For once, my husband and I suddenly wanted a relaxing Christmas up in the hills😍. No cooking, no cleaning, no home preparation. Just enjoying the beautiful quiet environment, eat and sleep🤣
It was a last minute decision and we were lucky to get a Twin suite at Kokol Haven for the night. (Rm350 per night)
It was a last minute decision and we were lucky to get a Twin suite at Kokol Haven for the night. (Rm350 per night)
We checked in by 2pm on 25.12.2019 and also booked for the Xmas Dinner buffet at the hotel. It was our first time to this hilly resort but we didn't regret the decision as it ended up an enjoyable short holiday for us both.
The suite was at the sunset wing of the main resort.
From the main road after "Menggatal" town, take the 1st junction to the right which has a green sign board showing "Jln Kokol Poring Poring". From here onward, it took us 30 minutes to drive up the hills with our old "Betsy" to reach the resort.
Alternative entrance from car park into the resort
Durga, Evita and Jabir
Helpful, courteous staff of Kokol Haven during my 1st trip there.
Checking in counter area
25.12.2019
Resort restaurant
Twin bed.
Comfortable, clean sheets and soft pillows for a good afternoon nap and a good night sleep
Glass petition with blinds is the bathroom
Tea/coffee corner in our suite
A luggage stand
Comfortable arm chair with clean, stainfree cushions unlike some hotels, old stain of spills were visible.
Private balcony for sunset watching.
Can also see the people take off area, for paragliding
Around 3-4pm, thick mist appearing and the temperature dropped to a cooling 23 degrees Celsius
View from our balcony. Not a clear day though
No one around this popular spot taking photo at that time because of the thick mist😂
Around 5pm, the mist began to clear
It was still a cloudy day, so not able to watch sunset but we were hopeful to see it the next day😅
Views from balcony around 6pm
Around 7pm
Buffet Xmas Dinner- year 2019
Chef cutting the turkey😋
Singing Carols - 25.12.2019
Views from balcony past midnight.
Visitors had all gone except in-house guests, like us settling down in the comfy of our room and balcony. It was very quiet.
The sparkling lights of Kota Kinabalu city shows the beautiful panoramic night view of the city.
Paragliding program
Those who plan to come here, must try to bring good binoculars along. With a clear day, it's interesting to use good binoculars to look at the view
Front views of the resort facing Kota Kinabalu City and the islands.
A stone with Chinese Character.
Do you know what it says?😊
There were plenty of areas to take photographs for remembrance
That's why it's also a popular place for weddings to take place and with the newlywed taking photos in their wedding attire, they can make their fairy tale story come true💓.
Kokol haven is popular for its cool weather of 24-26 degrees Celsius throughout the year, while the city's temperature is 24-32 degrees Celsius. And it only takes 30 minutes to drive up the 2,700 feet hill with my old "Betsy"(our car).
On the day of Christmas in year 2019, the temperature was 18 degrees Celsius. It was so cool that we didn't switch on the Air condition or fan.
Another popular spot for photo shoot
Sunset at Kokol Haven Resort
Sitting on the balcony, just watching the magnificent sunset, embracing this precious moments, made us feel good and contented😁.So good that we decided to stay another night 😂but this time we booked the executive corner suite to see the difference which cost us Rm450 per night😅
It has a dressing room
Twin sinks in the bathroom
A pair of swing chairs at the entrance of the room
King size double bed
Colorful settee beside the bed in front of verandah facing the sea or sunset
Veranda facing Sunset / Seaview
No doubt it's big and a bit more expensive but still my husband and I preferred the 1st room we booked before and that's the intermediate twin suite at Room 7😄
Early morning stroll before breakfast
Buffet breakfast Corner
Breakfast was very basic but I still enjoy a cuppa early in the morning☕
Public viewing area
Another public viewing area
Behind the main resort is another wing the Rose Villa, where the room rates are slightly cheaper than those rooms at the main building. About 1 min walking distance
MOUNTAIN VIEW Rooms of ROSE VILLA
Standard rules : Quiet hours from 10pm to 8am 😀
There's a small garden beside Rose Villa
Sight of our Majestic Mount Kinabalu at sun rise early in the morning.
Beautiful sight of nature. Bees pollinating beautiful flowers.
Misai Kuching (Orthosiphon aristatus) - cats whiskers plants.
A local herbal remedy mostly for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Dragon fruits
Mulberries
Owner of the resort feeding one of her favorite deer, "Gracie" 😂
A "Buggy" to transport special guest to and from at the Rose Villa area.
Ever since we found Kokol Haven, we have never returned to Kundasang any more. During school holidays, the road to National Park were so jammed with traffic because everyone prefers cooler air at the mountain side and the travelling time is longer, about 2 hours to get there with my old "Betsy". In comparison, we prefer Kokol Haven because it's nearer. For a night or two, I think it's ok for me.
So, one year later(31st Dec 2020), we made another trip to Kokol Haven Resort for another 2 nights stay😁to celebrate New Year 2021.
I found a beautiful video clip from this web about Kokol Haven Resort.
Reference