take your turn to sabah

Somewhere in may 2014, me and my friends took a trip to kota kinabalu,Sabah for 4 days 3 nights. As people know Sabah is known for the land below the wind. The thousand of island at Sabah is just stunning. The island is the most people target when being there. So do we. The trip was worth to spend the money. Let’s start from the beginning.

We pack our bag and took a flight from Kuching Sarawak to Kota Kinabalu via Malaysia airlines. The flight is in the afternoon around 1pm. We board on the plane and touch down at Kota Kinabalu international airport 1 hour 50 minutes later. Arrive at the airport we took a taxi and proceed to our hotel. After taking a rest a while, we take a walk nearby our hotel. We bought some food. At the first night, we met our friend that from sabah. He brought us to sightseeing around kota kinabalu. We went to the 1Borneo Hypermall which is the largest mall in borneo. After sightseeing at 1Borneo we back to hotel and sleep to wait for the next day.

The second day in kota kinabalu, we took a taxi and heading to Lok kawi wildlife park. The many types of animals just give me the opportunity to experience the animals that I just saw in television in front of my eyes. I was very exciting. The most thing I love being at lok kawi park is to meet my favourite animals which is Malaya tiger. I was startling because the tiger was so big. Around 4pm we back to hotel. After that we continue our journey to go to shopping. We went to Suria Sabah shopping mall. We were very lucky on that night because we were given the free ticket to watch the premiere of the Brick Mansion movie. We took it and enjoy the free show.

On the third day, the best moment is here. We took a boat and heading to Manukan Island. Arrive at the island, we having a breakfast first. Done with the breakfast we go rent a goggles to go to snorkeling activity. The clear blue of water is beautiful. Me and my friends do the snorkeling and enjoy the beautiful coral. After the snorkeling, we took a boat and play the parasailing. It was amazing. We enjoy the breathtaking view of ocean and the beach while gliding to the sky. It was one of my best experience because that’s is my first time ever to try the parasailing. Around 4pm, we wait at the jetty to wait for the boat to back to the city. After reach at the city, we stop at the Philippines  market to buy some food. On the night we continue our shopping session to buy a souvenirs.

On the last day of our vacations, we just prepare to go back to our homeland. The flight back was around 2pm. Board on the plane and touch down at Kuching around 4pm.

We had a great time. The whole trip was great and every minute was enjoyable. We laughed the whole time. Well worth the money ! and sure will back to that place anytime soon.

written by Muhd Afdhol

Cameron Highland in Sarawak?

                A couple weeks ago, my friend and I was went to Borneo Highland regarding to our task that gave by our lecturer. She ask us to go to take a picture and make an article about it. The project must be done by a group and as usual, Afdhol is my regular partner in any group assignment and my others four friends in my group which is Sarah, Khalida, Hafizi and Zhafri.

                So our group discuss about the task, and my friend suggest to go to the Borneo Highland and take a picture and write an article about it. Borneo Highland is a place located at 12 miles which it 60km away from Kuching city. I never went there before, so I surf the internet to find out what is the attraction and how does the place look like. The result was awesome, ‘Mr. Google’ give me a good image and interesting view of the place, I saw a hill, mountain, cloud and also waterfall.

                A week later, Saturday morning, I woke up from sleep (actually my alarm woke me up). I take a bath and breakfast. Half an hour later, Afdhol take me home and we go to the campus to take the other group member.

                Two of us arrived to the campus, it was 8.15 am. I sit on the front passenger seat, at the back, there was Sarah, Khalida, Hafizi and Zhafri, Afdhol will drive the car. I was so happy on that day because this is my first time to the Borneo Highland. My friend who live at that area told me that the landscape of the place are very nice and beautiful. The mountain, the forest and the waterfall, I already imagine the scenario, and I already can feel how cool and cold that place (that moment I was in car and the air conditioner are turn on, so yeah I am really cool as I sit on the front passenger seat).

                 From Kuching-Samarahan-Serian-Padawan, it take around one hour to arrive there. Along the way, my eyes was enjoyed the beautiful of green nature and the blue sky. The road was a bit dangerous because bumps on the road and the zigzagging road, people will accident if they are not drive carefully. The coverage are also weak at there, the radio cannot function well so Hafizi played the song from his phone for our entertainment. In fact, I take the opportunity to record a video by using GoPro (not mine). I record the video through the upside window ( yes I know it’s dangerous but for the beautiful scenario, I don’t care anymore). Around the Padawan( 12 miles) there also have a village, mostly the Bidayuh community live there, how lucky they are live is that place, cool and calm.

                As at Borneo Highland entrance, we buy a ticket at RM 8 per-person and we drive to the main place. Actually, we were break the rule. The visitor car are not allowed to come in and drive until the Kalimantan View (the peak of the place), we cannot see clearly the signboard to ask we park the car to the parking places and NO ENTRY signboard so Afdhol drive directly till the our main destination (Actually we did the mistake, to the other visitor, don’t do our negligence).

                The Kalimantan View is the top of the Borneo Highland. I feel so happy and calm when arrive there. The place is look like Teletubbies place (one of my favourite television show when I was kid). The hill, the grass and I can see the other mountain from the place where I stand. Beside of feel the moment, we took some photo as our memory. There also has a horses in the horse stable, we can see the horses running here and there, I don’t know whether the visitor can ride the horse or not. There also has a very beautiful landscape garden where it looks like we are in Bali because of the statue of the elephant. My friend said, Borneo Highland is looks like Cameron Highland because the panorama, the scenario, and the landscape are almost same, so-called Sarawak’s Cameron Highland.

                We spend our time around 4 hour there, we also having time at the waterfall around that place. After that we go back with a hungry tummy and exhausted body. Everybody are sleepy and cannot wait for lay on the bed. I was happy and enjoyed the travel even though we just traveling in Kuching area only, not international but I can feel that I already arrived at Cameron Highland.    

Written by,   
 Appy Mohd Hapizan    

               

The Tour of Indonesia Continent

The Tour of  Indonesia Continent 

About the serendipity that i want to share is about travel. For me, travel is all about serendipity. Coconut shell drinks, museums, and dinners on sunset patios don't excite me much. Not that there's anything wrong with those things. They're all things I do on the road. But, for me, the real things of travel in the way that it opens me up to new experiences. The spirit of adventure that I feel on the road, and the absurd situations I put myself in, are the things I love most about traveling. I've noticed that when I travel I behave differently than at home because I'm searching for serendipity. Here are three things that you can do to improve your chances of pleasant surprises on the road and examples of the mini-adventures they've resulted in for me.

            A lot of people take taxis when they travel because they're on vacation and want to relax. The problem with transportation is that it insulates you from your surroundings. Walking connects you with a place at ground level and increases your chances of stumbling upon a unique experience. Once, while walking down the street with my friends in Pasar Sambas, a local man ran out of a shop told us he saw a ghost following her. He was a traditional healer, and he took us to his house where he exorcise the ghost through ritual chants and gesticulations (and all for free). It was one of the richest cultural experiences that I've ever had with my cousin and i taken a cab we would have missed out. The unknown people makes us uncomfortable so, when given an unusual offer, many people automatically refuse it. But, by making a conscious effort to say yes, we open ourselves to unexpected felicity.

Once, when eating breakfast at a small outdoor aboriginal restaurant in the Pasar Sambas, the owner, a old man, asked me if I wanted to try some, "Mengkuak Bumbu ". I didn't know what that was, but I agreed. On her way back to the kitchen she picked up 2 species of fish. Through the open door I watched her wash it, slice it, chop it, and fry it, and bring it to me, blackened, on a plate . It was rubbery, salty, and absolutely delicious.Of course, this strategy carries the risk of disappointment, such as that I experienced when, in my hometown. I was served a bowl the cow stomach soup that looked, and tasted, like, well, a cow's stomach. Even though i was never it that. But that's part of the adventure. It's good to put yourself in difficult situations once in a while. It's exciting, it builds confidence, and your experience is all the more memorable because you earned it. This strategy has resulted in my fondest travel memories.

Next, my family, my cousin and i went to the Singkawang beach and stay at there 2 days. Flipping through our guidebook we discovered that the activity that we can do is like playing the banana boat and some other activity. We also can take a taxi at there to visit the Chinese temple because at that place there are so many of Chinese temple and that place is called 'City of Thousand Chinese Temple'. After we arrive at the place but i not remember the name, then we take about 2 hours to walk and see the thing that we not even see it at my place. Suddenly after take a walk in few hours, my cousin had gastric then i bring my cousin to take a taxi and bring it to our hotel and tell to my parents about my cousin. There would be little time to go back to hotel because the place were very crowded and it take time for me to take the taxi.

After that thing happen in a few hours, we do take some rest with my family, my cousin and i. In the morning at the 2^nd on last day we at there me, my cousin and my family play the banana boat, do some game at the beach before we go back with almost no sleep, we took a bus from Singkawang to Pontianak that took 3 hours journey at time 9.00 p.m and direct transit to Kuching that took 8-10 hours journey by bus also. We slept on the the bus, when we arrive at Bus Central Kuching. We arrived at morning with the happiness face and satisfied because of the adventure that we had been through. After we take our luggage below our seat inside the bus then take a set at waiting bus. Then the parents for my cousin arrive at there and see our faces with a board smile then bring all of us get back home. When all of us arrived at home, we shocked because there are many of my relative at my house greet us. Then my mom make a simple dishes and all of us gathering at living room while sharing the experiences and the activities that have we done. It was very happy time when we see all our family relative at there and sharing the experience. Many of our relatives noticed the facial expressions we are very happy to add it again with a very big smile.

ABDUL SAMAT BIN MARDAN

HM111 4B

Mi Inspiración

               “When tomorrow comes, a day of pretending as if nothing happened will start once again”

               That is it, that’s what my life is all about I thought to myself. No one understands me, no one knows how I feel, no one even care. I live my life minding my own business, doing my own things, living my own world.

              

               Even some of my family members avoid me, they isolate me. They rarely hear my voice, and I don’t even go out as much as others do. It’s not that they hate me, or I didn’t try to talk or communicate with them. If I do, we never go along well. Almost everything will end up in a fight, or a cold war.

               “Just because you’re breathing, it doesn’t mean you’re alive”

               I never ask for my life to be as almost the same as living hell. Being isolated and hated by people around me just because of who I am and who I wanted to be. Everything I do would be wrong in their eyes. I live to be judge by them, all of those cruel things they did kills me softly, little by little.

               Because of that, I end up being a very quiet girl. While other children are playing happily together with their friend outside, I would be the only one staying inside reading or listening to music. I was able to read fluently at the age of five, which is actually a bit extra ordinary for the people in our family. Staying inside somehow doesn’t stop me from having enough information about the world outside. I love to read, which made me would read the newspapers that my father brought home every day. It was always in English, I had to refer to the dictionary every time I found a new, strange word. My parents had encouraged me to learn English since then.

               “Fight for the right to be you”

               As I grow up, I still prefer to stay quiet and be a listener because all of those things that happened to me long ago made me a person who hurts people with my words. But all of that was because of trying to protect myself from hurting. Still, no one understands why I am like this. They pretend to, but deep inside I know they don’t.

               Until one day, I came to know about this one person. I was 15 that time when I first know him. He taught me many things about life. He totally understands how a teenager like me feels as he had actually gone through the same thing as me. He became my inspiration. Every word that comes from him is like a motivation for me to keep going. He had played one of the very important roles in my life.

               “Your imperfection is perfectly beautiful”

              He taught me to appreciate myself and not to pay too much attention on the negative things that people say, as long as it’s not true. I’ve read so almost everything he wrote, making my respect grow bigger towards him. He deserves to be loved, he deserves to be people’s inspiration, and he is the best.

               Starting when I was 18, I would try to talk to him almost every day. I would ask questions or opinions but I never got any reply from him. Being a fan of all the songs he sings, all the lyrics and poems he wrote, I understand it very well if I don’t get any reply at all. However, it never stopped me to write to him as I usually do. And I have set my mind to actually meet him in person someday in the future.

               “Happiness is very simple and minimal”

               Indeed it is. As he said, happiness is very simple and minimal. It was one fine day during semester break that I had spent at home reading and living in my own world. It was that day when he posted something on his social account saying he would take some question. So many people had asked him at least three to five questions. I was just messing around, knowing all the questions or random things that I have posted towards him on that social network site had never been replied by him. I typed a question, again, to him.

               It didn’t even take one minute that my phone suddenly vibrates, making me to check my notification bars. I called my younger sister, who is also a fan of him to witness that miracle which actually happened. I couldn’t control myself that I breakouts in tears of happiness. My sister freaked out because she had never seen me like that. Among thousands of questions, there were only four questions that he answered. Daniel Armand Lee had finally responded to me. The person who I look up and respect all this time has actually noticed me even it was just for a very few moments. Those two words, “I wish.” Simple, but I will never forget it for the rest of my life.


Written by,
Rafidah

Her Quiet Eyes

          

          Chester Mille, a small town that far away from city a places that I was born until I can feel hurt, about family, relationship, friendship, love, happy and everything is here. I’m a single daughter of my parent. They love me, give me everything I want. It all complete without any mistakes and I everything for them. When I’m teenager I want to feel free. Every night going to a bar with my girls, enjoying the night with my love and friends. Mum and dad just let me go to doing what I want.

          One night when I come back to home I’m over drunk and fighting with mum. The first time mum have speak louder to me and dad just silent. I need dad to support me but dad just seeing. I can hear mum telling that I just an adopted daughter. Oh my God! How can mum saying that? I get the car key and leave the house. Mum crying. I know mum feel apologies. Again and again I asked myself why mum saying that? It is true? Going to my friend house and sleep with her tonight. Long night, same day, I can’t sleep. I always thinking about mum. 

         The next day when I go home it was silent like a city sleep. Everything is change because of yesterday. Old song are hearing from the next house. Mum saying apologies. Mum please tell me the true. Than mum tell all about me. How can mum tell me when I was twenty. Why mum did not tell me a long time ago. I hate mum and dad. I want to know who I am. I push mum to tell who is my parents.

    

        A long journey to a small town I’m going alone without mum and dad permission. The hospital that I was born already close. Disappointed. But the nearby villager tell that someone who are loyalty to the hospital has alive and I get her address.

    

       Knock a door. Come someone who are older women open it. Her name is Mdm. Broome. She see my necklace and smile. Mdm. Broome hug me before I’m saying anything. She telling me everything. Mdm. Broome was the nurse at the hospital a place that I was born 20 years ago. She is my mum friend. She stop working after the incidence. My mum want to abort me. How crazy my mum. Why must she doing that. I’m just a baby. I want to breathing, I want to see world, and everything I want to feel. But the day of the abortion, it was not happen because some mistake that the doctor was doing. That why you still alive said Mdm. Broome. After I was born mum give me to Mdm. Broome. Only two month Mdm. Broome know about mum. After that day mum was gone and leave us. Her name is Sara Will. A beautiful name that I hear. I want to see mum. Mdm. Broome said that I really like my mum. After that a married couple come and adopt me to be their daughter. Mdm. Broome give me an address. But my mum name now is change.

      Old place that have a small house that mum was doing a life alone without anyone that can love and take care of her. I can feel it and now it just a memory. Have a new family stayed at the house. The owner give me a new address and the name is Alicia Robe. She is a famous girl who is rich and have a big company in the city.

      The next day I will go to mum office. I hope this is the day that I can meet her. I miss a hug. I knock a door. When I open the door I can see a beautiful women are standing like an angel to me. I hug mum, I am crying but mum did not doing anything. Mum asked me who are you. I tell her that I am her daughter. I show the necklace.  Mum have a shock impressed. Someone open the door. I see her husband. Than he tell my mum who I am. Mum said that I just a stranger. I’m very sad. Mum was leave me again and again. I did not feel pain like this.

        I did not give up. The next day I want to meet mum again. I want she call me daughter. I hold her hand and feel that have a chemistry between us. Mum can I hug you for a minute , that was I feel. Than mum said to me ‘ just go daughter’. The day like a doomsday when I hear it from mum. Everything darkness. I do not have a future. I don’t have mum. Mum, I love you. She let me go. Mum hug her new son and seeing me. I can see her eyes that telling me sorry. She did not realise , imploring her to be nice, and hope mum in paradise, I close my eyes. Pray for mum to be nice and now I lost her for a twice.

      Now I know that everything that we want not everything that we can find. I back to my parent. We are happy and mum I will remember you until I die. Do not start your day with the broken pieces of yesterday, because each day is a new beginning , every morning we wake up is the first day of our life. Mum teach me everything. Pass is pass. I love u mum, please believe it’s true, when I say forever know I’ll never leave you, when I say goodbye, promise me you won’t cry, cause the day I’ll saying that would be the day I die. Mum, I love you.

                                                                                                                          Written by Kriztni Dami

Her Quiet Eyes

Her Quiet Eyes

          

          Chester Mille, a small town that far away from city a places that I was born until I can feel hurt, about family, relationship, friendship, love, happy and everything is here. I’m a single daughter of my parent. They love me, give me everything I want. It all complete without any mistakes and I everything for them. When I’m teenager I want to feel free. Every night going to a bar with my girls, enjoying the night with my love and friends. Mum and dad just let me go to doing what I want.

          One night when I come back to home I’m over drunk and fighting with mum. The first time mum have speak louder to me and dad just silent. I need dad to support me but dad just seeing. I can hear mum telling that I just an adopted daughter. Oh my God! How can mum saying that? I get the car key and leave the house. Mum crying. I know mum feel apologies. Again and again I asked myself why mum saying that? It is true? Going to my friend house and sleep with her tonight. Long night, same day, I can’t sleep. I always thinking about mum. 

         The next day when I go home it was silent like a city sleep. Everything is change because of yesterday. Old song are hearing from the next house. Mum saying apologies. Mum please tell me the true. Than mum tell all about me. How can mum tell me when I was twenty. Why mum did not tell me a long time ago. I hate mum and dad. I want to know who I am. I push mum to tell who is my parents.

    

        A long journey to a small town I’m going alone without mum and dad permission. The hospital that I was born already close. Disappointed. But the nearby villager tell that someone who are loyalty to the hospital has alive and I get her address.

    

       Knock a door. Come someone who are older women open it. Her name is Mdm. Broome. She see my necklace and smile. Mdm. Broome hug me before I’m saying anything. She telling me everything. Mdm. Broome was the nurse at the hospital a place that I was born 20 years ago. She is my mum friend. She stop working after the incidence. My mum want to abort me. How crazy my mum. Why must she doing that. I’m just a baby. I want to breathing, I want to see world, and everything I want to feel. But the day of the abortion, it was not happen because some mistake that the doctor was doing. That why you still alive said Mdm. Broome. After I was born mum give me to Mdm. Broome. Only two month Mdm. Broome know about mum. After that day mum was gone and leave us. Her name is Sara Will. A beautiful name that I hear. I want to see mum. Mdm. Broome said that I really like my mum. After that a married couple come and adopt me to be their daughter. Mdm. Broome give me an address. But my mum name now is change.

      Old place that have a small house that mum was doing a life alone without anyone that can love and take care of her. I can feel it and now it just a memory. Have a new family stayed at the house. The owner give me a new address and the name is Alicia Robe. She is a famous girl who is rich and have a big company in the city.

      The next day I will go to mum office. I hope this is the day that I can meet her. I miss a hug. I knock a door. When I open the door I can see a beautiful women are standing like an angel to me. I hug mum, I am crying but mum did not doing anything. Mum asked me who are you. I tell her that I am her daughter. I show the necklace.  Mum have a shock impressed. Someone open the door. I see her husband. Than he tell my mum who I am. Mum said that I just a stranger. I’m very sad. Mum was leave me again and again. I did not feel pain like this.

        I did not give up. The next day I want to meet mum again. I want she call me daughter. I hold her hand and feel that have a chemistry between us. Mum can I hug you for a minute , that was I feel. Than mum said to me ‘ just go daughter’. The day like a doomsday when I hear it from mum. Everything darkness. I do not have a future. I don’t have mum. Mum, I love you. She let me go. Mum hug her new son and seeing me. I can see her eyes that telling me sorry. She did not realise , imploring her to be nice, and hope mum in paradise, I close my eyes. Pray for mum to be nice and now I lost her for a twice.

      Now I know that everything that we want not everything that we can find. I back to my parent. We are happy and mum I will remember you until I die. Do not start your day with the broken pieces of yesterday, because each day is a new beginning , every morning we wake up is the first day of our life. Mum teach me everything. Pass is pass. I love u mum, please believe it’s true, when I say forever know I’ll never leave you, when I say goodbye, promise me you won’t cry, cause the day I’ll saying that would be the day I die. Mum, I love you.