KoTa KiNaBalu Trip Day 4 - Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park Island Hopping & Souvenir Shopping Spree

Today, KIDDOS need to get up early because we are going to enjoy boat riding to Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. As early as 7.30am Mr Hubby manage our check out and I've bought some snack and Nasi lemak pack for our picnic at the beach later. (TIPS: Food and snack at the island is expensive so its advisable for you to pack some lunch from mainland before the trip) You just can have all the food easily down of the apartment. Once everything ready, we move to Jesselton Point jetty to get our boat.

Jesselton Point Waterfront which is formerly known as Kota Kinabalu Ferry Terminal has become one of the main attraction in Kota Kinabalu. Situated north of downtown Kota Kinabalu, Jesselton Point serves as the only ferry terminal for Labuan - bound passenger as well as the main boat terminal for Tunku Andul Rahman Marine Park and Gayana Island.

Jesselton Point welcomes us.....

From Promenade you just drive your way to main road between Oceanus and Promanade Hotel. Go straight until end of the road where the road continue turning right. You can see Jesselton Point is on your left.

We have our breakfast first before boat riding. 

While having our breakfast, one man approached us and offered private boat package for 6 of us hopping to 4 island for RM350. He keep saying that he give the cheapest package compared to ticket counter. I hv doubt that because we use to charter boat for island and the cost is cheaper within range RM200 - RM250 per boat.

After done ate our breakfast, Mr Hubby go to the ticket booth just to compared the price. We found out that the price inside is cheaper than the 'ulat' selling outside the building. At last, done deal with RM250 to charter only 6 of us hopped to 5 island with free 3 set snorkelling equipment. The snorkelling equipment normally need to rent for RM10 per set. Good deal huh?

Its a deal! Let get on to our boat then.

The good thing about private boat charters is you can have your own schedule and managed your own timing. The boat driver will just follow your order. He will be available nearby when you need to the ride to the next destination.

But, to those who wanna hv economic ride just purchase normal ticket around RM17 to RM30 depending on how many island you want to visit. The boat depart every hour to the island of your choice, with earliest departure at 7.30am and last departure at 4.30pm. The last return boats are at 5pm. You can also stay overnight at the island but I think the room per night is quite expensive.

Waiting for the driver to set up the boat. 

Okay, back to my island adventure. The price for our boat charter is actually exclusive the terminal fee for passengers. The fees are RM7.20 for adults and 3.60 for children. 

The view at jetty

As early as 7.30am, this jetty are always busy.

Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park comprises a group of 5 islands located between 3 to 8 km off Kota Kinabalu mainland. These island namely Pulau Gaya, Pulau Sapi, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutik dan Pulau Sulug. The park was named after Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's first Prime Minister.

We are too excited, cant wait for the first island. 

Getting on board. Big boat just only for us. I think this boat can load around 15 people.

Mr Hubby and our boat driver. 

My sons.... always excited

My doters, always scared of the speed.

We have reached Pulau Gaya, the largest island in TAR(Tuanku Abdul Rahman) National Park and the closest to mainland. Its covered with dense virgin of tropical forest. This Island has 20 km of hiking trails if you want to experience the mature nature of Gaya Island. 

The Gaya Island jetty. You can see the water is very clear.

When we reached here, then only we noticed that we need to pay for conservation fee as per attached below. Once you purchase, the same ticket can be use to all the TAR Marine Park islands.

My son ready for his snorkelling adventure.

let get change... I want to snorkell.. yeahhh!!

While I helped my twin get changed to the swimming outfit, my eldest son hv make his way to the beach first to play with the water. Unfortunately, suddenly his feet got injured by stepping a sharp stone underwater and bleeding. The guide help to stop the bleeding and bandage the wound. 

Bleeding and the wound quite big. I dun think he able to get in the salted water like this.

The Gaya beach is not appealing at all to my KIDDOS since it has to many broken coral

This is what happen after the incident. My son just sat at the bench while my daughters are playing with the sands.

Since nothing much we can do here. We decided to move to the next island.

Sapi Island has one of the nicest beaches and is the smallest island in the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. It’s just next to Pulau Gaya. We enjoy its clean white sand and crystal clear water and coral reefs fringing the shoreline makes it ideal for swimming, snorkelling. 

Day-use facilities include a jetty, picnic shelters, barbecue pits, tables, changing rooms and toilets. Snorkelling gears and fins available here for rent at RM 5 to RM 10 per pair, with a refundable RM 40 deposit, limited lockers also available for rent to store valuables. Sapi Island is said the best island for snorkelling and there’s no sharp rock as seen in Mamutik Island. However, this island often crowded due to it’s small beach size.

No need to purchase ticket, as long as your first ticket still available with you.

I think Sapi is better than Gaya. Visistors like to stay longer at this island due to, its facilities.

Found our picnic spot.

Me like always, don't wanna get myself wet in that salted water.

You see the beach not really nice and also crowded

Manukan Island is the second largest island in the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, Malaysia's first marine national park. Manukan is the most popular island with Kota Kinabalu residents. Manukan has some good stretches of beaches on the southern coastline. The best beach is on the eastern tip of the island. Offshore of Manukan are coral reefs, which is ideal for snorkelling, diving and swimming.

Mr Hubby grant my eldest son request to go for snorkelling even though his foot is hurt. But the attempt failed.

Out of the 5 islands making up Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, Manukan features the most developed tourist facilities that includes of chalets, a clubhouse, and few restaurants and a diving centre. Recreation facilities include a swimming pool, football field, Volleyball and Sepak Takraw courts.

Personally, I think the beach here a lot better. Its clean but just too many small stone along the sea shore.

There are many small stall here selling foods and beverages but its expensive.

This is our port

Having lunch like a picnic together

Rest & relax

KIDDOS having fun

Collecting coral

My eldest was not happy because of his injury.He can't have fun at all. The others also become so tired.

After hopping to 3 island already, we become so tired and sleepy. I dun think that KIDDOS can make another stop the next island. So we decided to just make a turn to the next 2 island to have a look then headed back to mainland. In fact, my eldest still in pain of his injury.

Its us with Mamutik Island as the background.

We just hv a boat tour to Sulug Island, but nothing much there since most of visitor not stop here. Its small and undeveloped. The shoreline is mostly rocky. Some foreigner visitor prefer the quiet and abandoned atmoshere.

Mamutik Island is teh seconf furtest island after Pulau Sulug. Until recently, Mamutik is often regarded as an off-the-beaten-track-island as the lack of tourist facilities had make it less popular as compared to the often filled-to-the-brim beaches on Sapi and Manukan.

Enough boat riding and island hopping as everyone really exhausted and a nice shower and a good nap in the hotel room. By 3pm after making a round to all islands, we head back to Jesselton jetty. Its around 3pm. 

I have booked online, Casuarina Hotel near Tanjung Aru. Its only RM220 per night for a family room with 1 king bed and 2 single bed. From here to airport is only about 20 minutes and to city centre is around 15 minutes. Let me show you the hotel room. 

Huge room and its view to the Perdana Park 

The other room for me and Mr Hubby.

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KoTa KinABaLu Trip Day 3 - The Quest of Kundasang - Mesilau - Ranau (Hot Spring Poring) - Kg Luanti Fish Spa

We woke up early but nobody dare to take a shower. Its damn cold... hahahaha.
There is no breakfast provided here in J.Residence, but luckily I've already bought some bread, day before check-in to feed my 4 'sayang-sayang cilik'. Then only everybody ready to go around 8.30am. Mr hubby arrange for the check-out and we are on our quest to explore Kundasang up to Ranau.. yeayyyyyy...

Start the engine...... Let go Vrrrooommmmm...

Mr hubby started the engine and we now heading to Kundasang town. But just about 5 minute drive away from J. residence to Kundasang, we pass the Kinabalu Park on the left hand side and of course we make a pit stop.

Kinabalu Park entrance. Don't worry, you can drive your car inside.

  You can park your car here at the car park area but you also can bring your car inside. If u want to let your body sweat a bit you can just walk along the track but its tiring to children because the track is quite a kilometre. Hence, Mr hubby drove along the Park track.

The track map is available at the entrance after you pay the entrance fees. These guys is a ranger of Kinabalu park.

Of course there is fees chargeable, but the best part is, this ticket is also available for entrance to Mesilau Nature Park and Poring Hots Spring @ Ranau. So, please make sure to keep your ticket yar. I attached the entrance fee below for your easy reference.

The most cute model with the entrance fees charges.

Exploring the fresh and green view is commendable. The mother nature always know how to charmed people like us. We are amazed with the Mighty God creation. The mission is to have a closer look at Mount Kinabalu. Fortunately, the whether is good that day, so we really enjoy the bright and clear view of Kota Kinabalu biggest attraction, Mount of Kinabalu. I loved to show few pictures taken along the quest.

This is a cabin for those who would like to have a good nite with the sound of mother nature.

There is few deck available for us to snap a photo with Mount Kinabalu as background.

Another view point

The last deck available at Timpohon check point.

Timpohon check point. Starting point to climb mount Kinabalu.

Not every day you gonna have a Mount Kinabalu as ur photo background, right?

After making a turn back to the entrance gate, we visited the Kinabalu Park Muzium which cost us another separate fees. So up to you if u want to hv a look inside or not. By thinking it might have an educational purpose values to my kids, we decided to hv a look inside. It could be something that my kids can learn here, perhaps. Entrance fee for adult RM2 and kids are free. The Muzium is all about the Mount Kinabalu history and thing related to that.

View in side the Muzium.

After finish with our tour here in Kinabalu Park, we continue the journey to Mesilau Nature Park. The mission is to see if we lucky enough to have a closer look of Raflesia blooming. We further our quest just to Mesilau Park and we reached there around 10.30am. To go to Mesilau, you need to go to Kundasang big roundabout and take the first exit to Mesilau. Its the same route to Dairy Farm but Mesilau is further up. Don't worry, there is signboard that you can't miss along the way.

These are some photo taken there. Don't worry about the fees, just use the same ticket and show to the guard and you are in. Pretty good huh?

Too bad, there is no Raflesia we able to see. Nothing much there only the information centre about the flora they have in the heritage park. Notwithstanding that, the view of the landscape is fantastic. The journey from Kundasang roundabout to Mesilau will take about 30 minutes. We make our way down to Kundasang town around 12pm and therefore, its lunch time.

Kundasang Town view with Mount Kinabalu background

I want to hv that kind of bcakgrond as well... hahahhaha!

We having our lunch at Kundasang before heading to Poring Hot Spring at Ranau.

Hidayah Cafe is just next to yesterday restaurant. We just wanna give a try on different cafe. But to be honest. the rating was 4/10. huhuhu

I feel so bad that we still not able to experience Raflesia blooming live. So we keep asking around to the local people where we can see if any. According to the local, this wild flower takes about 6-9 months for it to bloom and when it bloom, it last only for seven days. That's why this flower is highly demanding to every tourist who visiting Sabah. Its a rare and unique flower in the world therefore is not easy to find. If there is a bloom Raflesia, they will put a banner or advertise it. Normally, you can see it for free if Kinabalu Park, Mesilau Nature Park or Poring Hot Spring have it. They will advertise it at the board and will notify visitor to come and hv a good look of this rare flower closer. But, sometime, the local people also can track this flower in the forest and if they do, they will advertise a banner and direction to the flower for a fee of course.

At this stage, this Raflesia will take about 6-9 months to bloom

We take our frustration from Mesilau Park and decided to continue the tour to Ranau hoping that we might hv a better chance for Raflesia there in Poring Hot Spring. From the KUndasang big roundabout, just take the turn to Ranau. You can see the Ranau sign and follow thru. So happen, on the way when reaching to Ranau town, we saw a banner by local people that there is blooming Raflesia 3km away from the main road. I am crazily excited and asked Mr Hubby just follow the sign without thinking. We blindly follow the Raflesia sign just to try our luck. The route is not convincing as we are like going in to the woods. When the curiosity supersede ur worries... we keep going on and at last, we reach the dead end. Mr Hubby stopped the car and saw 3 local people waiting at the small hut. We asked them about the banner hang up at Ranau town. With a smiling face they noded their head and charge us RM40 for 6 of us.

For this rare experience, I just say to Mr Hubby... "lets go with it"...After getting his pay then the man lead the way to the Raflesia. But my eldest son somehow find the flower first before the guide show it to us. These are some of our best photos with the most unique and rare flower in the world. Felt blessed.

Entering the forest. "into the woods". My eldest son in the forest already searching for the flower.

As you can see, the rafflesia flower is blooming. Rafflesia is known to bloom for only 7 days, and ours is on the fifth day already.

Paece yoo... Im with my Raflesia.

There it is. The rare and biggest flower in the world, I suppose

Many of the rafflesia species fall under endangered species category, because Male and female flowers must be open simultaneously for pollination to occur, hence successful pollination and fruit production are quite rare. So we're kinda lucky to find one here.

What a relief when u are so lucky to see this flower in person with your own eyes. We come so far for something and able to bring back this unforgettable experience home. These photo are the proof.

Now we running a little late due to the detour we make for the Raflesia. We continue heading to Poring Hot Spring to try the canopy walkway. Now its nearly 2pm. We need to speed up or else its going to be dark when we make our way down to Kota Kinabalu later.

From Ranau town you just need to go straight and looking for a sign of Poring Hot Spring. It quite far from the town. From the main road, the sign will ask you to turn left. After turn left, you'll reached your destination around 15 to 20 minutes. Again, don't worry about the fee, just show your ticket and the guard will let you in.

We are here, Poring Hot Spring @ Ranau

Alright.. Let go!

For your information, entrance fee for Poring Hot Spring can use the same ticket we purchased before. But different attraction in this park for example canopy walkway will charge you with different fees.

This is canopy walkway fees and charges for you information.

This is our next exploration. The next attraction that most visitors won't miss out

From this entrance point, we need to climb up hilly terrain about 10 minute walk. Then only we can enjoy the canopy walkway. There are 4 section of walkway separated by a tower accordingly. I cant remember how high this walkway from ground but what I can recall is, there one section, its very steep down. And I almost crying because its so scary.

The hilly terrain

Its quite tiring walk for me... hahahaha

If you notice at the canopy walkway information board, your phone or camera will be chargeable if you bring up there to take the photos. TIPS:, just hide your camera and phone until u pass the second tower of this walkway then only take it out to capture your best canopy walkway moment. The ticket checker will be only station at the first tower. Then you can save some Ringgit. hehehehehe.....

This is the first tower I'm talking about. The ticket checker will ask for your ticket.

6 person only on the walkway at a time per section

hahahaha... Its very steep down you know. I can't barely walk any more.

My brave little KIDDOS

The last tower

After the last tower, you need to going down the other side of the track. Its about 7 - 10 minute walk from the walkway back to the entrance gate.

The track is easy to follow as they already built the stair for the visitors convenience

Beautiful... Isn't it? Credit goes to my eldest son for this photo.

Despite this walkway, this park have a nice waterfalls and hot spring pool for visitors to freshen up. My kids can't wait to play in the pool. there is few pool here in Poring Hot Spring. The Hot Spring pool, waterfall section and lagoon which is suitable for the kids as there are many slides. Its like a watery playground. But to enter u need to pay for another fees again. It only RM1 for children and RM3 for adult.

This pool is actually comes from the waterfall and its cold.

Lets go.. we slide down.

Blast off.....

Its already 4pm ++ . We need to keep moving as we need to see another attraction before heading back to KK. So the kids fun time need to cut short. Oh! by the way, during lunch time, we did stock up some heavy snack in case KIDDOS get hungry along the way. 

The next pit stop is Fish Massage "Tagal" Sg Moroli, Kg Luanti, Ranau. From Poring Hot Spring its about 40 minute driving heading to Sabah Tea plantation. We reached there around 5.30pm and luckily the place still open. This place is easy to find. The landmark is Sabah Tea plantation. Its just next door to the Sabah Tea signboard.

Sabah Tea Entrance

When you see this sign on your left hand side, you are the at Fish Spa already.

We wuz zea....

The ticket entrance for local (within Ranau ) is cheaper, RM 1 for children and RM3 for adult but for outstation (like me), RM3 for children and RM5 for adult. Foreigner RM10 for all age. This ticket is only for 15 minute Fish Spa with the fishes. They will call your number when its your turn and then they will call you back if ur session hv ended.

I have no idea how this fish become so tame. 

Some kid might be afraid as the fish is too many.

See.. I'm still with my boots... hahahha

My brave and happy son. He love it so much... along the way down back to KK, keep talking about it.

This is the higher view. the black thing is the fish.

There is nothing much here but other than Fish Spa, there is a walkway but not that high. We've taken some photos on the walkway.

Other than fish massaging, you can hv walk on this canopy

Tired faces.

Now its 6 pm ++ already. We cannot make a visit to Sabah Tea because time constraint and further more, kids said they saw lots of tea tree in Cameron Highland already. We need to head down back to KK. Or else it going to be dark soon. The fastest we can arrived in KK at least in 3 hours.

Now its time to leave Ranau and Kundasang. Kids are exhausted with a pack itenary today. But definitely they having real fun and enjoy every moment we experienced together.

We make a detour again and make a quick stop at Kundasang town to pack the chicken wing for our snack in the car. 

Queueing for my chicken wing. This shop is behind KFC building. It was so good. Many ppl queueing up to buy from here.

The best in Kundasang I can say.

After 'tapau' 20 pieces of cicken wing, we straight go to KK. Unfortunately, after reaching KK, the car hv a flat tyre. And its a delay again until we can hv our dinner and the time is 9pm ++. Mr Hubby need to change the spare tyre before we can continue the journey to hotel and hv our dinner.

We are quite lucky that the tyre flat once we reached town.

I think, it take a while for Mr Hubby to fix the situation. Then we decided to pack some dinner for the kiddos and eat it in the hotel room. We check-in at Promenade Service Apartment again around 11pm. (refer to page 1 to see the room pricing and the room view).  After check-in, we freshen up, having some dinner and I have KIDDOS settle down to bed. They need a good rest for tomorrow next adventure to Island hopping and shopping time. Before having my rest, I went down to the self service laundry centre for a quick washing and drying.

Do continue to follow me to Island hopping adventure and shopping for souvenir next.

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