Some top tips for Kota Kinabalu

Maui Maui cultural centre was a blast. For £30 you can get a personal pick up from your hotel and a short 30mins bus ride takes you to the centre. Don’t worry there are nice loo’s there and you get a few minutes before you set off. Our lovely guide Gabriel took us round 4 different tribes one of which were head hunters. There’s lots of tastings of both traditional food and spirits. Be prepared for a little bit of exercise and fun. Finally you get a lovely buffet dinner.

Getting around

We chose to get the bus rather than taxi. For the princely sum of 15 right we took the hour and a half journey to kundasang. Something to note: you buy your tickets from a kiosk, these tickets have your seat numbers on. In general in he major cities it’s better to use grab (Asian version of Uber) as rides are standard low prices.

Kundasang

We stayed at the cmc kundasang guesthouse and were greated by the lovely Sabrina and her dad. Who picked us up from the bus station. It’s a lovely homely place with big bedrooms and a lovely terrace perfect for writing and chilling out. If you travel up here by hire car you sorted in terms of getting to restaurants etc but be prepared for 100 ringgit taxi rides if you’ve come by bus.

Douglass one of Sabrina’s brothers took us out to dinner as he way on his way out. We went to a Malay restaurant and had a lovely veggie medley and rice. 30riggit for 3 people bargain.

Key take outs from day 1

Taxi prices are high if you’re not using grab

Maui Maui cultural centre is worth a visit for a fun morning or afternoon

If you don’t mind buses then they are the cheapest way to get around

Stay with Sabrina and her family at the cmc home stay in kundasang!