Itinerary
April 21, 2013 (Sun)
NAIA T3 to Brunei International Airport
April 22, 2013 (Mon)
Bendar Seri Begawan Labuan Ferry Terminal to Jesselton Ferry Terminal
Check-in Traveler's Light Backpacker Lodge
Half Day Tour
April 23, 2013 (Tue)
Check-out at Traveler's Inn
Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal Shopping at duty free stores in Labuan Island
Back to Bendar Seri Beagawan and did half-day tour
April 24, 2013 (Wed)
Brunei Int'l Airport to NAIA T3
Expenses
Flight Ticket: P2146 (two-way with 15kg baggage allowance)
Travel tax: P1650
Terminal fee: P650
Accommodation: P904 or 21USD (for two persons)
Ferry: P1800 (two-way) Transportation: P600 (taxi, fx, and tricycle)
Souvenir: P300 Food: 1000 (including presents)
Total Expenses: P
Accommodation
We arrived in Kota Kinabalu (KK) with our accommodation
booked 1 month earlier. The driver of the van was familiar with Lorong Dewan
but never heard of the Backpacker's Lodge. We just got off in the area and
asked somebody for the direction. A few meters away, we finally found this inn.
Surprisingly, the attending receptionist that time was _____, who is a Filipina
and married to a Malay. Since Sabah is one of the nearest neighboring countries
in the Philippines, no wonder a lot of Filipinos work in this exotic part of
Sabah. You can see them in the restaurants, shops, and many more.
It was not my first time to stay in a backpacker's inn,
where I got to share the room with other travelers and even the bathroom. We
were just lucky that no other tourists were staying in our room that day. The
beds here were firm and clean, linens were free of stain although they were
old, and the ventilation was working well.
I noticed that 80% of the whole
structure was made up of wooden materials, so the noise from other rooms could
be easily heard in the four corners of our room. My favorite part of this place
was the balcony built at the back of the inn, facing the hill forest. Even
though I spent an over-night here, I enjoyed staying at the balcony while
reading some magazines and travel books available at their mini library. I also
had a bit of chitchat over dinner with other foreign tourists. I loved the cool
wind blowing coming from the forest behind us, which according to _______, some
endemic animals such as squirrels and macaque (Asian monkey) come out at
anytime of the day.
Note:
- Shoes or any kinds of footwear must be left on a small area in front of the entrance door.
- Plates, glasses, and other utencils are all available at the kitchen located at the balcony.
- They provide hot water for coffee and milk, and 3 variants
of spread like strawberry, raspberry
jam, and peanut butter free of charge.
Tip: Since there is no breakfast included, you can have your
meal at some nearby eatery or restos or buy them at the grocery a day before.
Room
Rates
Female Shared Dorm: RM
22/bed
Male Shared Dorm: RM
22/bed
(both are air-conditioned)
Family Room (3 persons): RM
77/room
Family Room (4 persons): RM
88/room
(both are air-conditioned)
* breakfast
not included, shared bathrooms
Facilities:
- Common bathrooms with hot and cold shower
- Tour information & a mini-library
- Board games
- DVD player & TV
- Desktop computer with Internet & Wifi access
- Freezer
Contact
Information
Traveler’s Light Backpacker’s Lodge.
Address: Lot # 19, Lorong Dewan (Australia Place)
88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Borneo, Malaysia
Telephone #: (6) 088-238-877 /
Fax #: (6) 088-250-343
Website: www.travellerslight.com
Tour
We only had 24 hours to explore the city of KK and other
sites that are not too distant from where we stay. Here’s the list.
1. Signal
Hill Observatory Tower
On the right, a few feet away from our inn, there is a
high stairway up to the top. On the top, there is a platform that gives you a
breathtaking view down over the city and the horizon from a far.
Tip:
- You need to go up for over 50 steps and pass some trails
to reach the viewdeck.
- The site is built right next to the road, so be extra
cautious of the fast-moving vehicles.
- Leave unnecessary things except fluid that will quench
your thirst and a camera to capture the perfect view especially the sunset.
2. Atkinson
Tower
From the Signal Hill Observatory platform, we descended
and headed directly to Atkinson Tower, not too far from the site. This clock
tower was built in memory of Francis George Atkinson, the Jesselton's first
district officer, who died at the age of 28 due to malaria. It was in 1983 when
this clock tower was acclaimed as a heritage building.
3. Australia
Place Heritage Walk
We never knew that the street where our inn is located
used to be a camp site of Australian soldiers when they landed in Jesselton in
1945. The entire area has changed over the years. At present, you can find a
wide array of hostels and some restaurants, print shops, including a downtown
police station.
4. Gaya
Central Market
5. Jesselton
Point Waterfront
As
you arrive in the city of KK by ferry, Jesselton Point welcomes you with its
ornate dark emerald archway. This site shows a big number of old photos and a
railway line that runs to the end of the pier. It is also the docking area
leaving for the islands of Labuan and Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.
2. Night Market
Fastfood & Restaurant
1. Peppermint
2. Seafood Market
Market & Shopping Malls
1. Suria Sabah
2. Sabah Centrepoint
Other Accommodation
_________________________________________________________________________________
Blogger's Note
Please be informed that details are subject to change at any time, particularly the price, location, and contact numbers. I, therefore advise that you visit their website or email ahead for confirmation when making your itinerary. The blogger cannot be held responsible for the experiences of the readers while travelling.
