Day 3 - Hurry up and Wait

Day 3 in Kota Kinabalu

Hubby didn't get up early on our last day in Malaysia. He was still fast asleep after I had taken a shower and was still snoring even after I've packed my stuff away in my backpack. When he woke up, he told me he wants to stay longer and bragged about how comfy the bed was that he wanted to take it home to the Philippines. We got out of the hotel about 10-ish and both agreed to have breakfast at Burger King before we head to the airport. Unfortunately I have already packed the camera in my rucksack which I left in the room and forgot to take it with us so no meal pics today. I remember somebody telling me that in every country, a fast food franchise (in this case, Burger King) offers different types of burgers (and sauces or dressing) as opposed to their original variety from whichever country they came from. In Malaysia, they don't serve mayo with your ketchup as condiments when you order a burger, they have chilli sauce! We both had Chick N Crispy Burger with a choice of 3 different sauces - they are black pepper, salsa and barbecue. Vic picked black pepper and I opted for salsa because I thought it wouldn't be too spicy. Wrong! At first I was wondering why, when I am almost halfway through my sandwich, I haven't tasted any tomatoes or onions yet. Then I decided to open the burger and realized it is just chili sauce-flavored salsa or vice versa I guess. Vic noticed that the black pepper sauce is very strong. Good thing about their BK is they offer free refills for any drink which is great especially if your meal is really spicy.

We got back to the hotel to tidy up and chill for a bit prior to checking out a few minutes before 12pm. We crossed the street where there are taxis parked in an open lot and their drivers sitting idly by a shaded waiting area trying to cool themselves off from the hot sun. We asked beforehand how much it costs to go to the airport, their standard fee I guess is 30RM. We got to the airport around 12:30 and found us two seats by the lounge facing the check-in counters. This airport is really small just like DMIA but it is considered an international airport too.

Kota Kinabalu International Airport - Check-in counters

KK International Airport with the 2nd floor in view

We really don't have anywhere else to go, so hubby and I decided to just stay put inside the airport as the check-in counters don't open until 1:30 pm or so. There were a handful of souvenir shops - chocolates, perfumes, T-shirts and corals/shell-like decors (with "Sabah" or "Kota Kinabalu" hand painted on them) at the ground floor. Food shops/stalls, a restaurant offering traditional and modern Malaysian cuisine and a KFC dine-in is on the second floor. We had KFC for our lunch which fits the budget as we are on our way home anyway. I've noticed on this airport that the security from the outside as well as inside is not that tight. I'm not sure if there are CCTV cameras hidden but I have seen a lax in security personnel. There is only a rope and a 3 foot high metal barrier (which you can actually duck down and go in and out of and nobody will mind you) between the check-in counters and from where all the people sat. After they have scanned your luggage and placed a sticker that says "security scanned/checked", you can now line up at the check-in counter. As soon as you've checked-in, they scan your stuff again and you can now get into the pre-departure area which is totally crowded because everyone else has checked in and all are waiting for their planes to land on the tarmac. There are still some shops within that area but (just like every airport) more costly.

The queue of Air Asia passengers waiting to board a flight to Kuala Lumpur

Hubby got really bored waiting for our flight. He said it is longer to wait before checking in, queue at the check-in and then wait again to board the plane than the actual travel time from point A to point B. That's the way it goes. Unless you're the pilot or the cabin crew, you don't need to queue and wait. So I suggested that next time, he should bring something to read or just listen to my mp3 player.

We boarded the SEAir airbus earlier than we've expected. The flight coming to Kota Kinabalu was a bit delayed but thank goodness going back to Clark isn't. Unlike many "pasaway" (naughty/rule-breaking) passengers, I didn't dare ask my hubby to pose on cam so I can take a pic of him with the aircraft in the background. The camera-happy folks were told off by the ground staff for taking pics while walking towards the plane. We did however get to have our pic taken before taking off courtesy of the kind cabin crew who saw me taking a pic of Vic and volunteered to take our pic afterwards.

We encountered a very strong turbulence before landing in DMIA. Vic was scared to death. Lightning flashed over and over across the night sky outside the window. It was a call to keep calm and pray on. Vic was going on about whether it was really just a turbulence or something worse has happened to the old aircraft and we might crash in the water. I told him, "Hun, don't freak out. Have you tried praying perhaps?" But praise God we landed safe and sound and our plane in one piece. Time check was 7:30 pm thereabouts. There was a mad rush to the immigration so everyone can get their passports stamped, pick up their bags from the baggage carousel and go home. There were two immigration windows open that night, one is for Philippine passport holders and one is for Foreign passport holders but they were both empty! I think we were the only ones (the SEAir flight which came from KK) that arrived which is good. Vic got his passport stamped for another year with the Balikbayan Visa which is applicable to all spouses of Filipino citizens. We did not have any checked-in luggage so we just went straight out and bought bus tickets from Philtranco Bus Liner going to SM Megamall and headed home. Thanking God for a short but sweet summer holiday.

Day 2 - Out and About

Day 2 in Kota Kinabalu

Hubby and I woke up around 8-ish in the morning, got out of the hotel an hour later and decided to take a stroll to look for somewhere to have our brunch. It is quite hard to find a restaurant or a place to eat which would suit both our taste buds (not to mention our very tight budget). We walked for about 10 minutes and found a Chinese "canteen-type" or "turo-turo"  kind of cafeteria. The cafe is called Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice and BBQ Pork. A Chinese man (probably around his 40's) was by the entrance and he smiled at us. He was trying to tell me something in Chinese (Bahasa Malaysia or Mandarin perhaps). He probably thought I am Chinese which a lot of foreign people think I am from the very first moment they see me. I just smiled back at him as he showed us to our seats. I told Vic this one would probably be a lot better than the last restaurant we ate dinner at. One is because it's Chinese and their cuisine is 80% similar to what Filipinos cook and eat back home. Second is I am more familiar (well both of us are) with Chinese food. Their menu, like any other simple cafeteria, is posted on the walls. Some have pictures so you know what you're ordering, I guess they are the best sellers of the bunch. Vic decided to go with Roasted Duck with Rice and I opted for something called Claypot Yee Mee. I asked the Chinese guy (he was also waiting tables and cooking and preparing the dishes) if this is similar to congee and he nodded. There were a variety of drinks to choose from. Fruit juices and teas aplenty but we chose black jelly with milk on ice. It took about 10-15 minutes for the food to be served. It is hot and you can even see them prepare the food in front of you, so you know it is not something that they just re-heated. I also believe the owner is the same man who greeted us, sat us down and waited on our table plus prepared our food. I was telling this to my husband as most Chinese business owners are like that. They want to be hands on with everything so they know that all goes well. I must say I loved the dish! Although I thought mine would be like rice porridge (congee) with meatballs and egg on top but it was actually quick fried noodles which was very tasty and very filling. I must say I would eat that again if I go back there. Vic liked his too and it was a surprise to see him eat rice like at 10 am in the morning. So brunch was good and it was value for money since they didn't charge us any service charge or government tax unlike the last restaurant we ate at. It probably is included in the price declared on their menu board.

My brunch is called Claypot Yee Mee and we ordered black jelly with milk for our drinks

Vic's brunch - Roasted duck with rice and free soup

We both decided to continue our stroll around the city centre which is where our hotel is. We made our way to the KK Esplanade. It's a nice place overlooking the sea. There were loads of people there the previous night, all were taking pictures of themselves by the dolphin statue. There was a nice breeze that morning but the weather is just as warm as back in the Philippines.

On our way to the KK Esplanade

Fishing boats

I absolutely adore this dolphin

Oops... thought they were a bit more disciplined than that

Hubby found this keychain by the edge of the walkway

Upon reaching the other side of the walkway of the KK Esplanade, we found ourselves standing in front of the mall. Upon entering I saw this sign below.

No pork. Aww...

This shop tickled me LOL

Brand new clothes on display as oppose to the shop's name

 Hubby and I were tired after our long walk so we decided to go and have a drink at the food court and we loved the view from the top.

Cooling off outside the food court overlooking the port area

A police ferry boat

 The mall's entrance

After roaming around the mall, which was surprisingly not as crowded as the malls in the Philippines, we decided to go and have some of our pesos changed to ringgit. We asked the hotel staff if there is a nearby beach resort around the city centre and they just shook their heads. Most beaches are out in the nearby islands. Sadly we really can't afford to go island hopping so we thought of watching a movie instead. The same mall has eight floors apparently and we missed the higher floors, we thought they just had 5 floors. So we went straight to the 8th floor where the cinemas are and bought tickets to watch The Avengers movie in 3D. We haven't had lunch yet so we scouted the mall for somewhere to have a decent meal at. Vic asked the lady by the "pay toilet" (you have to pay 30 sen to use the mall's loo) where the best restaurant is in the mall. She told us to go on the ground floor and find UpperStar. Upon entering this cool bistro, we were mesmerized by the brilliantly decorated walls. There were loads and loads of frames with paintings and also the ceiling. One wall (by the right side of Vic) had a very cool wall decor with the famous painting called "The Creation of Adam". They also had desktops in some of the tables where you can surf the internet for free while enjoying your food. We ordered pasta - hubby has chosen pasta carbonara and mine was penne with chicken in tomato sauce. It was one of the best we ever ate! The penne was tender and though the chicken was chopped (not minced/ground) it was delish! Not only is the food great and the ambiance amazing, the service was flawless too. The waiters were polite and they are always there to attend to your requests. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to everyone who will visit Kota Kinabalu.

The nice wall decor inspired by the painting The Creation of Adam

Posh and Victorian-like look of the interior of the restaurant behind me

Look at the very nice painting on the ceiling. Lovely innit?

UpperStar's Pasta Carbonara and Chicken Penne

We left there as very satisfied customers and our tummies full. The elevator took us straight to the movie theatre again. The cinema was pretty clean and there weren't a lot of people who watched our chosen flick. Maybe it's because it's already been almost a month since it was released into theatres worldwide. Dolby was the provider of their 3D movies. To be quite truthful it was of good quality, I mean the 3D effect was really cool. The seats of the cinema was very comfy that Vic even fell asleep during the first bit. As for the movie, a review will be made after I have finished blogging our escapades in Malaysia.

About one hour was spent to chillax in our hotel room after watching The Avengers. We thought it's best to stretch our legs out first before thinking about where to have dinner. I suggested that we eat at either Burger King or KFC since they are both cheaper and we don't need to wait that long to eat our meal. As we were about to go out of the hotel, it started to rain. So that made us rethink again where to dine in. Luckily there's an attractive looking joint called Rainforest Restaurant about a 5 minute walk away from the hotel on covered paths. So we sat ourselves in and decided to choose what to have.

Enjoying the ambiance of the resto

Posing beside the tree trunk

After poring over the menu and making inquiries about which is which and what is what, we decided to both have Tom Yum soup and Lemon Fried Chicken with Rice and Shepherd's Pie.

He's going to sneeze! Not really... It's because the soup is very spicy

My dinner which is Lemon Fried Chicken with Rice

Vic had their own version of Shepherd's pie

Tom Yum soup was delicious although it is very hot and spicy! As you can see the evidence in Vic's face, it looked as if he's going to breathe fire. I managed to eat all the meat and veggies in the soup but I gave up on half of the broth. My main entree was Lemon Chicken with Rice. It was nice but it lacked salt. We had to wait for quite some time for his main to be served. I was almost finished when they gave him his meal. He was just curious that's why he ordered their own take on Shepherd's Pie. Vic said the meat is chunky not minced/ground and they probably used some spices because the sauce is a bit red. The mashed potatoes according to him were okay but he doesn't understand why there are a few slices of olives on top of the cheese. It was served in a deep bowl as you can see in the picture above but it only filled half of the dish (not even half I think). Service wise, they are good. The servers are polite and very apologetic for the delay in Vic's meal.

On our way out, Vic overheard loud music being played next to the restaurant. We found this bar with a DJ playing modern dance hits so we sat down and listened while I ordered for a dessert. I tried their mango pudding which is quite nice actually and surprisingly not too sweet. Vic loves disco music and this one was similar to what he digs. We didn't stay that long because we need to hit the sack not later than midnight as we have a long day tomorrow. For party goers/bar hoppers or even the disco fanatics, this one is spot on for you. They don't just serve alcoholic drinks, they have a wide variety of meals and finger food to choose from when one is hungry and just wanted to listen to some dance tunes.

 Walking towards our hotel, I spotted something bright and glowing by the roundabout. I pointed it to Vic and I quickly grabbed my camera to take a picture of it. We thought we lost it as it turned right but then it went back and we were shocked that he was coming towards us. I'm talking about a bicycle glammed up with different types of lights that you cannot miss at night. See picture below for further details. I couldn't help but stop him in his tracks and asked him to please have his photo taken (along with his cool bike) with Vic. Hubby said it reminded him of the double bicycle in MIB 2.

Coolest bike I've seen so far

Vic and the owner of the MIB 2-looking bicycle

That was a good day. I know we missed the ocean and the beach but there were other things to do aside from swimming. That was the end of our 2nd day in Kota Kinabalu and the last day of our adventure.

Day 1 - Kota Kinabalu

Our flight was delayed last Thursday afternoon but we still arrived on time at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Time of arrival was approximately 5:35 to 5:40 pm. It was just like DMIA except it has a 2nd floor where the food shops are. We weren't given any landing cards to fill in which was a bit odd. The cabin crew told us that they would be provided upon arrival at the immigration area. To our surprise, their immigration system doesn't use paper-printed landing cards, they use biometrics. You just hand your passport, the immigration officer asks what flight you took to get there (or what country you came from) and then you place your two pointy fingers on their scanner and voila! They print a small sticky ticket on your passport and sign it... That's your stamp or arrival time stamp thing.

We made our way out of the busy immigration center and headed towards the exit. I fumbled with my mobile phone as I haven't turned it on yet to activate the roaming feature. I texted my Malaysian friend who was kind enough to book us a hotel under her name. The hotel is called Pantai Inn. They don't have a website so if you want to book a room you may have to try emailing or calling them. Or if you have a Malaysian friend like me, just politely ask them to book it for you. The room has a double bed and costs 84 RM per night. It doesn't include any meals but the good thing about it is that the hotel is located within the city centre. There are lots of food shops and restaurants around the vicinity and all are within walking distance. There is also a nearby grocery by the roundabout on the right side of the hotel. That's where we bought our bottled water from and some crisps and snacks. Oh and I almost forgot, they do have a small restaurant in front of the elevator but we didn't eat there. The telly is rather small and only has 5 or 6 channels I think and just one channel with an English program, the rest are all in Bahasa Malaysia which is the widely spoken language. Bed is comfortable, hubby wanted to take it home with us. The sheets are clean. They also provided complimentary bottled waters for us and bath towels. You can ask for the room to be cleaned while you go sight-seeing around the town. For smokers, there is an ash tray provided in the room. They actually allow smokers to open the windows if they want to have a fag so they don't have to go out of the hotel. The bathroom is okay although it is small. Consists of toilet and shower minus the shower curtain nor is the shower separated from the toilet as you can see on the pic below. Only good thing about that is they have hot/cold water both on the tap and the shower. A tiny soap is also provided. I would strongly suggest you bring your own toiletries. As for the hotel staff, they are all nice considering the fact that they don't really speak that much English at all. Still you can tell they are polite and they smile a lot which makes you feel welcomed.

We didn't have time to unpack, well I didn't, Vic unpacked his stuff while I try to chill a bit. Half an hour after arriving there we decided to scout for a good place to eat dinner. We actually got rained on so we decided to head back to the hotel. We saw this modern-looking restaurant called Sugarbun Cafe. The name itself sounds fancy and western-appealing so we decided to take our seats on their open air restaurant. Their menu has loads of stuff to choose from - western food is definitely well-emphasized as they serve burgers, fish and chips, hotdogs etc. Our only mistake was that we ordered something we are not familiar with. We opted for something called Nasi Goreng classic and Nasi Goreng with Chicken Curry. I ordered the former, hubby ordered the latter. Dinner pictures are shown below.

Nasi Goreng with chicken curry

The dish with 4 slices of cucumber is called Nasi Goreng classic

So what does it taste like? My dinner tasted like shrimp paste (bagoong) with anchovies but sweet. There is half of a boiled egg and a tablespoon of peanuts and 4 slices of cucumber and a scoop of rice in the middle. I really didn't like it. Perhaps I wasn't expecting it to taste like that and I do apologize to my Malaysian friends (and those who will read this). I thought to myself I should've gotten the burger and chips. I ordered lemon iced tea for my drink which surprisingly is real tea! Not the powdered/flavored ones that you buy in grocery stores. This one is real lemon tea, cooled or chilled in the fridge and then two slices of lemon were added on to it. Hubby had iced coffee for his drink. Sugarbun Cafe may have other specialties that are famous on their menu, I guess we just didn't know what they are. 

After having dinner we headed back to our hotel room and decided to hit the sack after watching a movie on TV. We didn't really have any set plans for the following day but we will just go where our feet will take us. And that was day 1 or should I say "half-day" of day 1.