 on top of the hill... pix from nst travel times... by chiabh | Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Kota Kinabalu attractions, posted by real travelers and locals. Kota Kinabalu Map |
 | Kota Kinabalu Off the Beaten Path | Tips 1 - 10 of 44 |  |
 Dried salted fish by Wild_Orchid
What to Check out:
Sea-cucumber of various types (including the A Grade Tiger Variety, which are delicious when cooked with pork & black vinegar, (a friend's mum confirmed that this is the best quality), dried abalone, dried shrimps, ikan bilis and many varieties of dried fish and dried cuttlefish, including some dried seafood that I've never ever seen before!
Good news: The prices are much cheaper than at Kuala Lumpur, and the quality is almost similar.
Downside: You'll smell the stuff a mile away...advised to check it in, and not carry it on board the plane.
Tips for Mums and Dads who Love to Cook: Because they're dry, they're light so you should buy some of these delicacies for yourself, or for your mother-in-law. She & your kids will love you for it !
I bought some small dried abalone at RM90 per kilo.
My recipe: soak 6 pieces of abalone overnight, then boil for 4-5 hours (low heat or crockpot) with 1 whole chicken, 6-7 bowls of water, a few fresh ginger slices, 2-3 chinese mushrooms and whole black pepper - oh, it was delicious and hearty ! makes 4-5 bowls of soup)
Final Tip: Remember to bargain, because the prices are negotiable (but remember also that everyone has to make a living, so don't be too stingy!) Leave a Comment
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 at the park entrance by Wild_Orchid
There are cold and hot sulfur pools where water is piped in from natural springs. Apparently, the sulfur is supposed to be good for your skin.
There are small baths (for 1-6 people), and also larger sized pools (where kids swim using rubber tubes which you can borrow from there-limited in numbers though).
If you don't fancy a dip, you can go for a short jungle trek (various treks that are well marked, not very difficult) or a canopy walk (RM4 per person).
Showers are adequate and quite clean but remember to bring your own towels!
Something unique: The water so hot, you could boil an egg in it ! (but cooking eggs here is not allowed, heh heh)
Downside: Can be crowded with locals & tourists during weekends & public holidays. Alas, some adults may find that Poring can be a bit Boring :-)
Upside: You could also pay (RM30/ hour) to have your own private hot springs/jacuzzi facilities in a "chalet". Limited numbers available.
No, the cool dude in the pics is not my husband...he's a work colleague Leave a Comment
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 A walk through the mud was
worth the trip by LadyHawkau, 4 more photos
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 Padas River by syetan
Now you'll get a safety talk and get thrown on a raft. Duration can take between 40-90 minutes depending on whether it's been raining recently and you'll go through 5 rapids. You can jump off and are rescued by kayakers if you can make it back to shore. Food is available at the end but be quick-it's not necessarily enough for everyone. Then you go back.
Toilet facilities there there but can be quite basic, to say the least, both on the train and rafting area...
I have more information on my Kampong Padas Valley travel pages. Leave a Comment
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 on top of the hill... pix from
nst travel times... by chiabh, 1 more photos
The 1.5km Nature Trail takes two hours and visitors learn about monkeys, insects, leeches and inspect a termnite mould.... Ranges will also point out medicinal plants and palm species...
For something more, the 1.8km Native Trail also brings visitors to a native house in the reserve...
Bird watchers may prefer the Bird Watching Trail, a 2-hour walk that stops at bird feeding stations and an observation tower where over 60 species of feathered friends have been spotted... It also meanders through a widllife garden and includes butterfly watching...
The Honeymoon Lagoon Trail takes it easy with mostly plants and trees for viewing...
For the really adventurous, the Nocturnal Animals Watch offers a chance to run into nocturnal wildlife like sambar deer, civit cat, barking deer, slow loris and porcupines... The 2-hour trail starts at 9pm...
There is also a special Ranger For The Day programme for children between 8 and 16, with a maximum of 3 children per session... For a fee of RM20, children get to help rangers in their daily work like feeding the animals... Leave a Comment
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Klias River is in Beaufort region which is 110 km south of KK city. Depending on the traffic conditions, it may take 2 to 3 hours to reach there by car. Although the journey is tiring, you will have a very nice experience once you reach there. There are organized river cruises which give you the chance to watch the funny looking Probiscious Monkeys in their own environment. The small boats get closer in the river bank to provide you some nice photo shots. Watching the sunset on Klias River is fascinating. After that you are taken back to your departure point for a dinner. After dinner is the second event : Fireflies. The trees which you watched the monkeys jump and play before dinner transforms into Christmas trees thanks to the fireflies in the region. This was such a nice scene for me as I only saw a few fireflies when I was just a small kid. You can find tours organized to Klias River easily in KK city. The journey starts afternoon around 1:30 pm and you return back to KK city around 9:30 pm. For me and my wife, it cost us 340 RM including transportation, meal and the boat tours. It is not cheap but it is definitely an unforgettable experience.
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 a feeding station... pix from
nst travel times... by chiabh
Visitors are allowed to enter nature reserve through bookings must be made as only 50 visitors are allowed at any one time... The hour-long In Search of the Orang Utan programme is on daily at 10am and 2pm to coincide with feeding times. Entrance fee is RM65 for the public and RM50 for resort guests... Children between the ages of 6 and 16 pay RM10...
The programme starts with a talk and video show by the rangers and then leads a way up a forested hill... Along the way, lucky visitors may catch glimpses of hornbills, monitor lizards, tortoises, musedeer, civet car and over 60 species of birds and 30 species of butterfiles... There are 2 viewing platforms overlooking the feeding stations for visitors... Leave a Comment
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 City Mosque floating on water by yipsufen
Visitors are allowed only in the mosque compound while entry into the building is prohibited. Leave a Comment
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 Stilt village by kyoub
It can be seen from the waterfront. Boats shuttle back and forth from the Filipino markets. Leave a Comment
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If you have the time/energy/a little more money, instead of taking the Summit Trail from Timpohon Gate, opt for the Mesilau Trail. It's more scenic, much less congested, and far far far more enjoyable. We took the Mesilau Trail up, and the Summit Trail down.
Stay the night at the Mesilau Park HQ, and start trekking the following morning. The Mesilau trail is about 2km longer than the traditional trail, and it takes 5-7 hours to reach the Laban Rata Guesthouse (it took us, a moderately fit group, 6hrs in the rain). There are rest-stops and water tanks along the way. (pls note that the tanks hold rainwater, which is fine to drink though the more cautious might want to bring some iodine/water purification tablets)
A guide is required. For more info, visit http://www.suterasanctuarylodges.com.my/general_info.htm
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