Amazing of Attraction
"The Malaysia of Borneo"
Poring Hot Spring (PHS) Ranau
A visit to Kinabalu Park will
never be perfect without swinging by Poring Hot Springs. Situated 40 kilometers
(25 miles) slightly northeast from the Parks HQ, Poring is located in the
lowlands—a contrast to the Parks HQ. De-stress and soak away the sores and
aches of your muscles in the spring’s hot sulphuric minerals, deemed to have
healing properties and very popular among the locals.
Other than the natural hot spring, there are also other interesting areas
in the park to be visited such as the butterfly farm, the Poring Orchid
Conservation Centre, the tropical garden, the Poring canopy walkway, and the
Rafflesia flower site.
Rumah Terbalik (Upside Down House) Tuaran
The ‘Rumah Terbalik’
(which translates to Upside Down House) is the first of its kind in South East
Asia and among the five upside-down structures in the world (3 are found in
Europe and another in Japan).
The house was opened to the
public in early February 2012. The house itself is hard to miss, having been flipped upside down,
with its floor facing skyward. Everything inside the house, from furniture to
household appliances, hover above your head, as the ceiling is actually the
floor. In the garage, a car is parked upside down. It might
seem disorienting in the first few seconds, but the fascination of it all takes
over. This architectural wonder has also been included in the Malaysia Book of
Records for being the first of its kind in the nation. Visitors can enjoy a
meal or afternoon snack at the Rumah Terbalik Café or pick up a souvenir at the
Gift Shop. Guided tours are available.
Sabah Tea Garden
With
a sprawling tea plantation surrounded by pristine rainforests with cool
mountain air, Sabah Tea Garden beckons you to indulge in its beautiful
surroundings, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. During your stay at
our tea garden, you’ll wake up to a background of Mount Kinabalu accompanied by
the beautiful morning sunrise and misty dews, instead of the horns of school
buses and traffic. If you love nature and enjoy the company of ‘green’
surroundings, we welcome you to Sabah Tea Garden.
Turtle Island Park
The Turtle Island Park (gazetted
1977) lies 40km north of Sandakan in the Sulu Sea and consists of Selingan, Bakungan
Kecil and Gulisan islands. The park is a safe haven for the endangered green
and hawksbill turtles and gives you the rare opportunity to watch turtle
landings. Selingan, the largest of the islands, houses the park's headquarters,
a turtle hatchery, tourist accommodation and basic facilities. The other two
islands are more for conservation activities. As turtle landings usually occur
after dusk, an overnight stay would be the best plan to see the turtles as they
come ashore to lay their eggs, but shining a light on them or using camera
flashes should be avoided as either can be stressful on the creatures.
Turtles lay their eggs throughout
the year, but the best time to head there is between July and October when the
sea is calmer.
In the centre of the mangrove
forests of Semawang is the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, where you can
see Borneo's indigenous proboscis monkeys. This privately-owned sanctuary
located within an oil palm estate gives you the chance to observe these animals
up close and personal.
The remarkable males sport big
dangling noses, reddish flat-top hairstyles, white tails and markings, and pot
bellies. The females on the other hand, are much smaller and have up-turned
noses.
Take a night tour for a chance to
see wild boars, flying squirrels, fireflies and crocodiles. The sanctuary also
has a lodge with air-conditioned twin or double rooms, family chalet and
dormitories for those who wish to stay overnight.
