Kota Kinabalu

[khiemtran]

Some photos from earlier in our trip... Kota Kinabalu or "Kinabalu City" sits by the sea, within minutes of coral reefs and tropical island.




A vibrant fishing fleet works the surrounding sea.





At the docks, you can also get rides to the nearby islands.



You can see the nets on the back of this trawler.



Three boys in a boat by the night market. (Yes, three. Count the legs.)



The view from our hotel room shows the poles marking the channel out to sea. The tents in the foreground are part of the market. By mid-morning, they will all have been packed away.



This photo shows why the marker poles are there. You can see sandbanks and reefs on each side of the channel.



Here's a tip if you ever need to navigate in or out of a strange harbour. The markers come in two colours: red and green. "Port" markers are red (like Port wine) and have barrel-shapes on top (Port wine comes in barrels). "Starboard" markers are green and have triangles on top. When you're heading upstream (i.e. away from the sea), you need to keep the Port marker on your Port side.

Port marker on your Port side when you're heading in to Port...

On the other hand, when you're heading downstream (or away from land), the rules are reversed...

Red marker on your Right side when you're heading Right Out to sea...

I guess it made sense in the days when you sailors needed to be able to navigate anywhere in the world regardless of the local language or even their own literacy.



The sun sets over the islands. Time to head out for dinner soon. Seafood, of course.



Along the way: recognize a familiar shape on the flag of Sabah?



Next up: in which we meet our dinner...

Comments

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

That is a very colorful fleet and a fleet indeed.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Yes, we were lucky that our hotel room looked down over the water, so we could watch them coming and going throughout the day.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love the photo of all the colorful fishing boats. The crane-things on the back (for hauling in nets?) look almost like rigging.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Yes, I like the way they all have the Malaysian and the Sabahan flag too. The seafood in KK was great, as you might expect.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I love your photos so, so much!

I saw the first one and was like, "No THIS ONE. I want THIS ONE for the cover of Pen Pal!" It's all right: the one you've let me use is probably better, but man, how beautiful this photo is, and the one further down of the boys. And the boats! Gorgeous. And the sky--gorgeous. And the water sparkles. Yes, also gorgeous.

I have wanted to go to Kota Kinabalu since my sophomore year in college. Well, one day.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

It's certainly a great place to visit! Our climbing party only had one full day there, which was mostly consumed with last-minute shopping, but Liem and his grandparents stayed there while we were on the mountain. His grandparents took him on a tour boat to the Marine Ecology Research Centre, where he learned about giant clams and help replant some coral. Next time we go there, I'd like to go on one of the island trips where you can go kayaking and snorkelling.