Penang to Kota Kinabalu (Kundasang) part 2 la nie

After Poring, we head straight to Rose Cabin, the place we gonna stay for the night. 10 of us now.. 4 is somewhere along timpohon to laban rata.. hahhaha.. at least we got our guys climbing up there.. but before heading there we had some late lunch at Ranau.. MAMAK.. hahahaha.. i did warned this guys abt mamak food in sabah.. its nothing like Penang mamak's.. hehehhe.. sendiri mau ingat la bro..

dumped all the bags in the room and hit the bed.. hahha.. it was cold there in Kundasang.. then when i wanna take the shower.. i went like.. "huh.. this is nothing like the normal electric heater, what is this???".. Gas heater..!!!! OK..!! no smoking here.. who ever wanna smoke, get the hell out the room...!! But none dare to go out the room after 6.. it was freezing.. hhaha... not really freezing but to someone that so used to 35 degree celcius, 16 is definitely freezing.. and this guys were taking their own sweet time that little did they know, the restaurants around Kundasang will b closed by 9.. and 2130hrs.. all ready to go for dinner... but no place to buy anything.. hahahhaaha.. i had to drive to Ranau back and hit KFC (opened 365 even if the world gonna end) that is the only place to get something to eat.. and by the time i got back to the lodge, the fried chicken was close to getting frozen.. hahahhaha... the boys were playing card game and i was too tired odi.. need to head to kk early in morning

Break of dawn, waking up looking at this majestic huge rock.. i quickly grabbed my camera n took some shots.. i am not sure if i would ever see the sunrise from here.. the swallows were flying everywhere, birds singing.. it was gorgeous... (sayu-sayu lagu sayang kinabalu main dikepala otak aku nie)

left the place and head towards kk.. hahhaa.. rindu plak kat kk.. stopped at tamparuli and showed them Tamparuli bridge, well for them its just another hanging bridge.. they dunno the song, so i cant expect much.. only the other bridge, the one that for cars that caught their attention.. almost same level with the water... had our breakfast there, 10 indians in a chinese restaurant.. reminds me the 1st time i enter the restaurant few years ago, all the eyes on me.. hahha indian ma.. celebrity jugak kira in this land..

Penang to Kota Kinabalu (from KK to Simpang Mengayau and Kinabalu) part one la orang bilang.. hahahaha

The day was finally there..!! 13 guys will be arriving in KKIA, alamak.. van settled odi.. now the car is having some problem.. thank god i resolved the issue by the time this dudes reach kk.. hahahaha... timetable, check.. all in place.. 1st thing 1st - makan - banana leaf, indian restaurant.. come all the way from penang and eat banana leaf.. hahhaha.. makan la hinava, ikan basung goreng and bambangan, ori sikit bro.. hahahha.. but what to do.. indian blood ma.. no curry one day, sure die one.. pushing them to hit the road by 1330hrs.. but its a mammoth task, the donkeys dun move until it was 1530hrs.. will i be able to reach simpang mengayau by sunset?? can la, my heart says.. only 2 hours journey wat.. sure can one... hahhahahaha.. 2 hours plus a stop at taun gusi, for jagung bakar (roasted corn) sweet, steaming corn that is.. fulamak... thats a must everytime i use that stretch of the road.. hahhaha but this time get additional stuffs la.. two bottles of montoku.. (thanni da macha).. the guys whacking it nicely and by the time i realised it.. they quietly bought another... that stop wasnt a pitstop anymore.. its more than that.. now i really have to rush to simpang mengayau... and that bone shaking stretch, unpaved, potholed, dusty road... Tuan Masidi, when gonna get the road paved la...?? malu la wanna explain to outsiders about the road condition here, tourist spot some more...

we reached simpang mengayau just as the sun was goin down.. sighhhhh... at least no complains.. the boys loved the scenery there.. hahhaha.. and they r obsessed with the panoramic view that they dun get to see every day... hahahha.. they r really into taking photo, capturing all the beautiful moments there...

and its already getting late.. getting dark and i dun really remember the way to angkung's long house.. shhhh... dun wanna scare the boys.. but once inside kampung bavanggazo, my mental mapping system took over.. who needs GPS when you mind have photographing memories of the place.. hahhaha.. thank god i had called angkung earlier.. he had prepared dinner for us... Makannnnnnnnnnnn... now, this time its more of the traditional thing that they should have la.. all the food was prepared kampung style.. pakis rebus, rebung, kangkung, and chicken cooked with soy sauce... oh.. i forgot to mention something happened right after we arrived here... Did i forget to tell them that the homestay concept at this long house means that you r goin to live for a day with all the basic necessity only?? nope.. i did not..!!! i told everyone that no aircon, no hot shower and all... so why the hell you must go and ask the longhouse headman if there is any hot shower, and that you only take hot shower, nothing less?? hellooooooo.... if you need tat, go and book yourself a 5 star hotel ler.. jangan dok mai sini this is a place for those who wish to understand and get to know the local lifestyle.. goshhhhhhhh... don every do something that hurt the headman's feeling.. and i had to apologise to him for this idiotic behaviour..

but it was ok.. tho the headman did felt insulted.. but apology accepted.. hmmmm... after the meal, we were presented with a beautiful performance by an old lady.. a nose flute, thats wat it was.. she was actually playing the instrument using her nose..!! hahahaha.. shocking eh.. yea.. it is but the sound was so soothing... like a whisper in a darkest night, taking you the the other world..

and followed by jimmy hendriks of bavanggazo.. hahhaha.. tho it was nothing like jimmy, this dude still rock..!!! errr.. like electric guitar? naah.. like strings on a piece of wood that gives a soulful sound everytime he strums it.. hmm... how to explain to you huh?? you gotta be there to hear him play to understand it la.. not gempaq, just smooth... cool old guy.. than we have some beautiful ladies walking up the stairs to our area.. all in traditional rungus dress.. gracefully, the hands and legs moved to the sound of the gong, and drum beats.. mesmerized, the boys were by this movements, hmmm.. and the beautiful ladies la.. boys will always be boys.. hahhahahha..

and then it was our turn to join the dance, and i as the 'tourguide cum photographer cum translator cum driver' dun have to join them.. hahha been doin that for quite sometime odi nie... and soon followed with the drinking session.. montoku n lihing was served.. aramaiti dia bilang ... and aramaiti it was.. hahahha.. the boys had fun and its time for the boys to show the locals their own culture, they sing tamil songs, danced to it and the indian drum beats.. and by 0300hrs, most of the guys were knocked out..

0500hrs, have to leave bavanggazo, continue the journey to Kinabalu National Park.. now.. how to get this guys up?? Start the engine and tell them, the van will be moving out in ten minutes, whether you r in it or not... hahhaha it worked.. can see how fast the boys left the long house.. Most of this guys never seen sunrises at 0545hrs... They simply cannot believe the day starts early here, in north borneo...

The Mountain view from Kota Belud.. had lite breakfast there and heading towards National Park.. more like rushing towards it.. 4 guys need to register there, they gonna climb the mount.. conquering konon, pity them.. gonna see them with swollen legs tomorrow, thats for sure..
and the rest of the group headed towards timpohon gate, the gate to the majestic mountain. did some hiking up the trail.. well, no fun just looking at the mount from the gate rite.. i make sure they hike up the 1st 1000m up the trail.. all the oversized dudes face was like being tortured.. hahahha.. only once in your life la.. sure can do one..


the Pic was taken at Carsem Waterfall.





and if that wasnt enough, i took them to Poring-Poring.. hahhaha.. the guys were all excited seeing the river. But they dunno abt the canopy walk yet.. told them to hike up the hill.. Hike again?? tht wat the faces clearly says.. and once on the hanging bridges, can see the fear in their face.. not all but quite a bunch of them.. the face is like staring death rite on its face.. hahahha.. it was funny, really funny to see them crawling there..

but that face changed as soon as they see the pool again.. hahhahah.. they just love the water, dont they... bringing the kids in them... wait for the next blog, day 2 and 3... Kundasang and island escape...

Beluran river kruize (for its not really a cruise)

Drove to Beluran during a long holiday, had promised a good friend that i'll visit him and there is no better time than this to see him and his family.

A long drive from KK, alone passing the mountain ridge, unfamiliar terrain past Kinabalu, driving at 0400hrs, foggy road and cold weather. The day get clearer as i past the mountain, stopped at telupid for a cup of nescafe.. Nothing beats the warm smell of coffee on the cold morning. Everyone staring at the 'newcomer' at the shop. I can understand that, its not always they get a dark skinned visitor around the town.

Note to myself - Beware of the missing roads along telupid - i saw that when i was travelling to Tawau/Semporna 2 years back, on a bus. So i gotta be careful in this stretch.. and yup, i was rite, they haven't fixed the road yet. Wonder how a place this beautiful being neglected to this extend.. why the government has not done anything to rectify this small problem all over sabah.. Well, seen lamp post and cables going to the kampungs in the interior part of Paitan, but the people are still using generator for power.. Asked them why aren't there any supplies when the electric post is there. The village simply says "itu urg kerajaan janji mo kasi lampu, pasang nie tiang sebelum tu pilihanraya... nie abis suda tu pilihanraya, masi teda karan sini bos", she says.. (the people from the government came before the election, erect all the electric post here and promised to supply electricity to the place, the election is over, yet the electrictity still not available). But people here never complains, the smile on the face is genuine, the warmth of a friendship is true. Something that makes you love the place more and more.

Now back to my story... I finally reached Beluran, its not hard to find it actually.. Just follow the signboard and your are there, 5 hours away from KK.. a long drive yet wonderful to see all the lovely scenes along the road.

Well, The best part is yet to come.. Kampung Air???? When did my friend told me that he is living in a house in Kampung Air (water village - houses built on stilts above the water).. And why he look like a stranger now?? He dun have the kadazan look anymore (pendek tagap), he's skinny now and blends well with the locals there, mostly bugis, tidong and sungai,

And guess where was my 1st stop?? Kenduri doa tahlil, at one of the houses in the kampung hahaha.. KRAZY...!! Why the hell he took me there when i'm not even a muslim (tapi takpe la, kena jaga air muka tuan rumah, bedal jer la labu) had my lunch there and chill all day long.. a simple home, friendly neighbourhood, not a single door was shut close and every where you go, you feel welcomed. Didnt know they are this friendly.. hahhaha.. (Phobia pas kes Pulau Gaya). The night i went to Pak Ujang's house, an experienced boat man, to take me along the Beluran river, something like a river cruise thingy la, without any tour operator along to cut your throat. Deal was sealed and went to bed feeling great.

The break of dawn and we were cruising out from the village into the main river, the scene was gorgeous, beautiful. How lucky this people are to live in this part of the world, come on.. how many of us get to see this view everyday? All we know is we wake up and rush to work and by the time the sunsets where are too tired to even smell the roses in our own yard, provided you have your own yard that is..

And this, would be the greatest photo i took that day. I saw the birds (eagles, mostly the seahawks, brahminy kites and crested serpents eagles) circling the water, like a dive bombers they hit the water from the sky. and i tot they didnt get anything, futile attempts.. only to realise it was a great catch, for me and the birds after uploading into my laptop.. ahahaha.. how our eyes perceive things.. Note to myself - amma (mom) always says, never judge a book by its cover. (topik takde kaitan)

And in this wooden boat i cruised down the river, or was it cruising up the river.. i dun even know where we were heading, all i know, the boat man took me along the river, in and out the forks along it. And this is one of the highlight of the cruise, Mendagu waterfall.. waterfall eh?? hahha.. water falling from a plateau into the pond thats is connected to the river.. but the route to this place is gorgeous.. and its hidden well inside the nipah vegetation.. not all know the way to go there, only the locals and few outsiders ever knew about it..

the whole trip was great... so many beautiful creatures.. how many people out there really knows that proboscis monkey thrive here?? at least one thing for sure, there aren't any tourist flocking this wilderness yet.. maybe one day they will come in dozen or maybe they'll develop this scenic wilderness into oil palm plantation.. we'll never know..

Left the place with one thing in my mind.. how long will all the wildlife here survive. How long will it take for human to understand that this animals has rights to live a life the way they want to.. instead of cages, wildlife park or something.. if money comes in (eco-tourism) they are protected, if not this proboscis are shot for being the pest to farmers. well.. wonder who invade whose land here, the animal or the human..

Kiansom Waterfall, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

A beautiful monday, no crowds except for some school kids that obviously hated the class, chose to be here instead of being in the class room.. i hiked for abt 15-20 mins until i saw this magnificent waterfall. Been a while since i been in places like this, quiet, only birds, butterflies n frogs to be around you and the cold mist created by this fall..

They have basic facilities here, though there are lots of room for improvements. To go to the highest point, you need to track up the hill, which takes you thru slippery yet quite an easy track. you'll be able to see lots of interesting fauna around here, but leeches is not one of them.

To go here, you have to go to inanam town, and drive to kiansom. Its a 30-40 mins drive from KK town.