The Dusuns are well known for their ancient beliefs which are still interwoven into their life even in this day and age. There are times when in moments of silence and a pause from modern life, in thoughts or actions, that something of the past seems to seep in and once again, we can almost hear the chants of the bobolians (shamans) or calls of the bugang (man eating bird) during dark nights.
This is an experience that I had when I visited Kg Widu in Tambunan for the second time recently. The village sited at the border of Tambunan and Ranau; on a mountain side, and reachable through a dirt winding road is reminiscent of villages and homes in the olden days. The homes are perched on the hillside, overlooking the valleys and the mountains beyond. In the distance the blue tips of Mount Kinabalu, the mystical mountain can be seen.
The homes are of course furnished with all modern amenities such as electricity and running water, and there is a school nearby.
In the midst of the village though, there is an item that dates back hundreds of years, when the folktales of today were being lived out. In fact, this item has something to do with stories that I have heard in my childhood, and recently from a friend who compiles tales of yore.The item is a huge jar, the type that is used by the people in the olden days as burial jars.
Mr Linus Gonsilou, the owner of Widu resort told us this story.
“A long time ago, there was a man who loved fishing in the river. One day he went to cast his net at the river, walking further and further away upstream, until he grew so tired that he decided to take a nap.”
“The man was woken up by otherworldly beings that were big and strong. They looked at the man who had wrapped himself up in his net for warmth and thought he was dead so they decided to bury him in a jar. The man heard it and every time they put him in a jar, he would subtly shift his body so that they could not fit him in. After changing jars from average to the biggest, six times, they decided to bring out the largest they could find to fit the man in.”
“Unfortunately, or fortunately for the man, dawn had crept up, so the beings that slept during daylight had to turn in, leaving the man still in the jar.The man then got up in a hurry and the jar was duly brought back to the village and kept there for generations. It still stands there today.”
Linus shared that there are many mysterious happenings concerning the jar, including some people taking pieces of it for some medicinal values. Whether it works or not, is not known. Guests who visit Kg Widu, will usually be taken to see the jar called ‘Gantung Sorili’ and told the story.
The other product that is being offered to guests is coffee. In this manner, Linus is doing a great job in ensuring that his endeavours into tourism are shared with villagers. This includes coffee smallholders who hope to boost their income by taking part in tourism activities. .
Yunus Malijang who owns a coffee cultivation on a one-hectare land since 2017, has been supplying his coffee beans to Tenom where the coffee producers are. But with the presence of business opportunities in the tourism industry, he will be working closely with Linus in his future endeavours.
Yunus, who is also the development leader said, his venture into coffee encouraged by the Sabah Agriculture Department came into being after the department concerned provided the seedlings thereby adding crops to villagers are also tending to their oil palm plantations, vegetables patches, tobacco, hill paddy and fruit trees.
Participating villagers has been accorded 1,000 coffee trees for planting in their one hectare of land.
can be planted with about 400 coffee trees with a yield of about 400 kilos, he said, adding that the dried coffee beans are being sold at RM10 per kilos.
Another villager, Lina Kumpati shares that she started planting coffee in 2014 after a friend gave her some coffee plants before the Agriculture Department came into the picture two years ago.
She shares that coffee trees bear fruit after two years and since then she has been vigilant to ensure against threats such as fungi, squirrels and civet cats. Her two hectares of coffee farm yields between 100 kilos to 200 kilos. There are no seasons for coffee and they bear fruits all year round.
On working with the tourism industry, she says it’s something she looks forward to and believes that the coffee in Widu can be promoted to tourists and visitors who visit the village.
“The product can be sold as souvenirs for tourists who come and visit the coffee plantation, and of course while here they will be encouraged to try our own home grown and home grounded coffee,” she enthuses.
Linus shares that tourists are encouraged to come and visit them for coffee tours and testing during July and August where the coffee plants are bearing most fruits.
The villagers are looking forward to welcoming their guests; coffee entrepreneurs, guides and every resident hope that Widu Resort will become a centre of tourism in their village, so that they will not only be gainfully employed but also interact with people from other communities all over the world.
Information on Widu resort packages can be acquired from Linus Gonsilou at 019 8831568.-BNN
