Weekend Gateaway @ Tambunan

 

A dear friend invited me to her son's wedding which was held in Tambunan. It would entail quite a drive but I was so happy I accepted it for so many reasons. The first was to share my friend's joy, 2nd  I had the opportunity to see the beautiful scenery, 3rd  I was going with my sister, Amy and I looked forward to sharing the wonders of Tambunan with her, 4th, we'd be staying in a resort there and the list goes on....

On the 14th Oct 2023, a Saturday, we set out on our journey from home (Kota Kinabalu) in the wee hours of the day before the birds were up, i.e 5.45am so that we would take our time to enjoy the fresh air and the greens along the way. There were little traffic at that time. It was a lovely morning and the sky was truly a textbook azure

 

Tambuan, situated on a valley over the Crocker Range, is a small town located at the interior area of Sabah, about 75 km from Kota Kinabalu. Tambunanan, surrounded by padi field and nature, normally takes 1hour 45 mins drive but it took us 2 hours 15 mins  to reach our destination due to many reasons.  It's the 1st time my sister was driving her car up the hills and she was not familiar with the road. As such, we took our time to find our way, making several stops along the way to give her a break and also admire the awesome sunrise and breath-taking scenery of  Crocker Range

By the time we reached Gunung Alab Motel, we were already 55 km into our trip, the temperature at this point was a cool 20 degrees Celsius. Great for travelling!

There were beautiful wild flowers growing all over the hills, truly a sight to behold.

A reasonably clean public toilet was available for a small charge of 50 cents per entry but looked like no one had been there for awhile! Perhaps many travelers preferred to answer their urgent call of nature among nature thus fertilising the wild plants, that's why the plants all look so green and lush😂.

We arrived at Tambunan town around 8am. It's a small town with not many cars or people around. Maybe it's the weekend. There was a supermarket called Gmart, a KFC and other shops. No doubt it's a small town but well equipped as we were able to buy all the necessities for our 3 nights stay up the hill.

We had a quick breakfast at one of the Beef Noodle shop for about Rm15-18 per bowl. Then we headed to theTRCC resort. The resort which looked a little run down is situated on a massive piece of land with a hill in the background. However, the view made up for it.

 We were able to check in early because there were not many guests that day. Normally standard check-in time is 3pm.

The staff Bridget, Leo and Bibi were very friendly and courteous. They were soft spoken and answered our enquiries patiently. They made us feel so welcome.💗

 "Little house" of TRCC Resort. 

A lovely place on top of the hill overseeing the landscape of TRCC resort and other hills!

This quaint little house looked like the ones made for the "Hobbits" in the movie called Lord of the Rings.

A Short video on top of TRCC Hill.

 Only 1unit was completed while the rest were still under work progress. We were very lucky to be the first to occupy it.😁 This little house is located up the hill.
Therefore after checking in at TRCC reception, we needed to drive further up the hill which took about another 7 mins or so.  The road to the "Little houses"  from the main road was very narrow, so, for a 1st timer visitor,  driving on this kind of road can give us goose bumps or cold sweat on our forehead😅 and we began to feel a bit skeptical about this place, but on arrival, we felt the location was worth it.

 Twin bedded room

Everything was new, including the mattress, pillows , duvet, etc

A very clean new bathroom 

Fully equipped pantry for light cooking. 

Even a gas stove was provided with frying pan and a cooking pot. 

Front view of the little houses

Nice to be sitting outside with a cool glass of beer and watching sunset in privacy. It's like living in LUXURY! 🙏

 Another plus was that we could park our car right next to this little house. Our twin bedded place was Rm150 - 180 per night. I heard the normal charges for twin bed was Rm200 per night. 

After settling ourselves in, we got ready to attend the wedding at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Toboh which started at 12noon.

Big entourage of cute little flower girls and a page boy.

Arrival of the radiant beautiful bride.

I liked the way the priest said, " hal Kecil kasi hilangkan" which means for small issue in married life, just let it go and don't go on and on about it.

Very wise words. For those like us who have experienced married life, I couldn't agree more with the priest's words.

It was a beautiful wedding ceremony on a sunny bright day and it's lovely to see young people being married. It also brings back lovely memories of me getting married.

The serious ceremony was over , now is fun and celebration time!

Groom's family's  turn for photo shoot.

Loving newly wed couple leaving the church for the reception at TRCC Hall.

Reception at TRCC

Met some lovely lively teenagers who were sitting at the same table with us in the reception hall. Auzie, Jasmine, Vivian and Richter.

We returned to our accommodation just in time to watch the beautiful sun set from our verandah. It's very comfortable sitting outside. There were so many insect flying around because that's nature for you. I lit up a mosquito coil which can last for 8 hours. We had not a single bite from any mosquitoes, so we were able to relax outdoors and listen to the sounds of nature, such as crickets and other insects.

When I sent this picture of sunset to my son, who is offshore at the moment in Sabah waters, he replied with a picture of the same sunset he was watching.

Photo of sunset at my son's work station off shore.

Photo of Sunrise my son was viewing from his work station off shore.

Knowing that my son and I were enjoying the same sunset at the same time though we were miles apart makes me smile😁

Day 2 of our getaway trip:

Since we were already at Tambunan, we made an effort to drive to Keningau the next day which was an hour's drive. It was also our 1st time to drive there.

Keningau is the 5th largest town in Sabah. It's more lively there and I can guess why. Keningau is only  57.3km from Tambunan and 43.2 km from Tenom. Both Tenom and Tambunan are smaller towns, so most probably residents from these 2 towns will possibly go to Keningau for a day trip . That is why Keningau developed faster than other towns from my  point of view. At times there were traffic jams on the road in the town area. Compared to  Tambunan, Keningau is very very hot. Remember to drink lots of fluid when you come to this place to stay hydrated😅

 

We went to HoChiak Kopitiam after reading so many  promising reviews about this coffeeshop. Nowadays with google map, it's not hard to find the location.

Especially their steamed buns.

We arrived about 10am just in time for a heavy breakfast, and the place was still packed but thankfully there was a table available for us.

Our full Monty breakfast, Fried wet noodles,

Their signature Chicken rice,
But they only sell Chicken thighs. I preferred Chicken breast for Chicken rice so not to my taste, honestly.😅

Chee Cheong Fun was good

Tim-Sum and Sweet potatoes drinks which came with a large bowl. Abundant sweet potatoes inside the bowl for Rm3. Perhaps sweet potatoes are cheap and available easily in Keningau😛

Their signature steamed pork bun is a must.
The texture was so soft and the pork fillings was so tender and flavourful. 

After breakfast, we took a short walk to help digest the food we just had.😁 Keningau has more shops and you can even find McDonald fast food there. There were a few 3 star hotels like Hotel Juta and Sento Hotel.

Keningau Wet Market

Browsing through the market hoping to find stuff that might catch our eyes

And came out with 2 plastic bags of Rambutans, Rm3 each bag. 

Locally grown sweet rambutans and considered cheap compared to the price at KK (Kota Kinabalu)

On the way back from Keningau town before the Crocker Range, there was a long straight road facing a Catholic church, where a massive huge cross stands. From afar, it looked like the cross was floating in the air, as above.

Big Drain in the town area next to "One Stop" shop

We came back to Tambunan around 3.30pm and stopped just outside the town to take a quick look at a "One Stop" store, which was located beside the big drain. The drain was so clean with no rubbish seen, unlike in Kota Kinabalu city which are smelly and filled with dirty rubbish floating in the drain. No wonder there are so many areas in  Kota Kinabalu city that are flooded, partly due to the amount of rubbish thrown into it. By looking at the unpolluted clean drains in Tambunan, I think their water source must also be really clean and their tap water safe to drink after boiling. Whereas in the city where I live, I  can't even drink unfiltered water from the tap after boiling.

We also made a stop at the KFC, and ordered a take away of spicy chicken pieces and some nuggets.

Returning to our "little home" up the hill, we were so hungry, we cooked Maggi instant noodles to eat with our KFC chicken and nuggets. 😄

  Ended our feast with Fried Sweet Potato fries as dessert 😄

We really had a great time for this getaway trip.

Night came and we planned to retire early, but not before watching our favorite drama episodes. We used our phone internet because the resort internet was still under repair. 

However, we entered the land of nod very soon after our heads touched the pillow. Perhaps the trip to Keningau exhausted us😅

Day 3 of our Gateaway vacation

We woke up at 6.30am after a good night's sleep. Prepared a breakfast for two comprising

French Toast with soft boiled eggs and oatmeal. Yummy!

My sister wanted to visit the rabbit farm at Bungkod Hill. 

Entrance fee was Rm5 while Rabbit feed was Rm2 in a small container.

It's a family owned rabbit farm by Mr Adam Jaafar Musa.

There is a story on how he ended up having a rabbit farm. Initially he only had 2 rabbits which later multiplied and with extended families from the rabbit , he ended up with about 100+ rabbits in his farm.

Rabbit farm at Bungkod hill about 15 minutes drive from Trcc.

Statue of Bungkod Hill rabbit farm

My sister is a nature lover.
She was so happy to be surrounded by these rabbits while I stayed away because I don't like anything with fur including cats.😂

Short video of my sister enjoying herself being surrounded by rabbits😁

"Madonna" looked fine in her glasses😂

There was a Durian tree, so heavily laden with so many fruits next to the exit of the rabbit farm, but none were ripe enough for me to try. I guessed it's not meant for me😅

Close look of an unripe durian hanging on the tree

Views from the Hill of TRCC. 

There were coconut trees, pine trees and a Tandarason man-made lake.

 A beautiful landscape.

        Our 3 nights stay at this beautiful cute little house.

Since its our last day, we decided to explore TRCC resort

There is a man-made lake for water sports. 

That opens from 8am to 5pm

Boat paddling. Kayak. Cycling either rental bike or fish feeding activities. There were lots of big fish in the lake . As guests we were given a 50% discount for these water sports but due to time constraints, we didn't go for it.

My sister walking on the suspension bridge which she feared most and here she was trying to walk with confidence but her facial expressions couldn't tell a lie.🤣

The suspension bridge and the Pegalan river in front of the reception at the resort

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With all the good food we had during these trip, no wonder I am described as an "egg on legs" by my hubby. 😜

There is a swing at the resort which looks a bit run down and  made squeaking sound while swinging. I don't want to take any risk so did not go any further apart from a light swing. Better to be safe than sorry. 

Those who are daring enough to try ,can do so.. When you put more force on the swing, it will give you a very exciting feeling,  as if you are falling over a cliff as a few yards in front of the swing, the ground slopes deeply down! 😅 

By 5.30pm, we prepared ourselves to watch the last sunset from our verandah.

16/10/2023 - 6.10 pm

 Sunset began at 5.58pm in Tambunan

When the sun disappears below the horizon, atmospheric refraction will cause sunlight rays  to create a beautiful spectrum of colors in the sky. Watch how the sky changes colors in minutes.

16/10/2023- 6.12pm

6.13pm

It's mesmerizing😍. A breathtaking golden beauty.

6.14pm

The rays from the sun spread all over the sky leaving so many varieties and shades of red, orange, purple and many other colours, a magnificent natural phenomena.🙏
 

6.15pm

6.16 pm

6.19pm
Nice view of the spectacular sun set.

6.23pm

6.25 pm
End of the live show and weather was still 20 degrees Celsius.

The final part of the sunset gave a wonderful feeling. Day after day, month after month, year after year, I feel each one is never the same. That's nature.

 I can never be bored with sunset no matter how many times I watch it.
Watching the sunset helps me relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Sitting on the verandah with no sound of traffic except the sounds of nature, brings tranquility to where we were. It felt so relaxed and gave a feeling of well being.
We definitely sleep well listening to nature's orchestra. 😴

Morning call by the singing of the birds that woke us up instead of a rooster cock-a-doodle-do at 6.45am😄

If you are a nature lover, look around and you can find many rare insects lying around in the morning. 

 Dung beetle which I have not seen for donkey years

Dung beetle are harmless and are not  known to spread any disease to humans, even though they feed on animal's dung.

I used to see them a lot when I was a child, living in a village surrounded by jungle and paddy fields where buffaloes were everywhere.  Now that place was no more a jungle, but a developed place with roads, buildings and residential homes. Therefore no paddy fields or buffaloes around, so dung beetles are not easily seen anymore.

If you love nature, you will not be put off by the visit of these insects. They don't bother me at all. In fact I found them cute😄

Rare moth

Our breakfast at the verandah.

  Toast bread with cheese, omelette, a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of ovaltine. 

Early morning  view of these cute little houses

 

At 9am we checked out and drove back to Kota Kinabalu ,where the weather as usual was hot and humid, temperature 32 degrees Celsius but it felt like 42 degrees.

Depending what you want for the short escape holiday,  for us, we just wanted a peaceful environment, breathing fresh air and watching sunsets in private, we were lucky to have achieved our goal for this short vacation. 

Final activity on reaching our home in kk was guess what ????

Yes you are right !!!!!

 We headed for our favourite eatery Outlet!!!!😋😂
We must have missed KK food so much that we forgot to take a photo of the food before eating!😜

For those who prefer a more lively environment, it's better to come during school holidays where the place will have more guests especially families with children. The water sports will be a great  choice for younger people or families with their children.

Those who never heard of Trcc, can find out more below which I  just "copy and paste" what the Trcc has posted from face book .😜

About Trcc 

SELAMAT DATANG or WELCOME…… to TRCC! TANDARASON RESORT AND COUNTRY CLUB (TRCC) Nestled in the Tambunan valley, TRCC is just one hour fifteen minutes’ drive away from Kota Kinabalu the State Capital of Sabah. Located in Kampung Karanaan, along the Pegalan River, TRCC is a perfect breakaway from the city life. It is built in a village setting in a green environment tinted with erratic butterflies and dragonflies of all colors and species that make one wonders and be amazed with. Not only does it generate a restful atmosphere and calmness but also it certainly is a scene of serenity and simplicity, congenial for those who prefer contemplative surroundings. At TRCC you can stay in the traditional house or you can choose an accommodation with modern designs in architecture. BAMBOO CHALET This traditional bamboo house is built in harmony with the surrounding site and elements in the natural environment. It is for a family and a group of 5 to 10 people. All chalets are equipped with basic facilities such as toilet, hot shower and comfortable beds. Extra mattresses are also available upon request. MOUNTAIN VIEW MOTEL Perched on a hilltop overlooking the lake, running river, lodge and the village, is a stretch of wooden house parading 10 individual rooms with their own private shower. CAMPER’S SITE FOOD & BEVERAGE TRCC Mini Cafe is opened in daytime featuring some of the local delicacies and Western food. JUNGLE TREKKING GROUPS & MEETINGS TRCC is an ideal and conducive place for organizing various occasions. Whether for private or public functions, conferences, religious retreats or seminars. TRCC HALL - Open air / Stage / Capacity 500 pax. RAFFLESIA BUILDING HALL- Capacity 200 pax or Air-con room – capacity 50 pax. RECREATION At Tandarason Lake, you can do kayaking and paddle boating at a very reasonable rate. It is a place for families to relax and enjoy themselves together. Watch the different types of fishes like ‘tilapia’, ‘jelawat’, /patin’ and ‘keli’ swimming about in the lake. Feeding fish ia a good therapy in reducing human tension and stress. So why not try one? GOLF While your children are occupied at TRCC, you can swing your clubs with friends at the Tambunan Golf & Country Club. Offering avid golfer, this 9-hole golf course is situated in Kampung Solibog that has a magnificent backdrop of craggy Mt. Kinabalu that is visible if you tee-off early morning. PLACES OF INTEREST Tamu Every Thursday morning, the indigenous people of Tambunana gather around to trade their wares, fresh vegetables and fruits. Traditional Foods Legend Batu Gong Visit the mysterious stones that can produce a set of a Kadazandusun gong-like sound. These musical stones were found in the river of Pegalan at Kampung Solibong and are now under the safekeeping of its residents. You might find this one interesting and come up with your own scientific explanation. Rafflesia When you visit Tambunan, the Rafflesia Reserve is something not to be missed. Learn about the world’s largest flower imaginable, a parasitic plant without leaves, roots or a stem of its own. It takes months to develop a flower up to almost one meter in diameter. The Information Centre is located along KK-Tambunan Highway, about b60 km from KK. NATURE AND WONDER Mt. Trusmadi For those nature lovers out there, mountain climbing at Mt. Trusmadi is a worthwhile and unforgettable experience to many. It is a breathtaking and unbelievable feeling being on top of the mountain. Described as ‘wild and jungle clad’, Mt. Trusmadi is the second highest peak in Sabah/Malaysia, standing at 2,649 meter. Along the path, right up to the highest peak you mau appreciate the Nepenthes Trusmadiensis and other exotic plants. And perhaps, encounters with wildlife! (NOTE: Climber are advised to make bookings at least 1 month in advance to allow application of permits from the Tambunan Forestry Department) PICNIC AND GATHERING Mahua Waterfall One of the hidden wonders of Tambunan is the Mahua Waterfall that is located in Kampung Patau. It is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Sabah. Journey will take you about half an hour drive to the checkpoint plus 5-7 minutes walk to the waterfalls. It is an ideal place to relax, picnic and appreciate nature.

Reference

TRCC

Rabbit Farm

Keningau

Tambunan

Nature

Sunset