Mountain Homestays – Kundasang

A participating  home.

Homestays are becoming very popular amongst both local and foreign visitors in Malaysia and it is being aggressively promoted by Tourism Malaysia. In Sabah, there are many homestays around the state, often with their own unique selling points from Wildlife viewing to beaches or even vegetable planting in the mountains.

One of these homestays in Sabah is the Walai Tokou Homestay at Kampung Sinisian that is only a stone’s throw away from Kundasang Town at the foothills of Mt. Kinabalu. The village is home to Muslim Dusuns whose main occupation is in cultivating temperate vegetables and most of households are involved in the “Homestay” program. The programme has been so successful that many are now building separate accommodation next to their homes and in many ways they are in danger of loosing the “Homestay” concept “ as it now seems more like a “Bed & Breakfast”. Guest are no longer treated as part of the family but more as visitors to the village. They stay in separate rooms and either purchase their meals at the Homestay café or have the option to do their own cooking in

Visitors listening to their homestay guide.

kitchens specially built for the guest. This evolution from Homestay to Bed & Breakfast seems to be well accepted by visitors as their numbers have been growing steadily over the years.

Various activities are organised for visitors to the village such as Cultural dances, classes where they can learn to play traditional bamboo musical instruments and also local cooking classes. You may also visit the villager’s vegetable farms to see and participate in planting and harvesting various temperate vegetables like Lettuce, cabbages, peppers, beetroot, tomatoes and even strawberries. Guest may also pick vegetables and bring them back to the homestay to cook. There are other treks into the surrounding hills for fabulous views of Mt. Kinabalu or for the more adventurous visitor, day treks to

Playing the modified Sompoton.

a certain height along the summit trail of Mt. Kinabalu can be organised. The homestay also arranges visits to nearby attractions such as Sabah Tea Plantation and Poring Hot Springs.

A unique feature about the people in this village is that they have been very innovative with traditional musical instruments. Taking their local skills in making traditional instruments such as the Sompoton and flute, they have innovated and improved to make it compatible with the international music score. This has allowed them to create their own bamboo orchestra and play both local and international tunes. Many of

Comfortable rooms.

the teenagers of the village are involved in this orchestra and they have represented Malaysia in cultural exchange programs and concerts worldwide further adding to the marketing of their unique talents and the homestay.

So if your looking for a unique weekend learning about the local culture, vegetables and enjoying the cool mountain air do get in contact with the Village homestay coordinator.

Mr Kohadie Watiman
Tel: +6019-8602270/+60888768
Email: koch_homestay@yahoo.com/sarah_assy@yahoo.com

Text and photos by David de la Harpe (drdlh@hotmail.com)