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Published: March 27th 2016
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Kota Kinabalu & Kudat Sabah 20 – 22 March 2016 After our early morning flight from Sandakan we arrived in Kota Kinabalu (known as KK) at about 8.45am. After Catching A Taxi from the airport we checked into the Best Western Kinabalu Daya Hotel. It was very central – close to the harbour and the forest.
We settled in then found “The Coffee Bean” in the next street for a fantastic coffee. It was then off to the Sunday Markets which was a street away. With 100s of stalls of costume jewellery, food, hardware, plants and clothes as well as 100s of people, the temperature and humidity rose. Despite that, we had a good look around.
We went back to the hotel for a cold drink then headed up the 250m of stairs to see the Signal Hill Observatory which offered a wonderful view over the city. We then visited the Old Clock Tower which, along with the old Post Office (which is now the KK Tourist Information Centre we visited). Both these structures were the only ones standing after WW2. The whole of Sabah was very badly hit during the war.
We then experienced to local bus which we caught along the harbour front. As we sat on the bus we decided that this was the one and only time we were going to experience this mode of transport in KK. It cost 1 ringgit (0.35AUD) but paying a taxi to take us back for 20 ringgits (just under $7 AU) was a bargain!!!!!
We visited the Sabah Museum which was a very impressive building, full of local artefacts which told the story of head-hunter tribes. Earthenware, woven container, and story panels that told the history of Sabah from geological terms 5000 years ago, through to the time it was rules by the Sultan of Brunei, plus the war period and then the reconstruction phase through to independence. Very interesting.
Outside a replica village was set up amongst man-made lakes at the edge of a jungle.
We had to get back by 6.0pm for a briefing from our new guide and tour company, on our next 14 days in Borneo. We are most excited about climbing Mt Kinabalu.
We met our new group: 3 Irish, 3
British, 2 Canadians, 2 Norwegians, and 4 Aussies including us. The age range is from 78 (who is a very old, still practicing lawyer from Ireland) through to a 20yo. So far so good but a very different group which we had with us for the last 10 days. Our group leader is lovely man from Sabah who has a smile on his face all the time. He oozes enthusiasm and loves birds and plants.
Monday 21 March We left after breakfast at the civil time of 9.00am and drove 4 hours to Kudat which is known as ‘the tip of Borneo’.
On arrival, we found that Tom’s bag was not put on either of the 2 vans. Just as well he always puts all his essential things in his hand luggage, except pyjamas and bathers.
We stayed at the Borneo Tip Beach Lodge in Kudat. It was very basic as was all the accommodation in the area. We had an a La carte lunch and decided to go for a swim across the road from our rooms. This was not to be as there were jellyfish in
the water. Devastated! I went for a wade in the shallows which was a beautiful temperature and very clear. The sand was a beautiful white and clean.
We were invited to join a beach cleanup on another beach but all of us decided that this was not on our agenda and should be left to the locals.
The Tip of Borneo was a 5 minute drive away from our hotel. A huge concrete globe of the world on top of the hill showed where we were. It was the most northerly point in Borneo.
What came next was a beautiful sunset during a balmy evening. The only thing missing was the Champaign. We watched a couple of fishermen on the rocks below. Quite beautiful.
The next morning we enjoyed some extra beach time before driving to Kota Kinabalu park. This took about 4 hours. On the way into Kinabalu we sited the great, majesties but intimidating peaks of Mt Kinabalu which we were all excited and apprehensive about. More next blog .............
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