Mentioned “Kota Kinabalu”…most people will think “Mt. Kinabalu”, “Rafflesia”, “Orang Utan”, “Proboscis Monkey”….indeed, Kota Kinabalu is the gateway to all these nature oriented attractions just like Siem Reap is the gateway to the famed Angkor Wat or Hanoi for the picturesque Halong Bay.
In my recent family trip to the “Land Below the Wind” (as seafarers in olden days so termed it as it is located below the typhoon belt thus setting the State free from climatic disturbance) I had to forgo the more strenuous outing as we had couple of kids in tow. But what we missed, was make up by other superb “discoveries”. As our hotel of choice was the Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu, located right in the middle of town at Sinsuran along Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens. Convenient amenities were located steps away from the lobby…but one venue that got my pulse racing and photographic instincts tingling was the Filipino Market – a fish and local produces market with cooked food section, just right across the hotel.The hive of activities typically commences daily late afternoon from about 4pm onwards to late night.
The moods was one of visual and sonic as well… visual for the wide range of “fishy” pics opportunities and sonic as the constant shouting of fish prices by the fervent fishmongers were something of an adventure…especially being thrust into it after a flight from our city life….it was like “tiga ringgit, tiga ringgit, tinga rinngit!!…..lima ringgit, lima rinngit, lima ringgit!!!….” the term “fish market” suddenly gained new perspective…definitely worlds apart from the wet market we are used to….
Did I mentioned many of the fishmongers were sweet young ladies or girls as well… 🙂
Tunas are considered common fish here…not among the expensive…
A stack of this for just Rm4 !!!!
A damsel fishmonger…I believe she moves sales faster…..but she’s nifty with that chopper though…
Fishing boat back from the fishing runs…
Potable water vendor catering to the local populace…
Pigeons picking up scraps at the market grounds…
A Pinoy mum and her son along the water off the promenade …
Sea grapes seaweed… great as salad when eaten with spicy sambal.
Seaweeds – crunchy and delicious, served with lime juice, chilli, sambal…good source of collagen too ! Some Chinese drink vendors also add this as part of their chilled “Luo Han Guo” drinks…
Fresh grouper…. almost alive….
The blue bottles flies will always be there……
Male fishmonger preparing his fish……
You looking at me ?
A creative selling idea… <:||||< <:||||< <:||||<
Fishy “tales”….
The feminine touch to a “fishy” issue….
Tired junior helper……
Busy at work….
At the poultry section……
At the vegetables section…lots of lemongrass for sale… the food critique in you can detect the Thai cuisine influence….
Heaps of chilli padis for the taking…
BBQ Chicken wings….looked delicious…but did not try it,…too busy taking pictures 🙂
BBQ baby squids….
Beef muturbak….just Rm2 per piece…
The wonderful feeling of seafood freshness and affordability…definitely cheaper than at Phuket…
We were served by this stallowner, who’s both a great chef & salesman… as we were the 1st customer for the evening, we were given some discount…as the sight of us dining happily enticed others to patronise his stall too 🙂 ….when we finished our meal… Sweet !
Freshness assured… still moving…
It’s lovely to smell the aroma and hear your dinner sizzling on the pan….
Sumptuous seafood dinner ahead…..
Panoramic view of the venue from Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu Club room…
Dusk comes beautifully daily to Kota Kinabalu ….. That’s the South China Seas you are looking at..
You can enjoy the beautiful sunset around 630pm onwards….great dinner visual “appertiser”
The Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu… just across the road, overlooking the Filipino Market and the South China Sea. Easily recognisable reference point.
I hope you have enjoyed the blog …and do check out the amazing venue….the next time you visit “Land Below the Wind”.
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