Visa Limbo and a Killer Burger
July 30th. Started the day with a much-needed coffee run, checked out of my room, and headed to my next hotel.
Here's the plot twist: I'm currently stuck waiting for my Indonesian visa to be approved, which means a mandatory three-day extension here in Malaysia. A little frustrating, but hey, I'll take it! I grabbed a burger for lunch to lift my spirits, and let me tell you, it was incredibly good. It only cost 14 Ringgit (about $3 USD)—what an absolute steal!
Stumbling Upon a Massive Cultural Hub
After dropping my bags at the new hotel, I noticed some kind of event venue nearby and decided to check it out.
Turns out, I stumbled upon a massive indigenous cultural festival! This isn't just any local fair; it's a huge annual gathering in Sabah that draws hundreds of thousands of people. My main goal for this trip has been to learn about different ethnic groups and actually visit their local villages to hear their stories. Finding this festival right on my doorstep? Absolute perfection. Being stuck here is turning out to be a massive blessing in disguise!
Booth-Hopping: Rice Wine and White Buffaloes
The energy inside was unreal—small booths everywhere packed with traditional music and dancing.
My first stop was the Kadazandusun booth, where I got to try some traditional rice wines that they serve during festivals. First up was Montoku, a distilled liquor with a serious kick (around 17-35% ABV) that tastes remarkably similar to Japanese shochu. Then I tried Lihing, a fermented rice wine that's sweet and reminiscent of Japanese amazake. Both were surprisingly delicious!
Next up: the Toraja booth. This is a place I've been dying to visit! The Toraja people are famous for their elaborate funeral rites, and I got a full crash course right there. I learned that the sacred white water buffalo used in their ceremonies can cost tens of thousands of dollars! Since I'm actually planning to visit Tana Toraja in two months, this was the ultimate prep session.
I spent the rest of the day booth-hopping. I saw the beautiful white traditional outfits at the Bisaya booth, and checked out the old stilt houses of the Kaili people, which were originally designed with high floors to protect against wild animals.
I was also completely mesmerized by the traditional dances of the Bajau people and the dazzling, gold-plated costumes of the Javanese (Jawa) booth.
A Night of Food and Filipino Hospitality
Before I knew it, it was night time. I wandered around the venue, grazing on various local foods.
I also hung out at the "Kababayan" booth, run by a super friendly Filipino community. The air was filled with Tagalog, and everyone was just so welcoming.
Outside, the main venue was still alive with people dancing to the music. I found out this festival runs for three whole days. Since I'm in "visa limbo" for another two days, you bet I'll be coming back here.
What started as an unlucky delay turned into the luckiest day of my trip. I can't wait to dive even deeper into these amazing cultures tomorrow, July 31st!
