Day 3
We set off on a bright beautiful Monday to Kundasang, Ranau near Mount Kinabalu - the highest peak in Southeast Asia.
We thanked Bubu's sister-in-law for arranging and paying for the transport. Travelling would take 1.5-hours by car from Holiday Inn Express.
The 9-seater van was spacious and a little bouncy as I updated my blog.
At God speed, under the Sabahan wind, our 4-wheel carriage galloped past towering mountain oaks and winding country roads on mountain tops. We were awestruck by the panaromic beauty of valleys and paddy fields.
Our endless chats and laughter cruised us to Pekan Nabalu, a peaceful, faraway village forgotten by locals and ignored by tourists.
The charming marketplace opens all year round. Smiling villagers, living an unhurried pace of life in a world gone by, found my bahasa amusing.
Pekan Nabalu is also home to independent traders selling harvests from neighbouring farmlands. Bubu bought Ranau's famous highland ginger, which has stronger, robust taste.
She added to her cart her favourite papaya and a heavy bag of freshly cut pineapples. The pineapples were fingers-snapping sacharrine! Total cost: under Rm15.
I pointed to the lady a bunch of big, fat, creamy, juicy bananas (Rm10) and a packet of mulberries, which she then sprinkled sugar icing (Rm2. I'm sure it cost $5 in SG).
Recharged, we rocketed 100 metres to a scenic photo-taking spot of Mt Kinabalu. There were small groups of domestic tourists from west Malaysia.
Bubu was happy to greet the blue mountain unobstructed by rain clouds. A few floating cottons added depth and texture to the picturesque backdrop.
I could sit here all day if i had my telephoto lens, a jug of lemonade and a powerbank. But when we saw our driver smiling sweetly, we knew it was time to take our last selfie.
Next, our van drifted 22mins downhill to Mt Kinabalu Botanic Garden (also known as Kinabalu Park or Taman Botani) to experience the wonder of Sabah's floral kingdom.
Some 1,500 metres above sea level, rich oxygenated air filled our lungs and massaged our souls. We saw a large group of chatty germans on guided tour.
Kinabalu Park has one of the richest body of flora in the world, with 5,000-6,000 vascular plant species spanning from lowland forest to alpine mountains in a park area of 754 square km.
It forms part of Boneo's 130 million-year-old rainforest, one of the oldest in the world.
We saw the 'Showy Asian Grapes' a pink-purple berry eaten by birds and wildlife. The fruit is edible, sweet and some say is good for your eyes. Try and let me know 😆
Eugene and I believed the orangy fruits all over the place were betel nuts. It was sticky with zesty fragrance.
A park ranger approached us tapping feet and overjoyed. He couldn't believe his discovery.
We saw in his hand a Lingzhi, the rarest of rare mushrooms, rich with medicinal properties, known to give immortality if eaten. This type of mushrooms only 杨过 and 张无忌 could find.
It was almost 12pm. We climbed up a viewing platform nearby to enjoy a verdant view of distant mountains.
As birds chirped happily, our stomachs were drumming the jungle song.
We canonballed straight to Sabah Tea Garden, where we would recharge and devour creative tea-infused lunch.
The seafood horfun, curry chicken, fried chicken were edible as we were hungry. Their presentation could be more captivating like those fluffy clouds above.
Eugene and I sipped Sabah tea with fragrant pandan. We wondered if pandan essence was added. My taste bud couldn't tell. But I found it authentically pandan and silky invigorating!
If you come, just sit down, relax, chit chat and sip Sabah’s finest tea. Buy some home too. There are 8 flavours - cinnamon, ginger, geranium, lemongrass, pandan, tongkat ali and misai kucing.
Bubu bought pandan and geranium tea bags.
Wanting more, we milked what remaining daylight to reach Desa Cattle Dairy Farm, the main producer of Sabah's cow milk and dairy products.
Admission is not free. I think Rm5 for locals and twice for foreigners.
The pic shows what the farm would look like around 9am during grazing.
When we arrived at 4pm, cows already balik kampung, taken their hot shower, drank hot lemon tea and going to 覺覺豬.
Bubu, Xinru and I tried Desa's yoghurt. I think it tasted better with cow dung aroma that permeated the farm.
Of all places, we spotted rows of sanguine flowers dancing in the wind, glittering under the golden sunset. "They looked happy," said Eugene. I nodded.
After experiencing different aspects of mother nature, we decided to return to Holiday Inn Express. We were tired but happy from an excursion that rejuvenated our souls.
Thirst-quenching beverages were never far off our minds. On our way back, we stopped by a roadside store for hot (charcoal-grilled) coconuts to nourish our stomachs. Xinru enjoyed a thirst quenching coconut pudding.
Love the full-bodied taste and fragrance! Thanks for reading, till then! 🐻
Bonus: Why is Sabah called the Land Beneath the Wind?
Ans: The phrase was coined by seafarers as Sabah is located below the typhoon belt of Philippines, thus free from typhoons, except for occasional tropical storms.
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