The last leg of our trip was a 3-day stay in Ranau, a district of Sabah, Malaysia.

There we met Nafi, Azizan’s pilot friend who flies tandem for the Borneo Paragliders company.

THE LOHAN FLY SITE

The fly site is a breezy valley with rolling hills and lush forests. I was amazed at the number of tourists that travel there just to fly. On a good day, more than 100 passengers fly on site.

The take-off area was bustling with colors. As pilots flew out one after the other, they painted a kaleidoscope of wings in the sky. It was mesmerizing!

Apparently, what makes this fly site special is the good wind condition all year round (even if it rains almost everyday), making it the Mecca of paragliders in Sabah.

PYRO THE MASTER

One Korean pilot could not pass the chance to show off his skills. Borrowing my wings, he flew high up in the sky for so long. Meanwhile on land, I sizzled under the heat of the sun. Haha.

RANAU SPORTS COMPLEX

The two main paragliding companies in Ranau are based within the premises of the Kompleks Sukan Ranau, which has a high-class stadium and a hostel for visiting guests and athletes.

THE PEOPLE

Even on this short trip, I was filled with the overflowing kindness of people I met. From the hard-working crew up in the mountain…

…to the drivers who picked me up after my flights. They even helped packed my wings. So sweet!

Our trip was made more special because Nafi and his friend Yousef were always one call away.
Rain or shine, the hospitality of the people in Sabah is impressive.Thank you so much for going out of your way to make us feel welcome! We will see you again. 🙂