KOTA KINABALU: Three brothers and the wife of one of them finally finished a 1,080km journey across 18 districts in Sabah in a bid to promote rural tourism after 52 nights of an unbelievable adventure.
Ismardy Mosial, 47, a former banker, revealed that the trip plan was hatched six months ago when they decided to go on a meaningful adventure while they were still healthy. Their mission was to put Sabah’s lesser-known but fascinating destinations in the limelight.
With only RM500 in their pockets, the four adventurers departed on Feb 1 from the famous Tun Mustapha Tower in Kota Kinabalu. Along the coastal route, they drove through Kota Kinabalu, Kota Marudu, Kota Belud, Pitas, Paitan, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Tawau, Merotai, Kalabakan, Sapulut, Nabawan, Keningau, Tambunan, and Penampang.
They trekked from dusk till dawn, covering 25 to 35km a night. During the day, they slept on the sides of roads, in the forest, or on riverbanks. “We were fortunate that there were well-wishers along the way who provided us with food and shelter,” said Ismardy at the Sabah Tourism Board complex, where the journey ended.
Dominic, 39, the youngest of the three and a former rock climbing guide at Mount Kinabalu, said how trekking enabled them to discover less-visited places. “We either chanced upon these places ourselves or locals led us there,” he explained.
Among the attractions that they saw included the Columnar Basalt Balung Cocos in Tawau, an old World War II site and a rabbit farm now in Telupid, Felda Umas in Tawau, and Gunung Alab in Tambunan, which is as chilly as 13 degrees Celsius. They also paid a visit to handicraft vendors at Kampung Timbang, Kota Belud.
The journey was not without encounters with wildlife. They encountered an elephant in Kalabakan, besides snakes, deer, foxes, slow lorises, and the Kenyalang bird.
In promoting local handicrafts, they took along Sabah traditional bags known as wakid and barait, which were showcased on social media by posting on their TikTok account, [@tehtarikgo](https://www.tiktok.com/@tehtarikgo).
The group consisted of Sofian, 42, who is a retired soldier, and Faulah Paul Paimol, 45, Ismardy’s husband.
Their incredible journey hit the heart of then Sabah Tourism, Culture, and Environment Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Mohd Yusrie Abdullah. Besides supporting their enterprise, Yusrie informed the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) of the team’s attempt to be included in the Malaysia Book of Records in promoting Sabah.
The group’s potential for cooperation in rural tourism development was touched on by STB chief executive officer Julinus Jeffery Jimit. He said it would be possible to create promotional videos or produce a new travel product with trekking expeditions for exploring the lesser-known attractions of Sabah.
Sabah In-laws and Siblings Finish 1,080km Journey to Promote Rural Tourism
