Once In A Lifetime Journey
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Djibouti
      • Kenya
      • Madagascar
      • Malawi
      • Namibia
      • Rwanda
      • Somaliland
      • South Africa
      • Sudan
      • Tanzania
      • Uganda
    • Europe
      • Albania
      • Andorra
      • Azerbaijan
      • Denmark
      • France
      • Germany
      • Iceland
      • Italy
      • Kosovo
      • Macedonia
      • Malta
      • Monaco
      • Montenegro
      • Russia
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • United Kingdom
    • North & Central America
      • American Samoa
      • El Salvador
      • Guam
      • Guatemala
      • Hawaii
      • Honduras
      • Mexico
      • United States
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Peru
    • Middle East
      • Oman
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Sudan
      • United Arab Emirates
    • Pacific
      • American Samoa
      • Australia
      • Cook Islands
      • Fiji
      • French Polynesia
      • Guam
      • Hawaii
      • Kiribati
      • Micronesia
      • Nauru
      • New Zealand
      • Palau
      • Samoa
      • Solomon Islands
      • Tonga
      • Tuvalu
      • Vanuatu
    • Southeast Asia
      • Brunei
      • Cambodia
      • Indonesia
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Myanmar
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Central & North Asia
      • Bhutan
      • Bangladesh
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Japan
      • Macau
      • Maldives
      • Mongolia
      • Nepal
      • North Korea
      • Pakistan
      • South Korea
      • Sri Lanka
      • Tibet
  • Inspiration
    • Inspiration

      Cool & rare passport stamps from around the…

      March 18, 2021

      Inspiration

      Is El Salvador safe to visit for tourists…

      March 18, 2021

      Inspiration

      Simple steps to controling pre-flight anxiety

      January 23, 2021

      Inspiration

      How to combat the fear of flying (Aerophobia)

      January 23, 2021

      Inspiration

      Top tips for family travel stress

      January 21, 2021

  • Reviews
    • Hotels & Resorts
    • Train, Planes & helicopters
    • Food & Drinks
    • Spa & Wellness
    • Tour & Activities
  • Resources
  • Wine Tourism
    • Australia
    • Indonesia
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • Thailand
    • US
    • South Africa
  • Solo female travel
  • Countries visited: 115
  • Currently in : Singapore 🇸🇬
  • Partner with us
  • SOLO FEMALE TRAVELERS COMMUNITY

Once In A Lifetime Journey

Once In A Lifetime Journey
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Djibouti
      • Kenya
      • Madagascar
      • Malawi
      • Namibia
      • Rwanda
      • Somaliland
      • South Africa
      • Sudan
      • Tanzania
      • Uganda
    • Europe
      • Albania
      • Andorra
      • Azerbaijan
      • Denmark
      • France
      • Germany
      • Iceland
      • Italy
      • Kosovo
      • Macedonia
      • Malta
      • Monaco
      • Montenegro
      • Russia
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • United Kingdom
    • North & Central America
      • American Samoa
      • El Salvador
      • Guam
      • Guatemala
      • Hawaii
      • Honduras
      • Mexico
      • United States
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Peru
    • Middle East
      • Oman
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Sudan
      • United Arab Emirates
    • Pacific
      • American Samoa
      • Australia
      • Cook Islands
      • Fiji
      • French Polynesia
      • Guam
      • Hawaii
      • Kiribati
      • Micronesia
      • Nauru
      • New Zealand
      • Palau
      • Samoa
      • Solomon Islands
      • Tonga
      • Tuvalu
      • Vanuatu
    • Southeast Asia
      • Brunei
      • Cambodia
      • Indonesia
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Myanmar
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Central & North Asia
      • Bhutan
      • Bangladesh
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Japan
      • Macau
      • Maldives
      • Mongolia
      • Nepal
      • North Korea
      • Pakistan
      • South Korea
      • Sri Lanka
      • Tibet
  • Inspiration
    • Inspiration

      Cool & rare passport stamps from around the…

      March 18, 2021

      Inspiration

      Is El Salvador safe to visit for tourists…

      March 18, 2021

      Inspiration

      Simple steps to controling pre-flight anxiety

      January 23, 2021

      Inspiration

      How to combat the fear of flying (Aerophobia)

      January 23, 2021

      Inspiration

      Top tips for family travel stress

      January 21, 2021

  • Reviews
    • Hotels & Resorts
    • Train, Planes & helicopters
    • Food & Drinks
    • Spa & Wellness
    • Tour & Activities
  • Resources
  • Wine Tourism
    • Australia
    • Indonesia
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • Thailand
    • US
    • South Africa
  • Solo female travel

Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclaimer policy here. Never leave without travel insurance.

Fun Facts About Sabah state in East Malaysia you never knew

by Mar November 21, 2017
Written by Mar
Fun facts about Sabah State Malaysia feature
Fun facts about Sabah State Malaysia main

The geographical division of Borneo is sometimes confusing to understand. It is the third largest non-continental island in the world (after Greenland and New Guinea) and shares space with the nation of Brunei and Indonesia’s Kalimantan region. I have met many people on my travels who are still unsure if Borneo belongs to Malaysia, Indonesia or is its own country.

Let’s clear the air quickly.

The island itself is called Borneo and consists of the five Indonesia provinces that make up Kalimantan, the Islamic sultanate of Brunei and the northwest area of the island known as Malaysian Borneo or officially East Malaysia, which includes the constituents of Sabah and Sarawak (together making 26% of the population of Borneo). Each part of Borneo is therefore administered by different countries. So next time someone tells you they’re going to Borneo, you can show off your geographical skills by asking them to be more specific.

East Malaysia is divided into two states. The northern tip of Borneo is called Sabah (capital Kota Kinabalu or KK) and Sarawak (capital Kuching) covers the north-west area of the island.

And don’t forget to read our guide on 10 Essential Things Travelers Must Know Before Visiting Malaysia.

Contents

  • 1. Malay or Chinese
  • 2. Land Beneath the Wind
  • 3. It’s bananas
  • 4. Who’s the boss?
  • 5. The oldest
  • 6. The first
  • 7. The world’s largest flower
  • 8. 4th most expensive flower
  • 9. Home to the world’s largest carnivorous plant
  • 10. Survivor original
  • 11. Operation Cat Drop
  • 12. The Maliau basin
  • 13. The World’s highest via ferrata
  • 14. Extinct rhinos
  • 15. State with the most diversity
  • 16. History of headhunters

1. Malay or Chinese

It was reported in 2015 that Sabah’s population amounted to 3,5 million, making it the third most populous state in Malaysia with the highest non-citizen population. Although Borneo is surrounded by mainland Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, the largest group of non-indigenous Sabahans is in fact ethnic Chinese, mostly of Hakka descent, who make up close to 10% of the population. So while Bahasa Malaysia (national language) and English are widely spoken, there are also a lot of Mandarin speakers in Borneo.

2. Land Beneath the Wind

Kota Kinabalu City
Kota Kinabalu City

Sabah is known as β€˜Land Beneath the Wind’ because it is located 6α΅’ north of the equator, just below the tropical typhoon belt. It misses the devastating effects of the typhoons that frequently hit neighbouring Philippines. Being an equatorial country, Sabah experiences year-round summer of 22-33α΅’C for most areas, with Kinabalu Park being the exception, with temperatures dropping to as low as 2α΅’C up on the mountain. That also means that the coastal beauty is protected and the corals is better state than elsewhere. Diving in Sipadan also proves that.

3. It’s bananas

Monkey eating banana
Monkey eating banana

Moving on to the topic etymology, the name Sabah is actually taken from the abundance of the Pisang Sabaa tree on the west coast, where β€œpisang” means β€œbanana” in Malay, Indonesian, and interestingly enough and unrelated, Afrikaans.

4. Who’s the boss?

When approaching a stranger, it is common to use the word β€œboss”. So when you are approached by someone you don’t know and they say β€œHey boss, do you have the time?” don’t take it as a literal gesture! It is just a casual and friendly term for greeting.

5. The oldest

View from memorial point
View from memorial point

If you’d had to guess which rainforest was older would you say the Amazon or Borneo? If you guessed Borneo, you’d be correct! The Borneo Rainforest is in fact over 130 million years old. The tallest tropical tree in the world is located in Sabah in Tawau Hills Park. It is from the species called Shorea faguetiana (Yellow Meranti) and measures an astounding 88.1 meters.

6. The first

Borneo orangutan
Borneo orangutan

Sabah is also home to the world’s first Orangutan Rehabilitation Center in 1964 called Sepilok. There are currently around 25 young orphaned orangutans in the nurseries. As they are orphaned and cannot learn the skills they need to survive from their mothers, which usually takes about 6 years, they are paired up with other older apes in a buddy system.

7. The world’s largest flower

Rafflesia
Rafflesia

The Rafflesia is a big red flower with no leaves, roots, or stem. It is the biggest flower in the world, named after its founder, Sir Stamford Raffles who also discovered Singapore. The rafflesia is sought after by nature enthusiasts due to its rarity, despite its foul stench of rotting meat. The smell is emitted to attract flies for pollination. The most unique part of the Rafflesia is its growth cycle.

It starts as a spore and takes up to a year to grow before it becomes a ping pong ball sized bud. It then takes 9 months for the bud to grow and flower. The bloom only lasts for 4-5 days after which it dies out. All that work for just a short flowering cycle! For local farmers, it is considered very lucky if there is a rafflesia bloom on their property. It’s an additional source of income for them when tourists stop by their property to view this special bloom. Look out for signs on the main road!

8. 4th most expensive flower

The Gold of Kinabalu Orchid or Rothshild’s slipper Orchid is only found in a fenced off area at Kinabalu park. This orchid is rare and takes up to 15 years to bloom. It only grows at 500-1200m elevation and in volcanic soil, usually near a river. Very specific growth conditions, and the fact that it is on the brink of extinction has led to this beauty fetching a whopping SGD 6000!

9. Home to the world’s largest carnivorous plant

Carnivorous Pitcher plants
Carnivorous Pitcher plants

The Nepenthes Rajah is the largest carnivorous plant in the world. Its name translates to King of the Nepenthes plant group. The plant grows a cup filled with up to 3.5 litres of water and digestive fluid. It then waits for insects, ants and the occasional small lizard, bird or frog to fall into the cup and digests it for essential nutrients for it to grow.

Recent studies have shown that the large cup was evolved to create space for tree shrews to drink its nectar. In exchange, the defecation from the shrews provide a valuable source of Nitrogen for the plant.

10. Survivor original

I must confess that I don’t watch a lot of television, but I do remember almost 20 years ago when Survivor first aired. It showed out-of-the-ordinary places that I had never heard of and spurred inspiration for wanderlust. While the first season was called Survivor: Borneo, not many people know that it was shot in Pulau Tiga in the Kimanis Bay area off the western coast of Sabah. You can even stay on the island now as there is a resort there now.

11. Operation Cat Drop

The following fascinating story occurred mostly in Sarawak. In the early 1950s there was a malarial outbreak in the Sarawak area. Looking for a solution, the World Health Organisation (WHO) decided to spray large amounts of DDT (which is also said to have been dieldrin) over the area to wipe out the malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Although this killed the mosquitoes and the malaria rate sharply declined, it caused a series of negative events. First, the DDT unintentionally exterminated the parasitic wasp species that ate thatch-eating caterpillars and the roofs of people’s houses started caving in.

The DDT also poisoned the insects subsequently poisoning geckos which in turn poisoned the cats. As the cats died, rats started to increase threatening the Dayak people of the area with an outbreak of typhus and plague. The WHO then had to fix this problem which they in fact created. They decided the best way to quell the rat outbreak was to introduce more cats! How? Well, the Royal Air Force put 14,000 of the poor things in wooden boxes and dropped them out of plane with parachutes attached. This story is a lesson well-learned in the interconnectivity of living things and how some solutions can actually have a negative impact.

I was as skeptical as you might be about the truth to this story, so dug out some evidence. Apparently the WHO Library staff received a page from the R.A.F. Changi Operations Record book for March 1960 which had the comment, β€œMany thanks to R.A.F. and all responsible for airdrop arrangements; also to cat donors and cat basket makers. All cats safe. Very accurate dropping…” (Source).

12. The Maliau basin

The Maliau Basin is an interesting and gigantic forested hollow in Sabah that covers an area of 688 sqkm. It was first discovered in 1947 by a WWII pilot who was flying over Sabah but it was only really explored in 1988 with the first expedition. There are 19 waterfalls and a tea-coloured Maliau that is quite acidic and while not hospitable for fish, is home to many amphibians. There are over 80 species of orchids and over 82 other diverse species of animal including the elusive clouded leopard and over 9 species of the carnivorous Pitcher Plants. While it is virtually impossible to explore the entire Basin, you can go on a multi-day hike for an out of the ordinary adventure.

13. The World’s highest via ferrata

β€˜Via ferrata’ refers to a steel cable running along a route that is intermittently fixed to a rock.  Often there are pegs, steps and ladders along the route for climbers. The via ferrata on Mount Kinabalu is 3776 meters tall, and takes 4-6 hours to complete. It is a steep descent of 365m over 1.2 km. If this is too daunting, they have a beginner’s track that begins at 3521m altitude. On the morning of the climb, you are required to reach the peak by 6.30am to be able to get to the via ferrata on time.

14. Extinct rhinos

There are no longer any wild Sumatran rhinoceroses in Sabah. There are however 3 in captivity that environmentalists have been trying to revive for the past few years. The 2 females are unable to bear young due to complications with their uteruses. Researchers are hoping to conduct in-vitro fertilisation, and if successful, the embryos will be implanted in rhino surrogate mothers in Sumatra Indonesia.

15. State with the most diversity

Mari Mari Cultural Village
Mari Mari Cultural Village

Sabah is home to 32 different indigenous ethnic groups that make up the 3 million population. It is Malaysia’s most diverse state. The main groups are Kadazandusun, Murut, Bajau and Rungus. Each of them have different traditions, some of which are still practiced today.

Most locals speak Malay, English and their local ethnic language. They swap between languages appropriately. Various festivals are also celebrated throughout the year: Kadazandusun Harvest Festival, Bajau Water Festival, Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

16. History of headhunters

Head Hunters
Head Hunters

The Murut tribe was the last of Sabah’s ethnic groups to give up headhunting. Collecting the heads of enemies were a sign of strength and were a warning sign to neighbouring villages. They were often displayed at the entrance of the village. A Murut man could not marry unless he presented a head to the girl’s family. Anti-headhunting legislation by the British together with conversion to Christianity or Islam led to the disappearance of this ancient tradition. Thank goodness for that!

  • Check if you need a visa, get help processing it at iVisa.
  • Never ever leave without travel insurance. Get affordable coverage from World Nomads or long term insurance from Safety Wing.
  • I find all of my flights on KAYAK. Check their Deals section too.
  • Search for all your transportation between destinations on the trusted travel booking platform Bookaway.
  • I book all my day trips and tours via GetYourGuide, they are the best and their tours are refundable up to 24h in advance.
  • Get USD35 off your first booking with Airbnb.
  • Compare hotels EVERYWHERE at HotelsCombined and book with Booking.com.
  • Compare car rental prices at Rentalcars.com
BorneoEast MalaysiaFactsMalaysiaMalaysian BorneoSabah
0
FacebookTwitterPinterest

You may also like

Unknown facts about Marina Bay Sands in Singapore

Travel to Brunei: tips and interesting facts

Tibet facts – Things that surprised me about...

Things to Do in Malacca

The best beaches in Southeast Asia

Surprising facts about Bhutan – Land of the...

Private island getaway to Batu Batu a slice...

Perhentian, you broke my heart for the wrong...

Manukan Island Resort in Malaysian Borneo for Pristine...

Langkawi’s Kilim Geoforest Park tour with Dev’s Adventure

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Maldives vs Bora Bora, where will YOU have the best vacation?

    June 30, 2020
  • 2

    All the hipster, fun and cool things to do in New York

    June 30, 2020
  • 3

    Original and fabulous gifts for travelers for any occasion

    December 3, 2017
  • 4

    The world’s least visited countries – Unknown and rare destinations

    June 22, 2020
  • 5

    300+ Instagram bio quotes and captions to rock your feed

    December 14, 2019
  • 6

    100+ Great Things to do in Seoul

    August 18, 2020

Recent Posts

  • 50+ Insider South Korea travel tips from a long term expat

    April 7, 2021
  • 10 things you didn’t know about traveling to South Korea

    April 5, 2021
  • Cool & rare passport stamps from around the world

    March 18, 2021
  • How to move to Australia

    March 18, 2021
  • Day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona by a local

    March 18, 2021
  • Is El Salvador safe to visit for tourists and travelers in 2020?

    March 18, 2021

follow US on instagram

DIVING INTO THE WEEKEND FEET FIRST - Who else is r DIVING INTO THE WEEKEND FEET FIRST - Who else is ready for an amazing weekend of sun, sand and vitamin C 😎
.
#bensleycollection #BensleyCollectionSiemReap #hotelpool #siemreap #luxuryhotel #BillBensley @shintamani.angkor.bensley
MY FAVORITE VIEW - I love walking around the other MY FAVORITE VIEW - I love walking around the other side of @gardensbythebay and this particular spot. There is a bench there that has the best view. I take my cycle, stop at the hawker on the other side, and take my dim sum and fresh fruit to eat with this view. Sunsets from there are amazing.
.
#gardensbythebaysingapore #MarinaBaySands #marinabay #marinabayeast #SingaporeContentCreator #singaporesunset #singaporeflyer @singaporeflyer #flowerdome
SINGAPORE'S G-SPOT πŸ˜…πŸ˜… Just kidding. Drone sh SINGAPORE'S G-SPOT πŸ˜…πŸ˜… Just kidding. Drone shot taken from Lazarus Island one of 60+ offshore islands in Singapore. I only realised it had this G shape when I took the drone up. Always love to see the view from above.
.
#DroneShot #dronephotography #girlswhodrone #dronepilot #Singaporedrone #dronelife #DjiMavic #viewfromabove #Fromwhereidrone
HIGHER UP - Gardens by the Bay view from above, my HIGHER UP - Gardens by the Bay view from above, my favorite place in Singapore for sure. This was taken from @marinabaysands not from a drone.
#Singaporeview #Singaporedrone #SingaporeFromAbove #GardensbytheBay #MarinaBaySands #gardensbythebaysingapore #SingaporeIG #SingaporeContentCreator
JEWEL - Without travelers Jewel is just another sh JEWEL - Without travelers Jewel is just another shopping mall, but with an incredible design. There's something about the water and the greenery that makes it feel wet, humid and jungly.  There's nothing at the mall I'd like to buy, (I dislike malls anyway) but love checking out the place and explore the wall gardens around the central area.
.
#JewelSingapore #Jewel @jewelchangiairport #ChangiAirport #SingaporeAirport #SingaporeTravel #ExploringSingapore #DomesticTravel
TIME TO RELAX - As the Chinese New Year holiday se TIME TO RELAX - As the Chinese New Year holiday sets in I'm enjoying the silence I had missed for last many months working from home in Singapore.
.
So many of you asked what I was up to since I have barely posted in the last year, I have been in Singapore with borders closed and no ability to travel. After 16y as an expat and 50% of the year on the road it has been difficult to not be able to for so long. I also thought nobody really cares to see Singapore and, to be fair, I don't usually post the typical IG shots here so didn't want to just share the pictures of Singapore you probably have see a million times. But tell me:
.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO POST PICTURES OF MY LOCAL EXPLORATION IN SINGAPORE? TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS πŸ€—
.
#luxurytravel #shintamani #billbensley #ShintaManiSiemReap #Bathtubshot #flowerbath #girlsgetaway #luxuryhotel #BensleyCollection
@shintamani_wild knows me wel: Wine + wilderness + @shintamani_wild knows me wel: Wine + wilderness + jungle + a pile of @natgeotravel magazines = Happy Mar
.
#ShintaManiFoundation #NatGeo #NatGeoTravel #ShintamaniSiemReap #bensleycollection #Cambodia #BensleyCollectionSiemReap #luxuryvillas #underthestars #catalanspelmon #ViatgersDC #damestravel #dametravel #sheisnotlost #girlswhotravelgirlswhotravel
A bathtub with a view and with its own waterfall s A bathtub with a view and with its own waterfall soundtrack - Result!
.
#ShintaManiFoundation #NatGeo #NatGeoTravel #ShintaManiWild #BensleyCollection #Cambodia #luxuryvillas  #catalanspelmon #ViatgersDC #damestravel #dametravel #sheisnotlost #girlswhotravel
DREAMING OF TRAVEL AGAIN - I have finally booked a DREAMING OF TRAVEL AGAIN - I have finally booked a flight again, not to an exciting place but to one that I'm very excited about: home.
.
And talking about travel dreaming...
This photo was taken at Bill Bensley @shintamani_wild at the @natgeo tent hence the many magazines, the tent was full of them some of the issues were 50+ years old, it was fascinating to read the first issues that covered Dian Fossey or some of really remote tribes. It was hard to peel my eyes off the stunning photos and enjoy the remote and beautiful destination, the piece of wild forest where the camp is.
.
I don't think I'll be doing much travel before the end of the year but I hope to travel to west Africa in November/ December / January, for a real adventure and maybe a safari too.
.
#ShintaManiFoundation #NatGeo #NatGeoTravel #ShintamaniSiemReap #bensleycollection #Cambodia #BensleyCollectionSiemReap #luxuryvillas #underthestars #catalanspelmon #ViatgersDC #damestravel #dametravel #sheisnotlost #girlswhotravel
A NIGHT UNDER THE STARS - have you ever slept unde A NIGHT UNDER THE STARS - have you ever slept under the stars? Where?
.
I did in Tanzania and in the Maldives at @gili.lankanfushi but I am sometimes worried about the mosquitoes πŸ˜‚ thankfully, @shintamani.angkor.bensley sorted this with nets!
.
#ShintaManiFoundation #ShintamaniSiemReap #bensleycollection #BensleyCollectionSiemReap #luxuryvillas #underthestars #catalanspelmon #ViatgersDC #damestravel #dametravel #sheisnotlost #girlswhotravel
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Linkedin

About

  • ABOUT ONCE IN A LIFE TIME JOURNEY
  • ABOUT THE TEAM
  • WHERE WE HAVE BEEN
  • PRESS
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Reach Out

  • CONTACT US
  • PARTNER

Quick Links

  • SITEMAP
  • BOOKS
  • INCOME
  • DIGITAL MARKETING
  • DISCLAIMER

Copyright © 2019 . All Rights Reserved. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program