Ice Bar’s Clash of The Titans New Year’s Party series was arguably one of the biggest new year’s eve parties Borneo has ever seen.

If you haven’t read the marketing blurb yet, you can refer back to the event’s main page, but it was pretty much everything they promised: the 6000 megawatts, the dancers, the DJs, you name it.

1,500 party people attended the New Year’s Eve edition of Clash of The Titans at Ice Bar 1Borneo, whilst a more modest number of party goers attended the 1st of January edition, but on both nights you couldn’t help but marvel at the quality of the entertainment line-up, DJ performances the like of which you rarely see in Sabah.

Having attended a party elsewhere on New Year’s Eve, I was fortunate enough to attend the 1 January party. Along with 3 friends we entered at just before 10pm at about the same time as the dancing acts were about to start.

Royal Phantom took over the centre stage with break dancing and beat-boxing and got the crowd going. After that the one DJ after the other was on fire and we thoroughly enjoyed the music.

Even though New Year’s Eve had been a monster night, time flew and we left Ice Bar when things were quieting down at around 3.30am. Good on Ice Bar for being brave enough to put on 2 huge parties 2 nights in a row and making a success of them.

I’ve heard many people say already that if this is what they’re doing next year, they want to buy the tickets soon. 2010 is bound to be bigger than ever.

As promised, party planner Renaissance of Borneo delivered one of Kota Kinabalu’s most high-profile parties on Thursday, 17 December.

With subtle lighting, the KK Waterfront’s biggest night club, B.E.D. (Best Entertainment Destination) was transformed into a pastel-coloured playground, which accentuated the size of the venue and gave impact to the theme, Elegance in White.

Chivas, as one of the main sponsors, had a Welcome Drink Station set up at the entrance and party goers were greeted with a shot of Chivas and a mixer of their choosing.

True to Sabah’s party spirit, those who attended Elegance in White stayed true to the theme of white and the venue slowly filled with beautiful people wearing a manner of all-white and partly-white outfits.

DJ Ash got the crowd going with some bopping tunes before DJ Fine China took over the reigns to put his own particular spin on the party.

Although Elegance in White perhaps fell a little short of the descriptions in the press releases, it was an overall success and Borneo looks forward to future events organised by Renaissance of Borneo.

The 4 M’s are derived from Kadasandusun words, which mean running, bamboo rafting, paddling on a bamboo pole and walking on bamboo stilts.

Although bamboo is less prominent in society than it used to be, in the 4M challenge there is still glory to be had for displaying your bamboo related skills. It’s these skills that make the Kiulu 4M Challenge unique.

As much fun as it is to partake in the 4M Challenge, it is an equally outstanding spectator sport with an opportunity for some casual participation, or even just a great excuse for a picnic by the beautiful Kiulu river.

Various teams in several categories spend the day next to and on the river competing in the 4 tasks of the race. The first event is a short stretch of running, or manangkus, which is perhaps the easiest leg of the race.

The next M (mamangkar) requires each participant or team to fashion a raft from bamboo using rope. Bamboo is surprisingly buoyant and 3 or 4 sizable trunks of bamboo can easily keep a person afloat. The trick is to steer this oblong raft along the Kiulu river rapids as quickly as possible without being ejected from the raft.

After rafting on the bamboo, manampatau, or paddling on a bamboo pole follows. This leg of the race requires you to hang on to a piece of bamboo and swim down stream, hopefully ahead of the other competitors.

Once you reach the designated area of the river, a short run follows to the last and technically most difficult part of the race, mamarampanau, or the dreaded walking on bamboo stilts. The course length is only about 100m, but previous 4M Challenges have been won or lost on exactly this stretch.

The task seems simple enough – two bamboo stilts with wedges on which to stand, which you then use to walk the distance of the course. If you fall off, you simply get on again and continue your walk. Balance, experience, patience and, perhaps, small feet all play their part in successfully completing this part of the race.

Win or lose, the Kiulu 4M Challenge is a tough but fun event of which each participant can feel proud to be part of.

For adventurous tourists it’s an ideal opportunity to experience an active and competitive side of Sabah, be it as a participant or spectator. Check out the main event page for more detail.

Date: Saturday, 20 September 2008
Time: 10:30am – 4:00pm
Location: Depart from Sabah Parks Jetty in front of Hyatt Regency Kinabalu
Event Location: Gaya Island, Tunku Adbul Rahman Marine Park
Cost: As many bags of rubbish as you can collect.
Included: Return transfers, lunch, equipment rental, party entry fees, jetty fees

Email Sabahbah.com to confirm your spot before Friday, or refer to this post for more details.

Ultimate Frisbee in Kota Kinabalu has moved back to the place where it all started; the rugby field in Tanjung Aru next to Kota Kinabalu International Airport’s Terminal 2.

Until at least the 26th of the month, Sabah ultimate frisbee will be played 3 times a week as we shake things up a bit and also play twice a week at the Tanjung Aru beach.

So, if you can and want to run after a day at the office or hard day of tours and exploring KK, and can jump and catch a flying disc at the same time, then join the ultimate frisbee players of Kota Kinabalu.

Don’t be shy, we don’t bite… unless you pretend to give us beer and then quickly whip it away before we can take it.

The ultimate frisbee schedule can be found on the main page, which is linked in the box above.

Did we mention there’s no charge?  Well, it’s true, there’s no charge – you can play ultimate frisbee for free.

See you there.