Our version of Tadau Ka'amatan 2015 Celebration @ Sabah

Going to Sabah is our family's way of winding down . Just like the meaning of Tadau Ka'amatan (Harvest Festival) , it is the time we reap the rewards of a year's hard work .

We always commence our ritual with a hearty bowl of beef noodles at Kah Hiong Ngiu Chap . It is located at the corner Block A of Kolam Centre Phase 2 . The exact address is :

2-0-10 , Block A , Ground Floor , Kolam Centre Phase 2 , Jalan Lintas , Hilltop , Kota Kinabalu

What's good : Beef Tendon , 3 Colour Milk Tea , Mixed Beef Noodles Soup

Then we would continue our journey to Kinabalu Park , Kundasang . The drive would take about 2 hours to reach . Just enjoy the view .

On the way up , you will find 3 to 4 huts that stationed interspersely along the road with the sign "Sinalau Bakas" . These are non-halal (not for Muslim) . 

For souvenir hunters, you can stop by Pekan Nabalu . There are rows of shops selling all sorts of souvenirs . We do not usually buy toys for the kids . For this holiday , we let them choose musical instruments for entertainment . 

When we reached Kinabalu Park , I realised I made a mistake in the reservation . I had booked my stay a day later . Lucky for us there is still 1 last room left despite it being a public holiday . We stayed in Liwagu Suite for 1 night .

The suite comes with a king bed at the 2nd floor , while the lower floor is the living room and a balcony facing the botanical garden .

Many people asked us, what do you do there ? There is really not a lot to do . You can stop by the rows of stalls along the Kundasang main road to buy vegetables , fruits and flowers .

We found uncut cinnamon for sale . 

You can also go to the Kundasang War Memorial Park that commemorates the British and Australian soldiers who died during the "death march" from Sandakan to Ranau . We didn't go this time as I did not find the right mood in my kids . I had dreamt of bringing along painting kits for them to paint flowers in there . But the kids were too engrossed in doing their painting at the new lodging - Peak Lodge in Kinabalu Park .

 I personally prefer the lodges in Kinabalu Park . Reason:

1. All the balconies faces Mount Kinabalu

2. They come with chimney/fireplace that you can get the staff to light up for you at night

3. They come with kitchen where you can cook the veges bought from Kundasang stalls

Our beloved relative helped us bought some really fresh prawns from the market, 
which we brought up to Kundasang, 
especially to go with the sweet sweet vegetables bought there.

Our mornings were spent walking about Kinabalu Park , stopping ever so often to look at the plants . We took the kids to walk around the Botanical Garden . Very interesting plants and explanation provided with signboards everywhere . 

DO YOU KNOW?

1. Do you know there is a fruit called "Buah Minyak Tanah" (Kerosene Fruit) because the fruit can be used to start fire?
2. Do you know figs grow at the root of the trees and not at the top?

If you have kids , they might enjoy Desa Dairy Farm which is 10-20 minutes uphill from Kundasang town . The place has been been expanded to accommodate the increasing number of visitors . You can go there to take some "oversea-like-highland-field" photos .  

 The kids love to feed the calf and goats milk and grass.

 You can buy fresh milk , yogurts or eat gelato . Kids love them all .
I personally like the windows where they showed how the cows are milked and packed .

Going back to Kota Kinabalu , we checked in to Sutera Harbour Magellan Resort . 

From then onwards we did nothing other than relaxing in the resort and let the kids rule .

The other highlight would be this new beef noodle shop at Kolombong . The twist here is the curry laksa version of beef noodle . I love the rich and sour flavour of the curry laksa , which goes just as well with the beef .

(Address: 36, Ground Floor, Block C, Nountun Industrial, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia)

There are other eateries that we would go back again:

1. Fish head noodles @ Fatt Kee (Address: Taman Hilltop, Lintas, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia)
2. Har Kaw Wong and Char Siew Pow @ Foo Phing Dim Sum (Address: Kolam Centre Phase II, Taman Hilltop, Lintas, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia)
3. Kaya Butter Bread & Milk Tea @ Fook Yuen (Address: Jalan Damai, Luyang, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia)

THE END…

for 2015, in Sabah