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.

**************************************************

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.

***************************************************

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.

*************************************************

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!