The North Borneo Beauty

Not too late for me to wish Selamat Hari Raya to all!

You see, that’s the beauty we have in Malaysia, Sabah in particular. We celebrate all festivals like its our own, and we looking forward for all the festivals every month.

This year Raya, me and my best friend has decided to go for water rafting at Padas river. It had been planned before with some friends, unfortunately they cannot make it. End up only me and my best friend enjoying the rafting!

The journey started from KK using a bus, all the way to Beaufort. We start our journey from KK at about 6 in the morning.

Around 7.30 we reached Beaufort  and we proceed to Beaufort Train station.

From there we took the train to Tenom. It took nearly 2 hours ride with so many exciting view along the railway and inside the train as well

The train is not something you imagine with aircond or comfy seat. You just sit on the floor, and some just lie there..But it makes the journey more exciting !

You can view the beautiful river and villages along the railway, by just sit near the door. Cool ey?

Okay more to come on Padas River adventure!

Are you worried because you still haven’t got funds for your family vacation? With gas prices these days higher than a kite, airplane and train tickets are following the lead and going up unabated. And we haven’t even gotten to the hotel reservations – it’s virtually impossible to book you, your better half and the children, which may or may not include a couple of teens, on one week’s salary equivalent. These factors leave many families with a small budget wondering how they can afford to take a family vacation without breaking the bank. Hold your horses, Henry Hill, budget family camping might be the way to go!

The option of packing the family car and driving out to a secluded place at the lake or in the woods sounds ideal to some families. Let’s face it; we all want to get away from the incessant ringing phones, the sound of traffic, and the responsibilities of life now and then. Budget family camping doesn’t require much planning for a pleasant trip. Many campgrounds around the country offer overnight camping for tent campers ranging anywhere from $7-25 a night which is far less than the cost of even the most budget priced hotel. Why, the rates aren’t even high if you decide to camp out in an RV, or Recreational Vehicle, as they can reach $35 tops except in some exclusive campsites. And if you’re looking to book your camping trip on the World Wide Web, you’ll be glad to know that this is an option offered by several National Parks. You can plan your budget family camping trip even a year in advance regardless of the state you live in.

Once the reservations are made the family simply packs their bedding, extra clothes, fishing gear, and their food before heading off for their budget family camping trip for some family togetherness time.

If the whole idea of a camping trip is new to you, you’ll want to have several pieces of camping gear that could stand the test of time. For a family of four your budget family camping trip will require the following gear: A cooler (decent size) to make sure your food and drinks remain chilled Enough disposable plates, cups, knives and forks High quality sleeping bags for the four of you – total $160 to 250 for everybody A set of four tarps to ensure your tents remain dry at all times – $8-10 each A battery powered lantern with extra batteries A family tent that’s good for five or more people at $80-170. Basic game gear – balls, bikes, horseshoes, dominoes, cards. If you plan to go fishing, bring your fishing poles, bait and tackle box

Everything should fall into place once you prepare for your budget family camping trip – preparing for the next ones should be a snap. Chances are you’ll keep adding to this list as you make more and more trips. Many campers find it addicting to get away at least once or twice a year with the family.

well this is a simple post for my friend Ajeed and his family who will go to Sabah next year ..

Once you landed at KKIA, you will be exactly in Kota Kinabalu capital city..First is to decide where you wanted to go on the first day?

a. Kota Kinabalu Area?

b. Straight to the mountain area?

In Kota Kinabalu area, places you can go  :

a. Mari Mari Cultural Village

b. Monsopoid Cultural Village

c. Tunku Abd Rahman Park

d. Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre

e. Gaya Street (Sunday Market)

Since you only have 3 days there, and you want to do island hopping..so i think this is your plan :

1st day

Check in hotels and all. Hotel maybe at Tang Dynasty the room rate is quite ok, and nearby the Water Front..Settle everything and take a walk around hotel area. At night can go to Philippine Market, for sea food makan-makan

Another Hotel is Gaya Center Hotel. This located nearby Suria Sabah Shopping Mall, and very near to the port.

2nd day

Take a taxi to Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal, situated next to the Malaysia Royal Custom Department. Boat transfers to the islands are available daily from 7.30am to 5pm.

Enjoy your day island hopping! Tunku Abd Rahman Park

3rd day

You can spend your last day shopping at Philipine market or if  it’s on Sunday, you can go to Gaya Street for jalan-jalan .  Some photo from other’s blog : Life Like That.

Hmm..more info on KK, you can find at  http://borneobloggers.com/kota-kinabalu 

When I was young, I always looked ahead eagerly to the vacations that my family took together and they are still some of the most vivid memories I have from my childhood. It didn’t matter where we went – either some scenic site nearby or a trip abroad to some exotic land. Being together as a family was what mattered most.

No matter what your family enjoys, be it the crashing surf or the sprawling mountains, there are plenty of destinations to choose from. Many hotels provide special packages for families where they have separate activities planned for the adults and the kids.

Family vacations are beneficial to children in many ways. First of all, they teach kids about the history, geography, and culture of either their own country or another country. This is priceless knowledge that they will retain for their entire lives. Any place that you take them will have something to teach them. That’s just one good reason to plan a family vacation together.

You should think of every summer vacation as a time for adventure. It depends on you how you want to experience these different adventures which are present in every corner of the globe. For example, if you want to spend time outdoors, you can visit a wildlife preserve. Or if you prefer the hustle and bustle of the city, you can find many places that are full of cultural treasures. Any place you go will provide a different and valuable adventure for your family.

Memories made with your children should be the main aim of a family holiday. And the memories from these trips will have a very special meaning to your children when they’re grown and busy with work and schooling.

It’s absolutely true that time passes very quickly, and before you know it your youngsters will be in college and venturing off to take jobs in other cities. So don’t waste any precious time – schedule a family vacation that will bring everyone together.

A family vacation is also a great way to bond again with your loved ones. The few days that you spend with your family can really help to strengthen your relationship with your partner and children.

My hope is that those of you who are parents will read this and take to heart the importance of bringing your family together for quality vacation time.

But it developed rapidly as a commercial center with mining, scientific centers and education. The beaches of Alabama have become the hottest tourist spots for many couples and families. It is a great place that offers marvelous attractions right from mountains at the north to several beaches. Italy Tourism Guides

Nowadays, people are so busy thinking about their look, not only women, but also men. Twenty or fifteen years ago, maybe men not really that obsessed about how they look. But now, men and women are both same.

Actually today i want to share with you some important facts about tomato. At my place, it’s easy for us to get fresh tomato, because it is one of the main vegetables that being planted in Kundasang (ranau) area.

I bet we all know that tomatoes are low in calories, an excellent and nutritional type of food for people that wish to follow a weight-loss plan.
Having high vitamin C levels that help the body increase naturally its immune system, tomatoes have evolved to become one of the most loved vegetables used in meal preparation worldwide.

In one study, 10 healthy women ate a diet containing two ounces of tomato puree each day for three weeks, either preceded by or followed by a tomato-free diet for three weeks. The researchers measured blood levels of lycopene and evaluated oxidative damage to cells before and after each phase. They found that cell damage dropped by 33% to 42% after consuming the tomato diet.. Hmm no wonder people in kundasang area looks young and healthy..so that’s the secret, tomato everyday..

And for those who are always busy or those who still don’t have the confidence to cook a ‘complex meal’ (meaning you have to prepare with CO2 fire extinguishers everytime you step inside the kitchen) maybe you can try this tips and idea for a simple meal..

Tomato diet Tips and Idea

Breakfast

Lunch

Snacks

* Cheese and tomatoes on toast
* Mackerel in tomato sauce

Want fresh tomato? Come visit Kundasang, Sabah..