Korea

4 Days and counting................

Pulau Sapi, Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Sabah

My first stop during my Kota Kinabalu trip was Pulau Sapi which is one of the 5 islands in Tunku Abdul Rahman (TAR) Marine Park. The island is about 15 minutes by boat from the Sutera Harbour marina (I was stayed at Pacific Sutera - a stone throw away from the jetty).

The Tunku Abdul Rahman Park consist of 5 islands namely, Gaya, Sapi, Manukan, Mamutik and Suluk. Arguably, Manukan island is suppose to be the most popular among the 5 islands. However, since I was planning to do the underwater walking, I went to Sapi instead.

This is actually the second time that I've been to Pulau Sapi. My last visit was almost 3 years ago. The island didn't look as clean as it used to be.

Did a bit of snorkeling and as expected, although there is still plenty of fish, the corals seems to be dying off. I was a sad sight. I asked the guide about the state of the islands and was told that the corals are indeed dying from overpopulation of tourist.

Makes me wonder what would happen in the next 5 years.


Slightly disappointed from the snorkeling, I headed off for some underwater walking adventure. The last time I came I didn't go for the underwater walking cause i felt that it was blardy expensive. This time though (still blardy expensive) i somehow manage to part with RM180 for a 20 minute underwater experience.

We were taken by boat to this platform

The headgear that keeps us alive and breathing while walking 8 feet under

Once we reached the floating platform, we were instructed to wear a pair of rubber shoes that was provided for us. We were then asked to climb down a ladder (see the girl with her butt facing you? That's where we climbed down).

Here's a short clip of me downthere.

A journey 120km into the wilderness - Final Part

As we arrive at Pos Yum, I was greeted by the sight of 3 big canopy housing a relatively big crowd of orang asli waiting to have their health check. I was told that most of them are from surrounding settlements. Some may have walked for an hour or so just to come to this event, however JHEOA did provide transport for some of the settlements around as well.


The morning proceeded smoothly with the basic BMI (body mass index), blood pressure and blood glucose check. There was also an exhibition area on TB (tuberculosis) awareness. Our guide told us that one main problem with most of the orang asli settlements are TB and sporadic Malaria cases.

There was also an area in which random test were done on some orang asli for TB. We had 2 TB cases that day and of which one of them were a full blown case. However, attempts to contact the person was unsuccessful. The guy seem to have vanished straight after the blood sample was taken. Attempts to locate his family was also futile since no one seems to know who the guy is even though we knew his name.

After wrapping up with my own duties, I manage to take time off wandering around the village. I could not help but wonder that amidst the high rise buildings in KL and other major cities in Malaysia, we still have people living in bamboo huts and receiving help that we normal Malaysians take for granted. We keep getting highlights from the media showing poor living conditions in poverty stricken countries but yet we have the same problem at our own backyard (although food do not seem to be a problem here).

One of the few bamboo huts that still occupied by an orang asli family

A kid popping out from the hut wondering what the fuss is all about perhaps

First impression - a chicken coup, but a family actually stays there

a nice pose don't you think?

Before we left, we were graciously served with food that was prepared for us by the JHEOA. Our dining area is but a mere bamboo shack. Somehow it reminds me of my camping days.

our lunch area

A stream running just along side the village

As we were leaving Pos Yum, we were more or less swarmed by mostly kids that were waving and wishing us farewell. Although, we only manage to spend just 4 hours there, I did feel that we did something meaningful here and it made the 7 hours journey (going and coming back) worth while.

manage to take this picture just before i got on the 4WD. CUTE!

And to end the final part of this journey of mine. I saw this very interesting vehicle on our way back. This was just as we started to hit the trunk road from the gravel tracks. I bet you won't see this around much :P

With cars like this, who needs air conditioning? :D

A journey 120km into the wilderness - Part 2

After being informed by the locals about the blockade, our guide went ahead to investigate while most of us stayed back.

Around us was a few bamboo and wooden houses in what seem like a mini community. On the far side of the hill was a relatively big palm oil estate.

My self portrait

First thing that came to mind was the owner of the land in which the estate is situated in. I went on to ask one of the locals and this was how the conversation went (translated in English).


Me : The estate over there, whose land does that belong to?

Local : The land belongs to our ancestors

Me : So do the community manage the plantation on your own or you get outside help?

Local : The plantation is manage by FELCRA. We just work there as general workers

Me : Huh? Don't you get any share of the profits from the estate since its on your land?

Local : No, we just work there.

Me : So how much are you paid by your bosses?

Local : RM450


Bloody hell... this is like daylight robbery. The so called development institution uses their land to earn bucket loads of moolah and the locals gets nothing apart from being used as cheap labour. How hypocritical can that be? I finally truly understood why my civil rights lawyer friend told me that the orang asli is the riches community in Malaysia but they are ALSO the poorest.

Notice the "hat". I really liked the detail in the design. Apparently its used to ward off evil spirits

I was wondering how the boy got the scar on his nose

Noticed this family looking at us from on top of the hill. Had to use x18 telephoto to get this shot

The boy looking back at us as we started to head out again

After about 20 minutes, our guide finally came back and informed us that clearing is underway to remove the tree blocking our road. We then decided to push ahead and see how things are doing over there.

By the time we arrived, most of the clearing was almost done. There were 2 guys with chainsaw and about half a dozen locals helping out.

After another 15 minute or so, we were able to press.

The locals busy clearing the road for us

After driving for another one hour or so, we finally arrived at Pos Yum. Our 4 hours journey have finally come to an end.....

More to come in part 3

A journey 120km into the wilderness - Part 1

Our club have long planed on a project involving the Orang Asli since April. It was not until last month that we manage to get in contact with the people from the Health Department and Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli and plan something up together.

Opportunity came when we were informed that the Health Department was planning a 2 day health camp at a remote orang asli settlement at Pos Yum which is located about 120km from the small town of Sungai Siput.

We started our journey at Pejabat Kesihatan Kuala Kangsar.

One of the three 4 wheel drive that we used to travel into the village

Our second 4 wheel drive

Just before the journey (about 8.30am), I spotted this

A close up of the moon. A welcoming sight for the start of our journey don't you think?

We started our journey from Kuala Kangsar at about 8.30am. From there we drove towards Sungai Siput and then took the trunk road towards Felda Lasah. From there it was 120km of gravel road all the way to the orang asli settlement.

According to our driver, Pos Yum is actually located near the Perak/Kelantan border and is virtually surrounded by part jungle and part rubber/palm oil plantation. The settlement has a population of around 800 people.

This is the junction into the gravel road towards the settlement

As we enter the junction into the more "bumpy" part of the journey, we were greeted with 2 lorries carrying timber. Somehow a grave picture of deforestation came into my mind. This area is after all, well known with illegal logging.

The road seems ok in picture but we were virtually holding on to the side bars to prevent ourselves from falling off our seats!

I was wondering how my friend was coping in his Pajero when I took this picture. He insisted on driving even though, the authorities had enough transport to take us all in.

After an hour and a half into the journey, we were waved down by a group of orang asli folks. Not knowing what happened we stopped and asked them what the commotion was all about.

Apparently there was a mild landslide up ahead that resulted in a tree falling in the middle of the road. Without it being cleared first, we would have no way of proceeding towards our destination.

The Toyota Fortuner that I was in

I manage to take this opportunity to snap some pictures.

To be continued...............