English soldier takes on Borneo trek in memory of POWs

BOMBARDIER Michael Fitzgibbon has made history by trekking 164 miles through the Borneo jungle in memory of prisoners of war who died in one of history’s worst atrocities.

The Middlesbrough-born soldier, of the Royal Artillery, retraced the steps of thousands of prisoners of war (POWs) who lost their lives during the Second World War’s Ranau death marches.

The 26-year-old was part of the first post-war group to follow the route British and Australian POWs were forced to take by their Japanese captors from Sandakan to Ranau in Sabah in 1945.

Of the 2,432 prisoners, only six Australians survived by escaping and all 641 British POWs died, either on the death marches or by execution. More than 400 of these British soldiers were members of the Royal Artillery and its attached arms and services.

The former pupil at St David’s School, in Middlesbrough, who joined the Army straight from school, called the challenge a “once in a lifetime experience”.

He said: “Being Commando- trained I like to think I am always at a decent level of fitness, but I did a little bit more endurance training to build up.

“Humidity was a challenge as it was a different environment. I have been to the jungle before but this was a different type of jungle so there was a lot unknown and it was a case of suck it and see.”

Michael and his 14-strong team took part in a ceremony to dedicate a Royal Artillery memorial in the English Garden of the War Memorial Gardens in Kundasang, Sabah - 66 years after the final POWs were executed at Ranau.

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Chinese sacred cultural torch reaches summit of Mount Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU: The sacred torch of the 28th National Chinese Cultural Festival 2011 successfully reached the peak of South East Asia’s highest mountain, Mount Kinabalu, on Monday which coincidentally was the mid-Autumn festival.

Organising chairperson of the National Cultural Festival, Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen who brought the sacred torch up to the peak together with youth members of the host, The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS), said:

“It was the most prestigious moment when we reached the top of Mount Kinabalu and I am so excited and delighted that we have successfully brought the sacred torch to the peak.”

This reflected the words of Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun during the Ranau Torch Run on September 10 that legend has it that a representative of the then Emperor of China actually went up the mountain to find a diamond said to be kept in the mouth of a dragon on the peak, and this belief has since become part of Chinese culture.

With the Chinese culture torch reaching the peak of Mount Kinabalu, it was indeed a glory for the Chinese community in Sabah and this has set a new historical record.

Masidi said these when presenting the torch to Susan and her team members after lighting the cauldron at the Pai Wen Primary School compound in Ranau.

The Ranau Torch Run, which was the sixth in the series of runs across the state, started at the school compound and then around Ranau town on September 10. The run was to promote Chinese culture to the people and to bring to them an awareness of this heritage cultural festival.

More than 300 participants consisting of students and the community took part in the run which was jointly organised by the Ranau Hakka Association headed by Datuk Jimmy Tham Yuk Leong, the Ranau Hokkien Association led by Tee Geok Moi and Ranau Sino-Native Association headed by Alldem Chia.

Susan in her speech after the run said she was very grateful to Masidi for giving his fullest support and participation in the run.

“We are very honoured to have the minister light the cauldron at the finishing point and this is symbolic of his close rapport with the people under the 1Malaysia concept,” she said.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Chinese sacred cultural torch reaches summit of Mount Kinabalu

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British heroes of Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches remembered

There was a solemn air at the Kundasang War Memorial as large crowds gathered to remember British prisoners of war (POWs) who fell in the infamous 1945 Sandakan-Ranau death marches.



Local dignitaries, led by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, and top brass from the British army, led by Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery Major-General CC Wilson, were present at the ceremony to pay tribute to the fallen heroes.



A total of 641 British PoWs died in the Sandakan-Ranau death marches.



A series of forced marches through marsh land and dense jungles in Borneo also caused the deaths of over 2,400 allied PoWs.



Of the figure, many also died in prison camps in North Borneo (Sabah) after they were captured by the Japanese during World War II.



Only six people, all Australian servicemen, survived the horror after they managed to escape.



“This is a simple yet important ceremony to remember all those who sacrificed their lives for a Sabah that we now cherish,” Dr Yee said.



Describing the event as a very moving ceremony, Gen Wilson said while all these were history, the past continues to haunt people these days.



“We had not really understood what the ordeal was sixty-six years ago until Major Tulloch John did all this research and we came to know that the Royal Artillery suffered very badly.



“The death march is a terrible thing to have happened,” he said.



Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: British heroes of Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches remembered

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British soldiers re-trace routes of Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches

RANAU: Lieutenant Harry Hyslop thought that after five months of strenuous training, he would be ready for one of the biggest challenges he had ever embarked on.



Although the 23-year-old British soldier knew he was in for a surprise, Hyslop was very much determined to pursue this lifetime opportunity.



Just a few months back, he found out about the Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches.



“I knew that British soldiers served in Myanmar and Vietnam, but not in Borneo. What was more intriguing was the death marches involved Australian and British soldiers. I have never heard of that part of the history until recently,” he said.



And when he heard about a selection process to pick British soldiers to embark on the first ever journey to re-trace the routes of the death marches, it did not take him long to sign up for the challenge.



At least 40 soldiers signed up for the challenge, but after thorough screening, the number was reduced to 14. Hyslop was among the lucky ones.



“It was a challenging experience one could ever feel throughout the march, but it was also equally fascinating. It was fantastic.



“I have always like challenges, it is for physical development. When I learned about the death marches, I was very much intrigued. The more we talked about it, the more I wanted to do it (the walk).



“In a way, I believe it is a way for me to show tribute to the fallen heroes. It is a historical moment that should be re-liven,” he said when met at the Kundasang War Memorial yesterday.



Although he was happy to be able to complete the challenging walk, Hyslop admitted: “I do not think I would have survived if I had walked the walk about six decades ago.”



The Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches were a series of forced marches in Borneo which resulted in the deaths of over 3,600 Indonesian civilian slave labourers and 2,400 allied prisoners of war held captive by the Japanese during World war II at prison camps in North Borneo (now Sabah).



By the end of the war, of all the prisoners who had been incarcerated at Sandakan and Ranau, only six Australians survived, all of whom had escaped.



It is widely considered to be the single worst atrocity suffered by Australian servicemen during the Second World War.



The idea to re-trace the routes was mooted by retired Major John Tulloch of the Royal Regiment of Artillery in England.



“I was visiting Sandakan in 1999 and made a shocking discovery. Of the 641 British soldiers who served here, 400 were from our regiment. So I thought to myself, something must be done to honour them.



“And so I set my course, met up with some expatriates and locals who introduced me to the right group of people. They gave me the encouragement and told me that it can be done,” he said.



Tulloch spoke to several others who shared his passion, and he was more determined than ever to make his dream a reality.



Well like any beautiful stories, Tulloch’s determination and passion pushed through. Fast forward several years later, and after getting the green lights from the relevant authorities, he managed to inspire enough people to re-trace the death marches routes. And as the saying goes, the rest is history.



For the 65-year-old, what was more interesting was the involvement of the Sixth Malaysian Royal Regiment which also sent 15 soldiers to accompany the Britons in their journey.



“We have the memorial service to honour the dead on August 27 annually, but I felt there was something lacking. So by having the walk to re-trace the death marches routes which ends with the memorial service, it would bring a lot of difference, it is like the pinnacle on top of everything,” he said.



Tulloch understands the challenges one has to endure when trekking through the thick jungles.



“I know the jungle very well but that does not mean I lived in the jungles. I grew up in Penang and as a child, I used to run in the hutan (jungle) a lot, as oppose to doing homework … that was my early exposure to jungle life, an early jungle training.”



Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: British soldiers re-trace routes of Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches

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Surviving the WWII Borneo Death Marches

Trekkers are uncovering more sections of a gruesome WWII Death March that claimed thousands of Australian lives.



AS WHISTLING SCREAMS ERUPTED overhead, allied bombs thumped the Japanese airbase in Sandakan, northern Borneo, in January 1945. Emaciated Australian and British POWs scattered with their Japanese guards in a hunt for cover. The tide of war was changing; the allies were advancing. The bombing had destroyed the POW-built airstrip, and now, there was no longer use for these already debilitated men.



Nearly 2000 Australian prisoners were tortured, executed and starved to death by their Japanese captors in Sandakan POW camp and Death Marches. Of 2671 prisoners, 1812 Australians, and 641 Britons never made it out alive. This little-known event is one of the most devastating losses of life in Australian history.



Forced into slave labour by the Japanese after the fall of Singapore in 1942, thousands of Australian and British men were taken to Sandakan, northern Borneo where they were forced to build a Japanese military airstrip. In an effort to quash any resistance among POWs, 170 captive officers were removed from Sandakan and transferred to the Kuching south west of Sandakan.



Following the officers' removal, conditions deteriorated rapidly. Beaten, malnourished, and suffering severe tropical diseases, the men became slaves - forced at gunpoint to build a Japanese airfield. "The sick were gradually given less and less rations than the ones that could work," says 94-year-old Lt Russ Ewin, a former Australian officer who spent 15 months in Sandakan before moved to Kuching.



Death Marches begin



When advancing Allies successfully destroyed the military airstrip in January 1945, the Japanese began a retreat to the western coast of Borneo. In an attempt to prevent POW liberation, Lt Gen Masao Baba, commanding officer of the 37th Japanese Army, ordered Australian POWs westward to Ranau - 265km through dense, treacherous jungle, in the shadows of Mt Kinabalu.



These POW treks became known as the Death Marches for the enormous number of lives lost along the way.



The first Death March of 350 men, most of whom were extremely weak, left on 29 January 1945 - shortly after the bombings. "Men who had stopped, too weak to press on, were often bayonetted or shot where they lay," says Dr Kevin Smith, historian and author of Escapes and Incursions and several other books about the events. "The men [who] were selected were sick, starved, malnourished and carrying wounds from previous battles."



They also suffered the mental trauma of repeated beatings. For many, including men as young as 16-year-old - often bare foot and ill with malaria and malnutrition conditions such as beri-beri - were doomed before they began.



"You can really imagine the spirit and determination of these guys when walking the track," says Wayne Wetherall, an expert trekker who operates historical tours along the trail and has help redisover sections of it. "The stories that I've heard are the most horrific and terrible stories you could ever imagine."



Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Surviving the WWII Borneo Death Marches

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The Borneo Death March

The 264-kilometre hike from Lolosing to the summit of Taviu Hill in the central highlands of north Borneo has been dubbed the toughest hike in the world. But a group of 14 British soldiers have set off in the hope of becoming the first to complete the full length of the infamous Borneo Death March.



Only six Australians survived the death marches enforced by the Japanese towards the end of World War II. Three marches claimed another 1,781 Australian and 641 British troops. All who managed it were malnourished, many afflicted with malaria or beriberi. They were beaten along the way, and those who survived were shot or bayoneted.



The atrocities were considered too great for public consumption and were hushed up by governments in London and Canberra for decades after the war.



In more recent years, the trek has been transformed into a pilgrimage for veterans of all wars and people wanting to pay their respects to the fallen along the Sandakan to Ranau route. In doing so, many have attempted to complete the historic trail, but the journey has proven too arduous and none have finished.



The latest expedition was put together Maj. John Tulloch a retired veteran of many conflicts, including Vietnam, where he served with the New Zealand army, and Northern Ireland after transferring to the British military, where he served with the Royal Artillery Regiment.



Tulloch came to North Borneo, now the East Malaysian state of Sabah, in 1999 to commemorate the fallen. After some basic research he realised the vast majority of British soldiers who perished here were from his own regiment and this made it all the more personal.



‘I was determined there must be official regimental recognition for the members of the Royal Artillery and their attached arms and services who tragically lost their lives in such unspeakable conditions,’ he said. ‘Moreover, I felt that in addition, the Royal Artillery should conduct a remembrance march of the 164-mile Death March route in memory of the POWs.’

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: The Borneo Death March

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66th Sandakan Memorial Day - Shared history strengthens ties with Australia

SANDAKAN: Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, Miles Kupa, said the shared history of bravery and tragedy in Sandakan and Ranau, and the interactions between the people, are the foundation of the warm personal links between Australians and Sabahans, and between the peoples of Australia and Malaysia.



He said that those bonds between our people and nations, would forever be strengthened by this shared history and common story.



“The story of Sandakan is one of the most tragic and important in Australia’s World War II engagement.



“It is a story that remained neglected for too long, but the story is becoming increasingly prominent in Australia’s consciousness,” said Kupa at the Sandakan Day Memorial Service yesterday.



He said the Australian Governor-General, Quentin Bryce AC, spoke here at last year’s Sandakan Day, and it was another important step towards ensuring the terrible events in Sandakan occupy a crucial and important place in Australian history.



“Two thousand and seven hundred Australian and British prisoners of war were taken to Sandakan. The conditions were appalling. The prisoners were beaten and fed meager rations of rice. :They became ill and malnourished and nearly everyone died when the death marches to Ranau began in 1945,” said Kupa.



Of the 1,060 men who originally set out on the marches, only six survived – two men escaped into the jungle during the marches, and four survived after arriving at Ranau.



For the six Australians who survived, Sabahans provided them with food, shelter and safety.



“We must also acknowledge the bravery and selflessness of the local Sandakan population, and the people of Sabah more generally. During the occupation of North Borneo, 28 local community leaders were murdered, 16 per cent of the community were killed, and their land, homes and resources were decimated. For these local people who risked their own lives to help the Australians, and for that, we will be forever grateful,” he added.



Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: 66th Sandakan Memorial Day - Shared history strengthens ties with Australia

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Poring Hot Springs - Spa sojourn at foot of Mount Kinabalu

Shops at the entrance of Poring Hot Springs

Mamut River

Natural beauty of the tropical forest

Suspension bridge across the Mamut River

Open bath tub

Main source of the hot springs



Photos courtesy of and Copyright to Risyia Lee and Brunei Press Sdn Bhd.

By Risyia Lee



Our drive from Kota Kinabalu to Poring Hot Springs in Ranau took us about three hours during which we travelled across the Mount Kinabalu lowlands.



Poring Hot Springs is 40 kilometres or 25 miles from Kinabalu Park Headquarters where climbers begin their ascent of Mount Kinabalu.



It is believed that millions of years ago, Mount Kinabalu was an active volcano. And today, Poring Hot Springs is the only evidence of this occurrence.



Every year, over 150,000 people visit Poring Hot Springs. "Poring" is the Kadazan word for bamboo.



After passing the entrance, you walk deep into a tropical forest to reach the hot springs. Along the way, you cross the Mamut River along a suspension bridge.



Visitors are strictly forbidden from taking away any of the area's flora or fauna.



Poring Hot Springs covers an area of 1 ¼ hectare and the hot springs' water temperatures range from 49°C to 60°C. The main source of the hot springs is so hot that it can boil an egg.



During the Second World War, the Japanese ordered prisoners to develop the site and build Japanese-style wooden hot tubs. Now, they have been replaced with tiled pools and tubs.



There is a large open bath tub built near the main source of the hot springs as well as indoor bath tubs, "slide" pool and rock pool.



The hot water of the hot springs flows in pipes into the tubs. A tap which provides cold water is also located at the side of every tub.



It is believed that this hot steamy water can cure any skin problems.



Beyond the hot springs, there are two jungle tracks that take you to a 100-metre high waterfall.



Other attractions at Poring Hot Springs are Butterfly Garden, Canopy Walkway, Ethino Botany Garden, Rafflesia Research Centre, Tropical Garden, Bamboo Garden, Orchid Conservation Centre and Poring Conservation Centre.



As for accommodation, there is a 75-bed hostel there. The prices range from RM46 per person per night to RM380 per unit for the Rajawali Lodges.



There is also a restaurant near the pools known as the Jungle Restaurant.



If you go to Porings Hot Springs, don't forget to buy a memento at the souvenir shop located near the pools. At the entrance, there is also a row of shops selling souvenirs, as well as local handicrafts and fruits.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Weekend

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Paragliding Accuracy World Cup begins in Ranau

RANAU: The skies of Lohan Hill here will be filled with colourful parachutes as the Paragliding Accuracy World Cup begins next weekend.

Lohan Hill will be the fifth stop of the seven-leg circuit challenge for the title of top glider of the world.

Since February, the competition has been held in Trakai, Lithuania; Stubaital, Austria; Vrsac, Serbia; and West Jawa in Indonesia.

After Ranau, the paragliders will travel to the World Championships in Kuncice, the Czech Republic, before the final leg at Wasserkuppe in Germany.

Event director Lt Col (R) Basir Rahman said yesterday 64 participants from Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Hungary, China, Japan, Taiwan and Indonesia as well as Malaysia were expected to take part in the event.

They will glide over a distance of 200m from the top of Lohan Hill and execute precise landings on an electronic pad in six rounds.

"They will get a score of 0.0 if they land on the bull's-eye of the landing pad."

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Aussie Minister, MPs complete Sabah Death March walk

Ranau: Australian Defence Minister (Material) Jason Clare, Independent MP and "king-maker" in recent Australian politics, Robert Oakeshott, planted a tree each at the Last Camp, Saturday, to mark the completion of their five-day Death March walk.

A total of 1,787 Australian and 641 British prisoners of war died. Only six Australians escaped and survived.

Clare was the first full Australian Defence Minister to ever retrace Sabah's Death March trail.

But, significantly, the Death March is intimately related to Independent MP Robert Oakeshott, who gained world fame for his "king-maker' role in the recent Australian hung Parliament, because his grand father, Captain Dr John Oakeshott, was one of five Officers and 10 ordinary soldiers who survived beyond Japan's surrender but was unfortunately executed on August 27, 1945, at the Last Camp, at Kg Kenepir, 5km south of Ranau town.

Joined by Liberal MP Scott Morrison - Shadow Minister for Immigration and a group of 12 students from nine schools in New South Wales, the high profile politicians walked 90km through tough and humid jungle sections of the 1945 Death March trail between Bauto to Gambaron, Maliau to Koporon, Taviu to Liwagu, Nabutan to Muruk to Marakau, although the full length of the Death March trail from Sandakan to Ranau is 265km.

The walk culminated in a profile service at the Church Campsite, Ranau, followed by a visit to the Last Camp Memorial where Robert Oakeshott paid tributes to his grandfather, Captain Dr John Oakshott.

They later visited the Ranau War Memorial, Kundasang, for their last ceremony, officiated by historian, Lynette Silver, who was their interpreter throughout while Tham Yau Kong and his pack of 10 guides provided the support.

Continue reading at: Aussie Minister, MPs complete Sabah Death March walk
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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.

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

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Nabalu Town: A gateway to the rest of Sabah

By Rahmat bin Haji Abdul Rahman

The town of Nabalu in Sabah, which is famous for being a central stop for travellers heading to Kundasang, Ranau, National Park or the east coast of Sabah, was established in the 1980s.

When making frequent trips to Sabah, it is wise to have a stop in Pekan Nabalu when on the way to the east coast.

The last two decades has seen many changes, especially in regard to economic and infrastructure developments on Mount Kinabalu.

When in KK, it would be best to venture out early, (around 7am) as the city becomes quite congested. The new town bus station situated in Inanam is about 10km from the city.

You could take a bus here, provided you make enquiries with the bus driver first, whether they go to Inanam. It is easier to take a taxi, but it may cost you a little bit more.

If you stay at a hotel that provides its own shuttle bus to the bus station, you can also use its services.

If you choose to pick a Mount Kinabalu climbing package from travel services, it is very likely that they will provide transportation.

Tourists get to meet the friendly people of the indigenous Dusun, Kadazan, Rungus and Lotud ethnic tribes.

Pekan Nabalu is well-known as a place for tourists interested in buying cheap souvenirs.

You can haggle as much as you want to but you need to learn tactics in regard to how you can bargain with the locals. If you purchase a lot, you can get a huge discount. In fact, suave customers will call it a 'steal'.

It makes one think of a mini yet well-organised market targeting both locals and more specifically, tourists from overseas.

Some of the souvenirs were genuinely crafted and weaved by the local ethnic tribes who live on the slopes of Mount Kinabalu.

There are also other items ranging from food and fruits to spices and handicrafts. Besides handicrafts, there are also stalls selling food and beverages.

There are spices and honey in bottles, as well as packets of local red and black rice packed by the locals, bearing no commercial labels.

Shifting cultivation covers most of the hills in the area and at Km 33, the roadside stalls of Pekan Nabalu are well stocked with local produce.

This is a regular tourist stop where good-quality handicrafts can be purchased as well as the deliciously nutty flavoured brown hill rice - a specialty of the area, mixed together with extra sweet pineapples.

The restaurants are clean and well-organised, even the wash room was cleaner than expected!

One of the young shop owners, a teenage girl treated us very nicely with discounts and free gifts!

It was also observed that the T-shirts purchased here were nowhere to be found in the city of Kota Kinabalu (not even at the famous Filipino Market or Sunday Market) and most importantly they were cheap.

Sitting amidst sheer tranquility and fresh air, the spick-and-span surroundings that characterise the town centre makes Nabalu the ideal stopover for local and foreign visitors who crave nothing but scenic nature.

The village is cradled in the mountains and agricultural activities abound in surrounding areas.

Tourists can handily stop at the handicraft stalls in Nabalu and buy fruits to bring back.

There are various types of craft sold in these outlets including key chains, bracelets, clothes, hats, traditional musical instruments, bags and local fruits such as durian type N24, mangosteen, rice and others.

Take nothing but photographs and fond memories, leave nothing but footprints and smiling faces.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
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Australian students set to participate in Sandakan Death March Trek

SANDAKAN, the site of Japan’s worst wartime atrocity on Australian troops, will soon be revisited by group of young Australians eager to foster a greater understanding of each other and our shared history.

On April 9, four students will join youngsters from Cronulla and the bush to trace the steps of the notorious death marches endured by Australian prisoners of war in Borneo in 1945.

Sam Jalloh from Punchbowl Boys’ High, Katherine Kopsaris from Bankstown’s St Euphemia College, Chanel Steiner from Bankstown Girls’ High and Issa Jebara from Granville South High will depart Australia for the Sandakan Mateship Trek 2011 on Friday, April 8.

They will be joined by parliamentarians including Blaxland Labor MP Jason Clare, Cook Liberal MP and Shadow Immigration Minister Scott Morrison and Lyne independent MP Rob Oakeshott, as well as Punchbowl Boys’ principal Jihad Dib and eight youngsters from other regions.

Together the group will walk along the notorious trail where more than 2420 Australian and British troops died at the hands of Japanese forces.

“Sick and starving PoWs were forced to march 260km from Sandakan to Ranau in 1945,” Mr Clare said.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Australian students set to participate in Sandakan Death March Trek
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Beautiful Sabah Tea Garden Now Serves As A Tourist Spot As Well

Sabah Tea Garden which started off as an organic tea plantation in the district of Ranau, Sabah has now expanded into a popular holiday destination as well in the state both for local and foreign tourists.

Located in one the oldest rainforests in the world, with the picturesque Mt Kinabalu, Malaysia's first World Heritage Site, for its background, Sabah Tea Garden is known for its 100 per cent organic tea without the use of any chemicals.

Today, managed by Sabah Tea Sdn Bhd's Ipoh based unit, Yee Lee Corporation Bhd, Sabah Tea Garden has grown into an ideal place for nature lovers and those wanting to relax away from the busy city life, offering various holiday stay and tour packages customised for its visitors.

The "tea garden" encompasses an area measuring 6,200 acres and is 2,272 ft from sea level. From the total area, only 1,200 acres are used for the cultivation of tea and tourism activities while the rest remains a tropical forest rich with flora and fauna.

With the Sabah state government projecting a tourist arrival of about 2.4 million to the state this year, Sabah Tea Garden is hoping to take advantage of the opportunity to promote its tourism and holiday packages, its General Manager Ismail Martin Kong Abdullah told a group of journalists on a familiarisation programme to Sabah recently.

The programme, organised by Firefly and Sabah Tourism, was sponsored by Golden Suria Tours & Travel.

"We receive an average of 15,000 tourists a year and we are aiming for 16,000 visitors this year," Ismail said, adding that 60 per cent of the visitors were locals and the remaining 40 per cent were foreigners with the majority of them from Australia and Europe.

Among the attractive tour and holiday packages that Sabah Tea Garden offers are a two-day one night stay, a three-day two nights package as well as day trips, team building programmes and company meetings package and rainforest camping.

For those taking the overnight stays, there are several types of accommodation facilities they can choose from at the resort including longhouses, cottages and camp sites.

Continue reading at: Beautiful Sabah Tea Garden Now Serves As A Tourist Spot As Well
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