I met this guy from Kota Kinabalu, Panglima Sabah, a RTM Pensioner Haji Hasbullah when I performed my umrah and tour to Cairo in April 2008. The Cairo tour was full of fun with this Panglima Sabah and he insisted that I come and visit him at Kota Kinabalu some day.
We left LCCT at 1000 hours on 24th February 2009 after a half hour delay due to a heavy downpour. I came to understand the Airport Departure Lounge was flooded after we departed. We arrived after two and the half hours flight at the newly renovated Terminal 2 in Kota Kinabalu and glad to see Panglima but he also had to wait for his wife whose flight from Penang was also delayed. We proceeded to Promenade Hotel by taxi and he promised to catch up with us later.
I was disappointed to see Anjung Senja, the food bazaar at the water front right in front of the Hotel had been demolished to make way for an esplanade. I used to patronize this place and enjoy the beautiful sunset at the same time. After lunch we took a short walk to the Handicraft Centre, best known as Filipino Market at the city center waterfront. My wife and daughter picked up several souvenirs and also order made ornaments of their own designs to be picked up later. I adjourned to the adjacent Mosque to perform my asar prayer. At about 1630 hours, Panglima picked us up and he took us to the Town Observatory Tower, had tea at Merdeka Plaza and sent us back to the Hotel. Since we were all exhausted, we had dinner ordered from room service and hit the sack very early. The next day is going to be a long day.
25th. February 2009: Early at 0700 hours, Panglima picked us up and we had breakfast with his family. After breakfast, we began our journey to Kinabalu Park and Kundasang, about 80 kilometers away. We passed through Tanparuli and we saw the famous landmark, the Tanparuli suspension Bridge. As we traveled along the winding road we caught the glimpse of Mount Kinabalu peak but not for long. Soon the peak was covered with thick cloud and the peak shy away from our sight. We entered Kinabalu Park and we went to the foot of the highest mountain in South East Asia. This is where the mountaineers would begin their climb to the peak. Weather was cooling and misty. After coffee, we went to the Park Museum and proceeded to Kundasang town. In Kundasang, we toured the War Memorial and at the top we could see a panoramic view of the vegetable farm and the highest golf course in Sabah. We also saw the plaque of the fallen British and Australian soldiers during World War II and the beautiful gardens dedicated to them. It was drizzling when we were there but the Memorial provided us with umbrellas. For lunch we decided to drive up to Pesaka Hotel, the highest point in Kundasang. Since the weather was cooling, the appetite was good and we enjoyed a good meal. On the way down, we stopped at the beautiful Kundasang Mosque for zohor prayer. Halfway back from Kundasang, we stopped at Nabalu, had coffee and my daughter picked up more souvenirs especially T shirts. Surprisingly, it’s cheaper up here compared with Kota Kinabalu city. On the way down to Kota Kinabalu, Panglima took a detour, bypassed Tanparuli and we went for sightseeing at Kota Belud and Tuaran. Reaching Kota Kinabalu, we took an early dinner at one of the Mamak Restaurant. We arrived back at the Hotel at 1900 hours and covered about 200 kilometers. Though tired, I stayed up late to watch the European Cup, live.
26th. February 2009: After breakfast, we walked to the Filipino Market and my daughter picked up the made to order ornaments. Then we went to the Dried Fish Market and we bought about ten kilos of dried fish. Comparing with Peninsular Malaysia, the prices in Kota Kinabalu is pretty cheap. It was tightly packed and odorless. Panglima picked us up at 1100 hours and we went to Bendusan for lunch at the famous Kak Nong Restaurant. After lunch we went to Tanjung Aru to see the beautiful beaches and the abandoned two million mansions of late Tun Mustapha. The rest of the afternoon was rest and nap. At 2000 hours, Panglima came to the Hotel and we walked to the nearby Seafood Restaurant for dinner sponsored by Panglima’s daughter. We enjoyed the food as well as the family chat. It was during dinner, Panglima’s wife presented my wife and daughter a beautiful Sabah ornamental bracelet each as a token of remembrance of our visit. After dinner, Panglima took us for a night tour of Kota Kinabalu and related to us the history of the various buildings and spots. My daughter commented that Uncle Panglima can make a good Tour Guide. Of course he is as Panglima had been staying in Kota Kinabalu for the past 34 years and served RTM Sabah throughout his working career. Therefore he is very knowledgeable of its history. Finally we landed at a place call 6/6 for night cap and chat. This place was the exact spot where the plane carrying late Tun Fuad Stephen and his son crashed on 6th.of July 1986. The sea had been reclaimed and the City Council had turned it into a beautiful eating gazebo. The beautiful part, it close exactly at 2300 hours and all patrons had to evacuate.
27th. February 2009: After breakfast, it was packing time. At 1030 hours, Panglima picked us up and went to buy frozen prawns. Live prawns and dried fish is a must to take back by Peninsular Malaysians who comes to Kota Kinabalu. Since checking in at Terminal 2 at 1200 hours, we went and laze around at a Restaurant at Tanjung Aru. Panglima told me that the next time I come to Sabah we should proceeds to the tip of Borneo, that’s Kudat. They have wonderful and cheap seafood there. Insyaalah…I shall return. Panglima sent us to Terminal 2 and we bade farewell to him. After checking in we had our lunch at the Airport restaurant. The plane left Kota Kinabalu on schedule at 1405 hours.
We hit home at 1900 hours. To Panglima and family, I must say thank you to you all and I must admit I had seen a lot of Kota Kinabalu and its surroundings this time around. My three previous trips to Kota Kinabalu were not as thorough as this. I first met Panglima when we first landed in Jeddah for our umrah and Cairo trip and since then we used to call and email each other. We have mutual respect for each other. Panglima and I have several in common; our wives both working for Jabatan Kastam, we both have a son and a daughter in that order and Panglima is also an acquaintance of my elder brother and my immediate neighbor who were once serving RTM Malaysia. Panglima is a down to earth man, no formality, walking around with round collar T shirt with jeans and was a pondok student in Kelantan. I bet if he did not join RTM Sabah, he qualifies to be an Ustaz somewhere. He was born and educated in Kelantan and he told me his late father was a pioneer PAS member. In fact Panglima still declares himself as Kelantanese and so happened married to a Kadazan Sabahan. I used to call him Kelantan murtad. He used to tell me with Air Asia, he has no problem with balik kampong and visit his son in Penang. Normally a friend met at the Holy Land, tend to be intimate and so far I encountered only one specimen that I met in the Holy Land who is so arrogant beyond description. Numerous people I met at the Holy Land can get along fine with yours truly and I don’t understand why that particular specimen alone is exceptional. Panglima prove to be a good buddy and he did not break his promise to accept me as his guest in Kota Kinabalu. I hope one day I can reciprocate.
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