We flew with AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu on the East Malaysian island of Borneo. There were no major incidents on the 2:30-hour flight—except that we paid just €7.70 for the ticket. The trip to the airport can cost more in Germany.
Kota Kinabalu is the capital of the Malaysian state of Sabah on the island of Borneo. The city's name is derived from Kota, the Malaysian word for "city," and Kinabalu, a mountain located about 50 kilometers to the east. At 4,095 meters, Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in Southeast Asia.
After we arrived at our hotel, the Beverly HotelAfter checking in, we went exploring the city center. We noticed that many locals were dressed in colorful garments. Only later did we learn that the Islamic Feast of Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha) was being celebrated. Islam, which is practiced by 60 percent of Malaysia's population, is the state religion.
In Kota Kinabalu, we once again realize how stark the difference is between the large, opulent shopping centers and the wooden shacks of some of the locals. Along the promenade alone, we counted four large malls. All billboards and large parts of the signage are in English, even though the official language of the Malaysians is Malay (Bahasa Melayu). Apart from the countless shopping opportunities, there are hardly any possible activities. However, Kota Kinabalu is a good, central starting point for various excursions (e.g., to Mount Kinabalu or the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park).
