Day 2: Kelah Sanctuary, Kampung Luanti Baru, Ranau & Sabah Tea Plantation.

Date: 28 June, 2013 (Friday)

We left Poring at 10.30am.

2^nd stop: Kelah Sanctuary, Kampung Luanti Baru, Ranau.

Take the same way out from the Hot Spring towards Ranau. Do take note that if u search the direction from Poring Hot Spring, Ranau to Kampung Luanti Baru, Ranau, Google map will show u direction via Jalan Muruk Sendol. DO NOT USE THIS NAVIGATION. The road after the roundabout doesn’t exist. We found it the hard way that after a while, it became a dirt road and that road leads deeper into the palm plantation. Luckily there was 1 villagers working along the road and we stopped to ask. We had to drive all the way back and lost 30mins of driving time. So from the Hot Spring, follow back the road towards Ranau and once u reached the A4 junction, take right turn towards Telupid/Sandakan. It should take u only 30mins to get to the Sanctuary.

11.30am we reached the Sanctuary (left side of the road. Right before the sanctuary is the Sabah Tea Plantation). Paid the RM5 entrance fee (for feet. Whole body is RM10) at the office cum restaurant before proceeding to the back road. When u arrive, u’ll see the famous signage, a canopy with chair and the ticket booth. Exchange the RM5 ticket there and pay additional RM3 for the camera (per group, so u bring a lot of cameras but pay only RM3). The ticket stub will have a number there and the lady at the counter will shout your name once u enter the riverside. U got 15mins starting from that point. 

Here’s the thing, believe me 15mins was enough. Neither of us dared to go too deep into the river. We just stood in the water at ankle-deep and the fished swarmed us; pretty scary for a first timer. And yes, we bought packets of food (20cent per pack) to feed the fishes but don’t dared to feed them by hand hahahaha! We just threw the pallets (throw SLOWLY as the fishes will kind of jumped at it). U’ll notice that the bigger kelah will dominate the river. They’re huge and really fighting for the food. The smaller yellowish kelah will just swim around and nibble at ur feet. Pity them though.

Like I said, 15mins was just nice for us. We went up the river and were wearing our sandals when our number was called for times up. Sure enough, our feet felt really cleaned and smooth after the visit J

3^rd stop: Sabah Tea Plantation.

Tea plantation wasn’t in our initial plan since we know that we can just go to Cameron. However, since it’s next door, we decided to stop by. At the entrance, the gate is blocked but no worries, the guard will let u in once he has taken ur car plate number. The road is pretty much like in the BOH Plantation but it’s only a short drive to the factory.

Personally, I was disappointed. The place looked abandoned. The tea trees don’t look green enough and dry. There is no information center or museum. You can’t walk through the factory without paying for the tour. So basically u just wonder around on ur own, sit down for a tea at the old looking café or buy some Sabah Tea/souvenirs at the shop.

15minutes were all we need, then off to our next stop in next entry.