SABAH VISIT–STOP OVER KUNDASANG MEMORIAL PARK

This trip was done in February 2011 when was on my family’s trip to Sabah.
Our journey to Ranau gives me the opportunity to stop at the Kundasang War Memorial Park that is dedicated to


This is not my first visit though but I can see the changes since my first visit to this memorial in the 70s while I was serving in Kota Marudu and travel to Ranau or Sandakan.
Kundasang is popular with her vegetable product and almost everybody who travel on this route will make a stop at Kundasang to buy fresh vegtable to take home.
As in most public places visitors has to be reminded on ethics and here are some placed within the Garden to remind visitors.

Signages within the Garden VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The garden has been segmented and dedicated to the various parties involved in the memorial.

Australian Garden VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

		Borneo Garden VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

		English Garden VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The administration area. Here video clips and memorable photos is being displayed for visitors.

View from the Garden

Sabah Trip - Langkon Stops

Langkon is not actually a town but just a small RnR stop along the way from Kota Kinabalu to Kudat or Kota marudu or vice versa. It is located at a junction to Kudat and Kota Marudu if you are from Kota Kinabalu or Kota Belud.

 The facilities is not what is expected on normal RnR on highways but just enough for travelers to stop and buy some essentials especially snacks and drinks. Do not miss out the groundnuts or the crackers. I bet it taste better than the popular brand groundnuts sold in supermarkets. The nuts are not hard but quite soft and fluffy. I think its the produce from farmers around the area.

Sabah - Sungai Morali, Luanti Natural Fish Spa

Fish Spa had made its appearance in shopping complexes where one can go and let the fish nibble on the skin, peeling away dead skin cells while experiencing the massage sensation. Dip your feet into the fish tank and the little fish come and treat them.

Having fish spa in its natural environment and habitat is quite rare. The community of Kg Luanti located about 18 kilometres from Ranau town seems to be blessed with this natural spa, where the river, Sg Morali was turned into a tourist attraction. I had an opportunity to visit one while I took my family back to Sabah for a family gathering.

To go to Kg Luanti, the best way is to drive up the winding road from Kota Kinabalu towards National Park or Sandakan and on the way after Ranau town is this Tagal Sungai Morali, Kg. Luanti Baru. This remote village has been selected as the Malaysia River Care winner Award in 2006 for their effort in maintaining the natural gift.  

      

The landmark is the Sabah Tea signboard and immediately after it is the Tagal Sungai Morali at Kampung Luanti  Baru. You go past the junction to Poring hot Springs. This signboard below is very visible as you go past the Sabah Tea signboard.

The fish found in the area are the Garap, Pelian, Kelah and Tor Tambroides. They will “attack” you once you step into the slow flowing water and start nibbling on your skin. Adult visitors only pay RM 5.00 while children between 6 – 12 years RM 2.00. Infant is FOC. That is for dipping the feet into the water for 15 minutes but if you want to “swim with the fish”, there is a flat rate of RM 10.00 per  15 minutes, irrespective of age.

Top: Step into the water and the fish will swarm around your feet

Top photo: This is what happen to my feet after being “massaged” by the fish. Less dead skin, uh?

The place starts operating in 2002 but only open to the public in 2008. Besides the fish spa, the place provide chalet at between RM 50.00- RM 80.00 per night with access to the kitchen and guest can cook on their own. However guest can request catering for food if they have no time to cook. There are homestay too if the chalet are full. For the more adventuruous, there are campsites to fix up your tent.

At any one time the Tagal Sg Morali can accommodate up to 200 guest, and team building or motivational activities can be organised here.

Top : Some of the chalet within the area

While enjoying watching visitors giggle and getting excited having their feet being “massaged” by the fishes, guest can sing out your voice at the karaoke for RM 1.00 per song.  

So, if you visit Sabah and have enough time to travel around, try not to miss this fish spa.   

Visit  www.asehtours.com for details. 

Sidek Esplanade, Kudat

Now I am at Sidek Esplanade, Kudat Sabah. Just finish having dinner under the sky. Before visited Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, the Northern most tip of Borneo. It was my second time visiting the tip.

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Traveling To Kota kinabalu

This is my first trip to Kota Kinabalu on Firefly. I was one of the fortunate flyer to be able to land a cheap fare at just RM 294 for a return flight.

It is a new experience since I have never fly this airline before. The flight was not full and it's too bad that part of my family have to fly on Ariasia due to fare differences. So I have to buy them Airasia tix and we fly to Kota Kinabalu within 1/2 an hour difference departure.

Management at the holding lounge before embarkation seems to be well managed even though passenger still practice the Malaysian attitude of rushing to go first even with the seats allocated. However the personnel managing the gate carried out his task well and follow the SOP in allowing passengers to go on board according to seat location. However the normal passenger with kids to board earlier were not given the priority. Its a small matter though.

Inside the cockpit, there is no difference as on board Airasia with jus one Class and the black leather seat (mmmmm, is it leather?). So, I am not going write anything more.

Actually I later found out that I did not claim our meals because of ignorant. The tix was bought for us by my daughters friend and I was not inform about the meals acccompanied. The stewardess were checking some passengers boarding pass and I thought if our tix come with meals, the stewardess might come and ask for our boarding pass. I thought Firefly might be one step ahead in identifying passengers who buy meals when purchasing the tix. I am sure the chief steward were provided with the full list of passengers and there is details of meals ordered so the flight has enough meals to cater according to orders. So we miss out our pre ordered meals for three person.

This post will be updated later when I go home later.
Posted from Kota Marudu on Samsung Tab

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Seafood In Kota Kinabalu

I went to Kota Kinabalu last December and a friend took me for a seafood dinner at the Seafood Restaurant in Kampung Air on Jalan Laiman Diki. It is one of the most popular seafood restaurant within the Kota Kinabalu City.

These are some of the dishes ordered.

Its called elephant snail. Mmmmmm….not because it is big. Who can give a clue? Why is it called elephant snail?

This is scallop. Its the first time I tasted this seafood.

This vegetable dish is named Sabah Vege. Its fern shoots and a specialty for Sabah just like the Midin in Sarawak. If you go for dinner or lunch in Sabah don’t miss this vegetable since its a specialty for Sabah.

Except for the first and last dish, the rest are a first time experience for me.