Kota Kinabalu Things to Do Tips by muddybok

Nabalu View & Shop

There are some souvenir, convenient shops & spectacular view on your way to Kinabalu Park. The Nabalu stop is very strategically located at one big bend where the scenic view of the valley can be enjoyed with or without going up the view point. Also by the time you reach here, your bladder is almost full and this stop is good for quick evacuation of liquid inside and last minute shopping for junks and drinks.

You'll realised that Sabah is full with 4WD trucks & pickup due to its mountainous terrain. Car & trucks of Toyota make almost make up the majority.

Low's Peak

This is the highest point in South East Asia. All it takes is just endurance, and I believe everyone can make it here if you pace yourself well.

Gunung Kinabalu is considered as one of the most climbed mountain in Malaysia and anyone with considerably fit stamina will be able to walk up the mountain. Imagine how fast those Climbathon participants can go up and down the mountain less than 3 hours.

Beaches

Kota Kinabalu not just famous as the gateway to Gunung Kinabalu, it also blessed with beautiful beaches.

Personally, I have not check out the beaches at the main land town area but a brief tour to Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park does give me good impression on beaches here. I may check out one of the beach resorts if i were to revisit Kota Kinabalu next time.

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There are some posh beach resorts located at the other side of the town.

Poring Hot Spring (World Heritage Site)

Poring Hot Spring is actually one of the "World Heritage Site" in Sabah according to the board.

I will do more research on this later! Well, i think this heritage site is not the same as the UNESCO's World Heritage Site (List) but could be a localised declaration.

Pitcher Plant

Pitcher plant (Nepenthes Villosa) is one of the attractions for Kinabalu National Park. The pitcher plant is a carnivorous plant that uses digestive juices to absorb insects, the pitcher will close its lid after successfully lure insects into its pitcher. Insects are attracted to the plants by a fragrant odour but the waxy surface of the inside of the pitcher does not provide support, and the plant’s victims tumble into the fluid below. A powerful digestive acid is then released from the pitcher walls, which consumes the prey.

The pitcher plants found in Kinabalu is much fatter that those that I saw in Bako National Park, Sarawak.

This pither plant is previously known as: Nepenthes edwardsiana, Nepenthes kinabaluensis and Nepenthes veitchii

A walk in the cloud

You will find yourself often walking in the cloud/mist because of the high altitude.

When you're approaching KM5 onward, you may feel a bit cold & one thin windbreaker should be able to keep you warm.

You must not stop for too long, or you'll need longer time to warm up yourself or you may be feeling lazy to proceed.

The trick for hiking the Mount Kinabalu is to pace yourself, bring minimal water (small bottle will do), sufficient warm & dry clothes. Keeping yourself dry & always get your rain coat ready.

You may want to hire a porter to carry your excessive baggage, so that you can reserve your energy for next morning summit hike.

Just shutter happy!! ;-)

I can't resist taking as many snaps of Mt Kinabalu as possible in front of the Kinabalu Park HQ.

There will be more interesting pictures!!! I promise.

Map

We arrived at Kinabalu Park around 7:30pm. Due to the few degree geographical differences as compare to Kuala Lumpur, it's almost quite dark after 6:30pm local time.

I captured the map in digital format, for future references.

Poring Hot Spring

Hot water was channeled to individual tiled basin using some lead piping. This can be a great place for you to rejuvenate after your Mt Kinabalu trip.

Remember to test the water & add cold water (separate tap) whenever is needed. Or you may suffer severe burn.

Btw, the old name for Kota Kinabalu was "Api" or "Fire". It may suggest that the surrounding could be once volcanic area.

Another Picther Plant

I believe this is a different species from the previous one. I think it will be helpful if I include the whole plant (including leaves) for you guys so that you can identify them easily.

You can find these plants around KM 4.5 - 4.8 using Summit Trail.

If you're coming from Mesilau Trail (see bkoon's page), you can easily spot these pitcher plants growing slightly 200M before joining Summit Trail @ Layang-Layang