your camera got smile detection mode?

Smile Detection will lock the shutter release in this scene, I presume. 😀

~Lightbox~

 

ground control, my transformer did not find icecream.

 

The best seat on the street, but little girl needs a nap now. Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu.

~Lightbox~

 

front seat view

 

Passing the entrance to Kinabalu National Park, on the way to Kundasang village.

~Lightbox~

 

lihing making utensils and ingredients

 

Traditional Lihing (rice wine) making utensils and ingredients. Photographed at Monsopiad Cultural Village. {***Don't drink too much lihing.. it makes you TOO happy. 😀 }

~Lightbox~

Rice wine is widely consumed in Asia (sake, anyone?), and “Lihing” is Sabah’s very own rice wine. It is a popular one and it’s 13% ~ 21% alcohol content will make you happy quite quickly. It is still made the traditional way, except for modern concessions like using plastic for covering the jars, or using ready-made yeast. Lihing may be further distilled to make a more potent drink (40% ~ 50% alcohol content) called “talak” or “montaku”{schnapps}. {Don’t mess with this one!}

The recipe is simple enough.. “pulut” {glutinous rice} cooked with just enough water, then spread on the “kohintung” {tray made from bamboo, pandan or mengkuang leaves (pandanus} to cool. The “sasad” {yeast} is pounded, mixed with the rice, and transferred to the “topukon” {jar} or container. It is sealed with banana or tarap leaves. In two weeks, it is ready for drinking from the jar, with some water added. For storage in containers, the jar is drained after a month. The remaining mash of the rice may be distilled for “talak” or “montaku” {schnapps}.

There are customs and superstitions associated with making good lihing. Read more here.

Some corktails and more imaginative ways to drink lihing here.

laadu and kikizapan (traditional tools for padi farming)

 

The laadu (plough) and kikizapan (contraption for extracting rice) at Monsopiad Cultural Village.

~Lightbox~

The “laadu” is made from ironwood (ulin tree) and is pulled by buffalo to loosen the ground. The “kikizapan” is a curious looking contraption made from wood (and metal). Introduced by the Chinese settlers, the name is derived from the Malay word “kipas” which means “fan”. That explains the circular shape on one end of the contraption. It is turned by hand, generating air flow which blows the husks from the padi.

i will take this colour.

 

Ma'am shops for batik. Photographed at the Sunday market, Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu.

~Lightbox~

Bright and sunny morning at the Sunday market at Gaya Street. The street is in the middle of Kota Kinabalu city and is closed to traffic for the weekly market. A popular place for both the locals and tourists.

Here, you can find many interesting things to shop for. It is crowded by 8 a.m. as many visitors shop early to avoid the mid-day heat. There are also many coffee shops along this 0.3 km stretch of road. Along this street and nearby, are many backpackers lodging. My Gaya Street set on Flickr.

kawan dari mana? {friend from where?}

 

Early evening at the waterfront fish market.

~Lightbox~

He probably thought I was with the European couple and their children. There is a whole world apart, between those two boys.

Photo below:- Mom and son, both with camera in hand.

tranquil beach and sea

 

Photographed from the garden of a seaside inn. This is the beach in Kinarut, about 21.5 km from Kota Kinabalu.

~Lightbox~

 

The restaurant building at Seaside Travellers Inn. There are also a few basic rooms in the building. The hut on the left edge is a BBQ pit.

View from the garden.

Seaside Travellers Inn homepage.

horatio, you do csi episode in KK?

 

They were taking a break from pouring concrete at the new esplanade. Colors inspired by CSI Miami.

~Lightbox~

 

jalan tun fuad stephens {tun fuad stephens road}, kota kinabalu

 

Panorama of Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, Kota Kinabalu. (Edge to edge is 2 kms.)

~Lightbox~

Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, named after the first Chief Minister of Sabah. Behind me is the sea, and all these buildings face the sunset. An esplanade (and complex) is currently being developed here. {Stitched from 6 photos.}