Down Memory Lane - Kinabalu National Park

I have lost count the number of times we visited the Kinabalu National Park. In the 1980's, Kinabalu National Park was practically the only accommodation visitors could book for overnight stay. The other popular place for overnight stay was at Perkasa Hotel Mt. Kinabalu which was opened in 1981. While the Park is under the jurisdiction of Sabah Parks, all applications for accommodation and mountain climbing guides are now processed by a private company, Sutera Sanctuary Lodges.

Kinabalu Park, Malaysia's first World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO in December 2000. 

Paul looked at the lodges we once stayed and spent our
holidays in those bygone years!

The third generation!

Almost in every trip to the Park, we never failed to walk the trail and stop at this huge "Rafflesia". Compared to our last trip in December 2017 with Serene's family (Read here), the crowd was bigger this time. Unfortunately in this recent trip, our walk had to be cut short because of the drizzling rain!

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Our short tour of the Park ended with lunch at the cafeteria.

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Back in the 1980s, the wishing pool was a favourite haunt for our three children, who delighted in tossing coins and making wishes. Sadly, during our recent visit, we found that the pool was no longer accessible, leaving only fond memories of those bygone days.

Photo probably taken in 1987, some 35 years ago!

The Family Portrait Taken at Sabah Tea Plantation

The last time we had a complete family photo taken was in December 2017 - just a couple of months shy of five years ago (Read here). Back then, little Livvie was barely a year old; today, she’s already five. Since then, our family has grown with the arrival of Maddie, born during the Covid-19 pandemic, who is now a lively two-year-old.

Our 2017 family portrait was captured by Louis Pang, whose studio has since closed permanently as he pursued another profession - becoming a cycling coach. For this trip, I had originally planned for my youngest brother to take a casual family photo after our visit to Kundasang. But, by pure chance, while we were at the Sabah Tea Plantation on 12 July 2022, a friendly bystander—who turned out to be a tour guide - offered to snap a few shots for us. The result? Some truly fantastic family photos, captured in the most unexpected way.

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Before moving on to our next destinations, we lingered to make the most of the facilities available. Some in our group opted for a leisurely stroll along the plantation’s guided trail, soaking in the fresh air and scenic greenery.

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The grandchildren also enjoyed a photo session after dressing up in traditional Kadazan costumes. At first, they were all smiles, but before long the sweltering heat of the day began to take its toll, and their cheerful expressions slowly gave way to visible discomfort.

They preferred to be in their simple casual wear!

Canopy Walk at Poring Hot Spring

At Poring Hot Spring, where we spent the afternoon of 12.07.2022, four of us - spanning three generations - decided to take on the Canopy Walk.

I had done it many years ago, though my memories of that first attempt are hazy at best. This time, I felt a twinge of apprehension when told it would be a 30-minute climb from the base to the starting point. The thought of my legs carrying me up a steep slope for that long was daunting. Still, I decided to give it a go.

Not long into the climb, we encountered a senior couple, perhaps in their 60s, making their way back down. They had decided not to continue, doubting they could make it to the top. A short while later, we met a middle-aged lady with a younger companion who also turned back, saying they were probably not even halfway and unsure if they could finish the steep ascent. Fortunately, these encounters only strengthened my determination.

What truly kept me going, though, were my two grandchildren. My grandson, Nathan, kept glancing back to check on me, calling out, “Gung gung, are you OK?” That simple encouragement was a powerful motivator. In the end, we reached the starting point in just 20 minutes - ten minutes quicker than average. Still an achievement, I reckon!

Walking the narrow strip of timber boards suspended more than 200 feet above the forest floor certainly set the heart racing. My last suspension bridge experience was at Vancouver’s Capilano Suspension Bridge five years ago (Read here). That crossing felt far more relaxed - wider, shorter, and with much less sway.

From the canopy, the view was nothing short of breathtaking - layers of emerald-green treetops stretching as far as the eye could see, sunlight breaking through gaps in the canopy, and the distant call of birds echoing through the forest. For a brief moment, all thoughts of the climb melted away, replaced by awe at the beauty and stillness of the rainforest below.

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The downhill walk was comparatively easier. In the end, it was the youngsters who led the way!

A typical tall tree used to support the suspension bridge. This one named "Octomeles Sumatrana Miq" is 58m (190ft) tall with a diameter of 1.5m (5ft) and a circumference of 4.8m (16ft).

Fish Spa at Bombon, Kg. Merakau, Ranau

Ranau has numerous natural fish spas to offer to visitors. Some prefer to have their feet soaked in water and just be nibbled by the hundreds of tiny fishes.  We tried this some years ago in Chiang Rai (Read here). They called it fish massage but in fact it is more liked having the dead skin on the feet chipped off by these fishes. The fish however were kept in fish tank and not in natural streams or natural body of water.

Fish in Bombon Fish Spa however are "trapped" in a section of a river. Fish kept there are not minute fish but huge koi and carps. This was our second visit to this Spa. We last visited the same spot during Boxing day in 2017 (Read here). This time, we were joined by the families of Sam, Paul and Junshi.

The thrill in the Spa was not so much of being nibbled by these large fish. It is the suction sensation one feels on the palm when these huge fish suck the pellets out from the hand! On top of that, one can literally touch and cuddle a fish, which the kids found it fascinating!

Family Outing - The Hill Kinabalu

Prior to the holidays, our family spent quite a bit of time searching for the ideal place where everyone could relax together, away from home. After much discussion (and plenty of online scrolling), we finally decided on The Hill Kinabalu homestay. Our key requirement? The place had to have a proper area for a family barbecue!

The Hill Kinabalu is a small, family-owned homestay built on a cut-and-fill platform. According to the operator, it was constructed during the pandemic. We booked five rooms in total.

Check-in went smoothly, and all the rooms seemed to be in good working order - except mine. The water heater in my room refused to cooperate. A workman tried his best to fix it but eventually gave up. I was then offered a brand-new family room in the third block, which had only been opened for guests less than a month earlier.

However, the next day, after returning from an outing, I was greeted by an unexpected sight - the bathroom floor was scattered with broken glass. The mirror had fallen right off the wall. When I reported it, the operator admitted this was the fourth time such an incident had happened. A closer inspection showed that the fastening method was poorly designed and unlikely to hold for long. I suggested a more secure mounting approach for their consideration.

As a result, I was moved to yet another room - making it three different rooms in just a two-night stay! Thankfully, the other four rooms occupied by my family had no such issues, and everyone else’s stay went smoothly.

Hall for barbeque, dining and even for erecting tents
for guests who come to camp!

First two block where our family were allocated five rooms.

The third block where my wife and I were moved to after the
water heater failed to work in the first room
where we first checked into.

The site has a spectacular view of Mt. Kinabalu.

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Whenever opportunity arose, the children would venture out to the hill side to enjoy the swing and the rope hammock.

For the best panoramic view from the property, a short climb is required to reach the upper platform of the hill. From here, the sweeping vista of Mt. Kinabalu provides a stunning backdrop, making it a perfect spot for photography. The area is also a hit with the kids, thanks to the swings that add a touch of fun to the breathtaking scenery.

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The operator has clearly put careful thought into creating facilities that encourage outdoor activities and allow guests to fully appreciate the tranquil beauty of the surroundings.

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Our barbecue kicked off only after a fair bit of effort to get the fire going. Along the way, we picked up a thing or two about coaxing barbecue charcoal into that perfect ember glow. We discovered that factory-made briquette charcoal takes considerably more time and effort to reach cooking heat compared to the traditional mangrove wood charcoal. Thankfully, a friendly camper came to the rescue, lending us his kitchen blow torch - which sped things up dramatically.

Once the coals were ready, the barbecue shifted into high gear, with Sam, Meng How, and Paul taking command of the grill. The sizzling aromas filled the air, and laughter mingled with the rising smoke. As expected, the highlight for the kids came later - skewering marshmallows, holding them over the glowing embers, and watching them turn golden and gooey. For them, it was pure magic - sweet, sticky, and utterly unforgettable.

Barbequing marshmallows!