My Pleasant Getaway

Working hard during the year can take its toll on our health and it is important that we take a break once in a while. Getting away from it all would benefit both our physical and mental well being. It is vital to break the monotony of our lives, even for a short time and clear our minds of the stress and hassle of our working lives. We need a little time and space for ourselves to enable us to re organized and think deeply on any issues related to our daily lives, career and also our future. Taking a break could also trigger your inspirations for some new ideas.

When I was given a task to conduct a class in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, I was excited and extremely overjoyed as this would be my first exploration to this part of my own country! It would give me a great opportunity to experience a different kind of surrounding and learning more about our nation's unique cultural diversity. Sometimes, we do need a a kind of "getaway" as a break from all those everyday routines. It could actually gives you some space to re energized your self motivation and freshen up your minds from all kinds of confusion and sometimes, merely illusions!


Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah, a Malaysian state located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. Sabah is the second largest state in Malaysia after Sarawak, which it borders on its south-west. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south. In spite of its status as a Malaysian state, Sabah remains a disputed territory; the Philippines has a dormant claim over much of tahe eastern part of the territory.

Kota Kinabalu, formerly known as Jesselton, is located on the west coast of “the Land Below the Wind”, under the watchful eye of majestic Mount Kinabalu, and on the fringes of the South China Sea, Kota Kinabalu is the bustling and colourful gateway to Sabah. Here you find the international airport, world class hotels, innumerable restaurants and café shops, shopping malls and business districts. We call our fast developing and modern city with some 350,000 inhabitants simply and affectionately KK!

The state capital has many places of interest. It is a city popular with foreigners and locals alike, and the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, adjacent to the city is one of the top tourist destination, perfect for relaxing, snorkelling and a wide variety of watersports. Other places of interest include the Signal Hill Observatory, offering a bird’s view of the city; the Sabah Foundation Building - a unique 30-storey building (it is a circular structure supported by high tensile steel rods, an architectural and engineering marvel, and there are only four such buildings in the world; it is Sabah’s highest tower); the State Mosque, resplendent with its majestic domes and golden motifs is the central place of worship for KK's Muslim population; the new Likas Mosque, the largest in the state; and the Likas Bird Sanctuary.

Major shopping malls are located along the main artery of Kota Kinabalu, and you find just about anything from branded goods to local handicraft. Recreational activities in KK include diving, a mere 15 minutes from the city in the crystal clear waters of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park! The ferries to the park leave from KK’s harbour district at the northern end of the City.