Atie's SAFETY PIN BROOCHES (HANDMADE)

Every country has its own local creative handicrafts and the hard working people who run small cottage businesses. And here in Sabah Malaysia it is very much the same situation. The abundance of local raw materials such as wood and bamboo as well as other base materials makes it convenient for locals to produce some of the most beautiful artwork and creative items which tourists find fascinating to take home as souvenirs of their memorable visit to Malaysia!

A good example of creativity is the making of handmade safety pin brooches. This is an art that requires fine skills as well as dedicated hands to produce very attractive and decorative items.

A very good friend Zainal and his beautiful wife Atie has a passion for creative artwork and together they have now set up a nice little cottage business where they produce and sell safety pin brooches which are very popular items for malaysian women. But the market may be larger than what they anticipate as more women become aware of this hand crafted beauty accessory.

So on your next visit to Malaysia and especially Sabah, why not check out the local handicrafts stalls and outlets so you can learn more about the many different handicrafts that are on offer. Zainal and his wife are also very happy to entertain online orders for their beautiful and colorful creations.

If you are already in Sabah,there are also many other handicrafts available at the philippines market along the water front in Kota Kinabalu. So visitors usually stop by and check out the attractive displays of wooden and bamboo crafts as well as enjoy bargaining with the vendors there.

Are you the creative type ?

Here is a way to create beautiful jewelry you can be proud to show your friends !

Personalised Jewelry you can make at home

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 !

Scary Experience

Scary Experience

Hi everyone,
Just a note to apologize for the short break in continuity with this blog. While travelling on our usual 4WD vehicle along the keningau-kimanis highway my husband noted a slight wobble as we passed a steep incline going towards Kota Kinabalu. We thought the wobble was due to the strong gusts blowing from the south china sea as we drove downhill. Little did we know that this was a critical signal that something terribly wrong would occur shortly ! And it did !

Our right rear wheel of the Nissan Safari we were driving was apparently loose and as we avoided a speeding oncoming car the errant wheel flew off in a tangent directly towards the ravine ! Needless to say, we were in total shock as the vehicle came to an abrupt halt on the side of the road scraping the bitumin for a distance !

It seemed like forever before we realised the gravity of what was happening. All we could do was nod and gesture.. we certainly had a very narrow escape! We were lucky the accident did not happen high up in the mountain highway !

We continue to thank our guardian angels for the way we were looked after. It could have been worse and we know it. Every day is a beautiful day now !

Our Nissan Safari is now taking a good rest as we ponder new options. For regular travellers, please take that extra care to do a full check on your vehicles before going on your journey.

You can view some pics at here

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.