Tamparuli Legend and Myth.
Tamparuli is rich with legend and myth. One of the famous myth is " Bukit Perahu " which mean "Boat Hill" in English. It is a story of a huge rock shape like a boat located somewhere behind the "Bukit Perahu". If you want to search for it, it will never be found but you will found it accidentally if don't want to look for it. That was the old man told me years ago. Bukit Perahu was located behind the Buddhist Temple and at the brink of road to Kg Bawang, Tamparuli. This road also known as the old Ranau Road and if you follow this road, you will reach Kg Togop, Tamparuli and from there you will penetrate to Ranau main road.
Bukit Perahu got it name because of the huge rock shape like a boat located somewhere behind that hill. I have been there several time but I never seen it. No body have ever found it but there was a story about it. It make me so confused about the story because there is no evidence about the existing of the so-call "huge rock shape like a boat" and no body were dare to find for it. My friend and I used to search for rubber seed behind the Buddhist Temple and because of this, the worry old man told us about the myth to prevent us to coming back again and again to this hills. The hill was full with small tree and grasses during that day. Behind the hill, it was full with rubber tree and you may feel freaky when you went there. It will be a huge discovery if someone found it but there was a myth telling that if you found it you will be lost forever.
Bukit Perahu also used by the Roman Catholic adherent to celebrate the Stations Of the Cross every year. The Roman Catholic adherent were from St Philip Roman Catholic Church of Tamparuli. Bukit Perahu was namely by the Roman Catholic follower as St Veronica Hill and a big white cross was planted on top of the hill. It was majestic and wonderful view from the hill top, where you can see all the Tamparuli Town area. Pick up your camera and go for it. It open for public and make sure that your are really fit to make the climb. Bukit Perahu was also used by the Para-glider to do the Paragliding Extreme sport. Usually they will do this sport if the wind was strong enough to make it happen. Datuk Jahid Jahim have experience in doing this sport several years ago and I was there at the scene to watch it done. All the paragliders is welcome to join this sport. Tamparuli authority is strongly promoting this sport around the globe and this sport was aiming to be done twice a year. It will bring huge impact to Tamparuli town whereby a lot of visitor will come to this town to enjoy this game.
There are many different myth about this hill, you can search through the net or wikipedia to get more information about it. Whether it was a legend or myth it up to the reader to decide it. Mr Ben Godomon in his blog ( bengodomon.com ) was also providing good story and picture about this hill. He start blogging about Tamparuli more than 5 years ago and a credit to him for his outstanding word, articles and picture of Tamparuli Sabah. Find more interesting story about Tamparuli through www.bengodomon.com.
" There Is More Here Than Meet The Eyes "
Other readable sources:
http://made-in-sabah.blogspot.com/2013/07/lagenda-gunsoloi-dan-lagenda-bukit.html
Other readable sources:
http://made-in-sabah.blogspot.com/2013/07/lagenda-gunsoloi-dan-lagenda-bukit.html
Story: Tamparuli Admin
Sources: Own Experiance
Picture: Bengodomon.com
