Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in Southeast Asia (excluding New Guinea), standing at 4,095 meters (13,435 feet) above sea level. It's located in the West Coast Division of Sabah, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It nestled in Kinabalu Park, a UNESCO Global Geopark. Kinabalu Park has two other UNESCO titles, which are the UNESCO World Heritage Site and the UNESCO Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve, earning triple crown accolades. Mount Kinabalu has an intriguing landscape for its six levels of different vegetation. While this may not be immediately apparent to many, those with a keen interest in nature elements will be able to distinguish the various vegetation types at their respective altitudes. It also has some of the world's highest biodiversity over 5,000 species of plants, 300 species of bird, and 100 species of mammals. The indigenous Kadazan-Dusun people believe this mountain is sacred as it is a place where spirit are resting.
Maliau Basin popularly known as "Sabah's Lost World", is a remote and pristine rainforest in the southern portion of central Sabah. It is one of the world's most diversified ecosysytems, covering nearly the same area as Singapore (588.4 square kilometres) and home to a large variety of flora and fauna. The basin is a self-contained natural wonder, drained by a single river, the Maliau River, which flows through a valley in the southeast before joining the Kinabatangan River, Sabah's largest and most significant waterway. Maliau Basin consider as special because it never permanently inhabited by humans, it remained largely untouched until 1980. Other than that, it also a home to rare and endangered species like clouded leopard, Borneo pygmy elephant, and proboscis monkey.
KUNDASANG WAR MEMORIAL PARK
A place to honour the fallen Australian and English prisoners of war and local Borneo people who risked or lost their lives to help them. 1,000 prisoners of war were forced to endure the horrific 240 kilometres death-march from Sandakan prisoner of war camp to Ranau. This place was rebuilt to remember the cruel war tragedy. This park contains four different garden concepts, which every of it have its own important event.
Australian Garden
This Australian Garden features an Australian Flag and a bronze plaque detailing Prisoner of war history namely "Kinabalu Kundasang and Australia War Memorial". There is also a panel documented in English and Malay titled 'History of British and Australian POWs in Sabah,' created by artist Ross J. Bastiaan in 1998.
English Rose Garden
This section, planted with roses and marked by a marble slab with the UK flag, honoring 641 British servicemen.
Borneo Garden
Specifically dedicated to the fallen heroes of Borneo, particularly the ethnic groups in Sabah who've endeavored to assist war prisoner in any way they could. In this garden, several plants and flower natives in Sabah have been planted, including rare orchid species such as Kinabalu rothschildianum and Paphiopedilum domesticum.
Contemplation Garden
There are paths leading to a serene pool beneath pergola, surrounded by granite rolls of honor listing all prisoner of war victims, serving as a tribute to them.
The Upside-Down House located in Tamparuli, is the first of its kind in Malaysia and among only a few in the world at that time, in 2012. The interior is a fully furnished house flipped on its roof- so when we walk, it feels like we're defying gravity. Unfortunately, no camera is allowed inside the house. Next to the house is a 3D Art Gallery where we can take many illusion photos-like interacting with wild animals, balancing on a cliff or swimming underwater.
Mari Mari Cultural Village located in Kionsom Village, Inanam is an immersive 'living museum' showcasing the traditional homes and lifestyles of Sabah's main ethnic groups:
Dusun (rice farmers)
Bajau sea gypsies)
Murut (headhunters)
Rungus (longhouse dwellers)
Lundayeh (hunters)
Besides, we can experience a blowpipe shooting, bamboo cooking meals, and traditional tattooing. This place also comes with cultural performance and interactions such as magunatip, gong ensembles, traditional costumes and rhythmic tribal dances.