Tag Archives: Kota Kinabalu

Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, the Islands Park of Kota Kinabalu City

If you visit Sabah and have a local friend from Kota Kinabalu City (KK) as your tour guide, he or she would ask, “Hey, do you want to go pulau (island)?”, which means, “Do you want to have a day trip on the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park?” Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TARP) is a protected marine park consists of five beautiful islands, namely, Sapi, Manukan, Mamutik, Gaya and Sulug. KK folks just call this national park pulau instead of the long official name.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is really near to Kota Kinabalu City

Thanks to the conservation and protected status since 1974, nearly 50 square Kilometres (4,929 hectares) of sea and forest in TARP is well-preserved and become the most popular nature destinations of KK. In 2019, TARP received over half a million tourists. TARP is also home to 573 species of fishes and 148 hard coral species, and part of the Coral Triangle (a.k.a. Amazon of the Seas).

Location map of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and its island resorts. The park is named after the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman.

The best part is – TARP is less than 15 minutes away by boat ride from KK. If you unsure which island to visit, my short answer is, you can’t go wrong with Manukan or Sapi Island, and you can do island hopping to cover two or more islands too. The following is a summary of the features of each island.

1. Manukan Island (Pulau Manukan)

As the second largest island, Manukan has long sandy beach with shallow water, so it’s suitable for family with kids. The sea is calm and swimmers can rest in the shade of Casuarina pine trees along the beach. Manukan is the most developed island with the best public facilities, for example, toilet, bathroom, cafe & restaurants, small shops, and chalets (Manukan Island Resort).

Wide sandy beach of Manukan Island (Pulau Manukan)

2. Sapi Island (Pulau Sapi)

Sapi Island is considered the most beautiful island and it has more fishes. However, you can reach deep water only a bit further away from the shore, so non-swimmers need to watch their steps. The beach is quite crowded during weekends. Roaming monitor lizards is a common sight around picnic tables (safe to ignore them). For some adrenaline rush, you can try the Coral Flyer zipline there.

Sapi Island (Pulau Sapi) is the favourite island of most locals.

3. Mamutik Island (Pulau Mamutik)

Mamutik Island is the best choice for those who want a less crowded beach for more privacy. Due to stronger waves, and the beach is full of corals pieces, which is uncomfortable to walk on, Mamutik has fewer visitors. Nevertheless, its scenery is nice.

The rocky beach of Mamutik Island (Pulau Mamutik). There are many boulder corals around this area.

4. Gaya Island (Pulau Gaya)

Pulau Gaya is the largest island of TARP. Visitors do one or more of the following three things around Gaya Island.
1) Staycation in 5-star resort (Bunga Raya Resort, Gayana Marine Resort, Gaya Island Resort)
2) Scuba diving with Downbelow, a 5 star PADI dive center
3) Hiking: Gaya is the most hilly and forested island of TARP, with 20 KM of marked trails

Water bungalows of Gayana Marine Resort on Gaya Island

5. Sulug Island (Pulau Sulug)

Sulug Island is an isolated and uninhabited island that has the least visitors because it has no basic amenities such as toilet. However, for the same reason, its long sand spit is the most pristine beach in TARP, covered with tons of seashells and coral fragments. Occasionally, some tourists land here by charter boat so they can have the whole beach for themselves.

The beach of Sulug Island (Pulau Sulug) is full of seashells and coral fragments

Things to Do in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park

Besides picnic, swimming and building sand castle, there are many other fun activities you can do at TARP.

1. Snorkelling

Two thirds of TARP is protected sea area. You would know why if you snorkel and see the fascinating underwater garden teeming with hundreds of fishes in various colours and sizes. You will see more than one type of Nemo (clown fish). The east and south sides of Sapi, and the sea to the west of Manukan jetty are excellent spots to see the thriving shallow reefs.

2. Coral Flyer Zipline

With a length of 235 Metres, the Coral Flyer zipline between Sapi and Gaya Islands is one of the longest island-to-island zipline (or flying fox). It’s a thrill to fly at a speed of 55 KM/H to cross the crystal blue sea between islands. Don’t forget to selfie while you do it.

Coral Flyer zipline between Sapi and Gaya Island is one of the longest island-to-island flying fox in the world.

3. Watersports

On the islands, you can find the booth that offer watersports. They will show you a picture book with listed prices for playing parasailing, flyfish, banana boat, Jet ski, etc. Pssst… you can ask for a discount. If you prefer to stay dry, you can rent a kayak and paddle around.

Parasailing in the sea of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park

4. Scuba Diving

With over 30 dive sites, TARP is the most accessible scuba diving location in Sabah. Even experienced divers are impressed by the amazing variety of marine life such as turtle, scorpion fish, marble ray, black salmon, nurse sharks, frogfish, nudibranch (many!) and barracuda. Some favourite dive sites of local divers include Adik Reef, Kuraman ship wreck, and North Sulug. Whale shark sighting is possible from February to April. No diving license? No problem, you can try Discovery Scuba Diving.

Scuba divers can spot turtle around Sulug Island sometimes.

5. Sea Walking or Scubazoo

You can walk or ride an underwater scooter to explore the sea world. Participants will hear a special glass helmet connected to air supply, so they can breathe normally in the water and enjoy the view. A group of divers will look after you so it’s safe.

Seawalking and Scuba-Doo allow you to explore the underwater world like fishes

6. Island Stay

The guests of resorts can overnight on the islands. There are four 5-star island resorts on Gaya and Manukan, namely, Gayana Marine Resort, Bunga Raya Resort, Gaya Island Resort and Manukan Island Resort. They provide the facilities and services for honeymooners and holiday makers who want the best staycation and a VIP experience on an island. Camping is also allowed on Sapi Island and Padang Point (Gaya Island).

Island resorts in Gaya and Manukan Islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park

7. Sunset Cruise

Sabah has one of the most stunning sunset in the world. Nothing can beat watching sunset on a luxury yacht that cruises around the splendid islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, and what’s more, delicious dinner, live band performance and karaoke onboard.

Want to feel rich? Try sunset cruise around the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.

8. Hiking

Most beachgoers don’t care about the jungle there. If you do, you must be a veteran hiker who loves to check out the trees and wildlife in the coastal dipterocarp forest of Borneo. There are 20 KM of marked trails on Gaya Island, with possible sighting of wild boar, Philippines Megapod, monkey and hornbill, and the most famous trail starts from Base Camp and ends at Padang Point (1.95 KM one way). You can hike in the small forest of Sapi, Manukan and Mamutik too.

The monitor lizard and the people are already accustomed to each other on the island

How to get there

Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is a public park, so you can go there yourself without booking any tour. It’s easier than taking a bus. To go to Sapi, Manukan, Mamutik or Gaya Island, you can take a boat from Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal, Sutera Harbour, or STAR Marina. Just walk-in to their counter to buy the ticket. Island-hopping is a popular choice. However, to go to Sulug Island, you need to charter a boat. Majority of tourists depart from Jesselton Point because it’s near to KK city centre and the fee is cheaper.

Tourists boarding in Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal

The boat transfer operates between 8am and 4pm (departs every 30 or 60 minutes). The speedboat takes less than 15 minutes to reach the island, and they will pick you up at the time you set. The boatmen of Jesselton Point like to speed so the ride is very bumpy. Go for other terminals if there are old people in your tour. If you have booked an island stay or diving trip, you will go with their private boats.

No matter you travel solo or with family, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is always a great start for most tourists.

NEVER, EVER hire the unlicensed boat from other places such as KK Central Market and Tanjung Aru Water Village. In one case, a group of tourists were robbed and abandoned on an island. Luckily they were rescued and unharmed.

Entrance Fee (Conservation Fee) per Person

You need to pay a conservation fee to enter the island of TARP. The following table are the rates (updated in Jan 2023) in Malaysian Ringgit:

Nationality	Adult	Below 18	Below 6	60 & above
Malaysian	RM8	RM5	Free	Free
Non-Malaysian	RM25	RM20	RM10	RM20

Rates with effect from 1 Jan 2023. The entry is free for visitor with disability.

Tip: You are required to buy only ONE ticket to enter all five islands of TARP on the same day.

The island is also a great place to take photos and to contemplate.

What to Bring

Below is a list of suggested items to bring for a day trip on tropical islands of Sabah:

Cash (in Malaysian currency)
Drinking Water
Sunscreen
Sun Hat
Sunglasses
Swimsuit / Beach Wear and Cover-up
Flip Flops / Sandals
Extra cloth for changing
Towel
Waterproof Dry Bag / Beach Bag
Toilet Paper
Insect Repellent
Beach Mat
Soap & Shampoo
Packed Lunch
Snacks and Soft Drink
Seasick Pills
Hand Sanitizer / Wet Wipe
Phone and Portable Charger
Camera and Waterproof Case
Book?

Snorkelling gears are available for rent in island shops

Notes:

Snorkelling gears (mask + snorkel, fins and life jacket) are available for rent on the island or ferry terminals in city. You would need to pay a refundable deposit (about RM100), so bring more cash.
Some common items are available for purchase or rent in island shops (but more expensive). e.g. soft drink, snacks, beach mat, sunscreens
Bring hiking shoes if you plan to explore the island forest.
You can have your lunch at the cafe or buffet booth on the islands, but the choices are limited.
Locker is available for rent.

The coral reefs in Sabah marine parks are estimated to be 3,000 to 6,000 years old. Hard corals grow an average of 1 to 2 cm per year.

Safety

Someone may have warned you about the abduction around Sabah islands. Security is not a problem in TARP.
Box jellyfish may present in the sea sometimes and pose more threat to children. Wearing wetsuit or rash guard can block the stings.
Watch out for sea urchin in the sea floor.
Stay away from trigger fish during snorkelling. It might bite people who enter its territory.
Though there are life guards at the beaches, always keep an eye on your child.
Monitor lizards are not interested in you, unless you provoke it.
There is no big shark so don’t worry.
For ladies, if there is any “friendly” stranger offers to be your snorkelling guide, just shoo him away, as he would molest you in the water.
When you trek in island forest, be careful of pit viper (snake) and hornet nest.
Don’t touch or step on the corals, some species are venomous.

Left: Warning sign on Jellyfish. Right: prickly sea urchins

Forbidden Activities and Behaviors in the Park

No nude or topless (lady) sunbathing
No fish feeding
No fishing
No BBQ allowed, except the restaurants and tour companies that sell food
Do not fly any drone without a permit
Do not take anything. e.g. seashells, corals
No littering

Police Beach of Gaya Island, where Bunga Raya Island Resort located

If you read until here and follow all the rules, you will have an enjoyable vacation.

Photos taken in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

Nom Nom Nom at Mr. Fish Restaurant (鱼记海鲜小吃店)

Leave a reply

Many locals don’t realise how lucky it is to live in Sabah. Our seafood is so fresh and affordable. So, enjoy what we have and eat more seafood in Sabah. Good things should be shared, so I would like to introduce you something nice and special at Mr. Fish Restaurant (Chinese Name: 鱼记海鲜小吃店) in Lok Kawi.

Very satisfying seafood dishes. Recommended for first timers

Mr. Fish Restaurant is a kopitiam (coffee shop) style restaurant where you can order dishes such as fried noodle, fried rice and noodle soup, but with seafood in them. Eric Tan, the Mr. Fish, opened this restaurant in Sep 2020. Because of his experience in seafood packaging so he knows where to source the freshest caught from Kudat, Kota Kinabalu (KK) and Semporna, which is a bonus. Of course, snapper, grouper, and sea brass (selunsung / siakap) are on their menu.

If you are not sure what to order at Mr. Fish Restaurant, you may start with the food I tried below, or they would be happy to recommend if you ask.

1） Sandakan Fish Cake

To me, ordinary fish cake is so bland that I even think it’s a waste of space to put one into my steamboat buffet. Other seafood restaurant may offer better fish cake made of “tofu” fish, but the best one is the triangle-shaped Sandakan Fish Cake of Mr. Fish Restaurant. According to Eric, this high quality fish cake was mostly exported to Hong Kong in the past, so very few locals tried it.

Sandakan Fish Cake is triangle shape and has strong seafood flavor

The flavour of Sandakan Fish Cake is strong, almost like our favourite salty fish. The price is RM2.50 for three. It’s so tasty that I finished two really fast, then I regretted and ate the third one slowly.

Menu Board of Mr. Fish Restaurant. Some translation for your info: Ayam = Chicken, RM = Ringgit Malaysia (price in Malaysian currency), Watan Ho = Flat Rice Noodles in Egg Gravy, Tuaran Mee = Noodle of Tuaran town, Mee Goreng = Fried Noodle, Nasi Goreng = Fried Rice, Asam Pedas Kepala = Sour and Spicy Fish Head, Sup = Soup, Mihun = Rice vermicelli / noodle, Nasi = Rice, Kon Lon = Yellow noodle served dry, Biasa = Normal, Udang = Prawn, Kerapu = Grouper, Merah = Red Snapper, Ikan = Fish

2) Tom Yam Seafood Noodle

Tom Yam Seafood Noodle is a heavenly combination of seafood and spicy food if you love both. The soup is rich in seafood flavour, a bit to sweet side and not too hot. You can choose to have prawns, fish slices, or Sandakan fish cake in the soup.

Tom Yam noodle soup with Sandakan fish cake and prawns

For those who can’t take spicy food, you may try Tuaran Mee (Tuaran Fried Noodle), Watan Ho (flat noodle with gravy), Kon Lau (Dry noodle) with seafood. The prices range from RM10 to 18.

3) Stewed Fish Head (焖鱼头)

The real seafood lovers always go for fish head. In fact, I notice most customers at Mr. Fish Restaurant have Stewed Fish Head on their desks. I ordered one and to my suprise, it’s springy and meaty, probably due to the dense collagen. Stewed Fish Head (of grouper or snapper) is sold for RM25 to 30.

Another popular choice is Asam Pedas Fish Head, if you prefer sour and spicy fish head with aromatic curry flavour.

Stewed fish head is rich with natural collagen

4) Bottled Ice Coffee

I don’t know what’s wrong with the weather lately, it is so warm every day. A chilling iced coffee is just perfect. Do you know that iced coffee taste better overnight? FYI, only RM2.50 per bottle, Cheers!

5) Fried Fish Eggs

Fish eggs are not always available and the quantity is small. Don’t miss it when you are lucky. Fried Fish Eggs are sold for RM5 (small), RM10 (medium) and RM15 (large) per plate. It goes well with beer.

Fried fish eggs is only available occasionally with small quantity

Location and Contact of Mr. Fish Restaurant

Mr. Fish Restaurant is located in Lok Kawi, about 17 KM away from KK. I know you KK folks. Distance is not an issue when comes to delicious food.

Mr. Fish Restaurant (鱼记海鲜小吃店) is located in Lok Kawi

GPS Location: 5.837593562860821, 116.04375318067473 (see Location Map)
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 8:45pm daily
Phone & Whatsapp: +60 16-8794300
Facebook: Mr.FishSabah
E-mail: mrfishsabah@gmail.com
Address: Ground Floor Lot 13-0, Block C, Jalan Papar Baru, Kem Lok Kawi, 89600 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

The setting of Mr. Fish Restaurant is a typical open-air kopitiam (coffee shop)

Though they don’t serve pork, the restaurant is not certified as halal, so use your discretion in food consumption.

Photos taken in Kota Kinabalu City, Sabah, Malaysia

Sabah Art Gallery, a Basket of Creativity and Imagination

Leave a reply

Art Doesn’t Sell, this is what most Malaysians think. That’s why Malaysian parents want their children to become an engineer, doctor, accountant or other “money-making” careers. If we say we want to be an artist, our parents will worry that we would starve to death. Even in school, Malaysian students are somewhat being hint that art class is not an important subject. Creating art is the most intellectual ability that differentiate human from other animals. You won’t find monkey drawing graffiti on your wall.

Pic: this is what your parents think you do if you study art. A nice piece of street art anyway.

Art does sell. For example, a digital artwork called Huminodun by Sabah-born artist Yee I-Lann was sold for USD38,000 at Christie’s Auctions in Hong Kong in 2008. Sorry, I don’t mean artwork should be valued by a price tag , but only monetary figure can get people’s attention.

Another extraordinary Sabahan artist is Hong Yi, the artist who paints without a paintbrush. She becomes well-known when the video of her painting Yao Ming portrait with a basketball goes viral.

I believe there are many other local artists who make Sabahans proud too (I have to confess that I’m ignorant in this field), but they are lack of exposure and platform for their works. It’s a great news that the new building of Sabah Art Gallery was completed in Aug 2012, so more people can appreciate the artwork of these talents.

Pic: the entrance to Sabah Art Gallery (Local Name: Balai Seni Lukis Sabah)

Pic: this 4-storey Sabah Art Gallery takes USD5 millions and 2 years to construct.

I love its unique architecture. You are right if you think it looks like a basket.

The design of the building is based on the concept of Sabah’s traditional basket such as Wakid. The building itself is an art. From Feng Shui aspect, it is good because it’ll store the fortune? If you have strong interest in knowing the design concept of this building, you may watch this 5-min video which tells you why it was built this way.

The walls of Sabah Art Gallery tapering outward from the base at an angle of 30 degrees, giving it a distinctive appearance. This “basket” is holding over 3,000 pieces of art works, painting, carving, sculptures and other art collections.

Pic: the back view of Sabah Art Gallery

If you look from the air, the building is octagonal shape. Malaysia government has been pushing Art Tourism, so this building is a welcome attraction.

This building is also friendly to handicapped visitors (parking, toilet, ramp access, elevator).

You can find Sabah cultural elements from exterior to interior of Sabah Art Gallery. Like the decorative motif panels on the wall, it’s an integration of common patterns used by Dusun, Murut, Bajau, Irranun and Rungus, the indigenous people of Sabah.

The reception desk is a design by Henry Ginibum, a local artist and sculptor. That day I was the only visitor, guess many don’t know this place. Below is the entrance fee:

Malaysian
13 years & above: RM5.00
Student (Student Card): RM3.00
Child (7-12 years old): RM2.00

Non-Malaysian
13 years & above: RM15.00 (≈USD3.40)
7-12 years old: RM10.00 (≈USD2.30)

Free entrance for special needs and senior citizens

Signage in Malay and English languages, designed by Generator Creative Studio.

Even toilet sign also looks artistic. Hope my poop looks like a piece of art too (I admire my poop sometimes lol).

The building has 4 floors, the gallery is on 3rd and 4th floor. 3rd floor is called Public Gallery. 4th floor is known as Yaman Gallery, which is named after late Datuk Yaman, the founder of Sabah Art Gallery. He produced many art works and design (many are displayed at Yaman Gallery), including the Sabah State Crest and logo of KK City Hall (DBKK).

To save electricity, they use movement sensor light. The light will turn on when you approach the painting, but it will only last 5 or 6 seconds. It is quite strange that I have to move my body constantly to keep the light on, while checking out the painting. Hope they will make the light stays at least 1 minute.

The gallery space is spacious. They hold different exhibition every month, so visitors can appreciate fresh collection throughout the year. They also welcome local and overseas artists to rent this area to hold a forum or exhibit their art works. FYI, the rent for top floor (Yaman Gallery) is more expensive.

Note: Due to copyright, I have to blur the art works and show a small portion of them. You have to go there to see the whole piece, sorry..

There are variety of painting created by acrylic paint, Chinese ink, watercolor, pencil, intaglio (printmaking), mixed materials, etc. Sabah is a beautiful land full of natural wonders and colourful cultures, so the most common themes are flora & fauna, landscape, countryside / village life, culture, etc. Another reason is – tourists like to buy this sort of painting. Local artists love to use very bright and vibrant colors.

Sometimes bad incident can inspire artists too, like the painting above titled “The Black March Intruders”.

Pic: a cool iron sculpture called “OPS Daulat Tanduo Lahad Datu”

There are other nice clay, metal and wooden sculptures on display too in this gallery.

Pic: “Sumazau Dance” by Abdullah Ehlid Al Walid bin Luli

Some paintings are for sale, the prices range from 3 to 5 digits. I think the local art works are really undervalued, consider artists in other countries can sell each piece for a few thousands US dollars. Probably the local market is small, so they have to lower the price for a living.. FYI, Sabah Art Gallery accepts payment by cash and cheque only. If you plan to buy any painting, you have to come during government office hours (Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm), or there will be no staff to process your order.

Sabah Art Gallery is the first Green Building in Sabah (and 1st green public gallery in Malaysia) because it uses various methods and technologies to save energy and water. e.g. solar panels, movement sensor light, rain water harvesting system, good heat insulation. The translucent roof also allows more sunlight to lit up the interior.

Pic: old location of Sabah Art Gallery

Just to let you know that some outdated websites would point Sabah Art Gallery to its old building next to Sabah State Museum (see photo above). The new Sabah Art Gallery is located near Malaysia Archive and JKKN Sabah Complex (see location map). Below is the latest contact and info of Sabah Art Gallery:

Opening Hours: 9am-4pm (Mon-Sun), closed on Monday
Tel: +60 88-268748, 268825, 268875, 268806
Email: art.gallery@gmail.com
Website: www.sabahartgallery.com
Facebook: Sabah Art Gallery
Address: Mile 2, Jalan Penampang, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Fax: +60 88 210040

Have you visited this place? Please share your experience with me in comment section below.

Photos taken in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

Tanjung Aru Beach, the Sunset and Lover Beach of Sabah

Leave a reply

Tanjung Aru Beach has one of the most beautiful sunset views in the world, and it is also the most photographed beach of Sabah. Situated between Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa and Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), this 2.3-Kilometre-long beach is divided into first, second and third beach. First Beach is the favourite spot where locals and tourists hang around for the wonderful sunset view and a walk on the sandy beach.

Hundreds of locals and tourists gathered at Tanjung Aru Beach for the sunset

8 Cool Things about Tanjung Aru Beach

Allow me to share with you 8 special things about Tanjung Aru Beach, even some locals don’t know.

1. World-Class Sunset

Before 2014, locals assumed all sunset looks the same in other parts of the world, until a popular blog listed Kota Kinabalu City (KK) as one of the world’s best place to watch sunset. Then this quiet beach is frequented by hundred of tourists, mainly from China and Korea every day. Their exciting reactions confirm that our sunset is truly spectacular.

The famous fire cloud of Tanjung Aru sunset. This photo was taken with mobile phone and not Photoshopped.

Probably KK is located near equator, which receives the most sunlight, and our air is high in humidity but not polluted. Such conditions create fire or flaming cloud during sunset, which is what Tanjung Aru Beach most famous for. The sky, sea and cloud are illuminated by vibrant shades of red, yellow, pink, purple and orange light.

Tips for Hunting the Best Sunset

First, you really need some luck, because you have less than 20% chance of seeing a fire cloud sunset. It’s totally up to the weather. Most of the time you would be disappointed by cloudy or rainy days. Even if the weather is good, sunset with golden or orange hue is more common, but still, they are glorious.

“Sunsets are just little glimpses of the golden streets of heaven.”

Usually a sunny and cloudless day produces boring sunset. For a colourful sunset, based on my observation, it is more likely to happen after a rain that fills the air with more moisture and clean up the dust in air. This rain must stop before 4pm and its cloud thin out and disperses to 30% to 50% of cloud cover. If there is no dense cloud at the horizon that blocks the sunlight to project to the cloud during sunset, the cloud and humid air will act as the canvas to paint a magnificent flaming sunset.

Depend on the day of the year, sunset of KK occurs between 5:56pm to 6:34pm (check sunset time here). This is common sense to locals. But in other countries, for example, sunset of England can start as early as 4pm. Just be there before 5:30pm so you won’t miss anything. It takes time to find parking space there during weekends.

Cloudy sunset at third beach of Tanjung Aru

Don’t leave right after the sun sinks below the horizon. Within minutes, another magic moment called afterglow will appear, it’s a broad arch of reddish or pinkish sunlight in the sky that is scattered by fine particulates suspended in the atmosphere. The colors can be very intense.

Afterglow is a magic moment appears after sunset

Want to have a drink or cocktail while watching sunset? You can drop by the Sunset Bar at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa. You need to go earlier for the best seat.

2. A Valentine’s Beach

Ask anyone in KK, both young and old generations, I bet 99% of them had a date at Tanjung Aru Beach before. The sandy beach, pleasing sea breeze, soothing sea waves, rustling pine trees, and the nice view of islands compose a sentimental love song played in your heads. Then a stunning sunset will further fuel the fire in your hearts. Thousands of love stories may have started at this beach.

Tanjung Aru Beach is also a “Pak-Tor” (Dating) place

After sharing the romantic moment, the couples could continue their business in the car. Just kidding, but people do see shaking cars at 3rd beach after dark sometimes. Tanjung Aru Beach is also a renowned location for taking wedding photos. The married couples would bring their children to this beach for a family picnic.

Family enjoys quality time at Tanjung Aru Beach during sunset

3. Prince Philip Park

Prince Philip, who is also known as the Duke of Edinburgh and the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, visited Jesselton (now KK) in 1959. The Prince Philip Park at Tanjung Aru First Beach is named after him to commemorate his first visit to Borneo.

Tanjung Aru is named after the casuarina tree. Casuarina is widely used as a bonsai subject and has a life span of 40 to 50 years.

Did you know that Tanjung Aru is named after the casuarina trees (species: Casuarina equisetifolia) there? In Malay language, Tanjung means Cape and Aru means casuarina tree. The seashore of Tanjung Aru Beach is lined with a belt of shady casuarina trees, some are over half a century old. The common names of casuarina tree include beach casuarina, beach oak, beach pine, whistling tree, horsetail tree, and Australian pine.

The tiny cones of casuarina tree will only germinate in full sun, so casuarinas are the pioneer trees of newly formed sandy beaches.

Casuarina tree is the most common tree in Prince Philip Park. It has needle-like twigs and distinctive cones, and is often planted as a wind break and erosion control in the poor sandy soil along coastline. The wood of casuarina tree can be used for roof shingles, fencing, and it is considered the best firewood in the world.

The beautiful trees in Prince Philip Park of Tanjung Aru Beach

You can find many other types of coastal trees in Prince Philip Park. Though this park is under minimal maintenance, tree huggers will be pleased to spot some special trees, for example, fig trees such as Ficus microcarpa, Ficus caulocarpa and Ficus caulocarpa. A Ficus racemosa tree, or Red River Fig (Local name: Tangkol), same species as the Nunuk Ragang tree, the birth tree of Kadazandusun races in legend, grows in the car park of the Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa. Fig tree can fruit throughout the year, so it’s a stable food source for birds and wildlife. To know more, you may visit borneoficus.info (The magnificent fig trees of Tanjung Aru beach).

There are many old trees at Tanjung Aru Second Beach. This is my childhood beach too.

4. Birdwatching Site

You would be surprised to know that Tanjung Aru beach is a great bird watching site for beginners. The lush and dense beach forest there attracts a myriad of birds, especially in flowering and fruiting time. The best time for birding is in early morning.

Blue-napped parrot of Tanjung Aru Beach. They nest in tree holes of casuarina trees.

The most noticeable bird are the noisy Blue-naped parrots (Species: Tanygnathus lucionensis), which make loud and harsh sounds when they see strangers, yes, you. Blue-naped parrots is a pretty green bird that kept by many as pet because of its ability to mimic and repeat common words. They are threatened in the Philippines but find a safe habitat in our beach. About a population of 20 to 30 Blue-naped parrots live in Tanjung Aru Beach, where they can nest in the tree holes of Casuarina trees.

An Oriental pied hornbill attracted by the fig fruit at Tanjung Aru Beach

Another special bird is Oriental Pied Hornbill. Actually they live in Gaya Island but attracted by the fruiting Ficus drupacea. Before the Second World War, Pied Hornbills were common at Tanjung Aru Beach. In migratory months (Sep to Jan), rare visitors such as Chinese egret and Honey Buzzard would land in Tanjung Aru Beach.

Birds of Tanjung Aru Beach. From top to bottom, left to right: Pink-necked Green Pigeon, Copper-throated Sunbird, Long-tailed Parakeet, and Crested Myna

Other birds you could spot in Tanjung Aru Beach are Crested Myna, Dollarbird, Munia, Collared Kingfisher, White-breasted Woodswallow, Java Sparrow, Sunbird, Pink-necked Green Pigeon, Long-tailed Parakeet, Spotted Dove, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Green Imperial Pigeon, etc. Do bring a binocular to the beach for a National Geographic experience.

5. Residents on the Beach

Tanjung Aru Beach is part of wild nature, and parents always have problem to answer their kids what they see on the beach. For those who take a stroll on the beach, it’s hard not to notice millions of tiny sand balls on the wet sand, and dozens of critters running into burrows whenever you approach. This is the work of tiny ball-shaped sand bubbler crab (Species: Scopimera globosa), which is only 1 to 1.5cm in size and commonly seen on sandy shores.

Piles of tiny sand balls made by sand bubbler crabs. The crabs work radially from the entrance to their burrows. The tiny sand balls are processed sand.

The sand bubbler crab feeds on the detritus and plankton in sand grains. They scoop the sand to their mouthparts with pincers, filter the edible particles and discard the sifted sand as pellets balls piled up on both side of its feeding path near the burrow.

Ok, you might not be so interested in sand bubbler crab because they are not food. Time to introduce a delicious seafood buried under the sand of Tanjung Aru Beach. It’s locally known as sapak clam (沙白蚬 or 沙白螺 in Chinese), Kunau, or Dalus. Its scientific name is Meretrix meretrix (Common Name: Asiatic hard clam).

Locals harvest the Meretrix / Sapak clams in the sand of Tanjung Aru Beach. This clam is a delicious seafood.

This clam has smooth and ceramic-like thick shells, mostly in white or brown colour. It is one of the favourite seafood for locals and tourists because of its tender meat and rich flavors. You can cook it in soup, or fry it with ginger and Chinese wine. Meretrix clam is easy to catch. However, it’s a filter feeder, so the one harvested from the polluted shore would contain heavy metals (not recommended for pregnant women), it’s also a banned seafood during red tide (toxic algae blooming).

Left: Tanjung Aru Second Beach during low tide. Right: Excreted deposit from a sand worm (lugworm)

During low tide in Tanjung Aru Beach, you would find marine lives such as octopus, starfish, sand dollar and jellyfish stranded in tide pools, besides anemone and corals.

6. Standup Paddleboarding (SUP)

The islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park shield the sea from strong waves so the water is relatively calm at Tanjung Aru Beach. I recommended you to try Standup Paddleboarding (SUP), a fun way to view the sunset. According to a SUP trainer, there is a sand bar out in the sea (near Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa) where you can reach Tanjung Aru Reef, with many good quality corals growing around. Nemo also lives there.

Sunset stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) at Tanjung Aru Beach

The 2-hour sunset SUP session starts at 5pm and cost about RM120 (about USD30) per person. You can contact Borneo Paddle Monkeys to book the session. Below is their contact:
Website: www.borneopaddlemonkeys.com
Facebook: BorneoPaddleMonkeys
Location: Kinabalu Yacht Club, Tanjung Aru Beach, Kota Kinabalu
E-mail: borneopaddlemonkeys@gmail.com
Tel / WhatsApp: +60 17-8172001
WeChat and KakaoTalk ID: nickboura

7. Pokémon GO (Mobile AR Game)

Pokémon GO (mobile game) took the world by storm in 2016. From Aug 2016 to 2017, Tanjung Aru Beach was a hot spot to play Pokemon GO because it’s the best hunting spot for rare Pokémon such as Pikachu, Lapras and Dratini. During peak time, hundreds of players flooded the beach every day until 2am morning. I was also one of the hardcore players. You have no idea how thrilled I was when I caught my first Lapras and shiny Magikarp there. My fingers were shaking when I threw Poké Balls to catch them.

Pikachu and shiny Magikarp caught at Tanjung Aru First Beach

Though the Pokémon fever is fading, I still miss the good old time grinding at Tanjung Aru Beach. Now there are five EX Raid Gym within 500-Metre radius of Tanjung Aru Beach. This turns Tanjung Aru Beach into a war zone for players who want to get an invitation to fight and catch Mewtwo, one of the strongest Pokémon.

PokéStop and Gym of Tanjung Aru Beach. The shiny Lapras is my buddy.

8. Food Stalls

In late afternoon, Tanjung Aru First Beach turns into a bustling places where people shop for local snacks and drink such as coconut juice, lekor crackers, steamed peanut, sweet corn, coconut juice, satay and chicken wing from the makeshift open market, as if they are buying popcorn before the movie, in this case, sunset.

How to get there

Tanjung Aru Beach is only 6 KM away from Kota Kinabalu city and highly accessible. The GPS location of the First Beach is 5.947860267578396, 116.0465472827347 (view Location Map or Street View). You can drive there with the aid of navigation mobile apps such as Waze and Google Map (set Where to as “Tanjung Aru First Beach”). You can hire a Grab driver with your smartphone too.

Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED)

Without any amenity, Tanjung Aru Beach looks like an abandoned site now. Sabah government is trying to push the controversial Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED), a mega urban tourism project that will reclaim the beach to build a marina, seven hotels, 5,000 commercial and residential rooms, etc. there. The landscape design of TAED won Gold Award at the Singapore Landscape Architecture Awards (SLAA) 2019.

Layout and concept of Tanjung Aru Eco Development project

TAED promises that 25.5% of the total land area (348.14 hectares) will be allocated as free public space, where we can access or enjoy, to list a few, double-sized Prince Philip Park with rainforest theme, Prince Philip Wharf, a larger and rejuvenated beach, cycling track, beachfront park, canal boardwalk, and canal basin. Sound like a good deal. I only don’t like the proposed 18-hole golf course, which has nothing to do with “eco”.

Photos from the Tanjung Aru Beach before food court was removed

Tanjung Aru Beach belongs to everyone, personally I don’t oppose any development that will benefit the locals and environment. Tanjung Aru Beach doesn’t deserve to look like an underdeveloped beach of third world, consider it brings in so many international tourist$. Anyway, hope the facelift will make Tanjung Aru Beach the pride and joy of Sabahans.

Photos taken in Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Sugud, the stargazing spot nearest to Kota Kinabalu City

Leave a reply

Starry sky and firefly aren’t part of the childhood of younger generation in Sabah. We can’t relate when our grandparents tell us about the beautiful night of their home villages. Though Sabahans are really proud of their stunning sunset, nobody from Kota Kinabalu City (KK) would stare at the sky after dusk. Because they would only see cloud, faked stars (satellites) and a handful of dim stars. The stars never leave us, they are just blinded by the city light.

“Good friends are like stars. You don’t always see them, but you know they’re always there.” ― Christy Evans

What if I tell that you can see the starry sky close to KK? It’s in Sugud of Penampang district and highly accessible by paved road. The stargazing spot is only 27 Kilometres from KK and takes 40 minutes drive one way. This is so convenient because most stargazing sites are more than 100 Km away from cities.

The magical moment with the stars at Sugud

This location is just an open space near Kampung Timpangoh Laut (Kampung means Village) in Sugud and has no name and address. Local stargazers just call it Sugud Milky Way Plain (I’ll just call it Sugud in this article). There is no street light and residential house there.

An abandoned lorry at Sugud covered by crawler vines

Sugud is 352 Metres (1,155 feet) above sea level, so it’s a bit cooling at night. Besides the starry sky, you can see KK city at the west too. In the dark from Sugud, you can see that KK is engulfed by a large “light dome” that can even illuminates the cloud. Due to the light pollution, everyone inside that dome can’t see many stars.

A dozer at Sugud becomes a prop for photo shooting

Once your eyes adapted to the darkness in Sugud, you will find the “childhood companions” of your grandparents high up. Then you understand why their favourite nighttime activity in old day is sky-watching.

The site has nothing (no toilet!) except a small hut and an abandoned lorry. You would find a dozer there. Seem like someone is trying to clear this area to build something. Hope it’ll be a camping ground or lodge that is catered for stargazing. It only takes one lamp post to destroy this special spot.

You can sit around and chill, enjoy the breeze, contemplating the stars or KK city light. And you should take some photos with the stars. The photos that I show here are not taken during the best time, but still there are plenty of stars. The best months for stargazing in Sabah are between March and September, when the brightest part of Milky Way appears.

City light of Kota Kinabalu City. The excessive light spills everywhere and even reach the cloud.

You might be interested in exploring the place but avoid stepping into the grass area (near lorry). I was bitten by a leech last time. I’m more concern about snakes. Frogs like to hide in the grass after rain and they attract snake. Anyway, you will be totally safe if you stay on the exposed soil ground.

Staring Into the Unknown. The light from KK is visible at the right.

Understanding the stars can be a life-changing skill. In the past, sailors used stars for navigation, and the king would believe every bullshit a prophet said if he claimed he could read the stars to predict the future. Even nowadays, horoscope guru can make good money, and we have Nobel prize winners who prove the existence of black hole. If you can recognise constellations and tell some romantic stories about Greek mythology, you can date any girl LOL.

Tips

For best stargazing experience at Sugud, here are some useful tips for beginners:

Go during new moon phase (moonless night). Without moonlight, you can see far more stars. You can check moon phases of KK online.
You need clear sky and good weather. Even if it rains and cloudy during the day, there is still chance for a cloudless sky. Before the tour, check the hourly weather forecast (of KK).
Bring a torchlight as it’s dark at the site.
Stop looking at your phone, your eyes need to get used to darkness to see more stars.
For safety, don’t go alone.
If you plan to photograph the stars, tripod is a must.
Bring a jacket or windbreaker. It’s quite cooling there at night.
The place is wet and muddy after rain. Don’t wear flip-flop or sandals unless you want to go home with dirty feet.

How to get there

Sugud is 27 KM away from KK. You need to drive about 40 minutes (one way) on paved road in good condition. The GPS coordinates are 5.815098, 116.132176 (See Location Map). You can use Waze or Google Map apps to guide you (set destination as “Sugud Milky Way Plain”).

Road at Sugud stargazing site. You need to walk up to the high ground for stargazing (follow the yellow arrow path).

The last 6 or 7 KM before Sugud is winding and steep uphill road. Fog may present so drive carefully. And watch out for roaming buffaloes and dogs in villages.

View from Sugud stargazing site during daytime. Note my car parked at roadside (yellow pointer).

Once you reach the spot, park your car at roadside and walk a few minutes up to the dreamy high ground.

The dead tree and lorry at Sugud Stargazing Site. The tree is gone and the lorry is covered by grass months later.

Sugud is great but it is considered as the second class stargazing site. You may check out other better stargazing sites in Sabah. Good Luck and Happy Star Hunting! Please share the links to your stargazing photos in comment section below.

Photos taken at Sugud, Penampang, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

Atkinson Clock Tower, the oldest building of Kota Kinabalu City

1 Reply

Atkinson Clock Tower is the oldest man-made structure in Kota Kinabalu City (KK), capital of Sabah, Malaysia. On 20 April 1905, everyone in Jesselton town (now KK) started to hear this new ivory-color tower chimed every hour. After 115 years, it would have rang over 1 millions times if it never stops. Nowadays Atkinson Clock Tower is the most popular landmark of KK and highly valued for its good representation of British Colonial architecture design.

Picture of Atkinson Clock Tower in 1915. The building is the HQ of North Borneo Railway (no longer there today). Photo courtesy of Sabah State Archives

KK is blessed to have Atkinson Clock Tower. However, it exists due to a sad incident. It was built to commemorate a British, Francis George Atkinson, the first District Officer of Jesselton township, who passed away on this day (6 December) in 1902 because of malaria. Under the support of British government, his friends, colleagues, and mother (Mary Edith Atkinson) raised fund to “erect a handsome Clock Tower as a local Memorial”.

The street opposite Atkinson Clock Tower is Gaya Street, the oldest street of KK

Why choose clock tower as a memorial? Probably it is meant to tell everyone to move on, and the ticking will go on like the heart beat of Atkinson. Symbolically this district officer hasn’t retired and still serving us until today. He has been with us to witness Jesselton bombarded in World War 2, announcement of Malaysia formation in 1963, and the growth of KK from a small village to a bustling city. This 48-foot clock tower was also a beacon to guide the ships to KK harbour. Now Atkinson becomes a “tourism ambassador”, as his clock tower is a main attraction of KK city tour.

The old and new look of Atkinson Clock Tower (1930 vs 1959)

If we visit historical cities such as Rome and Venice, we would be blown away by their classical architecture and nostalgia ambience, as if we enter another time space. Without any trace of bygone era, KK City would be just another featureless concrete jungle without soul. Though there are a lot of far older building in the world, none of them can replace Atkinson Tower, which is timeless and unique.

The wind vane that points to four directions: Utara (North), Selatan (South), Timur (East), and Barat (West)

10 Interesting Facts about Atkinson Clock Tower

Atkinson Clock Tower is one of the 3 pre-war building left in KK (others are Old Pos Office and Welfare Building), all are British colonial structures. Sabah State Museum gazetted it as a cultural heritage site in 1998.
Its clock is operated on dial, cog and pendulum, and needs to be wound up every 6 days by a watchsmith to keep it running. Yick Ming Watch Dealer in Sinsuran has been doing this since 1946.
Atkinson Clock Tower was hit by stray bullets and shrapnel in WW2. The marks are still visible inside the tower. You can check out the blog of Rungitom, who shows some excellent photographs and details of the interior.
The chimes come from a big brass bell, which is oxidized but can sound really loud after polished.
Atkinson Clock Tower was illuminated at night to act as a light beacon for ships to enter Jesselton port in the early 1900s.

The brass bell of Atkinson Clock Tower. Photo by Rungitom

You can find picture of Atkinson Clock Tower in four stamps of North Borneo (now Sabah) and Malaysia. (issued in 1918, 1950, 1954, and 2007)
The tower was first built using Mirabau (Merbau) wood and it’s a non-nails structure, then it was replaced by Salangan Batu wood in the 1960s.
After major renovation and repair in 1959, for celebration of Jesselton’s Diamond Jubilee (60th anniversary of establishment of KK in 1899), Atkinson Clock Tower got a new look.
The old documentary reported the cause of Atkinson’s death as “Borneo Fever”. Actually it is Malaria, a disease spread by mosquito and responsible for over 400,000 deaths globally every year.
The little garden with flowers and ornamental plant around the tower is called Ann’s Garden or Inner Wheel Club Garden. It is open in 1961 by Inner Wheel Club of Kota Kinabalu (IWCKK). They also painted rose mural on the stone steps leading to the clock tower.

Picture of Atkinson Clock Tower on the stamps of North Borneo and Malaysia

About Francis George Atkinson

Francis George Atkinson was born on 15 September 1875 and was appointed as the first District Officer of Jesselton in January 1901. He was popular among the government people and was fondly known as “West Coast Atky”. Only 16 months in office, he was infected by malaria, and the fever attack caused a heart failure that took his life on 6 December 1902. He was buried in Labuan.

Atkinson Clock Tower was lit up at night as a navigation guide for ships in early 1900

His untimely decease was officially announced in The Straits Times newspaper on 10 January 1903. The British North Borneo Herald pays the following tribute to his memory:

“By the death of Mr. Atkinson the Government is robbed of one of its best officials and each member of the service loses a friend and companion; for everyone knew “West Coast Atky” and all loved him. Amongst the Juniors of the service – and, like those whom the gods love, he died young, – Mr. Atkinson was regarded with a species of hero worship, as the mainliest of them all, and his fine physique and handsome presence were their pride and admiration. It is no mere assertion to say he had no enemies, and it is equally true that he was the most popular official in the service. Like most physically strong men his good temper and generosity of heart were proverbial and many a time has his heavy hand been stayed by dint of those good qualities from punishing the evil-doer.”

Left: North Borneo Railway HQ destroyed by bomb, Right: Jesselton town after bombing in World War II. Both photos taken on 6 Oct 1945. You can see the damaged Atkinson Clock Tower in the background. Photo courtesy of Australian War Memorial

From the description, you can tell that Atkinson is a friendly, sociable and good-looking young man. He setup the sanitary system to take care of the rubbish and cleanliness of Jesselton, and allocated lands to the natives to build their temple, mosque and church. It’s so devastating that this nice and unmarried young guy died at age of 28. His mother Mary Edith Atkinson gave a two-faced clock to Jesselton town as a tribute to the memory of her son, then they decided to build a clock tower memorial as a remembrance.

Photo of Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu) in 1930s. Note the clock tower at far left. Photo of David Ho

“We only have one life and one body to care of, and we better do it right. You never know what tomorrow may bring and so we better live this life the best we can and be grateful for everything we have.” — Novak Djokovic

Atkinson Clock Tower is located on a knoll next to KK Police Station

Atkinson Clock Tower is located in KK city centre, about 3 minutes walk from the Gaya Street. Its GPS location is 5.98216, 116.07730 (View Location Map).

Photos taken in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

Street Art Graffiti Building in Kota Kinabalu City

2 Replies

You know this graffiti corner if you live in Kota Kinabalu city (KK). It’s the ruin of a nearly 100 years old British Colonial building (a.k.a. Old Welfare Building or Old Land & Survey Building) constructed between 1918 and late 1920. Unfortunately, though it survived the bombing during WWII, it was blazed by fire in 1992, otherwise it would be another great heritage building in KK.

Pic: the remnant of abandoned former Welfare Building behind HSBC Bank

Now this site is unofficially known as Sabah Art Gallery Art Space, which serves as an outdoor gallery for community art projects.

Former Land and Survey Department building burnt down on December 31st 1992 (Source: Bernard Lee)

Now what’s left now is a concrete step platform with many pillars on it. This site is located between HSBC Bank and Suria Sabah Shopping Mall (see Location Map), next to a busy road in KK city centre.

Pic: It’s next to a busy road where thousands of cars pass by every day.

However, for over 20 years, no development is carried out on this golden real estate, so KK people was wondering. Then graffiti appeared and that area also became a hideout for drug addicts.

To most, this is an eyesore, because such graffiti looks like a mark of slums or high-crime area, which is nothing better than the scribble in toilet. I shared the same feeling too.

Later I noticed more decent murals showed up shouting for attention since 2010. Even though many still have mixed feeling about it, we start to appreciate it and call it street art.

Though these street art is not something of mainstream art, its colourful and free form of expression has attracted many tourists come for a closer look or a few snapshots.

This site has become an open air gallery for community art projects

Occasionally you would see model shooting there, because the vibrant mural makes a great backdrop. And it’s free. No artists would sue you for copyright infringement because you use their artwork in photograph. Many of them didn’t even sign their works.

In fact, some local and foreign talents have used the walls and columns as their canvas here in different time. Based on the info from the Internet, among them are Cracko Art Group (Facebook), Lidia Iliyas @ Lybby, Harold EGN, Lybby and more.

It’s interesting to see the murals in different styles and subjects. Most of them are cartoony and cute stuffs in bright, cheerful and bold colours. I came across some excellent pieces that are so professionally done that I’ll be happy to hang them on wall or paying their artists to paint my house.

Pic: losers who have no talent destroy the works of others.

However, none of these graffiti will stay long, as they would be vandalised or overlaid by another new one in days or weeks. Anyway, that’s the life cycle of street art, another fascinating aspect of this culture.

Pic: the skull face is the work of Mark Goss

Now I think this site is adding some local flavors to KK, consider most building in KK is lack of creative and cultural element (you would agree with me if you have visited Thailand or Bali). There is not many places in KK where you can get a glimpse of Sabah folk art that represents the voice of our community.

Pic: The area behind is where drug addicts party. I can smell urine and shit here. It’s perfectly safe to visit in daytime because there are many cars and pedestrians passing by, but don’t go there at night.

I don’t know how long this graffiti building will stay. I doubt it would go next level like the popular street art in Penang. Whatever its fate, I’m sure I’ll miss this spot a lot when it’s gone.

This place turned into a makeshift memorial site after Cracko Art Group drew a mural for remembrance of victims in Sabah Earthquake 2015 (titled In Solidarity with Everyone on Mount Kinabalu). Hundreds of people came here to pay tribute.

Now the local art community and street art artists are making good use of this space to showcase some Sabah-themed artworks.

Pillars of Sabah version 2.0 (April 2019) to introduce the important people and celebrities of Sabah

Wonders of Wilderness – The Ocean – WOW 1.0 exhibition (Jan 2022). Left: 3D sculptures of marine lives. Right: Sabah’s first Marine Underwater Art UV room

Photos taken in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

Sabah Tourism Building, the 100+ years old office

Leave a reply

Wherever we go, we will leave our footprints behind. People who walk to the end of Gaya Street, the oldest street of Kota Kinabalu City (KK), would see a small double-storey white building, sitting awkwardly among the modern building around. This hundred-year-old building represents a trace of memory from British colony era. Currently it is the office of Sabah Tourism Board. You can say that it’s the oldest office building of Sabah.

Front view of Sabah Tourism Building

Built in 1916, this British colonial building survived bombing in World War II and is one of three pre-war structures that still remain in KK now. One story I heard is that the occupants removed the roof of this building, so it looked like a ruin and no longer targeted by bomber plane.

Sabah Tourism Board building (yellow pointer) was at beach side in old days

The reason it becomes a heritage building is more than age. Designed by JW Norman, Sabah Tourism building features a very formal axis with two arches at the facade at the front. The building was built of block stones, other than timber which was used more commonly in old day construction. All these make this historical building the best classic legacy that deserves preservation.

Happy 100th Birthday to Sabah Tourism Building

History

Sabah is ruled by British from 1880s to 1963. During British era, Sabah, Kota Kinabalu City (KK), and Gaya Street were called North Borneo, Jesselton and Bond Street respectively. Sabah Tourism building has been housing different government bodies. The following are some important timeline:

1916	Construction starts
1918	Printing Office (British) moved in on 16 Mar
1936	Treasury, Audit, Bank Agency and Post Office
1942-1945	World War II
After WW2	Posts and Telecommunications, Treasury, Audit, Town Board, Resident Office, District Office, Attorney General Office
1950s	Jesselton Post Office
1963	Malaysia is formed
1968	Department of Posts and Telegraphs
1968-1986	KK Post Office
1986	Sabah Tourism Promotion Corporation (now Sabah Tourism Board)
1988	Gazetted as a historical building by Sabah Museum

The look of Sabah Tourism Board building doesn’t change much over 100 years

Some local elders still call this place “old post office”. My dad used to queue there to buy First Day Cover for me, because only this (head) post office has the postal chop with special picture.

Here are something you might not know about this iconic landmark.

Tourist Assistants

Tourists can walk into this building to get some travel information. The tourist counter is right behind the glass door. The friendly tourist assistants there have many years of experience and are capable of answering most of your travel-related questions such as bus schedule, recommended itinerary and sighting of blooming rafflesia. They can speak English and Malaysia languages, even Chinese if one is on duty.

Tourist Assistant counter of Sabah Tourism Board

Want to meet them huh? Below is the contact:
Address: No. 51, Jalan Gaya, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
GPS: 5.985459, 116.078119 (See Location Map or Street View)
Tel: ?60 88-212121
E-mail: info@sabahtourism.com
Website: www.sabahtourism.com

Opening Hours
Mon-Fri: 8am – 5pm
Sat, Sun, Public Holiday: 9am – 4pm

Even if the office closes, you still can ask questions via their e-mail or social media such as Facebook, Twitter and even Weibo. They will get back to you fairly quick. Please note they are government agency and not a tour company, so they don’t sell any tour package or accommodation, but they can give you some recommendation and travel advices.

Brochure rack in Sabah Tourism building

In the lobby is a brochure rack full of free tour brochures for you to take. The most useful ones are Kota Kinabalu street map and Sabah brochures (some available in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean languages, also can be downloaded.

Brochure rack in Sabah Tourism building. Free to take

Zero Kilometre (0 KM)

In front of Sabah Tourism building got a bronze plaque known as “Kilometre Zero” engraved in granite. 0 KM is a starting point to measure the distance between Kota Kinabalu City and other places. Such marker is usually installed in post office because postmen need to know the exact distances to towns or villages where they deliver the letters to.

0 KM plaque is the starting point for measuring distance between Kota Kinabalu City and other locations.

Look closer to the plaque you will see illustration of Mount Kinabalu on top, the city�s official flower, the Borneo Orchid, and an ancient motif of the Murut people, called Nantapuan, meaning a meeting place, and four cardinal points. Sometimes wedding couples take photos on this spot to mark the start of their new life journey.

Free Walking Tour

Visit Sabah the first time and interested in learning the history of Kota Kinabalu City (KK)? You can sign up for a 2-hour free walking tour, which is held every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 9am. The walk starts at 0 KM of this building.

Free Walking Tour takes around 2 hours

The hundred-year-old Atkinson Clock Tower is one of the stops in Free Walking Tour

A professional tour guide appointed by Sabah Tourism will show you around the city to visit some interesting landmarks and building such as the hundred-year-old Atkinson clock tower, former Land & Survey Building (now street art graffiti site) and Signal Hill.

Events

There are two days Sabah Tourism building shines every year (check out their calendar for exact date).

Lampoopalooza: largest outdoor colourful lights projection on this building, and celebration with music, food and street party. The next one will be on 27 March 2020 evening
Christmas Tree Lighting: held in early or mid December, with Christmas song and dance performance, food trucks and lighting up of big Christmas tree

Audiences danced and celebrated in Lampoopalooza festival

Christmas Tree Lighting in 2018 (left) and 2019 (right)

Christmas Tree Lighting in 2018 at Sabah Tourism Board Building

Lastly, just for your information, there is a public toilet next to Sabah Tourism building. It is open from 7am to 5pm. Cost only MYR0.30 per entry.

Public Toilet next to Sabah Tourism building, open from 7am to 5pm daily. RM0.30 per entry

Photos taken in Kota Kinabalu City, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo