Sabah Road Trip : Sabah Tea Garden

My husband, two kids and I recently took a road trip in Sabah. This was our 1st road trip and we may have another one to Tawau. This one was Sandakan-Ranau-Kundasang-Kota Belud-Tip of Borneo (Kudat)- Kota Kinabalu and back to Sandakan. We started on Saturday morning and came back on Tuesday night. We crammed in as much as possible as my hubby had to get back to work and we couldn't take extra leave. We rented a Hyundai Matrix from Hertz. Their website is www.simedarbycarrental.com or you can find their counter at the Sandakan or Kota Kinabalu Airport (Terminal 1).

So, I shall be sharing the beauty of Sabah as I saw it and also my take on with various services and places. We are currently staying at the Best Western Hotel in Sandakan and so we first had breakfast there in the morning before leaving.

I just had to share this photo of a piece of toast that was buttered for me by my 2 year old girl. If you are planning to take a drive from Sandakan to Kundasang, here are a few snapshots of what you can expect.

On the way be sure to stop at Taviu Hill just alongside the road as the view is beautiful. We didn't get out of the car for obvious reasons; it would be dangerous! Well, our next stop was Sabah Tea Garden which is about 199 kilometres from Sandakan. You have to get off the main road and take a gravel road (very bumpy!) for about 3kilometres. First you will need to cross this bridge.

Finally! The much awaited Sabah Tea Garden!There is a little souvenir shop at the entrance that sells handicrafts and most importantly; organically grown pesticide free tea.
Think they are reasonably priced? I do..Some are packed in wooden boxes and are priced at RM50 per box.Here are some interesting takes on tea as shown in the following photos.

Sabah Tea with Tongkat Ali

Sabah Tea with Geranium

Sabah Tea with CinnamonSabah Tea with Misai Kucing (Cat Whiskers; a herb with flowers that look like a cat's whiskers)

Sabah Tea with GingerSabah Tea with PandanSabah Tea with Lemon Grass

They make great gifts or you can buy them for your own use. Each have their own benefits and medicinal value. The Sabah Tea Garden Restaurant is not much to look at. However, the view is beautiful and they have friendly helpful staff.

When my husband suggested we have our lunch here I was hesitant but it did seem like the best plan. I was pleasantly surprised by the food. Everything was delicious. We bought a plate of Sabah Tea Butter Chicken (RM15), a plate of Prawn Sambal (RM15), a plate of Mixed Vegetables (RM12), two plates of white steamed rice, a glass of fresh pineapple juice (RM6) and a glass of Sabah Tea with Geranium (RM4). The bill came to RM61 after service charges and so on.You can even opt to stay here at the Sabah Tea Garden.I would definitely recommend adding Sabah Tea Garden to your travel itinerary...