I've jut got back from a wonderful holiday. It's Kota Kinabalu!! Went there with a friend. And we've booked the flight from 6-7 months ago. The reason for the long wait is the price. The ticket costs us both only about RM100.00. And we stayed in Tune Hotel. Two nights for about RM13.00 / 2 pax. Wasn't it worth it??
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| 1 Borneo Tune Hotel |
FIRST DAY
We took the 12.20 pm flight and we left home at 5 am! Got a KTM commuter at 6.30 am and reached KL Sentral a few minutes later. After 10 minutes we ride on SkyBus and headed to LCCT. There were not many people yet. And we decided to have a good sit in Mary Brown. Got a couple of iced Milo, two pieces of fried chicken, a cup of coleslaw and a cup of mashed potato. We stayed there for more than three hours. Chatting, surfing the internet and most of the time, i was crocheting a puff stitch beret.
At 12.00 o'clock we went inside and not long after that, we got into the plane. The best highlight of the flight is one flight attendant. The one that got my mouth stuttering words of 'Oh my God, he is so handsome!'. He is damn gorgeous! But it was unlucky for me cos he managed the back side of the plane. While i was sitting on the front side. My seat number was 6A so i got to see the view of Putrajaya, Pekan, South China Sea and Miri. Lucky me! And one thing to mention is, the pilot was so friendly! His name is Harun and he kept talking to us like a tourist guide. He's so sweet!
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| Bye peninsular |
Later we landed on Kota Kinabalu. It's a very nice city. It has a lot of small islands surrounding it's bay. We've got our rented car. The owner charged us RM160 for three days. Supposedly he charged us RM80 for a day. But he said he considered it as two days. So LUCKY us to chose his car! His name is Zihan and i highly recommend his cars if you want to rent a car in Kota Kinabalu. It's definitely worth it.
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| Outside of the old KK airport |
We dropped our bags in Tune Hotel. And took a stroll in the
1 Borneo Hypermall. (Tune Hotel is inside the mall!) So we went to Daiso and Giant. But the bad thing is, there was an AC breakdown going on. I've never experienced going to mall with no electricity. So, it's really not cool. So, in Daiso, we bought a couple pairs of slippers then headed out to Giant to buy some ice cream, burgers and cookies.
That first night, we drove to
Filipino Market. It was so crowded. For me, it brought back memories to Kelantan 10-15 years ago. The Padang Bas to be exact. The electric cable was everywhere on the floor. And the hawkers were so similar to hawkers in Kota Bahru back then. They were inviting us whenever we walked pass them. Not to mention, their seafood was so extraordinary. The lobster, the fishes, the squids! They were all yummy. But i was shocked with the price. My mind was full of 'cheap, cheap, cheap seafood.' And, yes, by looking at the condition they were making business, i thought it must be very cheap. But it came to my surprise, it's very expensive! (for me at least. If you're rich, maybe it's just a piece of dirt under your nails.) So, we took a red kerapu, a lobster and a stick of squids. It costs us RM49! My expectation was RM20. What a cheapskate, i know. But people are feeding me with the idea of 'cheap seafood' in Filipino Market. So, now i know the whole world is lying to me! ^^"
Gosh..... But good thing is, their sauce is the greatest sauce i've ever tasted my whole life. For me, it's very exotic. They provide us with limau kasturi, bird's eye chili, soy sauce and a special sauce made of asam jawa. It tasted very nice. I love that meal we had that night. Very satisfying.
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| Forced myself to eat the last squid >.< |
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| The star of the night ^.< |
And here, in Filipino market, we started searching for souvenirs. My friend shopped for key chains. While i got myself some pearl bracelets and it's sooo cheap. It's stylish and has an expensive look. Cost me RM15 for one bracelet after bargaining.
But later that night we found out that we got fined by the police for not parking in the right lot. Damn POLICEMAN! And it's not a tiny trouble. It costs us RM100! Damn you POLICE! At my place, there are no policemen walking around at night just to fine people at a crowded place. Take Wakaf Che Yeh for example. The cars are scattering all over the place. But we've never got fined for it. You should take a break and have a walk at some other places. Boo!
SECOND DAY
The next day, we went to the
Museum. We had a great time there. Got a chance to walk into a fake cave with an ancient mysterious coffin in there. And got to see a remain of a whale which is the main focus in there. Also, got to know about two tribes, Kadazandusun and Murut who has head hunters in their community. They literally hunt for enemies heads! So don't mess with them. But it's in the old time. ^^
We also got chance to walk around the
Heritage Village. They built houses of main tribes in Sabah. There was also a real house of a Chinese family that has been preserved. So we can walk in and touch all of their belongings. They have two bedrooms, with those ancient pillows and blue pyjamas hanging on the wall. It was so much fun. Cos i think it's almost like walking into Sau Hau's house. ^^
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| Nice little 'island' over there |
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| Chinese outfit |
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| The wall is really nice |
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| One of the houses. But too afraid to walk in. Too ancient looking. |
Then we went to
Lok Kawi Wildlife Park. It's a normal tour just like every other zoos can offer. But i think it's not that grand. The best part is we arrived just on time for the animals get feed. So we can see all of them being fed. Especially the tigers. They left a chicken hanging on a rope and let the tiger climbs onto a dead tree and grab the hanging chicken. I recorded that in our camera. ^^ But actually it was so annoying to watch that with a group of Sabahan girls shouting words in English. I know they don't speak English. But what the heck with that kind of attitude. You can hear them shouting from miles away. And singing the Lazy Song to the lazy-looking orangutan. And Gosh, i think she don't even know the lyrics! Well, you know how people behave. You just know when someone do something on purpose. And i knew they do it on purpose. Whenever we walked near them, they'll start shouting words in English to give an impression of urban lifestyle i guess?? I don't know. Maybe they want to impress us from the Peninsular? Yes, it's true, some of people from Sabah really speak English to defend themselves. Like, are you intimidated?? Hey, we don't give a damn about how you live your life or what language you speak. We're not judging and stop being so defensive! Urgh...
Btw, here are some pictures of a very naughty creature. It seems that he don't like zoo's food. ^^
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| Closer |
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| Almost there |
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| Yum |
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| Argh |
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| Stinky stinky! |
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| Ah, love this guy ^---^ |
Later that night, we headed off to an eating place. It's just a
humble dining area by the sea. With lots of seats across the beach. There is almost no caucasian tourists here. It's 100% local. So we dine in peace. The price is charged as a local. I had seafood fried rice with lychee drink. While my friend had seafood pattaya fried rice and kichang drink (it's a mix of asam boi and lime). They also gave us a tiny bowl of soup for each one of us to have with the fried rice. We had a great dinner that night. With a dim light of an oil lamp. It's very calm and it worth it. Not to forget, they only charged us RM17!! We also asked for two packs of iced water and they gave it for free!!
THIRD DAY
First thing in the morning, we went to
Pasar Tamu Donggongon. Again, i was in search for cheap findings. But the truth is, the prices are higher than the peninsular. Yes, even the local produce is not cheap. It's the same like the ones we find in KL. In fact, Kelantan is way cheaper! But, anyway, we bought ourselves some local belacan, dried fish and dried shrimps. Well, good thing is, dried shrimps is quite cheap for the quality. It's in high quality and the price is considerable.
Done with the market, we went to a
Marine Aquarium in UMS. But sad thing is we arrived on lunch hour. So it was closed. We decided to have a lunch on a breezy hill located at Dewan Kuliah Utama or something in UMS. So we had this fresh fish curry with a view of a breezy ocean. It was really nice. But not long as the students suddenly crowded in and kept asking if there was anyone sitting with us at our table. So things got so noisy, we eat fast and let them took our seats. We headed off to the aquarium again.
They charged us RM5 a pax. That place is small but enough to have a nice walk around. Taking pictures and everything. They have this big aquarium with all sorts of fish and a turtle kept soaring in it. They also have this big kerapu fish in another aquarium. Overall it's good.
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| The most successful picture. It's dark inside and with cheap cameras, it won't look that good. |
When we headed out of it, it started raining. But it didn't stop us from dragging ourselves up to the
Observatory Hill. If you went straight up, you'll reach Bendera Hill. But since it's raining, it's
quiet dangerous to let the car climb up more. So we took a few pitures there with the scenery of Kota Kinabalu.
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| Sleepy sea town |
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| Raining |
Later that evening, we went to KFC to kill the remaining time while waiting for the flight home. I continued my hat crochet. At 7 pm, we headed off to Terminal 2. The car owner has already waited. We stayed at the airport for a few hours, crocheting. Watching a white couple arguing and later made up with each other with a little shopping treat for the gorgeous girlfriend. The flight scheduled on 9.20 was delayed to 9.40. We get into the airplane and heading home. That was no longer an excited flight. In fact, it was a tiring late night flight. Even the flight attendants are tiresome. And the pilot was sooooo lazy. He was not friendly at all. The only thing he said was, it's time to fly and it's time to land. But despite his unfriendlyness, his landing was very safe and sound. Unlike the friendly Harun. LOL... But i love Harun anyway. ^^
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| The airport that night |
As soon as landed, we rushed to SkyBus terminal. Took the bus with other tired looking passengers and even a giggly steward at the back of our seat. I think he was trying to impress this guy next to him. ^^
Since it was already late. 2 am in the morning. We headed to Summerview Hotel. It was a nice stay. It provides breakfast. But i think it's quite disappointing. Most of them were instants. Fishballs, sausages, baked beans. And it was so funny that they serve fried kuetiaw but they mixed it with yellow noodle. What a turn off.
But overall, i love this holiday. Makes me wanting to spend my life on holiday all the time. Full time! And i'll make sure, whenever Airasia offers good price again, we'll definitely be the first to get through their waiting room!
This story is magnificent! I loved it!
