THE SIMILARITIES between Kota Kinabalu or KK, located in Sabah, Malaysia, and Davao are uncanny as we practically have similar facets. If Davao has Samal, Mount Apo (Philippine highest peak) and the Philippine Eagle, KK has the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, Mount Kinabalu (Southeast Asia’s highest peak) and Orangutan. Sabahans, in my own observation, are also more laid-back compared than their kins in Peninsular Malaysia. That is why during my second visit to this city, it almost felt like coming home.
Together with fellow lifestyle and travel writers from Cebu, Bohol, Bacolod and Iloilo, our group was quartered at the Grandis Hotel situated at the Suria Sabah Shopping Mall complex. From our hotel, we both had a stunning view of the nearby islands on one side and Signal Hill on the other. During the trip, our friends from Cebu Pacific Air and Sabah Tourism Board took us to various fascinating places around town. One of the most interesting activities we did was the half-day outing onboard the steam locomotive of the North Borneo Railway. The North Borneo Railway, established in 1896 by the British North Borneo Company (one of the oldest in the world), was built primarily for transporting goods from the Interior Division to the port in Kota Kinabalu during the British occupation during its heyday. Today, it is one of the city’s tourism lures, taking hundreds visitors each week.
As we boarded the train, we were welcomed with a breakfast of tea and pastries, then served a Tiffin lunch as we travelled through the country side. From Tanjung Aru in KK, the trip took us to the towns of Putatan, Kinarut, Kawang and Papar, then back to KK again. At station stops, we were able to visit temples and local markets.
Our group also spent an entire day at Pulau Sapi (“Cow Island’) in Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park where some of my fellows went parasailing and had a zipline adventure from one island to another. I opt for snorkelling inside the marine park. Pulau Sapi has one of the nicest beaches in the park and most popular with tourists for snorkelling and diving.
Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park is composed of five islands – Pulau Gaya, Pulau Sapi, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutik dan Pulau Sulug – spread over the 4,929 hectare marine park. It was named after Malaysia’s first Prime Minister.
We also visited the Mari Mari Cultural Village in a forest in Kionsom, Inanam, around 30 minutes away from the city center. Think Davao Crocodile Park’s Tribu K’Mindanawon but set in Eden Nature Park. Mari Mari Cultural Village is a living museum that preserves Borneo’s ethnic cultures. Our tour inside the village afforded us to experience the cultures and lifestyles of the rice farmer Kadazan-Dusun, the longhouse resident Rungus, the hunters and fisherman Lundayeh, the cowboy and sea gypsey Bajau, and the famously feared headhunting tribe Murut tribes. We also get to sample some of their indigenous cuisines.
Like Davao, KK also has white water rafting. We tried their child-friendly rapids along Kiulu River where we traversed local farming villages, suspension bridges and a throng of resting water buffalos. One of the river guides introduced himself to us and told us that his father is from Cotabato. This is because fairly a number of Sabahans trace their roots to Mindanao, mostly from the Cotabato, Zamboanga, and Sulu provinces.
KK even has its very own Filipino Night Market (officially known as Pasar Malam Sinsuran), a popular tourist destination along Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens. The market, owned by Filipino entrepreneurs and of Filipino descent, sells fresh seafood, poultry and vegetables, all ready for cooking and eating, street-food style.
Gaya Sunday Market (Bond Street) is another interesting strip we visited where one can buy almost anything under the sun – from batik, fruits and flowers, local food, souvenirs, arts and craft, footwear, antiques and souvenirs, cakes, plants, and even pets. The street is closed to traffic on Sundays to make way for pedestrians to visit the street bazaar.
CebuPacific, the Philippines’ leading airline, flies from Manila to KK every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. For low fares and promos, visit cebupacificair.com.