Day 19: Last day in Kundasang by Millen

After such an early wake up the previous day, we permitted ourselves a later start this morning. After making a plan for the dad, we headed to our favourite place, Kopisanangan. The rooftop cafe that we had been to twice yesterday. Our breakfast consisted of pastries, pies and other delights, including a strawberry coffee (to no ones delight). Fuelled up following the leisurely start, we arrive at the Kundasang national park. Established in 1964, this is Malaysia’s fist world heritage site designated in the year 2000.
While the puzzling network of trails took a while to workout, we eventually found ourselves on the Silau-Silau trail. The heavy rain in the previous night created a squelchy and at some points, flooded, path that we had to cautiously avoid. The trail followed a stream running down the central of the park, surrounded by rich biodiversity which made up for the ruined path. The track parted ways, and we said goodbye to the Silau-Silau river and path, choosing the Bukit Burung trail. However shortly after joining this path, thunder crashed down around us and rain started pouring heavily. After a short but steep scramble to our fortune was a small shelter. As the rain showed no sign of stopping, we carried on the trail using coats and trees as shelter . The short walk returned us to the carpark where we then explored the botanical gardens, opened in 1981 and housing around 800 species of plants and trees, many which were endemic to Borneo. They had the kerosene tree, a lemon scented but orange fruit producing tree, rattan tree, trees that’s used to create Rattan furniture, and the naked tree, a commonly sighted but funny-looking tree that’s sheds itself to clear parasitic plants from growing on them.
After finishing the botanical gardens, we hopped back in the car. Returning back to the guesthouse to begin packing up our stuff, ready for the early departure the following morning. After packing everything up and getting ready for the next day, we finished the day in the Kloud cafe, a restaurant filled with slightly meagre but non the less delicious (mostly fried) food accompanied by gorgeous views of the dramatic mountains.Læs mere