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Arrival at KKIA

Kota Kinabalu is the main gateway into Sabah. The KKIA (Kota Kinabalu International Airport) has flights coming in from internationally you can fly direct from Singapore with Silkair; Manila (Clark) ; from Bangkok with Thai AirAsia;; from Hong Kong with Dragonair; from Brunei with Royal Brunei Airlines; from Taipei with Far Eastern Air Transport and domestic flights by Malaysia Airlines. Malaysia 's low cost carrier ie Air Asia and Maswings arrive at terminal 2.

However, getting into Sabah, doesn't necessary have to be through KKIA. From KL there's Sandakan if you wish to get to the Kinabatangan, Sepilok Orang Utan, Selingan Turtle Island ; and Tawau if you're thinking of Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai, Langkayan. And if you're really adventurous and want to get to Danum Valley or Tabin Wildlife Reserve ~ There are flights from Terminal 2 on FAX to Lahad Datu..

KKIA is 7km from the city centre and costs about RM20 per taxi. Not very budget conscious-friendly, there are no bus shuttles from the airport to town but there's a busstop out on the main road that can take you to town.

Jesselton's History

KK as is known is sited on a perfect location with the Crocker Range rising to the back of the city and the South China Sea right in front. In the early years, only Sandakan and Jesselton (as KK was known then) were the only 2 towns that showed any signs of promise for expansion in North Borneo.

The British half expected North Borneo Chartered Company to close down and for a decade, it remained a flailing company. Unlike Sarawak which was ruled under a 'sovereignty' ; James Brooke, North Borneo was a governing concern. Brooke took pains to develop the people and an administrative concern. North Borneo Company was plagued with financial constraints. Their mere existence was only supplemented by revenue and export taxes derived from jungle and sea products supplying to the Chinese markets. In the 1890's, their income stabilised, aided by the development of timber and tobacco sectors.

In 1899, the site for setting up a base on the mainland was named Jesselton, after Sir Charles Jessel - the vice Chairman of the Chartered company. Soon after the administrative centre was moved from its location at Gantisan.

All went well for Jesselton, right until the Japanese Occupation on 9 January 1942 during WW11. Times were very difficult for the residents and in their final surges against the Japanese, the Allied Forces bombed Jesselton. The Japanese troops retreated on 15 th October 1945 and left the town in ruins.

The North Borneo Chartered Company were unable to rebuild their investments after the war and ceded their rights to the British Government. The British Colony moved North Borneo 's capital from Sandakan to Jesselton.

With the township growing, reclamation of land began. In 1957, about half a mile of land was claimed from the sea and by 1970, about 7330 acres of coast was reclaimed. Land is still being reclaimed along the coast and what was the original coastline, just a little distance from the Atkinson Clock Tower.

Atkinson Clock Tower

This clock was erected to commemorate the first district officer of Jesselton, Mr. Francis George Atkinson who died of Borneo Malaria in 1902 at the age of just 28yrs.

Australia Place

Just down the road from the Clock Tower is Australia Place . This is the site of the original old Chinese timber shophouses. However, the area is named as such because the Australian Liberation Army made camp in this area after they landed in 1945. There is a coffeeshop here called Museum Kopitiam that serves traditional charcoal toasted bread and kaya (coconut jam), a good cup of coffee and very sweet biscuits called the ANZAC (this is an acronym for Australia and New Zealand Army Corps.)

Opening times for Museum Kopitiam:

Mon - Sat 7.30am till 12.00mn ; Sun closed

24, Lorong Dewan, 88801 KK. t: e:

Shopping around town

~ Dive Shops & Tours

There are a number of outlets at the Plaza Jubilee that cater to last minute travels etc at this shopping complex. If you plan to visit Mount Kinabau Park, climb the mountain, spend a night at Poring Hot Springs or Manukan Island, there's the booking office here; Sutera Sanctuary. But then if you're here to make your holiday hassle free...then book in advance. It's difficult to secure accommodation especially at Mount Kinabalu during the busy months from June until October/November.

This plaza is located just further down from wisma merdeka. Wisma Merdeka is a favourite with the locals. There is a particularly interesting Book shop on the ground floor called Borneo Books. This place sells a variety of books on Sabah, its fauna and flora and anything else associated with Borneo.

On the 2nd floor, there is Borneo Books 2, which has a sitting area where visitors can help themselves to free coffee or tea. This is a good place to hang around at if you've run out of places to go in Kota Kinabalu. If you're thinking of climbing Mount Kinabalu and need some basic supplies like woollen caps, gloves etc - there's a departmental store that sells reasonably priced clothing. Or KK Plaza would be a good place to shop for warm clothing..

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Accommodation and Packages to Kota Kinabalu , Beaches, Nature and Highlands on the outskirts

Malaysia Cities , Towns & Villages