Sabah- Coconut Pudding, Grilled Coconut and Grilled Clams

While West Malaysia has famous Klebang coconut milkshake in Malacca, East Malaysia (Tuaran; Sabah) has a prestigious coconut pudding and grilled coconut. The local had brought us to the stall named Gerai Kelapa Bakar Sudi Mampik which was the 1st stall which had established the pudding kelapa, grilled coconut and grilled clams business.

Grilled coconut

Grilled coconut (kelapa bakar) was grilled using hot wood fire till the coconut skins being dark color. We had ordered one to try. It's served hot, simply tasteless due to no sugar is added. I do find the taste is acceptable and nutritious. Original taste of the coconut juice is lingered in our mouths.

The coconut pudding which was served cold and it was suitable for us who just "sunbathed" from the beaches. The coconut juice pudding had been fridged to set and serve in a coconut. This makes it different compared to the coconut pudding in West Malaysia in which we usually take out coconut fleshes to make coconut pudding and serve in container. Gerai Kelapa Bakar Sudi Mampik's coconut pudding texture is soft and smooth. A straw was given for us to drink the coconut juice.

Group photo

Sabah- Nexus Resort & Spa Karambunai in Kota Kinabalu

During my Borneo trip, we had insufficient time to visit those famous islands such as Pulau Sipadan, Pulau Mabul and etcetera. Upon recommendation of the locals here, my friends and I had visited one of the most beautiful stretches of beach on Karambunai, Malaysia Borneo. Nexus Resort and Spa Karambunai is an ideal place to have enjoyable and relax experience of being close to nature and beautiful beach.

It is located outside of town around 45 minutes drive from Kota Kinabalu.According to the local here, Nexus Resort and Spa Karambunai is famous for its tranquility and pristine beaches. We walked through a nice garden from the entrance towards the resort and the white sandy beaches.

Resort

Pond, Bridge,Lotus flower

It's nice to enjoy the breeze and the beautiful view of the beach.

Crystal clear water

It was a great visit to the pristine beach in Nexus Resort & Spa Karambunai before we ended our Kota Kinabalu trip. I would definitely happy to enjoy the sunset view here. The beach was still very clean, perhaps it's a private beach.

The locals who joined us kept saying that we would be disappointed when we arrived Tanjung Aru beach later. Well, I shall share the photos in the following post.

~Stay tuned~

Kuching Tour | Semenggoh Natural Reserve and Wildlife Centre & Jong's Crocodile Farm

The Kuching tour was not only limited in discovering the cultures but we had ventured out into the nearby jungles to witness some interesting creatures such as Orang Utan and crocodiles.

We arrived Semenggoh Natural Reserve around 9.30am and the park rangers gave a safety briefing about the orang utan's feeding area and what we could do and don't in that area. As there are no fence prohibiting the people to get near orang utan, in other words, the orang utan are free to avail themselves to be feed. Also, each of us were reminded to keep the noise to the minimum so that the orang utans will  appear in feeding area.

The entry pass which costs RM5 per adult.

The sun rays.

Along the way to the feeding area, we spotted kacip fatimah.

Orang Utan started to come out for their food.

We were exceptionally lucky as there were few orang utan came out from their habitat for food during feeding time. The park ranger said that there could be no show sometimes.

The two buddies :)

Nepenthaceae

You can spotted ants were "digested" by the Nepenthaceae.

Jong's Crocodile Farm was the next destination we had headed afterwards. Well, we didn't fascinate with the reptiles yet Jong's Crocodile Farm was highly recommended by a Kuching friend as it's somehow a must-be-visited place when came to Kuching.

In front of the poster of baby crocodiles

Crocodile cartoon which is not that scary.

A brief introduction of how baby crocodiles are hatched from the eggs till adult crocodile had been displayed on the exhibition hall after entrance of Jong's Crocodile Farm.

We headed to watch the live show of ferocious predators and their prey. The workers placed the preys on the hanger to feed the hungry crocodiles. The hungry crocodiles emerged their heads wanting to be feed.

The victory of having its prey when it successfully emerged from the water and had a huge snap over its prey before the rest of crocodiles approached.

Another shot of the crocodile and its prey. The prey looked like a pitiful chicken to me. 

Well, another crocodile was spotted near this predator.

Loud applauds were given to the successful crocodile which had successfully eaten its prey before the rest arrived. From the way of how the prey lost in crocodile's mouth within seconds, I could imagine how terrifying the job of Stephen Robert "Steve" Irwin (crocodile hunter) whom had to always film together with these predators. Hmm, I disliked crocodiles particularly due to their hypocrite crying fake tears of grief.

We went to the bird parks, fish pond and a walkway with animal cages to see the wildlife such as the monkeys, leopard-cats, sunbears, bear cats, pheasants, civets, barking deers, sambar deers, turtles, fruit bats, otter and etcetera.

The cute otters

Porcupine

Group photo 

Kuching Tour | A Cultural Visit to Bidayuh Annah Rais Longhouse

We visited Annah Rais Longhouse which's located at Borneo heights. It was indeed an authentic visit where the Bidayuh community staying together under one roof in the longhouse. After registration at the tourist information centre, we were guided into the walkway towards Annah Rais Longhouse.

Stepping onto the corridor which was made by bamboos. 

Chia Pei and I had a photo captured at Annah Rais Longhouse.

We were served with Tuak, Bidayuh rice wine which tasted sweet. Nice drink :)

The local who was making the musical instrument.

Friendly Bidayuh showed how the musical instrument made from bamboo.

The head house which had collection of skulls of the defeated warriors from old days.

I did get frightened by the creepy look of the skulls.

Then, we headed to say " hi" to Ah Chai's Bidayuh friend whom had prepared the delicious local dishes for us as lunch. The traditional local signature dishes were our first try of Bidayuh foods, especially the world famous bamboo rice and village chicken.The ferns (paku) were collected from the surrounding jungles and simply organic. The organic herbal tea was served as beverages.

tea brewed from tree bark.

Paku

organic chicken 

After the hearty meal, we had a short tour around the longhouse. The traditional art crafts, musical instruments, traditional costumes were showcased on the walls, around the longhouse. The longhouse owner had recommended us to come over to have a homestay during Christmas as it would be free of charge and had celebration going on during that period. We got to know that most of the younger generation had left the longhouse to the cities to earn a living. The main income source here would be tourism and traditional way of living (plantation of bamboo, ferns, rubbers and etc.).

Last but not least, few of us had tried the Bidayuh's traditional costumes. The owner was very friendly as kept helping us to find the suitable sizes of costumes and taught us how to wear it. Only Kiwi had worn the costumes with T-shirt removed. Some photographs we had taken with traditional costumes before we left Annah Rais Longhouse.

 It's worth the pennies you spent to encounter the culture of Bidayuh and experience wearing the traditional costumes and enjoying the hot, organic Bidayuh foods.