Cover image via flickr/MEMANG RIZALIS ENT.Taking a step away from all the heat, haze and madness clouding the nation, we take a look at why most refer to Sabah as the jewel of Southeast Asia:
1. Stunning, jaw-dropping islands!
One of the first things that come to mind when one thinks of Sabah, would definitely be its breathtaking beach strips with blue-green crystal clear waters. With islands like Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai and more 'virgin' beaches, Sabah serves as the ideal destination to satisfy all your beach holiday cravings!
2. Locals there are probably the warmest and friendliest in the country
Image via Chong Fui Travel
Image via flickr/MEMANG RIZALIS ENT.
Image via flickr/Julien Lagarde
If there's anything that travellers most often worry about, it would most probably be language barrier. However, Malaysians or in this case, Sabahans are mostly multilingual, with many that can speak at least three languages including English, Bahasa Baku, Mandarin, and other indigenous dialects.
3. There's lip-smacking CHEAP seafood and a delectable selection of local cuisine
Image via Today Online
One of the most popular local fruit in Sabah, 'Bambangan' is a type of wild-mango fruit that is known for its durian-like distinct scent. The fruit is usually pickled, fried with onions and chillies to make *sambal* or tossed into a fresh salad. Bambangan fruits are easily available in wet markets around the state.
Being a coastal state that is pretty much surrounded by the South China Sea, seafood is not only easily available but is also reasonable and rather cheap in Sabah, compared to other states in Malaysia. To top it off, the eclectic blend of cultures add an interesting twist to the local dishes!
'Hinava', a famous Kadazan-Dusun salad that is prepared with fresh raw mackerel fish, onions, shavings of ginger and chili with a splash of lime juice
Image via Borneo Holidays
4. There are even dairy farms that resemble quaint little Swiss villages
**A mini bonus if you are visiting the Desa Dairy Farm; the Kundasang War Memorial which is located just minutes away from the farm, will surely remind you of the majestic, medieval Scottish highlands!**
5. Its lush rainforests could easily rival the Amazon
Image via Roving Turtle
Did you know that the Borneo tropical rainforest is about 130 million years old, making it one of the oldest in the world? While many parts of the country is covered in degraded jungles and secondary forests, Borneo's forest remains the only undisturbed virgin forest in the country, with a dizzying number of exquisite flora and fauna.
6. Did you know that just 10 square kilometres of the Sabah rainforest has more flora and fauna than that of North America and Europe, combined?!
Proboscis monkey that is endemic to the southeast Asian island of Borneo
Image via flickr/shankar s.
An orangutan in the wild, along the river on the way to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre in Sandakan
Image via flickr/Rainforest Action Network
The rainforest of the Sabah is a kind of botanical paradise with one of the most rare combination of plant species and wildlife in the world. In 2000, the Kota Kinabalu Park was officially named as an UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its high biodiversity. Also, the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilation Center in the first official orangutan sanctuary and rehabilitation center in the world!
7. Home to more than 30 ethnic groups, Sabah is a melting pot of cultures
'The groom and his best men; This outfit is known as "Sinipak" and usually worn only during wedding ceremony for the indigenous Kadazandusun tribe in Kota Belud, Sabah, Malaysia
Image via flickr/Pison Jaujip
The state's population is made of about 33 indigenous groups, communicating in over 50 languages and 80 ethnic dialects. While the Kadazan-Dusun group make up almost 30% of the community, the largest immigrant ethnic group in Sabah is the Chinese. Other main ethnic groups include the people of Kwijau, Murut, Bajau, Ringus, Lotud and Kedayan.
8. The eastern state's turn-of-the-century North Borneo Railway would take you back to the glorious, English golden yesteryears
Image via flickr/stratman² (2 many pix!)
Image via flickr/stratman² (2 many pix!)
9. Sabah's beautiful native cultures will draw you into a rich history of tribal rituals like blow-pipe making and tattooing
'Sabah-born Carlos Benny Majakil is bringing his passion for tattoos back to his hometown for the Borneo state's first tattoo convention'
Image via The Malay Mail Online
10. Sabah has one of the best diving spots in the world!
Leaf Scorpionfish (Taenianotus triacanthus) at Eel Garden, Pulau Mabul, Sabah
Image via flickr/Bernard DUPONT
Tree Coral (Dendronephthya sp.) at Black Ray Channel, Pulau Kapalai, Sabah
Image via flickr/Bernard DUPONT
Dubbed as the haven for divers, Sabah offers an exceptional marine-biodiversity with beautiful coral reefs and an array of critters that can be photographed during your diving sessions. Three of the most diverse and magnificient diving sites in Sabah are the Sipadan, Mabul and Layang Layang island with some of the most amazing coral reefs in the world.
11. And the perfect view of the horizon from the peak of Mount Kinabalu
12. Last but certainly not the least, the beautiful resorts perched on slopes and beaches will give you a taste of paradise. We'll let the photos speak for themselves…
With resorts that look like the gardens of Eden, Sabah offers a great variety of places to stay for travellers. Want to dip your feet in crystal clear waters first thing in the morning? Try spending the night at one of the [Mabul Water Bungalows,](http://www.mabulwaterbungalows.com/en/) or if you love the feeling of being surrounded by the nature, stay at the [Sukau Rainforest Lodge](http://www.sukau.com/about-us/our-lodge/), quietly nestled by the Kinabatangan River.
Basically, the nation's second largest state, Sabah, offers everything that Asia promises; nature, culture and cuisine, all wrapped in a majestic packaging that would definitely leave a lasting impression on your mind!
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