It is 1:11 am when I wrote this after passing through pictures on the laptop. I am so excited to share the photos taken during my trip to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on 2015. I hesitated at the first place, seemed my memory on that trip faded out. I am trying my best to replay scenes and adventures happened at Sabah.
Kota Kinabalu or generally referred to as KK, it is located on the west coast of Sabah within the West Coast Division. KK is the largest city in the state in Sabah and is the main gateway into the island of Borneo. KK lies by the coast overlooking South China Sea on a narrow flatland and occasional hills bordered by Crocker Range which hosts Mount Kinabalu. The urban sprawl is concentrated along the coast towards the north and south of the city. Kota Kinabalu is a fast growing tourism destination indeed.
My first impression towards KK was common busy city like others. Alongside swanky new malls springing up at every turn, and a wave of expensive condos accommodating a rush of expats, old KK, with its markets stocked to the gills with leviathans, pearls, and busy fishermen shuttling about the waterfront, happily endures. This may be a city on the move with the 21st century, but its old-world charm and history are very much alive.
Enough of that, I got the opportunity to have dive trip at KK. Travel to Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is easy as hourly speedboat rides can be caught at the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal in the northern end of Kota Kinabalu, along Jalan Fuad Stephens. Once inside the terminal, pick from one of the tour boat companies who will all call out for your attention. It was an alternative to avoids the hassle and expense of staying on the islands by staying in Kota Kinabalu and head over to the islands on day trips. If don't want to face the crowds then pre-book your trip.
I chose Scuba Junkie dive centre and pre-book my diving sessions. Scuba Junkie provides daily dives and also snorkeling trips to over 15 Islands in the Kota Kinabalu (KK) area including the world famous KK Marine Park (Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park) which features 5 amazing islands including Gaya Island and Sapi Island.
They were my dive buddy and instructor for the trip. They were so good. I booked 3 dives at KK Marine Park for only RM320.
Random pictures I took during my free time.
Next is RANAU or ANOTHER NEW ZEALAND!
Ranau is accessible by road and is approximately 2 hours by car from Kota Kinabalu passing by Kinabalu National Park. I want to show the scenery of the chalet where we were staying at.
The garden concept implemented by the owner is so relaxing yet so beautiful. Then we went to Poring Hot Spring which is situated 20 minutes away from Ranau. Poring Hot Spring and Nature Reserve which houses both open-air and private cabin baths whose water contains sulphur that is known for its skin-curative properties. The natural hot spring is perfect to soothe tired and aching muscles.
Nearby, we went to Sungai Moroli Fish Spa. It is a community venture, in which you walk into a river armed with fish food, and allow some very big fish to nibble at your toes for 15 minutes.
The most anticipated destination is Desa Cattle Dairy Farm in Kundasang. It is located at the foothill of Mount Kinabalu which offers one of the most amazing scenery one could envision. Like I said, the other New Zealand. This place often chosen as a wedding photography destination, with the majestic Mount Kinabalu overlooking beautiful green pastures, the scenery is breathtaking, not forgetting the cool breeze that Kundasang has to offer.
It is an ideal destination for the whole family, where there are activities such as feeding the calves with bottled milk, feeding goats with grass, how milk is processed as well as the milking process are available for all. If you have ever wondered how milk is made, Desa Cattle Farm is the place for you.
It was short pleasant vacation, I could say. If I have the opportunity, definitely I will go back to KK and Kundasang to experience other adventure. Next destination (in bucketlist) in Sabah will be Tawau to experince dive trip there and perhaps I got the chance to climb Mount KK one fine day!
