Kota Kinabalu: city area

Took the chance to just relax and wander around the town area, experiencing the sights and sound of this city.. One thing that I can't help but noticed is that people in KK are more united, no visible segregation between races where everyone work and live closely together, be it in the markets, shops, restaurants or kopitiams (coffee shops)...

Here are some casual photos of the KK town area.. :)


Gaya Center Hotel which I stayed for 3 nights. A "rather" new hotel, which is quiet at night, even though it is situated opposite Suria Sabah, a shopping mall.

The view from my hotel room on the 8th floor, near the lift lobby.. nice sea view blocked by Suria Sabah..

Suria Sabah.. the newest shopping centre in KK.. right next to my hotel..

Less than 20% (my estimate) of the shop lots are occupied.. the only good thing is the cinema on its 8th floor..

View from the side of the hotel's restaurant (4th Floor).. looking out into the sea.. 

The view from Suria Sabah facing Jesselton Point.. You can get a glimpse of a luxury liner, the Queen Elizabeth, that came to dock at the wharf on Mar 9.

Another view of Jesselton Point.. taken while walking towards it.. Quite surprised at the cleanliness of the sea..

Speed boats at Jesselton Point that ferry tourists over to the islands..  to snorkel, dive or just to enjoy the islands..

Wisma Sabah.. situated behind Gaya Center Hotel.. where lots of tour and diving agencies have their offices on the ground floor..

Colorful graffiti.. a creative way to decorate these pillars..with Suria Sabah in the background (that blackish building)..

View from an overhead bridge.. across Jalan Tun Razak.. near KK Post Office.. not much traffic..

A nice waterfront esplanade just behind Hyatt Regency Hotel.. maybe the crowd will come out at night, because it is darn freaking hot in the day as those (tiny/short) trees are unable to provide sufficient shades..

Can't help but take a picture of this.. one of my favourite mammals.. the dolphin.. :)

Pasar Ikan Masin, which means Salted Fish Market.. where stalls sell dried seafood products..

You can find cheap and good dried fish, salted fish, dried prawns, dried anchovies, etc.. Bought a packet of dried prawns (500g) for MYR$13 for my mum...

Further down, a group of "seamstresses" start to get ready with their tools of trade (those old-fashioned sewing machines), ready to offer their services..

Take a closer look and you'll realized that these "seamstresses" are men!
So no more excuses saying men can't sew!! :p

Central Market... which lots of handicraft are sold.. good place to get souvenirs.. and pearls..

Rows and rows of tightly placed stalls.. all selling very similar handicrafts.. you will have to walk around and compare prices.. and the other thing is bargain..

always offer 50 - 60% of the displayed price.. go to a few stalls and ask.. if they all come back with the same price, then you will know that that price is their "standard/lowest" offer..

Then you will see rows of "stalls" selling local traditional tit-bits (keropok amplang, kueh cincin, etc).. all the stalls are selling the SAME products from the same supplier! so no difference in taste or quality.. :x

The Waterfront, Anjung Samudera.. where restaurants, pubs and cafe are aplenty.. the restaurants are on the left side, while this is the seating area..

Here customers can have their meals and drinks, while enjoying the nice sea breeze and unobstructed sea view.. some are covered, while some aren't..

Clear blue sea....

and (surprisingly) very clean too.. :) :)

Local pasar malam (night market).. started around 6pm.. selling beaded accessories, leather(?) belts/wallets, T-shirts, jeans,etc.. where foreigners might find it far more interesting than me...

Rows of shop houses.. notice the 4D betting shop?? :p These shop houses have that old-town feel, reminiscences of the 70s-80s.

An old-school barber shop which can no longer be seen in big cities.. notice the chair?? :)

And an "open "billiard shop.. :) where people can enjoy a game with just t-shirt, shorts and a pair of slippers!

Next, two aquariums that I've visited in KK..