concert. The concert will
Showcase the talent outcomes of the
Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra’s music
camp which was held in an effort to
contribute to the culture and musical
growth of the local community.
Organiser:
Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra
For further info: Yap Ling (Conductor)
Tel: 088 722230, 016 8333034 (Alice),
012 8203733 (Yap Ling)
Fax: 088 722230
Email: jporchestra@gmail.com
Remembering Double Six
6 June 2009
Ceremonies to commemorate the ‘Double
Six’ tragedy in which some of the State’s
top leaders were killed in a plane crash on
the 6th of June 1976. The event takes
place at the Double Six Monument in
Grace Point, Sembulan.
Organiser:
Kota Kinabalu City Hall
For further info: Syron Tunggolou
Tel: 088 521800
Fax: 088 316137
Environmental Week by the Malaysian
Association of Hotels, Sabah Chapter
13 June 2009
Various activities are organized during the
environmental week, which includes a
competition to build rafts made of
recyclable materials, a myriad of environ-
mental projects by individual hotels and a
conservation programme for the public.
Organiser:
Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH),
Sabah/Labuan Chapter
For further info: Tulip Noorazyze
Tel: 088 227880 Fax: 088 244871
Email: Tulip.Noorazyze@shangri-la.com
World Environment Day
13 June
Swing by the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park this
June and be a part of World Environment
Day! Activities include tree-planting, a
drawing competition for school children
and a treasure hunt. Visitors can also learn
step-by-step garden composting methods.
Enjoy 50 percent off the Wildlife Park’s
entrance fee in conjunction with World
Environment Day.
Organiser: Sabah Wildlife Department
For further info:
Tel: +6088-215353 / 214442
Fax: +6088-222476
E-mail: jhlsabah@tm.net.my
Sandakan Festival
21 June 2009
The annual Sandakan Festival takes off
with the official launching ceremony,
organized by the Sandakan Municipal
Council. The festival was introduced in the
year 2000 as means to promote the many
tourism attractions Sandakan has to offer.
Organiser:
Sandakan Municipal Council
For further info: Catherin Chua
Tel: 089 224026
Fax: 089 272112, 213452, 274659
Email:Catherin.Chua@sabah.gov.my
3rd KK Jazz Festival
19 – 20 June 2009
Groove and sway to the
sounds of international and
local jazz acts for 2 days at the
Sutera Harbour Marina Tennis
Club from 6:30pm onwards.
The event aims to build up
local talents and boost the
interest and participation in the
performing arts scene of Kota
Kinabalu. Performers include
UK-based Son2nos and
homegrown talents Double
Take 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), 088
230245 Fax: 088 222985
Email:
adeline@iec.com.my,
kuangkee@yahoo.com,
sparksmalaysia@gmail.com
24th Sabah Dragon Boat Race 2009
20 – 21 June 2009
A traditional Chinese event that evolved
from myths and legends that has grown
into one of the main highlights of the year.
This exciting race has attracted many
teams from as far as Australia, Hong
Kong, Japan, China and Brunei.
Organisers:
Sabah Tourism Board
Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd
Sabah Chinese Culture Association
For further info:
Zachary S. Mobijohn
Tel: 088 232121, 260431
Fax: 088 265540, 219401
Email: zachary@sabahtourism.com
Sandakan Founding Day
21 June 2009
An event to commemorate the day
Sandakan was established in 1879.
Organised by the Sandakan Municipal
Council, this is the third year Sandakan
Founding Day is celebrated.
Organiser:
Sandakan Municipal Council
For further info:
Secretary of Sandakan Municipal Council
Tel: 089 273994
Fax: 089 272112, 274659, 213452
Email: Catherin.Chua@sabah.gov.my
Farmers, Breeders and
Fishermen’s Day
25 – 28 June 2009
An annual event running for the 10th
consecutive year held at the Padang
Bandaran Sandakan, held over four days
with many exhibitions and sales of
highland and lowland fresh vegetables,
tropical fruits, herbs, flowers, seafood and
local handicrafts. Everyone is invited!
Organiser:
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry
For further info: D’Jamil Kamarudin
Tel: 088 283688, 019 8604535
Fax: 088 234834

Sabah’s Man of Steele
Andrew Steele General Manager of Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa
ou can take the man out of Sabah
Y but with Andrew Steele, it seems
like you can never take Sabah out of
the man. Having been in Sabah between
2003 to early 2005, Andrew is back on our
shores and could not be happier. “I love
this place. I have always had a strong
affinity for Sabah. In fact, I was probably a
Sabahan in my previous life!”
“
“I love this place. I
have always had a
strong affinity for
Sabah. In fact, I
was probably a
Sabahan in my
“ Sabah has to offer,” he enthuses, adding that
previous life!”
Now serving as the General Manager
of Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and
Spa (STARs), Andrew’s career of almost
20 years literally spans the globe. Hong
Kong, Shanghai, Xi’an, Taipei, Koh Samui,
Hayman Island, Jakarta and New Delhi are
just some of the locations Andrew has
found himself in, but he asserts none of
them quite live up to Kota Kinabalu. “They
say you don’t know heaven if you’ve never
been to hell and Sabah is definitely
heaven! Some of my postings have been
hellish and emotionally confronting, so
being back here is a breath of fresh air,” he
says.
Andrew is impressed with the changes
he sees here in Sabah. “From the
Waterfront to 1Borneo, it is apparent that
KK continues to grow and prosper. But
more importantly, I am impressed at how
the City is really starting to ‘clean up’. And
for this, I give credit to the Mayor for all his
efforts,” he says, adding that Datuk Ilyas
Ibrahim’s background as the former
Commissioner of Police gives him the dis-
cipline, dedication and motivation to turn
KK into the city it is today. “Our next big
challenge is cleaning up the sea and rivers
which are often littered with plastic bags
and the like,” says Andrew, who is also the
Chairperson for the Malaysian Association
of Hotels (MAH) Safety, Security and
Environment Committee. In fact, as part of
their Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR), STARs ‘adopts’ schools in Kota
3
Kinabalu to be part of the environmental
awareness programmes, and clean-up
sessions or gotong-royong are organised at
Tanjung Aru’s First Beach. “We work hand in
hand with local communities and assist in
education efforts,” he adds. The resort also
adopts four children from the Sri Mengasih
School, a school for children with special
needs, sponsoring their education for a year.
Andrew cannot stress enough how he
loves all things Sabah. “You have such a
diversification of offerings. From dive sites to
Mount Kinabalu and your rainforests are
amazing. But most of all, you have the most
wonderful people. With all this, other
destinations pale in comparison with what
his recent trip to Danum Valley was one of
the most unforgettable experiences during
his time here. His passion for Sabah has led
him together with their sister resort,
Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort in Tuaran, to
team up and package the best of Sabah.
“The General Manager of Rasa Ria, Timothy
Wright, is simply excellent to work with. We
are coming up with packages that allow
visitors to have the complete Borneo
Experience. For example, they can enjoy the
sun, sea and city life during a 3-night stay in
STARs and get up close with the Orang Utan
and other wildlife at Rasa Ria for another 3
nights. It’s the best of both worlds,” he
explains. He also mentions plans to work
together with Yayasan Sabah to bring guests
to Danum Valley as part of this package.
“We don’t want visitors to come to Sabah
and laze by the pool every day! We want
them to get out there, visit the islands, trek
the rainforests and meet the wonderful
people so that they get a real feel of Sabah,”
he says.
Andrew concludes by saying apart from
their goal to be positioned as a premier resort
in the state alongside with Rasa Ria, he
sincerely hopes to play a part in putting
Sabah where she belongs: as one of the top
10 destinations in the world. “We want Sabah
to be on everyone Bucket List – a place
where you MUST go at least once in your
life,” he explains. “But once you’re here I urge
you to get out, explore and even walk into a
coffee shop and you will be surprised at how
open and friendly Sabahans are,” he adds.
Andrew’s dedication also lies in continually
improving the environment, “Sabah is truly
beautiful, but paradise remains paradise
provided its taken care of.” He ends the
interview with a smile, “I think Marco Polo got
its wrong when he said Hangzhou was
heaven. That title belongs to Sabah.”
4

24th Sabah Dragon Boat Race

ast and furious dragons glide over the South China Sea to the pounding
F of drums this June during the 24th Sabah Dragon Race. The Dragon
Boat Festival or Duan Wu, which originates from China and dates back to
20 & 21 June 2009
the 4th century, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar Venue: Likas Bay, Kota Kinabalu
calendar. This is when the Chinese pay homage to their ancestors and
appease the Dragon (Controller of the Water) to ensure adequate rainfall to
ripen 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 rice
dumplings into the river to console his spirit. The throwing of dumplings or
chung tze into the sea is now a symbolic gesture and marks the start of the
event each year.
Initiated by the Sabah Chinese Cultural Association (SCCA) 23 years
ago, the Race was placed under the responsibility of the Sabah Tourism
Board in 1996. The race was then briefly under the organization of the
Ministry of Youth & Sports in the years 2002 and 2003 but is now (since
2004) back in the hands of the Sabah Tourism Board with the support of the
SCCA.
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 World Environment Day, 13 June
• Men’s Team Open 200 Metre Race – Open to all Men’s Teams hink green and join us at this year’s World Environment Day at the
• Mix Team Open 200 Metre Race – Open to all Mixed Teams
• Charity Race – Open to all teams
T Lok Kawi Wildlife Park! With the collaboration of various agencies
under the helm of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment,
members of the public are invited to be a part of this event. Activities
The newly-introduced Charity Race is a unique category in which teams include tree-planting, a drawing competition for school children and a
select a charitable organization to represent. The name of the organization treasure hunt. Visitors can also learn step-by-step garden composting
must be incorporated in the team name when registering for this event. All methods. Enjoy 50 percent off the Wildlife Park’s entrance fee in
cash prizes of the winning team will then be donated to the respective conjunction with World Environment Day! The event kicks off at
charitable organisation. This year, the total cash prize for this year is 7:00am until noon.
RM43,000. The Heats for all categories take place on the 20th of June while For more information, please contact the organizers at
the Finals are held the following day. 088-215353 or 214442 (Sabah Wildlife Department).
In between races, enjoy the spectacular dragon and lion dance
performances and a
24-Chinese drum presentation. On the 20th of June, visitors can also Get Ready!
participate in a host of events at Likas Bay including beach soccer matches
The Borneo International Marathon 2009 takes
organised by KK Futsal Centre, canoeing by the Sabah Canoe Association
place on the 11th of October right here in Kota
and sailing activities by the Kinabalu Yacht Club and Sabah Sailing
Kinabalu. Here’s a handy runner’s tip:
Association. Come and catch the excitement this June at Likas Bay! The
Combine your running with strength training.
event kicks off at 8:00am.
Don’t shy away from pumping iron in the gym - It
For more information, please contact Zachary Mobijohn (Organising
can help enhance endurance, reduce risk of
Secretary) at +6088-232121, fax +6088-265540 or e-mail
repetitive stress injuries and increase lean body mass.
zachary@sabahtourism.com. Visit the website at
For more info on the marathon, visit www.borneomarathon.com
http://dragonboat.sabahtourism.com

The Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival 2009,19-20 June

way, shake and shimmy to the sounds of
S jazz maestros from around the world! This
year’s KK Jazz Festival takes place at the
Tennis Arena, Sutera Marina Club from
6:30pm to 11:00pm. Indulge in the musical
stylings 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 from
Korea, UK-based Son2nos, Rimba, SIA Jazz
Syndicate and Jonathan Tse. Music enthusi-
asts will also have the chance to jam with the
performers on the 7th and 14th of June from
3pm to 5pm at the Sutera Harbour Resort.
Tickets for the 2-day access are priced at
RM50.00 and RM100.00 and can be
purchased at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
outlets around Kota Kinabalu.
This event is organized by the Rotary Club
of Kota Kinabalu (RCKK) with the support
of the Society of Performing Arts Kota
Kinabalu Sabah (SPArKS). For more
details, contact the organizers at 088
230245 or e-mail
sparksmalaysia@gmail.com
 5

Traditional Every Saturday

& Sunday
Games throughout
Exhibition the month of June
rom bamboo stilt-walking
F (rampanau) to top-spinning
(gasing), traditional games are
a aplenty at the Monsopiad
Cultural Village in
Penampang. Every weekend,
The 1st Sabah State Music Camp join the fun and games of the

8-13 June traditional folk. Revive age-old

past times, many of which
t will be a week of musical fusion, fellowship and fun at the 1st Sabah State
I Music Camp this June. Amateur musicians and music students of all ages
and nationalities are invited to be a part of this amazing experience. The
require agility, skill and plenty
of hand-eye coordination. It’s
all happening at the
participants will gain concentrated knowledge in their particular area of
Monsopiad Cultural Village!
interest and in depth study of their instruments or voice during the camp.
The program for the week will include tutorials, sectional practices, The exhibition runs from
orchestral and choral rehearsals, chamber music, master classes, camp 9:00am to 5:00pm. For
recitals, recreation activities and sight-seeing. Held at Universiti Malaysia more information, please
Sabah (UMS), the camp will be conducted in English. However Mandarin contact the organizers
and Bahasa Malaysia will be used where necessary and translators are at 088-774337 / 761336
available. The camp culminates in a full orchestral and choral performance or e-mail
of the Camp Finale Concert at the UMS Recital Hall on 13 June. info@monsopiad.com
For more information, please contact Yap Ling at 016 820 0355.

NEWS TYT Votes for Sipadan
His Excellency Sabah’s Head of State, TYT Yang
di-Pertua Negeri Sabah Tun Datuk Seri Panglima
Haji Ahmadshah Bin Abdullah casts his vote for
Sipadan in its bid to be nominated as one of the 7
Wonders of Nature. In April, the Chief Minister of
Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman led
the way by casting his vote during the DUN Assembly. Cast your vote by logging
on to www.votesipadan.com.
Semporna’s Dragon Inn Listed as Top
10 Floating Hotels
Popular website www.askmen.com recently named
Semporna’s Dragon Inn Floating Resort as one of
the Top1 10 Floating Hotels in the world. Dragon Inn
was listed as number 7 on the list, joining the ranks
of the Six Senses Soneva Gili Resort in Maldives,
Reefworld, Great Barrier Reef in Australia and Dubai’s Floating and Rotating
Hotel Tower.

Vote For Sipadan Campaign Going Strong in Shopping
Centres
The campaign for Sipadan to be listed as one of the nominees for the New 7
Wonders of Nature continues in shopping centres around Kota Kinabalu. Booths
are 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!
Kadaiku sets up the Plush Toy Mini Sanctuary Corner
Kadaiku, located next to the Sri Pelancongan Sabah Tourist Information office in
Sinsuran, recently set up its Plush Toy Mini Sanctuary Corner. The Sabah
souvenir and handicraft store features its exclusive collection of plush soft toys
including Simbo the Orang Utan and his family, Lucky Laki the Proboscis Monkey
and Kuno the Rhinoceros. Bring one home today! Check out page 15 to see
what’s new at Kadaiku.
6

Frankincense
– A Family Cafe
L ooking for a dose of hearty home-cooked food? Swing by
Frankincense, a quaint family-friendly café located at the Sri Kepayan
Commercial Centre in Kota Kinabalu. Set up by husband and wife team
of Casey and Cathy Lee, Frankincense offers the unique combination of
Baba & Nyonya cuisine (of Malay-Chinese influence most popular in the
Malaysians 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 of
steamed rice. Try the Ayam Pongteh, a simple chicken stew cooked with
soya 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 the
Baba Nyonya community on Chinese New Year Eve. Also served here is
the Ayam Tempera, a chicken dish cooked with green pepper and
vinegar served in a delicious gravy. The Nenas Masak Lemak is popular
pick among the regulars – pineapple slices cooked in a coconut milk. You
won’t be disappointed! Complement your meal with unforgettable
Sabahan 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). End
your meal with a cup of Jenny’s Yogurt Ice Cream – some diners have
been known to bring more than a cup or two home! The best part is all
dishes are priced under RM10.00. Frankincense truly lives up to its
‘family-friendly’ concept with its Kids Corner. Tiny tots simply love the
pint-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 the
whole family, look no further than Frankincense!
Frankincense is open Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 10:00 pm. It
is located at No. 17, Ground Floor, Block H, Lot 3, Sri Kepayan
Commercial Centre (within the Austral Park housing estate). Does
not serve pork. For more information, please contact Casey Lee at
016 813 9119

Ikan Bakar Pasar Sim Sim

hen in Sandakan, find your way to the much-raved about Pasar Sim
W Sim. 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 flock
here during lunch and dinner to enjoy some of the arguably best grilled fish
in this part of Sabah. According to Sandakan folk, Pasar Sim Sim started
out as a modest market selling fresh produce and the like. But it wasn’t until
2004 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) and
ikan putih (trevally). Many visitors from the west coast (namely Kota
Kinabalu) even claim that no trip to Sandakan is complete without an ikan
bakar 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 easy
on the belacan! There are also plenty of side dishes to go with your ikan
bakar, from local vegetables to pickled delights. Be adventurous and try a
bit of everything! The market is open daily from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.
It is located on Jalan Buli Sim Sim, Sandakan.
 7

Promenade Hotel Tawau

P
romenade Hotel has opened its doors in
the east coast town of Tawau! With 180
rooms and suites, this 16-storey hotel is
the tallest hotel in town and is adjacent to
Eastern Plaza - the biggest shopping complex
in Tawau. Strategically located less than 1.5 km
from the bustling town centre, Promenade
Hotel Tawau is within reach of Government
Welcomes You!
administrative offices, business, shopping and
entertainment centres.

The state’s latest 4-star business hotel was

officially launched on Saturday, 2 May 2009 by
the Chief Minister of Sabah, Yang Amat
Berhormat (YAB) Datuk Seri Panglima Musa
Haji Aman in a lavish ceremony which included
a High Tea buffet for more than 500 guests at
the hotel’s Promenade Grand Ballroom on the
6th Floor.

The Grand Launch of the Promenade Hotel

Tawau at Kuhara Point, which was held
consecutively with the launching of Eastern
Plaza Shopping Complex, received the ‘thumbs
up’ from the Guest of Honour, Sabah’s Chief
Minister YAB Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji
Aman, who lauded the opening of the hotel and
the shopping complex as a positive step in the
town’s development, citing that better accom-
modation and shopping facilities will attract
more visitors to Tawau.

Besides being the tallest hotel and having the

largest ballroom in the state (with a seating
capacity of 1,300 persons), Promenade Hotel
Tawau also houses the biggest and only
comprehensive gymnasium at its Leisure
Centre on the 5th Floor. It also has a 24-hour
coffeehouse Café@se7en on the 7th Floor, a
Lobby Lounge with a Deli and Cigar Corner, a
contemporary Zsa Zsa Zsu fun pub on the
Lower 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 with
an exclusive club lounge on the 15th Floor.

For frequent hotel-goers or frequent visitors to

Tawau, Promenade Hotel Tawau has its
Promenade Platinum Tawau Membership
(PPTM), which entitles cardholders to
accommodation and dining discounts at
Promenade Hotel Tawau, Promenade Hotel
Kota Kinabalu, Promenade Hotel Apartments,
Marina Court Resort Condominium and
Colonnades Condominium.
Catching up with the Managing Director of
Promenade Hotel Sdn Bhd, Kong Hock Sian,
during the event, Kong quipped, “We are proud
to say that with our existing strong corporate
management team at Promenade Hotel Kota
Kinabalu, who happen to be all Malaysians, we
are indeed looking forward to building up the
Promenade Brand and facing more challenges
by encapsulating our credos in line with our
Prime Minister’s and Chief Minister’s 1Malaysia
Concept by working hand in hand towards
achieving Vision 2020.”
In conjunction with the Grand Launch of
Promenade Hotel Tawau and Eastern Plaza
Shopping Centre, a Grand Opening concert
was held at the Eastern Plaza Shopping
Complex on Sunday night. That was followed
with an exciting post-concert party at the latest
and most happening fun pub in Tawau, Zsa Zsa
Zsu Fun Pub on the Lower Ground Floor of
Promenade Hotel Tawau.
The Zsa Zsa Zsu Fun Pub is open daily from
5:00 pm (except for Sundays). Ladies Night is
every Wednesday – a perfect excuse for some
midweek fun! Daily Happy Hours are from 5:00
– 9:00 pm with 50% off on all house-pouring
brands and beers. This June, be entertained by
the upbeat 7-piece band ‘7th Theory’.
For more information, please call the
Marketing Communications (MARCOM)
Department at Tel: 089 – 982 888 or Email:
comm_tawau@promenade.com.my.
8
lanning to tie the knot in Sabah? Opt for a
P hassle-free experience with the help of
Tanjung Aru Bridal House in Kota Kinabalu.
Nestled in a leafy spot facing the Tanjung Aru
Beach and a stone’s throw from the
Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa, this
establishment is the answer to every wedding
couples’ prayers! The one-stop bridal house
offers a variety of services for your big day, from
wedding gown rentals to professional photo
sessions.
The ‘bridal house’ is actually a colonial-style
building with a sprawling garden that is barely a
hundred metres from the beach. With such
beautiful scenery, you can be sure of
breathtaking backgrounds for your wedding
album. Tanjung Aru Bridal House offers a very
relaxed atmosphere, where each couple is
personally attended to. Take your time to
browse through more than 100 gowns, evening
dresses and men’s suits. The gowns are the
creation of an in-house designer and include
the latest fashions hot off the latest bridal
runway. Still can’t decide? Then why not
custom-make your gown? Another fantastic
service offered by these wedding professionals.
The bridal house offers hard to resist
packages which are not only value for money
but tailored to suit your needs. Most packages
include the rental of gowns, hair and make-up
services, wedding portraits, personalised
wedding favours and a professional photo
session – a coffee-table album of your desired
size is included as well as a soft copy of all the
images taken during your shoot. Be it a
romantic beach wedding or a tropical rainforest
theme, the photographers will cater to any set-
ting you wish. You can even opt to include a
wedding video montage in the package. Since
opening its doors in February this year, Tanjung
Aru Bridal House has received rave reviews for
its range of wedding packages to suit a wide
variety of budgets. Nothing beats the conven-
ience of having your wedding dilemmas solved
under 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 corporate
events photography.
The professionals here are happy to help you
with any wedding-related inquiries such as
venues and catering suggestions. Make your
wedding in Sabah Malaysian Borneo an
unforgettable experience with Tanjung Aru
Bridal House.
Tanjung Aru Bridal House is open from
10:00am to 6:00pm from Monday to Thursday
and from 10:00am to 8:00pm from Friday to
Sunday. It is located at no. 19 Jalan Aru,
Tanjung Aru. For more information, please con-
tact the Marketing Manager, Jean Tan at +6017
823 8131 or Sale Manager, Abdul Muis at
+6017 813 1933. E-mail: arubridal@gmail.com
 ust when you think you know a place, there’s

J always something more to discover. The KK

Heritage Walk unravels Kota Kinabalu’s rich
history as you stroll along its streets. The walk is a
guided tour of the city’s streets and landmarks, each
with an interesting story of its own which dates back to
pre-war, post-war and post-independence days.

The 2-hour walk begins from the Independence Field

(Padang Merdeka) and takes you through various parts
of 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 as
printing companies. A quick pit stop at the Museum
Kopitiam gives you a glimpse of a bygone era. The
kopitiam (coffee shop) stays true to its original concept
back in the 1940s, complete with framed photographs
of pre-war and post-war days adorning its walls. The
walk then brings you to other historical buildings and
monuments such as the Atkinson Clock, Community
Centre, Sabah Tourism Building, Jesselton Hotel,
Malaysia Monument, War Memorial and the City Council
Building. For added fun, a short treasure hunt is
conducted. This is where you should keep your eyes
and ears peeled! Apart from getting a historical tour of
KK, the walk is a great opportunity to experience the
city’s sights and sounds.

The KK Heritage Walk is held every Tuesday and

Thursday (other days, except Sundays, are available by
prior arrangement with a minimum of four persons per
group) and is conducted by professional licensed
tourist guides. Participants will also receive a KK
Heritage Cap and ‘A Guide To KK Heritage Walk’
booklet.

For more information, please contact Grace Leong at

012 802 8823 or e-mail info@kkheritagewalk.com. Visit
the website at http://kkheritagewalk.com
 ith a name like Pom Pom, it’s hard to forget

W this gem of an island located on the east

coast of Sabah. Our trip to Pom Pom Island
was already an adventure by itself – The pelting rain
followed us on the boat ride all the way from
Semporna; by the time my team and I arrived, we
were drenched but happy to see land! Thankfully,
nothing but sunshine paved the way for the rest of
our trip.

Pom Pom Island Resort is located some 40

minutes by speedboat from the town of Semporna,
Tawau. Originally the island was named Pom Pong
but over time, the name Pom Pom proved to be
more catchy and easier to remember. The resort is
built on 40 acres of land with a sprawling frontage.
The long stretch of beach offers ample sunbathing
spots for you to soak up the sun! However, the first
thing that caught my eye was the huge dining and
reception area. Never before have I seen such a
massive wooden structure at an island resort – it is
a beautiful piece of architecture and I was
fascinated with the detail. As I further explored the
resort, I noticed the attention to detail in each of the
structures. There are currently three types of
accommodation: Water Bungalows, Beach Villas
and Garden Villas. A combination of natural
materials was used to construct the buildings, from
coconut 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 the
tasteful décor in each room – simple with an elegant
touch, giving the rooms a ‘clean’ look with very little
clutter.

Our friendly guide Ronnie gave us a tour of the

resort. The Beach and Garden Villas are for
everyone, from travelling friends to honeymoon
couples on – not only are they spacious but I loved
the idea of having the beach literally at your
doorstep. I spent a good portion of my afternoons
falling asleep on a hammock, listening to the gentle
lapping of the waves. But for the ultimate luxury, stay
at the Water Bungalows. Imagine diving right into
the ocean at your own personal ‘jetty’ and enjoy the
marine life swimming right below you. Located
nearby is a special bungalow that provides much-
needed body massages and heavenly reflexology
sessions. All this with a fantastic view of the sea!
Back on land, we were given a tour of the island’s
very own vegetable and fruit garden. Ronnie
explained that the resort supplies its own fresh
produce where possible. We saw a colourful com
bination of eggplant, chillies, bananas, papayas and
even dragonfruit just begging to be on the kitchen
table. Another unique aspect of the resort is the use
A trip to the nearby Buhay Dulang
of RO (reverse osmosis) water. This means
that the water supply is filtered several times,
making it purer than what is normally found in
our household taps. According to Peter
Loong, the owner of the resort, Pom Pom is
the first resort to implement the use of RO
water. We further traipsed the resort and
found it well-equipped with a meeting room, a
games room for a round of billiards and darts,
a souvenir and convenience store and inter-
net services. Plenty to do should you ever
decide to peel yourself away from the lure of
the beach!
Scuba divers are well taken care of by the
experienced divemasters working here. Apart
from the surrounding marine attractions of
Pom Pom, divers can opt to explore nearby
diving sites, such as those of Mataking,
Timba Timba, Kalapuan, Pandanan and
Bohey Dulang (which is part of the Tun
Sakaran Marine Park).
As the sun begins to set, nothing beats a
walk along the starfish-studded beach. Divers
flock to the common area come dinner time to
share their amazing underwater photos and
exchange dive experiences. Need a drink?
Nothing the friendly bartender can’t fix.
Whether you wish to explore the oceanic
wonders of the East Coast or escape the
humdrum of the city, the pleasures of
Pom Pom will not disappoint.
For more info, visit http://pompomisland.com
or call 088-233966/959 or fax 088-234088.
E-mail info@pompomisland.com
 11

The amazing architecture seen at the dining hall

12
14

Origins of the T he Dragon Boat Festival or Tuan Wu, has its origins in the 4th
century BC. It falls on the “Dragon fifth” – the fifth day of the

Dragon Boat Race fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. It is one of the three
days in the lunar year when all debts must be settled. It is also a
time to pay homage to ancestors and to appease the dragon,
believed to be the Controller of the Water, ensuring adequate
rain to ripen the crops. The most exciting part of this traditional
festival, however, involves the Dragon Boat Race.
The race is held to commemorate the death of Chu Yuan, the
legendary Chinese poet and patriot who lived during the Chou
dynasty. He held a high position in the court of one of the major
states of China but was eventually exiled by corrupt government
officials.
Chu Yuan wrote many poems to express his great love for his
country and people, lamenting his own fate. As a final protest
against the government, Chu Yuan cast himself into the Milo
river.
The local fisherman were so moved by his gesture that they
raced in their boats to try to recover his body, beating the water
with paddles to prevent the fishes from devouring him. They also
threw rice dumpling into the water to appease his spirit. To
prevent sea serpents from eating the rice offerings, the
dumplings were wrapped in silk bound with five threads in the
colour of the Emperor.
Sabah Folklore
In Sabah native folklore, the Dragon holds a significant place as
the guardian of Mount Kinabalu, the Sacred Mountain and the
Summit of Borneo. Mount Kinabalu is believed to be the resting
place of spirits of the dead and that somewhere deep inside the
Mountain are many precious stones guarded by dragons.
16

Perlumbaan Perahu Naga Ke-24 Pameran Permainan Tradisional

20 & 21 Jun 2009 Setiap Sabtu dan Ahad sepanjang
Teluk Likas, Kota Kinabalu bulan Jun

aripada rampanau (berjalan bertongkatkan buluh) sehinggalah

D gasing, banyak permainan tradisional yang boleh disaksikan di
Kampung Budaya Monsopiad di Penampang. Setiap hujung minggu,
sertailah keseronokan dan permainan orang dulu-dulu. Kembalikan
masa lalu, banyak daripadanya memerlukan kemahiran dan
ketangkasan serta banyak daripadanya memerlukan gabungan
egak-gempita perahu naga meluncur di Laut China Selatan mengikut
G irama paluan gendang Jun ini ketika Perlumbaan Perahu Naga
Sabah ke-24. Festival Perahu Naga atau Duan Wu yang berasal dari
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-
China dan bermula sejak abad ke-4 ini, jatuh pada hari kelima bulan
774337/761336 atau e-mel info@monsopiad.com
kelima dalam kalendar lunar Cina. Ketika inilah orang-orang Cina
memberikan penghormatan kepada nenek moyang mereka dan
memuaskan Naga (Pengawal Air) bagi memastikan hujan yang cukup
untuk menyuburkan tanaman mereka. Perlumbaan ini juga adalah untuk
memperingati penyair China, Qu Yan yang terjun ke Sungai Milo untuk
membunuh diri. Orang ramai berdayung menaiki perahu untuk mencari
mayatnya dan menabur ladu beras ke sungai untuk menenangkan
rohnya. 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 tahun
yang lalu, Perlumbaan ini diletakkan di bawah tanggungjawab Lembaga
Pelancongan Sabah pada 1996. Perlumbaan ini kemudiannya berada
seketika di bawah penganjuran Kementerian Belia dan Sukan pada tahun
2002 dan 2003 tetapi kini (sejak 2004) kembali dilaksanakan oleh
Lembaga Pelancongan Sabah dengan sokongan SCCA.
Pada tahun ini, sekitar 50 pasukan dari dalam dan luar negara dijangka
mengambil bahagian, dari dalam dan luar negara, termasuk pasukan dari
Brunei, 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. Nama
badan tersebut perlu digabungkan dengan nama pasukan apabila
mendaftar untuk acara ini. Semua hadiah wang tunai yang dimenangi
pasukan itu akan disumbangkan kepada badan amal masing-masing.
Tahun ini, hadiah wang tunai keseluruhan ialah RM43,000. Saringan
untuk semua kategori akan berlangsung pada 20 Jun, manakala pusingan
akhir 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, pengunjung
juga 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 anjuran
Kelab Perahu Layar Kinabalu serta Persatuan Perahu Layar Sabah.
Datang dan rasai kemeriahannya Jun ini di Teluk Likas! Acara bermula
8:00 pagi.
Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila hubungi Zachary Mobijohn (Setiausaha
Penganjur) di talian +6088-232121, faks +6088265540 atau e-mel
zachary@sabahtourism.com. Kunjungi laman web
http://dragonboat.sabahtourism.com
 17

Tempat-tempat Menarik
Festival Jazz
Kota Kinabalu
Menara Tinjau Signal Hill
2009
19-20 Jun
ayatilah keasyikan irama
H daripada pemuzik-pemuzik
jazz hebat dari seluruh dunia!
Festival Jazz KK tahun ini
berlangsung di Tennis Arena,
Sutera Marina Club dari 6:30
petang hingga 11:00 malam.
Dengarlah gaya muzik Double
Take yang berasal dari Sabah, iada apa yang dapat mengatasi pemandangan dari puncak dan untuk
menampilkan Roger Wang dan
Mia Palencia, kumpulan vokal
T membuktikannya, pergilah ke Menara Tinjau Signal Hill di Kota Kinabalu.
Tempat terkenal itu baru-baru ini membuka semula pintunya semula kepada
harmoni Malaysia Six2Eight, orang ramai, menawarkan pemandangan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu menerusi
Junk Unit dari Hong Kong, Nah pandangan dari udara. Dengan sudut yang strategik, pengunjung boleh meli-
Youn Sun dari Korea, Son2nos yang berpangkalan di UK, Rimba, SIA hat pemandangan bangunan-bangunan utama di bandar ini, lot kedai malah
Jazz Syndicate dan Jonathan Tse. Peminat muzik juga berpeluang pesisir pantainya yang menakjubkan. Saksikan kesibukan bandar ini dan
untuk jam bersama-sama pemuzik pada 7 dan 14 Jun dari pukul 3 pada sebelah petang, nikmatilah pemandangan romantik matahari terbenam
hingga 5 petang di Sutera Harbour Resort. Tiket-tiket masuk untuk dan angin sepoi-sepoi yang nyaman. Menara ini juga dilengkapi dengan tan-
dua hari ini berharga RM50.00 dan RM100.00 dan boleh dibeli di das awam dan pagar yang tinggi untuk tujuan keselamatan. Pintunya dibuka
cawangan The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf di sekitar Kota Kinabalu. antara pukul 8:00 pagi hingga 12:00 tengah malam setiap hari dan masuk
Acara ini dianjurkan oleh Kelab Rotary Kota Kinabalu (RCKK) adalah percuma.
dengan sokongan Kesatuan Persembahan Seni Kota Kinabalu Bagaimana untuk ke sana: Pengunjung boleh memilih untuk menggunakan
Sabah (SPArKS). Untuk maklumat lanjut, hubungi penganjur di kenderaan persendirian atau pergi dengan teksi. Menara ini terletak lebih
talian 088 230245 atau e-mel sparksmalaysia@gmail.com kurang lima minit memandu dari pusat bandar.

Mari Makan

pabila berada di Sandakan, carilah jalan untuk ke Pasar Sim Sim yang
A terkenal itu. Daripada pandangan pertama, pasar itu dilihat seperti
pasar biasa tetapi tarikan utama Pasar Sim-Sim ialah gerai-gerai Ikan
Bakar. Penduduk tempatan berkumpul di sini ketika makan tengah hari dan
makan malam untuk menikmati ikan bakar yang diakui terbaik di bahagian
ini 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 kerana
gerai-gerai ikan bakarnya. ‘Mak Cik-mak cik’ dan penolong mereka yang
peramah dengan bangga menunjukkan pelbagai jenis ikan segar terma-
suklah antaranya kerapu, ikan bahulu, ikan belais, ikan merah dan ikan
putih. Ramai pengunjung dari Pantai Barat (terutamanya Kota Kinabalu)
turut mendakwa perjalanan ke Sandakan tidak sah tanpa menikmati ikan
bakarnya!
Ikan bakar paling sesuai dihidangkan bersama-sama nasi dan sambal
belacan – sambal ini mungkin agak pedas jadi berhati-hatilah dengan bela-
can! Ada juga beberapa hidangan sampingan yang sesuai dimakan dengan
ikan bakar, daripada sayur-sayuran tempatan sehinggalah jeruk. Cubalah
rasai semuanya! Pasar ini dibuka setiap hari dari 10:00 pagi sehingga
10:00 malam. Pasar ini terletak di Jalan Buli Sim-Sim, Sandakan.
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