KATHMANDU: We left our homes here for new ones in far off Sabah (Malaysian Borneo) that came packaged with new sets of families complete with Mamas, Papas, brothers, sisters, the pet dog and cats, and even chickens (in some cases). As part of Tourism Malaysia’s (TM) Mega Familiarisation (Mega Fam) Trip in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidil Fitri 2009 (September 25-October 1), participants from 13 countries were welcomed into various homes. With delegates from Taiwan (four) and Vietnam (seven), the seven of us from Nepal involved in diverse professional fields like media, travels and tours, advertising and education, made our way to the foothills of Mount Kinabalu. Our destination was Walai Tokou Homestay in Kundasang village where our ‘families’ had gathered to welcome us into their hearths and hearts. The first similarity one noticed about the people of Sabah with Nepalis was that they are as proud of Mount Kinabalu as we are of Mount Everest. They do not tire of talking about their highest peak nor pointing out its wonders and beauties. The Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board Tengy Zainal Abidin proudly told us that one can “experience four seasons in a day” here as he described Sabah as “truly Malaysia” providing mountains, beaches and seas at your doorstep. The journey from Kota Kinabalu (KK as locals call the capital of Sabah) was like returning home for a hard earned vacation. The winding roads (though in a much, much better condition than ours), the occasional mist that swirled and wrapped itself around trees, the homes with slanting corrugated tin roofs, and faces so similar to our own that one almost asked for directions to the restroom in Nepali — all these added to the feeling that one was going home. Comments like — ‘Salla ko rukh hoina ta tyo?’ ‘La hamrai pahad ko bato jastai’ only added to the homecoming feel. And once in Kundasang, the red carpet was laid out ready for the ‘foreign dignitaries’ to walk on accompanied by traditional music — the beating of Sabah gongs and the local bamboo orchestra. The locals of Kundasang, who are mostly native Dusuns, are very musical to say the least. They’ve got their unique orchestra going strong with men, women and the children equally versatile in playing the bamboo instruments. One was awed by the bamboo electric guitar, the bamboo xylophone and the sompoton — wind instrument made of dried gourd and bamboo reeds. The music they make is like dawn breaking over a mountain. It’s at once so colourful that you have to stop and catch your breath in case you lose your pace. Malaysia’s homestay is a unique programme launched in 1995 where guests stay in local people’s homes instead of guest houses or hotels and experience the local life as it is. Our experience was no different. Not only did we learn how to Sumazau (their local dance), we did a mean Coci-coci (another dance), packed a decent linongot (rice wrapped in tarap leaf), folded a ketupat, and ate like we had been starving for years. And the group that had been coached at Kundasang did the Walai Tokou Homestay proud as the participants from Nepal, Taiwan and Vietnam with help from TM officials, was able to lift the first runners-up title at the mega dinner hosted in Kuala Lumpur attended by Director General of TM Dato’ Mirza Mohammad Taiyab. Participants from all 13 countries (divided into six groups) displayed their skills of what they had learned in their respective homestays. Feasting and more feasting Flying to Malaysia on the threshold of Dashain (September 24) meant that we would be missing the numerous bhojs here. However, one could not have been more wrong for we were in Kundasang for the Hari Raya when people observe ‘open houses’ for one and all. What this means is that one is welcome to walk into any house in the neighbourhood and partake of the feast that is laid out. So, the next day accompanied by our respective Mamas (two of us shared a Mama), we made our way to a number of homes, wished each other ‘Selamat Hari Raya’ and ate our way through platefuls of food, and hopefully into our various hosts’ hearts too. There was more feasting in store as the ‘foreign guests’ were but obviously invited to the wedding feast of Mobis Kibin with Irineh Jusan. So, loosening our belts, we made our way to the venue, wished the couple marital bliss and you guessed it — ate our way through yet another plateful of local delicacies. However, the evening saw the guests displaying their sumazau skills at a cultural programme attended by Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Bolkiah Ismail. But then too the feasting continued as an open house style feast was laid out. The officers at the Malaysian Embassy here had warned us prior to our journey that we should be ready to being served food every five minutes because it was Hari Raya! Exercise of any kind after such gluttony should be welcome, so early morning the next day saw the participants venture on jungle trekking after taking a brisk walk down to the village vegetable farm where lettuces and cabbages all reared their freshed heads in green glory. The trek uphill was breath-taking literally. One gasped as one surmounted one small hillock as the climb up was quite steep. But the morning breeze soothed our burning faces and view of our homes from the hilltop was worth all the breathlessness. There was another surprise in store for two of the guests on our return. The Walai Tokou Homestay had chosen Umesh Adhikari and Indra Shrestha to plant two gaharu saplings as a living reminder of their visit. What a beautiful way to send off sons, and what a reason for these sons to return to their homes. For opening your hearths and hearts to all of us, from the bottom of our hearts we say ‘Terima Kasih’.