Abandoned Sungai Tiang airfield

The small airfield of about 700m long
was said to have been build in the 80ies
(once touted as the Gateway to Taman Negara!)
when river boats was the only mode of transport then
from Kuala Tembeling to Kuala Tahan,the Taman Negara National Park.
Unlike the remote Gunung Mulu National Park
where air transport is the most practical way of getting there.
Today,visitors to Taman Negara here still prefer the nostalgic 3 hours boat ride
and lately the tarred road right up to Kuala Tahan,
where you can have the luxury of driving right up
to the door steps of your hotel/guesthouse!

Basalt columns of Kg Balung Cocos

Basalt Columns is something very rare in Malaysia
and it can only be found at a few spot around Tawau.
Here is one at the Balung River near Kg Balung Cocos.
The river water is a bit muddy due to plantations upstream
along the river till the Tawau Hills Park
where the jungles are still protected.



The Basalt columns were said to have been formed
by rapid cooling of lava flowing
from a nearby volcano(now dormant)which could be Mount Lucia
at Bukit Tawau park.



A screenshot of the terrain of the area from Google Maps.



































Mr Fauzi busy taking photos.







Excess to the columns and waterfall
is through a plot of land own by Mr Ahmad Ariff Benza
a decendent of an initial group of 20 Cocos Islander who where brought here by the British
to work in the coconut industry after the 2nd World War
A small Rm2 fee is collected and he will brief visitors
on the area and it's hazards to ensure a safe visit.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocos_Malays









A wooden house belonging to Ahmad's brother seems deserted.



A short 200m dirt track to the area.