"Five Dreamlike Days in Kota Kinabalu"...First Memory Outing with Grandmother

Norang Poongseon, 3rd 'Dream Making' Project
Support Program for Overseas Travel of Vulnerable Travelers
Beautiful Journey with 8 Grandparent-Grandchild Families

"Grandma, I wish I could live here for a month."

At the end of an exciting first overseas trip, Han Kyung-ae (68) looked regretful at her grandson Lee Seong-hoon’s (11, pseudonym) whining. Han said, "He doesn’t stay still for a moment because he’s hanging out with friends his age," and smiled, "He said, ‘The food is really delicious and everything is so good that I don’t want to go home.’" Lee said, "The French fries and takoyaki at the hotel buffet were the best, and I enjoyed playing soccer and swimming with the older kids," adding, "When I return to Korea, I will write everything down in my experiential learning report."

Participants of the Norangpungseon Dream Making Project are watching the sunset at Kawang Beach in Kota Kinabalu.
[Photo by Norangpungseon]

The Generosity of 'Kinabalu Mountain' Melts Away Awkwardness

Including Han’s family, eight grandparent-grandchild families totaling 17 people spent a dreamy time in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, from June 29 to July 3 on a 3-night, 5-day trip. This was through the social contribution project "Dream Making," held annually by the direct sales travel agency 'Norang Poongseon' for underprivileged families. The event recruits participants who have never had the chance to travel abroad together, supporting airfare, accommodation, meals, and cultural experience programs. This year, teams were formed after receiving participant recommendations from Incheon Metropolitan City and undergoing a selection process. High school student Lee Yoon-ji (17) submitted an application letter filled with her heartfelt wish to travel abroad with her grandmother for the first time. Grandmother Yang Geum-soon (75) shyly said, "My granddaughter prepared everything on her own without any help from me."

The awkwardness at Incheon Airport lasted only briefly. After a 5-hour and 30-minute flight, the participants arrived in Kota Kinabalu just past midnight on June 30 (local time). Most of the grandchildren were elementary and middle school students, and they showed no signs of fatigue, fascinated by the foreign atmosphere they were experiencing for the first time. The first itinerary the next day was a hopping tour on Sepangar Island, where they experienced various activities on the sea and island. While the grandmothers traveled by bus, they were captivated by the view of Mount Kinabalu (4,101 meters above sea level), the highest peak in Southeast Asia, and some children who quickly became friends sat side by side chatting. When the guide explained, "Kota means city, and Kota Kinabalu means the city with Mount Kinabalu," the group looking out the window nodded in understanding.

Upon arriving at the island by boat, the children eagerly jumped into the deep blue sea to enjoy water play. They launched canoes placed on the beach into the sea and laughed as the boats capsized while they tried to climb on. The hopping tour brought the children closer, and they returned to the hotel to enjoy swimming again throughout the afternoon.

The Impression Given by Great Nature: "For Once, Worries and Concerns Disappear"

The morning of the third day was spent visiting Mari Mari Cultural Village. Mari Mari means "come here" in Malay. Known as the folk village of Kota Kinabalu, this place offers a cultural experience space where visitors can glimpse the lifestyles of the five major indigenous tribes of Sabah state. Participants tasted traditional liquor and witnessed the primitive method of rubbing bamboo to start a fire. As white smoke and flames appeared, exclamations of "Wow~" erupted from all around. After exploring the tribes’ lifestyles, participants moved to the performance hall to experience the 'Bamboo Dance,' jumping between clashing bamboo poles, and took commemorative photos. Participant Yoo Young-mi (64) said, "It was fascinating to see how they brewed liquor using rice and grains, and the taste and color were very similar to our traditional methods."

The afternoon itinerary was filled with watching the sunset in Kota Kinabalu, known as one of the world’s top three sunsets alongside Santorini in Greece and Fiji Island, followed by a firefly tour. After the heavy rain stopped, participants arrived at Kawang Beach, where the horizon was adorned with fluffy clouds and a magnificent sunset. On the opposite side, a double rainbow appeared. The grandmothers took out their phones and repeatedly pressed the camera shutter. Kang Hyun-ja (73) said, "It’s nice not to worry about my grandson’s meals, and the sky is so beautiful that my worries disappear."

Participants of the Norangpungseon Dream Making Project are experiencing traditional Malaysian tribal culture at Mari Mari Cultural Village in Kota Kinabalu.
[Photo by Norangpungseon]

After sunset, participants took a boat through the mangrove forest in search of fireflies. The guide explained, "Fireflies have a short lifespan, so they are recognized as insects that can quickly send messages in the sky," and added, "There is a belief that if you catch a firefly with your hand and make a wish, it will surely come true." When the guide lured them with light, fireflies hanging on the trees flew toward the boat. Lee Hye-sook (79), who managed to catch a firefly, clasped her hands and said, "Please always keep my grandson healthy and happy."

Dreams and Hope Through Travel for Marginalized Neighbors...
"Expanding and Allocating Part of Profits to Social Contribution Budgets"

Norang Poongseon has promoted the Dream Making project under the vision of "Sharing Together." The goal is to support travel for vulnerable travelers by leveraging their core business. The first event in 2018 invited four underprivileged families (7 people) from Busan Metropolitan City to Okinawa, Japan, and the second event the following year took seven underprivileged families (16 people) from Jung-gu, Seoul, to Bangkok and Pattaya, Thailand. The project was suspended due to COVID-19 but resumed this year after four years. After completing the final itinerary in Kota Kinabalu with visits to an Islamic mosque and night market tours, participants repeatedly expressed their gratitude to Norang Poongseon staff on their way home. Lee Hye-sook emphasized, "I never thought about traveling abroad because of my mobility difficulties and financial situation, but I can’t express in words how thankful I am that Norang Poongseon provided such a meaningful opportunity."

Participants of the Norangpungseon Dream Making Project are experiencing the Sabah traditional dance, Bamboo Dance, in Kota Kinabalu.
[Photo by Norangpungseon]

Even the grandchildren, who usually were reluctant to open up, shared memories by holding their grandmothers’ hands or taking photos during this trip. Kang Hyun-ja said, "My grandson said, ‘I want to earn a lot of money and become a great person so I can give opportunities like this to those less fortunate than me.’ I always worry that the child might feel discouraged because of his family environment, but seeing him happily interacting with friends his age here feels like a great gift."

The Dream Making project by Norang Poongseon is ongoing. Heo Yul, head of Norang Poongseon’s PR team, said, "We plan to expand and allocate related budgets for social contribution activities so that we can continue sharing part of our profits with those in need," adding, "As a travel company, we intend to strengthen our social responsibility further."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.