My 34 : Kota Marudu (Ep 2) - More Pictures

Scenic paddy-field in Kota Marudu

From left : Kampung Ulu Kukut - located in Kota Belud but most vehicles that plan to go to Kudat division including Kota Marudu and Pitas will through this rough road; examples of the road - most of the time if I travelled to Kota Kinabalu, I need to fix my car's absorber

From left : the weekly 'tamu' in Kota Marudu; it will be flooded once in 4-5 months, so bad that sometimes patient unable to come to hospital

From left : the 'Carrefour / Tesco' of Kota Marudu - More Chance; the only mosque in Kota Marudu

From left : it's quite far from the town itself; my rented house in Kota Marudu - the main problem is water!, every house in Kota Marudu will require extra water-tank

From left : the hospital main building - small yet one of the busiest district hospital in Sabah; two 'mascots' in Kota Marudu - posisang and corn, we even have Annual Corn Fest with Queen of Corn elected among the local girls ;p

Sloppy road to Kota Marudu

My 33 : Kota Marudu (Ep 1) - Good Memories Remained

“Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose."
- Kevin Arnold

I wouldn't say that my stay too long, but I did enjoy Sabah. Even with less than 2 years a lot happened compare to my stay in Kuala Lumpur for my whole life. Sabah provides a lot of excitement, bet it either city or village, modern or traditional, concrete or jungle and many more.

In term of my practice, here I learned a lot compare to my Peninsular colleague. Here you can perform most of the surgical procedures, manage patients with limited facilities, learn without much pressure from your superior but more on the cases you see and plus, plus, plus. I do really miss Sabah, and I won't regret to be in Sabah - thanks to MOH that put me there. But I do regret I have to come back early nevertheless I do hope I can be back there as a specialist.

So here some of my memoirs about Kota Marudu, a lonely district in Kudat division - fame for Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili (the MP), corn and posisang! What? Posisang - yes a tiny smelly beetles that came-out during full-moon. They can turned white pole - to back pole.

From left : Hospital Kota Marudu or locally known as Hospital Lotong; hey - that's me!

From left : my room; with my dedicated director - Dr Zayrod, really adore his passion and hardworking. Best teacher and collegue.

My last surgical procedure - BTL. Here I learned a lot - LSCS, appendectomy, BTL, etc.

Below here are pictures with most of the staff, quite a small hospital with huge commitment. They are all my friends, teachers, mentor and everything. Miss all of you a lot!

Flag of Sabah

Mount Kinabalu - viewed from Kota Belud, I think this is the view they've taken for the flag of Sabah

My 32 : Ranau - Hot Springs & more ...

"A pictures worth than thousand words - so, do enjoy our last league of Sandakan - Kinabatangan - Lahad Datu - Ranau's 2007 trip"

PORING means bamboo in Kadazandusun's language
Fame for it's hot springs, canopy-walk, butterfly garden, waterfalls, bat cave etc.

From left : why I can't see the bottom - gayat la!; how many of us 1, 2 ... 6, 7 - hey you, step down first. no wonder I here that 'crack' sound; just be brave, it's too high to hold onto

From left : don't worry - you can still sms'es here on top of the tree; one of the canopy-walk platform.

Those who're altophobia or simply doesn't trust the cable - do not attempt this walk as no insurance covered. Who need that, try - one of your memorable things to do in Sabah.

Kipungit waterfall : Meditate while the icy-cold water flows above your head. Hehehe

Relax at the nice waterfall

From left : hot springs area; the source of the hot springs in this park

From left : waiting for the enclosed bathtub available; I can't show much on what happen inside, only 'heads' are allowed. :p

From left : shot with Viviane on her wedding's day; friends together with V and her husband - just nice, the wedding was on the day back from our Sandakan - Kinabatangan - Lahad Datu trip

My 31 : Kinabatangan (Ep 2) - Ancient

"All places are alike, and every earth is fit for burial. "
- Christopher 'Kit' Marlowe (1564 - 1593); English poet, dramatist and Translator of the Elizabethan era.

AGOP BATU TULUG
KINABATANGAN, SANDAKAN

The museum sign board - easily missed as heavily covered by trees

On the way to Lahad Datu from Sandakan, you will not missed this ancient burial site. Agop Batu Tulug or Batu Tulug cave (from Orang Sungei language) located 41 km from Kota Kinabatangan. This limestone cliff reaching 39 m high can easily seen on your left side while driving about one and half hour drive from Sandakan to Lahad Datu.

The origin of this place still unknown but popular belief it was an ancient burial site for the early Chinese settlements. Agop Batu Tulug was first explored in 1894 by an expedition team led by Mr P Brietag - the manager of tobacco estate in Kinabatangan. Further exploration and survey made by the Sabah Museum proved that this place provides valuable information regarding Sabah's past history.

From left : looking the burial site; the cave contains more than hundred carved coffins aged 200 - 250 years ago.

From left : the coffins made from 'belian' hardwood decorated with carvings of buffalo head, crocodile, house lizard and snake - resembles death and darkness power; this place are well maintain by the Sabah Museum Department that provide facilities such as staircase leading to caves, bridge, footpath, toilets and huts for resting (as above).

With Azlan on the way down from the burial site

Looking Up - And Better to Close Down Ur Mouth!