by RB Capuz

Created on: July 28, 2009

From the lush tropical forests and exotic floras atop high mountains, the splendors of this piece of paradise in Southeast Asia immerse into an explosion of nature's colors. The magnificent view of the sunrise as it touches the peak of the cloud-covered Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia will make you realize that what you're looking at is just a glimpse of a great adventure to come.

Kota Kinabalu may not be as popular as other Southeast Asian destinations like Boracay, Langkawi or Bali, but this part of Borneo is Malaysia's version of Garden of Eden, what with its pristine beauty and natural landscape that has been kept untouched by modernization. It's like a world on its own. And you can find every reason to visit this place - whether you are looking for great beaches to sunbathe at, first class accommodations to stay in, high mountains to conquer, wonderful people to meet, wildlife to see, or you simply want to connect with nature. Almost everything you would want to find in one place is in Kota Kinabalu, the place considered as Saba's Nature Resort City.

Island Hopping

From Borneo's northern seafront expanse where Sutera Harbour Resort and Spa is situated, a thrilling speedboat ride to nearby Sapi and Manukan Islands await adventure seekers. These nearby islands are two of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. Sapi, which means "cow", prides itself with a number of resort cottages where couples or even a group of people can stay. Here you can enjoy the pristine waters or simply soak up the sun. A word of caution, though - macaque monkeys roam freely on the island. Manukan Island (which means chicken) is popular among snorkelers as spreads of various corals dot the island and easily become the playground of schools of tropical fish. These marine treasures are all within a stone-throw away from the shore.

To conquer or not to conquer

Kinabalu Park, a 754 square kilometer expanse, is a state park designated by Unesco in 2000 as a World Heritage Site. Bigger than Singapore, this vast piece of land also contains the majestic Mount Kinabalu, the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia standing at 13,435 feet. Experienced hikers, novice mountain climbers and just about everyone who set their eyes on that tall mountain all wish to reach the summit. But the fact still remains that not all enthusiasts were able to set foot on its peak. Blame it on the rainforest that surrounds the mountain or the tropical weather, but Mount Kinabalu is a tough challenge even for the seasoned climbers. For those who want to try their luck at the summit of Borneo, you must register first at Kinabalu Park Headquarters.

After the climb

A perfect place to go to is Poring where travelers can relax in its hot sulfuric mineral spring. Here, you can also find the Poring Tropical Garden where you can bask around the wonders of nature, from the exotic Sabah orchids to the mouse deer relaxing under the shade of centuries-old trees. Once you are done relaxing, you may now try the Poring Canopy Walkway, a 20-minute hike from the hot springs. This is a narrow hanging bridge that is connected to Menggaris trees. Originally, this walkway was made for scientists who study the biodiversity in the forest but is now being opened to the public. Remember that only three persons can walk in between the canopy walkway stations at a time. After all, you don't want to fall 41 meters down right? If you are lucky you can also see some orangutans along the way. But if you are extremely lucky, you might catch a glimpse of Rafflesia, the world's biggest flower hidden somewhere in the rainforest. Too bad it only blooms for seven days.

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