Repairing Bluey in Ranau & Hot Springs

Ranau was a like a nice hilltop town, with many ammenities and possibility to find workshop and a place where people from Kundasang goes to run minor errends which they dont need to go all the way back down to the main city KK. Hence I spend one day going to all the motorcycle shop trying to fix up the front fork suspension which was leaking on the left side. Pretty sure I notice it when I rode to Kudat but 300km later in Ranau was the time I decided to do something about it.

Ranau - Sabah

Ranau - Sabah

Supprisingly there was a lot of motorcycle shop and from the looks of their spareparts stockpile and the number of unfinished custom bikes lingering around, I could tell that there was a lot of custom modification bikes in Ranau. Good place for Bluey to be fixed for unless it was those crazy custom mechanics, doubt they would know how to handle even a simple thing like Front Fork Oil Seal for they wont know if they had the parts until they strip it which was bad.

I enquire on the net for the type of oil seal and got a reply fairly quickly from the facebook Demak D7 group. Original front fork oil seal size was 31 x 43 x 10.3. With that information, it was more easier to establish the repair method. I went from one workshop to another asking if they had the part and all the biggest and baddest workshop in Ranau said nope, sorry dont have that size. They had all the others but not that one. Friendly as they were, one workshop refer me to another big workshop but alas all did not have the right oil seal size.

The Last Oil Seal for Bluey 

Servicing Bluey at Ranau

Fork Servicing for Bluey in Ranau

Fork Servicing for Bluey in Ranau

I had more or less given up hope and went to get laundry done. While waiting, I decided to explore the few shops in this new area where the coin laundy was located. Walk into a really small motor shop and ask the lady for the oil seal with the size given. I did not place much hope actually expecting a negetive answer so while she was looking for the size, I was brousing the few stickers they sold.

This one ka ? But dun have 10.3 have 10.5

Dafaq, really ....

I verify the size and according to online advice, it was the inner and outer diameter that was most important and the height a little diff should still be ok. OK I said, Change, both fork ...

The girl proceeded to find the pair but came out short. That peice was the last peice the shop had. The last peice in the whole of Ranau. What chance. I got the fork serviced and change the one faulty oil seal and it was time to leave Ranau the next day for Sandakan.

In terms of things to do in Ranau, I really did not do much other than go to the Poring Hot Spring for a bath and visit the Sabah Tea Plantation. Laziness is surely starting to set in.

Sabah Tea Plantation - Ranau

Sabah Tea Plantation - Ranau

Offroading around Orchards in Ranau

Poring Hot Springs is free to enter with nicely done up public pools which draws the waters from the natural hot springs. Cool mountain weather with lovely hot springs was like a heavenly match and I would think nearly every one in Ranau and Kundasang would make a monthly picnic trip to the springs. This I observe base on the special extra large drain suction plug each of the family brings with them to plug up pools in the hut. I of course have to patiently wait for the very very few plugs that are free and workable.

Poring Hot Springs in Ranau

Open Common Hot Spring Pool 

Poring Public Pool which is like a private bathtub ... Bring Large Suction Cup Drain Plug for best experience - Ranau

Traveled on: Sep 2019

Sandakan City, Lubuk Proboscis Monkey Sactuary, Sun Bear Conservation Center and Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center

From Ranau I made a long ride all the way to the city of Sandakan. There was really not much to stop and look along the way hence the decision. Lovely ride with pure tarmac all the way still.  

Sandakan - Malaysia

Sandakan city felt like any other municipality city in malaysia other than KL. Sleepy and vibrant retirement town that is not KL. Feels a bit objectified saying it that way but I guess thats how i view it as someone growing up in KL.

Ask any malaysian if they had visited any museum in Malaysia and the answer would probabaly be since their childhood days during school excursions. These days I tend to visit the museum in Malaysia as a tourist and the feeling is still the same as before. A time burner for someone on a slow travel is great, but I would not recommend it as a must see museum. Sandakan Heritage Museum was such place but the more interesting piece of history would be the Agnes Keith House

Sandakan Heritage Museum 

Agnes Keith House

City of Sandakan

City of Sandakan

Stilt House Community in Sandakan

Stilt House Community in Sandakan

A Fishing Vilage to City - Sandakan

Needless to say, I spend a lot of time just riding around Sandakan to explore the city. Nearby is also the Sandakan memorial park at Jalan Lubuk. Is a pair from the memorial garden in Kundasang which marks a full route loop. Sandakan was a decent size city which after riding a few days it was time to head out for day trips.

Abandon Items from WWII - Sandakan War Memorial

Sandakan War Memoral at Jalan Lubuk

The first one was Lubuk Bay proboscis monkey sanctuary. It was actually a private palm oil plantation farm which way back when they private land owner cleared the land discovered there were a lot of Proboscis monkey in the area and decided to keep a portion of the land as a sanctuary instead of clearing it for palm oil plantation. These days the proceeds of ticket entrance goes to a few feeding session which is like a treat and not their main source of survivor food.

Riding Through Palm Oil Plantation at Lubuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary

Entrance to Lubuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary

Lubuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary

Lubuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary 

Proboscis Monkey at Lubuk Bay

The second day trip was to the Sun Bear conservation center which is also just a stone throw away from the Sepilok Orang Utan rehabilitation center. Always interesting to see these mystical creatures in their own element. A sad thing that they have to be in care since most of them are not captured in the wild but rather rescured from poachers

Sun Bear Conservation Center at Sepilok Forest Reserve

Sun Bear 

Can you spot a Sun Bear ? 

Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center at Sepilok 

I am Orang Utan ..... - Sepilok Forest Reserve

Traveled on : Sep 2019

Chilling at Kundasang

I was at Kundasang for three nights chilling and was starting to think of even staying a few more nights so I could do some cooking but alas 31 Aug 2019 was a holiday and I got kicked out of the hostel and Kundasang as everything was fully booked. So off to Ranau after taking a slow break in Kundasang for three nights.

In terms of things to do, there are not much things really to occupy time in Kundasang. Its the heartbeat of a grand mountain (Mt. Kinabalu) I suppose in a sense. I always get those lazy, slowdown peaceful mindset when in proximity or rather in places of high altitude. Maybe I dont have altitude sickness but more like altitude bliss.

Kundasang - Sabah

I spend the days just taking a ride out going anywhere enjoying the cool weather while looking for food or just a spot to sit down, lean back and watch the clouds drift by Mount Kinabalu and if I was lucky, a glimpse of the peak from time to time made the wait so much more sweeter.

Mount Kinabalu - Kundasang, Sabah

There are still few things to see, or rather everything can be seen in a day but it took me three days. Proof that I manage to slow down the pace to that level.

Kundasang War Memorial Garden which is a tribute to the Sandakan-Ranau Death March back during the WWII. Not much tourist here but the gardens are well kept and the small history of the land during WWII was displayed on tablet. The small stories of the people during the War are not recorded much in history books and only remembered through these memorials all around the world. Lest We Forget.

Kundasang WWII War Memorial Gate Entrance 

Lest We Forget - Kundasang War Memorial

WWII Memorial Garden - Kundasang

A walk in the Kinabalu Park, or rather a ride for bluey inside the huge Kinabalu park all the way to the Timpohon gate, the starting point for hikers to the summit of mount Kinabalu where a permit is required. Mount Kinabalu Trek has a limit on number of trekkers a day hence one could not just rock up and start hiking. Looking at the exhausted but happy face of the trekkers coming back was still not enaugh to motivate me do the hike as the price for the hiking permit was a whooping RM 1k+ for a solo hiker ... and nearly double that if the hikers are not Malaysian.

Summit Trail to Mount Kinabalu Peak

The view from Kinabalu Park

Mount Kinabalu Peak - Hidden in the Clouds 

Hiking Permit Beyond this Point - Mount Kinabalu

Tired But Happy Hikers at Mount Kinabalu - Kundasang

A visit to the only Highland Milk Farm featuring Hoistien Cows. Never though I would see those TV cartoon like black and white cow in Malaysia. In my view .. the best place to chill out in Kundasang. If only there was a cafe.

Desa Dairy Farm - Kundasang

Hoistien Cows in Kundasang

Hoistien Free Time - Kundasang 

Hoistien Milking Time - Kundasang 

Automated Milking at Desa Dairy Farm - Kundasang

Once Kundasang was done, I headed to Ranau and although just 15km away it was so much different due to the warmer weather. Ranau was still cold at night but somehow Kundasang was nicer.

Traveled on: Sep 2019