Often dubbed as Switzerland of the East, Tambunan- one of the 25 districts of Sabah is nestled in a valley of sorts that sits in the Crocker Range mountains. This district/ town is surrounded by lush green terraced paddy fields bordered by tropical rainforests which climb up the hillsides. There are numerous bamboo growths to be found throughout the Tambunan forest. The abundance of bamboo here is a holdover from the British colonial era when people were required to plant 20 bamboo sprouts for every bamboo cut. Tambunan is also renowned for producing the highest quality rice wine in the world. They are well-known in the region for two varieties of rice wine, known as Lihing and Tapai.
The climate in Tambunan is considered to be equatorial / tropical - the climate is generally hot and sunny all year round. Rainfall is also common throughout the year, but it can be considerably wetter during the North Eastern Monsoon (October - February) season, and hotter / drier between May and September.
Resource Link:
https://www.ventusky.com/
Standard Malaysian time is 8 hours ahead of GMT (GMT +8).Standard Malaysian time is 8 hours ahead of GMT (GMT +8).
Resource Link:
https://www.timeanddate.com/
Malaysia’s currency unit is divided into two. The term Ringgit Malaysia (RM) is used to refer to paper money. The denominations are RM1, RM5, RM10, RM 20, RM 50 and RM100. Whereas the coins are referred to as sen (cents). The denominations are 5 sen, 10 sen, 20 sen and 50 sen.
Samples of Ringgit Malaysia Notes:
1. Current Version of Notes and Coins
https://www.bnm.gov.my/ (Sample of Notes)
https://www.bnm.gov.my/ (Sample of Coins)
2. Old Version of Notes and Coins
https://www.bnm.gov.my/
Resource Link of Currency Rate:
https://www.xe.com/
https://www.bnm.gov.my/
Exchanging money in Malaysia is relatively easy as you can find money changers easily. If you want to withdraw money, make sure your home bank ATM card is supported by banks in Malaysia. Also, bear in mind that your home bank can charge an overseas withdrawal fee. You may also realise that the Malaysian ATM adds its own fee. Ask your home bank before you leave what charges will be added-and check the ATM notices to understand any extra charges. Most places in Tambunan accept debit/credit cards, just be sure to notify your home bank about your trip to avoid your transactions to be barred and your card getting blocked.
Resource Link:
https://mtradeasia.com/
List of exchange money shops and companies that provided by Bank Negara Malaysia:
https://www.bnm.gov.my/ (Last update on 23.June.2021)
Passports must be valid for at least 6 months at the time of entry. Visa requirements vary from time to time, so it is best to check with the Malaysian embassy or consulate or the Immigration Department website.
As for Malaysian who have citizenship, MyKad IC will be sufficient if you are taking domestic flights to Tambunan Airports. Passport is only needed if you are a permanent resident of Malaysia.
Resource Link:
https://www.imi.gov.my/
Be sure to have your hotel bookings printed. Booking a hotel in Tambunan is easy, but if you are travelling during peak periods, you may want to book in advance to avoid disappointments. When booking a stay, be sure to check how far it is from the places you want to visit. Check if your hotel provides free Wi-Fi. Most hotels provide free Wi-Fi for their guests. But in case they don’t, you will need to purchase a prepaid phone line with a data plan. There’s a myriad of budget to 5-star hotels to choose from in Tambunan.
If you do not plan to switch on your roaming while you are travelling to Tambunan, fret not as most hotels give you access to their Wi-Fi. Whilst most cafés in Tambunan provide free Wi-Fi with the purchase of a drink or food. There are also many free Wi-Fi hotspot areas in Tambunan so make sure to check out the area for free Wi-Fi. It is also advisable to buy a prepaid SIM card with a data plan to make things easier when you are on the go.
The heat and humidity in Tambunan can be intense. Therefore, be sure to pack light and breathable clothes that will help you stay cool and avoid heatstroke. Cotton is a good choice, as it is designed to absorb moisture. If your hotel comes with a swimming pool or you are planning to head to the beach, don’t forget to pack your swimsuit.
Since you will be doing a LOT of walking so you should consider wearing sensible shoes that are very comfortable. We recommend packing a pair of sneakers as well as flats and sandals.
Make sure to pack in your sunscreen, especially if you don’t want to be sunburnt. The sun can be scorching hot at times.
Since the rain can be pretty unpredictable in Tambunan, don’t forget to pack your raincoat or a travel-sized umbrella. You don’t want to be soaked to your skin if it rains suddenly.
DO NOT forget to pack your prescription tablets and any other medicines that you think you might need in case you fall sick.
Malaysia mobile phones use the GSM network, if your phone has a roaming facility, it will automatically hook-up to a local network. Otherwise, prepaid sim cards can be purchased starting at RM20 for registration and talk time. The three main phone providers in Malaysia are Maxis, Celcom and DiGi. Buying prepaid sim cards is easy since you can find kiosks selling prepaid sim cards almost everywhere.
Three Main Phone Providers:
1. Maxis / Hotlink
2. Celcom
3. Digi
Other Phone Providers:
1. U Mobile
2. Tune Talk
3. Unifi
4. Yes
5. redONE
6. MCalls
7. Yoodo
8. XOX
Each city has its unique area code for landlines. 087 is Tambunan’s area code followed by the eight-digit number when you call from your mobile phone. Example: 03-12345678 Whereas, every call to a mobile phone requires a three-digit prefix (Maxis = 012, Celcom = 019, DiGi = 016), followed by the seven-digit or eight-digit subscriber number. Example: 012-123 4567
Resource Link:
https://dialcode.org/
Police/Ambulance: 999 (112 from a mobile phone)
Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba): 994 (112 from a mobile phone)
Civil Defence Tel: 991
Police Station Tambunan: +6087 774 222
Hospital Tambunan: +6087 77 0126
