T50. Kota Belud Fish Spa and Tamparuli Bridge

As we have requested a fish spa to be included in the tour, the tourist guide who is our driver kept the location for the river secret from us.  As we drove back from Poring, I was thinking our next stop would be Kota Kinabalu.  All of a sudden the van turn right into the road leading to Kota Belud.  True enough, we were headed into the direction of River Fish Spa.

Lingkubang is the name of a kampung in the Kota Belud district.  The fish spa here is not the usual location and apparently there are a number of spots for this activity.  This is amongst the latest to be opened.

From afar, the stream look so ordinary.  As we walked to the water edge, there are fishes aplenty.

As I step on a rock in the water, big fishes started to swamp and bit my fingers.  These are big fishes, completely outside my imagination.
Watch the VIDEO below and the link.

As it was nearing closing time (yes, the spa is closed at 5:00pm), and the fact that the water is very cold, we just offered our legs and hands to be massaged by the fish.

Actually these fish are bred and kept by the local and they are guarded 24 hours a day.  It is open stream but these fish will eventually return to the same spot and will not wander too far, said the keeper.  On why the fish like to 'eat' our fingers or anything submerge, well they are just looking for food.

Bye fish.

Tamparuli Bridge

Tamparuli is always associated with the suspension bridge.  Remember that Jambatan Tamparuli song?  OO ya, Tamparuli is also recently associated with rumah terbalik (upside down house).  But we didn't get a very positive review from our relative in KK, so we gave it a pass.

Tamparuli is an area located about 34km from KK.  I still remember the song about this bridge from my younger age, I never thought that the bridge still exist, let alone still in use.

There is a narrow newer bridge but it only let a single vehicle to pass at one time and not enough space for pedestrian.  The pedestrian take the suspension bridge.  And so we did, but as tourists taking our time.

Photo shooting in action.

Local actor.

To get a better feel, watch the VIDEO below and from this link.

At the other end of the bridge is a small town of Tamparuli.  We stop for a while to answer natures call.  We still couldn't see the Kinabalu mountain at this stage.