Blogs from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, Asia - page 28

Asia » Malaysia » Sabah » Kota Kinabalu June 13th 2008

Being Swiss, I had a special relationship to Borneo, ever since Bruno Manser came back from the jungle and tried to convince the Western Europeans and us cheese eaters to help and conserve the Rain Forest. As much Manser was loved and cherished in Swizterland, he was disliked in Malaysia for his activities and most likely killed at the end, stepping to much on someones big toe. Ironically, the very things making him an unwanted element back then are now the things which are under protection... at least officially. Lets leave politics for a moment... Borneo is an amazing place, one of few with a Bio diversity, that is only matched in some areas of Africa and in the Amazonas region to my knowledge. Places like the Mount Kinabalu Park, Sandakan Region, Sipadan or Mulu in ... read more

The Borneo Experience - Part II: Sabah

Asia » Malaysia » Sabah » Kota Kinabalu June 12th 2008

Steps and more steps

Fatman

So took a flight over to Kota Kinabalu (KK) on the 8th June, straight over to the Parks office to sort out my very expensive booking to stay on the side of Mount Kinabalu. Had booked a room for 208 Rm, about 40 quid! Discovered that this included meals though, so persuaded them to give it to me without meals, only 80 Rm (25 quid for 4 meals?!). So had a relax in KK in preparation for the hike tomorrow. Up at 6am and went to find a shuttle bus, luckily found a few other travelers heading over, so after more noodles for breakfast drove up to the park entrance. After signing in they gave me my meal coupons, bargain!! Although had taken loads of food myself which I had to carry, but couldn't complain! So ... read more

Asia » Malaysia » Sabah » Kota Kinabalu June 10th 2008

niffer

Last night's chinatown experience was excellent. Once you get past the market stall workers relentlessly convincing you that you absolutely need to have a bolex watch etc it is really enjoyable. Jeff managed to haggle himself a cheap set of sunnies and we had the steaboat. Turns out to be a variety of meats, fish and veges on a stick, cooked in a chicken stock and served with a sweet and spicy satay sauce. Followed by drinks in the local reggae bar! Today I woke with a pounding headache to show for our recent activities but onwards and upwards and to the airport we went. After a somewhat repetative Air Asia Radio with 2 and 1/2 hours of their top ten tunes throughout the journey we arrived safely in Kota Kinabalu. We felt pretty special when ... read more

We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo......

Asia » Malaysia » Sabah » Kota Kinabalu May 31st 2008

Lok Kawi Wildlife Park

The Wanderers2008

The above video is a video we made on the camera whilst at the wildlife park. It was great being able to watch the organ-utans just playing around. This is the first time I've been able to put a video on the blog (as the internet speed has to be quite decent in order for it to be successful). Press the play button in the centre of the picture and hopefully it should start playing. If anyone has any problems playing the video, please let me know and I'll see if I can sort it. Thanks! Hi all, Just a short update as to what we've been upto since our last blog. We left Johor Bahru on 27th May, on another good Air Asia flight, to Kota Kinabalu the capital of Sabah in Borneo. After doing ... read more

Lazy Days in Sipadan Island

Asia » Malaysia » Sabah » Kota Kinabalu May 18th 2008

House on Stilts

nejnoj

Some of Sabah's best icons on display here. Places visited include Kota Kinabalu, Poring Hot spring area, Klias River, Tawau, Kapalai/Sipadan/Mabul, Sandakan... Rafflesia is missing as we just missed a full bloom by days.. such a pity..Vist Malaysia Year Feb 2007 ... read more

Welcome to Asia

Asia » Malaysia » Sabah » Kota Kinabalu May 17th 2008

Singapore Skyline

Gypsy Rovers

Stepping off the plane at Singapore we were blasted with the tropical heat that we will be in fro the rest of our travels. The temperature this close to the equator hovers at around 30 - 32 degrees and the humidity is generally pretty damn high. Singapore is a small island state lyig at the bottom of the Malay penisular. In former times it was a super important trading 'entrepot' for the british in Asia. It was given its independence in the 60's and the first Prime Minister took somewhat of a Iron grip of the place which meant that some civil liberties were waivered in favour of the suposed good of the nation. This is still apparent these days with very tough laws on trivial things such as Jay walking and chewing gum etc. The ... read more

At the worlds end...

Asia » Malaysia » Sabah » Kota Kinabalu May 6th 2008

Sandra Norway

BUHHHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!! Sipp, sipp, skvett, skvett (og svett svett) Det er siste dagen min her i Asia! Hvem skulle tro at det skulle gaa saa fort? Tiden bare flyr av gaarde, med store graadige vingeslag... Jeg har vaert helt gaern i magen i dag. Om det var de kandiserte soyaboennene, varmen som gjoer kroppen til overkokt spagetti, eller tanken paa hjemreisen, det er ikke godt aa si. Mest sannsynelig en salig blanding av alle tre. Saa rart. Som aa vaere under vann. Du vet naar alt blir 30% stoerre enn det egentlig er, naar lyden gaar mye fortere enn paa land, og virker som den kommer fra alle kanter, naar pusten din plutselig hoeres ut som vinden gjennom morkne treplanker. Som i en droem, der du er deg selv, men ser deg selv utenfra paa en og ... read more

blaahval og kandiserte soyaboenner

Asia » Malaysia » Sabah » Kota Kinabalu May 5th 2008

Sandra Norway

Har du noen gang hoert en sulten blaahval i parringstid? Det har jeg...Han ligger i koeyesengen under meg... Den gamle, pratesyke malayseren (som av en eller annen mystifistisk grunn har havnet paa dormitory i Kota Kinabalu) snorker saa hoeyt at veggene rister (nei, jeg overdriver ikke...husene her i asia er ikke akkurat solide...). Selv med oerepropper og puten dratt over hodet kan jeg hoere den grove lyden av en skrue i en blyantspisser paa innpust, og den klynkende lyden av en torturert hund paa utpust... Ikke nok med det, men han fortsetter aa skru paa aircondition hver gang jeg skrur den av...slik holder va paa som katt og mus: av, paa, av, paa. Show some respect old man! Jeg ligger pokker meg rett under den stygge maskinen som spyr ut iskald luft! Jadda...Utenom litt urolig og ... read more

shopping soendag

Asia » Malaysia » Sabah » Kota Kinabalu May 4th 2008

Sandra Norway

AAhhh..kjaere vene...jeg merker at jeg ikke har shoppet paa fire maaneder, for naar jeg foerst drar opp lommeboken...kremt...ja da lukter det svidd gummi lang vei. Det er soendag, og soendag betyr MARKED!!! Ja, gatene fylles med boder og traller, med alt fra skilpadder paa stoerrelsen med en tommelfinger, til papaya og glorete hawaii skjorter. Alt for liten og stor, Malay og nordmann, Gud og hvermann. Startet med aa kjoepe frokost paa det livlige markedet her i Gaya Street i Kota Kinabalu. Tittet litt rundt om kring, fant noen smaa ting til noen der hjemme, og satte meg paa en mini buss til byen Kota Bleud. Markedet der skal visstnok vaere helt fabelaktig. Og det maa jeg virkelig si: Vidunderlig, herlig, fantastisk og.....TOMT!!!! Fikk ikke sett stort av det markedet nei...det stengte tydeligvis klokken tolv... jaja... Saa ... read more

The REAL Borneo! (well, sort of)

Asia » Malaysia » Sabah » Kota Kinabalu May 4th 2008

Here they come...

Born to travel

As you will know from the last blog, we absolutely loved Sipadan and tried to book on for more days of diving but, alas, all of the permits had already been booked. So, it was time to move on. Next stop was the town on Sepilok on the edge of the jungle. The famous thing to do here is Sepilok Orang Utan Cente where injured or orphaned orang utans are rehabilitated over a period of several years before being released back into the wild. We checked into a grimy room at the Sepilok Jungle Resort and spent an evening talking with other travellers while watching the thunder storm outside. The thunder was scarily loud, as if it was right on top of us, and the rain dripped off the roof and the many trees of the ... read more

Mt. Kinabalu from the restaurant, a rare evening viewing.

Brief history of Malaysia

During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Fe...more history

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