Trying out the Good Life in Sabah

Many years back there was a very interesting program called The Good Life It was a hilarious but most entertaining TV series (see The Good Life (1971 TV series)and captured the imagination of many city dwellers who wanted to experience the simple lifestyle, a term usually associated with living in the countryside and being self sufficient in many ways.

My own family is very much into the simple things in life and we have decided to put our ideas into action on our little "hobby farm" we now call Eagle Plateau ! Yes you guessed it right ! The journey to being self sufficient and living the good life is not quite the easy path as some would have you believe.. it is tough and often full of frustrating events and situation.. certainly not for some people..

But the rewards are so wonderful and so fulfilling that we have kept on going inspite of all the challenges. And these can be chronic challenges that irritates and discourages you and are designed to make you give up on all your dreams of living the good life !

To all those who are in the same boat, we say.. hang in there and keep at it because the lessons and the skills you will learn from this lifestyle is priceless. We have learned to work with nature in ways we never thought possible before and we have tasted the beautiful and delicious fruits of our labour as we watch our little garden yield fresh avocados, pineapples, mangoes, guavas and so many other fresh tropical fruits.

We grow herbs too.. both for kitchen and healing needs and we are still learning about other herbal plants as we exchange ideas and experiences with likeminded friends from all over.Our dreams for this lifestyle; to be able to create a place for our family in a manner that the land and home will be able to look after us in a natural way without the complicated and crowded system that we so often face in our pursuit of happiness.

Our greatest advantage is our own passion and desire to pursue our dreams of living the good life and sharing it with our family and friends. We try to make our transition to this lifestyle as practical and comfortable as we can without giving up on home comforts ;) So for electric power we use the abundant radiant solar energy from the sun. Our water supply is thankfully available in abundance from our clear spring water source. And we try to use recycled materials as often as we can. Used vehicle tyres are a primary and free material that are readily available and that we use extensively in many situations, from construction use to decorative applications !

The short video clips below was a wonderful series that is still relevant in this ever challenging world of pursuing our dreams. I hope it gives you an insight into great humour and fun as you embark on this journey towards being self sufficient.

Does Life Begin at 40 after all ?

We hope you enjoyed the show ;)

If you are interested in this lifestyle it can really be a lot of fun learning to be self sufficient especially in this modern times. There are many to-do-list before you get started of course but the most obvious is your own desire to pursue your dreams ;) We are always very keen to network with likeminded friends and families who enjoy this lifestyle. So if you are interested please feel free to contact me.

How to get started in the self sufficiency lifestyle.

Edible Mushrooms in Sabah

If you love edible mushrooms, you will enjoy a visit to this little place where they prepare and wholesale DIY packs all ready for small scale home mushroom growing and production.

Mushrooms are popular in most restaurants in Malaysia especially so with the great varieties of delicious chinese dishes that use an equally large variety of mushrooms. Some popular mushrooms include truffles, enoki, chanterelle, portabella, shiitake, and oyster.

Here in Sabah, different mushroom varieties are mostly grown along the highlands where the temperature favours the healthy growth of these fungis and provides a supplementary income for local growers. On a recent visit to one of the wholesalers who supply the prepared mushroom packs to growers I found very fascinating information about the health benefits of eating mushrooms as well.

I met Mr. Hong who is an expert in growing mushrooms and apparently loves the cool temperatures in Kundasang, Sabah . And after some interesting tour of his production facility we ended up purchasing some of the mushroom packs for our own little garden. The packs are all set to produce .. all you need is to take the cotton stopper on the top opening, place them in a nice and cool shaded location, preferable placed on a convenient rack. You will need to spray the battery of mushroom packs with water in the morning and evening and then just wait patiently as you get the first batch of delicious mushrooms coming out of the top opening ! Sounds easy.. and it is !

I must admit I have more mushrooms than I can handle now so have been giving fresh mushrooms to friends whenever I can ! So if any of you are interested.. Just let me know !

The Vanilla Shop

In Sabah, every now and then something comes up that is quite interesting to write about.

Such is the case with my recent visit to the popular tourist destination for both local sabahans as well as visitors from all over. Of course the big attraction here is nothing less than majestic Mount Kinabalu standing as the tallest mountain in South East Asia.

However, that was not the only reason for me to visit this beautiful and cool tourist playground in Sabah. There are many small but cosy family cottages as well as numerous new hotels and chalets that can caters for a wide range of tourist budgets.

But my focus was on a slightly different kind of attraction as we drive past the main kundasang temperate vegetable bazzars and roadside stalls selling anything from freshly cut fruits and cabbages to handicrafts for the bustling tourist market.

I was invited to check out a new venture and a creative new addition to the wide range of products and services available in the Kundasang area. Yes I was going to visit The Vanilla Shop!

Owned and operated by Mr. Robin Ng, The Vanilla Shop is a brand new concept in selling an idea.. The main product is Vanilla of course and hence the name of the shop! But as you walk in to this creative little shop by the roadside along the Kundasang- Ranau highway, you will soon realise that Mr. Robin Ng is not your average businessman. Inside are all the passion he has for this thing called vanilla.. He has live vanilla plants, vanilla perfumes,vanilla cigarretes,vanilla sugar and a wide range of other vanilla related products ! Truly this man qualifies for the title of Mr. Vanilla. Spell this word backwords and you will see that it is the name of the business he runs this shop under !

The shop sells cute souvenirs of vanilla related too and these are specially packed for the tourists who wants to bring back an aroma of memories for friends and relatives. Ask Robin anything about vanilla and if you dont stop him he is likely to take up your whole day visit to this very fascinating vanilla outlet.

I was very fortunate to be able to learn more about what you can do with this very versatile product. You can of course use vanilla for cooking as well. And what about cake making.. ? Vanilla Ice Cream anyone ??

Anyway, if you are planning your next visit to Kundasang, you really should drive the extra kilometer to visit The Vanilla Shop for both as an educational trip as well as a memory trip.. Vanilla is a much taken for granted thing but Robin has it all for real !

Rafflesia Information Center

Rafflesia Information Centre

Learn more about the largest flower in the world !

Located along the Kota Kinabalu-Tambunan highway,many local sabahans often just drive past this gem of a center called the Rafflesia Information Center. Maybe its because its always there and the interest to visit can be postponed to another more convenient time. But for tourists and first time visitors to Sabah, this is really worth a visit because the rafflesia information center offers one of the most comprehensive source of interesting information about the Rafflesia ! It is after all the largest flower in the world !

Richard and Maria at the Rafflesia Information Center

Apart from the obvious attraction which is when the rafflesia is in bloom, the center also showcases many other nature related attractions. Visitors can see and appreciate the local native trees which are conveniently grown both naturally and planted by nature minded individuals.

The official Sabah Tourism site is a good source for information about this center and you can check it out here

Some details regarding how to get there :

Rafflesia Information Centre
Tambunan
Located at the roadside of the edge of a forest reserve is the Rafflesia Information Centre. This centre is set aside for the conservation purposes of the remarkable rafflesia flower. The Rafflesia Information Centre is situated about an hour’s drive away from Kota Kinabalu. (source:Rafflesia Information Center)

The Rafflesia Information Centre is open daily to visitors from 8am to 3pm. Here, visitors can look forward to a jungle trekking adventure to look for the rafflesia flower. It is advisable to wear comfortable trekking shoes in the attempt to trek through the RIC’s challenging terrain.

Richard Smeets and wife Maria, from the Netherlands recently visited the site with Aunty Doris and found the place to be really beautiful and informative. Be prepared to do some trekking if you happen to want a close look at a raflessia flower in bloom. Information on the latest bloom can be obtained from the site managers.

This center is just a small part of what is available to visitors to Sabah. You can explore the many adventures and activities by checking in with the official Sabah Tourism Website of course, but you can also email me if you are looking for any particular information on Sabah.

Sabah Agricultural Park, most beautiful and restful destination!

Sabah Agricultural Park, most beautiful and restful destination!

First time visitor to Sabah?

If you have some extra time and love nature, orchids, exotic flowers and unique native plants you should plan to include a visit to the Sabah Agricultural Park in the interior part of this beautiful part of Malaysian Borneo as a part of your Borneo experience ! This Sabah Agriculture Park is huge ! so be prepared to allocate some time if you can. You can get additional information about the place from their website but it really is worth a visit .

serene and peaceful and just the kind of place for nature lovers

My home in Keningau is located about a hour away from this magnificent hidden nature jewel and I have always looked forward to such a trip every time we plan to go and be fascinated by the wonders of nature. We have since visited the beautiful sprawling park on many occassions.. sometimes with my family and other times with overseas guests.

An introduction to the park is beautifully summarised in their main website but words will not do justice to the real thing so I encourage any one who is passionate about nature, orchids and anything tropical to make that enjoyable visit.

About Taman Pertanian Sabah

Background

Taman Pertanian Sabah is part of the 1,500 acres of the Agriculture Research Station, Lagud Sebrang Tenom which is administered and owned by the Agriculture Department Sabah. It is a complex consisting of the Agriculture Research Station, seed Production Centre for Cash Crop, Farmers Training Centre and Taman Pertanian Sabah itself. The Park sprawled over an area of 500 acres.

The park was first opened to visitors in October 2000, and was officially launched by the former Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad on the 25 March, 2001.

serene and peaceful

Aunty Doris and American Visitor Leah at the Park

Leah Barr from the USA

gets a closer look at a Coffee Plant

With its rich biodiversity, the Park has a magnificent collection for indigenous and introduced plants species. It is also a conservation centre for the native Orchids of Borneo. This park would become a heritage for the next generation and this will help to educate people in nature conservation and the preservation of natural rainforest through cultivation of trees, shrubs, plants and flowers.

Aunty Doris and American Visitor Leah at the Park

The lush greenery, multitude species of plants / flowers of endemic to Borneo Island and very rare, panoramic view of the lakes, captivating landscaped gardens provide an excellent base to expand your knowledge and ideal environment for those who seek peace, quiet and tranquility away from stressed and urban noise. This park also provides a great trekking ground as well as nature walks and jungle activities. The park is blessed with mother nature’s treasures.

The park is a showcase of integrated activities carried out by all the Departments and Agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture Development and Food Industry. It also serves as a training and education centre for agriculture, horticulture, apiculture, seed production, forestry, fishery and animal husbandry. It is divided into five key areas:

Agriculture
Living Crop Museum
Demonstration Farms
Agro forestry
Bee Centre
Germplasm Collection
Fisheries
Freshwater Fishing

Horticulture
Native Orchid Centre
Hybrid Orchid
Evolution Garden
Model Garden
Ornamental Garden

Animal Husbandry
Animal Park
Animal Farm

Objectives of Taman Pertanian Sabah

1. As a major Agro-Tourism centre in the state
2. To provide demonstration farms for Agricultural activities, Animal breeding and
Fisheries
3. To serve as a centre for training and demonstration on Agriculture, Horticulture,
Fishery, Apiculture, Seed Technology, Forestry and Animal Husbandry;
4. To provide facilities for nature-based recreational activities
5. To promote awareness and love for nature.

Cakes for all your dreams celebrations !

Its almost a universal desire to celebrate an important occasion with something extra special and for many it often means bringing in a symbolic celebration cake ! Whether its a birthday, a wedding, a reunion or something more engaging like an engagement party, the cake plays a very important main event. Usually it is the focal point of the evening ! And the more beautiful and creative the cake, the better memories can linger on for years to come !

Here in Sabah, the tradition is no different. It seems that everyone loves a piece of cake after dinner or just as a way to enhance an already special event. No wonder then that there are so many cake shops and bakeries to cater for the increasing demand for good quality cakes ! Commercial brands are easily available and in some cases home deliveries are arranged.

One exciting part of this industry is that anyone who wants to learn skills in making pastries, cakes and related activities can do so with relative ease. One can enroll in the many institutions around Malaysia and graduate with the required skills to either set up a cake business or enjoy making cakes for friends and family for the sheer thrill of being appreciated for a job well done !

The availability of cake making hardware and accessories have also contributed to the steady growth of homemade breads and cakes all over sabah ! There is one thing that seperates each homemade cakes .. Its the passion and creativity of the Baker of course!

Emma Lee is a good example of the passionate cake maker who bakes each cake with a very personal touch. What started as a simple hobby has developed into a very interesting home based rewarding career in the creation of designer cakes for whatever occasion you need the cake for !

I was very fortunate to visit Emma on one of her Off days when she is relaxing away from her ovens. Apparently Emma has been baking cakes for more than 10 years ! Its no wonder that she is so passionate about her cakes ! She still remembers her first oven and how it all turned out ! Now she sits in front of her laptop computer reading email orders for her latest designer cakes which is personally crafted and delivered for local weddings, engagements, birthdays and even for special reunions of corporate and industry events ! Her latest cake creations made it to the local paper as a custom designed cake with the iconic Kadazan Gong sitting on top of a beautifully decorated base being admired by members of a Sabahan Cultural Organisation! The cake was made especially for the Harvest Festival Celebration and presented to the TYT of Sabah ( Governor of Sabah , Malaysia )

A very creative person, Emma is always lookng for new ways to enhance her cake making ideas. She has hinted in providing training for interested students as an option for the future.

Conveniently located in Kota Kinabalu, Emma is now available to deliver your dream cakes to your special events to help enhance the gathering of friends, business associates or any other occasion.

For those of you who are interested to get more information of how you can make your event more memorable, you can visit Emma's Website at http://www.pinkrosescake.com/

You can also call Aunty Doris of course !
Click here for a Cake Making Course ?

Beautiful Belian Wooden home in Sabah !

Beautiful Belian Wooden home in Sabah !

Sabah has always been a very important exporter of logs and sawn Timber. However, the timber resources are now being strictly controlled and instead of just exporting raw logs and timber, more local companies are encouraged by the government to get involved with downstream processing of timber products such as doors, furniture and other timber related .

For local sabahans, the availability of timber meant that it was easy to build homes using this abundant material. But that was then. Now it seems, the price of timber has gone up steadily and it is relatively cheaper to construct homes using bricks and cement.

The beauty of timber homes is obvious especially in a tropical setting. The home is much cooler and the elegance of natural timber has a special attraction. An old friend , Jules Stephens recommended that I visit his Uncle Richard Baxter who has a beautiful wooden home in Tenom, Sabah. So I was very fortunate to visit such a home today in the beautiful farm owned by the Baxter family of Tenom, in the interior of Sabah Malaysia.

Mr. Richard Baxter is a very prominent planter based in Tenom Sabah and loves to share his years of experiences in agriculture and outdoor lifestyle .He lives with the family in the beautiful timber home that was built by his father in the 1950’s and to this day is proof of the quality of the native sabahan timber, especially the local hard wood belian which is used as the pillars of the stately home! Belian is known to last for many many years and is the preferred timber for building timber homes in Sabah.

The timber home is surrounded by matured tropical fruit trees such as Durians, Mangosteen, Pamelo and Dragon fruits and many others. Flowers with colorful blooms line the cemented pathways while orchids grow in specially fenced areas around the 55 year old home making it a living paradise ! A cluster of giant orchids grows near the entrance of the home and has been named the 14 sultans orchid ! Apparently this unique orchid was transported all the way to Kota Kinabalu for display at a special event where VIPs were impressed by the beauty of the giant orchids ! The beauty of the place is equally matched by the great hospitality of the hosts, Mr and Mrs Richard Baxter who kindly gave me and my friends a grand tour of the whole property !

We ended the tour with a nice evening of refreshments served on a unique polished table that is made of solid timber measuring some 8 in thick , 3 ft wide and 12 ft long !! Its quite a sight ! We really enjoyed our visit to the Baxters home and learned many great ideas and shared experiences from our jovial hosts. We wish to thank Jules and Anna Stephens for helping to arrange the visit and of course our big thank you to our wonderful hosts Mr. and Mrs Richard Baxter and family !

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Great Computer bargains at Karamunsing Shopping Complex!

Great Computer bargains at Karamunsing Shopping Complex!

Are you looking for the latest laptops? Notebooks? Bargains?

Aunty Doris shopping for notebook computer at Karamunsing Shopping Complexs

Here in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah the best place to go for all your computer needs is no doubt the Karamunsing Komplexs located very close to the city area. This shopping complex is one of the first building that offered shopping mall type of facilities to shoppers offering a great variety of goods and services. But since renovations on the whole complex begun, the format has attracted even many more new shoppers especially those that are into computers and related computer and electronics accessories !

The bargains are really something that attracts many to the revamped shopping area. Indeed, some Vehicle Parking spaces have been converted to more shopping area because of the great demand! Aunty Doris was there recently to check out the latest bargains too..

Aunty Doris shopping for notebook computer at Karamunsing Shopping Complexs

For those of you thinking of buying a new notebook or laptop there are many different brands available and the prices are very competitive as well. A typical notebook can be bargained for anything from RM890-00 upwards !

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Aunty Doris visits Utan Paradise Jungle Lodge

Aunty Doris visits Utan Paradise Jungle Lodge

For many who are looking for the ideal nature adventure and retreat or just a change in their routine, there is one place that is probably the best kept secret in Sabah.. Welcome to Utan Paradise, the secret jungle lodge !

I was invited to visit this beautiful jungle retreat as part of my program to promote off the beaten track type of tourism in Sabah. There are many interesting but sadly not well publicised destinations in Sabah and it is always so fascinating find when you discover them either by chance or on a deliberate venture to look for them.

Restful Jungle Atap cabins

Utan Paradise Jungle Lodge is a dream of one local native Sabahan named Saverinus. Once employed as a F&B manager of a leading hotel,he has brought his experience and expertise with him right to the jungle when his hospitality is just as welcoming as his rustic bamboo and atap cabins. It is a joy to watch this man turn a part of the borneo jungle into a paradise that allows privilliged visitors to learn about issues that should matter to most of us.. like global warming, reafforestation, respect for nature and the environment and protecting our natural habitat.

Combined with such admirable awareness and a strong desire to introduce sabah’s beautiful natural virgin jungle to the world, Saverinus has managed to implement a program for visitors to adopt individual trees in his jungle domain. For those of you who want to make a statement about your belief in saving our planet earth, you can adopt a tree at the utan paradise too. The adoption process is interesting and you will get your name inscribed on a plaque which is then posted on your adopted tree !! Contact Aunty Doris for more details on how you can be a part of this wonderful program to keep our natural heritage intact!

Aunty Doris talks to Saverinus about his dreams for Utan Paradise !

At the Utan Paradise Jungle lodge you can also participate in many activities including real jungle trekking !! Yes feel the buzz of real jungle sounds.. as they say.. you can taste the smell of real borneo jungle at utan paradise ! There is a small beautiful water fall that is prestine and well kept secret because the area borders a region patrolled by the authorities and so the water is as clear as it should be !

Finding Utan Paradise can be a bit tricky, even with a good gps device but you can try taking a Keningau bound Tung Mah bus from Kota Kinabalu and make sure it takes the kimanis highway route to Keningau ! The turn off is marked by an old marker left by the popular Operation Raliegh Project when a group of them visited Saverinus and helped to build some of his huts there.

Welcome to Utan Paradise

Aunty Doris talks to Saverinus about

his dreams for Utan Paradise !

Restful Jungle Atap cabins

Be prepard for some exciting adventure without the props.. you get the real borneo here !

White Water Adventure Rafting at Padas River Sabah!

White Water Adventure Rafting at Padas River Sabah!

When Zainol , a seasoned traveller, and his friends Teresa, Henry, Cecilia and David, all with a passion for outdoor adventures, from Singapore called to ask if I could help to organise a Mountain Climbing trip to Mt. Kinabalu and also White Water River Rafting at Padas River in Tenom, I was not sure if I could get the bookings organised at first due to the very tight schedules and the long waiting list for mountain climbers who are eager to conquer Mt Kinabalu, the highest peak in South East Asia !

There were some moments of initial disappointments.. the travel agents who were contacted did not respond to Zainol’s requests and they also somehow did not indicate that the railway service to tenom had since been changed to accomodate new revamping programs !

Teresa, Henry, Cecilia,David and Zainal (standing with banner) Alfons,Ida and Doris showing active support for Dagu Pinapin Language Preservation Project (DPLPP)

I managed to establish good contacts with the many essential links for Zainol and was finally able to organise what turned out to be a very enjoyable sabahan adventure trip for Zainol and his 4 good buddies.

On arrival at Kota Kinabalu Airport, an arranged 4X4 double cabin Toyota vehicle was on hand to bring them ( Zainol self drive ) all the way to Kundasang where they were greeted with all the beautiful sceneries and the cool freshness of the Kinabalu National Park. They were able to visit many places of interests including the Mushroom farm, Cattle farm and visited Mr. Michael Chin an old friend who also runs Cinta Mata Cabin. They checked into Pine Villa Resort strategically located to have a commanding view of majestic Mt. Kinabalu ! And what an awesome view !

The drive back from Kundasang to Kota Kinabalu city the next day was just as eventful with friends taking time to stop for photo shoots along the route !

Back at the hotel in Kota kinabalu, my husband Alfons and I were waiting to meet the group for a nice and sumptuous seafood dinner at the Ocean Seafood Village Restaurant where the dinner bill was as attractive as was the quality of the fresh seafood ! We really enjoyed it !

The big event was of course the surprise birthday for Teresa, one of the members ! She was clearly touched by the thoughtful gestures as we all lighted candles and sang Happy Birthday at the seafood restaurant, much to the delight of all at the popular seafood Diner.

One for the Album

Teresa ended up paying for a beautiful evening of aromatic coffee at the nearby 5 Star resort of Sutera Magellan. We all asked the talented live band to sing another happy Birthday to Teresa !!

The trip obviously left some beautiful memories and we look forward to the return with much anticipation. The White water Rafting experience at the Padas River was really a thrilling adventure for everyone. The normal Sabah State Railways Train service was undergoing some major changes and the journey to the starting point for the White Water Rafting had to be done the old railroad maintenance trolley style !

Zainol is already planning another trip possibly to the interior region of Sabah where there is a mystical limestone rocky outcrop with steep cliffs called Batu Punggul . Now that is another great adventure for sure ! Sabah has more rare gems to be discovered !

Batu Punggul, a limestone pinnacle in the heart of virgin rainforest