North Borneo Cruises in Kota Kinabalu

Posted on July 28, 2018 by missuschewy

There are many things to see and do in Kota Kinabalu, and embarking on North Borneo Cruises will give you an unforgettable experience of a lifetime, sailing across the South China Sea, while indulging in an International buffet with live entertainment onboard.

The North Borneo Cruises is the first of its kind in Sabah, taking guests on a 2-hour scenic cruise past the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine park and down the central coast gliding along the city’s famous Waterfront. There are two different sessions daily starting from 4:30pm to 7:00pm for the Sunset Dinner Cruise and from 7:30pm to 9:45pm for the KK Night City Buffet Dinner Cruise.

Since we were travelling with a bunch of kids, the earlier timing for the sunset cruise worked better for all of us, plus we wanted to catch the beautiful sunset for a more memorable exxperience!

Boarding North Borneo Cruises! Passengers in baby strollers or wheelchairs can board the cruise via the ramp.

We were first ushered to the main deck and shown to our respective tables. The International buffet spread was already waiting for us! Haha.

Free flow coffee, tea and water are included. Currently, there is Happy Hour promotion of 50% off beverages, not applicable for peak season, public holidays and eve of public holidays. Terms and conditions apply.

All guests had to be seated and listen to the important safety briefing before we were allowed to roam around.

Complimentary orange juice and Muruku fish crackers were served to all tables. We really like the intimate and cosy dining setting.

Dinner is served! The variety is very wide and you will definitely get to eat your fill.

North Borneo Cruises’ resident band offers daily stellar live musical performances in different genres and languages while you enjoy your sumptuous dinner. Feel free to join in the fun and dance the night away! The band also accepts song requests.

Guests are welcome to explore the remaining decks and snap many photos while they are at it.

Even the North Borneo Cruises staff all seem to have plenty of fun! Their energy is simply infectious!

The sun-deck is very popular as it offers a beautiful unobscured view of the sea and beyond.

If you want to catch a glimpse of sunset, be sure to arrive at the sun-deck early to grab a good spot. We enjoyed the sea breeze blowing in our faces.

Even without joining the KK City Night Dinner Cruise, we could still experience nightfall while out at sea.

If you have a large group or celebrating a special occasion, North Borneo Cruise offers private VIP room which seats 20 to 25 pax comfortably, and the room is also equipped with a karaoke system.

North Borneo Cruises is offering a Buy 3 Free 1 promotion, book and enjoy by 30th December 2018. For more information on the cruise and rates, visit their website here.

We have come to the end of our Kota Kinbalu series of blog posts! We would like to sincerely thank the following for their kind hospitality and for making this trip a splendid one for all of us:

Flights – AirAsia
Accommodation – Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa
Activities – Sabah Tourism Board

THANK YOU! 🙂

Manukan Island in Kota Kinabalu

Posted on July 23, 2018 by missuschewy

In one of my earlier posts documenting our Sabah holiday trip, Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa is our highly recommended choice of accommodation especially for families with children because of the wide range of kid-friendly amenities. Apart from that, private jetty STAR Marina is exclusively owned and operated by the resort, offering guests easy accessibility to neighbouring islands for day trips and beach activities. If you have some hours to spare, you can take the speedboat shuttle to Manukan Island!

It was the girls’ first time taking a speedboat. Little misschewy was totally enjoying the ride while Mini misschewy was a little scared and clung onto Daddy. Life vests were provided before we set off and the journey was just a short 5 to 10 minutes.

Manukan Island is the second largest island in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. It was mood-lifting to see the sandy white beach and pristine clear waters when we set foot on the island.

If you like to unwind at the beach, Manukan Island is a great choice. Besides sandcastle-building for young children, scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking and parasailing are just some of the many activities that one can do at Manukan Island.

Great bonding session for families and nice sensory experience for little kids.

For visitors who want to escape from the heat at Manukan Island, there are many benches lined up along the beach with ample shade from the trees. There are also some shops and cafes selling snacks and drinks.

We had lunch at a cafe to fill our hungry tummies before returning to our resort.

If you love the sun, sand and sea, you definitely have to visit Manukan Island when you head to Kota Kinabalu!

Mari Mari Cultural Village Kota Kinabalu

Posted on July 20, 2018 by missuschewy

We travel for a myriad of reasons. Apart from travelling as a form of escapism and to rejuvenate ourselves, we also seek to gain knowledge that you cannot get just by reading books. During our recent trip to Sabah, a visit to Mari Mari Cultural Village provided us with the opportunity to see and experience for ourselves, the culture and lifestyle of how the indigenous ethnic groups of Borneo used to live in the olden days when electricity had not yet been introduced in their land. Mari Mari Cultural Village is situated amidst a remote forest setting in Kionsom, Inanam; away from the hustling and bustling Kota Kinabalu city. The village operates as a museum that preserves Borneo ethnic culture with the aim to share knowledge, history, culture, and tradition of Borneo with visitors so that it is not forgotten.

Mari Mari Cultural Village features 5 different ethnic tribes. They are the rice farmer Kadazan-Dusun, the longhouse resident Rungus, the hunters and fisherman Lundayeh, the cowboy and sea gypsey Bajau, and the famously feared headhunting tribe Murut. I find it interesting that the village’s in-house guides are actually descendants of among the 5 tribes in the village.

Our journey began with all of us crossing the wobbly suspension bridge over a small river.

Our in-house guide showed us around each of the different tribe houses to learn about their different lifestyles, cultures, and histories.

Not only did we get to witness how bamboo was used to cook their meals, we even got to taste the food!

Montoku is a traditional alcoholic drink of the Kadazan-Dusun community and I find that it tastes like whisky!

Delicious fresh honey.

All the tribe houses feature something similar like this. The girls would sleep on the upper deck and their fathers would remove the ladders at night.

We were truly amazed that a fire could be started in less than 5 minutes using bamboo! Back then, it was the ladies’ job and we could tell that it is actually physically tiring.

Rope making demonstration.

Little misschewy wanted to bring this “bracelet” home! LOL.

The Murut blow-pipe was a pretty fun experience for all of us. It is a bit like archery except that you use your mouth to hit your target!

Looks easy but it’s not! In the olden days, the blow-pipe was used as a weapon.

The Lansaran is like a traditional trampoline made from bamboo and much to our surprise, it can carry a lot of weight.

More than 10 people jumping on the lansaran? No problem!

After visiting the 5 tribal houses, we proceeded to the event hall to watch the traditional performances.

My favorite was the bamboo dance as I was captivated by how gracefully the dancers step in and out of the bamboo poles.

Little misschewy and I took part in the bamboo dance too. All I can say that it is a lot harder than it looks but it was a fun experience!

During the 2-hour tour around Mari Mari Cultural Village, we felt as though we were transported back in time, as we enriched ourselves in new found knowledge. Being able to participate in some of the activities was indeed an authentic experience that we will never forget. Click here to find out more about the itinerary and price if you are keen!

Mari Mari Cultural Village
Address: Inanam, 88450 Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah, Malaysia
Tel: +60 11-3388 4827

Opening Hours:
Daily
10am – 6pm

Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa, Kota Kinabalu

Posted on July 17, 2018 by missuschewy

Photo credit: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa

The Chewys had a fabulous and unforgettable three-night stay at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa when we travelled to Kota Kinabalu two weeks ago. Apart from its close proximity of around 6.5km from Kota Kinabalu Airport, Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa is located just 10 minutes away from the city. For families with young children, the resort’s ideal location serves as a convenient base for exploring Borneo’s rich cultural heritage.

Photo credit: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa

Just two and a half hours by air from Singapore, we flew with AirAsia and arrived Kota Kinabalu without any hiccups. Upon stepping into Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa, we were warmly greeted with nice refreshing welcome drinks and were then led the way to our rooms at the Kinabalu Wing.

Photo credit: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa

It was a pleasant surprise for all of us when we entered our Kinabalu Club Family Room. The kids were particularly excited by the children’s room. Each Family Room offers 66 square meters of luxury and comfortably accommodates 2 adults and 2 children, with plenty of extra space. All guests of Kinabalu Club rooms will get to enjoy personalised services and added privileges such as complimentary daily buffet breakfast, complimentary beverages all day, and evening drinks with predetermined hours, at the Kinabalu Club Lounge.

We appreciate waking up to the beautiful and tranquil sea view from our hotel room every morning.

Photo credit: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa

The children’s room is equipped with a bunk bed and child-friendly furniture. One can also expect children’s amenities and welcome packs.

Little misschewy and Mini misschewy were so excited that they clambered up the bunk bed and made themselves comfortable there while misterchewy and I checked out the parents’ room with balcony, ensuite bathroom with extra towels, separate shower and soaking tub.

The kids were allowed to watch cartoon every morning and night, but only because we were on holiday!

The Kinabalu Club Lounge is where most of the magic happens! We had our breakfast there every morning during our stay. We loved the experience as it was exclusive to Club room guests and we received detailed attention from the staff.

I was too occupied with eating that I forgot to take photos. The breakfast buffet spread at the Kinabalu Club Lounge is actually very impressive! We had smoked salmon, seafood congee, potato wedges, sauteed mushrooms, sushi, omelette, along with various buns and pastries. The kids usually chose bread or cereal with milk.

We also got the opportunity to have dinner at Shang Palace with the lovely Comms ladies Claudina and Daphne.

Living up to its name, the food at Shang Palace was delectable and exquisite. We chatted and ate to our hearts’ content. Some of my favorites include the Marinated Cantonese “Qingyan” Chicken, Braised Beancurd with Assorted Mushrooms, Stir-fried Sliced Grouper Fillets with Ginger, Scallions and Pepper, and Dry Butter Style Crab. The kids were not forgotten and had comforting bowls of minced pork porridge with salted egg and dough fritters on the side. Shang Palace is definitely a family-friendly restaurant in Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa that serves quality food.

*Ahem..* And if the other half allows, adjourn to the Kinabalu Club Lounge for complimentary evening drinks. The husband was thrilled to see a variety of alcoholic beverages such as beer, whisky and hard liquor. Of course he had the company of a fellow Daddy friend as his drinking partner while the mummies stayed in the rooms to take care of the little ones.

Photo credit: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa

Mummies need their “me time” too and there is no better way to pamper ourselves than indulging in a spa session at CHI, The Spa!

The spa design concept is certainly very unique, with a standalone spa village sitting on an island connected to the hotel by a private causeway. It is also interesting to note that traditional Borneo treatments on the spa menu are plant-based in nature, energy aware and reflect the multi-cultural heritage of the region.

Advance booking prior to treatment time is recommended. Spa wear will be provided in your treatment suite.

CHI, The Spa has a very comprehensive spa menu offering five categories of treatments – Wellness Journeys, Body Treatments (Scrubs), Body Treatments (Wraps), Massages and Facial Treatments. If you are a mummy like me, who often feel tightness in the back, neck and shoulders, I highly recommend the Signature Malaysian Re-energizing Massage! My therapist Zetty was very skillful in easing out all the tight knots within the one hour session.

If an hour is all you can spare, I say, go for the massage and you will definitely not regret it! I felt so rejuvenated and alive after the session!

Happy mummies who couldn’t wait to get back to the kids!

It was reassuring to know that our kids had a ball of fun at the Cool Zone when the mummies were away at the spa!

Upon entering the Cool Zone, the beautifully hand-painted walls, featuring aquatic and land animals found only in Sabah, provide a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for both children and their parents.

Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa provides babysitting services at MYR 30 per hour for children aged five and above only when the Kids Club is not open. It is advisable that bookings are to be made at least one day in advance. Parents can drop their children off anytime between 10am to 6pm and the resort’s professionally trained, English speaking staff will supervise and keep the children entertained while parents relax in the sun or explore the sights of Sabah.

The Cool Zone is divided into different areas such as the toddler section, creativity area for painting and craftwork, and the computer & TV room.

I’m glad that the husband managed to snap some photos as evidence that Little misschewy and Mini misschewy enjoyed playing with the toys at the Cool Zone!

The first and only one of its kind in Borneo, the water play area at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa comprises of a dedicated section for toddlers, teenagers and an interactive area for all ages. Guests of all ages can enjoy the theme-park-quality water slides measuring a total length of 100 metres. Other fun facilities include water battle stations with water balloon launchers, a 2,000-sqm swimming pool with a tapered shoreline for children and an infinity pool section for adults.

Due to our packed itinerary, we didn’t have much time to explore the beautiful resort but we managed to squeeze time out after breakfast for a couple of photos.

Click here to find out more about Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa’s Family Fun Package! It includes many perks such as complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the resort, complimentary buffet breakfast and buffet dinner at Café TATU, unlimited water balloon fights, unlimited entry to Cool Zone, etc. The offer is available now till 31 December 2018. Also, there is 20% discount for Café TATU buffet dinner when you book direct with their Best Available Rate or Advance Purchase offers on www.shangri-la.com or through the Shangri-La Mobile App. 🙂

Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa
No. 20 Jalan Aru,
Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah, 88100, Malaysia
Tel: (60 88) 327 888
Email: reservations.tah@shangri-la.com

On Board AirAsia from Singapore to Kota Kinabalu

Posted on July 9, 2018 by missuschewy

Hello everyone! We just got back from our Sabah FAM trip and can’t wait to share our itinerary with you! It was our first time flying with AirAsia as a family and the experience was nothing short of amazing! 🙂

AirAsia is currently having a promo for flights from Singapore to Kota Kinabalu starting from SGD68 one way, travel period from now till 31 Jan 2019! Promo ends on 15 July 2018. Terms and conditions apply.

All ready to check in our luggage at Terminal 4!

We had some time to explore T4 before boarding our evening flight.

As parents with young children, we highly recommend getting the Hot Seats, which enables you to have priority boarding. It’s always good to have enough time to settle down in your seats before the plane takes off!

With my naughty little partner who got a window seat 😀

Lovebirds sitting behind us lol.

Comfortably settled in her seat.

As soon as the plane took off, we were treated to a beautiful view.

We were pleasantly surprised that the seats are actually pretty spacious! Look at the girls sharing a seat. Mini misschewy even had space to kiao kah 😛

Hungry liao cuz it was dinner time! Do you know that you can prebook your meals? Besides getting your meals sorted out before your trip, you can also get some savings out of it simply via “Manage My Booking” on airasia.com. I was totally looking forward to my Nasi Kandar with Chicken Varuval which is a new addition to AirAsia’s inflight menu. Mixed everything up and gobbled down my food! Very sedap!

The Spiral Pasta with Chicken Sausage is another new item and it is suitable for kids as it does not contain any spice or chilli. Little misschewy had this as she likes pasta.

Emperor Fried Rice for misterchewy.

Chicken Lasagne for Mini misschewy.

All eager to tuck in!

On our flight back to Singapore, we had some yummy and filling light bites such as Salmon Ebiko Onigiri + Miso Soup (On Board Combo), Vietnamese Chicken Wrap + Tea/Coffee (On Board Combo), T&Co Salted Peanuts, Assorted Sandwiches, Chocolate Brownie, Mum’s Butter Cake and Mineral Water. I liked both the onigiri and vietnamese chicken wrap!

Little misschewy loved the sandwiches!

Before we end off this post, we would like to thank Christina (not in photo) and Amzar from AirAsia for coordinating and taking care of us throughout this trip.

Don’t miss out on AirAsia’s #TravelFrenzy deals! Click here to enjoy the promo fare from Singapore to Kota Kinabalu from just SGD68 one way, travel period from now till 31 January 2019. Promo ends on 15 July 2018. Terms and conditions apply.

missuschewy

Singapore Lifestyle and Travel Blog

Category Archives: #Malaysia: Sabah

North Borneo Cruises in Kota Kinabalu

Manukan Island in Kota Kinabalu

Mari Mari Cultural Village Kota Kinabalu

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