Mark your calendars on the 5th to the 7th of September and head on to the northern district of Kudat for the fourth annual Coconut Fest!
This festival is aimed to shed the limelight on coconut products and its significance in the lives of the rural Kudat community. The celebration also extends the necessary recognition to the coconut industry’s contribution as one of the most extensively grown crop in Kudat area.
The three-day event will take place at the illustrious Tanjung Simpang Mengayau—a dramatic headland also known as the Tip of Borneo. A lineup of exciting programs has been prepared for the enjoyment of both local and outside visitors. Tamu Malam (night market), Coconut Fashion Queen Pageant, battle of the band, Dragon Boat Race, as well as an array of rich cultural performances are among the events to look forward to.
Apart from witnessing the glorious sunset from the Tip of Borneo; there are also other places of interest to be visited while in Kudat. Be sure to swing by the Rungus Longhouse at Kampung Bavanggazo and visit Kampung Gombizau Honey Bee Farm for some deliciously healthy honey to bring home. Also, take your family for an educational excursion to Kampung Sumangkap and witness the age-old craft of gong making.
Choose to chill out at the scenic and serene Kelambu Beach, or simply embrace the culture by exploring the Kudat district and go for a sightseeing adventure at Tamu Kudat. A place equally famous for its seafood and groundnuts; outside visitors should also seize the chance to sample delectable seafood dishes and stock up on groundnuts.
Experience the northern feel of Sabah this September as you make your way to Kudat for the Coconut Fest—coconuts will never look this good!
Ever wondered how Kudat got its name?
Before Kudat got its name, the Rungus had called the land ‘Tanjung Berungus’ or ‘Tomburungan’. However, when the British first arrived and asked for the name of the place; the Rungus mistook him as asking for the name of the coarse grass (lalang) that was growing there, hence answering “kutad” (Rungus dialect for lalang). This name eventually got stuck and is still used as the place’s preferred nomenclature up to this day.
Why Rungus women wear brass coils around their wrists and ankles?
Legend has it that once upon a time, there was a Rungus man who encountered a group of mermaids ashore. He hid from behind a rock and watched as these mermaids remove their tails and frolic on the beach. Ultimately, he fell in love with one of the mermaids, stole her tail and buried it in the sand so she couldn’t return to the sea.
The man then took the mermaid home and married her. To prevent her from leaving him, he encircled her legs and wrists with heavy brass coils that weigh her down from swimming away. Today, the seemingly cumbersome brass coil ankle and wrist bands serve as traditional decorative accessories and are mostly worn by older women.
Gastronomic adventure the Kudat way
There are numerous coffee shops inhabiting the older part of Kudat and Pekan Tomborungus that cater an array of Malay, Chinese, and Indian-Muslim cuisines. The following are several of the recommended coffee shops for your gastronomic adventures:
“No Name” Coffee Shop
Situated a little less than 1 kilometer away from the Jalan Marudu roundabout is the “nameless” coffee shop which caters specialties such as yong tau fu (stuffed bean curd), egg rolls and other finely ground meat dishes served in delicious broth to go with rice or noodles.
The shop sits in between Yu Sin tailor and a refrigeration specialist. Business starts from 7am to late afternoon and it is closed on Sundays. Famous specialties include
Sea View Gerai Makan
Gerai Makan Sea View is located somewhere in the food stalls near the Kudat fish market. In the mornings, it serves delectable noodle dishes, while in the evenings one can expect scrumptious seafood platters. The special part about this food stall is that customers can pick and choose the seafood and vegetables prior to cooking—this ensures maximum customer satisfaction to boot!
Must try dishes include their steamed fish and claypot bean curd with mixed veggies which are very reasonably priced.
Muslim Food Stalls
Somewhere around Jalan Datu, near Lembaga Bandaran Kudat lies a famous open-air eatery that specializes is grilled food such as grilled fish, sting ray and chicken. The grilled fish is usually sold together with an optional local treat—steamed tapioca starch roll. Only non-alcoholic beverages are catered.
Kedai Kopi Yu Hing
This coffee shop is a famous breakfast spot that serves Chinese delicacies such as steamed buns (pau), small range of dim sum, and several types of noodles. It is also knows to serve some of the best coffees in town and different kinds of Chinese teas. The coffee shop is situated on the ground floor of Hotel Ria, business starts in the morning and ends in the evening.
Sungai Wang Restaurant
By far the most illustrious Chinese restaurant in Pekan Tomborungus is the Sungai Wang Restaurant where customers have the luxury of choosing between open-sided dining and air conditioned dining room. This restaurant offers a smorgasbord of seafood specialty dishes to whet your appetite!
Brief history of Tanjung Simpang Mengayau
The journey to the Tip of Borneo takes about 30 minutes from Kudat town. On the way, you will be greeted by tall coconut trees on both sides of the road and the warm hospitality of the Kudat villagers.
Tanjung Simpang Mengayau—the ‘Land’s end’ of Borneo—is the meeting point of the Sulu and South China seas. The name derives from the original Rungus name, ‘Tanjung Simpang Magazo’. Literally, ‘tanjung’ means tip and ‘Sampang Magazo’ means a junction wherein a battle takes place. According to Rungus folklore, this site was where a fierce battle fought by their ancestors took place while defending the Rungus territory against enemy invasion.
Ethnic folklore claims that pirates often frequented the area and attacked the nearby villages. Hence, the villagers decided to defend themselves by joining forces and the Tanjung Simpang Mengayau subsequently became the ideal spot to observe the oncoming of pirates’ ships. Intrepid Rungus warriors in those days would stand on guard there to protect their village from impostors.
History also noted that on his sailing trip circumventing the world, famous explorer Ferdinand Magellan took a detour and stayed in Tanjung Simpang Mengayau for 42 days to repair his ship.
EVENTS LINEUP OF COCONUT FEST 2008
5TH-7TH SEPTEMBER 2008
KUDAT TOWNSHIP
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