| Cultural
Experience
 With over 30 different ethnic groups speaking more than
80 languages and dialects, Sabah is a veritable melting pot of indigenous
cultures, sights and sounds. Sabah is a cultural experience that
has to be savoured at a leisurely pace. It might takes days, maybe
even weeks.
Cultural villages provide the opportunity to observe the traditional
way of life of Sabah’s indigenous peoples within a few hours drive
from the capital Kota Kinabalu. There are several which you can
visit on a day trip or extended to several days if you wish.
The Heritage Village located in the Sabah State Museum grounds is
a good place to start. Here you will find replicas of traditional
houses found throughout Sabah, built by skilled craftsmen using
entirely of natural material. All the major ethnic groups are represented
here, each house with their own unique style and method of construction.
Take a leisurely walk and step into each house where various traditional
tools and implements used by that particular indigenous group are
displayed. Cooking implements are found in the kitchen and in the
gardens, herbs, vegetables and medicinal plants are grown.
The Monsopiad Cultural Cultural Village
is located about 13km from Kota Kinabalu in the Penampang district.
The Village commemorates the legendary exploits of Monsopiad, a
great warrior of the Kadazandusun people. Step back into the past
to the days of headhunting and mysticism where the everyday lives
of the Kadazandusuns were guided by spirits and rituals. Traditional
houses, farming and processing implements, ritual paraphernalia,
costumes, handicrafts, music and dance highlight the rich cultural
heritage of the Kadazandusuns in this picturesque village set next
to the Moyog River.
 Longhouses are a unique cultural feature of Sabah.
The Bavanggazo Cultural Village,
about a 3-hour drive north of Kota Kinabalu, highlights the distinctive
style of communal living of the Rungus people. A visit to a traditional
longhouse is an eye-opener to the inherent spirit of harmonious
living and community solidarity. The Village has several longhouses
for visitors to stay overnight and take part actively in the everyday
lives of the Rungus from farming, fishing to handicraft making.
Nearby are the villages of Gombizau and Sumangkap. At Gombizau,
visitors get to see bee keeping and the process of harvesting beeswax,
honey and royal jelly. At Sumangkap,
visitors can observe the traditional art of gong making by the villages.
The Murut is the third largest ethnic group in Sabah and are concentrated
in the interior district of Tenom and surrounding areas. The
Murut Cultural Centre, located 10km
from Tenom town, is the quintessential heart of Murut culture. The
timber structure of the building itself reflects the traditional
architecture of these once feared headhunters of Sabah. Woodcarvings
on the pillars and areas inside the building give a unique insight
into the artistic talents of the Murut. There are exhibits of traditional
and historical artifacts such as jars on the upper floor of the
building. In Tenom town is a memorial to the legendary hero of Murut
resistance during the British North Borneo Chartered Company era,
Antanom. His heroic feats have been described in accounts of the
infamous Rundum Rebellion of 1915.
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