Sabah’s largest lifestyle hyper mall’s gift to culture vultures: 1Borneo Rainforest.

The last thing you’d expect when you’ve travelled so far to Sabah, one of Malaysia’s eastern states located on Borneo, is to experience the culture of the rainforest inside a shopping centre.

But that is exactly what’s possible at Kota Kinabalu’s newest shopping centre, 1Borneo.  1Borneo Rainforest is a culture and handicraft centre that was recently completed and is billed as a cultural voyage.

Spread over a generous 14,000 square feet inside the hyper mall, 1Borneo Rainforest aims to capture and exhibit culture from Sabah and South East Asia.

The exterior of 1Borneo Rainforest is easy to find amongst the glamourous shops that surrounds it as faux jungle pours onto the shopping centre walkway inviting curious onlookers for a peak.  The melody of the tulintangan entices you to enter the cave-like entrance to be welcomed by a Rungus warrior.

To enter 1Borneo Rainforest, cross a replica of one of Sabah’s icon landmarks; a hanging bridge.  Surrounded by jungle sounds and a river below, enter into Sabah culture in a few steps.

First beyond the bridge is the Heritage Galleria. This exhibition of traditional costumes, artifacts and musical instruments of various ethnic groups, also details the wedding setups of different ethnic groups, showcasing different groups on a rotational basis.

Beyond the Heritage Galleria a kampung awaits, alive with locals going about life in village.  Feeding chickens, sweeping the floor, playing gasing and dehusking paddy stalks.

Moving along the traditional performance arena awaits.  Here various tribal performances by indigenous people depict traditional rituals from thanksgiving to post-harvest celebrations and the warriors’ dance. Visitors are given a chance to be part of the action.

Having worked up a appetite during the culture dance action, sample some of Sabah’s local culinary delights.  Try hinava, often called Sabah Sushi as it’s raw (but pickled) fish.  Spicy beef rendang is a savoury local dish and company the taste sensation with lihing, the popular local sweet rice wine.  For those who want to take the secrets of Sabahan cuisine back home with them, a cooking demonstrations gives insight into how to prepare three local dishes.

The last stop on the way out is one of Sabah’s architectural icons, the Longhouse.  Witness skillful artisans demonstrate the fine crafts of Asia such as batik painting, basket weaving and jewelry making.

And at last an opportunity to collect some local gems is offered on the exit through the 1Borneo Forest curios shop, which is packed with trinkets and treasures.

1Borneo Forest is open from 10am till 10pm daily.  For special group pricing contact Cornelia Tahing on +60 88 484 955.

If you’re wondering how to get to 1Borneo, well here’s a few options.

By Car or Taxi

Yes, all roads lead to 1 Borneo, but the quickest way when you find yourself in the city centre is to head along Jalan Pantai, direction Likas.

The moment you hit the fringes of the city and the start of Likas Bay, you’ll see the first 1Borneo signboard telling you that 1Borneo is only 7kms away.

Following this road will take you past landmarks such as the Sabah Trade Building, the Floating Mosque, the Tun Mustapha Building (large cylindrical building that houses Atmosphere Restaurant & Bar), University Malaysia Sabah.  Depending on traffic, you will reach the largest lifestyle hyper mall in East Malaysia, 1 Borneo, about 20 - 30 minutes later.

The easiest way to park will be the off-ramp just before the property. But while they’re working on this, it’s best to go all the way to the other end of the property and up the ramp to the 2nd and 3rd floor.

There you will find ample parking, which is easy to navigate and will put you at an entrance in the heart of the mall.

A taxi, and this is unverified, should cost in the region of RM 10 - RM 15 from the city centre.  With a maximum capacity of 4 people, this is a fast and inexpensive option.

Of course, driving yourself does have it’s drawbacks, even more so on the days that 1 Borneo will be crawling with people (read weekends and holidays).

1Borneo Shuttle Bus

To entice shoppers to 1Borneo, a free shuttlebus runs a set schedule on a fixed route between major points in Kota Kinabalu and 1Borneo.

Hotel guests of Promenade Hotel, Sutera Harbour Resort and Shang-ri La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa will be delighted to learn that these 3 hotels are pick-up points for shuttles going to 1Borneo, ensuring that visitors to KK can easily reach this new development.

The 1 Borneo Shuttle Buses depart regularly from the designated points.  The schedule seems to be adapted every so often, so best be sure to double check any schedule that you plan to rely on.

The 1Borneo Bus Schedule to the right seems to be a fairly recent one (Sep 08), so should be accurate, for this month at least.

The 1 Borneo Shuttle Buses are air-conditioned and, for the time being, complimentary.

Very Alternative Transport

Helicopter

If driving by road in bus, car or taxi is just not your style, then 1 Borneo as an option for you.

A helipad, located on the near end of the 1 Borneo property as you approach from Kota Kinabalu, accommodates the 1 Borneo helicopter for the decerning shopper or busy hotel guest wanting to avoid traffic alltogether.

Although helipads in Kota Kinabalu are few in numbers, you will be able to transfer conveniently from either the Kota Kinabalu International Airport or Sutera Harbour Resort, straight to 1 Borneo is one easy flight from helipads located there.

Hovercraft

Another first for East Malaysia and certainly something very unique in the world, is 1Borneo’s ambition to provide hovercraft transfer from the city centre and the airport.

A 30-odd seater hovercraft is on order, reportedly sourced from Australia, and will shortly be plying the route between the KKIA, KK city centre and 1 Borneo.

In the meantime, the river behind the complex is being widened to accommodate this mode of transport.  No word on the cost of this particular transfer has been picked up as yet.

So whether you choose road, air, water or a combition of any, you have plenty of choices of how to get to 1 Borneo.

In search of experiencing the new cinemas for the first time, Sabahbah stumbled across the official launching of Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) in 1 Borneo.

With every visit the largest hyper mall in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and East Malaysia is looking more and more like one. Tonight 1 Borneo was actually busy with a host of people, locals and tourists alike.

Our main aim on this visit was dinner and a movie, the former which took place at Sushi King on the lower ground floor. Sushi plates lined the conveyor belt and it was alive with a buzz of eager sushi eaters.

GSC, as you may know by now, is located on the 2nd floor of 1 Borneo and it’s safe to say that it’s one of the major attractions at the moment. There are some other shops, which are completed and open, but none draw in the crowds like Golden Screen Cinemas do.

Although GSC in 1 Borneo has been trading since about 30 May, tonight was the official launch. A small, formal ceremony attended by GSC Chairman, General Tan Sri Dato Mohd Ghazali Seth, announced the fact and a short tour of the facilities declared it to be officially open.

The Sabahbah Test Panel sampled Superhero Movie. Although the movie itself was nothing to write about, it was a pleasure to experience it from new, comfortable seats in an international standard movie hall.

Let’s run you through the GSC 1 Borneo experience.

Ticket Collection

Our pre-booked tickets were quickly secured from the ticket box office, which are staffed with a generous number of staff. This means that even when it gets busy the queues should move along quickly, and with 8 screens you know it will get busy.

The skinny on movie prices at GSC 1 Borneo: Our movie tonight was RM8, as are all shows Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday after 6pm. Before 6pm they’re RM7 and before 12pm RM6, great for school holidays.

On Saturdays (this includes after midnight Friday night), Sundays, Public Holidays and the eve of a public holiday after 6pm, the shows are RM9.

On Wednesdays, all shows are RM6.

Students, Senior Citizens and handicapped movie goers pay RM6 for all shows before 6pm, except for weekends and public holidays. Children pay RM5 for all U-rated movies.

Confectionery

What’s a movie without popcorn? Just not the same.

GSC 1 Borneo offers the usual line-up of confectionary including the ever popular caramalised pop-corn, from very hi-tech pop-corn makers might we add, and a selection of F&N softdrinks, including ice lemon tea.

The pop-corn was fresh and crunchy and was neither too sweet nor too plain. The Sabahbah Test Panel Sprite tasted like it might have had just a bit more soda water in it than what the formula require. But we’re pedantic.

Cinemas

GSC in 1 Borneo brings 1,500 additional seats across 8 screens to KK’s movie circuit.

Cinema 1 is the biggest with 330 seats (plus 2 for wheelchair spaces), Cinema 2 has 274 (plus 2 for wheelchairs), Cinema 3 has 196 seats, Cinema 4 has 210 seats, Cinema 5 has 160 seats, and Cinemas 6 to 8 have 110 seats each.

All cinemas have stadium seating, which means no tall heads will spoil your show, ever. The seats flip up and the backs are high, providing ample support. They are also molded and at a fixed angle.

The mould of the seat-backs are very comfortable, although the angle might tire the body during one of those two or three hour epic movies. Will report back after we sit through one of those two to three hour epic movies.

The lighting in the cinema hall is appropriately subdued and faded out when the trailers started. The quality of the screen is superb and the sound is impecably balanced and at the perfect volume.

Something to commend GSC at 1 Borneo on is the temperature of the movie hall. It was perfect. The tendency in the down-town cinemas (they’re all guilty), is to chill the movie hall to a point where patrons start to shiver. No such issues at GSC 1 Borneo.

After the movie, patrons exit through the front and are channeled through a series of tunnels which exits to the back of the box office. You walk right into the bowling alley, or you will, once it’s finished.

The movie experience at GSC 1 Borneo was virtually flawless and it’s certain that the bar for movie night has been sufficiently raised.

Watch out for upcoming promotions and specials, although the experience in itself will see you returning again and again to Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) in 1 Borneo.

Starting off a string of auto related activities, 1Borneo hosts the Borneo Auto Challenge, which takes place at Gourmet Lane and Autocity.

An industry showcase, Borneo Auto Challenge provides a single venue for industry players to show of modified sports car and serious car audio systems.

Over 100 cars from East Malaysia and Burnei are expected at the event, vying for supremacy in 5 categories for a total of RM 200,000 in cash and prizes.

Borneo Auto Challenge: 28 June - 29 June

With the Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival choosing 1Borneo as it’s venue this year, 1Borneo is already defining itself as KK’s choice venue.

Taking place along the Gourmet Lane (which is now enclosed for added comfort), the Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival sees more than 20 local & international artist strutting jazzing up 1Borneo.

Watch out for your favourite musicians such as Greg Lyons, Xion Gi, Paul Ponnudurai and the Asean Percussion Unit. They’re all at 1Borneo on 21 June.

Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival: 21 June