Family reunion Sabah trip : Day 3- Ranau

6/11/2011 (Sunday)
          10am - Arrived at Sabah Tea
          11am - Tagal Fish spa @ Kampung Luanti
          1pm - lunch@ Ranau town
          2pm - Poring Canopy Walk
          4pm- Poring Hot spring
          6pm- Dinner
          7pm- VCD movie in hotel.
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Cooling temperature at 16C in the morning, we woke up from the coffee aroma. The old ones were already having their coffee at the veranda, reading papers, breakfast ready. The calm morning, with sun shining gently at our doorstep, few sudden shivering when the cool breeze swept past us. It was a lazy morning, everyone just take their own sweet time, joking a little over the breakfast.

10am : Arrived at Sabah Tea. The factory was closed due to Hari Raya Haji, anyway my brother already frowned at the idea of visiting factory when we were on the way.

Quickly snapped few scenery of Sabah tea plantation, which were rated below average, much worse compared to those in Cameron Highlands.

Random posing at the entrance of Sabah Tea Plantation

Next, we went to the famous Tagal fish spa, which is situated right after the entrance to Sabah Tea Plantation. This is a highly anticipated event. The entrance fees was RM5/adult for 15minutes fish spa session.

Located in Kampung Luanti, Ranau, 131 kilometers from Kota KInabalu (2 hours and 40 minutes drive away); this fish massage ‘spa’ is managed by the Kampung Luanti JKK and lead by Mr. Jeffrin Majangki.In the Local Kadazandusun dialect, ‘tagal’ means ‘no fishing’, and the main purpose of the ‘tagal’ is to preserve the environment as well as the ecosystem to benefit the future generation. ‘Ikan Pelian’ or Malaysian Mahseer comes from the family of Cyprinidae. These fishes are specifically trained by the villagers to perform the healing massage activities.

The fish massage is deemed to have a curative effect on those who suffers from psoriasis. Come to Kampung Luanti for regular fish massages and you will enjoy smoother and suppler skin - just like a baby’s bottom.

                             Posing at the entrance to Tagal fish spa.

  Mum is always the one who stayed behind us upon reaching a destination. She carefully packs all the things needed and make sure everything is in order. Appreciate that!

We were greeted by swarm of Ikan Pelian when we are getting into the river. The fishes began sucking your legs the moment your legs were in the river.

Mind you, each of this Ikan Pelian were about 20cm long, not those fish spa you saw in malls. I enjoyed the tickling sensation by the fish, but my poor mum and younger sister were screaming on top of their lung when the fishes began kissing their legs.

              It was not the pain, but the sight of so many huge fishes around their legs horrified them.
We were given a packet of fish feed to feed the fish.

We were told to grasp the fish feed tightly in our hands, let them fishes sucked hard before they get it, no hard work no gain, thats how the fishes were trained.

However, i did feel one or two different species fish, which had little teeth, there was a bit of pain when they bite you. As a diver i knew drastic movement may scare hurt the fish, hence i kept legs swaying slightly under water.


After lunch we went to Poring canopy walk. The entrance fees was RM3/adult, canopy walk was another RM3/adult for those with MY card. This is not for those faint heart or those with height phobia.

This canopy walkway is a must visit for anyone who ever sets foot in Poring Hot Springs. Take a stroll amidst the lush canopy of the Menggaris tree—king of the forest—the walkway is 157.8 meters long and 41 meters high.

We had to trekked through a jungle path for 30 minutes before reaching the canopy walk. My mum was horrified at the idea of hanging bridge, her face turned pale when she saw the hanging bridge. However we wonder where and how she got the courage to walked through the canopy walk without turning back. She said it was my dad who huddled her all the way that make her feel safe. ~Love is in the air~

God i was here 3 times, yet my leg still trembled when i looked down.

After the excitement at the canopy walk, it was time to soothe our aching legs. Yeah, the Poring hot sulfuric spring. We occupied three bathtub and enjoyed ourself in the hot spring. Gosh you can feel your skin became smooth and moisturized after 15mins in the sulfuric-rich mineral water.

6pm - It began getting dark, we decided to call it a day. Set off for dinner at Ranau and back to hotel. Exhausted, all of them felt asleep on the 30 minutes drive back to Ranau town

The restaurant@Ranau where we had our dinner, Dinner was only RM39. Recommended!