18 March 2010
Today was a day I waited for very long. I am finally going to SABAH. Woohoo!!! :D
Met Kaiting at T1 as I am meeting my tour leader at Row 5. When we met, we could not find Row 5. In fact, there isn't Row 5-8 at the terminal. When I see the screen for updates, Jetstar flight to Kota Kinabahru was checking in at Row 3 instead. So I went over to Row 3 and later met my tour leader, Johnny.
He handed us each a luggage tag with Chan Brothers' sticker for us to put at the check in bag. After that he handed us each a Visa card for boarding and arrival use. To be filled up before reaching Kota Kinabahru. He told us to check in the luggage and report later to the gate by 10am as the flight is 10.35am.
So I went to Ah Kun to have breakfast with Kaiting. Thanks for her breakfast treat. After that we parted as she need to go for her lesson and I need to go into the boarding area. I met Uncle Feng and his wife at the entrance and went to check in with them.
We were looking for Johnny but he was no where to be seen. So we boarded the plane and will meet him at KK airport. Our plane is 3K527.
Our plane delayed before it started to fly. By the time we reached KK Airport, it was already 2pm plus and the first group which took Silkair was already at Grand Borneo Hotel have some rest and meeting us at Klias Wetland.
We proceeded to have our lunch at nearby before going to petrol kiosk to buy some water and also meeting the balance 9 members to board our bus. Total in the bus is 38 of us. Oh yes, have not intro our tour guide. A pretty tour guide was outside the airport to welcome us, her name is Sheena. She said if Aunty unable to pronounce her name, can call her Zhu Na(read it in Cantonese). She first intro herself and then came Johnny intro himself and he also sang us a song. When he insisted Sheena to sing, she say if want to sing, we can sing after whole event and go KTV sing.
Elyn was the first lady I met who sat beside me from the day we met till end of the whole trip. She came all alone from Johore to see CQ and also to come Sabah for walk.
Sheena told us of the history of Proboscis Monkey and she also mentioned how to differentiate male and female Proboscis Monkey. If male Proboscis Monkey, the nose will be facing upwards and his backside have a white T which resembles an underwear with a pair of white stockings on both legs. For female, its nose facing downwards and wearing white stockings on both legs.
There is also Beckham Monkey as its hairstyle is same as Beckham. She reminded us, if we spotted Proboscis Monkey, we have to remain silent as our noise will scare them off. Once they hide, we are unable to call them back anymore.
She also say that both male and female Proboscis have bloated stomach. It was due to their eating habits. They only ate those plants that have virus. They were the only monkey that do not eat bananas. One male will live with a lot of female. Sounds like flirting but in their world, the male allowed to have more than 1 wife. Minimum is 5 wifes and maximum can be more than 10 wifes. One group which consisted of one male and few female Proboscis Monkeys will leave far apart from another group to prevent their wife for moving over to another person's house.
According to Sheena, if one of their family members go missing for no reason or died for no reason, they will choose to end their live to follow the lost reletives.
When we reached Klias Wetland, we had a mini tea break and toilet break before we wore life jackets and proceed 20 person per speedboat. We were lucky as we seen a lot of Proboscis Monkeys. When evening time, all the Proboscius Monkeys will rest on the trees. When our speedboat nearing, the engine will be off so as not to scare off Proboscius Monkeys.
When night fall, we started to see trees blinking. It was FIREFLIES. My first time ever seeing fireflies on trees. In the past I learnt of fireflies was through story books or from word of mouth. Seeing is believing. How I wish I can bring them home. But sad to say, their lifes were short. It took them 4-6weeks to grow up and after they shine for 7 days, they will die. They must live in a totally no polution place if not, they will be unable to survive and reproduced.
After all this exciting explorer, we went back to shore to have our dinner at the Klias Wetland. I would say it was not very nice but at least can fill our stomach. Their rice was very special. Very wet and sticky. Unlike the rice in Singapore. Each grain can be seen as one by one and not sticky at all.
CQ boarded our bus but as the bus need to off the lights, he just talk a few words and he happily announced the Top 20 finalist for Male Actors and Female Actresses. He was very happy that Belinda got into Top 20 but at the same time sad as Pat was not inside the Top 20 finalist. He was also happy that he made into Top 20 Male Actor. His voting number was selected by his sister, Peifen, as he was with us at Sabah. He said it was the nicest number he ever got for Star Awards and he was very confident that he have chance to get into Top 10 finalist. Hence he asked us to call his voting number 1900-112-2018 once we reached Singapore. I can see his hard work paids off. I felt very happy for him.
By the time we wrapped up everything, it was 10pm plus and the shopping centre next to our hotel, 1Borneo, already closed for the day. Anyway, we were all sticky and tired after the long haul journey. Hence, by the time we check in our hotel room, I guess we will be sleeping soundly.
Our morning call for tomorrow will be 7am and meeting at 8.30am to set off for our Kinabanu Park journey.
This ends our Day 1 in SABAH with CQ. to our room, we have to check few things. Check if air-con was working, flush was okay, shower was ok, bed still there and door able to lock. The morning call for tomorrow will be 7am, breakfast at level 2 and 8.30am meet at the lobby.
19 March 2010
It was our turn to invite CQ to our bus for some sharing session. When he came to our bus started telling us ghost stories that make us goosebumps. He always have this power of making us goosebumps which I love it.
He first started by telling us this encounters which he could not tell all the listeners as it will make people afraid of visiting the Radio building. For the sake of this concern, I will not revealed on web. Next he mentioned of his encounter when he filmed one of his MV for his album in 2005.
They went to an abandoned area in Singapore to film this MV. He came very close with good brothers. He saw a security guard whose skin colour is GREY. He did not suspect anything. In one scene, the director saw him waving to the air and ask that 'person' to leave. He was about to film a scene that he have to close the door of that building. He mentioned, he also do not know where he became so brave to ask good brother to leave. He did made it to asked him leave the scene.
As the director wish to go up the building to film another scene, hence he asked CQ to follow him up to 3rd floor. When they were there, they have very eerie feeling. When was about to start filming, the director was coughing very hard. When he shouted, end job and leave, he was okay. After that, CQ and director leave the place together and during the journey, they did not talk. The cameraman took the equipment and return back to the company which he rented. After he returned, he fell asleep in the van, had a very strange dream. He dreamt someone strangled him and he was choking till he woke up.
When CQ went back, he took his shirt off, he saw many scratches on his body. It was painless. When they all met at the celebration area, CQ showed those scratches to the director. The director too showed his blue black marks on his body to CQ and at the same time, the camera man told of his strange dream. Goosebumps. The whole event, they have not discussed this before but their encounters were somehow linked. So scary.
CQ also mentioned in the past, MDC have a very old scene but was burnt down by a strange fire one night. No one knew how the fire started and why it was started. He also mentioned, because of the ghost encounters, now all the filming will asked to end by 2am and no one should flim overnight unless really need to. It was due to one of the female actress had this encounter. She was waiting for the crew members to page her to get ready and they will take transport to the filming area. But she waited and waited till she was tired and decided to go the room to have some rest.
While waiting in the room, she saw actressH peeping in and smiled very eerie to her. At that time, she did not find anything strange of her. Hence she called out to her and told her, don't just stand outside. Come in and join me. Soon she regretted of inviting her in. As she saw actressH was not usual her. She was shorter than real actressH and was not walking towards her but floating towards her. At that time, this female actress was acting as a ghost with blood flowing on her face. When she run off that room, she saw MCKing. She ran to him but he ran away as he thought she was good brothers. But after that when she clarified, MCKing stopped. Then she told him what happened just now. So scary.......
CQ also mentioned the Junction 8 event for his Zhou Gong Jiang Gui CD autograph session. I was there throughout the whole event. Now when thinking of it, it was really spooky. Unexplainable encounters. Normally, the lights will be on till end of the event. But whenever CQ holds the mike and wanted to say anything, the whole place was BLACKOUT. Went to total darkness. At first CQ thought it was special effect by the J8 person in charge. But it went on for 7 times. So scary. Only when Fann Wong came to stage and talk, the whole blackout did not appeared. It happened also when CQ was signing on the album. Many of us let out a cry when it happened for first time. After the whole event, I was still a bit shakened.
By the time he finished saying these, it was almost time we reached one of the moutain where we will have a short stopover and photo taking session. There was also some walkabout time or some coffee time before we proceeded to Kinabalu Park for some knowledge teaching.
During the bus trip, Sheena shared with us how Kadazan female give birth at the balcony. If there is cactus pot at the house, means there is pregnant lady in the house. This is to prevent spirit to disturb the womb or eat the womb. She also said the most powerful person in Sabah was Bomohizan, the oldest female bomoh. She possessed special power which all Sabah people believe she have the power to chase away evil spirit, bring life to the crops.
According to Sheena, when Bomohizan wanted to choose successor, one the baby's 7th day after birth, she will use rain water to splash on the baby. If he baby wake up, he/she have to follow Bomohizan to be her successor. For Sabah people's wedding, they will held the feast at their own village for 3 days. Only on the 3rd day to decide if want to go for ROM.
Their most expensive feast was each table have lobster and each table cost $999 at 5 star restaurant. Or the family will cook the feast throughout these 3 days. Only on 3rd day to decide whether to stay at male place or female place.
Sabah lady who wanted to get married, guys will need to pay according to how many certs the lady have. One cert will get one cow. Minimum for lady will be 3 cows. They always married and have kids first than find job after birth. For female to give to male if marriage was approved will be a piece of land.
When Sheena finished her sharing, we were already at Kinabalu Park. I saw many beautiful flowers, took many nice photos. After which we proceeded to know more about Shen Shan and all the animals, insects and even Rafflesia which we saw on our History book. According to Kent, this flower only opens once every few months. You will only be lucky if you happened to see it. As it gives out bad odour, hence bees and butterflies will not help to spread the pollen. Hence it have to make use of flies to carry the pollen and spread to other areas.
If you wish to climb St John Peak, you need to register a month ago and practice at least few months before you start climbing. Although after they reached the summit and told themselves, they will never climb again. But when friends asked them go, they will go up again.
We were also lead to the Botanic Garden where we were given 20mins to walk about and then go for our lunch at nearby after which we will proceed to buy some fruits to eat.
We saw the world smallest bananas which is not longer than our palm. One mouth and it will be gone. Sheena said, to gauge how stress you are, see how many skin you pealed on one banana. If 2 or less, means you are normal and stress free. If a lot times means you very stress. Need to relax more. Don't you think this logic is funny. But I love it. :D
After that, we went to pottery shop to see how pottery was made. At there we spotted a cute dog. Heard the owner, there was a female dog but went off with stranger and did not return since then. This poor dog was so afraid of us that it run to shelter underneath tables and even racks.
Our bonus of the day was we were given seafood dinner feast and will be entertained by the malay dancers. But we all requested to leave early to do some shopping for tomorrow's beach outing. Hence we all came to an agreement that after we finished our dinner, if we wish to leave, just have to stand up and we will all leave together. But she also said, we leave after the first performance. We agreed. So we had our dinner and wrapped up everything. By the time we reached hotel, it was already 8.30pm. Some went for their massage after a fast bath, some went for last minute shopping.
Our morning call will be 7.15am and all must be ready by 8.45am as we will be going to Sapi Island by speedboat. Speedboat have schedule to follow.
