With our tour not starting until 6pm today, we decided to head out on our own and explore the sights around KK.
Our first stop was Masjid Bandaraya mosque, where tourists can visit but are required to hire local dress to cover up.
Due to the heat, this meant for sweltering conditions until we got inside and out of the sun.
The mosque is the second major one in KK and sits in a prime position close to the sea and the major highway.
When entering the mosque we were met by a small boy who showed us where to place our footwear and how long we could spend inside and where we were allowed to visit.
The building is highly decorative and cavernous and welcomes hundreds of worshippers up to 5 times each day.
It was incredibly interesting to get the opportunity to look inside of the mosque and see how the community of people live and work within.
The building is surrounded by water and colourful flowered gardens and looks stunning.
After taking one last photo in the local dress, we moved outside the mosque grounds where you could get the best view. It’s truly amazing.
From there we were able to get a taxi driver to give us a tour of the rest of the sights of the city, with our next stop being the Tun Mustapha tower.
Due to its cylindrical shape, our ‘guide’ suggested the classic shot of us both holding up the tower in the background.
The tower sits in a municipal area where they also recognise and celebrate the native monkeys – needless to say Andy didn’t need much encouragement to get in the theme!
Our next stop was one of the city beaches which forms part of the main university grounds. It was a beautiful spot with classic swings in the trees looking out over the clear blue sea. The most idyllic spot we’ve seen to date.
We then moved on to the University Malaysia Sabah mosque or pink building as it’s affectionately known.
Nearby the mosque, were some highly decorative steps which were designed and built just before Covid by a number of the university students. The colour and design mirrors the national dress of Sabah rungus community.
Keeping with the religious theme, we moved on to look around Puh Toh Si Chinese Temple.
The colours and drawings on the temple walls were so intricate and beautiful.
Looking around the temple it was clear how well kept the place was & the respect paid by worshippers when entering the grounds.
Our final stop was the Masjid Bandaraya mosque in central Kota Kinabalu.
When we arrived the people were being called to prayer, which made us realise the importance and significance the place has to the regular Muslim community.
After a busy few hours and with lunch fast approaching we retired to Tanjung Aru beach to chill and enjoy a cool drink looking out on the China Sea. The beach was stunning, but oddly deserted with no one else around. It was admittedly 2pm on a hot day, so locals probably know better than to sit in the heat without shade.
We enjoyed a long walk along the beach taking in the views, before returning to our hotel and our welcome meeting for the start of our Borneo Classic tour.
We met the other 6 people on the tour, who help form the ‘commonwealth’ group, coming from Canada, New Zealand, Australia and of course UK. They seem a lovely bunch and after the meet and greet we headed out for a bite to eat at a local restaurant on the waterfront. The food and drink was an interesting combo, but at just £2.50 per head, it proved to be good value.
After a quick beer back at the hotel bar, we decided to retire early to bed and ready ourselves for the start of the new adventure tomorrow when we head out into the mountain rainforest to visit a local village.
@travellingwiththeateam 