Sabah Malaysia Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu Sabah Malaysia Kota Kinabalu On the last day of our trip, we visited Oceanus Waterfront Mall, Jesselton Pier, Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, the old Sabah State Administrative Building, and the Filipino Night Market to ease our regret. Here’s a look at the main attractions and experiences from the 4th and 5th days of our 3-night, 5-day journey from January 20th to 24th, 2024.
Starting the Last Day: Hotel Breakfast and Shopping
We prepared for the end of our trip while enjoying our last breakfast at Grandis Hotel. The watermelon was delicious, but the fruit that looked like grapefruit was bitter even after peeling, which was a bit disappointing.
Sabah We visited Suria Sabah for some last-minute shopping before leaving. Seeing a large advertisement for Korean actor Ji Chang-wook was a welcome sight. We browsed cosmetics and tried the black milk tea bubble tea we were curious about, but it tasted exactly like the ones in Korea, so it wasn’t particularly memorable.
Souvenir Shop Visit: Borneo Latex and Chocolate Shop
As is typical with package tours, we visited souvenir shops. The Borneo Latex store, in particular, was overwhelming with its high-pressure product promotion, reminiscent of a multi-level marketing seminar. After over 30 minutes of explanation and a trial period, we didn’t make a purchase due to the high price. In fact, the pushy sales tactics left us feeling rather uncomfortable.
The chocolate shop we visited afterward was impressive with its friendly staff who spoke Korean well and a systematic tasting course. We bought the cheese-flavored chocolate because it was delicious, but the price was a bit steep.
Lunch: Korean Restaurant at Oceanus Waterfront Mall
Malaysia For lunch, we ate at a Korean restaurant called ‘The Korean’ located in Oceanus Waterfront Mall. The menu was ‘Steamboat,’ a type of shabu-shabu, where we cooked fresh ingredients in a clear broth. They even made porridge at the end, just like in Korea, but the taste was rather bland, and the ingredients didn’t feel as fresh as in Korea. It was a taste that made us miss Korean food.
Sightseeing: Jesselton Point, Rikaz Viewpoint, City Mosque, Old Sabah State Administrative Building
At Jesselton Point, we could book activities, but we only took a brief look around. We took photos for about 10-15 minutes and quickly returned to the bus to escape the heat.
At Rikaz Viewpoint, we could see the boundary where fresh and saltwater meet near the City Mosque. The changing colors of the water were fascinating, but the trash littered on the beach was an eyesore.
Kota Kinabalu The City Mosque was great for taking photos with its green lawn and beautiful architecture. However, the wind was very strong. Our guide advised us to use the term “Islamic temple” instead of “mosque.”
Sabah There’s a rumor that the old Sabah State Administrative Building is leaning like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but it’s not true. We took some fun photos at the orangutan photo zone here.
The City Mosque, which we saw again on the way to the souvenir shops, was even more beautiful up close. You can rent traditional clothing to take photos for an entrance fee, but unfortunately, we didn’t get to do that.
Dinner and Cafe Break
For dinner, we again ate at the Korean restaurant in Oceanus Waterfront Mall. The side dishes were quite sour, but the main course was edible. However, the grilled shrimp we had at the Filipino Night Market earlier was much tastier.
Before heading to the airport, we spent some time at Skip Cafe near the bus stop. The menu was entirely in Korean, which was convenient, and the coffee tasted just like it does in Korea, making us jokingly call it ‘Kota Korea’.
Last Stop: Filipino Night Market
Kota Kinabalu The last stop of our trip was the Filipino Night Market. We explored the market while drinking coconut water provided by our guide. We bought mangoes from Mango House, a popular Instagram spot, and enjoyed various street foods like grilled chicken wings and tiger prawns. The grilled tiger prawns were by far the best thing we ate in Kota Kinabalu. However, the smell of durian was a bit unpleasant. Be cautious, as we almost got ripped off at the market.
Airport Transfer and Departure
Kota Kinabalu We headed to the airport, leaving behind the beautiful night view of Kota Kinabalu. We waited for our flight at the airport, enjoying the mangoes we bought there. The 3-4 hour wait was a bit tedious, but the sweet mangoes made it more enjoyable. We felt a bit uncomfortable during the flight because we packed our toiletries in our checked luggage, but we consoled ourselves by watching the sunrise.
After Returning Home: Korean Food in Incheon
Upon arriving in Incheon, the first thing we looked for was Korean food. The kimchi stew, in particular, had a deep flavor and was a hearty meal to start our day.
Kota Kinabalu Sabah Malaysia Kota Kinabalu 3 Nights 5 Days Trip Days 1-2: Grandis Hotel, Mamutik Island, Suria Sabah (+Tips for Filling Out Arrival Cards)
blog.naver.com
Kota Kinabalu 3 Nights 5 Days Trip Day 3: Floating Sunset, Kawang Firefly Tour (+Where to Get a Good Massage)
blog.naver.com
