Malaysia in Budget (Kota Kinabalu)

A quarter of a century...If there will be a century anyways.

Kota Kinabalu City from Signal Hill Observatory

At August 2013, I decided to go and buy a ticket to Malaysia for my 25th birthday at November (a year older, AGAIN!). i consider Malaysia for the following reasons:

1. comparable cost of living in the Philippines
2. cheap government taxes included in the plane ticket
3. I can blend in easily since Malays and Filipinos have the same color of skin, hair, eyes and heritage.
4. ultimately, visa free, worry free!

i thought i'll be a solo traveler since i don't have anyone to accompany me, but few months after, my colleague decided to come with me and instantly i had a travel buddy already.


we departed manila late at night of 8th and arrived at KK airport by midnight the next day, roughly two hours travel time via Cebupac with two landing attempt due to heavy rain, we landed to KK airport the same day Yolanda (Typhoon Haiyan) landed to Cebu, Philippines). 

for the initial expenses, i was broke by 6000 php due to following costs:

(1) roundtrip ticket - 2500 php
(2) travel tax - 1600 php
(3) terminal fee - 550 php
(4) accommodation for 4D/3N thru agoda.com
    a. Borneo Beachouse (1N) - 350+ php
    b. North Borneo Cabin Hotel (2N) - 650+ php
****both dormitory accommodation

it feels like a very long trip, you might end up boring if i'll go with my day by day experience. So, to cut the four days short, ill just write down some funny and unforgettable moments in our trip and also other tips.

(1) it is actually 5 minutes walk from airport to Borneo Beachouse. we paid 70RM (midnight flat rate at the airport) for the cab. the cab is REALLY WELL-DECORATED!

(2) Malaysia is strict with the traffic rules. passenger needs to wait in the bus stops. #obeytrafficrules

(3) must see free attractions
    a. KK Esplanade
    b. Jesselton clock tower
    c. Signal hill observatory

City view from Signal Hill Observatory

Jungle Trek to Signal Hill Observatory

Pathway going to KK Esplanade

(4) Shopping malls
    a. Suriah Sabah 
       New and big shopping mall. Mostly high 
    b. 1Borneo
       New and largest shopping complex
      tipid-alert: they offer free shuttle service from Plaza Warisan (v.v). you just need to log and put the hotel where you're staying (or stayed) and your passport. No interview, just log.

Complimentary Ticket from Warisan Square to 1Borneo Mall

    c. Wisma Merdeka
      one of Kota Kinabalu’s more established and successful shopping centres, within spitting distance from most hotels. Wisma Merdeka is nearby Suriah Sabah
    d. Centre Point 
       might not be Kota Kinabalu’s newest or most beautiful shopping center, but it’s undoubtedly the busiest and most convenient in town.

(6) if you cant find money changer for peso to ringgit and the only changer you saw is at the airport, at least buy less than 100 ringgit for cab fare outside the airport to your hotel (they sell it so high) and just exchange when you arrived at KK, we buy ringgit at Centerpoint Mall for a lower rate. also you dont actually need dollar since they have change ringgit for peso too.

(7) Jesselton point is actually walking distance from Suriah Sabah

(8) Breakfast for budget hostels are usually coffee or tea and bread toasts with jam and butter. Don't expect American breakfast nor all-time-Pinoy favorites like tapsilog, hotsilog or tocilog. you just get what you paid for. :p

(9) Sunday market starts from 6 am until noon. you can buy there some handicrafts, bags, coffee ( a lot of coffee), souvenir items, etc. 

Gala Street a day before the Sunday Market

Gala Street during the Sunday Gala Market

(10)  For places to eat, there's a lot of restaurants, grill bar, fast food chain and seafood market in KK. Just look around, you won't be lost!

thinking some more***
and more***

anyway, i just spend around 8000 php for my Borneo trip including pasalubongs! Sounds amazing right? i just did my own research, itinerary, no travel agencies, no tour package, no time constraints.

See, travelling is not always expensive as one thought it would be. :)


"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." 

-- Mark Twain