Poring Hot Spring, Sabah

Poring Hot Spring has always been a get away location which provide a nice, hot spring for a dip. It is also surrounded by the wonderful forest. driving from Kota Kinabalu, we have to go through Kundasang and also the foot of Mount Kinabalu. We stop by the Kota Kinabalu National Park HQ before proceed to Poring Hot Spring.

We stop at each nice location to enjoy the scenery, often stopping by for photo shoot and also to taste the local delicacies. We fill our stomach with the local noodle at Ranau before we proceed to Poring Hot Spring.



The clear water river run through the forest in Poring.

The shelter for us to have a dip at the hot spring. Bewarn, please switch on the cold water tap and the hot spring tap before dipping or else you will be cook.

Part of the hot spring facilities. A lot of local and foreign visitors at the hotspring enjoying themselves.

Flora at Mount Kinabalu

Flora have always facinate me with its beautiful shape, colour, characteristic, and its traditional medicinal usage. Recently we tooks a few photos during our trip to Mount Kinabalu, Sabah. the trip is a much needed holiday after those hard working days.

Orchid with its lovely petal and colour.

Fern, the ever green flora which i love to plant on my garden at home.

A different type of orchid with its small flower.

Lovely pink flower.

Another type of orchid. It has been a long time since I do plant identification. I have lost my plant identification skill.

YES UNION RETREAT, LUNDU

Where is the suitable place for relaxing? anything exciting? needs to get out of Kuching but can't spend a long duration for holiday.

Part of the solution is the Yes Union Retreat situated at Siar Beach, Lundu. It is a friendly environment and with a scenic area facing the ocean. The beach is gradually slope into the sea and it is not that deep. Thus, suitable for kids to play in the sea. Beach fishing which I have not try yet at this location.

For those who love swimming, there is a swimming pool just beside the main building. There is a restaurant and a small bar for the visitor.


The waterfall at the reception area.


Nice landscape with small pond.

The chalets for those with family. It has nice room.

I grade this place as for those who want a relaxing weekend without spending few hours of journey time.

I do proposed that if you do visit this place, you can also go to Gunung Gading National Park for their nature and the main attraction is the Rafflesia flower.

The nearest small town is the Lundu town, which have bank, petrol station and shops for your convenience.

Fishing in April

Opening seasons for our team started a bit late than usual. This year we started our fishing trip in April. The boat we used is the 'Blue Lagoon'. This is the first time I used this boat which i grade in term of facilities and the location of the fishing is B+. We disembak from the jetty at Muara Tebas at 1.30 pm after everyone have gathered.

During the journey, i have tie a few more fishing hook using special leader as this time our targetted fish is the spanish markarel or tenggiri as the local call it.

The happy anglers with their catch. 3 boxes full of fishes.

The fishes that we caught during the fishing trip.

The freshness of the fish are indicated through the eyes of the fish.

One of the most expensive catch is the Garupa. The cost of the fish is Rm 50.00 per kilo but it can get more than RM 500.00 per kilo in Hong Kong.

The Garupa fish caught that morning was stim for dinner. FRESH and nice.

Prawning or Prawn fishing?

It is March, another fishing season have started. We start of going for prawning. I am not sure the correct terminology to use, either prawning or fishing for prawn?

We went to Sadaong Jaya, a small town about 1 hour 20 minutes drive from Kuching city in Sarawak, Malaysia.

The river is actually very near to the estuary thus it is a bit salty. Accoding to my friend Teo, the prawn here is the best among all the prawn that he has eaten. As for me, prawning is a way of relaxing.

The river that we done our fishing for prawn.



The prawn that was hooked up on line and hook. For those who never fishing for prawn, the hook is a bit different compared to the fish hook.



A few local people was casting net to catch parwn while we still fish on.

The river where prawn and fish can be found. We fish for prawn here.

This is the prawn that we caught. Lovely and fresh. How to cook? Basically asam prawn or BBQ.


We will be going again to that location. fishing season have started thus will be planning for sea fishing. That remind me of stocking up my fishing hooks, line and weight.

She Sell Sea Shell at the Sea Shore

Sea shell and coral have always facinate me with its texture and colours. In Sabah, I always go to the local market to see all this interesting sea shell and coral being display by the local seller.

For those creative people, it has been used as part of the media for painting which resulted in fantastic and esthetic arts. For interior decorators as a decorative items for the house and for those who have acquarium with beautiful fishes, this is some of the ornament that can be found in their aquarium.

The beautiful colour of the sea snail.
This is a biggest sea snail that i have found. The colour and texture is interesting.

Some of the decorative items from the sea.

I always love the coral.

It interesting especially when you travel to see all this product from the nature to be sold. For the local people, it is nothing special. For us who are not staying near to the sea, it something beautiful that mother earth provide.

Another point to ponder, will tourism be the cause of extinction of the flora or fauna species?

Be smart when you travel.

Kota Kinabalu by the sea

Kota Kinabalu, by the waterfront over looking the sea is always a place of peace for us. Even with the tropical sun shining on us and the welcoming sea breeze was delightful and cooling.

After shopping at the warisan square and the Philipine market at Kota Kinabalu, we walked to the waterfront.

A row of nice table and chair for visitors. Visitors can order cold drinks from ice lemon tea to beer and local or western food at the restaurant.

Looking at the fishing trawlers and boats, anchoring more than 20 meters from the waterfront.

Enjoying the scenery and quencing of thirst by drinking cold lemon juice or local call it 3 sour juice which consisted of sour plum, lime juice and lemon.

Another scenery along the road from 1 Borneo.

Beautiful sunset, from the airport waiting lounge. We are on our way back to Kuching.

Chinese New Year in Sabah

Chinese New Year 2010 has been a wonderful celebration. Fire works was firing off during the Eve of Chinese New Year in Kuching. Friends and family visiting and get together was a delightful event.

End of February 2010, we were in Kota Kinabalu and visited 1 Borneo shopping mall. It was a few days before the 15 days of new year of the chinese calendar (Chap Goh Mei). It was beautifully decorated and was entertained by the local lion dance troop with a spectacular performance. We love to visit Sabah especially Kota Kinabalu as it has all the nature scenery and lovely shopping mall and of couse shopping is in the agenda.

The lantern was beautifully. It promoted the festive season mood in Malaysia.

A beautiful stage with the dragon on the side.


The beautiful lighted flower displayed.

The spectacular performance of the lion dance troops, accompanied by the music from the drum and cymbal. The usual music that can be heard during the Chinese New Year festival. Visitors and shoppers was being 'WOW' by the performance.

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year for this year will be on 14 February 2010 which coincide with the Valentine Day. It is a celebration that all are looking forward to where new year means new opportunity. A Happy and Prosperous New Year To all. Compared to the early 80's, most of the baby boomer generation will remember that it time for good food, new attire, 'ang pau' (red packet) and family gathering and fire crackers.

The symbol of luck and prosperity have been pass down from generation to generation. The only difference it is the type of symbol.

One of the symbol of properity is fish. The 'Flower horn' fish which many have rear in their aquarium at home.
Chinese New Year is a gathering of family and diner on the 30th night of the chinese calender. The picture below is not the 'flower horn' fish from above but a fish from the local restaurant. For most of chinese people believes that we should eat a fish with it head and tail attached. It symbolise that fish in chinese language means that luck or prosperity. A fish dish with the head and tail attached mean that if we do task we must have a starting point and end it accordingly.

The symbol of oranges in golden colors means that prosperity will be bountiful.

The symbol of the 'leak vegetable' means we can count the countless of prosperities in the years to come.

Happy Chinese New Year and May All have a great and prosperous year a head.

Costume Party: You Are a Star

YOU ARE A STAR.

It is always a pleasure working with new organization. I was glad that I join a corporate company where the corporate culture is always be efficient and goal oriented in the tasks that we do.

However, it really surprise me as the work hard culture even spill over to the after office hour. I think the motto of this organization is 'Work Hard and Play Hard". I am glad to be part of this enthusiastic team of people.

The scenerio of the party room at one of the new and leading hotel in Kuching, Sarawak. 'You are A Star' is the theme of the night. Which I totally agreed. All of the staff and guest is wearing costume.

That me with the cowboy hat. I am impersonate 'Indiana Jone': the adventurer, I forgot to bring the whip. A colleaque of mine with its outrageous costume.

The MC have done a good job of bringing the celebration atmosphere. The pictures below you can see the 'The God of Wealth' giving out gold coin... chocolate in gold rapping.

A celebration in deed. A toast for excellent job in 2009 and going to excel from GOOD to Great for the year 2010.

A Michael Jackson impersonator danced to the beat of the music. A wonderful presentation.

The best costume of the nite. The picture below show some of the costume and as instructed by the DJ, they needs to do outrageous moves.

Sapi Island : Fishes in Clear water

The beautiful and clear water of fishes in Sapi Island, Sabah have always a beautiful sight. The beautiful fishes or the ocean have always facinated me and hopefully in the future will be able to take underwater photograph. Anyway, I can't wait for the fishing season to start.


How many species of fish that you can identify?

The wonders of the beautiful oceon. Some call it the last frontier on earth.

Mulu from the Air and Airport

Mulu National Park or Mulu have always been in my list of places that I want to visit. Well, during our trip back from KK, we transit in Mulu. Thus, was able to capture some pictures.

The winding rivers in Sarawak from the air before we reach Mulu. Sarawak have a lot of rivers. Thus, most of the transportation at the olden days was by river. We have the express boat which looks like the bullet train. If you never ride on one, you should try.
A view from the Mulu airport. Wish that i can explore the nature here. One of these days. I will definately going to.

A view from the waiting lounge at the Mulu airport. The limestone hill at the back of the airplane. I guess the limestone hill must have a lot of protected species especially orchids.

A view while taking of from Mulu airport. The duration from Miri is about 15 minutes and to Kuching about 30 minutes flight.

I will definately coming to explore Mulu especially the Pannicle and National park.