kota kinabalu, land beyond the wind

kota kinabalu is a nice town situated on the tip of borneo island. i had the priviledge of going there on a work assignment recently. the last time i went there was in the year 1996 on a school club trip.

i took erl to klia with my colleague and reached the airport 50 minutes before departure. we are booked on mas airline. it would be different if we took airasia. with airasia, you need to be checked in at least 50 minutes before as the counter is closed 45 minutes before departure. if you did not arrive on time, no begging, complaint or wailing will be entertained and they will inform you need to buy a new ticket. i know because my dad has experienced it. damn airasia! it left me bitter but what a hypocrite i am because i still fly with airasia. i couldn't help it because the fare is much cheaper than mas.

ok back to the point. we reached the check in counters and boy, was there a long queue! and i was thinking, oh my we might miss our flight! luckily we managed to find a free counter and checked in ourselves and our luggages. then we proceed to the departure lounge. when i was inside the plane, i realized it was a boeing 737. later on, i learnt it was a transit plane on its way to narita airport, japan. i told my friend we could just stay on board and made our way to japan!

the screen at the back of the seats in front functioned. when i was last on a 737, it wasn't switched on at all. the screen was an informative one, showing the distance and time between our former and intended locations both in numbers and geographically.
forgive me for the bad pictures. they were taken on camera phone as i didn't have my camera with me.

we stayed in hyatt hotel. initially intended to stay in le meridien due to recomendation by a friend but unfortunately it was fully booked. another thing, le meridien was also situated in front of the famous philipino market or better known as pasar filipin. i guess it was named such because the traders were originated from the philippines. overall, hyatt hotel was satisfactory. the room was spacious with its english like decorations. however, there was not much variety in the buffet breakfast.

views of the room. it costs RM254.50 nett per night.


i know this. this was a tradional musical instrument of the sabahan. it was put on top of the tv.







the view of the rooms opposite.



i like this picture. it was a view of the dining place from my room.


after completing our work assignment, we made our way to pasar filipin. bought some pearls for mum and sis. bought dried sea cucumbers, squids, abalones, anchovies and prawns because they were cheap!(according to my mum)

the prices:
salt water white (slightly pinkish) pearl necklace, bracellet and earings: rm70
salt water pink, purple pearl bracellet: rm20
sea cucumbers: rm280/kg (medium) rm240/kg (small)
squids: rm10/pack (medium) rm8/pack (small)
abalone: rm380/kg
anchovies: rm7/pack (medium)
prawn: rm24/pack (better quality)

we were told we were given these prices because we brought one of the locals with us. i didn't know how far it's true but it certainly helps!

kk is a nice town situated beside the south china sea. this is just one of the nice view taken during our ride.