VISITING TANJUNG BUKIS, LAHAD DATU!

Neldy Jolo

After arriving from Kuching, I headed to Sandakan. After two days we went to Lahad Datu. We directly visited a cape which I named it Tanjung Bukis (open cape), its vicinity is widely open towards the sea that resembles the glaring sky and sparkling sea water into a beautiful horizon. This cape is known to the people here as Tanjung Alangga (Cape of Ant). People here are Tausug. They are very kind and generous.

Yaz in action taking pictures of the vicinity of Tanjung Bukis, Lahad Datu. He is more than a professional Photographer. He loves views that embraces natural setting.

Yaz and Bining had expressed his enthusiasm to see this cape. This is adjacent to the Kampung Silam in Lahad Datu. It could be reached around 5 minutes from Kampung Silam. It is along the Darvel Bay where many sea urchins could be seen at sea bottom from the sea surface. The sea water is of white-crystalline that could satisfy our longings to the sea – for swimming..

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We were served of diyaral iklug and sardines in our lunch, bangbang mamun (cake) for dessert in long table outside Langgal or small mosque. Of course the common drink was soft drinks – the soda. We were invited to other house to drink more. This has been the culture of the Tausug inherited from their forefathers for being kind and generous – generally it is the entire culture of human for being kind and generous.

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When I saw the Istah Kulapu (fish) after we disembark the boat, I thought “I should have been eating this delicious fish in a fried cook or tiyula’”. Yaz took a picture of it, so much I. We took the picture of the fish with someone holding it for a kind of display..

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He was so enthusiastic showing us the fish – but never offered us to get one. It cost 30RM a kilogram. Could it be sounds expensive? Yes, it is a special fish. I was hoping that I could have eaten one!

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The vicinity of village at Tanjung Bukis. A typical wooden boat is the main mode of transportation of the villagers.

When we started to move to the town, the tire of our small car got pierced. Bining, Utu’ Abdulhadi and Apa' Satia did fixed it immediately.

I find Lahad Datu as a haven of kindness and generosity. There many fruit stands in the streets, much in the central market. The fruit stands are near the central mosque. Buahan (lanzones), Duyan, (durian), Duku, Nangka (jackfruit), Orange and Cempedak (a family of jackfruit) are colouring the vicinity of the town. A Tausug family gave us to taste the Duyan and Buahan – for free! Thank you for being so generous!

Vendors are majority Tausug or known here as Orang Suluk from different ethnicities, Bajau, Jama Mapun and others. Others are Indian, Bugis, Bisaya, Melayu, Chinese and Jawa. In our first visit with the Asreesulu or Asreemoro (the composer and singer of a Tausug song “Indah”), we found that Orang Jawa and Orang Bugis are famous here of their delicious Bakso.

“Waduh Mbak enak sekali bakso nya ya (Oh Mbak your Bakso is very delicious)!”, as we said to the kind lady who served us the Bakso. Sabaw-sabaw thing is Yaz’s favourite foodstuff. “Maghurut da kuman” to describe his love to sabaw-sabaw.

Langgal or small mosque where we were served delicious food.

Boat from/to Tanjung Bukis, chartered for free. Bining is saluting the sun or sighting the horizon.

Fisherman showing his fish with enthusiasm. Love to eat this fish!

So much for this description about Lahad Datu and the people around, it is also known home to Wali Allahu that we had known as Tuan Muda or Tuan Guru Hadji Ghulam Hassan Al-Bikangi. The mosque where he was doing his religious activities and teaching still exist until to this day, it is found in the hill side of the town – adjacent to the Police Station. The mosque called as Masjid Awal Tuan Guru Hadji Muda or Early Mosque of Tuan Gur Hadji Muda.

Muslims are open to do their prayers in this mosque. I don’t know for the tourists of different faiths. Give a try, maybe tourists of different religions are allowed to visit. I assumed there are religious tolerance and no religious discriminations here, although some restrictions may present.

Lahad Datu according to Yaz in his blog, www.alltausug.blogspot.com, it could have been derived from the Sama-Tausug word which mean the “Place of the Tausug Datu”. Lahat became Lahad that would mean “place”. The other meaning of Lahad is a space in the grave of a Muslim buried within that is covered by piling boards.

Lahad Datu is a two-hour drive from Sandakan City. It could be personal car and shuttle bus that cost only 25RM. Lahad Datu is profoundly related to the history of the Tausug and the Sultanate of Sulu. Please do visit for your own understanding!

Photos: Neldy Jolo

EXPLORING BORNEO!

Neldy Jolo

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I have nothing to post recently. I decided to post something that could remind me to remember the route to explore Borneo of Brunie, Borneo of Malaysia and Borneo of Indonesia. After our wanders to explore Borneo of Malaysia, specifically North Borneo of now known as Sabah,we separated our ways. North Borneo still in a leased but sanctioned by UN as part of Malaysia state started in 1963. It was Sultanate of Sulu who leased North Borneo represented by Sulu Sultan Jamalul Ahlam to Baron Overbeck and Alfred Dent Company in 1878.

Bus Express from Miri - Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia

Vicinity of Kampunbg Ayer, Brunie Darussalam

Cat Monument to commemorate Kuching as City on 1 August 1988

Another Cat Monument

Sarawak State Assembly Hall (Dewan Undangan Negeri) along Rejang River, the largest river in Malaysia

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I headed to Kota Kinabalu at night from Lahad Datu at around 9pm, they extended their stays at Lahad Datu and then proceded to Sandakan. We visited Kunak, a small town and a symbol of of still ancient town. I arrived Kota Kinabalu early morning then headed to Menumbok, the best way to reach Labuan by speed boat that cost 15RM. To enter Brunie only coast 35Rm around 1 hour in 45 munites. From the Muara Ferry Terminal reaching Bandar Seri Begawan about 45minutes by taking Shuttle bas that cost 2 Ringgit Brunie or 7RM.

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This was my second visit to Brunie and I was overwhelmed by the magnificient beauty of the Sultan Omar Shaifuddin Mosque located at the heart of Bandar Seri Begawan, adjacent to the knwn water village called Kampung Ayer. Kampung Ayer is similar to the ancient Jolo town, that was historically known as Suba' Bawang and was being called Madi Mahat (Maddy Mahat) the traveller's great place during that time, around 11th century.

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I proceded to Miri the day after paying 18 Ringgit Brunie. These routes are the best way to explore whole Borneo. Looking at its forested side help people to protect the beautiful enviroment. The way to reach Kuching, Sarawak, Miri is the starting point, it is only cost 80RM. Before reaching Kuching by bas, it will take the way to reach Bintulu, Sibu.

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To pontianak from Kuching will cost around 65RM, unfortunately I was not able to visit. It is only from 6-8 hours travel. The only place near to Indonesia I got visited was Serikin, the haven of cheap products that are sold by Indonesians, Serikin is the boundary between Sarawak, Malaysia and Indonesia.

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Kuching as fondly called Cat City by the locals and foreign tourists and travellers made the government to erect the Cat Monument around the city. Kuching was derived from the Malay word Kucing or Cat but having its name, perhaps it was mistaken to be Cochin or "Port" in ancient Indian name.

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There is also a theory by naming it from the Mata Kucing or Cat Eye's Fruit. There are many affordable inns and hotels around greenhills street for backpackers. Not to forget the Kek Lapis or the Lapis Cake.

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Hope to give more stories soon. Have to look at some notes to put details. In the evening of Feb 8, I took Air Asia flight in a cheap cost. Thank you to Abang Samad for the guidance. Talk to you later. Yaz, you should try to look for time to explore Borneo soon. Have to thank you for your effort in booking the ticket. Hope to have you on travel soon.

Photos: Neldy Jolo