Land beneath the wind

Those who enjoy collecting passport stamps will love Sabah because, even when traveling within Malaysia, foreign visitors entering Sabah will have to go through immigration procedures and their passports will be stamped again. The same is true in Sarawak and Labuan. This is because the states in East Malaysia have a high degree of autonomy, including in immigration matters.

Kinabalu National Park

Sabah is known as "The land below the wind." The name itself evokes images of Sabah's romantic scenery. In reality, this name comes from Sabah's geographical location, lying beneath the path of tropical storms. This helps Sabah avoid the effects of typhoons.

Sabah covers an area of 73,904 km² with a population of nearly 4 million people, including more than 30 ethnic minorities and hundreds of local subgroups. To better understand the culture of the indigenous peoples, visitors to Sabah often first visit the Mari Mari Cultural Village, which showcases the culture of five of the most representative ethnic groups. These are the Dusun people, the majority in Sabah and skilled farmers; the Rungus people, also skilled farmers and known for their longhouses; the Lundayeh people, skilled fishermen on the river; the Bajau people, including the Land Bajau, skilled horsemen, and the Sea Bajau, skilled divers and with a nomadic seafaring lifestyle; and the Murut people, with their gruesome ancient stories of headhunting. Of course, that is no longer the case today.

Upon arriving at the village, visitors can also participate in activities such as high jumping from a bamboo platform, making fire from bamboo, getting tattooed on their hands, tasting wild honey, enjoying some local dishes, and watching captivating dances. Interactions with tourists, such as a Murut person suddenly jumping out of the bushes to "question" visitors before allowing them into the village, also provide a thrilling and interesting experience.

The author is at Desa Farm.

Adventure seekers might be interested in Kinabalu National Park, which boasts not only pristine nature but also Mount Kinabalu (4,095m), Malaysia's highest mountain. For a more relaxed experience, visitors can spend an afternoon rafting on the Kiulu River, enjoying both the thrill of adventure and the breathtaking scenery. Visitors are often delighted to see proboscis monkeys, endemic to Borneo. It's easy to spot troops of these monkeys perched on branches, feeding on leaves, flowers, seeds, and fruit. The long noses extending beyond the mouths are common in males, a characteristic used to attract females. A boat trip at dusk is also the perfect time to watch fireflies scattering across the riverside bushes, creating a starry sky that resembles a moonlit night sky.

And if you're lucky, during your exploration of Sabah, you'll get to admire the Rafflesia, the world's largest flower. Rafflesia clings to tree trunks or vines where water accumulates, aiding its growth. It's rare to see Rafflesia because it doesn't grow in abundance. From the time it sprouts until it blooms, it takes about 7-13 months. After blooming, it only lasts about 7 days before quickly rotting. The beauty of this giant flower is associated with the image of mysterious, adventurous tropical rainforests. Its image is also printed on the Malaysian 10 ringgit banknote. There are 23 species of Rafflesia worldwide, with 9 species found in Sabah alone. Some species are so large they can reach a diameter of 1.1 meters.

Indigenous people in Mari Mari Cultural Village

After tiring of exploring forests, waterfalls, and streams in the characteristic hot and humid weather, visitors can head to a cool place like Desa Dairy Farm. Situated in a high mountain area, the farm's grassland and mountain scenery evokes images of New Zealand or Switzerland. The 199-hectare farm is where visitors can watch herds of dairy cows leisurely grazing.

In between physical activities, visitors can choose to stay at secluded island resorts, far from the bustling city, in overwater villas. Not far from the coast of the capital Kota Kinabalu are beautiful islands such as Mari Mari Sepanggar, also known as Rainbow Island. Here, you can experience walking on the seabed to admire the vibrant underwater world, swimming, snorkeling, riding jet skis, and enjoying a relaxing lunch on the island. If you prefer something more lively, the nearby Manukan Island is a great option.

At night, strolling through the bustling markets of Kota Kinabalu is a great way to experience the local life. Besides stalls selling local specialties, there are also restaurants offering fresh seafood and many authentic local dishes. If you want to buy souvenirs, don't forget that Sabah is also famous for its delicious teas.

Sabah isn't far away. There you'll find unexpected, exciting, and unique experiences. A 4-5 day trip is just right for exploring Sabah. You can also stay for a whole week to enjoy the fresh air and the slow pace of life there.

Tourists can fly directly from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Kuala Lumpur with Vietnam Airlines . From there, a domestic flight of about 2.5 hours is the optimal option to reach Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah state.

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