Beautiful scenery near old Jesselton Port in Kota Kinabalu
This is the first time I have visited Kota Kinabalu. If not because of duty I would not set my foot on the eastern part of the country. I was in Kota Kinabalu on 21 & 22 October 2008
Kota Kinabalu formerly known as Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah, a state in Malaysia. Kota Kinabalu is located on the northwest coast of the island of Borneo facing the South China Sea and Tunku Abdul Rahman Park on one side, and with Mount Kinabalu in the background. Kota Kinabalu sprawls for kilometers along the coast and towards inland. With an estimated population of 543,765 in the city and 700,000 in the urban area, it is the largest urban centre in Sabah and the sixth largest in Malaysia.
View of Kota Kinabalu from the aeroplane
Another aerial view of Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu traces its beginning to 1881, as a tiny British settlement on Pulau gaya, the biggest of five islands directly across the bay from present day KK City. In 1897, Pahlawan Mat Saleh and his men faought and burnt the island settlement. The Brisitis relocated to the mainland at Kampong Gantisan, a small fishing village. In 1899, the British named the new settlement ‘Jesselton’ after Sir Charles Jessel, the Vice-Chairman of the British North Borneo Charted Company.
Beautiful underwater island and its clear water
View of Kota Kinabalu while the aeroplane approaching the airport
Another view from the aeroplane
Kota Kinabalu is named after Mount Kinabalu, situated about 90 kilometres east-northeast of the city. The meaning and origin of the name Kinabalu is uncertain. One theory suggests it means “Chinese widow”, where Kina meaning “Chinese” (person) in Kadazandusun language, and balu meaning “widow” in Malay language.
Icon of Kota Kinabalu; Wisma Tun Mustapha formerly known as Yayasan Sabah Building
The city’s population today is a mixture of many different races and ethnicities. The city consists of mainly Kadazans, Chinese, Bajaus and Malays. Most of the Chinese people in the city are Hakkas and can be found mainly in the Luyang area. The area of Penampang is populated mainly by Kadazans, while the Bajaus mainly reside in Likas and Sembulan. The people of the city have lived peacefully side by side.
New and beautiful building in Kota Kinabalu
Another interesting facade view of a building in Jalan Pantai Kota Kinabalu
In the city centre, Jalan Pantai
New icon, Kota Kinabalu City Mosque at Likas Bay. It is the biggest mosque in KK can accomodate between 9,000 to 10,000 people
Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) serves the city of Kota Kinabalu, the state capital of Sabah, Malaysia. It is located about 8 km southwest of the city centre. It is the second busiest airport in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) with over 4 million passenger movements in 2006 for domestic and international flights
Terminal 1 of Kota Kinabalu International Airport
Terminal 1 is the main terminal of BKI. It is accessed via Jalan Putatan in Petagas nearby Kepayan. Currently its technical facilities includes 12 gates, 5 airbridges, and 4 baggage claim belts. It has the capacity of handling 2.5 million passenger annually. It also features duty-free shops, other shops, lounges, travel agents, restaurants, and many others. It’s massive renovation and expansion just completed recently
View of boarding area at Terminal 1 KKIA
Interior view of Terminal 1 KKIA
Terminal 2 used to be the original terminal building of the airport when it was first built. It is accessed via Jalan Mat Salleh in Tanjung Aru and is located on the other side of the runway from Terminal 1. Terminal 2 is really for charter and low cost carrier. Sometime, it is called LCCT. Terminal 2 has recently undergone a major renovation and extension and it re-opened on January 1, 2007 in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2007. It was completed 27 months ahead of schedule. Although it is renovated to serve the low cost carriers, namely AirAsia, it is not a low cost carrier terminal (LCCT) as that of Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s LCCT, as here, other full service airlines may utilize the terminal. It has 26 check-in counters for domestic and international flights and 6 parking bays for B737 and A320 aircraft as well as 7 luggage x-ray machines, a VIP room and 13 immigration counters. The terminal has the capacity to handle 3 million passengers annually. This airport was the second airport to have separation between normal carriers and low cost carrier
Looking to the aeroplane at parking apron from boarding area
mamadou
