141104 Breakfast at Tuaran, Sabah. The famous Tuaran Noodles :D

On our way to Kinabalu Park, we passed by the Tuaran town. Tuaran is a town as well as a district located in West Coast Division, in the northwest of Sabah, East Malaysia on the island of Borneo. The famous dishes here will be the tuaran noodles. They just put simple barbecue pork, and fried egg, but it taste really good.

141103 Transit the Lawas Town in Borneo with Wilson Chin

My destination is to drive to Kota Kinabalu, but we need to transit at the Lawas town. Its still early in the morning, and we stop at the Lawas town to have breakfast.

Lawas is a small town and the capital of the Lawas District in Limbang Division of northern Sarawak, eastern Malaysia on the island of Borneo.

The Borneo explorer, Wilson Chin (Me) at the Lawas town.

These are a few Chinese temple along the way, and we visited one of the temple. At the main entrance there is a few statue from the story "Journey to the west" The Master Monk, the Monkey King, The Pig, and the River Monk.

I was born in the year of the Monkey ;)

continue our journey to the East of Borneo...

Transit from Miri to Brunei Darussalam

My brother and I was driving from Miri to Limbang, and we have to transit to the Brunei country. Then I just took at opportunity to visit some of the place I stayed when I was very little around 25 years ago.
We are at the immigration office getting our passport stamp to go into Brunei.

And we have reached Brunei Darussalam :D

Kianggeh open market

A traditional market located on the banks of Kianggeh River, the residents of Kampong Ayer travel to and fro from BSB (Bandar Seri Begawan). I stayed here when I was little, and after 30 years I can still see the people paddling their sampan to the market to sell their stuff.

Fresh tropical fruits, local vegetables and ferns, spices, medicinal roots; herbs, and abundant preserved seafood are on sale. Fresh catch of the day from the local waters are found here..... fish, crabs, prawns, squid and shellfish. Local traditional handicrafts like tudung dulang (a decorative food cover), parang (a knife similar to a machete), hand-woven baskets and trays, pots and vases can also be found. If one would like to try out some local food, there are a few food stalls selling sweet and savoury Bruneian delicacies.

Best time to visit this market is early morning as most of the stalls are closed by 2.00 to 3.00pm and on Sundays because the locals will bring more food and wares to spread out to sell.

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is an Islamic mosque located in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of the Sultanate of Brunei. Named after Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei who also initiated its construction, the mosque serves as a symbol of the Islamic faith in Brunei and dominates the skyline of Bandar Seri Begawan. The building was completed in 1958 and is an example of modern Islamic architecture.

Around 25 years ago my dad always bring me and my brother to come here, and we will always play at the ceremonial barge. That day when I was there, it brings back a lot of childhood memories of me and brothers. Time passes just so fast...

Brunei Museum

Brunei's national museum, officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1972, is a decent place to blow an hour of your time. It definitely feels a little dated. When I reach there, I saw it was close, so I asked the guide there, and he told me that as of May 2014, the museum was still closed for renovations. 

What a pity~ how I wish I can go inside and revisit the place again. Guess have to wait next time then.

This is another place my dad use to bring me and my brother come during the weekends. And the place that I memories the most is the spiral bridge at the back of the museum, as my brother and I took a picture there.

It was great that after so many years, I'm able to revisit the place I stayed when I was little. Really help me recall to many sweet childhood memories of me, dad, mum, and my brothers. Bye Brunei, I will see you again soon.

Expedition to Mancar Sebako waterfall with Wilson Chin and friends at Borneo, Sarawak

Mancar Sebako Village, it’s a village which belongs to the Bidayuh Sebako people, a local native group in Sarawak. Located at Lundu/Sematan. The unique about this place it’s the wonder creation of nature, the multiple tier of waterfall hiding deep inside the jungle.



A water hydro station was build next to the village, however I’m not sure if the village are using the power generate by the station.
I have been thinking of coming to this places for a very long time, and finally I have the chance to visit this place. It rain on the night before I go, it dampened my hope on the expedition might be cancel due to heavy rain. But fortunate enough the next day the weather was fine.

Upon reaching the village, our porters are waiting for us at their house. We unload our food supply, and cooking gear to let the porter carry for us.

It took us around 35 minutes’ walk from the village to the hydro station. This is just flat ground hiking, there is a stairway next to the station, and that is where the challenge starts. With around 150m elevation, it took me around 20 min to slowly walk up the stairway.

I remember my last exercise was maybe around 4 months ago, so it was a tough challenge. I stop few times to catch my breath, and continue walking again.
This stairway was funded by the Sarawak energy company, and build by the local people there. Its not an easy job, as they have to carry the cement steps, and arrange it nicely to become a staircase.

Then, I saw huge water pipe connecting to each other section by section. This is the water source for the village people, and they are very lucky to be able to get clean and free water.

Reached a water dam on the end of the water pipeline. The dam collects part of the water, and it flows into the pipe. The exceed water then flows out down into the forest. We stop here for a quick break, and to catch our breath.

We have reach another waterfall, the journey continue after the break, and I check my time it was around 11.30am. I start my journey at 9am. I have a tent, a matt, two 1.5 litter of water, clothes, sandals, rain coat, utensils, torchlight, knife, power banks, camera, camcorder, and some mics stuff all weigh around 10 kg at my back. Can feel my shoulder are stiff, and leg a bit sore.

But the journey did not stop there, we have to continue hiking into the jungle again. And this time with dense forest, can tell that seldom have people here, that is why the path are always been block by vines, and leaves.

Another waterfall, and multiple tiers of waterfall. We climbs all the way up by following the source of the water. This is rock climbing!!!

When we reach to tier no 9, we stop there to setup camp. That will be the place we stay for one night. Our guide and my friends start to collecting wood to setup camp, and fire. While some of us get ready to cook lunch.

It starts to drizzling after we finish setup camp, and manage to hide under the camp. That night I did not sleep well, maybe because I’m not use to the environment. Camping next to the waterfall is my first experience, I always have this feeling that it was raining, due to the water sound, but its not.

The next morning, we hike further up again. The view up there was breathtaking!!!
I like it there, just that it require 3 hours plus to reach to the waterfall. Hope one day my team and I can come back and camp here again.

Dear readers, do enjoy my video, and I will see you in my next post. Thank you for reading.

Time, States and Map trail Record