A smelly start to the day as we visited Gomantong Cave - located in the heart of the Gomantong Rainforest Reserve. Going into Gomantong Cave is not for the faint-hearted- the caves are full of bats, swiflets (that form the nests), cockroaches and all manner of creepy crawlies. You are advised not to touch any of the walkway banisters as they are literally crawling with cockroaches!! In addition to this the cave reeks of a strong 'ammonia like' smell due to the ...

Spending two full days and nights at Bilit Adventure Lodge allowed us time to trek in the jungle and take multiple river cruises in search of wildlife and birds that frequent this area as part of the rich ecosystem for which the area is renowned. Getting on a trip up the Kinabatangan River at dawn and dusk is the best time to see the diverse inhabitants of the area. The Bilit Adventure Lodge is one of many home stay type lodges in this area that offer the oppor...

With its sprawling tea plantation surrounded by lush greenery and pristine rainforests in the cool mountain air, the Sabah Tea Garden beckons you to indulge in its beautiful surroundings, away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. Sabah Tea is the only certified organic tea farm in Borneo and one of the few in the world. The tea leaves from its 2,480 hectare plantation are 100% pesticide free. We were informed by our guide that only 1,200 acres of the p...

This morning saw us farewell KK as we headed into the countryside. Ray drove us through the Crocker Range, a chain of mountains running along the west of Sabah then we stopped at the Nabalu Native Market. We had a fantastic view of Mt. Kinabalu from a dedicated lookout and spent some time shopping for handicrafts, souvenirs and some local snacks in the longhouse market. Since most of the stalls all sell the same thing you can haggle to get the best price. It...

If you really want to get a sense of the ethnic groups of Sabah then I suggest you head to the Mari Mari Cultural Village which is located in the forest in Kionsom, Inanam about 25 minutes away from KK. Mari Mari means "come" in Malay and is a fitting name for this village museum. The history of Sabah can be traced back 20000-30000 years ago. Sabah is nicknamed the 'Land below the Wind', and is a colourful and rich mosaic of ethnic groups. The village operates ...