Traditionally honey has always been prized by the Rungus people of Kudat for its high nutritional value and other health benefits.
Kampung Gombizau or Gombizau village is the third of four villages in the Kudat peninsula where the entire village specialises in just one skill or craft. In Gombizau, the specialty of the village is the rearing of bees to produce honey.
As you approach the honey bee farm, you will see the sign as above. Park your car and approach the stall selling rows and rows of honey in bottles.
You will see the signboard displaying the price for entry into the bee farm, basically RM5 per adult or RM3 for children between 6 to 12 years. Pay the fees and sign the guestbook.
Most of the villagers manning the cooperative seem to be either women or children. One of the women will act as your guide and walk you down the road towards the forested area of rubber trees.
On the left and right of the road, you will see many 12" x 12" wooden boxes called Golodok. These are where the honey bees make their honey.
Using a strange contraption, your guide will begin to smoke the golodok to send the honey bees into a smoke induced stupor.
After the bees have been stupefied, you are given a chance by the guide to hold the honeycomb frame. The guide will also cut a bit of the raw honey from the honeycomb to give you a taste.
Soon after you return back to the stall and you may chose to purchase bottles of honey which are displayed for your selection.
While we were there, we were lucky enough to see a baby tarsier, which was kept as a pet by one of the children of the village.
bolavita Nice!!!
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