Kota Kinabalu Part I

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GENERAL

(Tel : 088 / Pop 350,000)

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Kota Kinabalu often simply known as K.K. within Malaysia, and to an extent, internationally, as a tourism getaway and a major gateway into Sabah and Borneo. Kinabalu National Park is located about 90km from the city, and besides this, it also features a number of tourist attractions in and around the city itself. The city is also one of the major industrial and commercial centers in East Malaysia.

KK Waterfront

These two factors combine to make Kota Kinabalu one of the fastest growing cities in the country. KK is an engaging, if not exactly distinguished, city with a handful of pres­tige buildings, excellent budget accommo­dation, lots of shopping and the best leisure and nightlife facilities outside Kuching.

Manukan Island

The islands of the TAR National Park are also right on its doorstep, providing a perfect excuse to tune out and chill out for a day or so. You'll end up in KK at least a couple of times if you're aiming to cover a number of attractions in Sabah, so eat, drink, dance and make the most of it.

ORIENTATION

Downtown KK is a dense grid of concrete buildings nestled between the waterfront and a range of low, forested hills to the east. It's compact and walkable - most of the restaurants, accommodation, tourist offices, tour operators, the main post office and transport centres are located here.

Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Beach Resort

KK's main shopping complexes line the main road, which changes name four times in a relatively short distance. On the west­ern side of Jln Tun Razak there are two sprawling, grid-like blocks of dilapidated two- and three-storey shophouses, Kom­pleks Segama and Kompleks Sinsuran. Be­tween Jln Haji Saman and the waterfront is Wisma Merdeka and at the opposite end, on the way to the airport, are the huge Cen­tre Point and Api-Api Centre.

Tanjung Aru

The international airport and the train station are at 'Tanjung Aru, 7km south of the city centre, which is bounded on the north by the upmarket bayside suburb of Likes. Between town and the airport the massive reclamation project, Sutera Har­bour, is a luxury resort development.

Sutera Harbour Resort

The new northbound bus station is at Inanam, 9km north from the centre; other public transport congregates around three main sites in town. Taxis are common in the city centre. Ferries leave for the islands of TAR National Park, as well as for Pulau Labuan, from the terminal at the northern end of town.

This post is part of a series. Your are now at Part I
Go to Part II III IV

Visas and Permits

Sabah is semi-autonomous, and like Sara­wak it has its own immigration controls. On arrival most nationalities are likely to be given a visa for three months' stay and it is rare to be asked to show money or onward tickets:

Visas can be renewed at immigration offices at or near most points of arrival, even at small places like Merapok near Beaufort. If you miss the expiry date, it's not a problem - just report to another im­migration office, even if it's several days later, and explain your situation to the of­ficials. Apart from entry to national parks and other reserves, permits are required to visit Pulau Sipadan (Sipadan Island), the Danum Valley Conservation Area and the Maliau Basin. With the exception of the Maliau Basin, you can obtain these permits at each destination upon arrival.