SPECIAL PLACES AT SABAH

Mount Kinabalu

Mount Kinabalu  (Malay: Gunung Kinabalu) is a prominent mountain on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It is located in the east malaysian state of sabah and is protected as kinabalu national park, a world heritage site. Kinabalu is the highest peak in Borneo's crocker range and is the highest mountain in the malay archipelego. Mount Kinabalu is also the 20th most prominent mountain in the world by topographic prominence. In 1997, a re-survey using satellite technology established its summit (known as Low's Peak) height at 4,095 metres (13,435 ft) above sea level, which is some 6 metres (20 ft) less than the previously thought and hitherto published figure of 4,101 metres (13,455 ft).

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Desa dairy farm kundasang

Desa Dairy Farm - the largest in Sabah with an area of 199 hectares, is located at the Mesilau Plateau, 
Kundasang about 30 minutes drive from Mt.Kinabalu National Park. The green meadows stretching all over the area was so refreshing at 2100 meters above sea level. Each of these Friesian cattle could produce at least 14 litres of milk a day. It was amazing that to see cows lining up or rather queueing up to the milking station without being guided. They knew exactly what to do! This processing plant is fully automated from mechanical milking, pasteurising, homogenising, packaging and distribution. The view of Mt.Kinabalu is usually fantastic from the farm. 

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The upside down house of borneo

Turn your world upside down when you visit this unique house in Tamparuli – literally! The ‘Rumah Terbalik’ (which translates to Upside Down House) is the first of its kind in South East Asia and among the five upside-down structures in the world (3 are found in Europe and another in Japan).
The house was opened to the public in early February 2012 and has since been attracting visitors from near and far. The house itself is hard to miss, having been flipped upside down, with its floor facing skyward. Everything inside the house, from furniture to household appliances, hover above your head, as the ceiling is actually the floor. Visitors will notice some distinguishing Sabahan décor and features showcased in this house. In the garage, a car is parked upside down. It might seem disorienting in the first few seconds, but the fascination of it all takes over. This architectural wonder has also been included in the Malaysia Book of Records for being the first of its kind in the nation. Visitors can enjoy a meal or afternoon snack at the Rumah Terbalik Café or pick up a souvenir at the Gift Shop. Guided tours are available.

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Sepilok orangutan rehabilitation centre

The Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre was set up in 1964 to rehabilitate orphaned baby orang utan. Set in the lush 4,300-hectare Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, the Centre under the administration of the Wildlife Department of Sabah attracts tourists and researchers alike, giving them the opportunity to watch the orang utan up close in their natural habitat. A boardwalk leads you to a viewing gallery and feeding platform where the apes are fed milk and bananas twice a day at 10.00am and 3.00pm by rangers. Feeding time also attracts long-tailed macaques to the area. While orang utan rehabilitation is still the primary goal at Sepilok, it also focuses on public education on conservation, research and assistance on other endangered species such as the rhinoceros. Visitors are restricted to walkways. Some orang utan have become familiar with people but touching them is strongly discouraged, and while the apes are naturally shy and gentle, the more mischievous ones may try to grab your camera or hat, in which case you should call for a ranger as trying to wrestle the 200 pound apes may not be a good idea. For the more adventurous, there is trekking through mangrove forest. As this is under the Forestry Department, you will have to get a permit from them before trekking the 5km trail which runs through Sepilok Laut. You can also arrange for a boat return or accommodation in chalets in the forest.

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Mabul island

Mabul is a small island off the south-eastern coast of Sabah in Malaysia. The island has been a fishing village since 1970s. Then in 1990s, it first became popular to divers due to its proximity to Sipadan island.Mention Mabul Island and visions of swaying coconut trees and idyllic water villages come to mind. And that’s just above the water. Located only about 15 minutes by speedboat from the famous Sipadan Island, Mabul has gained its own recognition as one of the best muck-diving (a term used to describe limited visibility dives at shallow sites with usually sandy bottoms) sites in the world. Mabul is a small oval shaped island fringed by sandy beaches and perched on the northwest corner of a larger 200-hectare reef. The reef is on the edge of the continental shelf and the seabed surrounding the reef slopes out to 25–30m deep.Mabul is also renowned for its amazing array of macrolife, making it an underwater photographer’s dream location to capture some of the rarest ecological species on film. Flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, spike-fin gobies, frogfish and moray eels are just some of the spectacular critters you will encounter beneath the waters of Mabul. Although all the excitement is underwater, you can always set your scuba gear aside for a day to laze on Mabul’s soft sand to work on your tan.

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The tip of borneo

Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, is also known as the Northernmost tip of Borneo, is located in the district of Kudat, in the state of Sabah, Malaysia. The tip is the meeting point of Sulu and South China Sea.A bronze globe marks the location of Tanjung Simpang Mengayau at latitude 7 degrees north and longitude 116 degrees east. A map featuring the island of Borneo is embossed in bronze and laid on a flat surface at an angle with inscriptions to mark the Tip of Borneo.This dramatic headland in the area of Tanjung Simpang Mengayau is situated in the northern-most tip of Borneo, the third largest island in the world, after Greenland and New Guinea. It is located in the Kudat Peninsula, about three and a half hours (or 215 kilometres) drive from Kota Kinabalu city. Simpang Mengayau means 'lingering junction' as it is here that the South China Sea lingers and meets the Sulu Seas flowing from the east . Enjoy the stunning view, sunsets and full moon. The nearby Kalampunian Island lighthouse is a reminder of treacherous coastline and past shipwrecks. On the left is the beautiful beach of Kalampunian. It's a lovely easy stroll to the flagpole, the globe and the rocky outcrop that forms the "Tip of Borneo".

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THE LOCAL FOODS AT SABAH

Pinaasakan

Pinaasakan is a special traditional dish of Kadazan-Dusun of Sabah;  the contents are mainly fish (ikan basung).To make the dish, the ikan basung is to be heated to boil (added ingredients include a little bit of other seasoning ingredients like salt, seasoning powder etc) till it is dry.  It is flavoured with takob-akob, a sour fruit.  I personally think this particular fruit is one that makes the taste so unique!


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Bosou

Bosou is a signature dish for KadazanDusun. There are various types of bosou such as bosou Sada (preserved fish), bosou nangko (preserved jack fruit), mix vegetables bosou (preserved mix vege) and many more. The smell is strong, yet the taste is uniquely delicious. In the past, it has become a practice by postnatal mother to eat bosou because it's believed can increase the production of breast milk (should be heated first with a little water and some ginger). Current generations are more creative, they have different ways to consume bosou to suit it with their tastes. Some may stir-fry it with onions, red chillies, sabahan white chillies, tuhau and any other ingredients. Some even eat it with western food like spaghetti. Usually it is served as a side dish.

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Sup manuk lihing

Manuk soup Lihing or better known as "Chicken Soup Lihing 'in Bahasa Melayu is a traditional dish special for tribal Kadazan-Dusun , Sabah. Materials required are a chicken village, blackstrap better known 'Lihing "among the Kadazandusun and sliced ​​ginger. How to prepare, boiled chicken meat that has been cut by half a cup lihing, sliced ​​ginger, salt and seasoning powder. Let it boil until the meat is tender chicken right before serving. By tradition the Kadazan-Dusun, the food is very suitable for women who had just delivered. Most of the food tradition of the Kadazandusun today can be found in a number of specific common restaurant cooking the local population. Uniqueness and diversity of traditional food which was introduced by the local community Sabah today is one more privilege in this land below the wind

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Hinava

Various world know Borneo is heaven of sea food such as crab, fish, prawn and many more. But, not this stuff I want to share. The thing I want to share is ethic food for kadazandusun, this food is famous among of Malaysian especially in Sabah because each year this country will known celebrate Kaamatan will prepared this food for who come to the celebration kaamatan. Hinava is a well-known dish among the Kadazandusuns. Hinava is actually raw fish salad. The mackerel is the best choice of fish for this dish. The hinava uses the sour juice of local limes as a marinade. A veritable side entry, the hinava has been seen served at fine eating establishments. 

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Tuhau

Tuhau included in the category of ginger. It is widely used in Sabahan dishes especially by the KadazanDusun community. Like other food ingredients, tuhau also can be mixed in any type of cooking such as soup or stir-fry. One of the most special and famous recipe is the sambal tuhau. Sambal tuhau is a KadazanDusun traditional side dish. Its very flexible and can be served with various type of food, no matter traditional or modern dishes. Some people doesn’t like it due to the strong smell but don’t judge the food by it’s smell before tasted it. Lastly, Nutrition “Tuhau” very high which is believed to cleanse the dirty blood ,reduce high blood pressure and other than that a very high fiber content make this food good for health.

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Bambangan

This is a concoction of half ripe bambangan fruit with finely grated bambangan seeds and salts that’s preserved in a tightly covered jar for 7 to 10 days. It is delicious when taken with daily meals. Its salty and deliciously sour taste is very appetizing! Bambangan is a well known fruit for the Sabahan people (Sabah, Malaysia) especially among the Kadazan and Dusun tribes. But nowadays, it is getting popular among every race in Sabah. The tree is very tall and it takes long years to mature and bear its fruits. The fruits are round and brown in colour. It has a nice smell when it is ripe. This fruit either can be eaten raw when it is ripe or turn it into Jeruk Bambangan, a local delicacies that can be a delicious appetizer.This is a traditional appertizer for the Sabahan people especially for the Kadazan and Dusun tribe in Borneo Land Below The Wind.

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THE RACES AT SABAH

Malay

In Sabah, the Malay population is defined by Article 160 of the Malaysian Constitution as someone born to a Malaysian citizen who professes to be a Muslim, habitually speaks the Malay language, adheres to Malay customs and is domiciled in Malaysia or Singapore. This definition is loose enough to include people of a variety of ethnic backgrounds which basically can be defined as "Malaysian Muslims" and it therefore differs from the anthropological understanding of what constitutes an ethnic Malay. This understanding of the meaning of "Malay" in Malaysia has led to the creation of an ethnoreligious identity,[1] where it has been suggested that a Malay cannot convert out of Islam as illustrated in the Federal Court decision in the case of Lina Joy.  As of 2010 census, Malays made up 51% of the population of Malaysia.



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Chinese

(huárén) are Malaysians of Chinese – particularly Han Chinese – descent. Most are the descendants of Chinese who arrived between the early and the mid-twentieth centuries. Malaysian Chinese constitute one group of Overseas Chinese and constitute the third largest Chinese community in the world, after those in Thailand and Indonesia. Within Malaysia, they are usually simply referred to as "Chinese" and represent the second largest ethnic group in Malaysia after the ethnic Malay majority. As of 2010, approximately 6,960,000 Malaysian Chinese – majority of the population (except those mixed ones) – self-identify as "Chinese". Malaysian Chinese are a socioeconomically well established middle-class ethnic group and make up a highly disproportionate percentage of Malaysia's professional and educated class, with a record of high educational achievement, a high representation in the Malaysian professional white-collar workforce, and one of the highest household incomes among minority demographic groups in Malaysia. Like in much of Southeast Asia, Malaysian Chinese are dominant in both the business and commerce sectors, controlling an estimated 70% of the Malaysian economy. They are also one of the biggest taxpayers, contributing almost 90% of the national income tax and 60% of Malaysia's national income.

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India

Malaysian Indians are Malaysians of Indian origin. Many are descendants from those who migrated from India during the British colonization of Malaya. Prior to this, Indians have been present in the Malayan archipelago at least since the period of the influential Tamil Chola dynasty of the 11th century. Today, they form the third largest ethnic group in Malaysia after the Chinese and the Malays. Malaysia is home to one of the largest populations of Overseas Indians, constituting about 8% of the Malaysian population. They also make up a disproportionately large percentage of the Malaysian professional workforce per capita, particularly in the field of medicine.



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Kadazan dusun

This is the largest ethnic category in Sabah and is predominantly wet rice and hill rice cultivators. Their language belongs to the Dusunic family and shares a common animistic belief system with various customs and practices. Their ancient beliefs on the verity that everything has life - the rocks, trees, and rivers are all living things.They have souls and spirits that must be appeased from time to time through specific rituals. In these modern times, some of the rituals are less performed except during certain festivities. 

Pesta Kaamatan or Harvest Festival is a unique celebration of Kadazandusun society. It's a celebration to honour the Rice Spirit - Bambaazon or Bambarayon and giving thanks for yet another bountiful year. The festival begins on the first of May at many district levels. The rites and customs of the Pesta Kaamatan is a tribal practice of Kadazandusun and also Murut peoples. The Bobohizan or Bobolian who are the High Priests or Priestesses (depending on the district/area undertaking the preservation) will conduct the ritual. In different districts, the priests or priestesses may be addressed to differently, for instance in Tambunan district they are known as Bobolian, in Tuaran as Tantagas and in Penampang as Bobohizan. It is believed that rice in whatever form embodies Bambaazon that must be protected from harm. The homecoming of Babaazon is an integral part of the Harvest Festival. Ancient folklore tells of the ultimate deed of Kinoingan or Minamagun - The Almighty God or Creator, who sacrificed his only beloved daughter, Huminodun so that his people would have food. Various parts of her body were planted from which plants grew. During the Magavau ceremony, the Bobohizan will select some stalks of rice that are left undistributed until the harvest is over. In some districts, the chosen stalks are cut before the field is harvested and are then brought into the owner's house. The task of Bobohizan is to search and salvage the lost Bambaazon who are hurt or separated from the main mystical body. In the old days, this ceremony was often performed in freshly harvested fields during the first full moon after the harvest to invoke the rice spirit. The language used by Bobohizan is archaic whose meanings have been buried in time and known only to the few remaining Bobohizan these days. The vital aspect of Magavau is the paraphernalia used to summon Bambaazon. The sacrament of Magavau may vary according to district practices but the ceremony always ends with food offerings to Bambaazon and merry making for the village folks. The highlight of Pesta Kaamatan is the selection of the pageant queen or "Unduk Ngadau" which can be literally translated as "Zenith of the Sun". It conceptually derives from the sacrifice of Huminodun. The maiden who has the honour of being selected should bear semblance to Huminodun and will represent all that is virtuous in the revered Huminodun.


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Rungus

The Rungus living in the Kudat district are known to have maintained their ancient traditions to this day. Even the traditional ladies costume has not many changes made to it. Some of the women still wear costumes made from cloth processed form hand-grown and hand-spun cotton. The design of the Rungus costume is simple. A black cloth with little hand-stitched patterns worn from the chest to the waist becomes the blouse ( banat tondu ) and the skirt is a knee-length sarong (tapi rinugading) of the same material. Another length of black cloth, about 28-30 cms. Wide is slipped over the head and it rests on the shoulders draped over the arms like sleeves. What makes this outfit very interesting is the belts and necklaces that go with it. Little brass rings and antique beads looped through thin strands of stripped bark ( togung ) becomes a wide and colourful hipband called orot. To wear this, the orot is slowly and carefully coiled around the hip. Then a last string of beads ( lobokon ) is hung loosely from the coil. The orot is hand made by the Rungus men as the technique is known only to them. The Rungus are also well-known for their beadwork and the costume shows off some of their finest. Two shoulders bands ( pinakol ), about 6 to 8 cms wide are aworn diagonally over each shoulder and cross over in front. The bead-work often tell a story and this one in particular tells of a man going spear-hunting for a riverine creature. Usually the pattern must follow ancient designs when worn with this costume. Long antique bed necklace ( sandang ) are also worn diagonally over the shoulders. These necklaces often include ivory-white discs, obtained from the shell of the kima ( tridachna gigas ) as well as animal bones. Several necklaces of reddish-brown glass beads and the chocker-like suldau with the white kima as the centre-piece further adorn this costume. The large burambun and the smaller giring are antique brass bells that sound with the slightest movement. The Rungus lady's hair is combed into a bun and a multi-coloured floral head-piece ( titimbok ) is worn. A thin band of beads strung together ( sisingal ) is tied around the forehead and then pieces of cloth sewn together in rows to form colorful pigtails ( rampai ) are tided at the nape. This costume, with all the beads and belts, is worn during festivals. Rungus ritual specialist also wear the complete outfit when conducting rituals.

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Murut

Being one of the largest indigenous groups in Sabah, Murut comprise of subgroups such as Baukan, Gana', Kalabakan, Okolod, Paluan, Sulangai, Serudung, Tagal, Timugon and the Beaufort and Keningau Murut. Literally "Murut" means "hill people". They inhibit the interior and southeastern parts of Sabah and the territory straddling the Kalimantan and Sarawak borders. They are mostly shifting cultivators and hunters with some riverine fishing. Those of Murut origin speak 15 languages and 21 dialects. The language commonly used and understood by the large majority is Tanggal. Their language is also related to the Kadazandusun languages. Once feared as fearless headhunters and longhouse dwellers, the Murut these days have abandoned much of their age-old traditions especially headhunting. They are also very skilled in hunting with blowpipe.

In the by-gone era, collecting heads of enemies served a very precise function in Murut society. A man can only get married after he has presented at least one head that he has hunted to the family of the desired girl. Heads also play a very important role in spiritual beliefs.The essence of Murut tradition of feasts is distinctive. No merrymaking will end at least until sunrise and can last up to seven days later. This is especially the case with weddings or funerals. Through modernization, no more heads must be furnished for weddings but jars along with cloth, beads, gold and ivory bracelets have taken its place. All these dowry items will be proudly displayed at the ceremony. Jars or "sampa" holds a prominent status in their customs. The Murut know the age of sampa and treat them will due respect. Jars are also a place of spirits. Beads play an integral role in Murut life. Wedding beads must be presented in the form of belts, necklaces, headgear and decoration. The wedding ceremony must be held in the bride's longhouse, tapai or rice wine must be served and all the meat has to be pickled. The Murut keep the bodies of their deceased in a jar and place them in colourful and elaborately decorated grave-huts along with the deceased's belongings. The body will be placed in the foetal position inside the jar and a gong will be placed over the mouth of the jar to close it. However this custom of burial is becoming rare with the availability of wooden coffins.

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Bajau

The Kota Belud Bajau Horseman are the famous Cowboys of the East. During special occasions, the Bajau Horseman wears a black, sometimes white, long-sleeved shirt called badu sampit . Smart, gold buttons betawi run down the front opening and the shirt is also decorated with silver flowers called intiras .The trousers are more tight-fitting than the bajau bridegroom's seluar sama . The horseman's seluar sampit is balck, and both the shirt and trousers have gold lace trimmings sewn on. He also wears a headpiece podong similar to the Bajau bridegroom's.The Bajau horseman wears a silver-hilted dagger karis at his side. The sheath is made of wood and silver. He also carries a spear bujak and a shipping crop pasut .
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the Bajau horseman is his horse, or rather pony. It has its own costume and is more gaily dressed than the rider. The ourfit kain kuda almost completely covers the pony except for holes for the eyes and nose. This cloth is tied around the pony's legs to keep it in place.The saddle sila-sila is not like the cowboy saddles of the West but rather a smaller piece of buffalo hide so shaped to fit the pony's back. A thick piece of cloth lapik is placed under the sila-sila . Antique brass bells seriau , colourful reins tingalu and bridle kakang all make for a very festive pony costume. In all their finery, both ride and pony become quite an attraction.

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SPECIAL EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS AT SABAH

Maize festival

The Pesta Jagung or maize fesival is held in the district of Kota Marudu, about 130 km or two hours drive from Kota Kinabalu. Just like other agriculture-based celebrations, this fest promises to be another exciting event that should not be missed by any visitor to Sabah.
Maize or jagung is one of the many agricultural products in the state that has provided an important economic contribution to the lives of mainly the Kadazandusun communities in Kota Marudu. This event serves to highlight the significance of this plant to the people. Of course there will be plenty of fun too with jagung cooking and planting competitions, cultural shows and the Jagung Fashion Queen! So visit this district to join in the excitement and discover the unique lives of the people of Kota Marudu.

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Coconut festival

The coconut, an ever-popular fruit of the tropics is celebrated in a special festival at Tomborungus in the northern district of Kudat. Coconut is grown extensively here covering an area of more than 5,741 hectares or about 14,000 acres planted.The festival highlights the coconut industry and recognition of its significant contribution to the social and economic welfare of the rural folks in Kudat. Its launching date coincides with World Coconut Day and a host of exciting activities are lined up for visitors including the highly entertaining coconut shoe race, squeezing coconut milk competition, food and drink exhibition, handicraft displays, coconut fashion show and a wildlife exhibition for the entire duration of the festival.Highly recommended for visitors to Sabah, this fest is an occasion that is worth adding into a programme to further enhance your holiday experience. Getting there is easy plus there are other tourist attractions in the area that should not be missed. Drop by at the famous Rungus Longhouse at the village of Kampung Bavanggazo, witness gong making at Kampung Sumangkap, handicraft making at Kampung Tinagol and how pure fresh honey is made at Kampung Gombizau.

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Tamu besar (Kota Belud)

Kota Belud situated 70 km northeast of Kota Kinabalu is about an hour drive by car. Known as the "Land of the Cowboys of the East", it is one of Sabah's most scenic and culturally rich districts. A melting pot of cultures and customs with a blend of the largely Muslim Bajau community and the many tribes of the Kadazandusun and the Irranun, Kota Belud has played a significant role as the cultural hub of northern Borneo for many centuries. To this day, the Kota Belud tamu (Sunday open market) has continued to maintain its role as a venue for the people of the various communities to meet and trade.The best time to view Kota Belud's striking cultural potpourri is during the grand Tamu Besar. 

It is Sabah's biggest open-air market where farmers, fishermen and vendors offer their best produce and wares for sale to the public. The grand Tamu Besar is an annual event.The event showcases the unique customs and traditions of the Bajau community. During this auspicious occasion, all the tribes will come out fully donned in their respective traditional costumes for three days of cultural extravaganza. The Bajaus will stage a grand parade of ponies in resplendent costume dresses and perform a spirited display of their riding skills. 

Besides the normal buying and selling, other organized activities include a display of farm produce and animals.Visitors will definitely find Kota Belud's diversity of traditional costume displayed, dance, music and ceremonies a unique cultural experience, which renders an excellent attraction for those who come from other communities or live in the fast lane of city life.




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Harvest festival (Pesta Kamaatan)

Most native Sabahans consider rice to be more important than just the main staple food. There is a certain sacredness attached to it, for it is a food given to them by Kinoingan, the Almighty Creator so that his people should never want for food. He sacrificed His only daughter- Huminodun and from her body parts, padi (rice) grew. This was Kinoingan's ultimate act of benevolence and to this day, His people repay the deed by conducting various ceremonies to honour Bambaazon, the spirit of Huminodun as embodied in rice.

The most well-known of these is Pesta Kaamatan or Harvest Festival which begins on the first of May and celebrated throughout Sabah. Of major importance to this thanksgiving ceremony is the Magavau - a ritual to invite Bambaazon to the Pesta and is conducted only by the Bobohizan or high priestess. Festivities cannot proceed without the presence of Bambaazon and it is through Magavau that the Rice Spirit is invoked.

 In the past, Magavau was conducted in the padi fields on the first full moon night after the harvest. A party of Bobohizan led by the foremost senior, would weave a slow procession through the fields chanting prayers to Bambaazon. A male warrior would walk ahead of this group waving a sword in the air, to ward off any evil that might try to disrupt the ritual. The food offered must be of the best quality. When the spirits come, only the Bobohizan will be able to feel their presence. The spirits will find, neatly laid out for them on banana leaves, the choicest chicken meat, eggs, betel leaves and pinang (areca nut), tobacco and kirai ("rollie"). The finest tapai or rice wine is offered to the spirits.

A second offering arranged in a winnowing tray is placed on a specially built bamboo platform. This is for the spirits to bring back to the spirit world to feed those creatures that would otherwise feed off the padi. Pesta Kaamatan around the state culminates in the state level celebrations on May 30 and 31 every year with Magavau being enacted indoors before the celebrations begin. 



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