Sabah Fest 2011 - A Colourful Cultural Extravaganza

KOTA KINABALU: The annual Sabah Fest, a cultural extravaganza, the state’s largest and most colourful cultural event of the year is here again.

It started yesterday with the Cultural Extravaganza while the Premiere Show will be held today at the Magellan Grand Ballroom, Sutera Harbour Resort at 7pm.

The grand launching will be carried out by the Head of State Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Juhar Mahiruddin, who will be accompanied by his consort, Toh Puan Datin Seri Panglima Norlidah Datuk R.M Jasni at the Magellan Grand Ballroom of Sutera Harbour Resort at 8pm.

At a recent press conference, the Minister of Tourism and Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun revealed that the 23rd edition of Sabah Fest will bring to the audience the story of ‘Papakang – The Odyssey of Seven Brothers’, a one-hour musical theatre-style production based on a local folklore of the legendary Nunuk Ragang.

Guests can hope to be entertained by a dazzling display of Sabah’s traditional songs and dances, as the legend unfolds.

The story is about the seven sons of the Nunuk Ragang, chief of Kampung Tompios in the district of Ranau, who coveted the mystical Papakang stone.

They looked for it but it was the youngest son, Aki Lintobon, who successfully retrieved it from the bottom of the river.

After he retrieved it however, the brothers squabbled over who would possess the stone.

Seeing this, their father smashed the stone into seven pieces and gave each son a piece, telling them that this would serve as a reminder of their identity as siblings and their origin.

As time passed, food became scarce in that area and famine began to beset the land.

They were more quarrels as they strived to survive.

They fought amongst each other and headhunting became rampant.

The people had no choice but to make an option; migrate and look for better land or risk starvation.

They took the latter and the the six older brothers led their people to different areas.

They began their journey towards other part of the land one day, holding on to the stone their father gave them so that they may identify their people in other parts of the land one day.

The youngest named Aki Lintobon, remained in Tompios and even as he watched his siblings walked away, he vowed to seek and reunite his brothers.

The years went by and one day Aki Lintobon decided that it was time to bring his family back together again and thus began the amazing journey of Aki Lintobon across the land to look for his family and the stone of Papakang.

Guests tonight will see the depiction of this journey through the drama and dance.

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Exhibitions to enhance cultural experience at Sabah Fest

KOTA KINABALU: While the Sabah Fest 2011 performance nights will be a dazzling display of traditional dances and musical presentations, the Sabah Fest exhibition also to be held on April 30 and May 1 is set to feature Sabah’s unique craft creations, ethnic recipes and locally made products.

More than 30 booths comprising handicraft stalls, traditional food and beverages, Borneo pearls, batik and exquisite paintings of local artists will be at the foyer of the Magellan Grand Ballroom from 10am to 10pm to enrich the Sabah Fest 2011 experience.

This exhibition is open to the public for free.

Visitors will be exposed to the art of the locals and craft stalls are each manned by the Kadazandusun, Murut, Rungus, Bajau, Bajau Laut, Iranun, Lundayeh and Brunei Malay communities. They will be displaying and selling crafts unique to their culture.

This is a perfect time to see skilled crafts people at work and a chance to purchase hard-to-find items, from hand-woven baskets to intricately-carved Sea Bajau lepas (wooden boat replicas).

Beads-making specialist Nonjiring Mantuku from Kampung Tinangol in Kudat, who has been in this industry for 45 years, will also be presenting her works.

Textile lovers of traditional woven cloths of Dastar, Mugah and Sambitan will have the opportunity to meet well-known Hajah Pandian from Kota Belud, who has been in involved in the local tapestry industry for 50 years. She will be showing how these clothes are woven.

Another highlight of the two-day event is the food exhibition consisting of local cuisines, local snack or kuih-muih such as Kuih Cincin, Ampalang and Kekara.

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The first Sumazau dance of Kadazan newly-weds

Kota Kinabalu: Most Sabahans may think they have seen it all - the Kadazan Sumazau dance. But what about a specific dance called Sumazau mingkung - the first dance together for newly weds?

That could be new for many attending the Sabah Fest 2011 cultural extravaganza on April 30 and 1 May, at the Sutera Harbour Magellan Grand Ballroom.

For Kadazans of Penampang, the Sumazau Mingkung is a specific dance performed especially as a tribute to a newly-married couple.

On wedding day, the groom heads for the bride's house in a procession with the bridewealth (nopung) on hand.

On arrival, gongs beat and the nopung is taken from him, the bride appears at the entrance and the bobohizan (ritual specialist) uses a popodu - a bunch of five types of leaves to sprinkle water to perform a ritual called vokis, to bless the newly weds.

After the blessing, the couple place a foot each on a round stone called pampang at the bottom of the stairs while the bobohizan symbolically holds the conical hats called seraung, over their heads.

The stone and the hats symbolize strong and lasting marriage while the hats represent shields to protect them from evil on wedding day and thereafter.

After a few short mantras, the bobohizan would then enter the house.

In the house, the couple performs their first Sumazau dance together as a married couple with the bobohizan and other elders surrounding them, performing that specific dance called Sumazau mingkung.

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Top Malaysia Expatriate Travel Award for Best Golf Resort for Sutera Harbour

Worldhotels affiliate Sutera Harbour Resort collected the ‘Best of Malaysia Travel Award 2010’ for Best Golf Course or Resort.

Its three championship courses at Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club are set against the spectacular backdrop of Mount Kinabalu, beside the South China Sea in Sabah.

The ‘Best of Malaysia Award’ is voted by readers of The Expatriate Lifestyle Magazine, Malaysia’s top lifestyle publication for expatriates.

Golf facilities at Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club include a splendid clubhouse with 41-bay driving range. It is also East Malaysia’s only course equipped for night golfing.

Previous accolades have included 2nd runner up for Best Golf Resort in Asia in the Asian Golf Monthly Awards 2008, Best Golf Resort Malaysia at HAPA 2007 and Malaysia’s Best Golf Resort at the 2006 World Travel Awards.

Sutera Harbour Resort Group earlier collected a series of honours in the 2010 Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards – including ‘Most Unique F&B Concept’ for its sunset cruise aboard the motor yacht Puteri Sutera.

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Sabah Fest 2011 To Highlight Story Of 'Papakang: The Odyssey Of Seven Brothers'

KOTA KINABALU -- The state's largest and most colourful cultural event of the year, Sabah Fest, is back again and will be held this April 30 to May 1, this time highlighting the story of 'Papakang: The Odyssey of Seven Brothers'.

Besides the usual cultural performances, exhibition and demonstration booths, this 23rd edition of the Sabah Fest would see a one-hour musical theatre production based on a local folklore of the legendary Nunuk Ragang, said Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

"Through a dazzling display of Sabah's traditional songs and dances, the legend tells about the seven sons of Nunuk Ragang, chief of Kampung Tompios in the district of Ranau, who all covet the mystical 'Papakang' stone.

"The story will also share the journey of his youngest son, Aki Lintobon, across the land to bring together his family and the stone of 'Papakang," he said at the press conference on the event, here, today.

The two-day event, to be held at the Magellan Sutera Harbour Resort, will be launched by Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Datuk Seri Juhar Mahiruddin on the second night.

While the handicraft and food showcase from 10am to 10pm on the two days is open to the public, entry to the night show performance which starts at 7pm, is priced at RM50 (RM30 for students).

Masidi said there would be 1,000 tickets allotted for the first night and 700 tickets for the second night, which is the premier show with the attendance of the head of state.

Besides that, Sabah Fest 2011 will also highlight the unique dances and rituals from eight districts, namely Ranau, Pitas, Kudat, Kota Belud, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Keningau and Penampang.

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Fascinating Murut Paluan dances in Sabah Fest

KOTA KINABALU: The finale to the Sabah Fest 2011 will see a fascinating performance by the Murut Paluan, one of the many Murut sub-ethnic groups in Sabah.

The Murut Paluan from Kg. Dalit, Sook in Keningau will perform a blend of two choreographed dances, using old objects as dance props. The first dance is called Alang Piring which involves symbolic gestures to welcome guests during festive gatherings.

The second dance is a hybrid presentation that uses the elements of argus bird feathers called lalandau, a blowpipe called sapuk and a ceremonial sword called pailang, while dancing on the bamboo poles of the Magunatip dance.

The original dance without the props was performed to commemorate the success of head hunting parties in the olden days.

The music that accompanies this dance is a fusion, combining the rhythmic beating of old empty tortoise shells called pakukang of legendary origins, and a set of a hanging gongs called ripason.

The Sabah Fest 2011 will take place on the 30th April and 1st May at the Magellan Grand Ballroom, Magellan Sutera Harbour Resort starting at 7pm on the first day with the Cultural Extravaganza show and the Premiere Show the following day.

Themed “PAPAKANG, The Odyssey of Seven Brothers”, the highly anticipated show will tell the tantalising and compelling legend behind the origins of the largest ethnic community in Sabah, the Kadazandusun, as told through the journey and experience of a young boy called Aki Lintobon.

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Sabah Fest 2011: Cultural extravaganza in store

Kota Kinabalu: First started as a street parade, Sabah Fest 2011 enters its 23rd anniversary with a cultural extravaganza themed "Pa'pakang, the Odyssey of Seven Brothers" scheduled on April 30 at Sutera Magellan Grand Ballroom, said Sitti Damsal, General Manager of Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd, Thursday.

A public premier show follows on May 1, starting at 7pm. Sabah stands out as the richest State in terms of ethnic and cultural diversity which, however, is often hidden, in deep interior of far-flung coasts or even islands.

Which raises the question: How to make this proud and exclusive heritage visible to the world.

The answer is an annual Sabah Fest which congregates all 32 indigenous groups in one place, dressed in full traditional costumes with a maximum display of their variant cultural elements - such as dance, music, cuisine and handicraft.

Because it is more than two decades old, Sabah Fest has gained a good measure of maturity, with a quality show that comes along with it.

Year in and year out, the big 'do' still surprise visitors and even locals, when they actually see the sharply contrasting depth and extent of ethnic possibilities as organisers take pains to extract real indigenous ethnic groups from their original village roots and concentrate them in one place each year, for a musical theatre style hour-long production based on Sabah's many legends.

As Sabah Tourism Board Chairman, Tengku Datuk Dr Zainal Adlin, has put it: "The beauty is not necessarily in colourful costumes but ethnic authenticity."

Add a unique traditional tolerance to ethnic diversity, Sabah brands itself positively to the outside world who often say they like what they see.

Legends may not be historical facts but they nevertheless tell stories around which musical directors can cast diverse ethnic groups like contrasting characters in one single production.

So the story of this year's legend centres around seven contentious sons of Nunuk Ragang Chief of Tompios, who coveted a mystical stone called Pa'pakang. But only one wins - Aki Lintobon, the youngest son, who succeeded in retrieving it from the river bottom. Being covetous, the brothers fought for ownership of the stone.

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Sabah is South East Asia's best kept secret

BALI has long been a popular destination for Australian travellers, thanks largely to its proximity and value for money.

But another South-East Asian destination is quickly emerging as an attractive alternative - Sabah in Malaysia.

On the beautiful island of Borneo, Sabah is the second largest of Malaysia's 13 states and its beauty is like nothing I have seen. With a consistent tropical climate of 32C, Sabah really is a year-round holiday destination.

It is not overly populated, the tourist hordes have yet to discover it and the beautiful people are so friendly it almost makes you wish you lived there permanently.

In downtown Kota Kinabalu, you can explore the four-level shopping complex Centre Point and still get your quirky mix of traditional Asian markets with fresh fruit, handicrafts and paintings.

If you tire of Asian cuisine, you can still get your fix of Western food, with McDonald's, KFC and Starbucks in the main Kota Kinabalu shopping hub.

And there is a range of resorts competing for tourists.

Luxury resorts

If you're looking for 5-star luxury, the Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa, part of the Shangri-La family, is a good option. Set on 10ha of landscaped gardens, only 10 minutes from the city centre, it's easy to see why this fantastic resort was voted the best in Malaysia.

The resort caters to all ages, with a beachside restaurant designed to resemble the popular Ku De Ta in Seminyak in Bali and a separate children's pool zone with an ice-cream parlour.

To truly get the most out of the resort, it's worth paying a little bit extra to stay in a seaview deluxe suite, which looks out on to the resort's private beach.

The equally beautiful Sutera Harbour Resort, which includes the Magellan Sutera Resort and The Pacific Sutera Hotel, has a 104-berth marina and private access to some of Kota Kinabalu's most beautiful beaches.

Here, you can stroll along the waterfront of the harbour and watch the sun set, enjoy a cocktail by the Magellan's beach or swim in one of its eight pools.

It's also a paradise for golfers, with a 27-hole course designed by Graham Marsh.

More adventurous travellers can stay in Sabah's tropical rainforest in one of its many jungle lodges and explore Sabah's wildlife including orang-utans. A regular canoe service allows you to see Malaysia's native flora and fauna up close.

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Sabah contributing fair share in tackling climate change

Kota Kinabalu: State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the State Government has contributed substantially in tackling the climate change issues in Sabah.

He said this is proven with activities it has conducted that are in line with the REDD-plus in sustainable forest biodiversity conservation, protection, restoration and rehabilitation.

Much of this, he said, was showcased in the two-day forest and climate change international conference and exhibition at Magellan Sutera.

"However, the work does not and must not stop there.

What transpired further from the conference should be put into practice.

"Besides, the awareness and dissemination of information, the realisation of implementing REDD-plus should be given priority," he said at the close of the conference.

He assured that the State Government would ensure that the close cooperation among all the relevant agencies would continue to prevail in achieving the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD-plus) that was formulated in the Bali Action Plan (COP13), in 2007.

He expressed delight with the outcome and recommendations from the conference.

He said the Government would take note of it for appropriate actions adding that he believed in a pragmatic approach that benefits the people of Sabah and at the same time, not disrupt the State's development agenda.

REDD-plus, he said, is relatively a new acronym to many but the State Forestry Department is taking proactive action and a leading role towards a better understanding of this mechanism and to study the potential of its implementation in Sabah.

He cited research carried out by Professor Kanehiro Kitayama of Kyoto University, Japan in Sabah for many years.

He said it highlighted that sustainable forest management in Deramakot Forest Reserve, with strict compliance to international principles and standards has proven to be a good mitigation option to alleviate the current rate of carbon emission and biodiversity loss in production forests, while maintaining sustainable timber production.

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World Tourism Conference 2010 - Changing travel plans

To boost tourist arrivals in your country, you need more than just the Eiffel Tower or the Angkor Wat.

People are looking for meaning in their lives, says Daniel Levine, the executive director of the Avant-Guide Institute in New York.

“They’re looking at experiences that can’t be taken away whether their bank balances go up or down.”

Speaking at the World Tourism Conference 2010 (WTC 2010) recently at the Magellan Sutera, Sutera Harbour in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Levine believes that tourists are no longer content with passive watching; they now want to “do” things.

In the three-day Tourism Success Stories and Rising Stars conference jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the Sabah Tourism Board, over 490 participants from 44 countries converged to uncover the secrets of leading destinations and organisations.

Levine, one of the 12 speakers, is the head of an international team of “trend hunters” who scour the globe for the latest products, ideas and experiences. He helps travel brands and destinations become more relevant, innovative and profitable.

Levine has authored over 20 best-selling books and is a frequent guest on international television and radio shows, having even been hailed a “genius” by Elle magazine and “the ultimate guru of cool” by CNN.

While some countries may have long-standing attractions of historical and cultural value, places that are less well endowed are slowly creating their own unique “brand” of experiences to draw in the crowd.

Among the examples given by Levine is the Hotel Kakslauttanen in Lapland, Finland which boasts one-of-a-kind igloo hotel rooms. You stay in a futuristic glass igloo in the middle of winter. And while you lie back in bed, you can see the northern lights in full view — what’s not to love about this hotel?

“This is the kind of experience people are looking for right now. They don’t just want luxury; they want a meaningful experience. In this case, it’s all about learning something,” says Levine. “It’s all about the ‘cool’ factor these days; tourists want to tell their friends about their unforgettable experience. Plus, it’s great content for Facebook and personal blogs.’’

Another interesting example is the sensorial blindfolded walking tours in Portugal led by blind tour guides.

“Instead of saying, ‘Hey look at that’, they are saying: Smell what’s coming from that bread shop; hear the sounds that are around that corner; feel the cloth that’s being sold by this store,” says Levine.

This is a powerful concept. It sheds new light on the senses that one is so accustomed to, drawing a link between emotions and memories to create a unique experience.

Levine points out that the product itself hasn’t changed (bakeries give off an almost universal aroma) — it’s the way products are being marketed that has changed. The tourism industry cannot be stagnant; it has to constantly find new ways to redefine its worth.

Even our neighbour Singapore has decided to build a 12m high jumbo twister slide in Changi Airport. For every $22 (RM52.16) spent in the airport, you get tokens for two rides on the super slide. No reason really to have a slide in the airport but people love the idea — the possibility of having something fun to experience if ever your flight is delayed.

While it may not be the main pull in attracting tourists, it is an added value nonetheless.

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World Tourism Conference Sabah - Tourists more demanding and fragmented in their holidays

KOTA KINABALU: Tourists now are more demanding and fragmented in their holidays, said Booz & Company senior vice president Dr Jurgen Ringbeck.

Instead of taking one or two holiday trips a year, Ringbeck said tourists now preferred splitting their holidays by taking shorter trips two to five times annually.

He added that tourists also looked for variety in their holidays, which could be a mixture of adventure, five-star experience and sports in a single trip.

Hence, Ringbeck stressed the need to sharpen brand positioning and creating unique experience for customers.

“We are also seeing more young Asians and baby boomers on holiday,” he added while speaking at the World Tourism Conference 2010 at the Magellan Sutera here yesterday.

Another factor tourists were looking into was environmental sustainability in their holiday trips.

Pollutions and carbon footprints were among the factors that tourists would take into account, he said.

Ringbeck also talked on the the increased pressure in price, which included the cost of energy.

“In the early days, fuel accounted for 10 per cent of the airline cost, now it has gone up to 25 per cent and we expect it to reach up to 40 per cent in the next 20 years.”

Meanwhile, director of Making Tourism Work Associates Susan Warren, the first keynote speaker of the day, stressed the importance of branding and managing a country’s reputation to the tourism industry.

She said country branding encompassed politics, trade, tourism, culture and community with the aim to improve its reputation in order to drive economic value and sustainable practices.

“Branding requires researching on the country’s image, evaluate its strengths and weaknesses, then build and communicate differentiating and winning characteristics.”

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World Tourism Conference in KK Oct 4 to 6

Kota Kinabalu: The World Tourism Conference (WTC) will be held at the Magellan Grand Ballroom in Sutera Harbour Resort from Oct 4 to 6.

Organised by the Tourism Ministry and United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) for the first time here, the event would see over 300 delegates attending, including reputed world leaders in tourism, high-level policy makers, specialists and experts from both the public and private sectors.

The WTC aims to unravel the secrets of leading destinations and organisations which can be implemented by other countries and corporations to generate income and accelerate growth.

It will also highlight innovative product development and marketing strategies that will enable the public and private sectors to capitalise on the tourism industry.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is scheduled to open the event. Other guests of honour include Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, Tourism Minister Dato' Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen, Secretary-General of UNWTO, Taleb Rifai and Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

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