Kundasang area is where Sabahans in general come to enjoy some fresh mountain air and to escape the heat from the tropical lowland. Half way between Kinabalu National Park and Kundasang town, lies this medium enterprise called Strawberry Garden Hotel, formerly known as Borneo Fern Garden. As the new name implies this hotel does have a strawberry garden, where a visitor only pays RM 1 for a tour around it. The hotel is built on a slope above the main road. A long two-storey building houses the lobby, the reception office and the guest rooms which include the twin sharing rooms and the family rooms. Situated on a slightly higher ground are the chalets (2 units). About 30 feet above the chalets is a big bungalow that is equipped with a neat fire place. No Mt. Kinabalu view here, but Bundu Tuhan valley is clearly visible on a non-misty day.
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Italians are famous for their pasta and pizza. Everywhere they go, they will bring these two popular foods with them. Mr. Salvatore Marcello, an Italian chef, came to Kota Kinabalu a few years ago, and he helped to set up an Italian restaurant called Bella Italia Pizzeria Ristorante Cafe at the historical Jesselton Hotel on Gaya Street. After completing the project, he started his own Italian restaurant called Ristorante Pizzeria Grazie Cafe at Wawasan Plaza. Today Grazie Cafe is the place where KK Lites go for carbonara, lasagna, pasta, and pizza with an original Italian flavour.
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Looking for a simple and affordable place to dine at Kinabalu Park? Look no more, Panataran Kinabalu Restaurant is the place to be, and it is located right at the entrance of Kinabalu Park. Name after the Panataran river which is situated on the north western side of Kinabalu Park, this restaurant is popular by Kinabalu park visitors, and passers by to Ranau and Poring Hot Spring. Even though it is called a restaurant, it really looks more like a kopitiam. The distance from Balsam cafe at Kinabalu Park to Panataran Kinabalu Restaurant is just 200 meters away, and a hill separated these two eateries.
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Many people do not know that just 300 meters away from the entrance to Kinabalu Park Headquarters lie a few small but quality living lodges called J Residence. Surrounded by the dipterocarp forest, and out of sight of the busy Tamparuli-Ranau road, J Residence is no doubt the best hide-away residence in Tinompok. Although one can’t get a Mt. Kinabalu view from here, the surrounding green forest and the Bundu Tuhan Valley below more than make up for it. J Residence lodges are mostly built with wooden materials, giving the place a very natural feel and blending well with the nature outdoor. Note: J Residence is also a registered trademark
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