The tour started at Kota Belud with the largest market in Sabah, excellent for picking up local bargains such as pottery, saris, wooden face masks, etc.

Herman drove to the Tip of Borneo, along roads that were full of wandering dogs and children. At one point the tarmac ran out (no junction or turn-off – the tarmac just ran out) and we were on a dirt track. I guess that this is just like John O’Groats or Land’s End in England, but far more spectacular – the South China Sea on the left and the Sulu Sea on the right with the Philippines straight ahead. We were amazed with the amount of wildlife in the rock pools and the sandstone formation that made natural footfalls down. Catch this trip before it becomes commercialized and the sandstone formations ruined.

For lunch we were the freak show entertainment at a local market restaurant but wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

Next we wondered through a genuine lived in Longhouse. This felt slightly intrusive, however Herman explained that it is as much of a treat for the locals to meet us – cries of Orang-Wateh! Orang-Wateh! ringing in our ears (White Man! White Man!), we headed to the Gong making village.

I guess the reason we enjoyed this trip so much is because there were no hoards of tourists, just the two of us and Herman. We were treated as guests and shown around, rather than herded and told. The villages spring up round one main industry – for example, the gong-making village, the kite-making village, the knife-making village, the longhouse village, etc. From what we could gather from Herman, the villagers encourage tourists and record them in a book. They then receive benefits according to how many tourists have visited. This also ensures a warm and friendly welcome.

This trip is definitely recommended for the amount of land covered and the closeness to the local people.