Durians Galore

On 14 August, our CG members went on an outing to a durian farm, with one very clear objective - to enjoy as many durians as our hearts desired!

The farm belongs to a friend who is passionate about durians and has devoted considerable time, effort and resources to promoting the fruit and developing durian-related eco-tourism. The farm is not simply a place to grow durians; it has been thoughtfully developed to allow visitors to experience the plantation and learn more about the different varieties of this much-loved tropical fruit.

One of the highlights of the farm is the trail leading from the base to the highest platform. Steps have been constructed along the route, with several resting stations where visitors can take a break and enjoy the surroundings. According to the owner, there are about 500 steps in total - a fairly challenging climb, especially for the seniors in our group!

We therefore split into two groups. Seven members decided to remain at the base, while the other 15 took up the challenge and climbed to the mid-level platform. The climb provided some welcome exercise, although the thought of the durians waiting for us at the top was undoubtedly an additional source of motivation!

The outing turned out to be both educational and enjoyable. We learned more about durian cultivation and the different varieties grown on the farm, while also having the opportunity to taste two types of durians - Musang King and the more traditional Kampong durians. Each had its own distinctive taste and character, giving us plenty to talk about and compare.

Of course, the real highlight was sitting together, enjoying the fresh durians and filling our tummies to our heart's delight. It was a wonderful combination of learning, exercise, good food and, most importantly, fellowship. For our CG group, it was a memorable outing that reminded us that sometimes the best way to spend a day is simply to enjoy good company over an abundance of good food!

Ascending to the mid=platform.

The owner personally opened the durians for us!

An unusably huge Kampong durian.

************************************************

Besides durians, the farm is also home to a variety of other fruit trees. On our way down after the durian feast, the owner pointed out a yellowish fruit and introduced us to Gac fruit, which I saw for the first time. Native to Southeast Asia, Gac is related to bitter melon and is known for its distinctive spiky skin and bright red, jelly-like arils surrounding large black seeds. The arils are the edible part and are particularly rich in beta-carotene and lycopene, as well as vitamin E. Unlike many tropical fruits, Gac has a mild, slightly sweet and creamy taste.

The owner also gave us a bambangan picked from one of the trees. Seeing it immediately brought back memories of eating this fruit at my grandmother’s farm in Kampong Pulutan in the 1960s. Bambangan is a wild mango native to Borneo, with thick greenish-brown skin, yellow-orange flesh and a large seed. It has a strong, distinctive aroma and a unique sweet-sour, tangy flavour. A traditional favourite in Sabah, particularly among the Kadazan-Dusun community, bambangan remains one of Borneo’s distinctive seasonal fruits. For me, however, it was more than just a fruit - it was a delicious reminder of childhood memories.

Gac Fruit (Top) and Bambangan (Lower)

*********************************************

Bongawan River Cruise and Firefly Watching

A visit to Bongawan for firefly watching was one of the activities planned during Paul and Junshi's holiday back in KK in August. We were happy to be invited to join this excursion. Four years earlier, in July 2022, when Serene's family came back to KK for a holiday, we had travelled to Kota Belud to join a Kawa Kawa River Cruise, where we were treated to a spectacular display of fireflies. This time, we thought it would be interesting to experience another of Sabah's popular natural attractions and see what Bongawan had to offer - the proboscis monkeys along the riverbanks and the fireflies that gather among the mangrove vegetation after sunset.

Compared with our experience in 2022 (Read here), however, this excursion on 13 August started at a jetty at River Paradise Bongawan was rather disappointing from a wildlife-watching perspective. We managed to spot just one lone proboscis monkey, a small crocodile hidden behind a cluster of tree roots and a few macaques along the riverbanks. The contrast was particularly noticeable when it came to the fireflies. If I were to give the two experiences a simple score for the abundance of fireflies, I would have rated this trip perhaps 1 out of 10, compared with 10 out of 10 in July 2022.

As we drifted quietly along the river in the gathering darkness, I could not help wondering why the difference was so striking. Was it simply a matter of location? Could weather conditions, the season, the tide or other natural factors have played a part? Or could the changes we are seeing in the environment, including climate change and increasing human activity, be gradually affecting the habitats on which these creatures depend? It is difficult to say based on a single visit. Nevertheless, the dramatic contrast with our 2022 experience was hard to ignore.

Fortunately, the tour operators had incorporated, whether deliberately or coincidentally, several other attractions into the programme, perhaps recognising that wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed. After an early buffet dinner, we were taken to the river mouth to see the sunset.

Unfortunately, the sunset was not as spectacular as we had hoped. The sky was heavily overcast, with thick clouds and haze, reportedly caused in part by the forest fires in Kalimantan. Later, all the visitors were led to the seafront to watch a fire-spinning performance, during which a performer sent showers of sparks into the sky. These additional activities helped to some extent make up for the relatively disappointing wildlife sightings and ensured that the evening remained enjoyable.

In the end, the Bongawan excursion turned out to be a reminder that nature does not always perform according to our expectations. We may travel specifically to see proboscis monkeys or fireflies, but wildlife remains unpredictable and is influenced by many environmental factors. While the abundance of fireflies and proboscis monkeys we experienced in 2022 was truly memorable, this year’s more subdued encounter offered a different lesson - the importance of protecting the river, mangroves and surrounding habitats so that these remarkable natural attractions can continue to thrive for future generations of visitors.

Afternoon tea just before the boat trip to see proboscis monkeys.

*********************************************

Some of the macaques sighted.

A small crocodile sighted hidden behind cluster of roots.

The sunset that evening!

Foam deliberately created to keep visitors entertained.

Fire-spinning performance.

The tour guide took great pain to take mirror reflection photographs for tour members.

A Birthday Celebration to Remember

It was a wonderful surprise when Paul and Junshi arranged a pre-birthday celebration on 11 August for my wife, their mother, during their short trip back to KK in August.

For the past few years, celebrating my wife’s birthday had mostly been a two-person affair. This celebration was therefore especially meaningful, as it gave us the opportunity to celebrate together as a family. Sharing such a special occasion with our close family members made it all the more memorable and precious.

The second surprise was the choice of venue. To my delight, they had selected the same restaurant, the Kinsly in Damai Plaza where Sam had arranged my own birthday celebration when he and Maddie came back to KK for a short break in October last year. It was a lovely coincidence and made the evening even more meaningful.

The dishes they carefully selected turned out to be very impressive, and we thoroughly enjoyed the meal and the time spent together. We thought the evening would end after dinner, but there was yet another surprise. Just when we least expected it, the restaurant staff appeared with a small birthday cake, bringing the celebration to a wonderful climax.

It was truly a memorable and unforgettable evening - not only because of the delicious food and the thoughtful arrangements, but, most importantly, because of the love and effort that went into making the occasion special.

For my wife, the birthday “girl” of the evening, it was certainly a celebration she will remember for a long time. It was a beautiful reminder that the greatest birthday gifts are not necessarily things we receive, but the love, thoughtfulness and precious moments shared with family.

From Praise Kid to Bridegroom: Celebrating Ian and Samantha

It was a fun-filled, joyful and humorous evening last weekend on 8 August as we gathered to celebrate the wedding of Ian and Samantha. The banquet was filled with laughter, warm fellowship and happy memories, making it a truly memorable occasion for everyone present.

I have known Ian since he was a little boy attending the Praise Kids in the early 2000s. It was therefore especially meaningful to see that little boy, whom I had watched grow up over the years, now standing as a grown young man and beginning a new chapter of his life as a husband.

Ian’s life story, as shared by his father, George, in his speech that evening, was nothing short of remarkable. His mother passed away in 2008, when Ian and his younger sister, Michelle, were still very young (Read here). It must have been an incredibly difficult and painful season for the family.

Yet, with the love, strength and perseverance of their father, George, together with the support and care of their grandparents, the two children were able to grow up in a loving and nurturing environment. Sadly, their grandfather passed away later, leaving their grandmother to continue playing an important role in caring for and supporting them.

Today, Michelle is married and settled in Philadelphia, USA, while Ian has also grown into a fine young man and has now begun a new chapter of his life with Samantha. Looking at how far both siblings have come despite the difficulties they faced in their childhood is truly heartwarming. Their journey is a wonderful testimony to the love of family, the resilience of the human spirit, and above all, God’s grace and faithfulness through the years.

For me, Ian holds another special place in my memories. I have been his “magician” ever since his Praise Kids days! When I was giving lessons, I would use magic as an additional tool to capture their attention and make the lessons more interesting and memorable (Read here). Ian was one of those young boys who watched with curiosity and excitement as I performed my little magic tricks.

How wonderful it was, after all these years, to see that same little boy now standing at his wedding banquet as a grown man, ready to embark on life's journey with Samantha. In some small way, I feel privileged to have witnessed a little part of his growing-up years.

It was indeed a privilege and a joy to be there - not just to attend a wedding, but to celebrate the remarkable journey of a young boy I once knew, who has now become a husband and is beginning a beautiful new chapter of his life.

That evening, I also had the unexpected pleasure of meeting Ian’s uncle, Vincent, who had travelled all the way from New Jersey in the United States to be present for his nephew’s wedding. His presence added another interesting connection to an already memorable evening.

What made our meeting particularly special was that Vincent had once been a student of my wife back in the late 1980s, when she moved to Kota Kinabalu after our marriage. At that time, she was teaching English at Sabah College, and Vincent was one of her students. Remarkably, even after so many decades, he could still vividly recall being taught English by her and some of his experiences as a student in those days. It was amusing and heartwarming to hear him recount those memories from so long ago.

Life has certainly taken Vincent a long way since his school days in Sabah. He eventually settled in the United States, where he built a life, raised three children who are now grown adults, and has himself become a grandfather. As we talked, I was reminded once again of how unpredictable and fascinating life's journey can be. From a young student sitting in an English classroom in Sabah to becoming a husband, father, grandfather and resident of the United States, Vincent's story is yet another remarkable example of how life can unfold in ways we could never have imagined when we were young.

It was a delightful reunion across generations and continents - two families coming together to celebrate a wedding, while unexpectedly reconnecting with memories that stretched back more than three decades. Sometimes, the most memorable moments at a wedding are not found in the formalities of the banquet, but in the unexpected encounters and stories that emerge along the way.

With some of the friends who were invited to attend the banquet.