May 9 - I had already bought the tickets onward from Sandakan, so today just get a Grab out to the remote long-distance bus station. The Grab driver, as with most we’ve had, is very chatty and wants to know all the places we’ve gone in Sabah.
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I’m glad we are just getting on the bus, because the station itself is just a covered parking area with wastewater and garbage everywhere, and no places to sit. The road west is bumpy and full of construction all the way to Telupid. After this is gets better.
At least until we get to Nabalu, just past the park entrance for Mt. Kinabalu. Then the bus wheezes to a stop with mechanical problems. Fortunately, he chooses a spot outside a hardware store, so gets someone there to fetch a radiator hose. An hour and a half of tinkering ensues.
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Only get into Kota Kinabalu after 20:00, all in all an exhausting day of transport. Fortunately, we know the city and it is a simple matter to find the hotel, check in, and go out for dinner. We chose a more upscale seafood restaurant (Seafood Garden), next to the night market. To Odette’s joy, they have live sea animals in tanks.
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