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
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| 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?
- Do you know there is a fruit called "Buah Minyak Tanah" (Kerosene Fruit) because the fruit can be used to start fire?
- 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 .
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:
- Fish head noodles @ Fatt Kee (Address: Taman Hilltop, Lintas, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia)
- Har Kaw Wong and Char Siew Pow @ Foo Phing Dim Sum (Address: Kolam Centre Phase II, Taman Hilltop, Lintas, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia)
- Kaya Butter Bread & Milk Tea @ Fook Yuen (Address: Jalan Damai, Luyang, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia)
THE END…
for 2015, in Sabah
