april-2012

MALAYSIA
KOTA KINABALU
COUNTRY CODE +60 (88)
CURRENCY RM1 = PHP14.15/US$0.33
TOUCHDOWN The Kota Kinabalu International
Airport is only 10 minutes away by taxi, which
usually costs about RM20 (PHP283). Be sure to
negotiate and agree on the fare before you step
into the cab.
BY DAY Take a 20-minute boat ride over to Tunku
Abdul Rahman Park or Pulau Sapi, Pulau Manukan
and Pulau Mamutik for a wide range of water
activities like snorkeling, swimming or diving. Or
you can try the banana boat and jet skiing.
BY NIGHT Tanjung Aru Beach is about 6km away
from the city. Catch the brilliant sunset or dine at
any of the 20 food stalls serving local food and
drinks. Enjoy chicken or beef satay with coconut
or sugarcane juice.
SLEEP A decent hostel to stay in is Step-In Lodge,
which features dormitories and private rooms. It’s
also 15 minutes away from the airport. Tel: +60 (88)
233 519, www.stepinlodge.com
Auther
James
Kimon
general manager
Trek Finder Tours
Sdn Bhd
BEST BUYS Head to 1Borneo, the
fi rst and the largest hypermall in East
Malaysia.
BEST DINNER Don’t leave Kota
Kinabalu without trying the seafood at Sri
Selera, located at Kampung Air.
BEST BREAKFAST Tuaran
noodles — they’re made of egg yolk and
fl our, which give the noodles a yummy
egg aroma when fried.
trip journal
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
COUNTRY CODE +673
CURRENCY BND1 = PHP33.54/US$0.79
TOUCHDOWN The international airport is
approximately 10 minutes (about 10km) away
from the center of Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB).
There are taxis, car rentals and regular public bus
services that can take you to and from the airport.
BY DAY Visit Kampung Ayer, a water village with
30,000 residents living in modern houses on stilts.
Book a tour with house visits and taste traditional
kueh (cakes). Have a photo with the Masjid Sultan
Omar Ali Saiffudien Mosque in the background.
BY NIGHT In Gerai Malam in Gadong, you’ll fi nd
stalls selling cheap snacks and full meals. Try the
nasi katok (fried chicken), but tell them if you can’t
take spices. Nearby is the Gadong shopping area
where you’ll fi nd popular cafés like Coffee Bean.
SLEEP Check into mid-range lodgings like
Radisson International (www.radisson.com/
bandar-seri-begawan-hotel-bn-bs8674/brnrdbd)
or Times Hotel (www.timeshotelbrunei.com).
Kamarul
Dzaman
Ajimain
multimedia coordinator,
Bank Islam Brunei
Darussalam
BEST SOUVENIRS Buy gifts for
friends back home from Kain Jong Sarat
at Arts and Handicraft Center.
INSIDER TIP Want to explore the
city? Get around BSB onboard the local
purple bus.
BEST DINNER Try the Bruneian
delicacy ambuyat, made from sago
and water, at Ambuyat at Aminah Aarif.
www.aminaharif.com.bn
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