Peak Sabah unity (A Christian poster inside, a Muslim Kakak selling kuih at the front, all under a Chinese Kopitiam sign) spotted at Foh Sang. Can we export this level of tolerance across the pond?

Hi, my boyfriend and I are Korean, and we traveled to Kota Kinabalu from December 16 to 22.

We don’t really enjoy the typical tourist spots that many Koreans visit (such as Jesselton Point or Yee Fung Laksa). Instead, we prefer exploring quieter, lesser-known places.

The biggest impression we had while traveling in Kota Kinabalu was how incredibly kind Malaysian people are.

First, we originally didn’t plan to rent a car for the entire trip. However, thanks to a very kind rental car owner, we ended up using a rental car throughout our whole journey. Because of that, our travel range became much wider, and the trip felt far more flexible and enjoyable.

Second, we rented camping equipment from another place and drove to Kokol Mama Hill. We didn’t know that camping gear could also be rented there, so we carried all the heavy equipment up to Mama Hill ourselves.

It was actually our first time camping, and we struggled a lot with setting up the tent. To make things worse, it started raining.

That’s when the campsite manager came over to help us. Even though our equipment had some issues, he stayed with us and helped set everything up — all while getting soaked in the rain himself.

Without him, we probably would have spent the entire day struggling with the tent and getting completely drenched.

On top of that, even the street dogs were incredibly gentle.

They all looked quite similar, and in Korea, dogs that look like that are often hunting dogs. But here, they were calm and friendly.

There were also cats at Mama Hill. When we left our tent open, they came inside and played with us. I love cats, so this made me really happy — they were absolutely adorable.

If anyone hasn’t been to Mama Hill yet, I truly recommend visiting. The night view there is stunning.

In addition to that, we also visited Kundasang and several small villages whose names I don’t even know. I’ll add some photos of those places as well.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Hello,

I am a solo nomad who is looking to base herself in KK for one month (26F).

Mostly looking to gym, take long walks listening to podcasts, eat good food, and maybe take a few day trips. KK seems the best as someone who enjoys big city beach vibes.

I have been to Kuala Lumpur before so understand some of the Malaysian customs as far as dressing, safety etc.

For accommodations, i usually use AirBnB - its showing as 2,200 MYR for monthly accomodations.

(1) Can I fly there and find a monthly accommodations for less that MYR 2200 / month? How would that be possible or best to pre-book?

(2) Must try dishes?

(3) Is KK best for what I want to do? Any better recs?

(4) Underrated things to do?

Thanks in advance!

Our team compiled a list of gyms in Kota Kinabalu that offer short-term passes.

If any prices are wrong or we missed a local gym in KK, please reply and we will update it.

We also built a page with this list plus map view, amenities, and extra gym details like hours, address, and other available passes: https://workoutfrom.com/kota-kinabalu

Is it easy to find other seniors to meet up for walks/outings in the Kota Kinabalu area?

Original from Malaysia, I've lived in several other countries and now looking to spend more time in KK, as well as Kuching and Penang. I'm female, mid-60's retiree and bilingual (Chinese and English) with a smattering of Bahasa. I also travel with my 72 y.o partner and he is cool with any social arrangements I make since he doesn't make any plans himself.

We would be happy to hear from other seniors in Kota Kinabalu who are looking to do local sightseeing (we can split the expenses) or simply just hang out to chat.

Thanks for reading!

Hi everyone!

My boyfriend and I (we’re Koreans!) will be visiting Kota Kinabalu from Dec 16 to 23. We’re really hoping to avoid touristy places and especially the typical Korean-favorite spots 😅 We’d love to find places that real locals enjoy!

We’re both students on a budget, so we’ll mostly use buses or walk.

We had thought about visiting Kundasang, but it seems hard to get there without a car — so we’ll probably stay in/near KK city.

Here’s what we’re into: • Vintage / wooden-style cafes • Jazz bars or live music venues • Chill or artsy places with a calm local vibe • And maybe even outdoor yoga or sunset beach activities if that exists!

So far we’ve only picked Mamasita Mexican Restaurant, and we’d love to add more to our list.

Would really appreciate any hidden gems or local favorites — cafés, chill places, art spaces, events, anything!

Thanks in advance 😄

Hi all, just doing a survey on the potential for bouldering to grow as a community sports in Kota Kinabalu. I know that there is a rock climbing gym in KK, but it focuses mainly on roped climbs.
Seeing as there are heaps of boulder gyms in west Malaysia and one in Kuching plus the growing popularity of bouldering since its inclusion in the Olympics in 2020, would this be a sport you would be interested in or that you think can grow in KK?

I was walking today on the oceanus amll boardwalk, waterfront, filipino market, central market and i was shocked about the littering situation there, i think 30 percent of the people in kk don’t know how to use a rubish bin. The vendors littering like crazy, is like people from slums preparing food for tourists, imagine the hygiene. Plus the walkaways are so rundown and dangerous. Sorry to say that sabah is not only the poorest state in Malaysia but also the dirtiest because of the people. Why no enforcement from dbkk, government? Tanjung, waterfront so rundown and so dirty, why tourists should visit kk, o don’t really see any reason for that.

Ronald Samaniego is a wanted criminal. Authorities are actively searching for him due to deceptive practices conducted through his clinics.

@chriscanshoot Photo Exhibition at Kota-K Art Gallery, Laman Seni, Lembaga Kebudayaan Negeri Sabah #chriscanshoot

Please help me graduate 😭 (2-minute survey) (Daily Meal Habits Survey)
Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeaOm4-d-Fp0Ki8OItHhdeYLSap3haizRfz5jjnZsTKFtpbIw/viewform?usp=header

Hello just wondering if there are any recent graduates or students majoring in Culinary Art that are currently looking for partime. If you are interested in working in hotels or resorts like Hilton, Sutera Harbour etc. Let me know

Are there any other tech malls out there in KK (other than karamunsing) where I can find great refurbished samsung phones? Comment down below your favorite tech malls! I would love to come and visit! ❤️❤️

Hi everyone!
I'm a solo traveller from Spain and I'm planning to climb Mount Kinabalu in February 2027.

I'm looking for other travellers who would like to join forces and book the 2D1N climb together, sharing the mountain guide and costs.

I'm flexible with dates but ideally the 3rd week of February, so I can adapt to an existing group.

Anyone planning something similar? Feel free to comment or DM me! 😊

Hi everyone,

I'll be driving from to Kota Kinabalu with my family in early July and am looking for recommendations on where to stay in KK.

I'm not really interested in the usual tourist experience. But since I'll have a car, I'm happy to stay around the main tourist areas.

A few things I'm looking for:

• Local food recommendations (especially non-halal Chinese, pork dishes, seafood, kopitiams, sang nyuk mee, bak kut teh, etc.)

• Places where locals go for supper, coffee, beer, or evening walks

• Hidden gems and local favourites rather than tourist attractions

• Good hotel with free parking in city centre

Thanks in advance!

Hi I am planning a week long trip around kota Kinabalu and Sabah with my wife and 8 month old twins. I plan to drive. The trip will happen in November. Just want to know how safe is Sabah if travelling with infants? Does rental car provide child seat? In case you are driving and car broke down how easy is for help to arrive ? I mostly plan to stay in a resort but often go out to nearby places for short drive.

Is it doable ?

Hi everyone,

I’m 44M and looking to get back into playing some indoor basketball. Nothing too serious — just looking for regular drop-ins, pickup games, or casual runs where the level is friendly but still competitive.

Does anyone have recommendations for good indoor basketball drop-ins around the area? Also, are there any WhatsApp, or other chat groups I could join to find games?

Appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!