Saturday, May 9, 2020

Hoping For More Days at Kota Kinabalu



The original plan was to visit Brunei ONLY. However, upon checking the map, KK or Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia was very near too. Upon doing research on what to see in Brunei, many travelers mentioned a two day or three day is the most for this small country. But alas, we have more than a week for this vacation.

So at the last minute, we have decided to include KK for our trip. 
I was with my cousin Marlou and colleague Kendy for this escapade. So after staying two days and three nights in Brunei, we took a bus to KK. 

I always love taking bus rides, instead of flying. With it, I felt like there is no rush. 
So from Brunei Darussalam, we took a bus to KK for almost eight hours through Sipitang Express. For that particular ride, it seems like it was only a four-hour equivalent of a bus ride if we were in the Philippines. The bus was kind of very slow ;) It was not just my observation. Even the other Filipinos on the bus said the same thing, and we all laugh. Or maybe because drivers from Malaysia and Brunei are just very careful and responsible ones. 

We arrived at KK, late in the afternoon :) Enough time so we can unpack and look for a place to dine on our first night. And we were never disappointed for our first night there. We were advised to go to the Filipino night market. If we have to be sarcastic about it, we would wonder if there is a necessity to go to a place full of Filipinos. But, it turned out to be a must-see place for me. The place itself is full of seafoods. I have never seen a place like that in my whole life.  Most of the restaurant owners are actually Filipinos. I was delighted and overwhelmed with what I saw.  We ordered food, filling dinner actually. I was so full, my tummy feels like bursting :) We bought some souvenir items and decided to start walking back to our hotel - Masada Bed and Breakfast. 
As novice and naive as we can be with our gadgets, data-wise, we got lost along the way. It took us a long time to find our way back :D

I know what lies ahead. The next day would be a hectic one, the only remaining day strolling and exploring of KK. To add to the excitement was my toothache. Wow, why Lord? Why now? :D

The day was almost the best except for my toothache. It can hardly eat properly.
Our morning of Nov 4, was spent on different places such as Muzium Sabah, Sabah State Mosque and The City Mosque or The Blue Mosque. 

We also spent a moment by the sea, observing sunset.
It was also the moment when we try to find ways to ask someone to help us book a Grab taxi to go back to our hotel.

A word of caution: If you are in Malaysia, make sure to have a mobile data to book your Grab taxi or you will be miserable. If not, then make sure to find a place with free wifi so you can book a  Grab taxi for your next destination. Taking a regular taxi will be very expensive for you.

We waited and we waited until we decided to just walk, for a long time, until eventually, we found a bus that took us back to a mall close to our hotel. It was tiring, yes, but it was worth it.

What was exciting about the decision to come to Kota Kinabalu is the fact that by going there, through a bus, it would mean that I can have a total of 16 stamps on my passport. As a third world country passport-holder, passport stamps is LIFE!

The next morning, we headed back to Brunei for our flight at night back to Manila.

It was such a quick trip to KK.

How I wish I can have more days in Kota Kinabalu.


Lourdes at Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, also known as Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kianabalu.

Muzium Sabah.

Inside Muzium Sabah.

Lourdes at Sabah State Mosque, also known as Masjid Negeri Sabah.

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, also known as Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu in Sabah Malaysia.

Lourdes at the entrance to Muzium Sabah.

Lourdes inside Muzium Sabah.

The three of us: Lourdes, Kendy and myself at Kota Kinabalu City Mosque.



Lourdes at Muzium (Museum) Sabah in Malaysia.

Kendy and Lourdes inside the Muzium Sabah, in Malaysia.


I find this romantic side of a place, this seaside near Kota Kinabalu City Mosque.

The three of us, Lourdes, myself and Kendy inside Kota Kinabalu City Mosque.

Shrimps at Filipino Market in Kota Kinabalu.


If you want cheap pasalubong for home, this place is perfect for such too - Filipino Market.

Filipino Market's usual display of seasonings and food packs.


The abundance of seafoods and fish at the Filipino market in Kota Kinabalu.




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