Day 5, 14 February 2008 = Happy Valentines Day!!!
First time celebrating Valentines with so many of my friends. Haha... Happy Valentines Peeps...
Mesilau Resort was so much more better than the other hostels. At least, I enjoyed myself here even though the water heater was a bit crazy.
Our room...
Our KK booklet prepared by Calvin and Kevin. Thanks to both of you and those who involved in developing this great booklet!
Andrew, Shueue Huey, Me and Justin...
That's the end of Kinabalu Park and no more climbing! Yes!!! Our next schedule is to Sabah Tea plantation!
Look at some of the poor family. Some of them don't even have water or electric supply. Wish there will be help from somewhere..
It was Valentines.. thus, let me get you lovely flowers, Joanna!!!
I'm not really into flowers and I told Justin don't have to get me one.. So, a picture with flowers will do. Wahaha...
This place is known as Kundasang. Their veges were all pesticides free and really cheap. And I bought some veges back.. funny?? Haha.
The fruit that I was holding called as talap (sorry if the spelling is wrong :P). This fruit is only visible in Sabah and you will not get it in KL.
Lydia showing her Keropok Bayam. Quite special cause they fried the bayam and make it as keropok. Special Special... Those who loves keropok but not vege, try this!
Sabah Tea Plantation... SABAH TEA is fresh, natural and pure tea grown on the rich soil of Mount Kinabalu. It is a single plantation tea without any blending of tea from other plantations. Therefore, quality of the tea can be controlled to ensure consistency.
Oh no! Lecture hall????
After the ultimate usage of muscles during the climbing, everyone now walked like penguin! Hahaha...
THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS
The conversion of green leaf from the carefully nurtured tea fields to black tea is a very specialized process to maintain the final quality of the product.
1. Harvesting
The tea leaves and a bud are selectively harvested by using shears or mechanized cutter by tea harvesters.
2. Withering
The initial stage of processing, where the freshly cut shoots are spread evenly in special racks, and conditioned air flow through and around the leaf to absorb the moisture and concentrate the juices in the leaf.
3. Rolling
The withered leaf is passed through machines which twist and squeeze the juices to the surface of the leaf.
4. Fermentation
This is an oxidization process where the tea juice in the presence of air oxidizes. The period of fermentation varies depending on the external conditions and there is a distinct change in colour and aroma. Fermentation is essential for the teas to be palatable.
5. Drying
Fermented teas are transferred to drying machines (oven) which remove the moisture and arrest fermentation. The teas from a coppery brown become black in colour after this process.
6. Sifting
The final stage of the manufacturing process is the sorting of the tea particles to different grades according to sizes and shapes for identification by various specialists involved in tasting, buying and exporting of the tea.
6. Despatching
The graded teas will finally leave the factory either packed in the familiar tea chests oraluminium lined paper sacks or in different forms of consumer pack.
Hotspring is the next destination that everyone is looking forward to. Poring Hot Springs is part of the vast Kinabalu National Park. It is some 13 kilometres from Ranau, or about 40 kilometres from the Kinabalu National Park Head Quarters in Kundasang. The sulphuric, hot waters of the spring are piped into open-air Japanese-style baths, where you can rest your tired limbs after the climb of Mt Kinabalu.
Poring is named after a species of giant bamboo that grows abundantly in the area.
Lunch time....
Transformers bought and fixed by Andrew..
My wah dan hou worth RM5 at Ranau.
At last, back to Borneo Backpackers!!!!! Just can't wait to fly home tmr.... yipeee!!!
Keropok Bayam that I bought home....
And the cheap veges....
RM5 for all these three.. can you believe???
This will be our last dinner at KK.. will miss this trip I guess. Ehe...
Tata day 5... looking forward to LCCT on the next day!! YahooO!!!!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Kota Kinabalu Day 5 | 14 February 2008
