Heavenly Kundasang (by Monlia Nair)

Self-portrait photo

I must thank my family for deciding to spend our holiday in Sabah, particularly in Kundasang, at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu. The two-hour flight to Kota Kinabalu and the equally long, winding drive from the capital is nothing compared to what Kundasang has to offer, not only in terms of money but also the soul.

The excitement started the moment we saw the majestic mountain with a pool of clouds above it, looking like a crown. Ranau welcomed us with the friendly smiles of the locals, mountain plains, windy roads, tall trees, blooming wild flowers and fresh vegetables and fruit. Our rooms at the Kinabalu Resort & Spa is at the top of the hill, with a view of Mt. Kinabalu. She seemed near yet far away, with clouds caressing and blanketing her, even in mid-day. Thanks to the cold wind, we did not need a fan or air-conditioner. Mt. Kinabalu Park was very exciting. It welcomed us with the fragrance of wild lemongrass. Mountaineers and adventure lovers were enjoying the scenery, terrain and the breeze. The waterfall at the foot of the mountain was an awesome sight. The breathtaking view and kaleidoscopic colours made me wonder why we hadn’t been doing more to make this place a landmark tourism spot. Throughout my three-night stay, I did not see many tourists, except for a handful of Japanese and Koreans. I think Kundasang is a gold mine that can be used as the brand identity for Malaysia.

The people, landscape, weather, wonderful seafood, and the mountain make for a wonderful holiday experience. But the place needs a face lift, although I see some work going on at Ranau. It needs more hotels, public amenities and more organised displays of its fresh produce. To avoid littering, bring along small plastic bags for rubbish. More litter bins also need to be placed at tourist spots.

The author for 'Heavenly Kundasang' is Monlia Nair, the winner for NST short essay weekly contest, published in NST on 20 July 2011.