🌿✨ My Magical Day at Mari Mari Cultural Village – A Journey Through Sabah’s Living Heritage! 🏞️🔥

#kotakinabalutrip
*"Where ancient traditions come alive, and adventure meets culture!"*

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### **📍 Getting There:**
- **Location:** Just **25 mins** from Kota Kinabalu (KK), tucked in the lush Kionsom rainforest.
- **Transport:** Booked a **shared van** (RM30/pax round-trip) or Grab (RM40-50 one-way).
- **Tour Option:** Pre-booked the **3-hour guided tour** (RM180/pax, includes transfers + lunch).

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### **🕒 My Itinerary:**
**9:30 AM – Arrival & Welcome Drink**
- Greeted with **tuak** (rice wine) and warrior dances – instant immersion!

**10:00 AM – Tribal House Visits**
1️⃣ **Bajau** – The "Sea Gypsies"! Tried **traditional kite-making** and watched a **buffalo race demo** (virtually, via video 😆).
2️⃣ **Rungus** – Climbed a **bamboo ladder** into their longhouse, learned **bead-weaving** (spoiler: I failed spectacularly).
3️⃣ **Murut** – The "Headhunters"! Brave souls tried the **rattan bridge swing** (I screamed like a kid!).
4️⃣ **Lundayeh** – Fire-starting demo – **rubbing bamboo sticks** like Survivor contestants! 🔥
5️⃣ **Dusun** – Pounded **hinava** (raw fish salad) and tasted **bamboo-cooked rice**.

**12:30 PM – Cultural Show & Lunch**
- **War dances**, **gongs**, and **blowpipe demonstrations** – so intense, my phone storage ran out!
- **Feast:** A buffet of **Sabah delights** – hinava, grilled chicken, jungle ferns, and **sago desserts**.

**2:00 PM – Souvenir Shopping**
- Bought **handmade bracelets** (RM15) and **wild honey** (RM40) – support local artisans!

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### **💯 Highlights:**
✅ **Hands-on activities** – No boring museums here! You *do*, taste, and play.
✅ **Engaging guides** – Funny storytellers who debunked myths (no, headhunting isn’t still a thing 😅).
✅ **Lush rainforest setting** – Felt like stepping into *Avatar* (minus the blue people).

### **⚠️ Watch Outs:**
- **Wear comfy shoes** – Slippery paths and bamboo ladders demand grip!
- **Bring cash** – Some stalls don’t take cards.
- **Hydrate!** The humidity is no joke.

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### **📸 Top Photo Spots:**
1. **Swinging on the Murut bridge** (action shots = gold).
2. **Fire-making session** (looked like a survival expert… for 3 seconds).
3. **Dusun rice-pounding** – Bonus: hilarious facial concentration.

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### **💰 Worth the Price?**
**Absolutely!** Compared to generic city tours, this **immersive experience** felt like a NatGeo documentary – but I was *in it*.

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### **Final Rating: 5/5 🌟**
*"A must-do in KK – culture, adventure, and fun rolled into one!"*

**🔥 Pro Tip:** Book the **sunset tour** for epic golden-hour photos!