Kota Kinabalu
Fri 14th Nov
I woke up well before the alarm. Bright, sunny day. I took my time because I had decided against going out for a tea before going to the airport. I had a coffee/chocolate drink in my room. I checked out and ordered my Grab from reception. The app kept saying I was in Singapore initially, so I was glad of the receptionist’s help.
Under half an hour to the airport, leaving the hotel at 08:30, and costing 13RM. That’s just over £2; the fares are so cheap. Am getting used to the self check in machine. Through to the gate for a coffee. We left nearer 11:30 instead of 11:05, but it’s only just over a half hour flight whereas they say 45 minutes.
By the way, my fare was 129RM..or £24. An amazing price.
There are 2 immigrations…one if you’re flying in within Sabah, and the other if you’re arriving from KL. Of course I was at the wrong one initially..!! My rucksack came out quickly and I booked a Grab.
The hotel I was dropped off at was permanently closed. Very frustrating that it took me nearly an hour to find my first hotel. Casero seemed grubby. Next door was Hotel Asia City which was a little bit cheaper, but the main reason for checking was the fact that I was getting fed up. No wifi in the bedrooms and no water fountain…but never mind.
As soon as I went around the corner from the hotel, there were hotels virtually on every corner !! I told an OYO guy that I would check in the next day if there was a single room still available.
I wandered around looking for something to eat. I settled on Kuew Teow goreng Ayam. Wide flat noodles with chicken…tasty.Then I went down to the waterfront. There was a covered market and lots of bars…quite different from Sandakan. I took a photo of a market stall and ships in the harbour, then went in search of a ‘happy hour’. Shamrock Irish Bar seemed to have best deal.
I had 2 beers and watched the waterfront restaurants/bars fill up as the afternoon turned to evening. So many ‘reserved’ tables; it’s a part of life I’ve hardly experienced here as I’m usually in my room by 8pm..!!!
Anyway, I left before dark. I picked up a couple of beers and a water, and was relieved to remember where my hotel was. So, day 1 in Kota Kinabalu.
Sat 15th Nov
A comfortable sleep but I decided to check out, not only to save 10RM but to have room wifi and a cold water dispenser. I checked that the room in Blossom was still available, then went around the corner for a tea.
Now that I knew that the ferries to the islands left from Jesselton ferry terminal, it was time to make enquiries regarding costs/fares and schedules.The walk there required going through the covered markets…what a huge number of stalls and variety of food and merchandise.
I asked specifically about Manukan island…a single island trip. The trip is by speedboat and goes every 30 minutes after 08:00. The return is hourly from 1pm to 4pm. The return fare is 45RM plus 25RM entry fee onto the island. Cost for the day will be £12-13. Sunday will be busy; I’ll wait until Monday.
I walked back to Hii5 to check out and took my rucksack to Blossom to be looked after in reception. For lunch I had a nasi katok…deep fried chicken with rice and a soup and chilli sauce. 8RM…tasty.
I went back to Blossom and checked in. Slightly disappointing room…a bit small. The TV doesn’t work. The wifi of a choice of 2 login names goes in and out. Terrible reception.
Oh well. It was after 15:30 and I walked slowly to the waterfront to Shamrock the Irish bar. I had my 2 beers, then it rained so I had to have another one. There was a lot of cloud but I managed to catch a bit of a sunset. Because I was a bit later than usual, I got to see the atmosphere with lots of people, and heard some live music. It didn’t sound great, but must watch a group playing next time.
I went via the spirits shop and picked up a small bottle for my room. Then decided I was feeling peckish. Right next to Blossom is a seafood restaurant, but the prawn dish was 40RM. They did have some drumming and singing and dancing going on, which was fun to watch.
Then around the corner was a place barbequeueing sea food. The squid was calling me… A nice snack for 18RM…just over £3…squid and rice with chilli and soy and some sweet sauce. I took a couple of sips of my ‘spirit’ when noone was looking!!
Then to my room.
Sun 16th Nov
I slept very well. I paid for my room but Aznam owed me the 12RM change. I didn’t have much choice but to go somewhere different for my tea, being Sunday a number of places were closed.
Back at Blossom I asked Aznam if I could change to a bigger room for the next 2 days for the same price of 88RM. I think he said ‘yes’. As it was a sunny day for once, I decided to walk south, and if I couldn’t find a beach, at least find a fairly secluded spot to lay in the sun. About 20 minutes away was a grassy area near the water’s edge. I sunbathed for over an hour…what a novelty.
Back at my room I relaxed a bit. I was feeling peckish and found somewhere for a spicy Mee Goreng Ayam…noodles with vegs and chicken. Then I went for a coffee (kopi) with milk which only cost 2RM (which surprised me).
At this point it was after 4pm and I headed off to the Shamrock bar. Finally, there was a sunset. I was surprised at how quickly the sun went down, but it was a lovely sight…over the water and the boats. I had to have a 3rd beer to take in the atmosphere.
I wasn’t feeling particularly hungry but the squid was enticing me. Instead I bought little fried banana and doughy things to take to my room.
Mon 17th Nov
The a/c that’s stuck on 16° is bothering me..way too cold. In reception I said how I hoped to change rooms. I had decided not to do the islands, but would go to the beach instead. I needed to be around after midday to sort out the room.
I went for 2 teas and then just after 9:00 I headed off for Tanjung Aru. It was an hours walk. The beach was longer than I expected, but nice enough, with a few palm trees. It also seemed to be quite shallow for a long way out, making it very safe for swimming.
I walked slowly to one end, with a view of 2 of the islands off KK. It was sunny so I slapped some sun cream on and sat there for half an hour. As the clouds started to gather I prepared to leave.
There was a lady a few metres away changing clothes and setting up a camera. As I left she said ‘hello’ and I asked what she was doing. Something to do posting on her tik tok site. She asked me to pose with her, and I had no objection to that. I gave her a kiss on the cheek and she asked for my phone number and I left.
I walked for over an hour back into town. By the time I reached the hotel my knees were aching badly. There was an alternative room for me…still on the 1st floor but around the back (no. 1003). I thought I was getting some a bit bigger but it was exactly the same size as no. 102. But it felt more comfortable, and the a/c controls actually work.
Then the heavens opened around 2pm. I waited a bit then got my umbrella at the ready. I needed to look for food. Of course it was the time of day when restaurants were closing. Another wild goose chase looking for the Curry House. Didn’t find it and settled for Nasi Goreng Kampung. Very tasty…kampung being little, tiny fish…like white bait/anchovies. Goreng means fried. So, rice, chicken, anchovies and water spinach.
Still raining, I walked to the Waterfront. I decided to try out Quay11 for a change, partly because thry had a 6 mugs for 69RM offer. I went for Connor’s. Old fashioned music…60s & 70s. Relaxing.
When presented with the bill I got annoyed. My 69RM…became 81.40RM after 8% duty and 10% service charge. Over £2 on the original cost…Grrr. I did swear a bit !!!
On the way back to Blossoms I stopped at the off licence for a small bottle of something and a packet of crisps. Phil wanted to chat, but I had to go to reception to get decent wifi. I try to be there for him, his financial issues are coming to a head.
Nice to be able to control the a/c in my new room. And the drumming and dancing every evening next door stops at 9pm, so that’s fine.
Tues 18th Nov
A comfortable sleep. I paid for 2 more nights. I went nearby for my 2 teas…chatted with a nice couple. I went back to my room then went out for an earlier coffee than usual.
I walked to the waterfront and sat in the sun for half an hour. The weather was nice…maybe I should’ve done the island hop…but this morning the weather looked ominous.
I had already found the Curry House earlier and looked at what they had to offer. I was a bit dubious but I went back for a chicken curry lunch. It made a nice change to have a dish with cloves and cardomom. When it came to pay, I was expecting 15RM according to what he said earlier. I didn’t think it was worth that, and in fact it only cost 8RM.
Back to my room for a bit, before heading to Shamrock for 4pm via the ATM and the covered market. I didn’t realise how big it was…the snacks, vegetables, fish, poultry.
I was supposed to meet the tik tok lady but she sent me a message saying she would be over at 7pm. After 1 beer I went back to my room to relax; I couldn’t sit in the bar for 3 hours.
I went back to Shamrock around 6:45pm and ordered a beer. Then I got a message, apologising that she was busy helping an uncle with an election campaign. Oh well, eventually I ordered a second beer.
I felt a bit hungry and fancied squid and rice, but the lady was out of squid. I went nearby and had a noodle and chicken dish. After that I returned to my room. I had another long chat with Phil as I finished the remnants of the cheap spirit.
Wed 19th Nov.
07:00 wake up. The weather was looking good so I decided to do the Island hop boat trip. I first went for a tea, then walked to the jetty…only 25 minutes.
I went to the ticket counter and clarified my plans. 2 islands and return early afternoon. Quite straightforward but lots of paperwork..!! Manukan..where I would have to hang out for a few hours…followed by Mamutik where I would only be for an hour before getting the 2pm boat back. Cost for the return boat trip was 55RM…£10, with a separate ‘entrance’ fee on arrival on Manukan.
The trip to Manukan was only about 15 minutes. On reaching Manukan I was ready to pay my 25RM, when the guy on the counter asked how old I was. What a surprise, I qualified for a senior citizen discount of 5RM. That was a first…my first ‘old age’ discount in Malaysia. So I paid £3.60, saving nearly a pound.
The island and beach are lovely. It wasn’t far to the end of the beach, where after an expensive kopi coffee (13RM) in a nearby restaurant, I lay on the beach for a while. There wasn’t anything to see or anywhere to go. At least it was a sunny day and I had a nice swim. Actually, 3 hours passed quite quickly.
At the appointed time of 1pm I was already at the jetty. We left a little bit late but I was only going to Mamutik island about 5 minutes away. I was supposed to be on the 2pm back to KK but it was after 3pm by the time my boat came.
Nothing to do on Mamutik apart from have a coffee and look at KK in the distance. The beach was okay but small. We set off as it started to rain. When we arrived I had to unfold my umbrella for the walk into town.
I went to my room for a shower then walked around the corner for a squid and rice. Tasty but not exciting…no vegetables at all. I went from there to Shamrock. I had arranged to meet Laini who I had met at the beach. After a number of misunderstandings and delays, she turned up. In the meantime I enjoyed a nice sunset.
We had a nice chat over a couple of drinks and a shared chicken burger and chips. The first ‘European’ style meal I’ve had…including coleslaw. A live band began playing, but it was gone 9pm and Laini had to leave. I paid for her Grab each way…and all the drinks and food…but not too expensive and made for a fun evening.
And back to my room and to look forward to a relaxing day.
Oh, at Shamrock I booked my KL flight for Friday at 11:05.
Thurs 20th Nov
A quiet day in store. After waking I paid my 88RM for my last day. I went out for my 2 teas. I walked to the waterfront and lay in the sun for just over half an hour. Then i walked around the area looking for a Celcomdigi shop. I’d run out of credit so I added 10RM to last me the last 5 dsys.
I went to my usual coffe place. I generally went walkabout in a part of the city I hadn’t explored. I went back to Blossom and waited in reception until my room was ready.
It started to pour heavily but I needed food. I went to the covered market and had a delicious Mee Hoon goreng. Noodles with lamb…I believe. Very tasty as usual and only 8RM.
From there it was over to Shamrock for a couple and to say goodbye to everyone. No sunset…way too cloudy. And straight back to my room.