I never like Borneo as far as I cud remember, but when my friend, Asree started his career in travel writing and talked non stop about his trip in Sarawak and Sabah,.. the romantic tree house resort in Sarawak, the beautiful corals in Sabah and the magnificent Mount Kinabalu conquered by him.. I got excited. Never actually appreciate the nature before.. all I know for a vacation is shopping and laying on the beach :D So planned this trip with Mom last year only got the chance to go this year, 5 of us.. the whole family on Ma's birthday.
Departure / Day 1
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| logged some details in my precious journal. KLIA, 0900 hrs |
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| Arrival, KKIA 1215 hrs |
Our package this time is the Mountain Discovery package. 1 nite stay in Kundasang and 2 nights in the city of KK. From the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, we drove to Kinabalu Rose Cabin nearby village of Kundasang. The journey took around 1 and a half hour and we passed by Panampang, Tamparuli, Tuaran and the journey was blessed with a beautiful green and blue mountain scenery. The weather was cloudy with drizzling rain. It was getting chilly the nearer we get to the Mt. Kinabalu Park.
Arrived in the Cabin around 1400 hrs, had lunch in the cabin restaurant. Then check-in and freshed up in the room. The view was simply breathtaking. The Mount Kinabalu was just right in front of our room veranda. The mountain was covered with clouds, the best time to see the mountain clearly is around 7 am in the morning, but then if only you are lucky. =) Just cant wait for the next day.
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| the backyard.. Kinabalu Rose Cabin, 1458 hrs |
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| Mount Kinabalu, 1459 hrs |
Around 1515 hours, we made it to the Kinabalu Park. This is where the journey to the peak begin. Of course I aint climb it all up.. no not this time. Maybe next time? Mount Kinabalu Park is one of the World Heritage. The jungle was so virgin and the air? Nawh you will never get the same oxygen like that in KL. Of course!
There are few trails in Kinabalu Park, but I didnt have chance to go. I dont think my parents are up to it though..
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| Kinabalu Park, 1534 hrs |
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| Kinabalu Park, 1554 hrs |
Later then, we went uphill to Kundasang village. Sight seeing and visited the Rose Garden. Passed by the Kundasang War. The memorial service first time held in 2008. There is a nice historical story behind this memorial park. In a simple words, the war memorial is built in honor to Australia and New Zealand soldiers who had fallen during the Japanese occupation in North Borneo, during the World War II. I love this trip as there is a lot to learn. After that, we dropped by the vegetable stalls and Ma bought some veggies to be cooked in the restaurant for dinner that nite.
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| they called this as NZ of Borneo, Kundasang 1608 hrs |
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| pink lyke your Myvi, Kundasang Rose Garden 1621 hrs |
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| not so perfect shot, Kundasang Rose Garden 1630 hrs |
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| only in Sabah, Kundasang Rose Garden 1640 hrs |
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| Veggie and more veggie, Kundasang Vegetables Market 1708 hrs |
The night was so cold. My friend told me the weather was just like Cameron Highlands, so I didnt bring the sweater or wool cardigan, instead I just had the cotton cardigan.. :D huhu thank god for the long pjs.
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| National Flower in the foot of the Mountain, 1730 hrs |
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| Mount Kinabalu, 1840 hrs |
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| Vegetarian Dinner, Kinabalu Rose Cabin 1932 hrs |
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| Babah's dream wheels, Kinabalu Rose Cabin 2014 hrs |
Green Day / Day 2
Woke up as early as 5 am, cuz its too cold and the water was super icy! I kinda like it though .. hehe I opened the door and it was so cold.. the veranda was foggy and the sound of the morning breeze was kinda scary. I closed the door in seconds and continued to sleep.
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| the morning in the Cabin, Kinabalu Rose Cabin 0552 hrs |
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| Mount Kinabalu, 0600 hrs |
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| Peekaboo! Mount Kinabalu, 0614 hrs |
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| Mount Kinabalu, 0620 hrs |
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| Mountain Girl? Kinabalu Rose Cabin 0623 hrs |
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| me in the Veranda, Kinabalu Rose Cabin 0823 hrs |
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| Cant take my eyes of you, Kinabalu 0850 hrs |
After breakfast and a little chit chat with the Cabin owner, our guide, Eus and the driver, Adrian took us to the small town of Ranau. On the way, the panoramic view was magnificent. I never stopping praising God for the beautiful Mount Kinabalu. In Ranau, we dropped by Pasar Tamu. Bought some local kueh and few salted fishes and anchovies, and also local fruits.
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| Jeruk Kantan, Pasar Tamu Ranau 0934 hrs |
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| Salted fishes, Pasar Tamu Ranau 0941 hrs |
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| Barang - Barang, Pasar Tamu Ranau 0943 hrs |
After that we headed to Poring Hot Springs. It situated in Poring, after Lohan Village :D hihi Lohan.. just like Lindsay Lohan.. heheheh In Poring Hot Springs, there are few camp site, jungle trails, canopy walkaway, sulphur bath, and of course hot spring pools.
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| Amy in action, Poring 1027 hrs |
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| the Stream, Poring 1027 hrs |
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| the rock pool, Poring 1031 hrs |
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| trees and more trees, Poring 1046 hrs |
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| Amy on a tree, Poring 1053 hrs |
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| snapped on the canopy.. almost lost balance, Poring 1101 hrs |
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| Family tree, Poring 1107 hrs |
After sweating climbing the hill, walked on a canopy.. we got our feet in the hot spring pool. It was really nice.. like a hot shower. On the way back to KK, we dropped by Kinabalu Pine Resort for the last meal in Kundasang. Then to Nabalu Souvenir Market to buy some stuff to bring home.
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| Lunch @ Kinabalu Pine Resort, 1248 hrs |
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| Mt Kinabalu covered in clouds, Kinabalu Pine Resort 1318 hrs |
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| choosy man, Nabalu Souvenir Market 1419 hrs |
Around 1600 hours, we checked in the hotel for our 2 nights stay in KK, Its Kinabalu Daya Hotel. Situated in the heart of the town and of course, Babah hurriedly wanted to check out the local shopping mall. Like usual.. we ended up in Suria Sabah and its worth as we got to see a nice sunsets in Kota Kinabalu. Though it was cloudy, but still... it was nice. That night, Ma wanted to get seafood dinner. So we went to Kampung Air Seafood Market and yea, the dinner was nice. Personally I think ya, the seafood was fresh but the dishes werent that nice. =) Still, Jimbaran was the nicest for the seafood dinner I ever had.
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| Sunsets in KK, Suria Sabah 1805 hrs |
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| happy kids, Kampung Air Seafood 1946 hrs |
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| makan champs! Kampung Air Seafood, 2031 hrs |
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| KK at night, Kota Kinabalu town 2051 hrs |
Jalan - Jalan / Day 3
Not much on the itinerary for the 3rd day in Sabah. Half of the morning was planned for some city tour around Kota Kinabalu. We ended up to add in a little visit to Monsopiad Cultural Village in Penampang. So we agreed to go there after lunch. The first place in KK was the infamous Signal Hill. Where we could see almost KK all over. Zla got the mini KK on her Ixus, the miniature effect. I kinda like it.
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| the mini KK, Signal Hill 0910 hrs |
Then, we passed by Tun Mustapha Tower aka Menara Yayasan Sabah. The weather was hella hot! But the skies were blue.. I like!
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| Tun Mustapha Tower, Kota Kinabalu 0935 hrs |
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| Ma and Ijai, Kota Kinabalu 0936 hrs |
Passed by Puh Toh Tze temple. Built in 1980, the temple basically as older as I am :D
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| Puh Toh Tze Temple, Kota Kinabalu 0956 hrs |
The moment I was waiting for :D A day in the museum! I love to be in museum, ask my mom =) Well I never know Sabah has so much the historic stories ever.. or maybe I read it before but I didnt remember :D huhu but it was nice, from the myths to the historical facts.. everything is in the museum.. I think its not completed if a traveler came to Sabah without visiting this museum.
My fave article in the museum was this story about a Chinese trader, Mt Kinabalu Dragon and its sparkling stone
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| Sabah Museum, Kota Kinabalu 1118 hrs |
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I dont remember whats the name of this car... :D Sabah Museum, Kota Kinabalu 1118 hrs
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| Kampung Warisan ( under maintenance ), Kota Kinabalu 1131 hrs |
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| Buying chocs, KK Cocoa Boutique 1202 hrs |
We back to the town for some lunch and shopping a little. I got myself a nice pearl necklace and a bracelet and few goodies for the loves ones. Around 1345 hrs, Eus came to fetch us to Monsopiad Cultural Village. So much to write about Monsopiad, but I aint a travel writer. More details about Monsopiad can be found here..
Monosopiad The Legend of Borneo
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| Monsopiad Cultural Village, Penampang 1358 hsr |
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| Sumazau Dance, Monsopiad Cultural Village 1420 hrs |
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| yet another Sumazau Dance, Monsopiad Cultural Village 1230 hrs |
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| Headhunter in action, Monsopiad Cultural Village 1437 hrs |
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| Magunatip Dance, Monsopiad Cultural Village 1445 hrs |
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| Amy on titi, Monsopiad Cultural Village 1459 hrs |
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| the real skulls, Monsopiad Cultural Village 1515 hrs |
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| the real location of Monsopiad old house, Penampang 1516 hrs |
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| Tangkob, for drying the paddy, Monsopiad Cultural Village 1522 hrs |
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| Sumpit experts, Monsopiad Cultural Village 1539 hrs |
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| Kadazan Traditional House, Monsopiad Cultural Village 1545 hrs |
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| KK Ink!, Monsopiad Cultural Village 1552 hrs |
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| cak pung, cak pung.. Monsopiad Cultural Village 1601 hrs |
Back to the hotel for some relaxin session and freshen ups. Around 1915 hrs, we walked downstairs to Local Graffiti place in front of Suria Sabah for some photoshoot session. My battery for EOS was dead and just found out the charger was rosak since the power trip in the Cabin. Bummer :( So most of the pics later was snapped by Canon Ixus 75 and Canon Ixus 130.
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| KK Graffiti, Kota Kinabalu 1928 hrs |
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| urbanscape in KK, Kota Kinabalu 1932 hrs |
For dinner, we had it in BB Park nearby the hotel. The place exactly like BB Park in Bukit Bintang.. could be? :D We skipped seafood for dinner cuz Babah was having its gout attack.. Pity Babah..
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| Dinner in BB Park, Kota Kinabalu 2010 hrs |
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| sisters, Kota Kinabalu 1930 hrs |
Back / Day 4
The last day in Sabah.. early morning after the not so satisfying breakfast, we went to Phillippines Market to get some dried seafood and some local snacks for oleh-oleh. Ma bought most of thing, I bought some for my cousins and home.
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| buying stuffs, Phillippines Market 0819 hrs |
Nothing much to do later then, jalan2 along the esplanade until we decided to get in a boat to see around Pulau Gaya. Ma was excited to see the water houses.. wait until she got to Semporna next time.. Amin.
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| roXy gal, Kota Kinabalu 0940 hrs |
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| Kampung Air, Pulau Gaya 1001 hrs |
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| Pulau Gaya 1006 hrs |
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| the fugitive and salted fish, Pulau Gaya 1010 hrs |
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| boats, Pulau Gaya 1018 hrs |
For me, personally I really love this trip.. though I went with the rest of the hommies, and of couse there were some drama here and there.. but I love it that I have Borneo close to my heart and appreciate the nature more then ever. The magnificent view of Mount Kinabalu captured not just through my shutter but also my heart. Will repeat more trips in Sabah for some corals and Orang Utan. Amin.
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| with the Guide, KKIA 1346 hrs |
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| Bye Bye KK, KKIA 1348 hrs |
yes,
I missed KL and its people. ppffftt!!!!
Salam,
Amylia
