Kota Kinabalu Photo: Tappasan Phurisamrit / Shutterstock.com Kota Kinabalu is a true oriental pearl and the capital of Sabah, a state in Malaysia. Surrounded by spectacular waters, mountains and ancient rainforest, this is truly the gateway to Borneo, with a vibrant city life that will surely captivate you. Nokuro / Shutterstock.com Top 5 Sea and Island Tours If you are into cruises, snorkeling, fishing trips or diving, the Sea Quest ... Atkinson Clock Tower Atkinson is the old colonial clock tower, and the oldest surviving structure... KKCBS - Kota Kinabalu City... Wiput Tantulaphongse / Shutterstock.com This is a great place to see both local and migratory North Asian birds. The... Gaya Street Market Souvenirs, handicrafts, live animals, chicken pieces, potatoes and coconuts.... Signal Hill Observatory Signal Hill is the highest point in the city and it is probably the best pla... Nokuro / Shutterstock.com Updated 29 March 2019 Destination: Kota Kinabalu Publishing date: 2019-03-29 THE CITY DO & SEE hkhtt hj / Shutterstock.com Sylvia sooyoN / Shutterstock.com Kota Kinabalu, aectionately known as KK in The centre of town is based around the Malaysia, is a fascinating and richly “blessed” waterfront area, which is home to a charming city. It is situated on the shores of the South mix of old and new – trendy bars, restaurants China Sea, and anked by lush tropical islands and hotels line the area, but are contrastingly and clear blue waters on one side, and Mount interspersed with traditional markets, shing Kinabalu on the other. The city is graced by ports and hawker stalls, a great blend. some of the nest sunsets in the world. Sea and Island Tours Originally named Jesselton, the city was If you are into cruises, attened during World War II, and has risen snorkeling, shing trips from the ashes to become a thriving and or diving, the Sea Quest vibrantly colourful city. Much of the city is Tours & Travel oer a relatively new, but legacies of its Chinese trading wide range of activities to history and colonial past can be found dotted all choose from. around town, along with water villages, and an ever-expanding array of commercial and Photo: Ijam Hairi / Shutterstock.com Address: 1 Sutera Harbour Boulevard, Sutera Harbour, Kota residential developments. Kinabalu Phone: +60 88 248 006 Internet: www.seaquesttours.net Email: [email protected] Atkinson Clock Tower Atkinson is the old colonial clock tower, and the oldest surviving structure in the city from the days when it was called Jesselton. Photo: Hockim0230 (image cropped) Destination: Kota Kinabalu Publishing date: 2019-03-29 Address: Jalan Padang, Kota Kinabalu sunset. KKCBS - Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary Photo: Shoestring (image cropped) This is a great place to Address: Jalan Bukit Bendera, Kota Kinabalu Opening hours: Daily 8.00am -12.00am see both local and More Info: Admission is free migratory North Asian birds. The 24-hectare Taman Abdul Rahman Island Park mangrove forest is Taman Tunku Abdul located in the city centre. Rahman National Park, named after the rst Photo: Gossipguy (image cropped) Prime Minister, is Address: Jalan Bukit Bendera Upper, Likas, Kota Kinabalu Public Transport: Best way to get there is by bus towards composed of ve islands. Likas from the bus stations in front of City Hall or Wawasan It is a true paradise for Plaza to Likas Square. At the traic lights there, turn right both tourists and wildlife lovers from all over the towards Signal Hill until you get to the third junction on the world. Do some island hopping, see exotic left. Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday 8.00am - 6.00pm animals, snorkel above coral reefs and marvel Phone: +60 88 246 955 over white sandy beaches or enjoy activities like windsurng, parasailing and kayaking. Gaya Street Market Souvenirs, handicrafts, Photo: Flanegan (image cropped) Address: Jesselton Point, Kota Kinabalu live animals, chicken Opening hours: Daily 8.30am - 5pm pieces, potatoes and Internet: www.sabahtourism.com/destination/tunku-abdul-ra coconuts. You will nd all hman-park the ingredients for a More Info: The park is about a 10 - 20 minute speedboat ride "malaysian curry" and from the city of Kota Kinabalu. Boat transfers depart from the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal, located next to the Malaysia more. This is the most interesting market in town Royal Custom Department. Available daily from 7.30am to with its bustling crowded stalls and lanes. Get 5pm there early for beautiful photos in the morning light. Don't forget to haggle the price. Cap Kuda Coffee Factory Everything you ever Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas (image cropped) wanted to know about the Address: Jalan Gaya, Kota Kinabalu unique Malaysian Opening hours: Sunday 6.30 am - 1.00 pm caramelized coee you Signal Hill Observatory will discover on a tour of Signal Hill is the highest this factory. Cap Kuda point in the city and it is Coee Company (or Yap Yu Sdn Bhd trading as probably the best place to Hock Lee Coee Powder Factory) was go if you are looking for a established in the early 1960's and is now one of good view of Kota the largest coee manufacturers in Sabah. Kinabalu, especially at Photo: JIL Photo / Shutterstock.com Destination: Kota Kinabalu Publishing date: 2019-03-29 Address: 29 Jalan Kilang, Kota Kinabalu which invokes a dozen legends, the traditional Opening hours: Daily 8am - 6pm, Sunday until 5pm restaurant and of course Siou Do Mohoing, or Phone: +60 88 4284 68 471 the House of Skulls, where all 42 ’trophies’ of Internet: www.ckcc.com.my Email: [email protected] Monsopiad hang from the rafters. City Mosque Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas (image cropped) Address: Kg. Kuai/Kandazon, Penampang, Kota Kinabalu The second main mosque Public Transport: Bus 13 to Donggongon town in Penampang. in the city dwellls by an Then board a minibus bound for Terawi and tell your stop to impressive and peaceful the driver. lakeside. Kota Kinabalu Phone: +60 88 774 337 Internet: www.monsopiad.com City Mosque at Likas Bay is an extraordinary Sabah Museum example of marvelous contemporary This museum preserves architecture, resembling in some ways the the cultural identity of design of the Masjid al-Nabawi mosque (The Sabah. It collects, Prophet's Mosque) in Medina, Saudi Arabia. conserves, educates and documents ethnographic, The prayer room can hold up to 12,000 archaeological, historical, worshipers at one time and houses three numismatic, art-historical, botanical, zoological madrasah (religious schools). The man-made and mineralogical collections from all over the lagoon which surrounds it gives it a beautiful and state. Furthermore they research Sabah’s dramatic view on a full moon night. cultural, social and natural history as they Photo: Nokuro / Shutterstock.com believe it is an investment for the future and is Address: Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, Likas, Kota Kinabalu an important part of the state's heritage. Public Transport: Bus No.5A , direction to UMS More Info: The Kota Kinabalu City Mosque is located 3 Photo: shankar s. (image cropped) kilometers from Kota Kinabalu City, about 10 - 15 minutes Address: Jalan Muzium, Kota Kinabalu drive. Opening hours: Daily 9 am - 5 pm Phone: +60 88 253 199 Monsopiad Cultural Village Internet: www.museum.sabah.gov.my/?q=content/sabah-mus eum-kota-kinabalu Nestled beside the Penampang River are the Adventures & Sports many traditional If sitting still and relaxing buildings that make up on the beach isn’t your the Monsopiad Cultural thing, then Sabah oers a village, a living museum wide choice of adventure located 16 km from the KK City Centre. On and sporting activities. display are ceramic jars, padi grinders, bamboo From Mounting Torque items as well as the costume of Bobohizan Inai Via Ferratta, to Kiulu White Water Rafting and Bianti, a very senior high priestess. Other jungle trekking in Mesilau. interesting exhibits include the massive monolith Destination: Kota Kinabalu Publishing date: 2019-03-29 Photo: Greg Robson (image cropped) Photo: photofriday/Shutterstock.com Address: 1 Jln Jati, O Gaya Street Opposite Pizza Hut Sugar Internet: www.golfasian.com/golf-courses/malaysia-golf-cours Bun Kota Kinabalu, Sabah es/kota-kinabalu Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm Phone: +60 14 554 2402 Sabah Art Gallery Internet: www.sabahbah.com/tours The building of the Sabah Email: [email protected] Art Gallery itself is a Borneo Jungle piece of art. Its internal structure is similar to the There is a range of treks Guggenheim in New York to take if you want to dig and resembles bahuyun, a deeper into the jungle. Remember that traditional basket which used to be woven out of temperatures can drop to bamboo. The interior is quite and peaceful and 13°C at night, so make hosts an eclectic mix of local artist and student work from the Sabah region. sure to bring your own sleeping bag and warm clothing. Proper shoes for walking in dierent Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas (image cropped) terrain is a must. Mosquito nets are usually Address: Mile 2, Jalan Penampang, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, provided. Some treks oer porters who will carry Malaysia your backpack or knapsack. Take some time to Opening hours: Daily 9am - 5pm gure out what you really want to experience Phone: +60 88 268 748 Internet: www.sabah.gov.my/lks/v2/index.php?q=content/sab since there is a vast supply of treks including ah-art-gallery everything from sh massage, forest reserve, monkey sanctuary to white water rafting through Jari Jari Spa the jungle. Jari Jari Spa is well-known for its top Photo: Luke Price (image cropped) notch service and Internet: www.borneonaturetours.com wonderful ambiance. The Golf interior design with Golng in Sabah means beautiful textured walls, a choosing from numerous soft tinkling fountain and dark wood ooring is golf clubs located in all just the perfect place to restore a tired body.