I went down to Hone Place (rugby ground near the Tanjung Aru Beach) to check out the OKS (Sabah Strongest Man) Contest. It was billed as the "Junior" event for those enthusiasts who wish to experience the Strongman contest (only three types of challenges and the weights used were lower).
But there seemed to be too many tents and even a water truck from the Jabatan Air ...
... ah, an official event at the Tanjung Aru Multi-purpose Hall ...
... the Tadau Kaamatan (Harvest Festival Celebration) organised by UPKO.
The heavy rain last night seemed to have flooded the ground ...
... instant drains by DBKK (I don't think the rubgy players will like that?).
One of the many bands (some inside the hall and others in the stalls). No music no fun.
The OKS Land Cruiser! A mobile billboard!
The giant tyre (for the tyre flip) and the rack and stones (for the Atlas Lift).
The Penampang stall had the gong gang and the Sumazau dancers.
The Tawau-Silam stall had my old friend Basari ...
... with a very colourful and flowerry pattern on his traditional costume.
Some of the other very nice ...
... and colourful ...
... patterns I saw.
But back to the OKS; here's the 100kg river stone (covered by the rubber mats to stop it from getting too hot from the sun).
The challenge is to carry it as far as possible in 90 seconds.
You can carry it like this ...
... or like this ...
... or else like this ...
... even like this ...
... until either you give up or the 90 seconds are up.
I took time out to watch the Murut dancers ...
... and went for a haircut at an old shop in Tanjung Aru.
He was a professional hairdresser, but now only "cut hair" for his old clients on the weekends.
The shop still had those old "thingies" to set the hair?
Anyway, I went back to the OKS event, where the Atlas lift was starting ...
... the stones were 90 kg each ...
... but with a bit of encouragement ...
... You Can Do It!
Hey, this event seemed unfair to the "height-challenged"!
FOUR MORE STONES? You must be JOKING!!!
