4D3N Stay at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu

In November 2024, I enjoyed a 4-day 3-night stay at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort in Kota Kinabalu. The resort offers stunning coastal views and the location is not far from the airport and the city, offers an unforgettable experience.

The highlights

Room: Spacious, clean room with large double bed, balcony with breathtaking sea views.

Dining:  The breakfast buffet was great.

Activities: The pools open until 10pm, which was great for a night swim.

Sunset: Watching the sunset from the resort was magical, with the sky transforming into vibrant hues of orange and pink.

Live Bands: The nightly live music at the lobby cafe, with talented musicians creating a soothing ambiance, was a personal favorite and added charm to the evenings.

Shangri-La Tanjung Aru is a perfect getaway for anyone seeking an unforgettable escape.

Promenade Hotel, Kota Kinabalu

The last time I stayed in this hotel was in 2005. Coming back here now, I am quite impressed at how well they maintain the hotel.  I think the bathroom gone through some renovations work, other than that all are still quite similar.

Our room is clean and quite spacious. However my the view this time is facing the Api-api Centre.  Last time was facing the sea.

The bathroom is a bit small.

The breakfast spread was reasonable. The nasi lemak was good, not too spicy, had it for 3 days in a row.

The lobby area.

View from the main entrancce, facing the sea.

Murut-Dusun homecook meal, Tenom

 Smoked Buffalo (salai) stew

Chicken curry with eggplant

Tepus jeruk - sour taste

 This is very similar to our pulut panggang, but instead of the sambal inti, they use kacang (peanut).

 This is so sedap!

Batang keladi (yam)

My sisters love these!

Duan ubi (cassava)

Generally I find that their food are less salty than food from other races that I've tried.

Ok next is the Tapai, this is their specialty, something like the Tuak in Sarawak.  They have it during special occasion, such as weddings.  But the thing is everybody is drinking using the same straw from the same tempayan.  They have about 20+ tempayan, all filled with the alcohol drinks.  And the straw is specially made from bamboo.  They even have a ring indicator to make sure you really did drink some!

It's sweet, nice to drink, very similar to our Tuak.  I only drank from the tempayan that I shared with my immediate family.  Sorry, not trying to be rude, but seriously..?! Nevermind, I don't want to think too much about it.

This drink is served together with sup tulang kerbau (Buffalo bones soup), the soup is nice and warm.

I enjoy the opportunity to experience food from other culture, such an adventure, just as long as it does not involve any small creepy creatures :)

Food in Tenom, Sabah

Food that we had while we were in Tenom...

Not all but only these that I managed to capture..

The rice..

Steamed chicken and char siaw pork rice

The noodle..

Mee hoon kosong + mix soup

Mee kosong + Mee goreng + mix soup

And of coz lots of banana cheese..

St. Anthony, Tenom

We attended a Sunday Mass at St. Anthony Catholic Church when we were in Tenom last month.

Yit Foh Coffee Factory, Tenom, Sabah

We had the opportunity to visit the famous Yit Foh Coffee Factory while we were in Tenom last month.

Yit Foh Coffee Factory is the oldest and one of the most famous coffee manufacturers in Sabah.


Our main purpose going there was get a good stock of coffee for our own consumption.  Price-wise, of coz it is a bit cheaper here at the factory.

Enjoy the pics...

Samantha & Weldy | Wedding in Tenom

Date : 13th March 2016

Venue: Mandalom, Tenom, Sabah

Congratulations anak buah!

Imperial Boutec Hotel, KK

Imperial Boutec Hotel, Warisan Square, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

We stayed in this same hotel in 2013.

It is a small hotel, with small rooms but with a view like this... it is worth to come back to.

You can enjoy the sunset while just seating on bed!

Here's the rest of the room..

Mamutik Island, Sabah

We have been to Sapi Island, been to Manukan Island too.

So, this time, we try a smaller island - Mamutik.

Indeed, this smaller island has a super clear sea water, a great place for snorkeling.  Clean, white, sandy beaches too.

Unfortunately, when we were there earlier this month, the weather was super hot and it is also the jellyfish season.  Lots and lots jellyfish floating in the clear water, scary.  But according to the life guard, it is not really a big deal, if you got stings by the jellyfish, just come over to the life guard booth, they will spray the vinegar (cuka) on the effected area - that's is the only cure.. interesting!

And also according to the guard, when the water gets hotter, all the jellyfish will return to the deep sea.  True enough, around 10am there are fewer jellyfish around, and we can start our snorkeling activity.

We left the island around 1pm, cannot stay for too long, its just too hot during.  We were told that they have not had any rain in that area for 3 months.  

Wow, Kuching banjir tapi Sabah kemarau pulak.

Emmett's idea on chicken pox

Emmett:  Mummy, is chicken pox fever really exist on our earth?
Mummy: Yes.  Why?
Emmett: How do we get infected?  Is it when the chicken tuk tuk (pecked) us?
Mummy:  No, sayang, you can get the infected if you get near to someone who got infected.
*haiya, I also dunno how best to answer him, must google on chicken pox soon.

Emmett at 7 years n 6 months.

Gigi ke-2 dia tercabut masa kami di Tenom.  Gigi pertama dia masa kat sekolah.

Salam's Curry House, Kota Kinabalu

This mamak kopitiam is located right behind our hotel - Marina Court Resort.

Too lazy to walk a distance on our last day in KK, we settled for the nearest breakfast place that we can find.

Luckily we make the right decision, the food were great.

We had..

 

 Roti cheese telur

Poori - a bit sour, taste also similar to Tosai, I would prefer a deep fried poori.

Murtabak kambing

Drinks - milo ais and 2 teh tarik.

Total cost - RM27.10

Nando's at Oceanus Mall

Kesian jugak Oceanus Mall, Kota Kinabalu, ni.  Lokasi bukan main strategic lagi.  Tapi kedai banyak dah tutup dalam tu.  Ingatkan nak makan kat Sushi Tei, sekali tengok, dah tutup da.  Last-last kite makan kat Nandos je la.  Lagipun sekarang Nando's tengah Borneo Eklusif offer.

Order 1 set 1/4 chicken with 2 sides & get 2nd set half off.

We had, 4 sets of the 1/4 chicken, 2 Spark apple pomegranate drinks, 1 Chocolate Mud Cake, total RM101.90

Spark apple pomegranate - RM8.90 each

Chocolate Mud Cake - RM12.90

Offers end 31st March 2016 kalau tak silap.

My Spending KK-Tenom 2016

Kuching International Airport

Day 1
Taxi to KIA - RM26
Taxi to Imperial Boutec Hotel - RM30
Dinner at Filipino Market, Food - RM35, Drinks - RM5
Japan Boat Takoyaki - RM3.90 x 2
Supper at City Food Corner - RM18

Day 2
Breakfast at City Food Corner - RM23.60
Bus ride from KK to Tenom - RM20 per person
Oyong stop - RM5.60
Lunch - RM42
Tea break - Banana Cheese RM10
Lunch at Sweet Home Cafe - RM16

Day 3
Breakfast at Tenom Market
Fresh Banana - RM5
Hair salon - RM12
Lunch at Sweet Home cafe

Day 4
Breakfast at Chin Hin - RM28
Wit Foh coffee factory - RM44
Bus ride from Tenom to KK - RM20 per person
Oyong stop - RM10
Van from KK bus station to Marina Court Resort - RM30
Dinner at Nando's, Oceanus Mall - RM101.90
Japan Boat Takoyaki - RM3.90

Day 5
Breakfast - RM28 + RM11
Boat ride to Mamutik Island - RM130 for 3 adults 2 children
Snokeling gear rental - RM10 per set
Taxi to Jesselton - RM15
Tea break at Mamutik - RM16.50
Lunch at Jesselton - RM22
Taxi back to Marina Court Resort- RM15
Dinner - RM32

Day 6
Breakfast at Salam's Curry House - RM27.10
Taxi to KK Airport - RM30
Taxi to home - RM26

KK International Airport

Flight tickets for 2 adults and 2 children via MAS - RM1,035.60

Banana Cheese Fritters

Saya 1st time sebenarnya makan Banana Cheese Fritters ni.  Tu pun sebab tengok harga yang murah di Tenom, Sabah.  Banyak dijual di kedai minum dan gerai-gerai tepi jalan.

Kat Kuching, Banana Cheese Fritters ni biasa nyer harga around RM5- RM8 sepinggan.  Kat Tenom cuma RM3 - RM4 je.  Pisang nyer besar-besar pulak tu, sekali duduk boleh 2 pinggan yang habis, sedap untuk minum petang bersama kopi Tenom.

Kat Tenom ni, selain terkenal dengan kopi, rasa nyer agak terkenal juga dengan pisang kot, memang banyak la pisang kat market-market nyer.

Ni, saya beli pisang berangan di Tenom gak, RM5...nyumm.