Danau Girang in Sabah

Danau Girang is a field center located deep upstream along the Kinabatangan River in Sabah Borneo. In early 2012, I had the pleasure of visiting this place and spending one night here where I was to learn what exactly they did here. The journey to Danau Girang from Semporna took us to Kampung Menggaris which is uniquely located under a huge metal bridge on the main road (Highway A5). From here, there is a small wooden jetty where the a tiny 25 horsepower boat was waiting to take us to the field centre. A scenic cruise that took almost 45 minutes upstream the Kinabatangan was amazing as I noticed a lot of wildlife especially birds like hornbills, kingfishers, egrets and even the rare oriental darter. Apart from that, I only saw pure wildlife at its best. No resorts, no lodge, no villages.. there was absolutely nothing but breathtaking scenery.

Danau Girang Field Centre in Kinabatangan

During the boat ride, I causally asked if there were crocodiles here, the captain nodded his head and said the largest seen was about 5 meters long. He also explained further that the center had also participated in capturing a few of these crocodiles along the Kinabatangan for research and collaring. After a very interesting chat along the way, we reached our destination which was just a ramp-way for boats. No building was seen in sight and this was the field center, explained the captain.

Danau Girang at the Kinabatangan River

Walking in about 500 meters, I finally saw the research centre and being introduced to the field center manager - Mr. Mark Rampangajouw, he briefed me about the entire place in one afternoon. There were at least 15 persons working and living here where half of them are students from abroad. Collaring of the well known Pygmy Elephant and crocodiles was one of the main research conducted here apart from the many other studies on the ecology and genetics of the orangutan, clouded leopard, proboscis monkey and long-tailed macaque. This was indeed one of the best educational trips I have done in a very long time.

Main building

The Danau Girang Field Centre is a collaborative research and training facility which is managed by Cardiff University and the Sabah Wildlife Department which is situated in Lot 6 of the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary and is surrounded by a mixture of lowland dipterocarp forest types. There are also no lodges or resorts here unlike the main Kinabatangan River where wildlife and eco tourist flock too.So if you are seeking a wildlife adventure, I would recommend you take one of the general Kinabatangan River Cruises which are sold by most tour operators around Sabah.

 Danau Girang Research Centre

I was introduced to most of the researchers there before taken for a full tour of the entire place. Each of them were from different countries from around the world and had different parts in their research. Outside the centre, Mark showed me an Elephant Tracking Collar which was used on the rare Bornean Pygmy Elephant. Asking if there was anymore collaring going on, he told me that only if there was news from headquarters, they would then go and look for the mammal. Before calling it a night, we had a local dinner which was cooked by a local lady chef. The food was simply amazing and one of the best I had in a long time. I can only imagine how happy these researches are to have her there. 

 Photo of staff capturing a crocodile for collaring ~ Photo by Danau Girang

Danau Girang lab

Elephant tracking collar

 Basic sleeping quarters for volunteers

The above is the common guest or volunteer room that I stayed at when I visited here. They are plain, simple and basic with a common toilet. When the lights go off at 10pm, you feel like being transformed deep into the rainforest. The sound of insects and nocturnal animals come alive and you feel like you are one with nature. 

 A flock of birds fly along the Kinabatangan River

 Kinabatangan River at Lot 6

Crocodile bank at Kinabatangan

Danau Girang Map

If you are interested in participating in a volunteer program or any other research, you are advised to contact Mr. Mark from Danau Girang Field Centre. From there, he will inform you or any party what are the necessary procedures required for this. The centre also has an active Facebook Page for more information on their daily activity and progress. You can only arrange with the centre if you want to make a visit here as currently there are no commercial tours or trips available to Danau Girang in Sabah.

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Hello Kitty Town Johor

Hello Kitty Town in Johor, Malaysia will be the first Sanrio Hello Kitty Theme Park outside of Japan. It is also scheduled to be open by late 2012 at the Puteri Harbor Indoor Family Park which is in the Nusajaya district near Legoland. The theme park is also strategically located in between both causeways to and from Singapore making it easy to access. The current tentative date for opening was also set to be on the 29th October 2012 but come back here to check for any updates. Latest Update: The opening may be scheduled for end October 2012. I will confirm and update this here.

Pictures from Hello Kitty Town in Johor taken in November 2012. Latest Update.

This 60,000 square feet indoor facility is one of the 5 flagship zones in Iskandar Malaysia and will comprise of The Little Big Club that is designed around HIT Entertainment's popular characters namely Thomas & Friends™, Bob the Builder™, Angelina Ballerina™; Barney & Friends™ and Pingu™. A unique themed family restaurant by popular local Malaysian cartoonist, Lat is also one of the attractions here where you can savor local Malaysian delights.

The four storey entertainment centre in Puteri Harbor which cost about RM350 million to build will host walk-through attractions, play structures, various interactive activities and a Hello Kitty-themed rides. Among the main attractions available here are;

• Black Wonder – a hi-tech interactive themed experience
• Kitty House – an iconic Hello Kitty house complete with living room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen.
• The “Purrfect” stage - An area where Hello Kitty, My Melody, Little Twin Stars among others will be featured.

For activities, there will be many interesting things for kids and parents to participate together which includes jewellery-making, throwing a costume party, nail painting or even try your hand at cookie baking at Wishful Studio. For photography, everyone can have the opportunity to get their pictures taken with Hello Kitty and friends which will be around the entire theme park. For those wanting to celebrate birthdays or special occasions, there are options available at the Apple and Strawberry party rooms.

Hello Kitty Land house

You can also get a little more information from the Hello Kitty Town Johor Official Website on offers or announcements for the openings.

Ticket Prices for Hello Kitty Land, Johor;

•  RM65 (normal price) and RM50 (MyKad price)
• The combined 2 parks (Hello Kitty and Little Big Club) ticket will cost RM85 & RM65 each.

Hello Kitty Town opening hours;

• 10am – 6pm daily starting Friday, 28th October 2012.
• For ticketing inquiries, call +603 – 8775 4666.
• Hotline is operational from 9am-6pm on weekdays.

Hello Kitty Town Map 

How to go to Hello Kitty Land in Johor

• From Kuala Lumpur: Take the North South Plus highway, take exit 253 to Senai Airport/Tuas and proceed to Exit 311 showing way to Kota Iskandar. Continue towards Kota Iskandar and proceed to Puteri Harbour.
• From Singapore: Use the second link at Tuas, proceed towards Kota Iskandar. Take exit 312 which will take you to Kota Iskandar. Thence, look for direction to Puteri Harbour.
• From Johor Bahru (JB): Take the new Coastal Highway to Kota Iskandar after passing Danga Bay. Follow the sign towards Puteri Harbour.
• Hello Kitty Theme Park is located next to Puteri Harbour and Trader's Hotel.

Hello Kitty Land GPS Coordinates: 1º 24’59” N 103º 39’31” E or N 1.366982 E 103.707504

Hello Kitty Land Map from Google

View Hello Kitty Town, Johor Malaysia in a larger map

If you are heading to this part of Malaysia, you will also be please to know that you and your family can easily spend two to three days here just visiting the many other international attractions here like Legoland Malaysia and also the Johor Premium Outlets or JPO, Malaysia's first official factory outlet. There are numerous hotels available in the area while everything is located in the Iskandar District of Johor.

For the Sanrio fans, this will probably be your wildest dream of visiting a theme park dedicated to all your favourite characters. It will also be every little girl or teenagers wish list to make that pilgrimage to the very first Hello Kitty Town in Johor, Malaysia.

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Sunset in Kuta, Bali Photo

Sunset in Kuta, Bali is my photo of the week. This sunset picture was taken with my digital camcorder as I was walking along the famous Kuta Beach one evening. The reason for this is that I left my DSLR camera at the hotel as I did not want to carry too much stuff on me since I was heading to the beach. 

On certain days, the Balinese skies are blessed with stunning sunsets as you can see in this Tanah Lot Sunset and even this Sunset at Uluwatu which were taken with my Nikon camera. What is important for getting the best sunset photos are having a good zoom lens for your camera. Settings are also important but never ever use your flash for sunset photos, unless you are trying to capture someone in the foreground.

 

If you are visiting this mystical island anytime soon, make sure you keep an eye out for some of the beautiful sunsets here. They can be seen best from the western part of the island so have those cameras ready as you may get a beautiful Sunset in Kuta Photo.

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Why Using Vouchers for Your Malaysia Trip is a Good Idea

Why Using Vouchers for Your Malaysia Trip is a Good Idea

As one of the most prominent countries in Southeast Asia, Malaysia is a diverse, rich land with a booming economy, a unique history, and an endless list of different sites to see for visiting tourists. Malaysia has been serious about attracting tourism to the nation since the 1990s, when the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board Act was formed, and the efforts have paid off. In 2010 alone, Malaysia received well over 24 million tourists. 

If you’re one of the many people out there looking to take a vacation to Malaysia, the good news is that there are many different ways to save a lot of money on your trip. In this article, we’ll discuss why using a voucher, like a low costholidays discount code, is such a great idea when you’re planning a vacation.

Reasons to Use a Voucher to See Malaysia

First and foremost, you have to appreciate the money to be saved on a trip to Malaysia. Since it’s pushing closer to the fall, and since Malaysia isn’t a posh location like the south of France, you can already vacation here for a great price. Whether you’re seeing the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur or Teluk Cempedak Beach in Kuantan, Malaysian vacations are already affordable. But with the right voucher code, you’re going to save even more money.

Let’s say that you wanted to stay in Kuala Lumpur, which is perhaps the busiest location in the country. A great hotel here might cost you a little more than you’re expecting to pay. The trick here is to find something like a Hotels.com discountcode. This not only allows you to save money, but you’ll also be able to book a great hotel well in advance.

You may also get to experience more of Malaysia when you’re actively seeking out the best deals. If you were just planning on visiting the country with no real expectation of saving, you might just pick a popular location and stick with it. But when you’re using discount vouchers to save money, you can actually see a lot more of the country. You can follow the deals around, saving for you and your family in multiple areas of the country, from Kangar and Alor Star to Kapas Island and Lambir Hills National Park.

Just remember that there’s always money to be saved on your Malaysian vacation. You only have to know where to look. You should be able to find a wide assortment of voucher codes online, from coupons to help you save on motels and restaurants to a Thomson discountcode to help you save on an entire vacation package.

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Matta Fair September 2012

Matta Fair September 2012 is back again and with even more travel promotions in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this 7-9 Sept. This time around, guests will be spoiled for choices as at every Matta Fair, the offers seem to get better and better. However, guests should know that the fair will be held over a period of three days at the Putra World Trade Center or PWTC and spread over five areas here. Be prepared for a rush of thousands of people as this is the biggest travel fair the country has seen.

There will also be a total of 950 booths participating at the travel fair which gives patrons a very wide choice of travel packages and deals. Stage performances will be held to entertain guests while unique cultural shows from various tourism boards will be held. At the last fair in March, traditional performances by Korea Tourism and Taiwan Tourism was seen at the main international hall. Sometimes, popular local and foreign artists are brought in for an appearance so check the schedules.

Mascots being used outside Matta Fair as a gimmick

As always, there will be the Matta Fair Contest where lucky guests who purchase travel packages here will in entitled to be in a lucky draw to win RM20,000 in cash and prizes. Popular travel choices include;

• Ground Tours
• Cruise Tours
• Adventure Tours
• Specialty Tours

There will also be many other promotions from various travel industry players where you can buy directly from them during the fair. Note that most of them sell these special priced travel packages which can only be bought during the Matta Fair. You should look our for these companies which include;

• Airlines
• Hotels
• Cruise Companies
• Theme Parks

One of the local highlights will be the soon to open Legoland Malaysia where many companies will be selling packages to Legoland Malaysia where the official opening will be on the 15th September 2012. Also check out some of the international Tourism Boards from various countries as they will be out to push their countries products. 

Club Med Malaysia will also be running the Buy 1 Free 1 Promotion as they always do where you are paying one price for two persons at selected Club Med's around Southeast Asia. These are just some of the fantastic offers available here and there are much more to choose from. Take note of a number of companies who are also running a Buy 1 Free 1 promotion for travel packages too.

Among the categories that will be featured at the fair are;

Exhibits Category:

• Adventure Tours
• Beach & Coast Tours
• City Break Tours
• Club Med Tours
• Cultural & Historical Tours
• Diving & Water Sports Tours
• Escorted Tours
• Family Tours
• Festivals & Events Tours
• Free & Easy Tours
• Guided Tours
• Honeymoon Tours
• Independent Tours
• Muslim Tours
• Nature & Wildlife Tours
• Rail Tours
• Relaxing Retreats Tours
• River Cruises
• Shopping Tours
• Skiing & Winter Sports Tours
• Theme Parks Tours
• Water World
• Etc

Matta Fair September 2012 Sponsors

How to get to Matta Fair September at PWTC

By Car:

• Drive there and park around the PWTC area, Hentian Putra or the open car parks.
• Here's a tip if you don't want to spend time looking for parking - Drive up to the Seri Pacific Hotel (old Pan Pacific Hotel) entrance and give your car to the valet parking which cost about RM15-RM45 the entire day. No hassles as you simply walk straight into the Matta Fair from the hotel entrance.
• Other option would be to come very early and park in the PWTC.
• Another place would be to park across at The Mall Shopping Center and walk over.
• Avoid parking along the road illegally as you are bound to get summoned by the police.
• To avoid the traffic jam, you need to head there very early before 11am.

By Taxi: 

• Get a taxi and tell them Matta Fair at Putra World Trade Center or PWTC.

By Bus:

• Intrakota Buses stops just outside the Jukebox Shoe Shop opposite the Puduraya Bus Station and this bus goes to Hentian Putra which is opposite PWTC. It will cost approximately RM1.20 (US$0.35) one way.

By Train:

• STAR LRT stops at the PWTC Station and is a very short walk to the Matta Fair.
• PUTRA LINE LRT stops at Masjid Jamek Station and you change with STAR LRT.

Matta Fair September 2012

Date: 7-9 September (Fri - Sun)

Time: 10AM - 9PM

Venue: Putra World Trade Center (PWTC) Kuala Lumpur, KL

Telephone: +603 92876881
Ticket Price: RM4 Adults / Per Day

For those heading to PWTC this Sept, you should be prepared for the thousands of people that will be scavenging the fair for the best deals and promotions. Keep an eye on your belongings and children during the fair. If you have been waiting for that dream vacation or holiday, this is the time to make your way over to the Matta Fair September 2012.

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Suunto Dive Computer in Malaysia

Suunto Dive Computers are one of the best diving coms I have used to date. I recently purchased a Suunto D6i and used it for my last three dives in East Malaysia and found it to be very accurate. Of course, I got the Black and Silver D6i as I use it on a daily basis even when I am not diving.

Prior to getting the D6i, I was thinking about getting the Zoop just for diving, but after talking to many other experienced divers and dive instructors in Malaysia, they advised me to get something a little better since I dive quite frequently. Coming in between, I finally settled for the D6i and till date, it is an amazing dive computer. I guess for me, the next level would be upgrading to a Suunto D9tx. Below are the comparisons among the four main Suunto dive coms available in Malaysia.

Suunto D4i in 6 colors

The D4i dive com comes in 6 colors as pictured above. This will suit those who prefer something that may match their dive equipment or even if you have a favourite color.  Personally women divers will go for the bright colors as I have seen many using the Pink D4i during my many dives. Please note that the optional wireless air integration cannot be used for the old D4 and D6 models. 

 

Suunto D4i

• Optional wireless air integration – current cylinder pressure, remaining air time
• Detailed graphical logs and dive data on your laptop using Suunto DM4 software
• Full continuous decompression algorithm
• Three dive modes: Air, Nitrox, Freedive
• Built-in dive planner
• Color strap options
• Retail Price doe D4i is RM1799 (Contact me for offer price)
• Retail Price for D4i White is RM1873 (Contact me for offer price) 
• Optional wireless air integration price is RM1407 (Contact me for offer price)

Suunto D6i in four colors

Suunto D6i

• Optional wireless air integration – current cylinder pressure, remaining air time
• Detailed graphical logs and dive data on your laptop using Suunto DM4 software
• Full continuous decompression algorithm
• Three dive modes: Air, Nitrox, Freedive
• Built-in dive planner
• Color strap options
• Retail Price for D6i is RM2736 (Contact me for offer price) 
• Retail Price for D6i White is RM2812 (Contact me for offer price) 
• Optional wireless air integration price is RM1407 (Contact me for offer price) 

Suunto D9tx in White and Black/Silver

Suunto D9tx

• Trimix support (including helium and oxygen) 
• Gas-switching between up to eight gases
• Full continuous decompression with Suunto Technical RGBM algorithm
• 3D tilt-compensated digital compass
• Three dive modes: Air, Mixed Gas, Gauge
• Optional wireless air integration (can be used with old D9 series)
• Built-in dive planner
• Detailed graphical logs and dive data on your computer using Suunto DM4 software
• Available with titanium bracelet or black elastomer wrist strap
• Retail Price for D9tx is RM3750 (Contact me for offer price)
• Optional wireless air integration  price is RM1407 (Contact me for offer price) 

Suunto Zoop in Yellow and Orange

The Zoop is most likely catered to the beginner divers or those who do not dive frequently, however it is only a dive computer so using this casually is a no-no. A conventional looking dive com, it serves the purpose and is one sturdy com. This is the cheapest dive computer in the market which retails around RM947 (US$290) approximately.

Suunto Zoop

• Easy to use with super-bright phosphorescent LCD display
• Air and Nitrox modes for a range of dive situations
• Continuous decompression with the Suunto RGBM algorithm
• Built-in dive planner for planning upcoming dives
• Optional computer interface for detailed graphical logbooks and dive data analysis
• Wrist (standard version) or console-mountable (optional)
• Available in yellow or orange
• Retail Price for Suunto Zoop is RM947 (Contact me for offer price) 

Suunto dive watches in Malaysia

These watches come with a two year warranty. The new series does not allow you to change the battery anywhere as you have to send it back to the authorised dealers where they will change it for you. Anyway, the battery for the Suunto can easily last anywhere from 24 months to 36 months depending on how much you dive.

I am also one of the re-sellers for Suunto watches in Malaysia therefore if you are looking for a dive computer, you can always get in touch with me. Email me at: juniorhogan [at] gmail.com for prices which are specially discounted for scuba divers. If you are to compare the prices, there are numerous places that also sell Suunto Dive Computers in Malaysia.

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Cooking Class in Sabah

Cooking classes in Sabah are quite rare but i was fortunate enough to be introduced to a traditional Sabah home cooking class by Hajjah Halimah in Kota Kinabalu. The cooking classes are actually held in her spacious home near Kinarut which is about 30 minutes from KK town. Being the first ever cooking tours in sabah, this is something that would interest those who love local food when traveling. This cooking class also teaches you how to cook traditional Sabahan Bajau home cooking.

Cooking class shopping at a local market in Sabah

Cooking class tours

The class starts with a well knowledge guide that picks you up from your hotel and then takes you to the local wet market at around 9am. At the market, you will be led to various stalls where you will be introduced to a number of herbs and spices. Local names which are translated to English are shared where guest will also have a chance to smell and taste some of them before they are purchased for the coking classes. 

As you explore the market, you will be brought to buy spices, herbs and meats before heading back to Hajjah Halimahs cooking class in Kinarut. The wet market experience will take about one hour and journey back another 30 minutes.

 

 

Cooking class area 

So you think you can cook?

When you reach the Sabah cooking classes, you will be personally welcomed by the chef and her assistants at a beautiful covered outdoor area. A welcome drink is served while you will be briefed on how the classes will be conducted in English. Aprons are provided as you are lead to the cooking area where each person has their own little cooking station. 

The lessons begin by cutting the vegetables and preparing the right amount of herbs and spices before getting everything into the pots. As Hajjah Halimah guides you through the process, you will be pleased to know that only basic cooking skills are required for this. Even children can participate in the Sabah cooking classes.

Cut, chop and stir!

As you have already prepared all the ingredients at your station, your next step is to cook that chicken rendang curry. With eyes glued to the cook, it is important to see what goes in first and how long before the next process takes. Overall, the cooking lesson will take about 30 to 45 minutes. In total, guests will learn how to cook three traditional Sabah food dishes. These unique dishes are also from the Bajau ethnic group of Sabah Borneo. 

Feast and fancy

When the cooking class is over,  guests will then be ushered to a table nearby where they will enjoy a sit down lunch with the dishes they cooked. There will be some other accompanying local dishes added to the three main dishes. After my hands-on experience, i could not wait to sample the turnout of my dry chicken rendang dish. It looked appetizing and the moment had come. Steamed white rice was served as our group looked at chef Hajjah to get her approval. As she tasted the chicken, my pulse rose hoping that it was up to her standards. With a nod from her head, she then said that it was pretty good and that gave me a sigh of relief. 

 

Hajjah Halimah demonstrates the cooking

Guests enjoying the food after the cooking classes

We were invited to have our lunch and i must say that apart from the dishes we cooked, the additional dishes were simply mouth-watering and very tasty indeed. After about an hour of lunch, we had some local coffee, wrapped up and then headed back to Kota Kinabalu city. The cooking class was something that i always wanted to try and finally got my chance to do this here in Sabah. If you enjoy cooking or sampling local food and want to experience this, please contact: 

Equator Adventure Tours (Registered with Sabah Tourism Board)

Lot G5, Ground Floor,
Golden Centre Putatan,
P.O.Box 15457,
88863 Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah, Malaysia.

Website: Equator Adventure Tours
Phone: +6088 766351

Mobile: +6 013 889 9535
Fax :  +6088 766352
Email : equatorfpl@gmail.com

Cooking class in Sabah dishes

Nothing beats visiting a new place and trying out something new apart from the usual tourist attraction and now you have a choice to attend a Sabah Cooking Class.

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