The Blooms of the Ixora

Monday, February 11, 2013

OF CUTE LITTLE THING, PROMISES AND IMAGES OF KOTA KINABALU...

I did this cute little thing called Charm Bracelet (at least that's what I think it is haha..) in between watching some TV programmes. Believe me it is cuter in real life than it is in this picture. That's what happens when the lazy bum that I am, feel that my taking my heavy SLR camera from the bag was too much of a hassle. Anyway, the camera from my mobile is a useful tool for situations like this. But serve me right..the result is appalling to say the least. Oh well...

I was told that I am expected to be able to name the materials used in this CLT (cute little thing), but haha.. I do not have the slightest idea what they are, save for the Cabochon Pink Rose and Antique Silver Charm Butterfly.

My promise to a friend to feature a landmark of Kota Kinabalu, the oldest hotel here - the Jesselton Hotel finally fullfilled..phew.. my apologies again for the delay. Again my apologies for the appalling images.. (appalling seems to be my fav word nowadays ..lol).

And so, luckily I found this (pic below) on the Net..their advert page I think...

I understand that many famous people have visited The Jesselton Hotel including the British aristocrat Lady Edwina Mountbatten during her reception that was held by the 20th Governor Turnbull; and boxer Mohammad Ali in which he fought Joe Bugner in Kuala Lumpur on the 30th June 1975 and won on unanimous decision and came through Jesselton on the way to Manila. (ok, I copied these info from this link). :)

As seen from the sidewalk.

Pic above, picture of an old coin pasted on the walls of one of the shops at Gaya Street. This was one of the coins used in the olden days .. 2 1/2 cents.. I wonder how much it is worth now. Interesting..

Sunday Gaya Street Fair.. they sell almost everything ... need a parang?

A cafe at the Australia Place, behind Gaya Street, featuring the olden days of KK when it used to be called Jesselton.

The unique menu

and food is not bad too.

Picture above taken from the archive of my photographs taken more than a year ago.

Seen here is the Marina Court Resort Condominium, a service apartment, shown here, the part that has the best view - overlooking the alluring South China Sea.. see below, until some developers decided to develop the front area - see left of picture above. The houseowners fought tooth and nail to have the development plans revoked - they lost... life has no guarantee.

Pic above -the alluringly beautiful South China Sea.

Those islands are popular tourists attraction

Pic below courtesy of their website

Marina Court Resort Condominium Service Apartment.. those in red and white..

Ferry Terminal - speed boats to the islands

the Gayana Island Resort..

Gorgeous but a tad pricey for my pockets ..hehe

May go there for lunch or dinner and look see, look see only

Pics above and below, courtesy of my cousin, SMK.. taken yesterday...thanks cuz.

CNY Decor at Suria Sabah Shopping Mall taken last night. We were there for dinner

at the FullHouse Cafe.

Below, the entrance..

the inside of the restaurant....shop while you eat..

Gorgeous!!

....... and last but not least, guess who?

Thanks for dropping by. Cheers!!

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

IMAGES OF KOTA KINABALU AND ITS SURROUNDING..

First of all, I would like to apologise to Uncle Al (Dato') for the delay in coming out with the promised pictures of Kota Kinabalu. I have no excuse Sir except the usual, I've been tied up with other stuff since my return from travelling a few days ago. Ahhaa.. isn't that a classic excuse?

Anyway, I've tried to search through the archive of my album of photographs of KK and its surrounding area and came out with some randomly taken sometime last year, now, proudly showing to you and to my other precious readers. Though not well-taken, I hope in some ways, you get to retrieve your beautiful memories of KK when you were once upon a time living here. I hope you and your beautiful wife Datin Ina would come and visit KK again one day soon.

I was walking along Gaya Street and spied the historical Atkinson Tower and took a snap.

Built in 1903, this all-wood, no nails structure was built in memory of Francis George Atkinson, the popular first District Officer of Jesselton during the British North Borneo Chartered Company Administration, who had succumbed to a tropical disease at the young age of 28. This clock tower has the distinction of being the oldest standing structure in the whole of Sabah that survived the destruction of Jesselton town during the WWII. Till today, it still serves to keep the city’s time.

Jesselton Point ... Si

situated north of Kota Kinabalu, this scenic place has an unmistakabe historical feel to it - complete with olden days snapshots of Kota Kinabalu city (Jesselton). Jesslllton Point serves as the only ferry terminal for Labuan-bound passengers as well as the main boat terminal for the islands nearby.

View from the top.. Bandaran Berjaya.. Yonder is the Wisma Budaya building

and the long building with the brown roof is what used to be the BFO Cinema.

Suria Sabah Shopping Mall - the green glass building is the latest shopping mall in

Kota Kinabalu. If you are in KK and feel like shopping at Metro Jaya, Suria Sabah is for you.

The building on the left is Wisma Sabah.

A shop in Gaya Street. The walls are lined with nostalgic pictures of the British Colony era and Japanese Occupation. This event is a community heritage exhibition that features old buildings, old-time stories, cultures and social history about Gaya Street. This street was known as Bond Street during the British Colony era. Known as 'Bonding with Gaya Street' this event was organised by North Borneo History Enthusiasts and Kota Kinabalu City Hall, supported by Sabah Tourism Board, Information Department, Sabah State Museum, Sabah Archives and Daily Express.