Kota Kinabalu and Kundasang 2019
Introduction
This time around we've decided to go on a local trip. We've not been to Sabah before so planning started for a Kota Kinabalu (KK) and Kundasang trip.
The trip took 7 days and we tried to cover as many highlights as possible.
Flight
We flew MAS but this time there are 2 differences compared to our previous trips:
Accommodation
Since we are flying back from KK, we split our stay to 2 nights in KK, 2 nights in Kundasang and 2 nights back in KK.
Our first accommodation is Marina Court Resort Condo. This is a condo catered more for tourists. We stayed in a 3 room condo. The condo has a swimming pool and a jacuzzi. It costs around RM 380 for 2 nights when we booked via Agoda. There is no breakfast included but you do have a parking space. Good if you decide to rent a car. The condo unit itself is spacious with air-conditioning, TV, fridge, washing machine and bath towel. However it does need some upgrading. The unit we stayed in has problem with master bedroom air-conditioning, door lock and cockroach. However, overall it's value for money.
In Kundasang, we stayed at Anjung Rehat Jamsari. In Kundasang, you're basically spoiled for choice when it comes to accomodation. Some factors you may want to consider are cost, distances to the places you want to visit, distance to town area, view of the night sky and possibly most important of all, view of Mount Kinabalu.
We stayed in a family suite. It's basically a 2 story building partitioned into 2 family suites. It's quite a basic unit. The ground floor sleeps 3 persons and is also where the bathroom is located. The 1st floor is actually an attic which can also sleep 3 person. The stairs to the attic is a bit steep. There is also a wide balcony on the ground floor and this is where we had our dinner on the first night of our stay. We also have to raise the cockroach alert here as well so keep the rubbish in the balcony please .
Being close to nature, there'll be some creepy crawlies but nothing to be scared off. Another benefit is that no Aircon is needed since it's cold at night. The bathroom though needs a lot of work and not something I would say in proper working condition. Lucky for us we had a working water heater. It would be very uncomfortable to have cold showers in cold weather.
It has a good night sky for photography and near (but not too near) town area. You'll appreciate the peace and quiet. It's run by a friendly young couple. Our stay cost RM 540 for 2 nights. Generally accomodation in Kundasang is more expensive than KK.
For more options on Kundasang accommodation, you can check out the links below but these links are by no means exhaustive.
Kundasang homestay 1
Kundasang homestay 2
Back in KK for our final leg, we stayed at Casuarina Hotel at Tanjung Aru. It's close to the beach without costing a bomb but there are sacrifices to be made. The hotel is quite old and not exactly beach front (though it takes only 5 minutes walk to get there which is what most guests do).
The Rafflesia family suite we stayed in is quite old. Some lights were not working but were replaced once we brought it up to reception. The bathroom door was also in bad shape. However, simple American breakfast is provided with the rate and costs only RM 5 per person as add-on. It costs RM 380 for 2 nights stay.
One thing we find is that most KK hotels would be willing to store your luggage for a couple of days while you visit other areas. It's a good service to have since Sabah is such a big state and you most probably will be doing some travelling within the state.
Total cost of accomodation is RM 1350 for 6 persons for 6 nights.
Car rental
Again you're spoiled for choice here. There are many car rental companies here and they provide drop-off and pickup points at KK airport or KK town.
After an exhaustive search, we decided on Big Momma Car Rental which is the cheapest we can find. We went for a Perodua Alza for 6 days and it costs around RM 1050. Less than RM 180 per day. The car we got was in good condition and sufficient for the job of moving around KK and Kundasang.
Having said that, the road from KK to Kundasang is winding and steep at certain sections with some potholes (not many though). So take extra care on this stretch of road especially in a rented car.
You can reach them via the link below:
Big Momma Car Rental
Day 1
As mentioned, we transited at Kuching airport. Comparing this airport with KK airport, I'd have to say that the latter is more sophisticated. This leads me to believe that there are more tourists going to Sabah compared to Sarawak. The ride from KK airport to downtown KK took less than 15 minutes but will cost you RM 42 for a Toyota Innova. Not cheap at all.
After checking in and dropping off our luggage we proceeded to explore the surrounding area. We saw that there are a lot of Chinese and Korean tourists in KK. The retail shops and restaurants are testaments of this fact.
First, we reached KK waterfront. Further along the way, we saw a market selling fresh produce and seafood. There were also shops selling dried seafood. Open air seafood eateries can be found at Todak Waterfront.
Along the way, you'll find Pasar Besar KK (KK central market). It's a big building populated by stalls selling fruits, vegetables and dry foodstuffs on ground floor. On the first floor you have stalls selling clothing, shoes and bags. There is also a wet market at the back. This is where they'll pack your fresh seafood purchase in airtight packages so you can bring it with you on your flight.
At Todak Waterfront, we turned east towards the hilly area of KK. Along the way, we saw Gaya Street and a Ramadan Bazaar. Further along the way we can find interesting places such as Atkinson Clock Tower and Signal Hill Observation Tower. It's a bit of a climb from Atkinson Clock Tower to Signal Hill Observation Tower but you'll be rewarded with a spectacular view. One can also opt to climb a series of steps which starts near Borneo Night Theatre to the Tower.
From the Tower, one can see a lot of KK city and also the nearest shopping mall which is Suria Sabah. This is also a nice place to view sunset. After taking some photos and seeing that everyone is hungry, we made a move to the mall for dinner. We had a simple dinner in one of the mall restaurants but what we were craving for was some Sabah seafood. Walking back to the resort condo, we took in the night time atmosphere of KK waterfront.
Throughout the day we tried to look for local fruits to try out but all we saw was durians which probably are shipped from West Malaysia just to cater for the Chinese tourists. It's a shame cause Sabahans should do more to promote their local fruits and products.
Day 2
The second day started bright and early and everyone was raring to go. Our first destination was a local eatery nearby (Seng Hing Coffee Shop), which serves Tuaran Mee and Laksa. Some local food would be nice. Tuaran Mee is a type of fried noodle but the way it is prepared is not as oily as the fried mee you find in West Malaysia. The laksa Sarawak was equally delicious.
We continued towards Jesselton Point which is where one can take a boat ride to the islands from the jetty. Along the way, we took a look at the KK Central Market again to feel the morning atmosphere. It was not as crowded as we thought it would be. We hurried towards the jetty but took some time in between for photo opportunities.
In the end, we reached the jetty and located the office of Gayana Marine Resort. We had wanted to take a ride to the resort and also to experience their giant clams conservation work through their Marine Ecology Research Center (MERC). However, we were told the 10.30 am ferry was already leaving the jetty and they can't wait for us. The next ferry would be at 1.30 pm. After some discussion we decided to call for our rented car earlier so we can explore other sites and come back to MERC later.
As we waited for our rented car to arrive, we explored Jesselton Point. There are some stalls selling food and drinks but they are rather pricey. We decided to try out a cup of cold coffee where the beans had come from Ranau district in Sabah. From our point of view, it tasted rather bland. It could be due to the coffee preparation and not the bean though.
The agents at the ticket counters are quite active in selling their rides to tourists so just stay the distance if you do not wish to travel to the islands. Otherwise, you can negotiate price at the ticket counters to get a good deal for island hopping. It's best to deal with the agents at these counters rather than those that try to approach you outside the building.
Once our ride arrived, we inspected the car and paid the agreed amount. Now we can go further.
Our first destination with the rented car, was KK Floating Mosque. We reached there quite quickly and proceeded to take some photographs. It is a beautiful mosque. We saw some Korean and Chinese tourists there too.
Before we left we chatted with a Sabahan who was guarding the entrance to the photo site. The mosque charges a fee for foreigners to take photo but it's free for Malaysians. We found out that it was time for prayers and we could not go into the mosque. Most tourists come after lunch and that's when one can go into the mosque to have a look. From our conversation we also find that Sabahans are generally quite tolerant people and can easily cross cultural and racial divide which is a good thing given the number of different races and tribes in the state.
Next, we proceeded to Puh Toh Si temple which has a large Guan Yin statue. The architecture is amazing to say the least. We spent some time taking photos and praying at the temple. Entrance is free.
Next, we went to KK Wetlands Park which is a Ramsar site. Sad to say, the park is quite dilapidated but it is definitely an attraction not to be missed. The park is actually a mangrove swamp with mature trees and wild birds. As we walked along the wooden walkway around the park, we can hear birds and also popping sounds. The latter seems to be sound of gas coming out of the swampy waters into the surrounding atmosphere.
UMS Aquarium Marine museum is our next stop. It's a facility within the University of Malaysia Sabah. It took a bit of time to reach due to some traffic jam along the way. Once there we checked out the marine life and exhibition. However, it was a bit disappointing given what we've read online. The star attraction here are 2 turtles. Apart from that it's not much to shout about. Entrance fee is RM 10 per adult and RM 5 for children below 18.
It's time to make our way back to the condo but we have one more stop which is Bangunan Tun Mustapha and the Sabah Government Building. These buildings are near each other and have some nice architecture designs.
We proceeded to Welcome Seafood Restaurant which was suggested by a relative. The branch we went to was in Asia City. In fact they occupy many shops in that mall easily becoming the anchor tenant. As we are not regular seafood eaters , we do not know the price or what to choose. Lucky for us, we meet a nice waiter who explained to us in detail the offers and bargains available that day. We ended up ordering a dragon tiger grouper, 600 grams of tiger prawns cooked 2 ways, 3 medium sized crabs, Mongolian chicken, seafood tofu and 3 coconuts. With rice and drinks included , the price came up to about RM 202 which is quite decent for the fresh seafood and great service we had.
After the satisfying dinner, we took a stroll back to the condo. We stopped by Oceanus Mall to have a look and were greeted by "welcoming" artwork. There was also a baby grand piano with a "play me" sign. So the kids got a bit of practice. Incidentally, this mall is also where Hard Rock Cafe KK is located.
Day 3
It's another early morning as we had to pack up, check out, drop off some baggage in Casuarina Hotel before we proceeded to Kundasang. It was a bit of rush but once on the way, we were fine. On the way, we did stop by the KK Wet Market to have a look since we have missed this earlier. As expected, there's so much fresh seafood on offer including puffer fish and lobster.
We headed to Tamparuli where our first stop in the town was Chanteek Borneo Indigenous Museum. It's not really a museum but more of a cultural gallery which showcases the different costumes of the Sabah tribes using dolls. It's a good photo opportunity but not a must stop. There are also some traditional musical instruments for you to try out. They do have a cafe on the premises as well. Entrance fee is RM 10 per adult and RM 5 for children below 13.
We started searching for a lunch place on our way to Kundasang and found an eatery called 1Foodcourt which is located right after Tamparuli Bridge. It was a nice find and we had a meal of economy rice and Tuaran Mee with BBQ pork. Food price here is cheaper than in KK. We also bought some breads at RM 1 to RM 1.50 each for our breakfast the next day. Our coconut milk shake was nice too.
It started to rain quite heavily as we continued our way to Kundasang. As such we had to move at a slower pace. Luckily the rain stopped quite quickly. On the way we saw a few beautiful viewpoints where one can see Mount Kinabalu in all its majesty. But due to cloudy weather and also since we are running late, we skipped those for the time being.
However we did make a stop at a place which sells barbecue wild boar meat (Sinalau Bakas in Dusun language). The BBQ meat was fragrant and we decided to pack 1 kg of it for our dinner and it cost us only RM 22.
We finally reached Kundasang before it got dark. The whole journey took a few hours due to us stopping at tourist sites and for food and also due to slow vehicles. Just plan for at least 4 hours for this journey if you are going to stop along the way. Before reaching our homestay we stopped one more time to get some groceries like drinks and cup noodles as we wanted to have dinner at the homestay itself.
After dropping off our baggage and taking some photographs of the majestic mountain, we went back to town to have a look. However by the time we reached there it was already getting dark. Most of the shops were closed but KFC was still open. There was also a night market and after browsing we decided to get some BBQ chicken wings to add to our dinner. The weather was nice and cool and perfect for a walk.
We noticed some stalls still display the fruits and vegetables on sale even though the owners have closed shop for the day. This shows the level of trust the local people of Kundasang have for one another. This kind of trust would not be possible in KL. Since it was already dark and we've seen what we came to see, we drove back to the homestay for dinner. We had dinner at the balcony in cool mountain weather with the sound of small stream in a valley below the homestay. What a wonderful dining experience.
After dinner, we went outside to the parking area of the homestay to enjoy the cold air and also to look at stars. Being far away from blinding lights, we had a beautiful view of a night sky full of stars. We also took some pictures of these sparkling diamonds in the sky.
What an ideal close to a perfect day.
Note:
Day 4
There's a lot to cover in the Kundasang, Ranau and Poring area and we have only 2 days left here. So we woke up early. While the others were preparing, my youngest son and I made our way down the valley behind the homestay via a flight of steps to explore the stream that we've been hearing about. It took a bit of searching but we finally found our way there and it was really nice. We water from the stream was crystal clear and so cold in the crisp morning air. It was such a refreshing find. There is also a small plot of land in front of the homestay where vegetables are planted.
Soon we were on our way and we had breakfast on the move. We stopped at Desa Cattle Dairy Farm but it was not opened yet. We took some photos from the main gate but since this place is so near our homestay we decided to come back tomorrow while we continue to explore places further away.
We made our way to Mesilau Nature Park. On the way there we passed by the Mount Kinabalu Golf Club. The road got a bit steeper once you turn left after the golf course on your way to the nature park. The nature park is supposed to be where one can see local plants and animals in their natural habitat and even scale the heights of Mount Kinabalu. We were curious as to why we do not see any proper road signs along the way. We even saw a no admittance signboard. In any case we proceeded since we've come so far. On the way, we crossed 2 one-lane bridges (it's common here in Kundasang so please slow down and give way if necessary). A portion of the road was beautifully lined with natural coniferous trees. It was such a wonderful sight.
After finally reaching what looked like a guard post, we saw that the gate was closed. We inquired at the guard post and was told that the nature park was being refurbished and will be opened in about a year's time. It was disappointing but we did get a good view of the natural environment on the way there.
Some final notes on this park are that the final portion of the road there is paved in concrete so it's a bit bumpy, some portions of the road has a gradient of 25 degrees AND the stretch road beyond the closed gate is much steeper so I believe only a 4 wheel drive can tackle it.
After that we decided to go back to Kundasang town to visit the Memorial Park which is dedicated to the Australian and British soldiers who lost their lives in the Sandakan Death March during WW2. It is quiet and peaceful in the park. There are a few gardens in the park and it offers some nice views of Kundasang town. However come prepared with mosquito repellent as it gets itchy after a short while. Entrance fee is RM 3 per adult and RM 2 per child below 13 years old.
We then proceeded to Sabah Tea Plantation which is located after Ranau town. It took a while to get there due to some traffic jam and a rough stretch of road leading to the plantation. Once there we proceeded to walk around the place and took some nice photos. The processing facility is off limits unless you can get a worker to bring you around for a tour. The plantation itself is not very impressive and I think Boh Plantations in Cameron Highlands are better. They do have a restaurant there that serves some nice food and so we ordered some dishes for lunch. The portions are quite big and the food is good expect for Bambangan Chicken which tasted strange. I believe it's chicken cooked with the local Bambangan fruit.
After a satisfying lunch, we started our journey again towards the final destination of the day which is Poring. On the way we tried to locate Adenna Rafflesia Garden but could not find it. So you can forget about this place too. Just go straight to Poring.
We reached Poring in a short while as it's not so far away from the tea plantation. It's actually a park with many facilities. Entrance into the park is RM 3 for adult and RM 1 for children below 13.
Before we entered the hot springs area, we made our way to the Tropical Garden. Along the way we could see some chalets and bungalows which I believe is the accommodation for Sutera Sanctuary Lodges. There is one important reason for going to the Tropical Garden. To see the Rafflesia flower. Entrance fee is RM 10 per person but you can negotiate to reduce the number of people charged if you travel in a group. This was our last chance to view it having failed to find it in 2 other locations mentioned earlier.
We were lucky as there were 2 flowers which have bloomed. It probably lasts only up to 7 days before it withers. Needless to say, we took many photos of this special flower. A walk around the garden reveals nothing else that was as interesting and therefore Rafflesia is definitely the star attraction here. One funny thing is that the flower did not smell bad as we've been told. Perhaps it's too small a specimen. The trees around the garden are just gigantic.
Around the same area of is the Orchid Garden. We tried our luck to find the Rothschild Slipper Orchid but we did not see any in bloom. We did see another type of slipper orchid, other types of orchids and pitcher plants. Amazing place for orchid lovers.
Then we proceeded to the hot springs. However it's a little different here as the bath areas are actually bath tubs instead of hot spring pools. So one has to occupy a tub and then open the taps for hot and cold water to mix it to the temperature he or she likes. Each tub can accommodate about 2 adults. The bath areas are further separated into open and enclosed baths. Open baths are free to use with the entrance fee while enclosed baths require additional RM 15 per hour. Enclosed baths are basically small buildings within which two tubs, a sitting area and bathroom is located. It is very convenient and good if you have a bigger group or want more privacy. There is also a enclosed bath with Jacuzzi but did not manage to book that. Last booking for closed baths is to be made before 3 pm.
There is also an open swimming pool if you do not want to soak in hot baths. The park is clean and quite big so you won't feel cramped. There are a lot of other activities you can go for at the park. One of which is to visit the Butterfly Park. You can go for the Canopy Walk which is definitely recommended. It's divided into 4 sections which I estimate to be 200 m in total. However, be prepared for a hike before you reach the treetop station. The view from the top is really a treat. Entrance fee is RM 3 per adult and RM 5 per camera.
Further into the forest from the Canopy Walk, you can reach a botany park where you can find a huge forest tree. Trekking deeper in, you'll be rewarded with Kipungit Falls. It's quite a refreshing waterfall as the rest not many people and the water is fresh and cool. Beyond that, the route becomes difficult as one needs to climb a distance of 700 m before reaching a bat cave and over 1 km to reach Langanan Falls. We did not attempt to reach these 2 sites as the day was getting dark and the recommendation is not to do it after 3 pm.
Reaching back to the hot springs area, I soaked in the hot bath to relieve the aching muscles which resulted from the strenuous trek. We continued to soak in the open bath area once the closed bath area was "closed". We left around 5.30 pm as the drive back will take between 30 minutes to 1 hour and we want to reach Kundasang before it gets dark.
We decided to have dinner at a restaurant called 89 station. It is one of the very few restaurants which still open after 7 pm. The roads in Kundasang gets really dark at night as there is no street light in most sections. The roads are also winding and steep at certain sections, so caution is needed when driving at night.
89 Station is located on high land in Kundasang and therefore quite windy and cold. But that's the kind of weather we have come to experience. The restaurant itself is in a nice wooden house. They do brisk business at night due to limited eateries being open at that time. We ordered their bah kut teh, braised venison and wild boar meat and some vegetables. The bah kut teh was really good and quite different from the ones in KL. The broth is darker in color.
After the meal, we headed back to the homestay for more stargazing. This time around, we had a more difficult time as there was more cloud in the horizon. However , with some patience, we did manage to take some nice shots. My eldest son did a fantastic job of capturing the night sky. The kids also played with some resident cats. The area was very quiet, cold and windy at times. It can surely give you the chills if you happen to be alone.
It was another wonderful night with stars as our companion but we need to rest early as we have a long drive back to KK the next day.
Day 5
Our first destination of the day is Desa Cattle Dairy Farm. Having taken some photos at the main gate the day before, we proceeded to enter the farm and explore it's surroundings. Entrance fee is RM 5 for adult and RM 4 for children below 13 years old.
The road into the farm is long but it offers some good photo opportunities as well. After enjoying the views for a while which includes Mount Kinabalu we proceeded to the goods shop and cafeteria where they sell dairy, cheese, pizza and yogurt products made from the farm milk. We'll come back to that later as we explore the farm first.
There are 3 main parts where you can explore. One is the calf pen where the calves and some lambs are kept. For a small price you can buy some food to feed them. Next is the barn where milk production takes place. The viewing point is a bit too far from the barn itself so you won't be able to see clearly this process.
While walking around the pen and barn areas you can take some wonderful pictures. You can easily mistake this farm as one from Down Under or New Zealand as the picturesque hills, slopes and clear sky brings you to another world altogether.
After taking all the wonderful photos of the farm, you can proceed to the third part of the self tour which is the processing facility. There are a few glass panels which show visitors the machines and processes applied during milk processing. At the start, a machine prepares the milk carton box, then it is positioned under a noozle which will fill it with milk before it is sealed and moved to the next section where quality checks are done to ensure the only good products make it to the market.
Finally, we decided to have a meal at the cafeteria. We bought a pizza, all 3 flavors of milk, all 3 flavors of yogurt, a small cheese cake and not forgetting gelato. This would be our brunch for the day. The dairy products were good tasting and fills our stomach quickly. We decided to hang around a while longer to have a look at the farm and to take pictures. Having satisfied ourselves with the good food and wonderful scenery of the farm, we decided to move on to our second destination of the day.
We started off towards Mesilau Strawberry farm. Having reached there we were hoping to see some juicy strawberries but we were sorely disappointed. The road into the strawberry farm is very rough but the place is not really much of an attraction especially when there is no fruit to be had. Cameron Highlands strawberry farms are much better. So you can give this a miss if you're short of time.
We then proceeded to go back to KK city but on the way there are 2 more stops to be made. The first is Kinabalu National Park. We have this place a miss on the way to Kundasang as we were already late. Now we have some time to enjoy the park. Entrance fee is RM 3 for adult and RM 1 for children in school.
This park is different from others we've been to in the sense that you can drive around the park to enjoy the sights if you do not want to walk. We decided to walk instead. The weather at the park is very cooling and soothing. It's nice to take a stroll in such weather. There is also accommodation in the park for visitors to stay the night , presumably those who would like to scale Mount Kinabalu as this is the entry point to do so.
If you do not want to climb the mountain, it's still a good visit to stroll around the park and to see the Botanical Park located within (park within a park). Entrance fee is RM 4 for adult and RM 2 for children below 13. The botanical park is quite basic and the main attractions are orchid plants. There are also various nature trails to trek. We decided to trek the Silau-Silau trail which is one of the easier ones to tackle. The trail is quite flat and can be completed in less than half an hour.
After circling the park, we visited the Kinabalu Natural History Museum where we learned about the type of forests at the mountain area, the kinds of animals that live there and the rocks and minerals that make up the mountain. There are some dioramas about the animals and vegetation in Mount Kinabalu. Entrance fee here is RM 2 per person.
With that, we continued our journey towards KK city with a stop at one of the viewpoints mentioned earlier. It was a bit cloudy by then so the great mountain was not fully visible but the combination of cloud, sunlight and shadows on the valley below sure made for a magical site.
By the time we reached Casuarina Hotel at Tanjung Aru it was already evening. After a quick check-in, the kids changed into their bathing suites and off we went to the beach. There was a lot of people at the beach and there was also a Ramadan market there as well selling food and drinks. Most of the visitors seem to be from China and they were mostly taking photographs and not taking a dip in the sea.
It's dinner time and we decided on a safe choice which is to go to a nearby mall. We went to Imago and it was crowded. It could be due to the Keamatan Festival holiday. We took our dinner at a HK themed restaurant. Afterwards we did some shopping at the Everrise Supermarket. It's quite pricey and is akin to Jaya Grocer in KL.
We went back as the mall was closing and prepared for our activities the next day.
Day 6
On the second last day of our visit we decided to take the trip we missed out on the second day which is a trip to Gayana Marine Resort, in particular to the Marine Ecology Research Center in the resort. Before that we had breakfast at the hotel which was included in the price. It's a simple American breakfast that only costs RM 5 if added-on.
We went there early this time so we won't miss the boat, pun intended. This time around we saw a group of Korean tourists at their Jesselton Point office. They were going to Bunga Raya Island Resort which is a sister resort on the same island, Pilau Gaya. Gaya Marine Resort is an eco resort which has some water activities such as diving, snorkeling, kayakigg and just plain swimming in the sea. There is no beach on this resort. For beach activities on Pulau Gaya it's best to visit Bunga Raya Island Resort.
The customer service agent who served us was different this time and she explained 2 packages, one with lunch and one without. The difference between the 2 would be a RM 50 lunch per person which is not worth it if you are travelling with children. The children visit ticket price is also cheaper than the adult one.
Since we are not keen on lunch, we decided to take the package without lunch which came up to RM 397. The boat leaves the jetty at 10.30 am so we registered ourselves. We overheard another agent saying that they should not be selling the package without lunch anymore but since they've already told us about it, we can take this package. Best to check with them if you'd like to visit MERC.
The boat we took was a service boat which ferries visitors and workers to the resort. It's slower than speedboats so the whole journey there took 30 minutes instead of the promised 10 minutes. It's ok as we enjoy the view of KK City from South China Sea and also the views of Pulau Gaya as we reach it. There's lots of wooden houses on one side of the island, not sure if it's for fishermen.
We finally reached the island and disembarked. The resort was spectacular with accomodation on stilts. They also rear their own organic fish for consumption. The water is so clear that you can see many types of fishes swimming in it. We were greeted by a resort employee who explained to us the resort layout and where the MERC buidling is. There were only 2 other guests that we saw on the boat ride. We took our own sweet time to photograph and admire the resort houses, the beautiful ocean and the marine life in it. With the sunlight shining into the ocean, it sparkled like diamonds.
After a slow leisurely walk, we reached the MERC building. We entered the auditorium and a video explaining the mission of MERC was already playing. The full blast of Aircon was much welcomed after the walk in the hot sun. It was an interesting video showing the activities at the center. It ended soon enough and we then moved to the aquarium area of the centre which houses some iinteresting marine creatures.
From the explanation given in the information write-up next to the display aquariums and also from another guide there, there are 3 different but equally important marine ecosystems. First is the mangrove swamps which protects our shores and also harbours many types of life forms. Second is the coral reefs that contains planktons which are invaluable in the marine food chain. Lastly is the sea grass which serves to protect erosion of the seabed and home to some species of animals.
The guide also explained to us the giant clams conservation effort that is main purpose of MERC. There are 7 species of these clams that are under their radar. Five of these can be seen in an aquarium there. Lots of interesting and educational information here not to mention photo opportunities.
After spending some time there, we moved out to the touch tank which is a long shallow tank which contains some selected marine life like starfish, sea cucumber and hermit crabs which we can touch and hold. It was interesting especially the sea cucumbers which feels different for different species. Unfortunately their broken coral adoption program was not available at the time as the broken corals were still being nurtured before they can be moved back to the sea.
After spending about 2 and half hours at the resort we departed back to KK city on a speedboat. This time the journey back was much faster and we were given life vests. After arriving at the KK jetty, we headed off for lunch. There are many small eateries along Jalan Gaya and we decided on Xing Wan Pan Mee. It's air-conditioned which is perfect for a hot day. The food is also very nice. After lunch, we walked around the area to check out souvenirs but they were expensive.
We decided to go to our next destination which is Lok Kawi Wildlife Park. The sky was threatening rain but we decided to give it a try. It was a bad decision as it rained heavily after that and it did not subside enough for us to go into the park. So we had to double back and go to Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) instead.
By the time we reach there, the rain has subsided but the roads were very badly jammed due to the Keamatan Festival that was being celebrated there. As such entrance was free. Basically KDCA is an association which promotes the Kadazan Dusun culture and during this festival they have open houses in the compound. There are various buildings in the compound each of which relates to one tribe. These tribal homes come to live during the festival with members of these tribes organising get together to have a good time and to encourage inclusiveness. There was loud music, singing, beauty competition, food, drinks and souvenirs on sale. There were lots of visitors and it was a lively atmosphere. It's a good time to visit KDCA. We did not get to cover the whole compound as there were too many people and we wanted to go back to Tanjung Aru beach.
So, back we went to our hotel to change and have a good time at the beach. It was pretty much the same atmosphere from yesterday but we did get more time to enjoy the beach. The kids loved it.
As darkness fell, it's time to pack up and go for dinner. Before that, we wanted to see a fountain light show at Perdana Park which is just next to the hotel. It's unbelievable that this show costs only RM 1 for each car going into the park. Otherwise it is free entry. Inside the park, there are also a few restaurants and the one with the most patrons is a buffet steamboat restaurant which was full of Korean tourists when we were there. There is also a playground for children and a jogging trek as well. It was incredible to see the water fountain moving and gyrating to classical and Malaysian traditional music. The park is made by possible by Timatch Sdn.Bhd. under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a gift to the state and the people without any form of payment or reward whatsoever.
We decided to give Welcome Seafood Restaurant another try as the food was good and we wanted to taste Sabah seafood another time before we left. The waiter remembered us and proceeded to suggest some fresh seafood. This time around , he suggested we do for steamboat as well as normal cooked dishes as the former is one of their specialty. In the end, we took a stone fish, a big flower crab, big clams, some Sabah abalone and chicken meat. Vegetables came with the steamboat set. He gave us a handful of tiger prawns for free as well. In hindsight , we should not have split the fish into steamboat and steamed portions as there is not enough meat. We should have gone with steamed fish as it was fresh. In any case it was a satisfying meal and cost us RM 216. It was indeed worth it.
Time has come for us to go back to the hotel and pack up for check out the day after.
Day 7
Before checking out , we still had a couple of hours to spend at the beach and that's exactly what we did. It was different from the other two occasions as we went in the morning. The crowd was smaller but it was still a busy beach.
After enjoying the cool sea water and playing with the sand, it was time to check out. We wanted to do some souvenir shopping and after comparing the prices from the past few days we saw that the shops at Asia City offers the best value. Previously we had already bought some coffee packs and food from KK Central Market and Everrise Supermarket so this time, we bought some trinkets like dream catchers, fridge magnets and key chains. Prior to souvenir hunting, we had lunch at Borenos Fried Chicken as we wanted to try one of the local fried chicken chain.
With all that done, we still had a few hours of time and we made a choice between Lok Kawi Wildlife Park and Sabah State Museum. Majority went for the former attraction and off we went again to the park. Luckily for us the weather was good and we got to walk around the park. The wildlife park is not that big so it can be covered in a couple of hours at most. Entrance fee is RM 10 for adult and RM 5 for children below 13. There are some indigenous animals like orang-utan, proboscis monkey and hornbill bird. So it's definitely worth going. There is also an animal show. It just so happens that when we almost covered the whole park, it started to rain. It rained quite heavily and we had to take shelter at a building nearby. Luckily the heavy rain did not last long and we had a window of opportunity to run to our car. So our trip to the wildlife park was almost jeopardized again due to rain.
Finally it was time to leave for the airport. On the way, we contacted the car rental company to arrange for them to pick up the car at the airport. Everything went smoothly and we checked in to our flight. We still had some time to walk around the airport and have a simple meal of cupcakes and coffee.
Conclusion
Overall, it was a very enjoyable trip. It was more relaxing than some other trips we've been on as we have rented a car. Kota Kinabalu and Kundasang has many things to offer tourists. The seafood is fresh and reasonably priced.
The total for food and souvenir is RM 1315 while entrance fee amounted to RM 266. The total for the whole trip is roughly RM 7000 for 7 days and 6 persons, all inclusive.
We definitely recommend this place for a holiday as there is something for everyone. Remember, a family that travels together, stays together.
Please see the links below for more attractions in Sabah:
Sabah Attractions 1
Sabah Attractions 2
Hope this blog has given you some new ideas for your next travel !!
This time around we've decided to go on a local trip. We've not been to Sabah before so planning started for a Kota Kinabalu (KK) and Kundasang trip.
The trip took 7 days and we tried to cover as many highlights as possible.
Flight
We flew MAS but this time there are 2 differences compared to our previous trips:
- On the way to KK we transited at Kuching. This was due to the cheaper flight tickets but as we found out later, there were similarly priced tickets closer to the departure date
- I only found out that after booking the tickets that there is no check-in baggage included. This took effect on April 8th 2019 for MAS. So we had to be extra careful when it comes to our baggage for this trip. However, we still have 7 kg of hand luggage per person. We did buy 15 kg of luggage for the trip back which costs around RM 150
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| Kuching Airport |
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| Kota Kinabalu Airport |
Accommodation
Since we are flying back from KK, we split our stay to 2 nights in KK, 2 nights in Kundasang and 2 nights back in KK.
Our first accommodation is Marina Court Resort Condo. This is a condo catered more for tourists. We stayed in a 3 room condo. The condo has a swimming pool and a jacuzzi. It costs around RM 380 for 2 nights when we booked via Agoda. There is no breakfast included but you do have a parking space. Good if you decide to rent a car. The condo unit itself is spacious with air-conditioning, TV, fridge, washing machine and bath towel. However it does need some upgrading. The unit we stayed in has problem with master bedroom air-conditioning, door lock and cockroach. However, overall it's value for money.
In Kundasang, we stayed at Anjung Rehat Jamsari. In Kundasang, you're basically spoiled for choice when it comes to accomodation. Some factors you may want to consider are cost, distances to the places you want to visit, distance to town area, view of the night sky and possibly most important of all, view of Mount Kinabalu.
We stayed in a family suite. It's basically a 2 story building partitioned into 2 family suites. It's quite a basic unit. The ground floor sleeps 3 persons and is also where the bathroom is located. The 1st floor is actually an attic which can also sleep 3 person. The stairs to the attic is a bit steep. There is also a wide balcony on the ground floor and this is where we had our dinner on the first night of our stay. We also have to raise the cockroach alert here as well so keep the rubbish in the balcony please .
Being close to nature, there'll be some creepy crawlies but nothing to be scared off. Another benefit is that no Aircon is needed since it's cold at night. The bathroom though needs a lot of work and not something I would say in proper working condition. Lucky for us we had a working water heater. It would be very uncomfortable to have cold showers in cold weather.
It has a good night sky for photography and near (but not too near) town area. You'll appreciate the peace and quiet. It's run by a friendly young couple. Our stay cost RM 540 for 2 nights. Generally accomodation in Kundasang is more expensive than KK.
For more options on Kundasang accommodation, you can check out the links below but these links are by no means exhaustive.
Kundasang homestay 1
Kundasang homestay 2
Back in KK for our final leg, we stayed at Casuarina Hotel at Tanjung Aru. It's close to the beach without costing a bomb but there are sacrifices to be made. The hotel is quite old and not exactly beach front (though it takes only 5 minutes walk to get there which is what most guests do).
The Rafflesia family suite we stayed in is quite old. Some lights were not working but were replaced once we brought it up to reception. The bathroom door was also in bad shape. However, simple American breakfast is provided with the rate and costs only RM 5 per person as add-on. It costs RM 380 for 2 nights stay.
One thing we find is that most KK hotels would be willing to store your luggage for a couple of days while you visit other areas. It's a good service to have since Sabah is such a big state and you most probably will be doing some travelling within the state.
Total cost of accomodation is RM 1350 for 6 persons for 6 nights.
Car rental
Again you're spoiled for choice here. There are many car rental companies here and they provide drop-off and pickup points at KK airport or KK town.
After an exhaustive search, we decided on Big Momma Car Rental which is the cheapest we can find. We went for a Perodua Alza for 6 days and it costs around RM 1050. Less than RM 180 per day. The car we got was in good condition and sufficient for the job of moving around KK and Kundasang.
Having said that, the road from KK to Kundasang is winding and steep at certain sections with some potholes (not many though). So take extra care on this stretch of road especially in a rented car.
You can reach them via the link below:
Big Momma Car Rental
Day 1
As mentioned, we transited at Kuching airport. Comparing this airport with KK airport, I'd have to say that the latter is more sophisticated. This leads me to believe that there are more tourists going to Sabah compared to Sarawak. The ride from KK airport to downtown KK took less than 15 minutes but will cost you RM 42 for a Toyota Innova. Not cheap at all.
After checking in and dropping off our luggage we proceeded to explore the surrounding area. We saw that there are a lot of Chinese and Korean tourists in KK. The retail shops and restaurants are testaments of this fact.
First, we reached KK waterfront. Further along the way, we saw a market selling fresh produce and seafood. There were also shops selling dried seafood. Open air seafood eateries can be found at Todak Waterfront.
Along the way, you'll find Pasar Besar KK (KK central market). It's a big building populated by stalls selling fruits, vegetables and dry foodstuffs on ground floor. On the first floor you have stalls selling clothing, shoes and bags. There is also a wet market at the back. This is where they'll pack your fresh seafood purchase in airtight packages so you can bring it with you on your flight.
From the Tower, one can see a lot of KK city and also the nearest shopping mall which is Suria Sabah. This is also a nice place to view sunset. After taking some photos and seeing that everyone is hungry, we made a move to the mall for dinner. We had a simple dinner in one of the mall restaurants but what we were craving for was some Sabah seafood. Walking back to the resort condo, we took in the night time atmosphere of KK waterfront.
Throughout the day we tried to look for local fruits to try out but all we saw was durians which probably are shipped from West Malaysia just to cater for the Chinese tourists. It's a shame cause Sabahans should do more to promote their local fruits and products.
Day 2
The second day started bright and early and everyone was raring to go. Our first destination was a local eatery nearby (Seng Hing Coffee Shop), which serves Tuaran Mee and Laksa. Some local food would be nice. Tuaran Mee is a type of fried noodle but the way it is prepared is not as oily as the fried mee you find in West Malaysia. The laksa Sarawak was equally delicious.
We continued towards Jesselton Point which is where one can take a boat ride to the islands from the jetty. Along the way, we took a look at the KK Central Market again to feel the morning atmosphere. It was not as crowded as we thought it would be. We hurried towards the jetty but took some time in between for photo opportunities.
In the end, we reached the jetty and located the office of Gayana Marine Resort. We had wanted to take a ride to the resort and also to experience their giant clams conservation work through their Marine Ecology Research Center (MERC). However, we were told the 10.30 am ferry was already leaving the jetty and they can't wait for us. The next ferry would be at 1.30 pm. After some discussion we decided to call for our rented car earlier so we can explore other sites and come back to MERC later.
As we waited for our rented car to arrive, we explored Jesselton Point. There are some stalls selling food and drinks but they are rather pricey. We decided to try out a cup of cold coffee where the beans had come from Ranau district in Sabah. From our point of view, it tasted rather bland. It could be due to the coffee preparation and not the bean though.
The agents at the ticket counters are quite active in selling their rides to tourists so just stay the distance if you do not wish to travel to the islands. Otherwise, you can negotiate price at the ticket counters to get a good deal for island hopping. It's best to deal with the agents at these counters rather than those that try to approach you outside the building.
Once our ride arrived, we inspected the car and paid the agreed amount. Now we can go further.
Our first destination with the rented car, was KK Floating Mosque. We reached there quite quickly and proceeded to take some photographs. It is a beautiful mosque. We saw some Korean and Chinese tourists there too.
Before we left we chatted with a Sabahan who was guarding the entrance to the photo site. The mosque charges a fee for foreigners to take photo but it's free for Malaysians. We found out that it was time for prayers and we could not go into the mosque. Most tourists come after lunch and that's when one can go into the mosque to have a look. From our conversation we also find that Sabahans are generally quite tolerant people and can easily cross cultural and racial divide which is a good thing given the number of different races and tribes in the state.
Next, we proceeded to Puh Toh Si temple which has a large Guan Yin statue. The architecture is amazing to say the least. We spent some time taking photos and praying at the temple. Entrance is free.
It's time to make our way back to the condo but we have one more stop which is Bangunan Tun Mustapha and the Sabah Government Building. These buildings are near each other and have some nice architecture designs.
Driving back to the city we stopped by a mall to buy some pastry for a very late lunch. We headed straight back to the condo for a swim in the pool and a soak in the jacuzzi. It was a refreshing time and before we know it, dinner time has come. In between I tried a locally made ginger beer. It tasted ok but the taste of ginger drowned out the beer.
After the satisfying dinner, we took a stroll back to the condo. We stopped by Oceanus Mall to have a look and were greeted by "welcoming" artwork. There was also a baby grand piano with a "play me" sign. So the kids got a bit of practice. Incidentally, this mall is also where Hard Rock Cafe KK is located.
Behind Oceanus Mall, there happened to be light festival. There was several themes like dinosaur, ghost, robot and festive celebration. We went for the last one just to have a look at what is on display. It was interesting and something unexpected. Had we not stroll to the back of the mall we would not have noticed this exhibition of lights. Entrance fee is RM 5 per person.
Day 3
It's another early morning as we had to pack up, check out, drop off some baggage in Casuarina Hotel before we proceeded to Kundasang. It was a bit of rush but once on the way, we were fine. On the way, we did stop by the KK Wet Market to have a look since we have missed this earlier. As expected, there's so much fresh seafood on offer including puffer fish and lobster.
On our way out of the city we stopped by the Karambunai Beach. It's quite secluded and takes some effort to find but it's worth it as the sandy beach and ocean is void of people and is in pristine condition. The atmosphere here is so different from other public beaches. By the way, it's not practical to go for a swim here unless you stay in a nearby resort so we only enjoyed the view there.
We started searching for a lunch place on our way to Kundasang and found an eatery called 1Foodcourt which is located right after Tamparuli Bridge. It was a nice find and we had a meal of economy rice and Tuaran Mee with BBQ pork. Food price here is cheaper than in KK. We also bought some breads at RM 1 to RM 1.50 each for our breakfast the next day. Our coconut milk shake was nice too.
It started to rain quite heavily as we continued our way to Kundasang. As such we had to move at a slower pace. Luckily the rain stopped quite quickly. On the way we saw a few beautiful viewpoints where one can see Mount Kinabalu in all its majesty. But due to cloudy weather and also since we are running late, we skipped those for the time being.
However we did make a stop at a place which sells barbecue wild boar meat (Sinalau Bakas in Dusun language). The BBQ meat was fragrant and we decided to pack 1 kg of it for our dinner and it cost us only RM 22.
We checked in at Anjung Jamsari at around 5.30 pm and the owner showed us to our family suite. The view of Mount Kinabalu from our family suite is really remarkable and one of the winning points of this homestay.
After dropping off our baggage and taking some photographs of the majestic mountain, we went back to town to have a look. However by the time we reached there it was already getting dark. Most of the shops were closed but KFC was still open. There was also a night market and after browsing we decided to get some BBQ chicken wings to add to our dinner. The weather was nice and cool and perfect for a walk.
We noticed some stalls still display the fruits and vegetables on sale even though the owners have closed shop for the day. This shows the level of trust the local people of Kundasang have for one another. This kind of trust would not be possible in KL. Since it was already dark and we've seen what we came to see, we drove back to the homestay for dinner. We had dinner at the balcony in cool mountain weather with the sound of small stream in a valley below the homestay. What a wonderful dining experience.
After dinner, we went outside to the parking area of the homestay to enjoy the cold air and also to look at stars. Being far away from blinding lights, we had a beautiful view of a night sky full of stars. We also took some pictures of these sparkling diamonds in the sky.
What an ideal close to a perfect day.
Note:
- I tried some locally made liquor in Kundasang and it was horrendous. Basically, the so called wine is actually grape juice laced with alcohol. Please avoid at all cost.
- Somewhere along the way we went to a place called Kokob Rafflesia Conservation Garden with the hope that we'll see a Rafflesia in bloom. However we were disappointed. There was no blooming flower and worse of all the road to this place (which is just a village house) is in extremely bad condition. My advice is to give this place a miss. Do not waste your time to reach this place. Better try your luck in Poring Tropical Garden if you want to view this flower.
Day 4
There's a lot to cover in the Kundasang, Ranau and Poring area and we have only 2 days left here. So we woke up early. While the others were preparing, my youngest son and I made our way down the valley behind the homestay via a flight of steps to explore the stream that we've been hearing about. It took a bit of searching but we finally found our way there and it was really nice. We water from the stream was crystal clear and so cold in the crisp morning air. It was such a refreshing find. There is also a small plot of land in front of the homestay where vegetables are planted.
Soon we were on our way and we had breakfast on the move. We stopped at Desa Cattle Dairy Farm but it was not opened yet. We took some photos from the main gate but since this place is so near our homestay we decided to come back tomorrow while we continue to explore places further away.
We made our way to Mesilau Nature Park. On the way there we passed by the Mount Kinabalu Golf Club. The road got a bit steeper once you turn left after the golf course on your way to the nature park. The nature park is supposed to be where one can see local plants and animals in their natural habitat and even scale the heights of Mount Kinabalu. We were curious as to why we do not see any proper road signs along the way. We even saw a no admittance signboard. In any case we proceeded since we've come so far. On the way, we crossed 2 one-lane bridges (it's common here in Kundasang so please slow down and give way if necessary). A portion of the road was beautifully lined with natural coniferous trees. It was such a wonderful sight.
After finally reaching what looked like a guard post, we saw that the gate was closed. We inquired at the guard post and was told that the nature park was being refurbished and will be opened in about a year's time. It was disappointing but we did get a good view of the natural environment on the way there.
Some final notes on this park are that the final portion of the road there is paved in concrete so it's a bit bumpy, some portions of the road has a gradient of 25 degrees AND the stretch road beyond the closed gate is much steeper so I believe only a 4 wheel drive can tackle it.
After that we decided to go back to Kundasang town to visit the Memorial Park which is dedicated to the Australian and British soldiers who lost their lives in the Sandakan Death March during WW2. It is quiet and peaceful in the park. There are a few gardens in the park and it offers some nice views of Kundasang town. However come prepared with mosquito repellent as it gets itchy after a short while. Entrance fee is RM 3 per adult and RM 2 per child below 13 years old.
We then proceeded to Sabah Tea Plantation which is located after Ranau town. It took a while to get there due to some traffic jam and a rough stretch of road leading to the plantation. Once there we proceeded to walk around the place and took some nice photos. The processing facility is off limits unless you can get a worker to bring you around for a tour. The plantation itself is not very impressive and I think Boh Plantations in Cameron Highlands are better. They do have a restaurant there that serves some nice food and so we ordered some dishes for lunch. The portions are quite big and the food is good expect for Bambangan Chicken which tasted strange. I believe it's chicken cooked with the local Bambangan fruit.
After a satisfying lunch, we started our journey again towards the final destination of the day which is Poring. On the way we tried to locate Adenna Rafflesia Garden but could not find it. So you can forget about this place too. Just go straight to Poring.
We reached Poring in a short while as it's not so far away from the tea plantation. It's actually a park with many facilities. Entrance into the park is RM 3 for adult and RM 1 for children below 13.
Before we entered the hot springs area, we made our way to the Tropical Garden. Along the way we could see some chalets and bungalows which I believe is the accommodation for Sutera Sanctuary Lodges. There is one important reason for going to the Tropical Garden. To see the Rafflesia flower. Entrance fee is RM 10 per person but you can negotiate to reduce the number of people charged if you travel in a group. This was our last chance to view it having failed to find it in 2 other locations mentioned earlier.
Around the same area of is the Orchid Garden. We tried our luck to find the Rothschild Slipper Orchid but we did not see any in bloom. We did see another type of slipper orchid, other types of orchids and pitcher plants. Amazing place for orchid lovers.
There is also an open swimming pool if you do not want to soak in hot baths. The park is clean and quite big so you won't feel cramped. There are a lot of other activities you can go for at the park. One of which is to visit the Butterfly Park. You can go for the Canopy Walk which is definitely recommended. It's divided into 4 sections which I estimate to be 200 m in total. However, be prepared for a hike before you reach the treetop station. The view from the top is really a treat. Entrance fee is RM 3 per adult and RM 5 per camera.
Reaching back to the hot springs area, I soaked in the hot bath to relieve the aching muscles which resulted from the strenuous trek. We continued to soak in the open bath area once the closed bath area was "closed". We left around 5.30 pm as the drive back will take between 30 minutes to 1 hour and we want to reach Kundasang before it gets dark.
We decided to have dinner at a restaurant called 89 station. It is one of the very few restaurants which still open after 7 pm. The roads in Kundasang gets really dark at night as there is no street light in most sections. The roads are also winding and steep at certain sections, so caution is needed when driving at night.
89 Station is located on high land in Kundasang and therefore quite windy and cold. But that's the kind of weather we have come to experience. The restaurant itself is in a nice wooden house. They do brisk business at night due to limited eateries being open at that time. We ordered their bah kut teh, braised venison and wild boar meat and some vegetables. The bah kut teh was really good and quite different from the ones in KL. The broth is darker in color.
After the meal, we headed back to the homestay for more stargazing. This time around, we had a more difficult time as there was more cloud in the horizon. However , with some patience, we did manage to take some nice shots. My eldest son did a fantastic job of capturing the night sky. The kids also played with some resident cats. The area was very quiet, cold and windy at times. It can surely give you the chills if you happen to be alone.
It was another wonderful night with stars as our companion but we need to rest early as we have a long drive back to KK the next day.
Day 5
Our first destination of the day is Desa Cattle Dairy Farm. Having taken some photos at the main gate the day before, we proceeded to enter the farm and explore it's surroundings. Entrance fee is RM 5 for adult and RM 4 for children below 13 years old.
The road into the farm is long but it offers some good photo opportunities as well. After enjoying the views for a while which includes Mount Kinabalu we proceeded to the goods shop and cafeteria where they sell dairy, cheese, pizza and yogurt products made from the farm milk. We'll come back to that later as we explore the farm first.
After taking all the wonderful photos of the farm, you can proceed to the third part of the self tour which is the processing facility. There are a few glass panels which show visitors the machines and processes applied during milk processing. At the start, a machine prepares the milk carton box, then it is positioned under a noozle which will fill it with milk before it is sealed and moved to the next section where quality checks are done to ensure the only good products make it to the market.
Finally, we decided to have a meal at the cafeteria. We bought a pizza, all 3 flavors of milk, all 3 flavors of yogurt, a small cheese cake and not forgetting gelato. This would be our brunch for the day. The dairy products were good tasting and fills our stomach quickly. We decided to hang around a while longer to have a look at the farm and to take pictures. Having satisfied ourselves with the good food and wonderful scenery of the farm, we decided to move on to our second destination of the day.
We started off towards Mesilau Strawberry farm. Having reached there we were hoping to see some juicy strawberries but we were sorely disappointed. The road into the strawberry farm is very rough but the place is not really much of an attraction especially when there is no fruit to be had. Cameron Highlands strawberry farms are much better. So you can give this a miss if you're short of time.
We then proceeded to go back to KK city but on the way there are 2 more stops to be made. The first is Kinabalu National Park. We have this place a miss on the way to Kundasang as we were already late. Now we have some time to enjoy the park. Entrance fee is RM 3 for adult and RM 1 for children in school.
This park is different from others we've been to in the sense that you can drive around the park to enjoy the sights if you do not want to walk. We decided to walk instead. The weather at the park is very cooling and soothing. It's nice to take a stroll in such weather. There is also accommodation in the park for visitors to stay the night , presumably those who would like to scale Mount Kinabalu as this is the entry point to do so.
If you do not want to climb the mountain, it's still a good visit to stroll around the park and to see the Botanical Park located within (park within a park). Entrance fee is RM 4 for adult and RM 2 for children below 13. The botanical park is quite basic and the main attractions are orchid plants. There are also various nature trails to trek. We decided to trek the Silau-Silau trail which is one of the easier ones to tackle. The trail is quite flat and can be completed in less than half an hour.
After circling the park, we visited the Kinabalu Natural History Museum where we learned about the type of forests at the mountain area, the kinds of animals that live there and the rocks and minerals that make up the mountain. There are some dioramas about the animals and vegetation in Mount Kinabalu. Entrance fee here is RM 2 per person.
With that, we continued our journey towards KK city with a stop at one of the viewpoints mentioned earlier. It was a bit cloudy by then so the great mountain was not fully visible but the combination of cloud, sunlight and shadows on the valley below sure made for a magical site.
By the time we reached Casuarina Hotel at Tanjung Aru it was already evening. After a quick check-in, the kids changed into their bathing suites and off we went to the beach. There was a lot of people at the beach and there was also a Ramadan market there as well selling food and drinks. Most of the visitors seem to be from China and they were mostly taking photographs and not taking a dip in the sea.
It's dinner time and we decided on a safe choice which is to go to a nearby mall. We went to Imago and it was crowded. It could be due to the Keamatan Festival holiday. We took our dinner at a HK themed restaurant. Afterwards we did some shopping at the Everrise Supermarket. It's quite pricey and is akin to Jaya Grocer in KL.
Day 6
On the second last day of our visit we decided to take the trip we missed out on the second day which is a trip to Gayana Marine Resort, in particular to the Marine Ecology Research Center in the resort. Before that we had breakfast at the hotel which was included in the price. It's a simple American breakfast that only costs RM 5 if added-on.
We went there early this time so we won't miss the boat, pun intended. This time around we saw a group of Korean tourists at their Jesselton Point office. They were going to Bunga Raya Island Resort which is a sister resort on the same island, Pilau Gaya. Gaya Marine Resort is an eco resort which has some water activities such as diving, snorkeling, kayakigg and just plain swimming in the sea. There is no beach on this resort. For beach activities on Pulau Gaya it's best to visit Bunga Raya Island Resort.
The customer service agent who served us was different this time and she explained 2 packages, one with lunch and one without. The difference between the 2 would be a RM 50 lunch per person which is not worth it if you are travelling with children. The children visit ticket price is also cheaper than the adult one.
Since we are not keen on lunch, we decided to take the package without lunch which came up to RM 397. The boat leaves the jetty at 10.30 am so we registered ourselves. We overheard another agent saying that they should not be selling the package without lunch anymore but since they've already told us about it, we can take this package. Best to check with them if you'd like to visit MERC.
The boat we took was a service boat which ferries visitors and workers to the resort. It's slower than speedboats so the whole journey there took 30 minutes instead of the promised 10 minutes. It's ok as we enjoy the view of KK City from South China Sea and also the views of Pulau Gaya as we reach it. There's lots of wooden houses on one side of the island, not sure if it's for fishermen.
We finally reached the island and disembarked. The resort was spectacular with accomodation on stilts. They also rear their own organic fish for consumption. The water is so clear that you can see many types of fishes swimming in it. We were greeted by a resort employee who explained to us the resort layout and where the MERC buidling is. There were only 2 other guests that we saw on the boat ride. We took our own sweet time to photograph and admire the resort houses, the beautiful ocean and the marine life in it. With the sunlight shining into the ocean, it sparkled like diamonds.
After a slow leisurely walk, we reached the MERC building. We entered the auditorium and a video explaining the mission of MERC was already playing. The full blast of Aircon was much welcomed after the walk in the hot sun. It was an interesting video showing the activities at the center. It ended soon enough and we then moved to the aquarium area of the centre which houses some iinteresting marine creatures.
From the explanation given in the information write-up next to the display aquariums and also from another guide there, there are 3 different but equally important marine ecosystems. First is the mangrove swamps which protects our shores and also harbours many types of life forms. Second is the coral reefs that contains planktons which are invaluable in the marine food chain. Lastly is the sea grass which serves to protect erosion of the seabed and home to some species of animals.
The guide also explained to us the giant clams conservation effort that is main purpose of MERC. There are 7 species of these clams that are under their radar. Five of these can be seen in an aquarium there. Lots of interesting and educational information here not to mention photo opportunities.
After spending some time there, we moved out to the touch tank which is a long shallow tank which contains some selected marine life like starfish, sea cucumber and hermit crabs which we can touch and hold. It was interesting especially the sea cucumbers which feels different for different species. Unfortunately their broken coral adoption program was not available at the time as the broken corals were still being nurtured before they can be moved back to the sea.
After spending about 2 and half hours at the resort we departed back to KK city on a speedboat. This time the journey back was much faster and we were given life vests. After arriving at the KK jetty, we headed off for lunch. There are many small eateries along Jalan Gaya and we decided on Xing Wan Pan Mee. It's air-conditioned which is perfect for a hot day. The food is also very nice. After lunch, we walked around the area to check out souvenirs but they were expensive.
We decided to go to our next destination which is Lok Kawi Wildlife Park. The sky was threatening rain but we decided to give it a try. It was a bad decision as it rained heavily after that and it did not subside enough for us to go into the park. So we had to double back and go to Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) instead.
By the time we reach there, the rain has subsided but the roads were very badly jammed due to the Keamatan Festival that was being celebrated there. As such entrance was free. Basically KDCA is an association which promotes the Kadazan Dusun culture and during this festival they have open houses in the compound. There are various buildings in the compound each of which relates to one tribe. These tribal homes come to live during the festival with members of these tribes organising get together to have a good time and to encourage inclusiveness. There was loud music, singing, beauty competition, food, drinks and souvenirs on sale. There were lots of visitors and it was a lively atmosphere. It's a good time to visit KDCA. We did not get to cover the whole compound as there were too many people and we wanted to go back to Tanjung Aru beach.
So, back we went to our hotel to change and have a good time at the beach. It was pretty much the same atmosphere from yesterday but we did get more time to enjoy the beach. The kids loved it.
As darkness fell, it's time to pack up and go for dinner. Before that, we wanted to see a fountain light show at Perdana Park which is just next to the hotel. It's unbelievable that this show costs only RM 1 for each car going into the park. Otherwise it is free entry. Inside the park, there are also a few restaurants and the one with the most patrons is a buffet steamboat restaurant which was full of Korean tourists when we were there. There is also a playground for children and a jogging trek as well. It was incredible to see the water fountain moving and gyrating to classical and Malaysian traditional music. The park is made by possible by Timatch Sdn.Bhd. under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a gift to the state and the people without any form of payment or reward whatsoever.
We decided to give Welcome Seafood Restaurant another try as the food was good and we wanted to taste Sabah seafood another time before we left. The waiter remembered us and proceeded to suggest some fresh seafood. This time around , he suggested we do for steamboat as well as normal cooked dishes as the former is one of their specialty. In the end, we took a stone fish, a big flower crab, big clams, some Sabah abalone and chicken meat. Vegetables came with the steamboat set. He gave us a handful of tiger prawns for free as well. In hindsight , we should not have split the fish into steamboat and steamed portions as there is not enough meat. We should have gone with steamed fish as it was fresh. In any case it was a satisfying meal and cost us RM 216. It was indeed worth it.
Time has come for us to go back to the hotel and pack up for check out the day after.
Day 7
Before checking out , we still had a couple of hours to spend at the beach and that's exactly what we did. It was different from the other two occasions as we went in the morning. The crowd was smaller but it was still a busy beach.
After enjoying the cool sea water and playing with the sand, it was time to check out. We wanted to do some souvenir shopping and after comparing the prices from the past few days we saw that the shops at Asia City offers the best value. Previously we had already bought some coffee packs and food from KK Central Market and Everrise Supermarket so this time, we bought some trinkets like dream catchers, fridge magnets and key chains. Prior to souvenir hunting, we had lunch at Borenos Fried Chicken as we wanted to try one of the local fried chicken chain.
With all that done, we still had a few hours of time and we made a choice between Lok Kawi Wildlife Park and Sabah State Museum. Majority went for the former attraction and off we went again to the park. Luckily for us the weather was good and we got to walk around the park. The wildlife park is not that big so it can be covered in a couple of hours at most. Entrance fee is RM 10 for adult and RM 5 for children below 13. There are some indigenous animals like orang-utan, proboscis monkey and hornbill bird. So it's definitely worth going. There is also an animal show. It just so happens that when we almost covered the whole park, it started to rain. It rained quite heavily and we had to take shelter at a building nearby. Luckily the heavy rain did not last long and we had a window of opportunity to run to our car. So our trip to the wildlife park was almost jeopardized again due to rain.
Finally it was time to leave for the airport. On the way, we contacted the car rental company to arrange for them to pick up the car at the airport. Everything went smoothly and we checked in to our flight. We still had some time to walk around the airport and have a simple meal of cupcakes and coffee.
Conclusion
Overall, it was a very enjoyable trip. It was more relaxing than some other trips we've been on as we have rented a car. Kota Kinabalu and Kundasang has many things to offer tourists. The seafood is fresh and reasonably priced.
The total for food and souvenir is RM 1315 while entrance fee amounted to RM 266. The total for the whole trip is roughly RM 7000 for 7 days and 6 persons, all inclusive.
We definitely recommend this place for a holiday as there is something for everyone. Remember, a family that travels together, stays together.
Please see the links below for more attractions in Sabah:
Sabah Attractions 1
Sabah Attractions 2
Hope this blog has given you some new ideas for your next travel !!
