Footsteps & Sightseeing On Red Devil (MU) and Manchester City, UK.

Happy Harvest Festival to all Sabahan! Great to have public holiday for two days here! :)

Manchester of UK. When people talks about Manchester, they certainly remember their favorite football team of Manchester United. Yea~ I know, MU loss to Barcelona. Cheer up cheer up people! There's so much matches in life! ;)

I've never regretted visiting Manchester City with all my friends during my Degree studies, however the small little thing that I regretted the most was i didn't took plenty of nice photographs along those trips I have made in UK. :(

- Us, the Malaysian group of friends trying to search for places that we shall be visiting - 

From Liverpool, UK, we bought our tickets through the transportation Company's website few nights before we leave to Manchester City for a day trip. And finally, the day has come and with 55 minutes by land we reached the City of Manchester!!  

The weather in Manchester was freezing cold when we were there (because it was raining or maybe it's their weather) and we were searching for washroom whenever we went. Besides, my hand was numb and even I took a breath and release it, I could see the air that I'm breathing out. Those were the days, it's kind of remarkable though. No wonder we always saw people holding HOT cup of Coffee in their hand! Well... I love that! :D

 

 - China Town Manchester - 

China Town Manchester is located few blocks away from the Bus Station. Feeling great when I saw there's more Chinese people around Manchester City.

- The City -

Standing on the ground where busy Manchester City and Manchester's train was there. It's sound funny but I saw quite a lot of Chinese whenever I look. A friend of mine told me that Manchester were crowded with Chinese because many Chinese pursue their study and work over there!

Ask me "Do I like Manchester City for a living?" The answer will be ---- YES!

 - Manchester Market -

Cheese! Meat! Pastries! My goodness! It's smell so good~

- Welcome to Manchester Art Gallery (Free entry) -

During my studies over there, we try to use less money and travel more in short, therefore, we need to budget more on trips we have made. While walking by Manchester Art Gallery and it's free entry of course we will go in there for a look!

I found out that even their washroom do look like a piece of Art. Just a piece of clear wall with few pictures and there's no door knobs to push the door. Imagine if we see it with a glances, we wouldn't know there was the washroom. Stupid me. And without hesitation, I push the door/ wall and it was the real washroom in it. -______-"

- Art piece of Chess Board -

I do love to see the set of chess board and it's inside a glassed box. Personally, I'm not really good at Chess Board Game but I like the art representing all Kings, Queens, Soldiers etc.

You know what? I saw a piece of Art type of Chess in Indian version during my KL and Malacca trip. It's in one of the Indian shop at Fahrenheit 88, KL.

- Write down your wishes on TRAVEL -

Our wishes on traveling to any part of the world shall be written on the pieces of paper and I just wondering why this lady written down their wish as "I hope to be a Rich Woman!!"

As for me - I wrote down "I wanna travel the whole world!!"

Besides, all those art pieces we seen at the Art Gallery, there's some visitors from China thought we came from China too and when I told them we were from Malaysia, studying in Liverpool, they were excited and thought Malaysia is a country of Malays, doesn't speak Chinese and there's no Chinese here.

- Hop On Hop Off on Sightseeing Manchester City -

An amount of ticket charges on our pocket money and we could just hop on and off any places (referring to the leaflet we took from Bus Station in the city) in Manchester we would like to visit! A great sightseeing indeed.

It's the fastest way to see Manchester City. haha ;D 

Oh yea~ If you manage to visit cold weather places like Manchester, I would personally recommend you not to sit on the roof of the Sightseeing Bus. I was freezing while taking photographs with my friends and we quickly walk down when the bus stopped some where. It's not a wise choice to sit there if we can't stand to cold air.

- Welcome to Manchester United! -

With the Bus that heading to Old Trafford, we reached the famous Manchester United (MU)!! It's exciting!!

- MU Museum and Tour Tickets Counter -

Visiting MU museum and tour based the time is fixed accordingly. Unfortunately, we didn't manage to join the tour due to time constrain and it will not be enough to catch the bus back to Liverpool if we were late!

- Welcome to Old Trafford -

We did a short visit on some of the open area for visitors like us and I bought some goodies from their Souvenirs Shop.

After our visiting to Manchester City, based on high proposal from Malaysian students, our University decided to plan and bring students who bought tour tickets offered from our University to experience football match held at MU! Neh~ I didn't go. :'( Such a waste.

- The United Trinity -

Snapping photographs outside the building and we gonna catch the next Sightseeing Bus for the next sightseeing destinations and back to the City to catch our Long Distance Bus back to Liverpool! Arrrggghhhhhh!!!

- Kelloggs, Manchester, UK -

Cornflakes anyone? There's so much huge factories and outlets in Manchester. Mark and Spencers, Krispy Creme etc etc..

- Hard Rock Cafe -

We were back to the City and did a short walk on shopping and photography as a remembrance.

- Eye On Manchester in the Middle of the Crowded City -

Marry Go Round and round and round.

- Left or Right or Further? -

- People in the City -

I don't know what was that all about. That's so much different kind of people with different style and purpose.

- Limousine -

There's a graduand in the Limousine with a glass of drink of her hand. Guess, she was excited about the whole convocation held at nearby and her success. ;D Their Gown and their fluffy hoods are so cute!

- I'm standing on the ground of Piccadilly, Manchester -

*Shout* It's time to run back to the Bus Station!! Time is not enough!!

- The Long Distance Bus Station -

Luckily the Bus Station was near and we manage to walk faster and reached their on the very last minute! It's tiring but it's fun to experience those with friends. :)

- Manchester -

Great sightseeing and visiting to Manchester of UK even though I didn't see the whole city yet.

Check out my Old posts on Manchester City - click here! (Just scroll further down after loading it.)

(Covered more photographs on Red Devil and Manchester City. Eventually, it wasn't my good post back in Year 2008 but at least it could satisfy our eye !)

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【沙巴新鲜事】 沙巴丰收庆典 2011 Latest in Sabah : Premier Show of Papakang (The Odyssey of Seven Brothers)

It's been so long since I've posted my Sabah Fest 2011 on Handicrafts and Foods Exhibition (click) with brieft introduction on few familiar ethnics group.

Premier show on the second night of Sabah Fest 2011 was great with exciting Sabah's Culture to be understood. In Sabah, there's 32 ethnics groups and some of the ethnics groups involved in the show I never seen before. It's kind of mysterious and colourful though.

 - Soft instrumental music and Sabah's documentaries of various destination and our unique animal species -

I think most of us who went to the show on the same day has a little disappointed when there's a technical problems occurs where we need to wait for more than 30 minutes, luckily they've ready themselves with back up on that day, at least we weren't too upset during the night.

 - Premier Show officially started with the sound of Gong by invited guest -

There's so much VIPs and invited guests to enjoy the Premier Show of Papakang. I even saw some familiar faces before.

FYI, grandson of Jesselton was there on the day before (First day of Papakang's Show)!! And, on the same Premier Show I went, I met Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir (Former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's son) was there!! Few of us even took photograph with him! Quite a friendly person and he even ask: "Where are you come from?". And "We are Sabahan!! The local peeps here!"

- Papakang, The Odyssey of Seven Brothers -

Before the show, all of us were given a handbook/ magazine that full of photographers and information about the story of Papakang.

It was the story about the seven brothers from Nunuk Ragang were having bath nearby Liwagu River. Seven of them were given a pieces of the broken magic stone (Papakang) after their father (the village headman) threw and broke it to prevent the seven brothers from arguing for the same magic stone!

Years has passes and village could not sustain its rapid growth population and in the end resulting blood feuds in the village and villagers decided to leave the Village and 6 brothers left the village and Aki Lintobon, the youngest brother (above picture shown) was left behind at the village.

- Villagers came together to bless Aki Lintobon before he leave Nunuk Ragang and searching for his other 6 brothers -

Remember I told you all about those well dressed people in various Ethnics customs? Those were them! Each person participated and present their best on the stage!

- Blessing -

Bringing the broken stone (as a link to identify and recognise his brothers) and leave the village to search for other 6 brothers.

- Sumarikayau Dance of Orang Sungei, Pitas -

Currently, when we passes by Pitas district, we could see a gigantic natural monument of Nakhodah Batu Supirak which was a gigantic ship before (Story from local folklore).

Once, Supirak (the man in above photograph which married a rich woman) together with his people on the ship was cursed after Supirak ignored his mother (who was were and same with other villagers) and deny any connection with her when he went back to his own village, he even ask his loyal people to chase his mother away. Since then, thunder and lightning was there and finally the whole crew on the ship turned in to STONE!

Since then, Nakhodah Batu Supirak became a monument to local people as a symbol and reminder that we should respect those who are elder than us.

- Manaradan Dance of the Dusun Rungus from Kudat -

Meatball told me she saw someone familiar from Kudat! Yes, to bring the real culture of Sabah, all the performers really traveled from far to make this Show a success.

- Pangalai Dayang (Suluk people of Sandakan) -

Aki Lintobon traveled over the hills, mountains and sea to search for his brothers. After he re-united with his brother one by one, they traveled together and searched for the next brother.

- Sumazau Mingjung Pisasavan (Kadazan Penampang) -

There's so much things to learn and see from the Show, I never seen the REAL KADAZAN SILAT!! Not much young generation learn about it anymore. We should be maintaining our tradition, don't we?

- Sumazau Mingjung Pisasavan (Kadazan Penampang) -

The brothers reached Penampang and they experienced the local wedding from there.

- Murut Paluan presenting Magalang, Anggalang, Magunatip -

My goodness! It's so hard to pronounce and there's so much to learn about Sabah's culture!

From there, they found the Seventh brother at Kg. Dalit, Keningau.

- Reunion of the Seven Brothers -

Finally, all the seven brothers gathered together and the broken stone pieces became one whole stone after they were reunited.

- Mission accomplishes -

For your information, I took those information from the handbook and make it in to a brief introduction as above. Without it, it's quite difficult for us to understand the whole story of Papakang. However, meatball told me that the show was okay, while the previous show presented during Sabah Fest 2010 was even better!

Overall, the show was fine except for the storyboard, it's kind of blurry, maybe it's emphasizing more on the ethnics groups and lesser on the brothers and luckily I got the handbook as reference.

The show ended perfectly with all the performers from those outskirt villages on the stage. The night was great with colours and culture. They even invited few local singers to perform few local songs to entertain the audience as a thanks in return.

- Dancing with all the performers! -

As for some audiences who leave the hall earlier they did not noticed that others who left behind enjoyed among themselves with all the performers. 

I did enjoyed myself with them in front of the stage and danced along with them. Some cheeky local folklore song that i never heard before and it's easy to learn and dance along!!

- Must snap photograph as memory BAH! -

I hope I will have the chance to enjoy the next Sabah Fest 2012's Premier Show once again and will be better than the last!!

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【亚庇吃】渔村漂浮餐厅 Food in Kota Kinabalu : Fresh Seafood & Cultural Dances of Fisherman Village (Kg. Nelayan) Floating Restaurant

When tourists talks about Sabah, they always keeps in mind that we have the freshest seafood compared to many other countries. And that's true and it's also depends on which restaurant we wanted to visit too!

I can see that people came to Sabah for seafood and they always asking "WHERE WILL THE BEST PLACE TO HAVE SEAFOOD?". Well, you can try any restaurant in town when you saw it is crowded, definitely it will be fresher. :D And i really meant it! Remember to check the pricing before placing our order on those living fishes that you're going to eat! I think you do not want to end up with sky high prices in the end.

- Kampung Nelayan Restaurant -

It is not a new seafood restaurant in town and I think most of our above average budgeted tourists have been here for their seafood and cultural dances. I really love Cultural Dances that represent our colourful multi-cultural here in Sabah.

- Lobsters -

Seafood served are great at the restaurant and of course the price are even "better" when we ordered expensive seafood. ;)

- Soft Shell Crabs -

Personally, I like to eat Soft Shell Crabs. But, in actual it is quite cruel when you listen to how they have been caught and kept.

- Fish Mow Soup -

It is better to have fish mow soup as a substitution of Shark Fin Soup. Do we?

The number of Sharks are getting lesser now-a-days, so work together to support "NO SHARK FIN!" campaign!

- Our Dinner for the Night -

The food was fine. However, the crabs we had that night were quite small in size and we noticed that the restaurant was crowded with tourists all over the places and THP got 3 groups of tourists there enjoying their wonderful dinner! ;)

The crabs were quite small, maybe it was not the season for big fleshy crabs yet and I still remember that my previous visits there were served fleshy crabs. Yummy and I like to have Salted Egg Crabs.

- Cultural Dances -

Dance performance by professional dancers daily and their dances were not the same each time I went! Great job!

Searching for their "PREYS"!! Yea~ right! They will randomly select audience to go in front the stage for a short "show" with blow piping in front of other audiences.

Besides, the audiences have the chance to go up the stage and dance with them together for the Bamboo Dance by Murut Tribe.

Normally, Murut Dances will be the last program been fixed. They are famous for their speed in dances and reaches the peak of traditional dances and ended glamorously! Vary exciting and will keeps our eye widely open and I assure you that when you have the chance and you love cultural dances like I do. 

After they complete their cultural dances and it's time for photography session, anyone can go forward to take photographs with those handsome guys and pretty locals ladies.

Before I forget! The must try dessert at Kampung Nelayan is their COCONUT PUDDING! It's awesome!

Check out their official website : click here!

Location :

Taman Tun Fuad, Bukit Padang,

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Dinner with Tropical Holidays Paradise at Kampung Nelayan Seafood Restaurant.

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【沙巴玩】 兰脑 - 河边鱼疗 Fun in Sabah : Ranau - Fish Massage at "Tagal" Moroli River of Luanti Baru Village

After we had our visiting at Sabah Tea Garden (click), we continued our journey further to the next destination - Luanti Baru Village located at Ranau that famous for their Tagal System, click here to know more about Tagal System! It's a fishery system to protect the river and fishes.

By the way, I got the exact meaning and explanation regarding "Tagal" from their leaflet -

"Tagal in the local dialect of Sabah natives (Kadazan Dusin) means "fishing is prohibited at certain stretch of river."

- Welcome to "Tagal" Moroli River, Luanti Baru Village, Ranau -

"Winner of Malaysia River Care Award 2006"

Their Tagal System is under the guidance of Fisheries Department of Sabah that introduced as a co-management based system that focuses in protecting, reviving, conserving and managing SUSTAINABLY for the river fisheries resources in Sabah.

Besides receiving Malaysia River Care Award 2006, they manage to receive other awards too and had recognition from both government agencies and Non Government Organisation (NGO).

- Photographs of locals and tourists bathing (whole body) with fishes and fish massaging (foot) -

Before we actually entering the riverside compound, we need to pay a certain entrance fees for those who are interested to bath with fishes in the river (fees will be charged according to the activities that we would like to join) and another additional fees for cameras at a hut is that selling some goodies and cafe. 

Walk Walk Walk!

We could see hanging bridge there while we were reaching the river. Besides fish massaging and bathing, they have other activities such as jungle trekking, water rafting, camping etc and even offering room accommodation in traditional houses.

- The list of rules of NOT TO DO and MUST KNOW! -

We need to wait for our turn after other visitors finished their 15 minutes of enjoyment at the river.

That's my dad on the right and they were having fun!

And we got only 15 minutes to play with fishes of different sizes.

If you have the chance to experience yourself, it tickles so much and fishes are huge and we could hear them chasing for food!! Having the sound of "Bloop bloop bloop".

15 minutes of enjoyment at the river with fishes of different sizes that nibbles on my feet and it's tickle. The great thing of fish massaging is those fishes were going to clear most of my dead skins!

I think if a person who got a lot of dead skins, surely the fishes will be chasing the foot and "fighting" against each other!

To attract the fishes to come over my foot, we need to hold the fish food in our palm and the fishes will come over and nibbles on my hand and keeps on swimming around there. It's kind of scary and tickle, luckily the fishes won't bite! ;D

15 minutes passes in few glimpse of eye and we were heading back to Kota Kinabalu town for rest and dinner.

Check out my cleared foot when I'm in the bus! ;D At least most of the dead skins were cleared. LOLz

Great day for a day trip at Ranau area with excited activities!

Check out their official website - here!

*Tour with Tropical Holidays Paradise for "Tagal" Moroli River of Luanti Baru Village, Ranau.

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