Visit Malaysia Year Haiku - Monsopiad Cultural Village (Kota Kinabalu, Sabah) Poem by john tiong chunghoo

Monsopiad Cultural Village
our awe of the Kadazan hero
trails the rustle of bamboo

Monsopiad Cultural Village
i touch the sacred stone
for a feel of his bravery

Monsopiad Cultural Village
skulls prey down at us
from a raft

Monsopiad was a Kadazan warrior who lived about 200 years ago at the same spot where the cultural village is at the bank of the Penampang river. Forty two skulls still hang from a raft of the main house here. They were all prizes of Monsopiad war exploits. A sacred stone can also be found at the compound of the village. It is said Monsopiad conducted results here before any warfare. Monsopiad is buried in a tomb he carved himself half hour's walk from the village.