Location : Tenom Town, Tenom District, Interior Division, Sabah, Malaysia.
Our joyful drive continued towards the coffee famous town of Tenom. The scenery was awesome and the air was good. There were hardly any cars on the road. We could even stand in the middle of the road to catch some photos.
At some point as we neared the town, we caught whiffs of the aroma of coffee. What a way to welcome visitors to Sabah’s coffee town. There are 2 coffee producers here by the names of Yit Foh and Fatt Choi with the later allowing factory visits. We drove round the little town before checking into a coffeeshop for lunch. Green vegetables, Hakka noodles and coffee passed with flying colours!
Tenom Coffee Valley cum Tourist Information Centre
While searching for the Melalap railway station (old Tenom station), we accidentally came across the ‘new’ station which is still in service with the one and only old fashion train running from Kota Kinabalu stopping over at Papar & Beaufort. Which reminded me of our first try but missed train ride at Putatan station to Papar last year as the schedule became chaotic due to a breakdown. Must try it somehow someday.
The reason why I was intriqued by the Melalap railway station was because I had received emails from an NGO trying to raise fund online to restore the said station. After much searching and stopping to ask for directions, we did find it surrounded by a jungle and near to a row of very old shophouses.
It was in a pitiful dilapidated state. Made from hardwood, most of the timbers were either gone or have decayed and could possibly collapse anytime soon. It was with much apprehension when I videotaped the inside of it. It is a great idea to restore it not only for sentimental or historical reasons but tourism as well especially if it could be turned into a café selling Tenom’s awesome coffee. Just imagine……The original Warong Kopi Railway Tenom! We believe Sabahans can turn molehills into mountains and quite good at it judging by the ever increasing and innovative tourism products they have come up with the last couple of years. Next……..Murut Cultural Centre
To see more photos, please click our FACEBOOK PAGE
Also please check out our posts on
