March 2013 Sabah Sojourn

Ten years ago B, A and I visited Sabah for the first time (see my previous blog entry of 10 October 2011, 'My Sabah'). Our good friends Penel & Husin played host in Kota Kinabalu and it was a most memorable visit to the land below the wind. Recently it was M's first visit, and P & H played host again. In fact I must say that we were thoroughly spoilt by their kind hospitality. Not only did Penel help with the hotel bookings (directly, not online) but she also got our tickets for the North Borneo Railway on the 23rd. And I got to celebrate my birthday with a vintage train ride, then dinner and a specially baked cake at her home. Thanks a million!

Thank you Sarah for the beautiful birthday cake! (CZ 2013)

Our first two nights stay was at the Nexus Karambunai in Menggatal, touted by some as "a piece of heaven". The Ocean Wing rooms are large and the gardens quite beautiful with purple water lilies in full bloom. The architecture of the resort is a combination of building ingenuity and local craftsmanship. I also found four paintings of Rafiee Ghani adorning the lobby wall - very nice!

It is jelly fish season (February to April) and we found many washed up on the beach. So M had to be content with swimming in the pools. Rather a letdown, but as they say, "don't play, play with jelly fish"! By the Karambunai Lagoon, we managed to capture on camera the elusive cloud smothered Mt. Kinabalu. Only just!

The sunset at Nexus Karambunai (MB 2013)

Karambunai Lagoon & Mt Kinabalu in the distance (MB 2013)

Playing hosts to Penel & Husin at Nexus Karambunai

Another three nights we spent in Kota Kinabalu, at the Sutera Harbour Resort. It is resort, hotel, golf, marina, spa, country club all rolled into one interesting site. But it is the sunsets here that are most intriguing. The marina had some beautiful sea crafts to admire too.

The sunset at Sutera Harbour Resort (MB 2013)

That is a helicopter atop this boat. Engkau ada? (MB 2013)

A pause during our Sutera Harbour walkabout  (2013)

One dinner we had with Husin and family was at the Chinese Restaurant of the Hyatt Regency, Kota Kinabalu. Interestingly, ten years ago we were sitting at the very same table of the restaurant, served by the very same maitre d'. The food tasted as good as ever. After dinner we had Husin and family pose on the very same bench we did ten years ago - just for (nostalgic) kicks.

Husin, Penel with Zul, wife & children (MB 2013)

On the same bench at Hyatt 10 years ago! (2003)

Apart from showing us the sights and sounds of Kota Kinabalu, Husin & Penel also drove us to the Sunday morning Kota Belud Tamu (traditional market). One afternoon I got to see the exhibits by local artists in the newly opened wakid-shaped Sabah Art Gallery/Visual Arts Conservation Centre with Penel. Once M and I checked out the Sinsuran Market in the city centre, but for our (pearl) souvenirs, on Penel's recommendation, I shopped at Jamilah Jewellery (wholesale shop) rather than the 'Filipino'/Handicraft Market.

Note: The recent incursion into eastern Sabah may have seen a drop in tourist numbers there, but we noticed many visitors from South Korea, China and Russia in Kota Kinabalu.

20-25 March 2013