B eC id en jWINTER/SPRING 2008 VOLol#2 12 HaWILLv h lTRAVELr TRAVEL IDEAS & INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES OF ALL AGES but comfortable and here’s a lot of places costing from RM50 per Thehe belowbelow thethe person, which includes a Tin the world that offerT ANDAND INDIND theT ‘real cultural experi- LL WW meal and bed for the ence’ of a country but night. (RM 50 approx. none more so than living US$15 or Australian $20) in a Homestay, hanging We stayed in a two- with the local families, story complex with sever- watching your kids play al bedrooms and a large with theirs, eating their dining and lounge room, food and learning their which is great for travel- ways. The region of ing groups (and lots of Sabah in Malaysia on kids), allowing for privacy the island of Borneo is in your room but offering one such place that offers an area to socialize in as this special cultural well. Shoes are always experience. The area is removed at the door. also known as The Land Electricity conversion Below the Wind. plugs are available here Back in the 1960s, to charge up your digital Malaysia was divided – camera or video camera; the peninsula with the these conversion plugs capital of Kuala Lumpur are always the first I and the island of Borneo looked for settling into a and its two regions of new accommodation. Sabah and Sarawak. Guests are well looked Sabah offers warm after by the homestay weather year round and hosts Rubbin & Lotihim it isn’t loaded with glitzy Guribah and their family. hotels and souvenir In fact, when I put my shops on every roadway This swing bridge spans over the swift flowing family’s bag of dirty cloth- and street.You also get a Pantaran River in Sabah, Malaysia. ing in one corner the next time I saw it, it had been WHAT’S good exchange rate on both the washed by couple’s daughter Ivy INSIDE... Australian and American dollar and was hanging on the under- and good values with your vaca- cover line to dry. Now that’s the Malaysia . 1 tion savings. kind of service I like and it’s Canada’s Ice Hotel . 4 included in the price. Raleigh, NC . uring our travels through Lotihim and her helpers cook 6 Sabah, which included several wonderful traditional Malaysian Big Island HI . 8 adultsDD and a total of meals that give Smuggler’s VT. nine children between Living in a homestay, you more time to 11 the ages of 7 and 13, we explore and do Highway 20 . offers the ultimate 14 chose to stay at the cultural experience. whatever you Whistler BC . 19 Melangkap Homestay want on holiday. in Kota Belud, which is located You also can cook for yourself if Alaska/Canada . 20 31 km from the city centre in a you wish. Italy . place known as Low’s Gully. 22 “Borneo” continued on page 2. The accommodation is simple “Borneo” continued from page 1. what the hosts are doing. It might England. Their plight was pub- The Melangkap Homestay is be crafts, cooking, fishing, music, lished and the Dusun people got located at the foot of the great dance, hunting, exploring caves, 5 minutes of international fame. Mt. Kinabalu, the high- Low’s Gully is home to thou- est peak in Borneo and sands of species of vegetation, in Southeast Asia. When flowers, animals and fish, and it rains, you can see and some of the area is still unex- photograph waterfalls plored. During your stay, you can flowing down the moun- take trekking and cycling trips tain from the balcony of into parts of the jungle to see the accommodation waterfalls, caves, animals and complex. plants and view the Pantaran River from different places. ight on the Home- Because the Malaysian people stay’s doorstep is are very conservative, and partic- R ularly in the more remote areas theR beautiful Pantaran River which comes from conventional T- the mountain and offers Above:Tubing at the shirts and long clear, cool waters for local swim hole on shorts are pre- swimming. It reminded the Pantaran River. ferred for both me of rivers found on males and the North Island of Right: It’s wash day females, and New Zealand. with the locals. skirts must The Pantaran River cover the thighs flows very fast and while sitting. becomes dangerous if it’s Below: Making This means no friends at a flashing cleavage raining on the mountain roadside stall. due to extra water that or boob tubes, surges through small spaces but and no short during spells of bright sunshine, or puttering around in the gar- shorts or off the shoulder gar- the river offers a wonderful place dens. Homestay hostess Lotihim ments. If you get the chance to to cool has planted spectacular visit one of the local village off. You Low’s Gully is home to tropical flowers all over churches at the base of the can see thousands of species the homestay and these mountain, long pants for males locals flower beds and borders are essential. Shoulders and knees swim- of plants and animals. offer great photo are to be covered for females. ming here Some of the area is opportunities. The village of Melangkap hile bathing in remote and the still unexplored. odd per- has a claim to fame that Wareas, you must either in 1994, five British solders swimW in your shorts and t-shirts son bringing their washing down to the river. There’s a large flat- got lost in the jungle and turned or wear a Malaysian sarong that faced rock on the edge of is like a giant circle of material the river that you can use that you envelope yourself in so to slide into the water, that minimal flesh is showing. and an extensive swing You must also walk to and from bridge over the river for the river fully clothed or in your those who prefer to sarong. In other parts of Malaysia observe the flowing river where 5 star hotels are located from a safer distance. The such as on the banks of the nine kids in our travel Sutera Harbour, tourists are group all had a fantastic free to walk around in their time in the Pantaran River skimpy bikinis and whatever else supervised by the adults they fancy. In the remote areas who were also in the thick away from the tourist areas, how- of it, jumping in and going down- up at the tiny Dusun Village ever, remember to dress like the stream before wading out and seeking help. The soldiers were Malaysians when you and the having another go. nursed back to health and when kids visit their villages, and you’ll Homestay guests can choose to fit enough, they were released be pleasantly received. explore and relax at their own back to the capital of Sabah, Kota “Borneo” continued on page 3. pace or they can participate in Kinabalu, and later returned to 2 “Borneo” continued from page 2. their way around much easier experience as guests are offered If traveling with a partner, also than tourists, or they can easily opportunities to partake in the keep in mind that in Malaysia, holler out their car window to Sunday markets, the farmers hand holding, kissing, public dis- someone in a village that speaks daily market, do river bathing, plays of affection, arms around the local lingo to find The easiest way to get rubber tap- shoulders, even which ping, fruit good-morning- way to around Sabah is with a picking, hello-how-are go if driver/van package. rice paddy you-today kisses they planting in are off limits. do happen to season, go fishing, learn tradition- Males and get lost. Local al cooking, play cultural games, females do not drivers also and partake in local events and display affection festivals; for a to each other in small charge you public, only in also can go private. And cycling, buffalo or always use your pony riding, and right hand to Above:The girls instruct the local kids participate in cul- shake hands, in the art of blowing bubbles. tural dancing. So for an off the handle money, Right: Cayden with new-made friends. wave, etc. In beaten path and Malaysia the left Below: Jaymee getting to grips (the cultural experi- hand is used for know-how) with the shower. ence free of urban toilet customs noise and pollu- and it is highly offensive to offer know how to drive and park in tion, consider Malaysian Borneo. the left hand for anything. Like- the towns and cities so you don’t It’s the kind of adventure you and wise, never point with a finger, have to worry about negotiating the kids will never forget. always use your thumb. your way around when shopping in For more information: he Melangkap Kota Belud or Melangkap Homestay Homestay in Kota the capital city of Kota Belud T Kota Kinabalu. C/- Lot 127, House No 2 Belud,T like a lot of Malaysian Homestays, Our driver, Taman Richdar is alcohol free. Always Solomon is bi-lin- Menggatal inquire when you gual, very capable, 88450 Kota Kinabalu arrange reservations. and reasonably priced. (Ph 088 Sabah, Malaysia And remember when Tel/Fax: 088 491 828 visiting a Malaysian 973981 or hand phone Hand Phone: 019 8316 897 house, hotel room, or (mobile phone) 013 Email: [email protected] homestay accommoda- 8871832). Solomon and his wife also Taginambur Homestay tion always remove PO Box 13337 your shoes at the door.