Travel Guide (Kota Kinabalu) - Day 1

I know... I know... This blog entry is WAYYY too late. So sorry... I've been so busy after my convocation trip. First: I got changed my department from Planning to Customer Service. Double job, extra hectic, no more blogging during office hour, no more Messenger and no increment. *sigh* But anyway, my convocation trip has been very very FUN...

Reached LCCT (Low-Cost Carrier Terminal) in wee hours! Didn't get much sleep as I was too excited with this trip, double checked my luggage many times just in case I left out something.
Bumped into lotsa uni-pals, getting onto the same flight as me. I remember that the first time when I went to LCCT, the first impression LCCT gave me is that, "Is this an airport or warehouse/ Giant/ Carrefour/ Makro/ Tesco?". Kota Kinabalu's Air Asia airport is way much different than LCCT - in the better way, of course!
View from plane and me posing with the craft. I got chased by the Air Asia crew, "Miss ah miss, please don't take pictures here ah". Haha... I love this hotel and I would recommend this to anyone who wanna go KK for holiday. Radius International Hotel, situated at 7th floor of Warisan Square, opposite Waterfront, KK.

Radius International Hotel, Waterfront, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah is a newest and stylish “ BOUTECH ” concept hotel as the Group’s first “ BOUTECH ” Hotel in the region. The term “ BOUTECH ” is the combination of the words “boutique” and “technology” to reflects the size of the hotel and the technologically skewered infrastructural interior design. The hotel was design to not just fit today’s needs but also for the needs and changes of tomorrow.

The hotel is located on the 7 th Floor of Warisan Square, a shopping centre in the middle of Kota Kinabalu. Guest will find an easy walking access to all local attractions, commercial districts, retail, eating and entertainment facilities. Just 10 minutes away from Kota Kinabalu International Airport. Nature and adventure, Islands and beaches, golfing and diving, all these are interesting offering available in Sabah, The Land Below The Wind.

After checking in and took our bath, we went to Philippino Market, situated in the heart of KK town, for souvenirs and pearls. With this pearl ring, I look like Datin or rich tai-tai...
There are two types of pearls - sea water pearls and freah water pearls. Sea water pearls are more expensive compared to the latter ones. The datin ring that I wore is of course fresh water pearl. I bought something for myself - a fresh water pendant in a shape of tear drop for only RM8.00!

Then, next stop of today will be Warisan Square, shopping haven! Brands include: Padini Concept Store, Island Shop, Esprit, Baleno, Charles & Keith, Salabianca, Blush!, Quiksilver, etc etc... Enough to fulfill your shpping hunger.

Sabah chocolate.
Took this zen-decoration in one part of Radius International Hotel. Very zen right?
We went to Kampung Selera Air, KK for seafood dinner.
Dumpling (aka "woh tip") is a MUST eat food in Sabah. Dumpling in Sabah is different from the one we have in peninsular. In peninsular, dumpling is served in soup. Here in Sabah, dumpling is pan-fried and served with vineger and chopped garlic. Never taste this kind of combination leh?

Performance fo the night - Bamboo Band. Their musical instruments are all made of bamboo.

This band is only available on Wednesday night! Lucky us... "Woh tip" aka dumpling.
Lettuce fried with beancurd and egg fried with oysters.
From left: Pig, marmite crab, steamed garoupa, oyster egg, beancurd lettuce and butter prawn in the middle.

Food minus the PIG.
After dinner, we head back to Warisan Square where our hotel is situated and THEN we spotted this - CHARLES & KEITH on SALES!
Charles & Keith is a brand originated from Singapore. Both of them are from Singapore, opened their brand in Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia (only available in KK), South Africa, and lots more. I love their design (unlike the usual Vincci/ Nose type), and I bought a handbag and a cute clutch!

Enough of shopping - back to sleep, recharge energy for tomorrow!

Travel Guide (Kota Kinabalu) - Day 2

Day 2 - 30 August 2007

We had our breakfast in a coffee shop situated behind GSC Cineplex and Cathay Cineplex. Have to go early in the morning, their famous "kon lou mee" finishes by 11.00 am! Breakfast at KK coffee shop for "kon lou mee" with barbeque pork, chicken leg and vegetables. Then, we head on to Damai for boutique hunting. Then I spotted this "lucky cats". Don't you think this are so so CUTE?
I think this are very very CUTE...My curls from back view.
Put some bling-bling in your style. Pink love - I like... Another "lucky cat" calling out for customers... Meow...
Enough of walking, we went to "Ren Ai" Herbal Drink to quench our thirst. I ordered "guai lin gou", good for overall health, cools down body temperature and good for those suffering from constipation.
Old coffee-shop style. Their ice-kacang is very delicious and famous too...
Only in Sabah: FREE KFC chicken for every starter pack! Sabah pack... Maybe Seremban Hotlink should introduce - "FREE Seremban Siew Pau for every starter pack". Watcha think?

Mirror posing~~~
For dinner - JAPANESE FOOD at Damai's Recipes House.
Above: Miso soup paste.

Below: My unagi set. Yummy...
Below: Chicken katsu set.

California roll.
Raw salmon + raw tuna + preserved radish + tamago (egg) on top of Japanese rice.
Japanese sake.
Rice wine.
Sake sake sake~~~ Never try before though.

Some information for those who are interested and wanna give this shop a try:
Opens everyday from 9.00 am until 9.00 pm.
Recipes House Japanese Food situated at Damai. Call 088-242181 for more information.
Beautiful cakes at Strawberry Cake House, situated at Damai too.
Above: Spot the mistake!

After dinner, we went back to hotel for bath and waited for 10.00 pm to come. Why? Happy hour mar... We went to Atmosphere, a rotating restaurant situated on the 17th Floor of Menara Tun Mustapa (Yayasan Sabah).


My cuppa Margarita. I prefer TGI's...

Travel Guide (Kota Kinabalu) - Day 3

Day 3

Early morning, we went to a coffee shop (somewhere on the way to Damai), popular for... "ngau chap" noodle. Beef noodle is very popular in Sabah. I have tried many bowls of beef noodles in Sabah and most of it are DELICIOUS!For those who don't take beef, have no fear because there are also seafood or pork for you to choose from: beef noodle and seafood noodle - I love both! Prawns are super fresh and succulent, beef are juicy and taste great! Ah, their "kopi ping" very nice too... Mengalahkan Starbucks! Us and the food.
It's Independent Day today - 31st August! Happy birthday Malaysia! Therefore, the tables are arranged in front of the other shop next to the coffee shop. We are sitting in front of a shop selling Dulux paints.
After breakfast (which keeps me full until lunch...), we move our heavy butts to the newly renovated airport.

Finally.. mom and dad arrived!
For dinner, we went to King Hu Restaurant, which is famous for Beijing Duck! A plate of duck, few popiah skins, sauces, and daun bawang. Put them altogether onto the popiah skin... and you will get Beijing Duck! Our first time with Beijing Duck!
The restaurant's full... Luckily we got a place, because we booked earlier! Hehe...
Duck, sauce, daun bawang, and popiah skin.
We ordered half a duck - the skin and meat will be reserved for Beijing Duck and the rest will be the ingredient for duck soup. Other than Beijing Duck and duck soup, we also ordered Steam Chinese Cucumber (very unique!), spicy taufu, and a dish of pork meat served with man-tau (roti sepan).
THE SHOP - King Hu Restaurant, situated at Tanjung Aru. Air-cond. Reserve earlier to avoid disappointment.Next, we went to Tanjung Aru Beach to jalan-jalan. Once you reach Tanjung Aru Beach, you will see food court and also stalls selling variety of preserved and fresh fruits, crackers, keropok, corn in cup, etc etc...
Tanjung Aru Beach - famous for the loving couples and for the gangs looking for good food, great environment and varieties. Penang char kuey teow is available here at Tanjung Aru Beach too! But not as genuine as the real Penang style.
My shadow.
Opposite our second hotel (Ruby Inn), there is a food court selling seafood. Varieties of seafood restaurants are available under one roof. So, you can choose your favourite restaurant lar... Although we just drop by to watch traditional Sabah performance (picture taking are usually reserved for customers), we still manage to take pictures with them! We didn't manage to watch their full performance though...
Lobsters lobsters lobsters!!!
This super large monster lobster, I wonder how they gonna cook him. Gonna get a BIG wok!
At the lobby of our hotel, there are 2 "welcoming officers" - one naked women with breast dangling out and one man (her hubby) holding spears.
Back to our room to snooze off! Super tired...