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Sabah II

Written by Kenny Mah on
Mar 21st 2009

77 Comments
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I had missed the dawn. My day started early and it would end very late. The researchers, the doctors and the dominatrices and the dons, they were not an easy audience and I must entertain and educate them. We were cloistered up in an enormous and enormously chilly ballroom in one of the prettiest resorts in Sabah but nary a bit of that natural beauty would we spy given our impossibly packed schedule.

Yet it would be madness to miss this magic.

We had an hour or less to freshen up and have dinner before the evening sessions began. I escaped and ran out to the beach. The sand, the sea and the dying sun. The slow breeze slipping through my hair, the grit between my toes. The horizon, a pair of friends (lovers?) walk toward each other.

As the clouds close in, one final brilliant burst of light breaks over them before night takes over. I pray that their hands would find each other, fingers encircling, as mine would over yours. Some day we shall walk this paradise together from dusk till dawn all the way till ever after.

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~ * ~

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Photograph taken by Kenny Mah by the beach @ Shangri-la Rasa Ria Resort, Tuaran, Sabah.
( Also: My first visit to Sabah. )

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Notes:
1. For those of you reading this via RSS, you might want to take a look at the newly revamped front page here. Reconstructed after all your valued feedback, dear readers!
2. Full version of the beach image above.


77 Responses

  1. jemima says:

    Kenny, do you have a brother or uncle who is single and available and able to woo me with words like yours? :P

    Your beloved is so damn lucky and I am truly envious. ;)

    • Kenny Mah says:

      Let’s see. My only sibling is an older sister and she’s married with three kids. All my uncles are married too, also with kids. I guess, in my family, we’re the marrying type. The boring, old-fashioned, settling down type.

      And I certainly hope I’m fortunate enough to be that type too. :)

      Thanks for your kind words — I hope my better half reads your comment! Hahaha…

      • Kenny Mah says:

        P.S. Anyone else have single and available brothers or uncles who does courtship by the cheap (i.e. with words instead of flowers and chocolates and all things nice)? We should have an audition for the single readers of LFB, maybe? :)

        • jemima says:

          Words are not cheap!
          As Shakespeare wrote:
          So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
          So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.” ;)

          Audition??? So that we can let you have a chance to be Simon Cowell? :P

          No, thanks! *chickening out* :lol:

          • Kenny Mah says:

            I stand corrected! I guess words aren’t really cheap at all… we come by those precious few that we release out to the world as missives of our hearts through blood and tears and nights spent in sweat and tumble…

            No, not cheap at all. :)

            As for being Simon Cowell, I already sorta have his job after a fashion, albeit in a completely different industry, hehe. Sure you don’t wanna audition?

  2. lingzie says:

    Some day we shall walk this paradise together from dusk till dawn all the way till ever after.

    sigh ~melts~ makes me miss my guy very much right now. ah well…

    hope you’re having a great time in sabah! i love sabah. a very good friend of mine stays there :)

    • Kenny Mah says:

      I had a great time in Sabah, but back in the peninsula now. Maybe I’ll get a chance to head to the Land Beneath the Winds again after May, after my long awaited UK trip. We’ll see.

      And I know how it feels to miss your beloved… Hang on there, dear!

  3. bosscat says:

    OK! i’ll send my uncle to the audition. maybe fly in my cousins from Thailand for audition too. Kenny, be easy with them ok! let see.. who else is single?? LOL

    making plans.. Sabah or Sarawak? Sarawak or Sabah?

    damn it.. such a nice scenery! I wouldn’t mind sitting, doing nothing, looking at the beach!

    • Kenny Mah says:

      Wow, that’s some support and some family too! An international network of singles? Keep them coming! Hahaha…

      As for Sabah vs. Sarawak, I think you’ll discover something special about both states… beautiful in their own ways. Uhm, did I mention I’m heading to Sarawak again next month? :P

  4. jeff lee says:

    you are really one serious romantic dude…!!

    “I pray that their hands would find each other, fingers encircling, as mine would over yours. Some day we shall walk this paradise together from dusk till dawn all the way till ever after.”

    wah liao..if i was a woman, i will handcuff your hands to mine and throw the key away into the sea…
    you keep on writing like this, you gonna make a woman out of me…hahahahhaha

    :D

    • Kenny Mah says:

      Eeks! I’m not sure I want that on my résumé: “Kenny Mah – he turns men into women.” :P

      And I’m kinda concerned about your predilection for handcuffs, my friend. Does your lady friends know about this feistier side of you? Ahem. :D

      • jeff lee says:

        kekekekkekekekekee…..u are one damn funny dude too…

        p/s: ooo..i normally use whips, but handcuffs are reserved for u…hahahahhaha

        :P

        • Kenny Mah says:

          Handcuffs just for me? What ever did I do to deserve such “special” treatment?

          *pauses*

          … I mean, seriously, what did I do? LOL

          • jeff lee says:

            u make everyone happy mah..so u deserve special treatment..

            :P

            p/s; oklah, oklah, dont want handcuffs mah nvm lor..but u must keep these wonderful stories coming everyday…..

            • Kenny Mah says:

              Do I make everyone happy? I remember as a kid, all I did was ANNOY everyone.. but that made me happy back then… does that count? :P

              P.S. More stories to come, once I find the time for them, promise! No handcuffs, please!

  5. Ahhh the gravitation towards the ocean escapes no one, not even the walled up ballroom sesh attendee… I don’t know how you manage to turn everyone within your peripheral vision into a classic romantic, but I’m sold… here’s hoping the couple in the pic has that moment you captured to last a lifetime.

    • Kenny Mah says:

      I actually managed to talk to that couple on that beach… They helped me take a pic of me against that brilliant sunset.. A married couple in their golden years, him Irish and her Scottish and they live in England where I’m visiting soon… Gave me plenty of good tips too… Like NOT drinking the bath water in Bath, for one… :P

  6. cumidanciki says:

    wow.. so that’s where you’ve been. and that’s what you’ve been busy doing.. taking beautiful shots of the beach.. ! no wonder long time no c ler.. :D

    • Kenny Mah says:

      Nay, I’ve just been busy working and travelling — trust me, this single shot of the beach is few and far between considering my hours. And when I’m back in the city, most of time is spent catching up and pampering my better half… I’m not turning antisocial, believe me!

  7. the_lighthouse says:

    what a gorgeous vista! thanks for reminding me of what natural wonders malaysia still has in store! =)

    • Kenny Mah says:

      I love all our country has to offer in terms of our great natural beauty… boundless! Let’s go Cuti-Cuti Malaysia! :D

  8. jencooks says:

    Cool dude, your mind act play more than actual situation but u were not wrong lol, golden aged lovers with young man in Act 3, Scene 1 hahaha

    Nice sunset for lovers to come into the scene. Looks like Sutera Harbour?

  9. Poh Chu says:

    Very nice new front page, love the splash image! Feels like I’m at the beach myself! :D

  10. Chin says:

    Beautiful. Good that you assigned more space for the pic than the words. Twilight and dawn hold so much promise. I like both.

  11. unkaleong says:

    I’ve been to a number of beaches in my time. But sunset’s by the beaches in Sabah is right up there amongst my top three. Lovely post and pic bro.

    • Kenny Mah says:

      There’s just something special about a Sabah sunset hor? I suspect it’s something in the air there… ;)

  12. Kenneth says:

    As I sit here sipping my steaming cuppa … I can’t help but be transported again to the beach that you described. I’ve been to Sabah innumerable times to visit my Sis … and I understand the innate beauty that you describe. It’s like velvet melding into silk … like the joy of hot cocoa on a cold winter day.

    Have you sat on the verandah of the Chalet facing Mount Kinabalu in Kinabalu park … ? Behold her in all her glory and feel the wonder of the Universe.

    Reading your post Kenny has made me that much happier today that another being has seen the beauty in the smallest thing … found love in the slightest human contact … and your other half is truly blessed. *sigh* =)

    Thank you for brightening at least one person’s day today. :)

    • Kenny Mah says:

      That view of Mount Kinabalu? I know exactly what you mean; just need to grab a chance and capture that magic on camera. One day soon, one day.

      P.S. Glad you had a good day reminiscing with your steaming cuppa! :)

  13. yes, sabah is beautiful.. hope the developments there doesn’t kill it all…

    • Kenny Mah says:

      They’re doing fairly well with the conservation, methinks. Let’s keep our (green) fingers crossed.

  14. kristopher says:

    i want to be on that sandy beach too! time for a holiday! =P

  15. Janvier says:

    One hour at the beach is not enough! But better one hour than none! Next time take an extra day off to enjoy it all.

    • Kenny Mah says:

      Er, actually I had less than one hour at the beach, but no complaints here. Even a few minutes of that wondrous beauty is magic enough. :)

  16. Nic (KHKL) says:

    woah, i think i lost track of your whereabout already la.

    but it’s good to know that you are doing well. them good photos show. ;D

    • Kenny Mah says:

      Haha, you’re not the only one. I think I’m beginning to lose track of where I am supposed to be and where I should be heading too… :(

      But it’s all for a good cause — the hard work will pay off one day, I believe that. And in the meantime, maybe I’ll get the occasional good shots too…

  17. ck lam says:

    You did captured the beautiful Sabah sunset and the way you described it , makes it look so peaceful and relaxing… way to go. Have an enjoyable time there.

    • Kenny Mah says:

      I had a lovely time there, even if it were only less than 60 minutes snuck out from a very long day of work. Right now though, I’m in Perlis, an almost forgotten jewel of Malaysia way up north… I’m guessing that by the end of my roadshows I can be a spokesperson for our Cuti-Cuti Malaysia campaign! :P

  18. Jun says:

    lol some serious education there dude! jt tell them to come to ur site– saves u the speeches ;p

    • Kenny Mah says:

      Hahaha, I’m not sure if my blog is the right place to educate them about entrepreneurship and commercialisation — for one thing, I’m not earning a single cent from this site! :P

  19. Eudora says:

    Aww….my beautiful Sabah once more!
    You even had time to sneaked out just awhile to capture this.
    Nice shot man! :)

    Sorry didn’t get to see u while you are here!

    p/s : An audition for single readers? you gotta be kidding me! heehe ;p

    • Kenny Mah says:

      No worries, dear… it was nice enough of you to message me and offer to meet up. I had a very hectic schedule too. Maybe the second half of this year when I return? I love Sabah so much I want to make sure I go back as often as I can! :)

      P.S. Of course I’m not kidding! Let the auditions BEGIN! Hehe.

  20. next spot for holiday; shangri la sabah? yummy sky…brilliant for the camera’s appetite

  21. Kaya MeeKoo says:

    Kenny, its time.
    Time for you to be the ultimate matchmaker we all know you are!!

    Sorry, have been MIA for many many weeks…out of town …ah, I have a lot of posts to catch up on.

    • Kenny Mah says:

      Me, a matchmaker? I’ll prolly grab all the singles for a date myself! So greedy hor? :P

      P.S. Welcome back! I know how it feels like being out of town… :(

  22. Kaya MeeKoo says:

    You say that, but we all know the truth..you are a die hard romantic and thus you must be a one waman man! ;)

    P/s: Yes, I believe I have lost a few marbles trying to catch up on all my work.

  23. Kaya MeeKoo says:

    see what I mean? woman becomes waman! Sigh…

  24. Freedom is to be in the Land Below the Wind , with the most happiest people in the world

    Who just reminds you only once…
    Have fun dear

  25. mimid3vils says:

    I didnt stay at any beach resort on my last Sabah trip but I stay at Kundasang, can see the magnificent Mount Kinabalu~~

    • Kenny Mah says:

      Hehe, we were supposed to go for Kundasang but had a last-min change of venue. Maybe next time… I hear it’s GORGEOUS. :D

  26. Selba says:

    What a beautiful scene…

  27. The Red Queenne says:

    Is this beach near Kota Kinabalu? Or is it somewhere more remote? It’s very beautiful.

  28. jayson says:

    what did u do on that beach? play volleyball, swimming? looks so nice…

    • Kenny Mah says:

      All I had time for was to run in, snap a few shots and run out… Too bad it was a working trip. But I did have a proper vacation at a beach this weekend, yay! More on that in the next blog post! :D

  29. Kampai23 says:

    Beautiful… Take me there one day, won’t you? ;)

  30. keropokman says:

    what a beautiful purple sky…..

  31. crys says:

    you have such a way with words and the way you capture the essence of simple, everyday moments and paint a picture in the reader’s mind is captivating.

    thank you for sharing your life with us and helping to remind us all of the beauty in our lives.

    God bless you. =)

    Crystal

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