Malaysia – Borneo Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu or simply called KK is the capital of Sabah, located in the Island of Borneo on the west coast.
Borneo is all about its green lush rainforests, wild jungles, wild animals, high mountains and countless caves. Not to mention the paradisiac beaches.
I arrived at night and I got instantly impressed with all the night markets, lights, smells and busy vibe. During the day time KK is still picturesque. The best way to explore KK is by foot, so walk around and lose yourself in the city.
Kota kinabalu is heaven for those who love seafood. If you are here, don’t miss the night market with fresh fish, prawns, squid, crabs, lobsters and more seafood that you can imagine.
The seafood night market is located beside the handicraft (or Filipino) market, between Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens Street and Lrg. Gomantong Street.
If you’re looking for a stunning sunset spot in Kota Kinabalu, then you should pay a visit to Tanjung Aru beach. Bear in mind that you will not be the only one who wants to get the best photograph. A very popular spot but gorgeous!
Due to the large scale deforestation that has taken place in Borneo over the last 30-40 years, population of Orangutans have been put at risk of extinction. Sabah remains one of the few places left in the world where you can come face to face (or back to face in Max’s case) with wild Orangutans. I found the best way to see the Orangutans was a trip to Sepilok Sanctuary near Sandakan. It is the major rehabilitation centre in Sabah. It is a short flight to Sandakan with a 7am departure after breakfast and I returned the same day, in the evening. Worth the visit!
I wanted to get the experience of a beach resort stay and a downtown hotel. Shangrilla Rasa Ria is right on the beach, 5 star and great for families, couples and solo travellers. 5 restaurants at the resort, kids pools, adults pools, tennis, spa facilities to name a few. Lots to do and kept me busy for the 5 nights I was there to re energise. It is approx. 40mins to town.
Magellan Resort is in downtown. Great pool area, no beach, lots to do and shuttles to get to and from town. The rooms were great in size, modern, clean and very comfortable. It was good to start my trip at a beach resort and move to a hotel in town to explore.
On the way back from Borneo a stopover in Kuala Lumpur was a great way to end my trip. The city is ultra modern, with the iconic Petronas Towers dominating the skyline, a monorail system and metro running the length and breadth of KL and more shiny, new malls you could imagine! Then, there are the more classic areas of the city, which are more in line with what you might expect from Southeast Asia, where street hawkers thrive, old colonial buildings reign dominant and arguably where the real heart of the city pumps.
If you like to shop this is the place to be! Singapore, I found too pricey, and Thailand you can pick up all the replica bags and t-shirts, however KL you can get the branded goods for 30% less than home. The beauty is that you don’t have to barter and the shopping malls have A/C for those who rather an indoor shopping experience suppose to the street stalls.
Overall for a week to ten days getaway it was perfect. 9-hour flight to KL, and 3 hours to Borneo. You can do as little as you like or as much as possible. I will definitely go back!