Sabah Tea Plantation, Ranau | My Sabah Road Trip

by Daniel Chiam 

The long house

Our camp just right behind that purple flower

Bokeh

White Lotus

Big tree

I've been here before and honestly I don't really feel like coming back here for any kind of touristy visit, but since we were already off schedule for our visit to the Luanti Fish Spa, I decided to drop by and see if we could find a place stay overnight at the Sabah Tea Plantation, which located next to the Luanti Fish Spa. If you have been to Cameron Highlands tea plantation, then you'll be a bit disappointed with what Sabah Tea Plantation has to offer. Not a lot of great scenery of the tea plantation but it does offer a cheap price for you to camp there. For only RM10 per person, you'll have electricity, clean toilet and hot shower! They even have a small cafe there where you can enjoy the Sabah's tea.

Budget traveler like me just wanted a safe place to rest for the night. The rest of the facilities was really just a bonus and I can't resist a hot shower after a tiring day. All in all, I wouldn't say Sabah Tea Plantation is a must visit place if you're visiting Sabah, but if you are looking for a cheap place to camp for a night, facilities to recharge your electrical gears and to refresh yourself, then you can always swing by to Sabah Tea Plantation for the night.

[More photos]

My other stop:

Batu Punggul, Nabawan

Mahua Waterfall, Tambunan
Luanti Fish Spa, Ranau

The Hungry Ghost Festival

by Daniel Chiam 

It turned out green in the photo *spooky*

The angels that's looking after for one of the grave there

Some of the burn offering

Path of lights

The spectators

The last thing that I remembered about The Hungry Ghost Festival was that it was used to be a big celebration here in Keningau. They will have big joysticks with figure of dragon wrapped around it and placed around the town's football field. A lot of burn offering in all shapes and sizes, and I remember I used to go around and pickup those money and thought it was a Chinese version of monopoly currency when I was little. Later only I found out that it was actually hell's money for the dead. They'll setup a big stage for performances. It was like an open concert where you get to listen to all the Chinese oldies, and it was just too happening to have a certain spooky feeling that it was actually a festival for the dead.

I can't remember when did the festival stopped being organized in a large scale, and nowadays, every Chinese temples or Chinese association are organizing their own small festival for the dead. I attended one yesterday for work purposes, and it was held in a cemetery. It was my first time being in a cemetery at night, and I realized there was nothing scary about it. I don't really know much about my Chinese side of the heritage and cultures, and it's always great to know something about it as I go along. After the festival has ended, I realized that even the festival for the dead is a ritual for the living to be bless with great prosperity too. 

If you are hoping for a ghost story, then I don't have one for you right here. Sorry.

   

Monochrome Skull Face

Photographed by Daniel Chiam
Makeup: Farah Paul and Bulma
Talent: Farah Paul and Daniel James

This was kind of an impromptu shoot for me, and I guess this is what happened when a girl saw something on the internet and decided to give it a try. Honestly, I really like this monochrome theme, and since this was Farah and Bulma's first trial with the makeup, I can't wait to see what they can come up with next. 

Anyway, I realized later I've used too large an aperture (f1.8) for some of my shots and I didn't managed to get everything in focus for those photos. Come to think of it, using a smaller aperture shouldn't be a problem since I was using flashes the whole time (was trying out my new Yongnuo YN560 III). That's the reason why I hope these girls would give it another try again soon. So I can redeem myself, haha.

[More photos]

Introducing Jimmy Bo | My Minimalist Friend

by Daniel Chiam

Jimmy Bo 400 from Crumpler

Jimmy Bo 400 is a photo bag from Crumpler and it got to me just in time today. I do have to be honest that my first impression of the bag was that it was too cute and too small to fit in a DSLR with extra lens and some gears (like a speelight), but after trying it out and using my Tetris knowledge that I've earned during my childhood, turns out Jimmy Bo does come in handy as a on-the-go camera bag when you decided to hit the street for some freestyle.

The turtle shell shape

Did I mentioned the bag looks cute? Yeah, my friends sort of affirmed that statement. Shaped like a turtle shell, in the size of fun, Jimmy Bo sure feels nice to have around. I really like how you can attached it to your waist or carry it around across your shoulder when you feel like it. I personally prefer to attached it around my waist. Easy and quick access to my camera and I don't have to worry about the bag slipped off my shoulder or dangling in front of me when I lean forward to take some shots.

Don't let Jimmy's size fools you. I managed to fit in a Nikon D90 (without battery grip) with a 50mm lens + Yongnuo 560 III Speedlight (without the diffuser on) + 18-105mm lens. When I switched and attached the camera with the 18-105mm lens, the remaining space can only fit the 50mm lens and I had to remove the speedlight. The bag also have a few compartment where you can put your extra sd cards, business cards, batteries and any small accessories for that matter.

It can fit 18-105mm lens, Speedlight and D90 with 50mm lens attached

The inside of Jimmy Bo

The material for the outer front layer of the bag is waterproof. While the outer back layer of it does absorb water, and the water test proved that Jimmy Bo is vulnerable from behind. The inside feels wet after the water test =/ The fabric on the main compartment where you'll put your camera can actually stick to a velcro for you to make your own divider so that your gears and camera won't rub on with each other.

Outer back layer

All in all, I still adore this small dude. Of course it's not an ideal bag for travelling but it sure does the job when you feel like going out for some street photography or for job that doesn't require you to bring too much lenses and gears. It was made for going light, its comfortable to bring around, and it looks cooler than normal photo bag.

I got the bag from Fiq Bagshopz over FB, and the person was kind enough to give me a discount (thank you!) because I did mentioned to him that it was for my birthday gift and it arrived exactly on my birthday too! So yeah, happy birthday to myself and happy 6th anniversary to room8five.com. Now I can go around with a cool bag attached around my waist and that's Jimmy Bo 400 from Crumpler.

Mahua Waterfall, Tambunan | My Sabah Road Trip

by Daniel Chiam

Water buffalo and its calf

Bad hair day?

Offered to take photo for a bunch of friends who was on vacation

Sign of visitors

Mahua Waterfall, Tambunan

Mahua waterfall located not far from the town of Tambunan. It will take less than 30 minutes car ride to get to the place, and I've been here long time ago with my school mates and teachers. Back then the road was still gravel and it took us more than an hour ride just to reached the place because of the road's horrible condition. Well, that was the past and today, even with an ordinary sedan car, you'll have no problem reaching the place.

If you ever feel like getting away from the hustle and bustle of your busy life, or just a short weekend gateway with your family/friends, this 17 meter high waterfall just might be the right choice. You can even forget about internet reception here, as it always comes and goes, and mostly its just not there. So posting your selfie here would just have to wait until later. Aside from just the waterfall, you can actually go for jungle trekking here, but you'll need to hire a guide for that.

You can even plan to stay overnight here as they also provide accommodation and food. Most importantly they have clean toilet! I've asked before and it is okay to bring your own tent and camp there for FREE. Not sure if they will start charging if many people are starting to do the same, but as for now, this place was absolutely a budget gateway for a budget traveler like me.

[More photos]

My other stop:
Batu Punggul, Sapulut, Nabawan
Sabah Tea Plantation, Ranau
Luanti Fish Spa, Ranau