Introduction of Computer Application (BC101)

In this course we already learned about how to use internet ethically. It emphasizes on

basic concepts and fundamentals of web page creation using suitable application.To prove that the objective in this course was obtained Pn. Noraini Binti Harun has assigned to prepare a blogger that describes the uniqueness of Malaysia. We need to display the information of the state such as the special place , foods, races, and event occur at the state.


In this task i choose to describe my hometown sabah. Sabah is a state located in the north east of the island borneo.sabah is one of the 13 states in Malaysia. It is the second largest country after Sarawak. It also borders the province of East Kalimantan Indonesia in the south. Kalimantan province shares a border with sabah.Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah which was once called the Jesselton. Sabah is a land below the wind that was expressed by a sailor in the past that describe the hurricane belt of the south.

This is the place that i wanna describe about . Welcome to Borneo " land below the wind"

Traditional Costume

Mostly people live in sabah were Kadazan Dusun people. Generally the trimmings and embroidery on the kadazan costume are simple and diginified in comparison with other ethnic group. The men's jacket and trousers bear some chinese influence . There are three different style of blouses for the womwn. One is a blouse with short sleeves worn by young ladies. Another is a blouse with three quarter sleeves worn by middle-aged for daily or casual use. The third one is worn by elderly women and female ritual specialists during ceremonies.

TEXTILE

Basic material : Black commercial fabric slik or velvet for ceremonial occasion, cotton for daily wear.

COSTUME OF WOMEN

Sinuangga blouse with short sleeves and round neck worn by younger women.Sober embroidery along the opening for head and arm and along the seams at the sides and along the middle of the bck: red, yellow and cream cotton yarn.Main stitches : sinusuk bulus(chain stitch) tantop (flanel stitch) . A flanel stitch technique is also used to make binuunsi a narrow band weaving in red and yellow looking somewhat like shoelace.

SINOMPUKUNG

Blouse with three quarter sleeves . No embroidery. Usually worn over the sinuangga like a jacket when the wearer gos out the house , such as visit a friend. Nowadays, The sinompukung is often embroidered and worn by older women as a blouse instead of as a jacket as in the olden days.

KIHONGON

Blouse with long sleeve, worn by elderly women and female ritual specialist or bobohizan during ceremonies . The embroidery is similar to the one on the sinuangga

SIMIS"CHEMISE"

A white cotton underblouse. Sometimes just a white kerchif is tucked into the round neck.

TAPI'

Long cylindrical wrap-skirt, formerly of plain black cotton. Nowadays often enlivened with siring : gold trimming , running over the hips, in front of the skirt, crossed by another band of trimming from the waist down.

Information details >> http://www.scribd.com/doc/31193715/Pakaian-Tradisional-Etnik-etnik-Di-Sabah

Bornean Bristlehead "The superstar Bird of Borneo"

Borneo also have special species of bird . The bird called Angry Bird. Angry Bird is the most popular "bird" in the world now, but people will forget it soon. Out of 660 bird species in borneo , bird watchers mostly watch this bird at Bornean Bristlehead .

It is so special that it should take over hornbill as the most iconic bird of Borneo. Birders from all over the world consider Bornean Bristlehead a trophy bird and pay thousand cash money just to see it .In Borneo Bird Festival last month, foreign birders, who visited the festival, took the opportunity to look for this bird near the event site. One of the most promising places where Bornean Bristlehead shows up frequently. Bornean Bristlehead is classified as a Near Threatened rare bird species.This bird lives in rainforest from lowland to 1,200 Metres .What makes Bornean Bristlehead so unique is it is the sole representative of the family Pityriasis

Island in Sabah

Theres a lot of island in Sabah with it's own beauty . so let's visit sabah too see the beauty island of sabah . for sure you will never regret to choose sabah as your holiday vacation . Bring your whole family to have more fun theres . theres a lot of activities you and your family can do . 

KAPALAI ISLAND

Kapalai Islang is the mere name conjures the image of crystal clear waters and a floating paradise like no other. A 45-minute trip from Semporna by speedboat, Kapalai island is one of the many beautiful diving havens in this part of the world. However, Kapalai is truly unique because it is not quite an ‘island’.

The 40 chalets are built on high wooden stilts in the middle of the ocean. Visitors can enjoy the sights of marine life in action as they stroll along the boardwalk, a sturdy construction that connects the various sections of the floating resort. The resort has 40 chalets, equipped with basic amenities, including tea and coffee making facilities.

You will never have to gripe about having a less than desirable view: you have a breathtaking view of the Celebes Sea no matter where you turn! The restaurant is a wooden deck, where diners can eat indoors or al fresco. There’s even a viewing area in the middle of the restaurant which allows you to see the myriad of marine life passing below.

The sundeck, a popular favourite, is a great place to enjoy your novel, work on a tan or indulge in an afternoon siesta. The Dive Centre provides diving, snorkelling and kayaking gear for rent, including Open Water and Introduction to Night Diving. After enjoying your underwater paradise, explore other facilities offered by the resort including the souvenir shop, games room and broadband access.

SIDAPAN ISLAND

The internationally famous island of Sipadan lies five degrees north of the equator in the Sulawesi Sea . Lying 35km south of Semporna, on Sabah’s mainland, like many tropical islands it is thickly forested and surrounded by sandy beaches. Sipadan is an oceanic island and was formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct undersea volcano, which rises 600m from the seabed.

 More than 3000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in this richest of ecosystems. Sipadan is well known for its unusually large numbers of green and hawksbill turtles which gather there to mate and nest and it is not unusual for a diver to see more than 20 turtles on each dive. Another unique feature to divers visiting Sipadan is the turtle tomb, an underwater limestone cave with a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that contain many skeletal remains of turtles that became disoriented and then drowned.

The residential schooling barracuda and big-eye trevally, which often gather in thousands forming spectacular tornado-like formations, are one of the highlights of every diver’s wish-list. With the possibility of seeing pelagic species such as mantas, eagle rays, scalloped hammerhead sharks and whale sharks, each dive at Sipadan is a highly anticipated event.

It is not only the big fish that amaze divers coming to Sipadan, the macro life is equally mesmerizing. Garden eels, leaf scorpion fish, mantis shrimps, fire gobies, and various pipefish are guaranteed at various dive sites. The diversity and abundance of marine found at Sipadan gives it its reputation of being one of the ten best dive locations in the world.

MATAKING ISLAND

With its sparkling white sand, mesmerizing blue waters and top-class resort, Mataking Island is the ideal getaway for both the avid diver and non-diver. Divers can gear up and explore the Eel Garden, Coral Garden, Nudibranch Garden, Turtle Playground, Lobsters Lair and Hump Head Point.

Non-diving activities include a luxurious pampering experience at Jamu Spa, batik painting, kayaking, canoeing and jungle-trekking to name a few. A must-do during your time in Mataking is to take a leisurely walk to Pulau Mataking Kecil (literally meaning Small Mataking island) which is a 20-minute walk from the main island. The best time to take this walk is in the morning when the tides are low, allowing you to walk on a sandy stretch that leads directly to the smaller island. With the sea surrounding you on both sides, you will feel almost as if you are walking on water.

When you arrive back on the main island, climb up the wooden observation tower to get a breathtaking view of Mataking and its surrounding areas. Catch a glimpse of Mataking's famous island .  Divers seal their mail in a waterproof vacuum bag and post it underwater. Picturesque, equipped with excellent facilities and complemented with friendly service at all times, your stay at Mataking will never be long enough.

LAYANG-LAYANG ISLAND

Layang-Layang, known as "Swallows Reef" is an atoll situated in the South China Sea 300km north-west of Kota Kinabalu. The island is man-made and was constructed for the Malaysian Navy and later developed for the only dive resort, Layang-Layang Island Resort.

The island location offers absolute isolation, luckily there is an airstrip with regular flights from Kota Kinabalu, which is the only mode of transport for guests visiting Layang-Layang. The extreme location of Layang-Layang, the pristine reefs, excellent visibility, steep walls down to 2000km and regular sightings of pelagic has given Layang-Layang a much deserved reputation of being one of the top ten dive locations in the world.

With resident schools of barracuda and big-eye trevally and frequently seen green and hawksbill are plentiful and healthy with sea fans stretching to more than three meters across that filter plankton from the passing currents.

The 20m deep lagoon has some great macro creatures to be found including seahorses, cuttlefish and pipefish but it is the pelagic visiting the outer walls that truly excite divers. Schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks, grey reef sharks, leopard sharks and the occasional threshers and silvertip sharks can all be seen.

Stingrays are also regular visitors including manta rays, pygmy devil rays, marbled rays and eagle rays. Rare sightings such as whale sharks, orcas and melon headed whales have all been seen over the last few years. Spinner and bottlenose dolphins frequently follow the dive boats to each location and divers are sometimes rewarded with snorkeling and diverse fish life and visiting pelagic marine life.

there is a lot of island that you can see in this link http://www.go2borneo.com/tour.php?browse=section&sid=3

History of Sabah

SABAH STATE ORIGIN

Origin of the name 'Sabah' is believed to come from a plant of bananas called saba banana, a type of banana called "Sabbah" or "SAPPAH" by the very popular Bajau made ​​fried bananas. Bananas are widely planted along the west coast of Sabah as a food source. 'Banana saba' also known as 'Jaba' by the Bajau in the state. Now 'saba bananas' better known as the banana decreased.

The name 'Sabah' was first used in the 15th century by traders who travel between North Borneo to the Sulu archipelago in the southern Philippines. In conclusion the name 'Sabah' has been used since before the arrival of the North Borneo Chartered Company and British again. Portuguese map of 1604 in Melaka, Kota Kinabalu, known as Api-Api.

Having taken over by the State of North Borneo Chartered Company, the name 'Sabah' was changed to 'North Borneo' officially in 1881. However, the name 'Sabah' re-used in 1963 during the formation of Malaysia.

BEST PLACE IN BORNEO

SOAK IN A MUD VOLCANO AT PULAU TIGA

Pulau Tiga is very well-known for its natural mud volcano that's never failed to make someone feel comfortable and having fun at the same time in the mud pool.

The Pulau Tiga Marine National Park is also well known as 'Survivor Island' because of the popular Million Dollar Prize Money TV series 'Survivor' by the CBS TV network, USA.

This is the exact island that the entire first series was filmed! The fact that this island was chosen was due to its untouched natural landscape and marine life.

TURTLE ISLAND PARK

The Turtle Island Park lies 40km north of Sandakan in the Sulu Sea and consists of Selingan, Bakungan Kecil and Gulisan islands. The park is a safe haven for the endangered green and hawksbill turtles and gives you the rare opportunity to watch turtle landings. Selingan, the largest of the islands, houses the park's headquarters, a turtle hatchery, tourist accommodation and basic facilities. The other two islands are more for conservation activities.

As turtle landings usually occur after dusk, an overnight stay would be the best plan to see the turtles as they come ashore to lay their eggs, but shining a light on them or using camera flashes should be avoided as either can be stressful on the creatures.

Turtles lay their eggs throughout the year, but the best time to head there is between July and October when the sea is calmer. Observe the collection of eggs, tagging of mother turtles and releasing of baby turtles into the sea.

MALIAU BASIN

The Maliau Basin is a place set on a sprawling 588.4 square kilometers land in Tawau, at the South Central Part of Sabah.

It contains an unusual assemblage of 12 forest types, comprising mainly of lower montane forest dominated by majestic Agathis trees, rare montane heath forest and lowland, and hill diperocarp forest. The highlight of the adventure is to trek the majestic 7 tiers Maliau Falls.

Keen visitors must, however, obtain a permission to enter the Maliau Basin in advance from Yayasan Sabah. Also bear in mind that Maliau Basin is a remote, atavistic and isolated area with limited access, communications and safety facilities.

SEPILOK ORANG HUTAN REHABILITATION CENTRE

The Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre was set up in 1964 to rehabilitate orphaned baby orang utan. Set in the lush 4,300-hectare Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, the Centre under the administration of the Wildlife Department of Sabah attracts tourists and researchers alike, giving them the opportunity to watch the orang utan up close in their natural habitat. A boardwalk leads you to a viewing gallery and feeding platform where the apes are fed milk and bananas twice a day at 10.00am and 3.00pm by rangers. Feeding time also attracts long-tailed macaques to the area.

While orang utan rehabilitation is still the primary goal at Sepilok, it also focuses on public education on conservation, research and assistance on other endangered species such as the rhinoceros.

Visitors are restricted to walkways. Some orang utan have become familiar with people but touching them is strongly discouraged, and while the apes are naturally shy and gentle, the more mischievous ones may try to grab your camera or hat, in which case you should call for a ranger as trying to wrestle the 200 pound apes may not be a good idea.

For the more adventurous, there is trekking through mangrove forest. As this is under the Forestry Department, you will have to get a permit from them before trekking the 5km trail which runs through Sepilok Laut. You can also arrange for a boat return or accommodation in chalets in the forest

LEMBAH DANUM

On a sprawling 438 square kilometer undisturbed land, 70 kilometers (44 miles) west of Lahad Datu, lies nature’s jewel called the Danum Valley Conservation Area. This conservation area boasts one of the richest conservation areas in the world with over 200 species of tree per hectare thriving on it.

Recognized as one of the world’s most complex ecosystem, this forest serves as a natural home for endangered wildlife species such as the Sumatran rhino, banteng, Asian elephant, clouded leopard, orang utan, proboscis monkey, as well as a vast range of Sabah’s lowland fauna.

Being remote from human habitation and almost alien to modern civilization makes the Danum Valley Conservation Area a naturalist paradise. Drink in the beauty of this virgin forest by taking nature walks with experienced naturalists through tranquil rivervine and lowland dipterocarp forest.

Avid birdwatchers will appreciate the 300-meter-long and 27-meter-high canopy walkway which offers a peek into abundant bird life in the forest canopy. The Danum Valley Conservation Area also has beautiful waterfalls and rivers including Sungai Purut 7-tiered pools .One of the most spectacular waterfalls and pools found in Danum Valley Conservation Area.

Here, visitors also get the chance to visit an ancient Kadazandusun burial site, complete with belian coffins and ceramic spirit jars. Three burial sites have been discovered in Danum Valley two near the field centre and one below the cliff, overlooking Borneo Rainforest Lodge.

MOUNT KINABALU

Kinabalu Park was gazetted as the first State Park in Sabah in 1964 and declared Malaysia’s first World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the year 2000 for its outstanding biological attributes. A sprawling 75, 400 hectares, this melting pot of natural wonders is larger than Singapore.

Also the Centre of Plant Diversity for South East Asia, the Park boasts more than 5,000 vascular plant species, an estimated 1,000 orchid species, 621 fern species, nine Nepenthes species, 29 Rhododendron species and two Rafflesia species. The Park has no shortage of fauna as well, being home to some 90 lowland mammal species, 22 montane mammal species, 21 bat species, 326 bird species, 62 toad and frog species and a large population of the 850 butterfly species that occur in Sabah. Out of the 29 bird species that are endemic to Borneo, at least 17 are confined to the mountains, notably Mount Kinabalu. These include subspecies of the Red breasted Tree-partridge, Crimson-headed Wood-partridge and Mountain Blackbird. Such diversity is truly the makings of a naturalists’ paradise!

The main attraction at the Park is none other than the majestic Mount Kinabalu, one of the highest mountains in South East Asia standing at 4095.2 metres. Apart from traditional mountain climbing, visitors can also experience the Mountain Torq, the world’s highest and Asia’s first Via Ferrata or ‘iron road’ at 3,200m to 3,800m above sea level. The various routes on the northern rock faces of Mount Kinabalu consist of a ‘trail’ that is made up of iron rungs, palettes, cables and rails. Depending on the preferred difficulty level, visitors can enroll in various activities such as the intro to single pitch or multi pitch sports climbing, intro to rappelling (abseiling) and introduction to rope ascending. Mount Kinabalu attracts thousands of climbers from around world every year and is also the venue of the annual Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon.

Surrounding the Kinabalu Park is a multitude of natural attractions and enjoyable activities. The Kinabalu Natural History Gallery is a great place to familiarize with what the Park has to offer to through a fascinating exhibition on the flora, fauna and geological make-up of the Park. Video presentations are screened daily at the Liwagu’s Visitors Centre and guided tours are also available. Approximately half an hour from the Kinabalu Park headquarters is the Poring Hot Springs, located 400m above sea level. It features hot sulphur spring baths claimed to have therapeutic values, a 41-metre canopy walk where visitors can hike among the towering canopies, the refreshing Kipungit and Langanan waterfalls, various gardens, a butterfly farm and an orchid conservation centre. In Mesilau, hike along the acclaimed Mesilau trail where you can spot various pitcher plants particularly the Nepenthes lowii, Nepenthes tentaculata and Nepenthes rajah.

Traditional food in sabah

Travelling in Sabah means eating the food traditional food, that is Sabah has plenty of simple delicious dishes which are mainly pickled or preserved. This is mainly due to the Sabahan partiality to all things tangy. At the same time, it also dates back to the olden days when there were yet to be refrigerators to keep the food in. Nonetheless, the cuisines continue to remain synonymous to Sabah’s unique cultural.

Here is a list of what you should look for when you’re at Borneo :

PINASAKAN

Pinasakan sada , or simply known as "pinasakan", is a traditional Kadazandusun dish of braised basung fish mixed with takob akob (a tangy wild fruit mainly harvested for its skin), fresh turmeric, salt and slices of Bambangan . Pinasakan is another type of preserved food and is good to be eaten sans heating for days at a time. You can find Pinasakan at most traditional cuisine restaurants.

Pinasakan goes well with white rice or ambuyat and a dash of sambal.

AMBUYAT

Other than Pinasakan , Ambuyat also is a traditional Bruneian dish that is derived from the interior trunk of the sago palm. On its own, the Ambuyat is simply a bland starchy blob which is similar to the tapioca starch, but it goes well when eaten with tangy, spicy or salty accompanying dish such as the Pinasakan and Bambangan.

Ambuyat is prepared by mixing the sago starch powder into boiling water. As the sago starts to coagulate, use a pair of bamboo fork or wooden chopsticks to roll the starch around the prongs, dip into accompanying dish and munch. Be sure to have a glass of water handy.

HINAVA

Other than that , Hinava is most probably the most well known traditional dish in Sabah. Popularized by the Kadazandusun community, Hinava is made of fresh raw tenggiri , which is filleted and thinly sliced  mixed with sliced chili, ginger, diced red onions, grated Bambangan seed, salt and set with a few squirts of lime juice.

Sometimes, slices of raw bittergourd are also added. If you don’t like fish, you can also substitute the mackerel with either prawn or squid. Hinava can be found in most traditional Kadazandusun restaurant, but of late, it has also been making its way to hotel buffet tables or served during special events and functions. Have it with white rice or on its own as a salad dish.

TUHAU

Last but not list , Most people even locals, would have a bad expression with the Tuhau due to its distinct pungent smell, which is not unlike that of a stink bug. However, once you have  tried it, you may easily overlook its unpleasant smell.

Originating from the interior parts of Sabah (Tambunan, Keningau and Ranau), Tuhau is made of a type of wild ginger that is thinly diced, mixed with diced chili and diced scallion, and pickled using salt and vinegar. Tuhau makes a great accompanying dish for anything and everything. You can find it at tamu markets or vegetable markets all across Sabah.

BAMBANGAN

Lastly , traditional food in sabah is Bambangan such a type of wild mango that comes with a distinct and sharp smell. Unlike the normal mango, Bambangan has a thick brown skin. While it is delicious when ripe, Bambangan is normally harvested raw to be pickled using salt mixed with grated Bambangan seed and slices of chilli. Bambangan can be found at most tamu market or vegetable markets. Pickled Bambangan goes really well with plain white rice and deep fried fish.