Petagas Memorial Garden: Where History Whispers Between the Flowers🌺🕊️

#kotakinabalutrip Stepping into **Petagas Memorial Garden**, the first thing that hit me was the *silence*—not the eerie kind, but the peaceful hush of a place where even the rustling leaves seem to tread lightly. The air smelled of freshly cut grass and faint jasmine, with the occasional butterfly drifting past like a living petal. ### **Why This Quiet Corner of Kota Kinabalu Matters** - **Sacred Ground**: This is where **176 Sabah resistance fighters** (mostly local Dusun and Chinese villagers) were executed by Japanese forces in 1944 for rebelling against wartime occupation. Their names are etched in black marble—*ordinary people who chose extraordinary courage*. - **Hidden Poetry**: Spot the **bronze reliefs** showing villagers planting rice and carrying water. Look closer—the artist hid tiny resistance symbols in the scenes. - **Tree of Remembrance**: A giant **banyan tree** shades the memorial stones, its roots cradling history like an old guardian. **Unexpected Moment**: A *tokay gecko* (those loud lizards) suddenly croaked from the bushes mid-visit, making me jump. Later, I realized its call sounded oddly like Morse code... *coincidence?* ### **Local Bite Nearby** After, I ate **nasi kuning** (yellow turmeric rice) at a nearby *warung*—the same dish often left here as offerings during memorial days. The taste? *Humble, hearty, and somehow healing.* ### **Short & Meaningful Itinerary** ⏰ **8:00 AM**: Arrive when the garden glows golden ⏰ **8:30 AM**: Read the plaques (bring tissues) ⏰ **9:15 AM**: Sit under the banyan tree and listen to the wind ⏰ **10:00 AM**: Light joss sticks at the small shrine (optional but poignant) ### **Visitor Tips** ✔ **Dress modestly**—this is a memorial, not a tourist trap ✔ **Don’t skip the little museum** (it has handwritten letters from fighters) ✔ **Come on December 21st** for the annual memorial service—*chillingly powerful* Petagas doesn’t shout its sorrow. It asks you to *listen closely*. And when you do, you’ll leave with Sabah’s resilience tucked quietly into your heart. --- **P.S.** Tag a history buff—they’ll appreciate this hidden chapter. 📖✨ #neverforget #quietheroes