Kampung Warisan (Heritage Village), Muzium Sabah

I would say that if you only have time to visit ONE heritage site at Kota Kinabalu, Muzium Sabah would be the place to go.

Built in 1985, the museum complex is cited where the then British North Borneo Governor's Istana was once located. The Museum consists of the Main Building, Science and Education Centre, Heritage Village, Sabah Art Gallery and Museum of Islamic Civilization.

You are not allowed to take pictures inside the museum galery. I was stopped by the guard the moment I went into the building since I had the typical tourist posture with the camera hanging over my neck.

Personally, the most interesting part of the museum is the Heritage Village (in which I shall be blogging today).

At the Heritage Village, one can sample the various type of traditional houses of the various indigenous groups of Sabah.

I must say that as you walk along the footpath, one can't help but be amazed by the serenity of the park and its surroundings.

One of my favourite of the whole village. A man made lake surrounded by heritage buildings

Same place but different angle

Another different angle of the same place

Guess you are getting bored of the same scene huh? :P

Self Explanatory

Rungus Longhouse or "vinatang" (in Rungus Language)

As the name suggest, the Rungus Longhouse is indigenous to the Rungus people. They are a subgroup of the KadazanDusun community.

Each Rungus Longhouse (vinatang) measures 3 meters by 15 meters and comprises a long gallery or corridor (langsang sid apad), where socializing and community activities takes place, as well as several family 'apartments' (valai) each with own sleeping unit (tingkang sid ongkob), areas for cooking and working (langsang sid ongkob) and an attic (abai sid ongkob) and (abai sid apad). each family has its own valai. A typical longhouse has about ten valai, but larger ones may have fifteen or more.

Rumah Cina (Chinese Farm House)

Sulap Bangkawan (Skull Hut)

Another interesting place to visit is the Skull Hut which was a culture left behind when headhunters still roamed Borneo.

A "Bangkawan" hanging at the ceiling of the hut

A bangkawan is a collection of human skulls which is used to be suspended from the rafters of a Kadazandusun house in the old days. Sometimes sea-shells and animal boned were added to it.

This is a relic of the headhunting days, when the owners believed that hanging the skulls in the house would bring good fortune to the household.

A feast called magang would be held every five years to appease the spirits of the skulls. The ceremony carried out by bobohizans or priestesses involved invocations to drive away evil spirits and would last for seven days.

Brunei House

Can't remember what this house is called but i love the observatory tower.

So if you are visiting Kota Kinabalu for the first time, do not forget to give this place a visit.