Q1 2014: After a few months of training to control my paramotor wing and engine, I successfully took off a few solo paramotor flights. A rewarding experience, at least I know that I can do this. The training process was messy but the experience was insanely awesome. Both my big toenails fell off due to the shoe pressure while practising the ground training to balance my paramotor wing. My radio died on air and I had to land on my own without the radio guidance of my paramotor instructor, on my first solo takeoff.
And a lot more unusual incidents along my 7 years of paramotoring.
I have explored the area around Tasik Pedu for more than enough, and yet this is my first time visiting Mong Gajah, another beautiful part of Tasik Pedu.
Mong Gajah is a place with a gorgeous view of nature. If you prefer sleeping at night, wrapped in total darkness while watching thousands of stars (with no light pollution) and waking up facing the waterfront of Pedu Lake, with gorgeous sunset coming out from the mountain range of Banjaran Kedah-Singgora then you would absolutely love this camping spot.
If you are looking for a good hiking spot around Klang Valley then you should try this trail.
A community-managed low-land forest area and a well-maintained hiking spot within the city area, Kota Damansara Community Trail is my choice for my speed hiking training during weekdays. The attraction of this easy 3.3 km trail from the entrance to the Tiga Puteri Peak, is a lookout spot overviewing north and southbound traffic thundering along the NKVE with a glimpse view of Kota Damansara township in the distance.
On our way out of Polumpung Melangkap in Kota Belud … we, the 3 traveling Sumandaks make a quick stop at a small town of Tamparuli to visit my local Tuaran Dusun friend, Lano Lan. A well-known local journalist cum photographer who writes for our local newspaper, NST for years.
I need to check out some interesting places in Tuaran for my next visit. And, who else should have known this place better other than the local journalists, right? So … I asked him, “Lan! we have 4 hours, please enlight us on why we should spend more time here in Tuaran”.
He laughed at the idea of how he could ‘excite’ us, the Sumandaks.
Jambatan Tamparulli or Tamparulli Bridge
We started with a walk on the most well-known hanging bridge in Tamparuli. This bridge is made famous by the song ‘Jambatan Tamparulli’ means the Tamparulli bridge. I used to listen to the song during my school day years. “Jambatan Tamparuli” is the title of a Kadazandusun song composed and sung by Justin Lusah in the mid-1970s.
The song tells the story about a lady walking in high heels on the Tamparulli bridge.
As we strolled down the bridge, coincidently there was a street musician singing with his guitar at the other entrance of the bridge. I requested him to sing the well-known song “Jambatan Tamparulli” for us … he obliges. And listening to him singing ahhh! what a way to enjoy my “Jambatan Tamparulli” moment.
If you happened to bump into him while crossing the bridge, don’t forget to give him a good tip ya.
*Eric, the Tamparulli bridge street musician*
Lunch mee rebus at Terminal Cafe
“Jom! let us have a quick lunch at this place that I really like,” suggest Lano Lan. Mee Rebus a local boiled noodle at Terminal Cafe in Kiulu village, super delicious for the hungry Sumandaks who had only a cup of ‘Maggi in a cup’ each for breakfast 😂 , yummy!. The best part of having a good local guide is that we could plan our limited traveling time in the most efficient way.
Done with our lunch.
Fish conservation or Tagal at Poturidong
Next, a short drive to the famous fish feeding, campsite, fish conservation area (Tagal) of Kampung Poturidong Baru in Kiulu. Crossing another hanging bridge to enter the riverside fish conservation area of Poturidong village. Another fish feeding area, so I thought?
My first impression?
Clean. Crystal clear river water. Well-maintained recreation area. Beautiful green spot suit for nature lovers.
And the fish omg! y’all should look at the size of the fish crowding around our feet as we splashed the water surface with some fish food in our hands. As big as my thin crus. And, there are hundreds of friendly Kelah fish here making loud sucking sounds as they sucked on my hand and my fingers. Amazingly gross … lol. I like it though.
This area is in the red zone area, a conservation area gazetted as a no-fishing area. A good place for camping too but I personally prefer sleeping on a bed, I’ll stay in a chalet instead.
Residents of Poturidong village has been practicing a traditional approach called Tagal system for years to breed fish and to protect their precious natural asset, both the river and the fishes. Fishing is illegal here. The fishes are harvested once a year during the dry season.
My mom said that Kelah or Empurau or Belian dish is famously tasty. I have yet to taste it but I am sure that Nazz must have loved the fish so much as I heard her calling the Kelah fish by a dish name 😂 … “Hey! Kelah goreng (fried Kelah) over there, masak tempoyak Kelah over here, asam pedas Kelah on this side”.
Selfie time
The long and winding Tuaran river that runs throughout this area is well-known for wild water rafting activities too. I should give it a try. As we drive along the river I couldn’t help but noticed numerous hanging bridges along the river, connecting one village to another. A good Instagramable-spot detected.
*My Instagram pose*
Thanks, Lano Lan for a quick eye-opening tour to Kiulu. We would come back again soon and stay for a night or two to experience more natural wonder of Tuaran, In Sha Allah.
Contact Lano Lan for his local guide service. DM him on his IG and Fb account or WhatsApp him at +6016 838 8290
Have you been to Tuaran?
Are there any other interesting places that I should visit here in Tuaran? Share it with me. Leave your suggestion on the comment area ya.
Sharing is caring. Semoga memberi manfaat.
Thanks and cheers
MM
PS —}: ‘Sumandak’ means young lady in ethnic Kadazan-Dusun dialect.
And we, 3 very curious Sumandaks (Nelly, Nazz and I) traveled together and explore some parts of Sabah in 12 days. Traveling solo is cool, trust me … been there done that. But traveling with curious and same-minded traveler friends is way cooler.
A special way to deepen or weaken friendships as travel will remind you why you became friends with them in the first place, and how good it is to spend focused time together. I would share about places that we went to during our 12 days journey in Sabah and share them here, in my blog. In Sha Allah.
If you are in Kundasang, I bet that you would love to have a closer view of the mountainous Crocker Range surrounding the area but like me, the thought of rigorous hours and days of hiking scared the hell out of me. And, if you could not resist the temptation to climb the gigantic Mt Kinabalu, then you should try climbing the 2 km trail of Maragang Hill instead, located in Kg. Mesilou, Kundasang.
Spend a total of 4-5 hours of your morning (4 km in total) to check out the gorgeous peak of Mt Kinabalu and the 360-degree view of Crocker Range from an open platform on top of Maragang Hill (2232m). But, bear in mind that there is a high chance that the view would be overcast or hidden by thick mists and clouds. Unless you are lucky or the weather is super good or you are there very-very early in the morning.
Location: Maragang Hill, Kundasang, Sabah
How to go: From Kota Kinabalu, drive to Kundasang and to Mesilou Village (Mevoc).
Attraction: A closer view of the gigantic Mt Kinabalu
Difficulty: Moderate.
Distance go and back: 4 km
Time spent: Half-day hike
Caution: Start super early and be at the Mesilou Hill platform by at least 6:30 am, Mt Kinabalu’s peak would be clouded by 7:30 am
Tips: Book your hiking slot early
Leech level: None
Fees: Conservation fee rm10/ Guide fee rm70 (per group of 1-5 people) / Transportion
My trekking buddies at 9.30 am – km 1
Nelly, Nazz and I, the 3 travelings Sumandak* started our journey from Kota Kinabalu at 5.45 am. Reached Mevoc (Mesilou Volunteer Club) admin registration office at 9 am. After registration, we then quickly jump onto our 4WD transportation to the hiking starting point and managed to persuade the ‘pakcik’ driver to drive us to the very last driving point of the trail (we saved 500m of our hiking energy 😝).
The Hike to Maragang Hill. July 2019
As always, I need to enlighten you that I am not so into hiking but I always love the feeling of being surrounded by nature. I grumbled to myself as I walk on my first 500m while chewing on my apple. As I ascended the trail, the air started to feel very humid and fresh. Traces of mists still hanging on the air among the mossy trees.
Due to the heavy rain last night, the ground is wet and muddy. The air appeared gloomy and mysterious. Very refreshing.
Mossy tree trunk
The climbing trail is surprisingly bearable for me. Yes, some 45-degree angle slops along the trails make it difficult to climb especially after the rain. I take my time and enjoy the fresh oxygen from the trees.
We reached the peak at 10.30 a.m and sadly could not see anything as thick mists filled the void areas around the mountains, hiding the gem. Sad but nature always has its own agenda, very unpredictable. I swallowed my disappointment silently. But yeay! this is not too bad … I could do this again on my next visit, In Sha Allah.
Nature lovers, this place is a must if you are in this area. Highly recommended!
Maragang Hill hiking package
They have 2 types of trekking trails that you can choose from; the normal trail and the loop trail, each with different package prices. We chose the normal trail package, the same trail ascending and descending (4 km) and for the loop trail, the same trail going up but different trail down (4.3 km). Our package cost is as follows:
1. Conservation fee rm10.00 per person 2. Guide [ 1 – 5 ] fee is rm70.00 per group of 1-5 people 3. Transportation cost rm30
Contact details for further queries and updates :
Mesilou Volunteer Club (MEVOC) Jumaidi Lasim, Chairman
But the good news is … there are no leeches here. Ahhh … finally, I can explore around the bushes and the tree trunks, peacefully. Nonetheless, you always need to be well prepared when you are in a jungle.
My to-do checklist for this trip includes:
A guide is a must for Maragang Hill hike
Wear good hiking shoes or hiking sandals or any shoes with a good grip would do too. I wore my Teva hiking sandal for this trip.
Start the hike very early in the morning (4 am) and be at the top of the hill for the first light (as early as 5.30 am) until 8.00am to increase your chances of seeing a clear landscape view
Well powered handphone.
Food. I brought an apple, 1 bar of Sneaker, some snacks and my water bottle.
A small towel.
My small camera and a GoPro (optional)
Photo credit to my friend Tazza
Would I do this again?
Absolutely yes! I am curious about how does the best view of this place would look like and I need to check it out with my own eyes. What do I like about this place?
The gorgeous front-seat view of Mt Kinabalu peak, they said. I need to confirm this with my own eyes. 😝
The trail is bearable, not too difficult
Our encounter with MEVIC personnel was very pleasant. Our guide, Azwan is well experienced and very polite. For travelers, meeting up with a genuinely kind and polite person on our journey is always feels heartwarming.
My travel mate Nelly and Nazz are superb companions. Nothing would feel gruesome when you have a good companion.
A pose after the hiking with Azwan, our guideThe night after the hike, we slept like a baby
Have you been to Maragang Hill?
If you have, please share with me your story or tips. I would love to repeat this trip again soon.
Thanks for dropping by.
Cheers
MM
PS —} *’Sumandak’ means young lady in ethnic Kadazan-Dusun dialect.
And we, 3 very curious Sumandaks (Nelly, Nazz and I) traveled together and explored some parts of Sabah in 12 days. Traveling solo is cool, trust me … as I have tried traveling solo before. But traveling with curious and same minded traveler friends is way cooler. It is absolutely true that traveling can either strengthen or weaken a friendship.
A special way to deepen friendships as travel will remind you why you became friends with them in the first place, and how good it is to spend focused time together. I would share about places that we went to during our 12 days journey in Sabah and share them here, in my blog. In Sha Allah.
MATSUDA MASHIMARU 