9th Stamp : Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

My 2^nd time in Malaysia, Last 2011 I was in Kuala Lumpur , Now in Sabah…

Kota Kinabalu Arch (Near the City Hall)

 

Day I: Just Arrived in Kota Kinabalu

DayII: Kota Kinabalu City Tour

Day III: Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Springs

Day IV: Free Time at the City

 Selamat Datang Kota Kinabalu!

Flight Details: Nov 30,2012 (1545H) MNL-KK,

  Dec 3, 2012 (1810H) KK-MNL

(P1734/ pax RT: Booked Last 11-11-11: Cebu Pacific)

My Pocket Money: $547 (P22500) / 1 RM =P13.5

Airport Fees  (Wow! Gastos Agad): Travel Tax(P1620), Terminal Fee(P550)

Immigration: Just asked for the Return Ticket (Departure Stamp)

Selamat Datang Malaysia (Welcome to Malaysia)

No Itinerary. No Hotel Bookings. Just Arrived in KK

Arrival at LCC Terminal 2 by 6 PM (a.k.a as Air Asia Terminal).

Immigration. Money Changer. Airport Taxi

LCC Terminal 2 ( a.k.a Air Asia Terminal)

RM1 = PHP 13.5

Teksi Stand ( RM 30 Minimum)

*Public Buses are not available by Night Time, only means of Transpo to Downtown KK is by Taxi

*You can change and they accept your Peso in KK unlike in Vietnam, Good Exchange Rates

*A local offered us an Airport Taxi (4 seater) for 30 RM, and we asked him for any budget inn he can recommend. He suggested A&J Hotel (near the Filipino Market and Le Meridien Hotel)

Taxi Ride (15-20 mins).

Alighted at A&J Hotel.Yup indeed the rates are budget-friendly but it was fully Booked and the area is not so nice, I got a feeling that you’ll be rob any moment. We did Hotel Hopping and ended and checked in at Hotel Iskandar at Kampung Air (Ayer)

*Kampung Ayer (Area for Budget Hotels, (the rates ranges from 70 RM- 100RM),Near the Night Market, Taxi Stand, Restaurants,Shopping Malls, Convenience Stores , Spas, Near Seri Selera and Lavender Lodge)

*Hotel Iskandar (87 RM for 4 pax) – With CR (Hot and Cold Shower), AC, Cable TV/ WIFI/ Towels

Night Market Area by 3AM( View from Our Hotel)

Night Market Area by 6 AM (View from Our Hotel)

Infront of our Hotel

After we checked in, We had Dinner at KFC (RM 10.70 mind their 6% Gov’t Tax = RM11.50)

Ayam (Chicken in Malay), Ginger Rice, Soup, Cucumber with Strawberry Pepsi. No Gravy (What a Combi?)

Back to Hotel and Rest... Zzzzz

Would you like to Read: Marcos Blog for Kota Kinabalu

Tips for the Day

*Don't forget to bring a Universal Travel Adapter

*Change Small Amount of Your Pesos and Dollars at the Airport Money Changer, then the rest at the Downtown Area (Near the CityPark Mall , Rainforest Lodge etc...) for good exchange rates.

*Night Market (Kampung Air) is different from Gaya Sunday Market (Gaya Street).
*Backpacker Area is located at the Australia Place near the Police Station, Atkinson Clock and Wisma Intiutama

*Massage Rates (RM 50-100), Bottled Water (RM 2), Can of Beer (RM 10) and
Pack of Cigarrete ( RM 10) (Mind their Sin- Tax)
*A friendly reminder, they are right-hand drive.Be careful crossing every street,they're exactly opposite to us.

Next > Day II :Kota Kinabalu City Tour