OnionHead's Colorful Life: Sabah

Wednesday

North Borneo - Sabah Trip (Day 1)

Finally, a trip to North Borneo - Sabah was planned 1st time in my life.

Taking off with cheap flight Airsia, again, waiting at Gate No.3 in Senai International Airport

The 2.5 hours flight made my tummy waiting hungrily for the lunch... and so upon arriving at Kota Kinabalu, we headed to Damai for our lunch at Houng Kee, which serves traditional handmade fish beancurb (鱼腐, 沙巴五宝之一).

A corner shoplot in the backstreet like this, ones who never had any define research of nice food will never find it.

The handmade fish beancurb in soup of tomatoes and sour-salted veggie, of very Hakka-style.

WE loved the noodles here, always very chewy and smooth.

Next, we go around the town in car.

This is known as Yayasan Sabah Tower, was built in 1977, now it has been transformed into the "@mosphere" Revolving Restaurant at the 18th floor of the building.

It is one of the famous landmark in Kota Kinabalu.

Also known as Menara Tun Mustapha, named after Tun Datu Mustapha, a former chief minister of Sabah.

The antique luxurious car owned by Tun Mustapha, displayed at the ground floor.

Dotts Egg Tart can be found at the Lower Ground floor of 1Borneo, the largest shopping hypermall in Sabah. IT serves freshly baked crispy creamy eggtarts.

Our dinner is at a seafood restaurant called WELCOME.... located at Penampang.

The chef recommended Seafood Tofu. 招牌海鲜豆腐

Spicy crabs 甘香炒螃蟹

Mongolian chicken 蒙古鸡

薑葱沙白

Spicy pucuk manis 辣炒树仔菜

and this sumptious dinner only cost us less than RM70!!!　There is definitely no where else u can find seafood as cheap in West Malaysia.

This restaurant is always crowded with people even during weekdays.

Although the Star Inn we checked in for the 1st night was not very pleasant, I still managed to take some shoots in the humble inn, the owner is decorating the hotel in a very unmatching manner.

North Borneo - Sabah Trip (Day 2)

Telipok mee - fried noodle (chinese-style) with roasted pork, fried eggs, char siew slices. It is still the special chewy noodle we can only find in Sabah but no where else.

Telipok is a town located about 15km north of Kota Kinabalu, within 5km of towns of Tuaran, Menggatal, Sepanggar.

Early morning of the 2nd day, We had our breakfast at Town Telipok before heading to the Mount KK nature park.

The same Hakka-style tomato and salted veggie soup with alot of hand-made fish balls, pork balls, fish spring rolls, all are local specialties.

Passing by the famous Tamparuli Hanging Bridge when we were heading for

Mount KK.

There was this famous Kandazandusun Song named - Jambatan Tamparuli refering to this bridge itself.

As Mount KK is the most famous tourism attraction of Sabah, there are many many big and small shops and stalls selling local handicrafts and souvenirs along the express-way toward Mount KK.

One of the biggest is this Gerai Pekan Nabalu.

Look! the gingers are so big!

Kampung roosters running around. Most of them are beautiful ones

Rows of stalls selling food, drinks, snacks, souvenirs, etc.

Looking down from the look-out tower. If it was not that cloudy, we could have actually see the Mount KK from here.

Local lychee

Locally grown longan

I like this Orang Utan stuffed toy, the small baby hanging to its mummy =)

Wind Chimes made of bamboos

As our car was climbing higher and higher along the expressway toward Mount KK, the climate was getting cooler, and along the way we could see all sorts of blooming flowers and plants.

We also droppped by the Strawberry cafe.

It is actually a small scale strawberry farm, growing local strawberries and made them into jam, ice cream, dried strawberry snacks.

Felt like we were in a little warm cottage in the cafe.

I had a feeling of "what a waste! If only this cafe was being taken better care of", looking at the poor maintenance and slow service perfomance.

The counter in the cafe.

Strawberry Ice Cream - taste was quite good, all this cafe needs is a bit more improvement on advertising and quality service

Dried strawberry snack

The other part of the cafe is a hotel.

I think One just cannot miss to visit Kundasang War Memorial

Established in 1962, to commemorate the brave Australian and British Prisoners of War who died in Sandakan and during the infamous death marches to Ranau during World War II.

Entrance fees of Malaysian - RM 2, RM10 for foreigners.

A little cottage selling plants. At the entrance.

The Memorial is made up of four beautiful gardens - the Australian Garden, the English Garden, the Borneo Garden and the Contemplation Garden and Pool, to represent the diferent nationalities.

Locals say Kundasang is the place where you can find most fertilizers, where you can buy most vegetables and plants.

There were many many farmers bringing their harvests to the market to sell.

At a bus stop made of just wooden stool and zinc plate roof.

Panaromic view from above Puu Jih Temple, Sandakan.

Upon arrival at Sandakan after more than 8 hours slow driving, first place we visit after checking in hotel is this Puu Jih Buddhist Temple (普济寺)

Located top on a small hill. From here, we can outlook the Sandakan Harbour and sea.

The sun is about to set.

Stopping by in the old town of Sandakan, we had a thirst-queching mixed fruit ABC (Air Batu Campur). This thing really saved my hot day! A must try in Sandakan.