Sabah 2.

The mission of 02 to 05 October 2013 was incomplete and we decided to return and venture into Sabah again. We were in Sabah about a month later from 04 November to 08 November 2013.

04 November 2013.

We landed at Kota Kinabalu Terminal 2 at 1830 hrs awaited by Haji Kadir with a pre rented car, Gen 2 and the KK tropical rain shower. In KK, at 1800 hrs is already dark and it’s Maghreb. We headed straight for Masjid Negeri as it was along the route. The rain became heavier, pouring like crazy and the wind was gusting from the South China Sea. We had difficulty coming out from the car for dinner at Kak Nong Restaurant.

There were plenty more Mosques to cover in Sabah and the mission was to visit as many as possible as we drove along. The motto was: Jalan Jalan Cari Masjid. With Sabah’s map in hand, we just drive and break journey when a Mosque is in sight.

The strategy for tomorrow was to start off from Putatan downward and drove west ward along the coast as further as possible.

05 November 2013.

The first Mosque.

Solat Jamak was at Kuala Penyu Mosque.

Lunch was at Beaufort.

Reached home base at Inanam KK at about 1800 hrs and had dinner at Tanjong Lipat Food Court facing the Sea by the esplanade. 

06 November 2013.

First thing after breakfast we got the car two front tires replaced. It was going to be a long drive. Started by driving inland from Inanam to Tanparuli and further into Sabah hinterland towards Sandakan.

We had a break at Kudangsang to enjoy the scenic sceneries of Mount Kinabalu foothill and solat jamak at Kundangsang Mosque.

Late afternoon we reached Telupid, the centre of Sabah. We stopped for refueling and the Ron 95 petrol here is RM 2.80 per liter! We kept on going until nightfall.

At Sandakan and Tawau T junction, place call Checkpoint, we turned right towards Tawau. It was already dark. Stopped for dinner at an Indian Muslim Restaurant at Kota Kinabatangan and we got stuck in this Bung Mokhtar territory. The consolation was this Indian Muslim Restaurant had a wifi connection. Driving back to KK was too distance away, crazily risky and suicidal. So we decided to find a retreat in this God damn place in the middle of nowhere. We were not equipped with any extra clothing and thank God we found a Store still open to buy a sarong and tooth brush each. We managed to find a rundown Rest House and make do with the minimum facilities available. As long as we had a bed and attached bathroom we were contented. Had a good shower and off to wonderland.

07 November 2013.

We checked out early morning and headed for Bukit Garam, back tracked to Checkpoint and headed for Sandakan.

The last Mosque in Sandakan was Masjid Nurasyikirin Batu 4, Taman Indah Jaya. After solat jamak at the Mosque, it was already 1400 hrs and we had to hit home base in KK. The scariest section was from Ranau to Tanparulli passing through Kudangsang by the foothill of Mount Kinabalu. It was misty, dark and raining. Ascending and descending the hill with heavy laden vehicles up front and passing by was treacherous and nerve wrecking.

Finally at 2000 hrs we hit Kota Kinabalu, felt relieved and exhausted. We had dinner, went to look for ATM Machine and hit the sack like a log.

08 November 2013.

Soon after the subuh prayer I went to KK Pasar Besar in town to get some fresh prawns to take home. It is pretty cheap here in KK and most Peninsular Malaysian tourists would carry a cartoon of seafood on their flight home.

Haji Hasbullah Latif, my buddy in KK came and looked us up for breakfast. Later mid afternoon we adjourned to Masjid Bandaraya at Likas for Friday prayer. Musa Aman the Sabah Chief Minister was among the congregation.

The flight to LCCT KLIA was scheduled at 1930 hrs but was delayed for an hour. Home at last in Port Klang around midnight.