Location: Sabah, Malaysia
Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (Kota Kinabalu City Mosque)
This is just a side trip of my Mount Kinabalu Climb where we stayed here one day before the climb and one day after the climb before we had our Brunei Darussalam Trip.
Our whole team for the Mount Kinabalu climb at Kota Kinabalu International Airport
Our group left the Philippines thru NAIA Terminal 3 at 11:10 P.M. of June 10 boarding Air Asia Flight No. Z2503 from Gate Number 4 of NAIA Terminal 3 seated at 28D and arrived at Kota Kinabalu International Airport June 11 at 1:30 A.M.
Immigration check at Kota Kinabalu International Airport
Since our arrival at the airport was at dawn, we stayed at the airport till 7:30 A.M. waiting for our service vehicle chartered by our tour organizer.
Simcards and e-sim available at the airport
Since, it was a tour package, I only exchange P6,000 to Malaysian Ringgit where it was converted to 385.20 Malaysian Ringgit or US$96.44 On other hand, I bought at the airport a Malaysian Wifi Simcard amounting to 35 Malaysian ringgit or P436 or US$8.76.
A convenience store inside Kinabalu International Airport
From the international airport, we were picked up by our chartered van heading to our accommodation at Faloe Hostel of shared accommodation of 10 persons for one group located at I-50-3, Block i, No. 50, 3rd Floor, KK Times Square, Off Coastal Highway of Kota Kinabalu City.
The highly-modern Kota Kinabalu International Airport
The highway heading to our accommodation
Based on my own experience of travelling, the roads of the city of Kota Kinabalu are not that busy. Very light traffic. Though, it is considered as a major tourist hub in Malaysian Borneo, serving as the primary gateway to the state of Sabah. It blends urban amenities --- like shopping malls and bustling seafood markets --- with easy access to nature, including the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park for diving, islands, and yes, our ultimate destination, climbing Mount Kinabalu.
Almost reaching our accommodation
My breakfast for 17 Malaysian Ringgit
Just down our accommodation is a restaurant. Menus are entirely different from a Filipino dish. The 17 Malaysian Ringgit is equivalent to P211.75 or US$4.26. Meals cost higher inside the mall. A 500ml bottled drinking water is 1.47 Malaysian Ringgit or P17.07 or US$.0.37. In the Philippines, the average retail price of a 500ml bottled drinking water is P11. I bought hot chocolate cup 40g 3-in-1 chocolate hazelnut for 7.30 Malaysian Ringgit or P90.93 or US$1.83.
Back to our accommodation after breakfast
After breakfast, we went back to our accommodation and comfortably rested in our beds. We were so tired, but others went outside for a walk and some others took hot shower. I opted to sleep. Just imagine leaving the Philippines at 11:10 P.M. the other day and still have no sleep.
Just a couple of blocks away from our accommodation
At around 1:00 PM, we left our accommodation heading to a nearby mall for our lunch. It was just three blocks away thru a leisurely walk.
Passing thru this point
Our destination for lunch
At Victoria Secret, I bought an assorted perfume for pasalubong which costs 110 Malaysian Ringgit equivalent to P1,656.39 or US$27.54 for a very special person. Kota Kinabalu Ref Magnet souvenir item costs 5.90 Malaysian Ringgit or P67 or US$1.48.
To make sure, we will get a cheaper lunch meal, we headed to the malls food court and opted to look at these corners.
But finally, we landed here.
It was cheaper here and with a variety of choices
Ended up ordering this combination
My lunch meal costs 23.90 Malaysian Ringgit or P297.70 or US$5.98. In the Philippines, a Jollibee Super Meal A meal costs P185 or US$3.08 which includes 1-piece chickenjoy with one rice scoop, Jolly spaghetti, Yumburger and a soda drink.
Let's look at what they have in their city.
We are actually heading to Kota Kinabalu City Mosque arriving there at 3:52 P.M.
Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (Kota Kinabalu City Mosque)
This mosque sits on a 14.83-acre (6.00 hectares) site at Pasir Road on the shores of Likas Bay, on the South China Sea. It is partially surrounded by a human-made lagoon, thus, is has been given the nickname "The Floating Mosque". It has a maximum capacity of 12,000 worshippers. The mosque features an ATM, three madrasas, a palliative care clinic, and - in a joint project with University Malaysia Sabah - a fish farm. In 2008, the mosque introduced paddle boat rides, from which visitors could see the mosque from the water; a mosque committee member stated that this was to make the mosque more relevant to the community's life encompassing religion, economy and social aspects.
Capturing the totality of the mosque
There is an entrance fee of 5 Malaysian Ringgit to enter the mosque which is equivalent to P62.28 or US$1.25. Muslim attire (robes and headscarves) at the mosque is available for rental which range from 5 to 10 Malaysian Ringgit for all visitors. The mosque requires that visitors should wear modest clothing that covers hair, shoulders, arms and legs to ankles to enter, that is way, we were not able to enter the mosque because we did not rent for this attire. It was so hot then when we visited that I don't like to be wrapped up with a robe and headscarves. All visitors must register at the kiosk before entering and renting. For attire rentals and entrance, they only accept cash.
While at Jesselton Point
Jesselton Point in Kota Kinabalu is the main ferry and jetty terminal for tourists traveling to the nearby Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park islands (Sapi, Gaya, Manukan, Mamutik, Sulug) and Labuan. It acts as a bustling waterfront hub for island-hopping, water activities, and boat transfers, ofren referred to now as the new South Jetty area.
The Jesselton Mall
Along our afternoon leisurely walk
Still on an afternoon city walk
Another malling
Outside the mall
Searching for other souvenir stores
And yes! This is the right area
Just next to the city hall
It was already 6:42 P.M.
The night market offers a variety of seafoods. Our group bought for a number of seafoods variety and had it cooked in one of the restaurants and our individual share costs 31 Malaysian Ringgit or P386.14 or US$7.76.
While waiting for dinner
After dinner, we headed back to our accommodation to have an early rest, conditioning ourselves for the following day's Mount Kinabalu Climb.
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