Have you ever felt like your world was filled with so many problems that you just wanted to disappear?
My Malaysia trip had been planned well in advance — everything was set, and things were going smoothly. However, a few weeks before my trip to Kota Kinabalu, life became overwhelming. My family, my health, and my career were all draining me. Twenty-four hours never seemed enough. I would wake up each day facing the same problems, too exhausted to think clearly because my responsibilities had piled up. Honestly, the trip felt untimely. I didn’t see it as a chance to relax — not until I found myself actually enjoying my stay.
Kota Kinabalu is a small city, but I noticed that most locals have their own cars. By 8 AM, we still hadn’t figured out how to start our tour since we had unknowingly visited during Eid al-Fitr, a week-long Muslim holiday. This meant there was limited labor, and some markets were closed.
There were buses available, but the Titas of Manila weren’t fond of the idea of hopping on and off public transportation at every tourist spot — it’s just too much hassle. Thankfully, the wonderful staff at Likas Square Hotel helped us find a reliable taxi driver who also became our tour guide. He was vibrant, humorous, and fluent in English — meet Jas! Yes, he’s a guy!
I showed Jas our itinerary, and he thoughtfully organized the order of our stops. Here’s how our adventure unfolded:
Menara Tun Mustapha
The Tun Mustapha Tower is the second tallest building in Kota Kinabalu — a 30-story glass structure featuring a revolving floor on the 18th floor, which offers a stunning view of Likas Harbour. We arrived around 10 or 11 AM, and it was scorching hot!
City Mosque
The City Mosque is beautifully situated by the sea, giving it a floating appearance. Its prayer hall can accommodate 9,000 to 12,000 people at a time — an impressive sight.
Puh Toh Tze Chinese Temple
Built in 1980, this temple boasts massive gold-colored statues. It’s the largest and most well-known Chinese temple in Kota Kinabalu. Fun fact: Buddhism is the second-largest religion in Malaysia. At the entrance, you’ll find a 10-foot-tall statue of the Goddess of Mercy.
St. Simon Church
Since we’re Catholics, we asked Jas to drop us at a Catholic church. The St. Simon Church was blessed on November 19, 2000, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Datuk John Lee.
Signal Hill Observatory
As the highest point in the city, the Signal Hill Observatory offers views of both the city skyline and the nearby Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park islands.
Sabah State Mosque
The Sabah State Mosque, with its striking gold exterior, opened in 1977 and can hold up to 5,000 people at a time. Visitors are advised to follow the dress code, and it’s best to avoid visiting on Fridays, as this is the day of prayer for Muslims.
Tanjung Aru Beach
We arrived at Tanjung Aru Beach around 4 PM — a perfect time to watch the sunset. Since we were still sleep-deprived from our midnight flight, we didn’t stay long. There were live sea creatures to observe, but swimming felt a little awkward.
We also squeezed in some shopping at Imago and Centre Point malls, where I found that many products were cheaper than those in the Philippines.
Takeaway
This trip taught me something valuable. As you get older, you tend to plan ahead — like the Titas of Manila. There’s truth in the saying: “To be old and wise, you must first be young and stupid.”
The Titas have had their share of youthful adventures, and now they prefer to avoid the uncertainties that come with spontaneous trips. Perhaps if I had been with my friends, a transfer taxi ride would’ve been fine — because when you’re young, those uncertainties can be exhausting but also thrilling.
Yet, traveling with the Titas of Manila taught me that well-planned adventures can still be incredibly fun — and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
Terms to Know:
💡 Titas of Manila – A term of endearment for our aunts or pseudo-aunts — that long list of our mom’s friends or family friends we feel awkward calling “ma’am” or “Mrs. So and So.”
💡 Manila – The capital city of the Philippines.
Disclaimer: I have not received any compensation for writing this post and I do not have material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. This review is written with genuineness. Photo watermark is named after my old site.
