Rafflesia Information Center

Rafflesia Information Centre

Learn more about the largest flower in the world !

Located along the Kota Kinabalu-Tambunan highway,many local sabahans often just drive past this gem of a center called the Rafflesia Information Center. Maybe its because its always there and the interest to visit can be postponed to another more convenient time. But for tourists and first time visitors to Sabah, this is really worth a visit because the rafflesia information center offers one of the most comprehensive source of interesting information about the Rafflesia ! It is after all the largest flower in the world !

Richard and Maria at the Rafflesia Information Center

Apart from the obvious attraction which is when the rafflesia is in bloom, the center also showcases many other nature related attractions. Visitors can see and appreciate the local native trees which are conveniently grown both naturally and planted by nature minded individuals.

The official Sabah Tourism site is a good source for information about this center and you can check it out here

Some details regarding how to get there :

Rafflesia Information Centre
Tambunan
Located at the roadside of the edge of a forest reserve is the Rafflesia Information Centre. This centre is set aside for the conservation purposes of the remarkable rafflesia flower. The Rafflesia Information Centre is situated about an hour’s drive away from Kota Kinabalu. (source:Rafflesia Information Center)

The Rafflesia Information Centre is open daily to visitors from 8am to 3pm. Here, visitors can look forward to a jungle trekking adventure to look for the rafflesia flower. It is advisable to wear comfortable trekking shoes in the attempt to trek through the RIC’s challenging terrain.

Richard Smeets and wife Maria, from the Netherlands recently visited the site with Aunty Doris and found the place to be really beautiful and informative. Be prepared to do some trekking if you happen to want a close look at a raflessia flower in bloom. Information on the latest bloom can be obtained from the site managers.

This center is just a small part of what is available to visitors to Sabah. You can explore the many adventures and activities by checking in with the official Sabah Tourism Website of course, but you can also email me if you are looking for any particular information on Sabah.

Aunty Doris visits Utan Paradise Jungle Lodge

Aunty Doris visits Utan Paradise Jungle Lodge

For many who are looking for the ideal nature adventure and retreat or just a change in their routine, there is one place that is probably the best kept secret in Sabah.. Welcome to Utan Paradise, the secret jungle lodge !

I was invited to visit this beautiful jungle retreat as part of my program to promote off the beaten track type of tourism in Sabah. There are many interesting but sadly not well publicised destinations in Sabah and it is always so fascinating find when you discover them either by chance or on a deliberate venture to look for them.

Restful Jungle Atap cabins

Utan Paradise Jungle Lodge is a dream of one local native Sabahan named Saverinus. Once employed as a F&B manager of a leading hotel,he has brought his experience and expertise with him right to the jungle when his hospitality is just as welcoming as his rustic bamboo and atap cabins. It is a joy to watch this man turn a part of the borneo jungle into a paradise that allows privilliged visitors to learn about issues that should matter to most of us.. like global warming, reafforestation, respect for nature and the environment and protecting our natural habitat.

Combined with such admirable awareness and a strong desire to introduce sabah’s beautiful natural virgin jungle to the world, Saverinus has managed to implement a program for visitors to adopt individual trees in his jungle domain. For those of you who want to make a statement about your belief in saving our planet earth, you can adopt a tree at the utan paradise too. The adoption process is interesting and you will get your name inscribed on a plaque which is then posted on your adopted tree !! Contact Aunty Doris for more details on how you can be a part of this wonderful program to keep our natural heritage intact!

Aunty Doris talks to Saverinus about his dreams for Utan Paradise !

At the Utan Paradise Jungle lodge you can also participate in many activities including real jungle trekking !! Yes feel the buzz of real jungle sounds.. as they say.. you can taste the smell of real borneo jungle at utan paradise ! There is a small beautiful water fall that is prestine and well kept secret because the area borders a region patrolled by the authorities and so the water is as clear as it should be !

Finding Utan Paradise can be a bit tricky, even with a good gps device but you can try taking a Keningau bound Tung Mah bus from Kota Kinabalu and make sure it takes the kimanis highway route to Keningau ! The turn off is marked by an old marker left by the popular Operation Raliegh Project when a group of them visited Saverinus and helped to build some of his huts there.

Welcome to Utan Paradise

Aunty Doris talks to Saverinus about

his dreams for Utan Paradise !

Restful Jungle Atap cabins

Be prepard for some exciting adventure without the props.. you get the real borneo here !

White Water Adventure Rafting at Padas River Sabah!

White Water Adventure Rafting at Padas River Sabah!

When Zainol , a seasoned traveller, and his friends Teresa, Henry, Cecilia and David, all with a passion for outdoor adventures, from Singapore called to ask if I could help to organise a Mountain Climbing trip to Mt. Kinabalu and also White Water River Rafting at Padas River in Tenom, I was not sure if I could get the bookings organised at first due to the very tight schedules and the long waiting list for mountain climbers who are eager to conquer Mt Kinabalu, the highest peak in South East Asia !

There were some moments of initial disappointments.. the travel agents who were contacted did not respond to Zainol’s requests and they also somehow did not indicate that the railway service to tenom had since been changed to accomodate new revamping programs !

Teresa, Henry, Cecilia,David and Zainal (standing with banner) Alfons,Ida and Doris showing active support for Dagu Pinapin Language Preservation Project (DPLPP)

I managed to establish good contacts with the many essential links for Zainol and was finally able to organise what turned out to be a very enjoyable sabahan adventure trip for Zainol and his 4 good buddies.

On arrival at Kota Kinabalu Airport, an arranged 4X4 double cabin Toyota vehicle was on hand to bring them ( Zainol self drive ) all the way to Kundasang where they were greeted with all the beautiful sceneries and the cool freshness of the Kinabalu National Park. They were able to visit many places of interests including the Mushroom farm, Cattle farm and visited Mr. Michael Chin an old friend who also runs Cinta Mata Cabin. They checked into Pine Villa Resort strategically located to have a commanding view of majestic Mt. Kinabalu ! And what an awesome view !

The drive back from Kundasang to Kota Kinabalu city the next day was just as eventful with friends taking time to stop for photo shoots along the route !

Back at the hotel in Kota kinabalu, my husband Alfons and I were waiting to meet the group for a nice and sumptuous seafood dinner at the Ocean Seafood Village Restaurant where the dinner bill was as attractive as was the quality of the fresh seafood ! We really enjoyed it !

The big event was of course the surprise birthday for Teresa, one of the members ! She was clearly touched by the thoughtful gestures as we all lighted candles and sang Happy Birthday at the seafood restaurant, much to the delight of all at the popular seafood Diner.

One for the Album

Teresa ended up paying for a beautiful evening of aromatic coffee at the nearby 5 Star resort of Sutera Magellan. We all asked the talented live band to sing another happy Birthday to Teresa !!

The trip obviously left some beautiful memories and we look forward to the return with much anticipation. The White water Rafting experience at the Padas River was really a thrilling adventure for everyone. The normal Sabah State Railways Train service was undergoing some major changes and the journey to the starting point for the White Water Rafting had to be done the old railroad maintenance trolley style !

Zainol is already planning another trip possibly to the interior region of Sabah where there is a mystical limestone rocky outcrop with steep cliffs called Batu Punggul . Now that is another great adventure for sure ! Sabah has more rare gems to be discovered !

Batu Punggul, a limestone pinnacle in the heart of virgin rainforest