My Adventure At Kinabalu Park (Part 2)

Posted by : foongpc | Thursday, April 30, 2009 | Published in

ADVERTISEMENT


Before I went on this Kinabalu Park trip, I was advised to bring along a jacket and a raincoat.

Well, I actually got this advice from none other than Jenny, the boss of Lavender Lodge, where I stayed. Jenny and her husband run the Lodge but during this KK trip, I have never get to meet her husband.

I did not know it would be cold at Kinabalu Park so I did not bring along my jacket from home. But I did not want to purposely buy a jacket so in the end I just brought along an extra T shirt in case it would be really cold. As for the raincoat, I managed to buy one at the Centrepoint Shopping Mall in KK the night before.

However, as it turned out, I had neither the need for the extra T shirt nor the raincoat! The temperature was cooling and just so comfortable for me. And it did rain, but I was too lazy to put on the raincoat!

After I completed my business in the Liwagu washroom, I was eager to go out there and walk the jungle trails. But to my dismay, it had started to rain! So I walked right back in.

Here is the entrance to the Liwagu Restaurant.



I decided to explore the Liwagu Restaurant and its surroundings. And perhaps get more information about what places to visit before I proceed further.

This is the sitting room or the hall next to the Restaurant.





Looks like a nice place to just sit down with a good book, doesn't it?



This is the fireplace in the middle of the hall.



Went out to the balcony and shot this picture.



Took a shot at those lovely flower pots hanging from the ceiling at the balcony.



Looks like a place to "goreng goreng" (fry food)

As it was close to noon time and it was still raining outside, I decided to have my lunch at the Liwagu Restaurant. The restaurant was quite empty at that time. I had a good chat with one of the waitresses there. She told me the places that I should visit and even advised me to leave the park by 4pm or else I may have a hard time finding transport back to KK.

Jenny of Lavender Lodge had already reminded me about this 'leave by 4pm' rule last night. So I guess I better heed their advice! Didn't want to be stuck in Kinabalu Park and forced to stay here for the night! Haha!

Anyway, the waitress suggested that I had my lunch outside by the verandah. I couldn't agree more as the view and ambience was just so relaxing!



Oh look! I was not alone. Haha!



I sat at this table here.



The friendly waitress came and gave me the menu. Sorry no picture of the waitress as she declined to be photographed!

This is the menu.



I decided to have the Liwagu fried rice and a cup of Sabah tea. Well, it's my first time there so I had better try their brand of fried rice and Sabah's very own tea!

Here is my Liwagu fried rice and Sabah tea.



Ooh! The Liwagu fried rice looked absolutely delicious! Maybe I was hungry after all those purging earlier! Haha!



There were the prawn crackers, omelette, fried chicken, acar and two sticks of satay on top of the fried rice. Yummy!

Having my meal in the midst of the Kinabalu rainforests was an experience I enjoyed very much!



I noticed they like to hang lots of flower pots from the ceiling.





Took a shot of the view below me.



The place was so nice I was reluctant to move my butt and just wanted to sit there with a good book! Luckily I did not bring any book with me or else I would have really done that. As it was already lunch time, more and more people came into the restaurant. And remembering the advice about leaving by 4pm, I decided to make my move.

The rain had already stopped by the time I went out into the open. Following the advice of the waitress, I walked towards the botanical garden. Passed by some buildings along the way.





Before I reached the Botanical Gardens, I was attracted by a jungle trail midway and decided to enter the trail. I walked along this nice looking bridge.



The bridge looked wet as it had just rained. I like the look as it just gave a very nice ambience.



Oh! This is a different kind of bridge! It is the shortest suspension bridge across a small stream inside the jungle trail.



A close shot of the stream.





Steps inside the jungle trail.



There was even a seat to rest your weary legs!



If you are wondering why there is no people around, you are quite right. Although I have to say there were some people around but I did not take any photos of them. Haha! However, I realised there was a slight drizzle as I walked the jungle trail. I guess not many people were keen to walk the jungle trail in the rain!

Those who were walking the jungle trail were wearing raincoats. Not me. I love the rain. Didn't you know that? Read my post about my love for the rain here.

Anyway, it was just a slight drizzle. I would have worn the raincoat if it rained heavily.

I looked at my watch. It was almost 2pm. Gosh! I must hurry. I haven't even visited the Botanical Garden yet! And I had to get out of there by 4pm latest.

Just then I heard someone crying. I was stunned. I could not see anyone around me. Who was crying? It sounded like a child. I decided to investigate.

To be continued...

FIRST COMMENTER

(55) Comments

  1. khengsiong said...

    So you like cool weather? But I believe you still need a jacket should you decide to go up the peak.

    The restaurant looks more like a hotel lobby.

    April 30, 2009 at 8:38 AM
  2. Anonymous

    The restaurant looks so nice!

    Yes, I am back and so tired.

    April 30, 2009 at 8:59 AM
  3. Che-Cheh said...

    Looks so comfy... feel like a home. :)

    Btw this post is so short. Very unlike you leh. :P

    April 30, 2009 at 9:37 AM
  4. [SK] said...

    oh, that certainly is a nice cosy place to spend sometime with a drink, a book and some music.. :)

    April 30, 2009 at 10:07 AM
  5. Reanaclaire said...

    thanks for showing KK. I have never been there before... looks cosy and comfy too... now all i long for is a good sleep..

    April 30, 2009 at 11:05 AM
  6. Angie Tan said...

    Looks very cosy. Nice place to sit and relax with a book and drink.

    So, did you climb the peak?

    April 30, 2009 at 11:08 AM
  7. lina said...

    very nice and cosy. I wouldn't say no to curling up on the sofa with a good book while listening to the pitter patter of rain outside.

    April 30, 2009 at 11:13 AM
  8. lina said...

    Mei Teng,
    you are back!!!! Posted anything about ur trip yet? :)

    Foong,
    got eat at that restaurant or not?

    April 30, 2009 at 11:14 AM
  9. lina said...

    and ya lor... why post so short? :P

    April 30, 2009 at 11:16 AM
  10. Superman said...

    The Restaurant and the surrounding looks so nice. Nice to sit there and enjoy while reading a book or drinking a afternoon tea.

    April 30, 2009 at 12:48 PM
  11. day-dreamer said...

    Looks like a very nice place... :)

    April 30, 2009 at 1:03 PM
  12. Merryn said...

    oh gosh. i think someone's abducted foongpc and posted this on his behalf. this post is sooooo unlike HIM! foongpc, where are you? shud we alert the 999? or 911? or 994? eh.. wat's our emergency number lah?

    April 30, 2009 at 1:15 PM
  13. xin said...

    my friend just came back from K.mountain and he said he didnt enjoy it too much at the peak as he was freezing and did not have enough clothes, it was about 3deg celcius and he couldnt take it

    April 30, 2009 at 1:34 PM
  14. Gallivanter said...

    KK is awesome! :-)

    April 30, 2009 at 1:41 PM
  15. [SK] said...

    oh, they cut-off the hidden treasures yesterday while i read.. hmmm, nice place nice food nice ambience nice environment, what more can you complain?? :)

    April 30, 2009 at 2:41 PM
  16. Che-Cheh said...

    Now that I've read the whole post, I must say all the picts look excellent. Especially the one with the fried rice, the restaurant lush surrounding & the hike along the jungle trail.

    I must say I miss KK alot.

    April 30, 2009 at 2:46 PM
  17. JL said...

    Interesting, all of it. Got suspense some more :p

    April 30, 2009 at 2:52 PM
  18. Monica said...

    when I went to Kinabalu Park, I didn't get the chance to walk the jungle trails :-(

    April 30, 2009 at 3:05 PM
  19. foongpc said...

    Sorry for the glitch resulting in my post being cut short earlier. It's now rectified. Hope you guys have an enjoyable read! : )

    April 30, 2009 at 3:16 PM
  20. foongpc said...

    khengsiong, yes I absolutely love the cool weather. Oh, of course if go up the peak will need to wear more than just a jacket! It's freezing up there. I guess the sitting place doubles as a hotel lobby.

    mei teng, I can't wait to see your photos! You didn't tell us where you went. So secretive, like me lah. Haha!

    che-cheh, haha! By now, you know why this post so short lah. It's rectified now : )

    April 30, 2009 at 3:20 PM
  21. foongpc said...

    SK, it certainly is! : )

    reanaclaire, haha! go to sleep then but remember to come back to read the rest of this post! : )

    angie tan, no didn't climb the peak this time. Maybe next year? : )

    April 30, 2009 at 3:21 PM
  22. Anonymous

    nice.. lots of greens around! haha..
    go green! =P

    April 30, 2009 at 3:21 PM
  23. foongpc said...

    lina, curling up on the sofa with a good book and listening to the rain outside is the single most enjoyable thing to do! Haha!

    As you can see, I ate at the restaurant. Sorry for the post being so short earlier. As I've explained, it was cut short due to some technical glitch which I do not understand! : )

    superman, yes it's a very nice place. I love it! : )

    day-dreamer, it's a very nice place indeed! : )

    April 30, 2009 at 3:24 PM
  24. foongpc said...

    merryn, haha! No need to panic! I was not abducted. Just a technical glitch. Now's all rectified. Enjoy reading! : )

    xin,oh yeah it's freezing at the peak. A mere jacket will not help! But I didn't climb up the peak. Just 'lepak' at the foothills only. It's cool not freezing. Genting Highlands is definitely colder! : )


    gallivanter, it is awesome indeed! : )

    April 30, 2009 at 3:28 PM
  25. Angie Tan said...

    Wow..

    Great pics of the jungle trail. You went alone but it would have been nice to go with a friend, right?

    April 30, 2009 at 3:31 PM
  26. iWalk said...

    I love that restaurant too!

    It let me feel back to the nature.

    So glad to know you had such a wonderful holiday!

    April 30, 2009 at 4:04 PM
  27. iamthewitch said...

    The fried rice looks absolutely delicious! And right when I'm hungry! :( I like the cool weather there too. Very peaceful and serene as well... :)

    April 30, 2009 at 4:32 PM
  28. lina said...

    Oh great! You are making me hungry...

    Last time went to park, saw guy singing. Then go to forest and took photo, we all say a lady image on a tree. Now you hear a baby cry. Scary lah you!!!

    April 30, 2009 at 4:56 PM
  29. eastcoastlife said...

    This restaurant looked so cosy and pretty. it would be lovely to dine here.

    April 30, 2009 at 5:23 PM
  30. eastcoastlife said...

    Do you have the bite of mosquitoes? Looks like could have these pests. :P

    April 30, 2009 at 5:25 PM
  31. Superman said...

    I'm back. The food look nice. The view also look nice. Did the waitress look nice? haha! Really nice to eat in such a relax and cool ambient with so much flowers, plants surrounding you. The plants are so green. child crying in the middle of jungle? don't scare me leh...

    April 30, 2009 at 5:38 PM
  32. Borneo Falcon said...

    Nice restaurant. Too bad it rained

    April 30, 2009 at 9:20 PM
  33. Merryn said...

    NOW it's so more like you, foongpc. glad that you are safe and well! hahahahaha...

    April 30, 2009 at 11:11 PM
  34. foongpc said...

    angie tan, yeah, it would be nice to go with a friend, provided the friend like to walk jungle trails. I have friends who will say,"Look, it's raining - let's just stay at the Liwagu Restaurant and chit chat there".

    Or, "I don't want to walk the jungle trail! Maybe we should visit the botanical gardens now!"

    Or, "Ok, you go and walk the trail while I wait for you here!"

    Or, "I don't really like to walk so much. I'm feeling a bit tired. Can we just stay here and enjoy the ambience?"

    Something like that! I rather just go on my own! Haha!

    April 30, 2009 at 11:23 PM
  35. foongpc said...

    iwalk, you love nature too, don't you? I love the rainforests and the jungle - that's the main reason I love the restaurant! : )

    iamthewitch, sorry the fried rice makes you hungry! It is really delicious! Either that, or I'm really hungry at that time! : )

    lina, haha! Lots of strange encounters of the unexplained for me! : )

    April 30, 2009 at 11:27 PM
  36. foongpc said...

    eastcoastlife, it is a lovely place to dine! I did not want to leave after my lunch there!

    No, there were no mosquitoes at all. Probably they are afraid of the cold weather? : )

    superman, haha! The waitress is quite pretty if that's what you are asking. Stay tuned for my next post on the story about the child crying! : )

    April 30, 2009 at 11:31 PM
  37. foongpc said...

    borneo falcon, well, actually I was not really bothered by the rain. But luckily it was just light rain. Not the heavy ones or else I would have to wear my raincoat! : )

    merryn, haha! I am fine and safe, thank you! : )

    April 30, 2009 at 11:33 PM
  38. Tekkaus said...

    Wow! So many pictures! You must have really enjoyed every single bit of your trip! The place looks nice and cosy too. :D

    May 1, 2009 at 12:25 AM
  39. Ayie said...

    That restaurant is so nice, i love the interior and architecture as well giving a good view of the surrounding. It's definitely relaxing to stay there and just be lazy!

    I love that dish...looks so yummy! How's the price?

    Hmmm, i wonder what's that crying noise about...

    May 1, 2009 at 6:05 AM
  40. Anonymous

    Very nice place for a walk and lunch. The fried rice looks good.

    I am also wondering why the crying noise....

    May 1, 2009 at 6:44 AM
  41. foongpc said...

    Oh, missed replying to SK, che-cheh, JL and monica!

    SK, yeah nice place indeed! No complaints! : )

    che-cheh, miss KK? Go visit! : )

    JL, glad you find it interesting! : )

    monica, your hometown in KK and you didn't walk the jungle trails in Kinabalu Park? : )

    May 1, 2009 at 10:45 AM
  42. heidid said...

    wowowowo! I love it there~! If I ever visit I will stay there. So nice and beautiful there. Thank you for the pics.

    May 1, 2009 at 10:47 AM
  43. foongpc said...

    tekkaus, yes I enjoyed myself there! : )

    ayie, the fried rice costs RM15. Slightly on the high side.

    mei teng, yes great for walks! The crying noise will be revealed soon ; )

    May 1, 2009 at 10:48 AM
  44. foongpc said...

    heidi, I'm pretty sure you will love it there! If you like to be close to nature, you will definitely love it! : )

    May 1, 2009 at 10:54 AM
  45. Neo said...

    Wow, this is such a lovely place with nice ambiance. The fried rice look great too!

    Can't wait to read more about your CSI... or just investigation. :)

    May 1, 2009 at 11:49 AM
  46. HappySurfer said...

    I'm impressed at how nice the restaurant looks. Fried rice is the safest food to order in an unfamiliar restaurant. It will never go wrong.

    Very nice pictures, Foong.

    May 1, 2009 at 2:58 PM
  47. LifeRamblings said...

    A treat from mother nature in all her glory. wonderful captures.

    any souvenirs for us?

    May 1, 2009 at 6:40 PM
  48. Grace said...

    wah the bridge through the rainforest looks so narrow and exciting, like something out of a jungle movie haha!

    fried rice and satay looks really yummy too :D

    May 1, 2009 at 7:33 PM
  49. Monica said...

    my hometown is in Tawau, Foong. not KK :-D

    May 1, 2009 at 7:39 PM
  50. Ayie said...

    pretty good price for the meal

    May 2, 2009 at 2:04 AM
  51. foongpc said...

    neo, what CSI? Haha!

    happysurfer, thanks! yes fried rice is the safest to order, but I order this fried rice because it's the restaurant's brand of fried rice which is usually nice : )

    life ramblings, would love to get souvenirs for you all but too many of you! Let my photos be your souvenirs. Haha!

    May 2, 2009 at 4:39 PM
  52. foongpc said...

    grace, it does look like a scene from a jungle movie. haha! Yes, I like the fried rice and satay : )

    monica, oh I thought KK is your hometown! Now, how did I come to that conclusion? You must have misled me somewhere! : )

    ayie, I would say a little on the high side. But the ambience of the restaurant more than made up for it : )

    May 2, 2009 at 4:42 PM
  53. HappySurfer said...

    Yeah lah, I also usually go for the restaurant's chiu pai dish. LOL

    May 2, 2009 at 6:58 PM
  54. Anne Saw said...

    Hey.. this restaurant looks nice... is the food there nice as well? May I know the location of this restaurant?

    May 11, 2009 at 12:57 PM
  55. foongpc said...

    happysurfer, that's the best dish to go for when we don't know what to eat : )

    anne saw, it's called Liwagu Restaurant located at Liwagu Suites, near Botanical Gardens. When you are at Kinabalu Park, ask anyone there (except tourists) and they will know this restaurant : )

    May 13, 2009 at 11:01 AM