Giving Back to the Community with Trefoil Guild (KK District)

Together with Trefoil Guild, Kota Kinabalu District.

Once in a while, few of us sisters will tag along with our mom, who is also a member of Trefoil Guild (Girl Guides), KK District for there outings. Normally outings with one charitable plan before hand.

 So here are the two places we have visited sometime in November, 2013.

Don Bosco, Bundu Tuhan, Ranau and Jireh Homes, Tuaran.

On our way to Don Bosco, beautiful Mount Kinabalu view during our journey. :)

- Mount Kinabalu -

- Donation from Fook Yuan, Mc Donald (Sulaman) and Anonymous individuals -

Thanks for the support and donation from all the association and individuals.

- Children Singing -

- Activities -

The children of Don Bosco did entertain us with their lovely voices and same goes to us, Trefoil Guild members taught them a few songs as well! With some hand signs and all of them were happy with the activities.

- Panoramic view -

That's conclude our last charitable trip in 2013.

So here's the previous trip we went, Jireh Home located at Tuaran. All of us enjoyed our time with the children of Jireh Home. A short introduction on Jireh Home, children of the said home includes children of family abuse, underpriviledges and orphan as well.

- Jireh Home -

Children of Jireh Home certainly helpful, took effort to help us lifting the goods from our vehicles and all.

- Donation from members and anonymous individual and KFC lunch treat from Trefoil Guild -

- Lunch with the Children -

- Certainly Grateful -

You know what? There were children who really thankful and grateful with us. The common way to thanks outsider was singing to us, non the less, Trefoil Guild prepared some activities to have fun with the children! They just love to sing and dance!! :)

Mind if I ask when was your last visit and giving back to the community? Maybe Sabahan bloggers should plan one charitable trip as well!

That's all for today!

Have a great weekend! :)

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【沙巴玩】 兰脑 ： 沙巴茶园 之长屋与小屋 Fun in Sabah : Ranau - Overnight at Long Houses and Cottages of Sabah Tea Garden

Continued from our previous visiting at Sabah Tea Garden's Tea House (click) and the amazing scene of the tea plantation. We continued our short tour at their accommodation offered nearby.

- Long House of Sabah Tea Garden - 

The long house was originated by The Rungus ethnics from Kudat.

- Rungus Long House -

It originated from Rungus Ethnics and read some overview from my Mari-Mari Cultural Village visiting here (click)!

There are two traditional Rungus long houses that linked together and it could fit in 10 rooms with triple sharing beds in a room. 

- Various patterned Batik cloths hang on the roof - 

One of the long house was decorated with colourful batik cloths on the roof. From here, we can see how many rooms and how long are the long houses.

- Sharing Room with three persons in a Room at the Long House -

Suitable to those who would like to experience the village lifestyle (with basic needs) during the past (currently we still can find minority people still staying in Long Houses in rural areas) and blend in with the natural surrounding. The price offered is reasonable for those who seek for budgeted trip at Ranau area.

- Resting Place -

During the olden days, it will be a place for people to have a rest, chit chat or maybe gathered together to play traditional games.

- Ethnics of Borneo -  

One by one card boards were hanged on the wall and allow tourists to know more about our ethnics here. It's kind of good thought to let tourists to understand our beautiful culture here with one stay at the long house. Besides the overview of ethnics on those card boards, the management do hang photographs, traditional items, tools and belongings of various ethnics on the bamboos wall for guests to have a look.

- Gong -

Traditional music instrument that hang between the bamboos for guests to take photographs.

The next accommodation they offered will be :

- The Cottages -  

Cottages was newly built to meet tourists requirements whereby it will become one of the attraction to stay there. It's recommended to those who would love to stay overnight with more private space and comfortable with air- conditioned room.

- Lofty Hodges Cottage -

Each cottage has a name to represent itself and easier for guests to search for the cottage they are staying.

- Sharing Room -

The washroom was clean, the room was neat and I felt comfortable when I entered the cottage during the visiting.

- Praying Mantis -

 Guests still can see small insects and larger sized ones at Sabah Tea Garden area. Bugs such as Praying Mantis, the beetles are there too! Especially during the night, guests could listen to sound that made by those bugs nearby.

- Batik Painting Activity - 

Extra activities, entertainments and facilities offered to make guests felt comfortable and won't be bored while staying at Sabah Tea Garden. 

Furthermore, the Cultural Hall is spacy for large group of people to held groups activities or maybe team building activities. Non the lest, any activities such as cultural performance need to be discussed with the management so that they could prepare all the necessities  for the night.

Sabah Tea Garden, Ranau is quite an interesting destination to visit, experiencing the tea grading and processing, smelling the fresh tea leaves from the plantation and more...

- An Old Traditional Game -

Once again, before we leave Sabah Tea Garden, we went to the souvenir shop for some shopping. TEA!! Various kind of tea bought by us! I love the smell of Pandan and the Geranium, the tea are smooth to be consume by us with no colouring added and it's ORGANIC!!

No worry, we still can find the Original Sabah Tea around town, and as for the other flavours, not much of the outlets are selling them from what have I understood.

Well, that's my review on the accommodation and my short tour at Sabah Tea Garden. 

Will be visiting to Kg. Luanti later on...

with big fishes to be seen!!

So... I have been to Sabah Tea Garden!

How about you?

*Tour with Tropical Holidays Paradise for Sabah Tea Garden, Ranau.

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【沙巴游】 兰脑 ： 沙巴茶园 Fun in Sabah : Ranau - Taste of Sabah at Sabah Tea Garden

More than Tea... You'll See

After a maximum of three (3) and a 1/2 (half) hours journey with Tourist Bus by land, we reached our destination -

Sabah Tea Garden

 And before that,

 We went all the way from Kota Kinabalu and we dropped by at an Orchids Farm/ Stall selling various kind of species of Orchids. My parents who love planting requested the bus to stop over and bought few types of Orchids as an addition to their Orchids Garden behind the house.

Those Orchids plants sold were not bloom yet. However, the price can cost until over RM100.00 and it depends on the species we would like to purchase!

Continued our journey further...

- View from the Tea House -

And finally we reached our destination - Sabah Tea Garden (click). 

At the first sight, we could see the Tea Cultivation through out the window while we were entering the main entrance of the Tea Garden, the tea cultivation covers most of the hills/ valley over there.

It's amazing when I see such a wonderful scenery.

 By the time we reached, it was time for lunch, few snaps of photographs and we went for our lunch at the Tea House.

 Although from far we saw the House seems ordinary, however by the time I entered and sit at a side, it seems extraordinary with an amazing scene and experiencing a little imagination with those photographs hang around (Imagined about our Borneo History, the Origin of and adventures at Tea Garden and more!).

- A photo of me at Sabah Tea Garden - 

A climate at Sabah Tea was warm during our visiting, for sure it will be better with breezy air during the sunrise and during the evening.

- Sandakan - Ranau Death March -

 Remember my KK Heritage posts? - A Guide to KK Heritage Walk.

Part of the history was laid here and more in depth stories about the history and newspaper cutting of current action taken to commemorate the past can be read from the booth and photographs on  the wall outside the souvenirs shop.

- Lest We Forget -

- Grading of Tea -

- Part of the Tea Garden that I took from the Tea House of Sabah Tea Garden -

It's amazing to see such Tea Garden in Sabah. I like! Saw those combined colour of greens? The lighter green leavens will be the young tea leaves and those will be pluck for tea production and other productions at the Tea Factory.

 - Organic Sabah Tea -

A must have when we visit Sabah Tea Garden, when we saw the word "Tea" at the Tea House are all made of Sabah Tea! My dad who went to Sabah Tea Garden before told us about the specialty of their tea and Sabah Tea is GOOD! Taste different from Ordinary Tea and won't feet uncomfortable after drinking too much.

Besides, brewing method is another must know method to make a cup of aromatic Sabah Tea Drink.

From the information I heard and saw, Sabah Tea Plantation have their own Tea Factory which only operates from Monday to Sunday and unfortunately, I went their during Public Holiday  (which they will be closed) and we didn't saw the processes of tea manufacturing and learning the brewing method or the grades of teas.

- Sabah Tea Chicken Soup - 

The aroma of tea leaves within the sipped chicken soup taste delicious and extraordinary. I tried it for the first time and I found it quite interesting to have tea aroma inside the soup.

 - Sabah Tea Butter Prawn -

The prawns served taste good with chopped tea leaves!

- Ginger Tea -

My mom caught cold while we were on our way to Ranau area and she had Ginger Tea to make her felt relieve.

- The Menu -

Besides those recommended above, we had Mixed Vegetables and Lemon Chicken, all ingredients were fresh and even the mixed vegetables taste sweet. As a conclusion, the presentation of the dishes served was well presented.

A satisfying lunch indeed for two tables of us.

Pricing stated are reasonable at such tourist spot here. It's normal to see similar prices around here.

By the way, they served Sabah Tea Pancake too! I didn't have a taste of it, how unfortunately and I would love to try it in the future.

- What We Do, We Carry Through - 
(Motto of S.M. All Saints)

A short walk around the Tea House and the Souvenir Shop and look what have I snapped! 

I saw my Ex- Secondary School's souvenir as a token of appreciation to Sabah Tea since years ago and it was a bit dusty, I assumed that it's quite a long time ago they have been there.

- Packaged Tea Bags of Sabah Tea -

- Various Flavour of Tea -

Visited the Souvenirs Shop which selling various kinds of products from Chocolates and Tea Cookies which I had it for the first time and it have much aromatic tea flavour in it, packaged tea bags and packaged processes tea leaves of various flavour of teas. Flavour such as Ginger, Cinnamon, Tongkat Ali, Pandan, Geranium and non the least THE ORIGINAL flavour!

For your information, Original Sabah Tea could be widely found anywhere in town and as for other special flavour, cookies and even chocolates, it will only be sold in selected outlets or souvenirs shops in town.

Beside visiting the Tea Garden, Tea Factory, Souvenirs Shop and having delicious lunch at their Tea House, Sabah Tea Garden offers various activities/ adventures and overnight packages that will not bored their guests who stay there.

There's more in coming post! Stay tuned!

Till then...

Website : Sabah Tea Garden (click here)!

Tour with Tropical Holidays Paradise for Sabah Tea Garden, Ranau.

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【沙巴游】 兰脑 - 保凌温泉 Fun in Sabah : Ranau - Canopy Walk at Poring Hot Spring

Continued with my previous post which I've missed out before we went to Pine Resort for a stay. Before that, we went to Poring Hot Spring which located at Ranau for canopy walk and bath!!

The first thing we do was filling up our tummy at Rainforest Restaurant.

As I heard before, the food was quite satisfied for a person like me, I like the fried bananas (pisang goreng) very much and it was sweet and tasty. Besides, both of my parents in love with the chicken wings!! They serves buffet styled lunch with Malaysian delights and a bit of Italian dishes (i.e. Spaghetti).


After our buffet lunch, we went for a walk in the natural environment and some of the aunts went for bath too.

Normally I didn't go for the bath at the public area (FYI, they have chalet for private use too), I prefer sitting beside inserting my legs into the water tub. I did wrote about the Hot Water Sulfur Spring before, click here to view the previous post about the water tubs!


We are waiting for our turn for the canopy walk at the main entrance.


The trail of the canopy walk began...

We saw varies species of plants along the way. Besides, we do a little of hiking in the woods too~~


There were few hanging bridges along the canopy walk. I went for the walk for the first time and it's quite deep when I look downward and frighten me that I need to hold tight to the rope besides. However, I love the natural view there!

The distance was a bit long and the weather was hot. We saw a man took off his shirt and went for the canopy walk, he even took pictures with us. =D


Yea~~ One of the uncle or aunt told us that the plant above was the first species of Orchid plant, it was small, just like the size of my palm ( the length of the white flower until the small green leaves.

*Tour with Tropical Holidays Paradise for Poring Hot Spring, Ranau, Sabah.

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