Sabah is totally my kind of travel destination! It’s so full of beauty, charm, and adventures. Sabah is a Malaysian state, which is part of the Borneo Islands, and it also shares its borders with Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines (maritime borders).
Although I was excited and curious about Sabah, I had no idea how it would turn out to be. I was just happy about the fact that I was visiting an offbeat destination of Malaysia. Apparently, Sabah is not as touristy as Kuala Lumpur, Penang, or Selangor.
Why Sabah Should Be Your Next Destination
Get Besotted with Dreamlike Views from the Airplane
Well, the feeling of awe begins the moment your airplane begins to descend. The cluster of islands spread across the blue sea looks surreal from above. We (my companions and I) had an exceptionally beautiful landing in Kota Kinabalu, which was towards the sunset. The sky was set on fire, literally! The trio of the sky, the sea and the sunset was magical. I can easily say that Sabah was one of my most beautiful ‘view from the airplane’ experiences.
Wander through the Gorgeous Kota Kinabalu, the Capital of Sabah
I have to say that Kota Kinabalu, the state capital of Sabah, is one of the prettiest cities that I have seen. So, you should spend a lot of time exploring the city. The streets of Kota Kinabalu are nice and clean, the shops and cafés exude a lot of spunk, the boulevards are gorgeous with lush green trees, and the city has a spectacular coast with a brink of the mountains.
Explore the Countryside, the Mountains
Sabah is exceedingly lush. There’s a lot of scope of hiking through the countryside, exploring the village life and counting the mountain peaks. Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in Malaysia. Located at the West Coast Division of Sabah, the mountain is protected as Kinabalu Park, a World Heritage Site.
So yes, Sabah is a destination of surprises. You get to witness the splendor of mountain peaks in a land, which is known for islands and rain forests.
Get Deserted on an Island
Sabah is a land of beautiful islands. If you love water activities, such as swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and the like, Sabah is your haven. Even if you do not love water, like me, simply lazing around or strolling by the coastline is a bewitching experience, too.
The island that we visited was Sepanggar Island, which is located off Sepanggar, Sabah. The island is known for its thick tropical rain forests. I found the island a bit too touristy, though. I’m sure there are far more beautiful and lesser-known islands in Sabah.
Immerse Yourself into Sabah’s Tribal Traditions and Culture
Sabah is a highly cultural destination. I got a chance to peek into its five different ethnic tribes – the rice farmer Kadazan-Dusun, the longhouse resident Rungus, the hunters and fishermen Lundayeh, the cowboy and sea gypsy Bajau, and the headhunting tribe Murut.
We visited Mari Mari Cultural Village, which is located in a lush setting of the countryside away from the city. I hadn’t seen a museum like that before. It’s created to showcase the Borneo ethnic culture. So, you get to see how the indigenous ethnic folks of Borneo used to live in the ancient times.
Soak Your Feet into the Stream of Water, Hug a Rock and Sleep under the Canopy of Trees
Sabah is also known for natural wellness. I have to admit that I expected nothing from this particular place. I visited it for the heck of it. But, it was one of my most favorite travel moments! So refreshing and so energizing! We visited this Stone Age Spa Cultural Park, which is a unique place. It’s located in a nature driven environment where you can sleep under the canopy of trees, hug the ancient rocks and soak your feet in the stream of water. I really didn’t care to take photos, as I was too immersed in my rendezvous with nature. Sitting on a rock with my feet dipped in flowing water, little fish caressing my feet once in a while, and I was simply soaking in the power of nature within me.
Give Sabahan Cuisine a Chance
It’s not easy to appreciate an unfamiliar cuisine. I have never been able to relish Malaysian food. But on this visit, I kind of enjoyed my culinary experience in Sabah, Malaysia. Although I’m not a big fan of non-vegetarian dishes, I tried quite a bit of shrimps, various fishes, beef and chicken in Sabah. And, I have to say that each dish is so unique! For instance, I remember having Hinava, which is originated from the Kadazan Dusun tribes, is raw fish marinated with lime juice, which is blended together with seasonings such as salt, red chili, ginger and slice shallot.
Where to eat in Kota Kinabalu?
There are lots of nice eating places in Kota Kinabalu. You can check out the restaurants and cafes at the waterfront. However, two of the places that I’d recommend are Radha’s at the square, a great place for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, and D’Place Restaurant that serves amazing Kadazandusun tribe’s traditional cuisine.
Relishing a delicious vegetarian thali at Radha’s at the square, Kota Kinabalu. Savouring the traditional local cuisine at D’Place restaurant.
Don’t Do Anything in Sabah, Just Watch the Sunsets
We visited Tanjung Aru Beach in Kota Kinabalu, which reminded me of Juhu Beach in Mumbai. It’s highly crowded and touristy. But, it’s a place to watch the most spectacular sunsets. It’s definitely one of the most scenic beaches. Apart from the beach, you can also watch the sunset from the Kota Kinabalu waterfront, which is a lovely place to hang out and have a cocktail.
