Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia: Our Third Country Visited on the Norwegian Spirit

During our Christmas cruise on the Norwegian Spirit through Asia, we first set sail through Taiwan. Now, continuing my blog series, we’ve just left the Philippines and arrived in Malaysia. Both countries offered amazing experiences, and Malaysia was just as great in its short timeframe. On day 9 of our 14-day journey at sea, we docked at a port in Kota Kinabalu.

Stepping off the boat, we weren’t quite sure how to spend the day. Half of us were eager to explore the city, while the other half wanted to get out on the water. So, we decided to do both. As we wandered further along the port, we came across a building filled with tour companies. After browsing our options, we found a city tour that covered all the major sights in just a few hours. It seemed like a good deal and a perfect way to start the day. Our first stop was the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque (Masjid Bandaraya).

With more than 60% of Malaysia’s population being Muslim, mosques play a significant role in the country’s culture. We hadn’t originally planned on going inside, but when we saw visitors being dressed in traditional attire, we decided to join in as it looked like a fun experience. Since modest clothing is required to enter, the staff helped us dress appropriately. After getting our tickets, we waited as a woman selected outfits for us, each in a different color. The garments were beautiful, and wearing them wasn’t considered disrespectful; rather, it was a sign of respect for the religion and its customs.

Mosques are always stunning from the outside, with intricate details and grand architecture, but the interiors are often much simpler than expected. This one was no exception. We didn’t stay long, though… the extra layers in the heat had us absolutely drenched in sweat!

Heading back to the van, we made our way to the Uneversiti Malaysia Sabah mosque, which we admired from the outside. While there, we grabbed some smoothies and some chicken buns called pau ayam, from a small stand, a nice refreshment in the heat.

Our next stop was the Menara Tun Mustapha tower, an important building that contributes to Malaysia’s educational and socioeconomic development. We didn’t go in and just snapped a few pictures before moving on. To be completely honest, there wasn’t much to see in the city itself.

Our final stop, where we were dropped off, was a market lined with nearly identical stalls all selling pearl bracelets. They were beautiful, but with around 40 vendors offering the same jewelry, it felt a bit repetitive. Still, I couldn’t resist and picked one out!

Wandering further, we found ourselves in a bustling food market. Towering stacks of durian—some larger than two of my heads—stood out with their unmistakable look alongside other exotic fruits. We grabbed some lychees to snack on as we weaved through stalls filled with fresh fish, dried seafood, and even seahorses!

Back at the tour building, we decided to take a boat to a nearby island about 30 minutes away. The motorboat sped across the water, leaving us with nothing to do but hold on tight! Upon arriving at Manukan Island, we stepped off and wandered along the beach. It was a small island with just one hotel—staying there would be a unique experience, though it seemed like it could get boring quickly.

Hoping to grab some food and maybe a drink, we headed to the island’s only restaurant, only to find out it was exclusive to hotel guests. That was surprising, especially since only two tables were occupied. Oh well! Instead, we explored the entire island, collecting a few mosquito bites along the way, before making our way to the beach. The water was warm, as it had been throughout the trip, but unfortunately, there was a lot of trash. It kept floating by and even bumping into me, that was sad to see.

Catching a boat back, we still had some time before needing to return to the cruise. The one thing I really wanted to do while in Malaysia was try hot pot, so with our remaining time, we headed to a spot near the port called Yi Pin Tian Xia.

Stepping inside, we had no idea how it worked—and we were also the only customers, with about ten workers watching us. They did their best to explain, but the language barrier made things a bit tricky. Eventually, we figured it out and ordered a variety of ingredients. For our broths, we chose a mild chicken broth and a spicy one. We double-checked with the waitress, asking if the one-pepper symbol meant it would be too spicy. She assured us it wouldn’t be, but I’m not sure if we were fully understood.

We ordered noodles, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, mushrooms, sprouts, chicken, and what was supposed to be sirloin steak bites. Everything arrived surprisingly fast, but when the “sirloin” showed up, it was definitely not what we expected. Our confusion must have been obvious because the staff quickly offered to swap it out, which we appreciated.

With the broths boiling in the center of the table, we split everything between the two pots and let it cook for a bit. Once it was ready, we started serving ourselves—only to realize too late that we had put way too much into the spicy side. That was not a spice level meant for Americans, I mean you can kind of see in these pictures above just how deadly the red side looks! My sister and I tried to power through it, but it was a mistake. My mouth was on fire, and after a while, I couldn’t even taste anything. My stomach was on fire afterwards, definitely not happy with me.

Despite the spice-induced suffering, it was a fun experience. After paying and stepping outside, we had only made it a few steps before a few workers came running after us, asking if we could take photos with them. We laughed and went back inside, where they took turns snapping pictures with us, competing over who got the next shot. It was a hilarious and unexpected way to end our time in Malaysia!

Now finally leaving, we grabbed some waters at a convenience store and headed back to the cruise ship. My family is a bit picky when it comes to water—rightfully so, since the cruise ship’s tap water has a funky taste. A good tip is to always bring bottled water back on board after visiting a port.

Also, a quick note for the ladies: most public restrooms here are squat toilets, so be prepared! It’s always a good idea to carry some extra tissues, just in case.

One day in Malaysia was nowhere near enough to truly experience the country, and I’d love to come back someday. Exploring smaller towns, seeing more of the nature, and diving deeper into the culture would be amazing. But for now, it’s time to set sail for our next stop—Brunei Darussalam!