🌿✨ My Magical Day at Mari Mari Cultural Village – A Journey Through Sabah’s Living Heritage! 🏞️🔥

#kotakinabalutrip *"Where ancient traditions come alive, and adventure meets culture!"* --- ### **📍 Getting There:** - **Location:** Just **25 mins** from Kota Kinabalu (KK), tucked in the lush Kionsom rainforest. - **Transport:** Booked a **shared van** (RM30/pax round-trip) or Grab (RM40-50 one-way). - **Tour Option:** Pre-booked the **3-hour guided tour** (RM180/pax, includes transfers + lunch). --- ### **🕒 My Itinerary:** **9:30 AM – Arrival & Welcome Drink** - Greeted with **tuak** (rice wine) and warrior dances – instant immersion! **10:00 AM – Tribal House Visits** 1️⃣ **Bajau** – The "Sea Gypsies"! Tried **traditional kite-making** and watched a **buffalo race demo** (virtually, via video 😆). 2️⃣ **Rungus** – Climbed a **bamboo ladder** into their longhouse, learned **bead-weaving** (spoiler: I failed spectacularly). 3️⃣ **Murut** – The "Headhunters"! Brave souls tried the **rattan bridge swing** (I screamed like a kid!). 4️⃣ **Lundayeh** – Fire-starting demo – **rubbing bamboo sticks** like Survivor contestants! 🔥 5️⃣ **Dusun** – Pounded **hinava** (raw fish salad) and tasted **bamboo-cooked rice**. **12:30 PM – Cultural Show & Lunch** - **War dances**, **gongs**, and **blowpipe demonstrations** – so intense, my phone storage ran out! - **Feast:** A buffet of **Sabah delights** – hinava, grilled chicken, jungle ferns, and **sago desserts**. **2:00 PM – Souvenir Shopping** - Bought **handmade bracelets** (RM15) and **wild honey** (RM40) – support local artisans! --- ### **💯 Highlights:** ✅ **Hands-on activities** – No boring museums here! You *do*, taste, and play. ✅ **Engaging guides** – Funny storytellers who debunked myths (no, headhunting isn’t still a thing 😅). ✅ **Lush rainforest setting** – Felt like stepping into *Avatar* (minus the blue people). ### **⚠️ Watch Outs:** - **Wear comfy shoes** – Slippery paths and bamboo ladders demand grip! - **Bring cash** – Some stalls don’t take cards. - **Hydrate!** The humidity is no joke. --- ### **📸 Top Photo Spots:** 1. **Swinging on the Murut bridge** (action shots = gold). 2. **Fire-making session** (looked like a survival expert… for 3 seconds). 3. **Dusun rice-pounding** – Bonus: hilarious facial concentration. --- ### **💰 Worth the Price?** **Absolutely!** Compared to generic city tours, this **immersive experience** felt like a NatGeo documentary – but I was *in it*. --- ### **Final Rating: 5/5 🌟** *"A must-do in KK – culture, adventure, and fun rolled into one!"* **🔥 Pro Tip:** Book the **sunset tour** for epic golden-hour photos!