I stayed in the Le Meridien facing the waterfront of Kota Kinabalu, the exotic capital of East Malaysian state of Sabah in the North East Corner of Borneo for two nights in early November, on a whistle stop familiarization tour courtesy of Tourism Malaysia.
This may be a world away from the winter snows of Moscow and Russia and the mention of Borneo conjures up images of headhunters with blowpipes and Orang Utans but think again. While there are Orang Utans in the zoo and rehabilitation sanctuaries, the descendents of headhunting tribes pit on folklore performances, this is a modern 21st Century city with high speed internet, 40 story buildings (as long as they are out of the flight path that flies over the waterfront) and a host of amenities many of which seem to centre, for now, on Le Meridien Hotel.
With shopping malls to the side and rear; a wonderful market right in front where you can buy fresh produce or eat it at tables beside the waterfront and pubs, restaurants and shops galore right on the spot; while when the sun sets traders set up their folding tables and display their wares in the night market.
Enjoy it while you can.
The fresh food markets and convenient hawker food stalls with their lip-smackin’ temptations of fresh barbecued fish and array of deserts such as banana and sweet potato fritters and sweet rice and coconut concoctions are due to be cleared away as are BED (Best Entertainment Destination), Aussie’s (Australian Bar) Shamrock (Irish bar) and the marvelous Borneo Trading Post souvenir shop.
Under a master plan they will be bulldozed out of the way within two years for a new waterfront esplanade under a city master plan. This has already started materializing with a stretch of waterfront pavement and railings in front of a new shopping mall due to open by the end of November. Just over the bay from Le Meridien the greens of a 27-hole golf course lie in front of new homes where construction is powering ahead and the government offices at Kota Kinabalu Times Square are already up and the first employees at their desks.
All this lies within a ten minute drive of the international airport.
Le Meridien is set to be part of this burgeoning new development in Kota Kinabalu and through its doors a variety of restaurants and bars caters to locals and guests of the hotel’s 306 guestrooms and suites. John-George (JG) Vongerichten, the Michelin 3-star chef has introduced innovative breakfast signature dishes to the Circle restaurant and, as you enter this ground floor restaurant a hostess, after booking you in for the complimentary breakfast, offers you a JG eye opener with an innovative combination of flavors – mango-chili-lime, or honeydew-passion fruit-chili both of which sparked my appetite.
A sumptuous buffet that could sustain you through lunch to the evening is offered with a full array of dim-sum and curries on offer as well as local porridge and western muesli.
Later, you may want to enjoy vibrant Latin cuisine, rousing music and a great atmosphere on offer at the Rumba Latin Grill & Bar fueled by price specials that make you think Moscow’s Doug Steele of Papa’s Place must have passed through here.
Kota Kinabalu, affectionately known as KK has access to climbing, jungle trekking through the rainforest, wildlife and watersports with a fine yachting marina and superb dive sites. There’s a universal air of tranquility which makes me want to come back.
