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Sabah is located in East Malaysia in what was formerly known as British North Borneo. The state capital is Kota Kinabalu at the foot of Malaysia's highest mountain, the dormant volcano - Mount Kinabalu.
Sightseeing in Kota Kinabalu
The town of Jesselton was renamed in 1968, as Kota Kinabalu. In 2000, Kota Kinabalu officially took on city status. Largely destroyed during World War II, KK, as the locals affectionately call it, has since developed into a modern city. As the capital of the State of Sabah, KK is also the gateway to other major towns and districts and home to around 300,000 people. In the vicinity of the city, there are various places of interest including one notable landmark the 30-storey Sabah Foundation building at Likas Bay. This building is unique because it is one of the few buidings in the world to utilize a single column structure.
Atkinson Clock Tower
One of the most enduring landmarks in Kota Kinabalu, which has stood prominently on the bluff along Signal Hill Road, is the Kota Kinabalu Clock Tower. It was built as a memorial to Francis George Atkinson, the popular first District Officer of Kota Kinabalu. This memorial has the distinction of being the oldest standing structure in the whole of Sabah that survived the air raids and blitz of World War II.
Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary
Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary is a natural site for wildlife and is located in the heart of the city. The Bird Sanctuary has an important natural function and has a feeling ground for many species of birds and also for several migratory species from Northern Asia.
Gaya Street Fair
The Gaya Street Fair is held every Sunday morning and is the place where locals come to buy their goods. You can find almost anything at the Fair. From local handicrafts, souvenirs and clothing to food, drinks, Chinese medicines, delicacies and even animals like chickens and pet dogs, can be purchased for very reasonable prices. It also is a good opportunity to try out your bargaining skills.
Sabah Museum
The Sabah Museum is located at Old Palace Hill (Bukit Istana Lama) only 5 minutes from Kota Kinabalu city centre and is situated on 43.3 acres of lush green natural and planted jungle. This location houses not only the Sabah Museum, but also an Ethno Botanic garden, a Zoological garden and a Heritage Village all in one place!
Shopping
There are 5 major shopping complexes in KK: Centrepoint, Wisma Merdeka, Wawasan Plaza, Karamunsing Complex and KK Plaza. Although most of the shops in these complexes carry fixed priced items the goods sold are all reasonably priced especially during the Mega Sales months of March, August, and December. Apart from shopping complexes, areas such as Segama, Sinsuran, Asia City, Gaya Street and Api-Api Centre are also shopping areas good for electronic products. The Filipino Market is a place to buy handicrafts but if you are looking for authenticity Sabahan made products then the Sri Pelancongan Sabah Shop located at Sinsuran Complex is a good place to stop by. Most shopping complexes open from 10.00am and closes at 10.00pm
Signal Hill
Signal Hill is one of the best places to get a good view of KK. The hill is in a natural area where one can peacefully enjoy the beautiful skyline of the city with a view that extends to the islands.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Islands Park
The Tunku Abdul Rahman Islands Park is located just 3 to 8km. off Kota Kinabalu shore. Only 10 to 20 minutes by boat from Kota Kinabalu city, you can enjoy the beautiful tropical islands and indulged in lots of R&R. Some of the islands are equipped with chalets and food outlets to accommodate your needs. The Park consists of 5 islands, namely Gaya, Mamutik, Manukan, Sapi and Sulug. It is a favourite place to go to for picnickers, divers and nature lovers. The park offers ample space to try water sports and you can also enjoy and adventurous jungle trek to see the flora and fauna at namely, Gaya, Manukan and Sapi islands.
Sandakan Nature City
Sandakan—a fusion of the new and old, the gateway to Sabah’s wildlife hotspots. Sandakan was once dubbed ‘Little Hong Kong’ as it was a busy economic hub in the region. Today, it continues to buzz with endless energy, yet maintains its unique historical charm, making it a truly unique destination.
Sandakan brims with history, and the best way to catch a glimpse of this is by exploring the famous Sandakan Heritage Trail. The trail takes you though some of the most fascinating landmarks in the city, which have been well maintained or restored. The route begins from the town mosque, Masjid Jamek, one of the oldest buildings in town. Along the way, visit the William Pryer Monument and climb the Stairs with a Hundred Steps. Marvel at the Gothic-inspired architecture of St Michael’s and All Angels Church, one of the few buildings in Sandakan completely built of stone. The construction of the church began in 1893 and took 20 years to complete. Newly installed in the church are stained glass windows created by an Australian artist. The funds for the windows were raised by Australians as a token of their gratitude for the help rendered by local people to the Australian and British prisoners of war at Sandakan. Along the trail there are several Chinese temples, including the Sam Sing Kung and Goddess of Mercy temples, each with its own history.
The trail also leads you to the famous Agnes Keith House. Keith, the American wife of the Conservator of Forests lived in Sandakan in pre- and post-war days. She wrote her memoirs of her life in Sabah in the books Land below the Wind, Three Came Home, and White Man Returns. The house was bombed during the Japanese occupation, and was later re-built. Today it stands as a museum, displaying reproduction furniture, old photographs and memorabilia.
Sandakan is also the gateway to viewing Sabah’s amazing and diverse wildlife. Only 40 minutes away from the city centre is the famous Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary. However, if you like your creatures green and somewhat ferocious, visit the Crocodile Farm located at Mile 8, Jalan Labuk. There is also a mini zoo with several local animals and Amazonian fish weighing more than 100 kilograms. To watch these crocodiles in action, catch any one of the seven feeding times daily. However, one the prime attraction in this region is Sukau along the Kinabatangan River, teeming with wildlife in pristine jungles. Need a dose of sand and sea? Lankayan Island is a diver’s paradise, while the Turtle Islands Park will offer you the experience of a lifetime as you watch turtles lay their eggs and baby turtles released into the sea.
Sipadan Island
The internationally famous island of Sipadan lies five degrees north of the equator in the Sulawesi Sea (Celebes Sea). Lying 35km south of Semporna on Sabah’s mainland, like many tropical islands it is thicky forested and surrounded by sandy beaches. Sipadan is an oceanic island and was formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct undersea volcano which rises 600m from the seabed. The geographic position of Sipadan puts it in the center of the richest marine habitat in the world and the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin. More that 3000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in this richest of ecosystems.
Sipadan is well known for its unusually large numbers of green and hawksbill turtles which gather there to mate and nest and its is not unusual for a diver to see more then 20 turtles on each dive. Another unique feature to divers visiting Sipadan is the turtle tomb, an underwater limestone cave a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that contain many skeletal remains of turtles that become disoriented and the drowned. The residential schooling barracuda and big-eye trevally are one of the highlights on every divers wish-list which often gather in thousands forming spectacular tornado-like formations. With the possibility of seeing pelagics such as mantas, eagle rays, scalloped hammerhead sharks and whale sharks, each dive at Sipadan is a highly anticipated event.
Its not only the big fish that amaze divers coming to Sipadan but the macro life is equally mesmerizing. Garden eels, leaf scorpionfish, amntis shrimp, fire gobies and various pipefish are guaranteed at various dive sites. The diversity and abundance of marine life found at Sipadan gives it the reputation of being one of the ten best dive locations in the world. The number of guests on this island has been restricted to protect its reef and marine life. Dive sites found here are Barracuda Point, Drop Off Point, Mid Reef, Staghorn Crest, Whitetip Avenue, Coral Garden, Hanging Garden, South Point and Turtle Cavern.
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