The first time I heard the place Kota Kinabalu, I imagined the beach and the sand. Just these two, which I’m not really a fan of. That’s why KK has never been one of my top 10 destinations. Thanks to Air Asia's seat sale and a few interesting facts my friend gave that I decided to see the beauty behind the place.

A 3D/2N trip with a full-packed itinerary. We took the flight to KK from Senai International Airport JB. We arrived at Kota Kinabalu International Airport after 2.5hrs and we immediately proceeded to the car rental counter (KK Leisure) outside the airport. We rented a Proton Saga that can accommodate 5 passengers. The car cost us RM626 for 2 days: RM170/day (RM160/day for manual car), RM25/day for GPS, and RM18/day for insurance. We just had to give them a deposit of RM200 and off we go.

Our first stop was to grab a bite at Senario Café (the nearest restaurant found in the GPS) and check FB/Twitter updates with their free WiFi access. After a good and happy meal, off we go to see the  Akuarium and Muzium Marin, the Tun Mustapha Tower, and the Floating City Mosque. We also dropped by One Hypermall for a yogurt/coffee treat. Late afternoon, we went to Lavender Lodge to leave our things and rest a bit. And the best way to end the day, a sumptuous seafood dinner at Welcome Seafood.

Off we go nature tripping on our second day. A 2-hr drive to Poring Hot Spring at Ranau. We rented their private bathtub for a hot spring water dip. Next stop is Desa Farm. There, we saw the milking process, tasted fresh milk, enjoyed the cool farm breeze, and be mesmerized by the view of green grass and Mt. Kinabalu. 

This trip would never be complete without the beach, the sun, and the sand. From Jesselton Point, we purchased our boat and parasailing tickets from Ampuru Services. Sapi Island is just 15 minutes away from the Jetty and upon our arrival, clear blue water, white sand, and warm people welcomed us. The island is small, yet not too crowded with tourists. Around noon, we went for a boat ride with fellow tourists for our parasailing activity. Aahhhmazzing! Indeed the best way to end this short vacation.