DAY 58---KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA

                                   

We are docked in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, today.  It is 77 degrees at 8am this morning as we prepare to head out on our tour.  Back from tour at noon time.  Now 83 degrees.

Historical/Background Info:

        This is a new port for us.  Malaysia is a Southeast Asia country occupying parts of the Malay Peninsula and the island of Bornea.  They are separated by the South China Sea.  Kota Kinabalu is on the island of East Borneo.  This is confusing to me too!  We just moved less than 100 miles up the coast from Muara last night.  The total population of Malaysia is over 32 million.  About half of the population are ethnically Malay with minorities of Chinese, Indians, and indigenous peoples.  As in Borneo, homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia. 

        Kota Kinabalu, with a population of over 450,000, is the Malaysian state capital of Sabah in the northern part of the island of Borneo.  It is often called just “KK”.  It’s known for its bustling markets, modern boardwalk, beaches, and the City Mosque.  It is also the gateway to Kinabalu National Park.  It is a major tourist destination and a gateway for travelers to Sabah and Borneo.  It is also one of the major industrial and commercial centers of East Malaysia making it one of the fastest growing cities in Malaysia.  No fear shoppers as there are several malls here too.

LAST EVENING

                                                     Murphy brought me a Valpolicella.

I had this nice Valpolicella red

Our Caesar with dressing on the side so I can doctor it up with tabasco.

Sent the first chicken parm back as did not look like the Sette Mari.  This is what I wanted and expected.

                                    It was good and we were pretty much clean platers.

At a table next to us was the wife and son of Benji, a head waiter with over 20 years with Regent.

This is the wife and son of a waiter, Albert.  He also had over 20 years service with Regent. It was so nice of Regent to allow their families to come on for a short cruise.  We have never seen this happen before.

                                                            Apple tart with ice cream

TODAY

       Across the bay from our balcony is another community of houses on stilts over the water.

                                           Greeting band on the pier as we head off the ship.

As we stepped off the gangway heading off the ship this young lady but necklaces around our necks.

                  Picture of Rebecca's necklace after we got back to our suite after the tour.

                                                        More young ladies greeting us.

                                                              Band and dancers on the pier

                                                Inside the cruise terminal which was empty.

                                                                  Tour buses lined up.

                                                                           Our tour

        Nice enough bus but had frilly drapes.  We sat on back row.  Roads were pretty bumpy.

                                                   Adrian, our guide, handing out water.

This is the "City Mosque" but locals call it the "Blue Mosque" which can hold 16,000 Muslims during prayer.  There is a "Blue Mosque" in the Emirates that is MUCH larger that we have visited.

                            Hard to see but there are some egrets in the water at edge.

                                                                         Beach area

                                              Market but it is not open when we passed by.

Tun Mustapha Tower is a 30 story glass tower built in 1976 for $20 million and is the 5th tallest building in Borneo.  The 18th floor rotates 360 degrees every hour.

This is the government office building for the Prime Minister and other ministers.  It took 6 years to build.

                                                                      Customs House

                                                Front view of government office buildings.

                                                           Government office buildings

                                                                 This is an university

                                                                

                                       Appears to be food markets but empty as we passed by.

                                                                         Starbucks

                                                               Queen Elizabeth Hospital

                                                                Sabah State Mosque

This is Tanjung Aru Beach park.  Pick nick places along the beach front.  On other side of the street is a country club with golf course.

                       We stopped at this 5 star resort--Shangri La for a complimentary drink.

                                                                       Lobby area

                                     It sits on a beach front with super nice swimming pools.

I told Adrian that I was not going to sit out in the heat for my free drink so he got Mary and I a beer and Rebecca a Coke Zero which we drank in the lobby.

                                                                           Our bus

                                                    More houses on the water on stilts.

There were several malls we passed on our drive back to the pier.  There is a free shuttle today to one of them.

        After boarding at noon we raced up to the suite to wash our hands before heading up to La Veranda buffet for some lunch.  I had Zurich style veal and creamy mushrooms, a small piece of chili-honey glazed salmon, rice, and vegetables.

        Rebecca had to shower and wash her hair early today as at 3:30pm all guests will have to do a face-to-face meeting with some Philippines Quarantine & Immigration officials down in the theater.  They will be checking our passports, viewing the QR codes that we received when doing the online registration, and taking our temperatures.

        Paul called for decks 11 & 7 to go down first for the inspection at 3:33.  It was a very organized procedure and we were walking out at 3:40.  We got this shore pass card to use when going ashore at the 3 Philippine ports we will be calling on.

        We sailed from KK at 3pm for our next port of call Puerto Princesa on the Philippine island of 

Palawan.  It is only 200 miles to sail tonight.  We are to be docked by 10am tomorrow.

        Same routine for this evening with cocktails in Mariner Lounge followed by dinner in Compass Rose.

                                                                    Tonight's menu

         Tonight's show is featuring vocalist, Monique Dehaney.  It is her second and last show.  We did not attend her first show so want to see this one.