Welcome to my Blog! 🙂
Who Am I?
Hi, I’m Murphy, and you can call me Tadpole. I’m just an ordinary Sabahan who enjoys travelling, photography, and blogging. I work in IT and, like many others, spend much of my time at a desk, but I also love stepping outside to explore and appreciate the world beyond the screen.
I’m currently working as a web developer in the tourism industry, where I support my company’s efforts to promote Sabah through digital platforms such as websites and social media.
Using my computing and photography skills at work is rewarding, but using them to document my travels and experiences brings a different kind of fulfilment. I look forward to discovering more places around Sabah, the Land Below the Wind, and sharing what I see along the way.
About This Blog
This blog focuses on Sabah, especially its places of interest. To make my travel stories more helpful and easier to understand, I try to use different types of content such as writing, videos, photos, diagrams, maps, and simple animations, so readers can better see and feel what I experience along the way.
If you find my writing useful or enjoyable, I would truly appreciate it if you shared the blog with others. Your support means a lot to me and is my main motivation to keep going. 🙂 Thank you.
Photo Courtesy of Cede Prudente
Over the years, I have faced many challenges in trying to capture lesser-seen and interesting sides of Sabah. These experiences include climbing Malaysia’s five highest mountains, trekking through remote forests in Sabah, diving in the open sea, and trying unfamiliar local food. Even so, my exploration is far from complete. There are still many places to visit and many things to learn and experience in Sabah.
Why I Started This Blog?
Back in 2005, there was very limited information and very few photos of Sabah available online. Original and locally produced content about Sabah was especially scarce. With that in mind, I started this blog with a simple aim: to document and share as many of Sabah’s wonderful destinations as possible.
I have continued blogging for more than 20 years. To be honest, this surprises me, as my interests usually do not last very long. Over time, I realised that when something truly matters to you, it becomes easier to stay committed and keep improving, even at a slow pace.
Another reason I keep blogging is that many people, including locals, often associate Sabah only with Mount Kinabalu. While it is a remarkable place, I have come across many other beautiful and lesser-known locations that were rarely mentioned online. I enjoy sharing these places and hope to help more people discover a wider side of Sabah.
Achievements
I have been blogging since August 2005. To date, MySabah.com contains more than 800 articles, 300 videos, and 30,000 photos related to Sabah. The blog receives around 30,000 to 40,000 unique visitors each month, with about 60 percent from Malaysia and the rest from other countries.
Some of my articles and photographs have appeared in publications such as New Sabah Times, Going Places (Malaysia Airlines’ inflight magazine), Breeze Magazine, Sabah Malaysian Borneo Bulletin, The Star, The Straits Times, See Hua Daily News (诗华日报), Sin Chew Daily (星洲日报), Overseas Chinese Daily News (华侨时报), and several others.
Media Exposure
Other Contributions
I also contributed some of my works to support some publications and local projects.
Let’s get Connected!
I’m reachable at tzekoh.ng@gmail.com. To keep informed of cool updates about Sabah, please follow my social media below. Have a nice day.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VisitBorneo
Video: https://www.youtube.com/@mysabahTV
Instagram: @mysabah
Tiktok: @mysabah.com
good pix n story
Thank you Edward!
Dear Tadpole, may I know from where did you get the picture of firefly specimens preserved in vials??… I believe the specimens are mine because I can see clearly my name MM Dawood written on the label… Sincerely yours, Mahadimenakbar bin Mohamed Dawood
Hi Doctor, yes, these are your specimens. I got the photos in your firefly workshop in KK Wetlands. Hope you don’t mind I post them. I can remove the photo if you like to.
Im very attracted 2 ur blog…Keep it up… ~(^_^)~
Thank you Aisyah. It has been some time I didn’t blog. Now I better write something. :-p
hi murphy, i have left an email to ur inbox me@mysabah.com. thanks
hi u can try the best ngiu cap at Kedai kopi Kinabalu, behind the Public Bank Jalan Pantai….This is the best ngiu cap at sabah that i eat…….The shop also sale Fish Head noodles and kuching laksa
Thanks for the info Penny. Please say Hi to me if you see me there one day. I buy you Ngiu Chap. 🙂
Dear Tadpole, your English is not up to International Standard yet.
Thanks for the comment. Yes, I agree with you. However, you will never this blog if I want to I wait until my English is perfect. 🙂
Whose English is up to international standard? Even lots of English-speaking people here in Canada and the U.S. don’t write proper English. Murphy is doing a great job. Alenk, be more constructive in your criticism.
Re: English at an international standard…I understand you perfectly!
Greetings to you Murphy. You’re providing lots of interesting information and thank you for everything. I’d stepped into the land of Sabah only 3 years ago. Ever since then, I have consistently landed onto the land of Sabah annually, by chance. It felt like home. Thank you for your generosity and your passion for everything you are doing.
Thank you too Ying Sim for writing to me. Your comment cures my Monday Blue. 🙂 Sharing is always a pleasure.
Cool..
Your english is perfect by Malaysia standard
love your blog. great info and lots of tips. tks for sharing! & keep it up….
You are welcome Jo. I hope you also have as much fun as I do when travelling in Sabah 🙂
Great blog, thanks alot! I will be visiting KK soon in December, hope to see all those beauties myself ))
You are welcome Andrey. Have a nice trip! 🙂
Hello Murphy , my name Le Thuan , i live in Viet Nam , i love nature , trips and especially plant ( trees)
i like red flesh durian in Sabah your country , i love the special beautiful that
i have a farm in south Viet Nam and i want red durian planting
can you help me buy red durian seeling and shipping to Viet Nam
Greeting Murphy , you contact with me lthuan87@gmail.com
thank you
Murphy,
A friend and I came across your blog as we were trying to travel around Sabah two weeks ago. We were so happy to see that you had posted so much information regarding public transport! This blog literally saved us so much time and confusion! We are telling others about your blog on our blog also! Thank you for your time and effort in writing this!
Hello Dana, thank you too for your nice words. I see visitors to Sabah as friends and really hope I can help them to get around well here. I’m really glad that my blog helps. Have a nice trip and Happy New Year! 🙂
Dear
Murphy,
I am fun of
your blog. Is there any possibility to send me some rare sweet durian seeds,
paying you of course?
Thank you
in advance,
Slaven
Erceg
G’day
Just wanted to thank you for all your work on this blog. It has all the good nature destinations I’ve been looking for all in one place. The google map in particular has been exactly what I have been looking for over the past few months in preparation for upcoming 2week holiday in Borneo. 1day Mt Kinabalu climb was the reason to come, but now there are enough places to see to stay for months.
Keep it up
Mike
My pleasure Mike. Welcome to Sabah and have a nice trip. 🙂
G’day
Just wanted to thank you for all your work on this blog. It has all the good nature destinations I’ve been looking for all in one place. The google map in particular has been exactly what I have been looking for over the past few months in preparation for upcoming 2week holiday in Borneo. 1day Mt Kinabalu climb was the reason to come, but now there are enough places to see to stay for months.
Keep it up
Mike
can i buy this seafood onsite ?
pls contact me if u selling dried sea food ,my email is wayneanzy@yahoo.com.au
Sorry Wayne, I don’t sell dried seafood.
Greetings from Yorkshire, England. Thank you for such superb information, photos, videos etc. The most comprehensive guides on the entire web for Sabah. Looking forward to my visit in Sept/Oct.
Hi Jill, thank you too for your message. 🙂 Welcome to Sabah!
Where is your wife?
Shera, my only wife is my camera XD
Wow, I just found out about your blog when I was searching for information about trekking in Maliau. The information was really comprehensive up until telling where to buy the leech socks and other ways to prevent leech bites. As a fellow sabahan, your blog makes me want to explore Sabah further and maybe start my own blog. Keep up the great work man!
Thank you Jun for the encouragement. 🙂 It’s indeed a rewarding journey to blog about what Sabah has. There are still many beautiful places in Sabah waited to be introduced to the world. I fully support your initiative. ^_^
Hye,im really looking high to u..im from peninsular and just studying at sabah around 4 years. i really love to travel like u and see a lot of beautiful places at Sabah. its my dream to go to Imbak Canyon, Maliau Basin and Lembah Danum which rich with biodiversity.. just whats worry me its the costs..btw,ur infomation really help me..
Hi Ariss, let’s make visiting these places your new year resolutions. 🙂 Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Hi Tadpole, I don’t think you’ve mentioned the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sepilok ever, it would be great to see more about it! What do you think?
Thank you Kate, it’s a great idea. =) Actually I’ve been thinking about it. However, I visited BSBCC before it’s open to public, so I need to visit it again to write a more accurate and complete article about it.
Hello Mr. Murphy. Awesome blog. Informative writing & great photos. RESPECT!
Thank you bro 🙂
I love your blog!!
Thank you Stefpenny! I love your comment :-p
Wow Murphy, u really got the zeal… I just browsed for Sabah Map just now and by and by as i followed the links, i landed in this blog. At first, I saw a blog post written in 2006 and just out of curiosity I clicked the title to see when was ur recent post…pleasantly surprise that ur blog is so well updated. Thanks for ur sharing. Rgds, Joyce.
You are welcome Joyce. I have been trying to blog at least once a week. It’s already 10 years but I’m not done yet. 😀
hello..
i just wanna know wether i can book the rest house in mamutik island for 2D1N trip…u’r help is mostly appreciate
Hi Angel, the rest house on Mamutik had closed for a long time, but accommodation is available in Manukan and Gaya Islands nearby. You can find the info in my blog.
Good job Murphy!! Only today i got the chance to read your profile. haha
lol thanks Meitzeu. You know me well enough liao mah. I’m a bit malu when you read my official profile. 😀
Thinking to buy wild honey in Sabah. Any good supplier or shop?
Hi Murphy, i’m a Sabahan living in West Malaysia. i only get the chance to come home once or twice a year and will try to slot a trip to places of interest around Sabah whenever i can. Next week will be my first trip home for this year and i’m planning to visit TARP (Manukan & Sapi Islands) for the first time :). i was looking for information in the Net and stumbled upon your blog and it really help me. Thank you and pls continue to post great articles.
Thank you Jessica for your encouragement. Sure, I’ll continue writing more articles. Welcome back to Sabah 🙂
I love your blog! I came here to get more info about Maliau Basin and I am happy to say I completed it last week 🙂
Love Sabah, so many things to do, and your blog is an i inspiration of what to do and try next. Thank you!!
Congratulations Marie for completing the walk in Maliau Basin. 🙂 And thank you for your kind words. There are still many nice places to explore in Sabah. Let’s your journey continues.
Congratulations Mr Murphy Ng.
Oh, did I win any award? 😀
It is the first time when I read through a blog, I am already captured by the contents and everything. Great work and coverage. Thank you for your tireless efforts.
Thank you Rose for your encouragement 🙂
Hi Murphy,
Did you encounter pokok “tegop” in Sabah that can made glue?
The color of glue is black, and shall mix with water if need to keep for long time. According to the night market seller, he said he harvested from forest of sabah, since he is a Sabahan. I had tried this glue, and it adhesion is much superior than the Dunlop CA glue. I just wonder what is the real “pokok tegop” name ?
Hi Ander, according to expert who works in Forest Research Centre, it is either Artocarpus sericarpus or elasticus, same group with jackfruit n tarap.
Hi Murphy, like your blog. Lots of uncommon nice places in Sabah, you really give us good information. Just go through already felt have to make an unusual tour to Sabah.
I actually plan to climb Mount KK on next year, found that so difficult to do booking. Bsd, wish to go to Sabah Tip too. Do you organize tour for visitor? Or can you recommend any good tour agent let us contact to make the arrangement?
Thank you YJ. Too bad I don’t organize tour. You may contact Amazing Borneo at http://www.amazingborneo.com I’m sure they can help you 🙂
Wow ! i just found out about you and this blog, man I’d love to join your adventures in Sabah someday. I wanted to share Sabah’s beauty to the world as well ! To be truth, you’re very inspiring, 10 years is not a short time, you put ample of efforts and hard works on this. Thumbs up for you bro !
Thank you Bob. 🙂 What is your next destination in Sabah?
Great work Murphy! This blog is so interesting. I am from sarawak and never knew Sabah has so many nice places!
I really appreciate the hard work you put into your website Murphy! I am a blogger myself and often times I drop by your page for reference. I have to say they’re very insightful and detailed. Which has been a big help for me in building my own website. I look forward to reading more post from you. Keep ’em coming!
Hi! I recently joined a blog-making contest about the groups in Sabah and I just want to say how grateful I am for your blog 🙂 Almost 90% of the pictures I used in my blog are yours (don’t worry, I cited you properly hahahah) and I’m very thankful that your passion for photography has led to this. Looking forward to more content!
Haha great to know that it helps. Thanks Chloe for sharing.
Hi Mr Murphy, My name is Bibian Diway and i am a researcher from Forest Department Sarawak. I am interested with your Rafflesia photos and i would like to request for the permission to use your photos in my publication. Can i request for Rafflesia precei and Rafflesia keithii. If you agree to share it could you please provide me with your full name and your organization for me to acknowledgement. Thank you
Hi Bibian, I always support research. Please e-mail your request to pixelman@usa.net and I’ll send you the photos. May I get a copy of your book or journal after publishing (soft copy also can)?
Hi Murphy!
I would like to feature you in our magazine highlighting your travel adventures. Please provide your whatsapp contact and email address.
thanks!
😍 Thank you Mehr. Would you please tell me the name of your magazine?
It’s a lifestyle magazine with a huge reach highlighting the world’s best places to visit and explore through our travel segment. Please send me your contact details, number, email and social media details so I can send you some samples of our work and how your work will be featured brilliantly.
love your blog!!!
Thank you ❤️
Hello Sabah ammu permanant hai ji pure temparvary hai
Hello Sabah Meri jaaaannnnnnnnn kya karre ji ammuuuu yaad nai aaari kya meri