Sekolah Kebangsaan Tetabuan Beluran, Sabah, East Malaysia

Sekolah Kebangsaan Tetabuan Beluran: An island school off Sandakan in Sabah

While in Sandakan, I was privileged to make the acquaintance of  Cikgu Farhana who teaches in this school. She was posted  here from Muar, and has to serve for three years.  She gave me an interesting account of life on the remote island teaching Bajau kids.

This is the school canteen.

 

Cikgu Farhana and a friend from Finland who helped out in the school briefly.

From Sandakan, she has to travel for an hour or so and then hop onto a boat to reach the island school. Being remote and isolated, you can imagine the hardship and sacrifices teachers and the headmaster have to endure. But their primary concern is to give the kids a good education.

Students returning home.

School starts as early as 7 AM. Like kids in most rural communtities, they lead a carefree life.

Note: Images courtesy of Cikgu Farhana.

Sabah Tourism, Sabah, East Malaysia

Need help?: The friendly and helpful Sabah Tourism staff will answer all your queries on travel in Sabah. The huge map of Sabah is eye-catching and innovative.

Magnificent building: Sabah Tourism office is housed in this magnificent old building in Jalan Gaya. It has lots of glossy and comprehensive tourist literature and maps to help you plan your travels in Sabah. They are all on display (not hidden like in some countries), and you're free to take as many as you wish (but, please, not to build up your home library, ok?)

FYI: Jalan Gaya is packed with budget accomodation, restaurants and coffee shops. In 5 mins you can walk to the seafront from here.

BTW, this blogger is not commissioned by Sabah Tourism to write glowing accounts of Sabah tourism.

2009 Mt Kinabalu Climathon - dare you take up the challenge?

Publicity poster on Mt. Kinabalu Climbaton

Want bragging rights when you meet friends for coffee? Then take part in this year' s Mt Kinabalu Climbathon in Sabah. No, there's no need to bring any climbing gear. Just your running shorts and shoes will do.

The 2008 champion for running up AND down Mt Kinabalu clocked two hours 44 mins 47 sec

I took about 8 hours just to reach the top but these guys are running up and down in less than 3 hours. Amazing!

FYI, Mt Kinabalu is about 4000 m high, and the total distance for the race is 21 km.

If you decide to quit the race halfway, it's OK. At least the view from the top is spectacular.

Bloody Mess in Sepilok, Sabah, East Malaysia

Emerging from the rainforest in Sepilok in the east  Malaysian state of Sabah, I congratulated myself on escaping from the clutches of the leeches.

But the moment I stepped into the orang-utan rehabilitation centre, four leeches launched themselves onto my feet, leg and even backside.

 Panicking at the thought of my life ebbing away, I pulled them out forcibly. For the next half hour, my feet and legs continued to bleed. Only my backside escaped unscathed as I was able to flick it away in the nick of time.

It was a bloody mess in Sepilok.

Bird Festival in Sepilok, Sabah, East Malaysia

 

Bird trails in Sepilok.

The first-ever International Bird Race in Sepilok is now on till the 15th of this month. I saw these trails for birding enthusiasts. Nothing could be easier I thought so gingerly walking on the muddy and slippery trails I tried to test my birding ability.

Number of birds spotted: 0

There are about 300 species of birds in Sepilok alone, and I couldn't even spot one! Must see an eye specialist soon.

In a birding contest, participants  try to spot as many birds as possible within a time frame. Here in Sepilok it's 24 hours.

If I've aroused you interest, go to http://www.borneobirdfestival.com

Happy birding!

Attacks in Sepilok rainforest.

Two trekkers in Sepilok rainforest.

The rainforest can be both scary and exciting. Its stillness and quietness can unnerve you. But a sudden discovery of wildlife can be exciting.

In Sepilok you are advised not to carry any food. The monkeys can scent your food and may take it forcibly from you. Their body language seems to say "Resistance is futile". Any attempt on your part to scare them with "No!" will be met with a chorus of "Yes, we can."

I'm not joking.

A lovely stream.

Following recent rains, the trails were muddy and slippery. The trails here are short, about 1km or so. Mindful of the fact that the leeches were gleefully awaiting my arrival, I sprayed myself liberally with insect repellent (against the rules in Sepilok). I was so intent on looking out for birds that I forgot all about the wily leeches (Sepilok alone has about 300 of the 600 odd species of birds in Borneo).

When I finally emerged from the rainforest, I congratulated myself on thwarting the leeches. Not a single attack.

Showtime at Sepilok, Sabah, East Malaysia

Showtime over: Visitors heading into the rainforest.

Showtime over, the majority of the visitors made for the exit, jumped into their vehicles and rushed to their next destination much to the amusement of the great apes, the orang-utan, snuggling in the trees above. Humans are funny creatures, they must have thought.

A few visitors headed into the rainforest to discover its delights. And the leeches were lying in wait for a hearty meal.