We MOVED to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Earlier this year, we came to Kota Kinabalu for a visit and we like the life here. When we went back to KL, we heard a rumors saying that Nico's company (which was also mine before) tendering a project in KK and we were pretty excited about it. We start to dream about getting a chance to be part of the team and live in Sabah. 

Nico finally get his expat contract offered and they want him to go to KK as his first expat assignment. We was so happy to received the news and thank god that its right after the wedding. 

Its been a month since we moved here and we love everything so far. Its quite a change from busy city life of KL to a quite laid back environment of KK.  

We rent 3 bedroom apartment at The Peak Vista Condo Likas, with an amazing sea view. Renting is expensive but we lucky that Nico's company pay for it.

At the moment this is what we LIKE about KK :

1. Fresh Seafood ~ It is very cheap and fresh. Even for Kimi we cooked him fresh fish and he never want to ate canned food anymore. There's also variety of choice and we eat seafood almost everyday.

2. Island ~ Living in KK make us feel like we are on vacation all the time. We only need 5-10 min drive to get to Jesselton Jetty, hop on a boat, 20min boat ride and we are as good as having vacation. With 4 different islands to check we don't have to go far for weekend gateway. We love beaches and island, so this is perfect for us.

3. Weather ~ There is no monsoon in Borneo but of cos its still raining. Since we moved in, i woke up everyday to hot and sunny weather, which promise an amazing view on my balcony and enough to brighten up anyone mood. But, the sunny sky wont stay for long, around 3 or 4 pm, it will started to rain which also good to cool off the warm temperature.

4. Cheap local grocery ~ Tamu or pasar or local market can be found almost everywhere in sabah. Its really shocking when we discovered that we still can buy fresh vegetables (fresh bean, brinjals, kangkung, etc) for RM1. See you can find that in KL.

What we DISLIKE about KK :

1. Traffic ~ We come to notice that people here drive pretty slow. Sometimes there's a traffic jammed for no reason. I didn't drive fast but i didn't drive 60km per hour on the main road either. Traffic usually bad on monday, tuesday and weekend, especially during lunch hour in city center.

2. Parking ~ Its really pain in the a** to get parking here. Thats all i can say.

Import Export Our Siamese Cat, KIMI

Its feel like ages since i wrote something in this blog. Been busy with packing, unpacking, shopping, cleaning and enjoying Kota Kinabalu air.

We finally decided that we going to take our cat, Kimi to KK. I am so glad that besides everything we have to go through, with me being jobless and all, i will have Kimi with me at home while Nico busy working until late.

Taking your pet is a hassle works since there's a lot of paper work and preparation needed. It will be easier if we can just buy air ticket for them and they can go anywhere same like human. But unfortunately that's not the case.

I understand now why agent cost so much in helping you relocate your cat. This is what i have to go through and i hope it will help you if you need to take your pet to from west Malaysia to Sabah.

1. VACCINATION
Since i was jobless, i took Kimi to get his vaccination ready in order for him to go to KK. I didn't call Sabah animal department before hand as i know that this is the basic i need to do for him before i can apply to any import permit. So i went to veterinary, tell them the situation and we agree to give Kimi  :

1.1 Vaccination 
~ Standard vaccination for pet

1.2. Anti-Rabies 
~ Kimi need to be injected with anti-rabies since Sabah is an anti-rabies state. So they want all pet coming to Sabah to be injected with anti-rabies vaccine. 

1.3. Microchip install.
~ Microchip must be inserted inside the pet as this is working as their identification. 

I really pitied Kimi since he need to get 3 different injection in one time. Doctor start with vaccine, followed by anti rabies and microchip last. Needle for microchip was big and i couldn't bring myself to look at him when they planted it. Now Kimi already have 15 digit microchip in his body as his identification. 

During this short visit to doctor, i found out that Kimi is actually not a Siamese Kitten, he is domestic short hair breed which happened to look like Siamese cat. We still love him nevertheless :)

From his teeth, doc told me that our Kimi already 8 months old, Domestic Short Hair (DSH) breed with seal bicolor point. 

So now, vaccination already given and microchip already install, we can start applying for import permit which is Sabah state where we going to bring Kimi to. It is advisable to call them first to know the procedure. 

2. IMPORT PERMIT

You need to apply Import permit first before applying for export permit. 

2.1 Register on Davetsa Website

First, you need to register on their website on the single sign-on tab with all the information and you need to put address in Sabah on address column. http://davetsa.sabah.gov.my/app/ 

You will only get your registration validate after 3 working days, if already a week and you still didn't get any approval like me before, its mean there's something wrong with your form which in my case i put the wrong address, it was address in KL. Call them at +6088287400 and ask for license department and they can change it for you immediately and can get approval immediately too. 

2.2 Apply Import Permit

After approved, i get more access to the website and now i can apply for import permit. In this form, i need to fill in all the information regarding exporter in KL(which is also me), shipment for my pet, pets detail, vaccination, microchip info and finally copy of Kimi vaccination card. Completed form submitted and waiting to get approval from Davetsa. Up to this stage, everything is done online. 

2.3 Payment

I get approval for my application after one day, which i need to check the status online and now i have to go to their office to pay RM11 processing fee. Im not sure if you can do bank transfer, money order or bank draf as payment method. I was lucky that i were in KK at that time and i can easily go to their office and pay. 

2.4 Collection 

My import permit approved and ready the next day. I checked online and they attached electronic copy which is not signed and stamp by them. When i made payment the day before they told me that i still need to come over and collect. 

So, this is finally Import Permit for my lil' Kimi. 

I was again lucky because after i manage to arrange import permit for Kimi, we going back to KL to arrange our shipment. 

I got one week to get his health certificate and Export permit ready before he flew to KK together with Nico. 

3. HEALTH CERTIFICATE

As i applied in Selangor, i need to go to Shah Alam to get his health certificate. Health officer will check your pet and will come out with a letter saying that your pet is fit to travel.  You don't need to do appointment and can simply walk in between 8.30am to 4.30pm. http://www.dvssel.gov.my/cms/index.php . Charge for health certificate was RM40. 

4. EXPORT PERMIT

Selangor state didn't produce export permit anymore and i'm not sure if this rules also apply to other states in west Malaysia. Health office will send all information to MAQIS and MAQIS need to approved export permit within 24 hours. I went to collect Export permit on the same day and i didn't get any problem. 

Unfortunately, to go to MAQIS office, you need to go all the way to Customs building, next to MAS Cargo and LCCT Sepang. Ya, all the way to Sepang. The good thing is, they open even after office hour but i wasn't so sure until what time. Their office located at level 5 and export permit was given free of charge until further notice.  

5. PROPER CARRIER

We going to take Kimi as special baggage with Malaysia Airlines since Nico will fly back with them and only Malaysia Airlines have this services. Their info here : http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/my/en/book-and-plan/baggage/special-equipment-pets.html

I was then searching for proper carrier since we scared that airport going to reject Kimi simple carrier. After searching high and low, i finally found this carrier which is airlines approved. Good huh

Catit Carrier

I took M size which i thought already big enough for Kimi. I didn't know that my Kimi grew so fast and he already get to the top of the carrier when he stand. He can lay inside comfortably, so before you buy carrier, please check your cat length and height. This carrier cost RM72 and equipped with food container, good ventilation and opening to pet my Kimi. 

6. CALL QUARANTINE OFFICE

As stated in the information sheet from Import Permit, we need to call quarantine office 2 days earlier to confirm arrival date with their officer at the airport. When i called, they said i can actually call on flying date itself, and simply provide them flight info and arrival time. 

7. FLYING TIME

When Nico went to check-in at the airport, all he need to do is taking Kimi with him with all the paper ready. Airport people didn't ask to see any paper but we need to show at KK airport later when landed. Malaysia airlines charge us by Kimi and carrier weight. Kimi is almost 4kg and his carrier was around 3kg. We paid RM90 for taking him as special baggage which is around RM15 per kg. 

After we settled payment, we took him to oversize baggage security scanner, officer make some checking and airport staff will take him directly to cargo. We tried to give him pill to make him calm but Kimi refused to eat. We can only hope for the best and he can take two and half hour flight. 

8. ARRIVAL

I didn't flew together with them since i only going to leave KL on the next day. It was Nico who arranged Kimi arrival. He said Kimi was arrived on the conveyor belt together with all the luggage. But of cos he was the first 3 in line. It was funny to think Kimi have to go around on the conveyor belt, it must be a fun ride for him. 

Nico also told me that Kimi was calm. He probably scared and hungry since he didn't ate anything since noon because we plan to let him eat the pill. 

9. QUARANTINE DROP

I need to check with Nico where exactly he drop Kimi for quarantine at the airport. They definitely have some counter or office at the airport to received all quarantine animal which coming by airplane. When i called quarantine office before, they said they will be someone waiting for him and give a helping hand. 

10. QUARANTINE PROCESS

Nico signed few paper as agreement for quarantine and they informed him that they going to take Kimi to Quarantine center at Kinarut, Papar. Kimi will be quarantine for 21 days according to Sabah law and payment will be around RM4-RM10 per day according to the type of animal. We also been told that payment for his quarantine purpose only will be made when we pick him up later. 

So, this is my experienced taking my pet from west Malaysia to East Malaysia. Its not easy but how can you stand the idea of being separated with your beloved pet. Its been 5 days since Kimi in quarantine center, i'm counting days till he can come back home and be with us again. Hope he doesn't go crazy staying alone in the cage. Miss not-so-lil'-anymore Kimi sooooo much :(

KK, Sabah

As everybody knows Kota Kinabalu or KK famous for its seafood and mount kinabalu. So we plan to have seafood lunch and do island hopping once we land. 

But first lets talk about food. Me and Nico love seafood so much and we also know that people from west Malaysia came here specially for that. We didn't expect it to be this good and cheap. Sayur sabah are highly recommended and all seafood here are fresh and giant size. Basically you can find seafood restaurant everywhere and we only can hope we will find a good one. We went to kampung air seafood village for lunch and dinner where we took lobster, sayur sabah tumis belacan, bbq squid, kangkung belacan and chilli crab. It was weekend when we was there and the area full with people 

 (love sayur sabah, must try)

 (Chilli Crab)

 (BBQ squid)

 (Lobster in butter sauce)

(kangkung belacan)

We also stop at pasar malam which nico and me agreed to be one of must return place if we go to KK. The pasar malam called pasar filipina. Typical pasar malam selling fresh vegetables, seafood, meat but the main attraction here is their grill seafood. It was extremely cheap and taste good. You can have your dinner here since its open starting from 5pm till late. There's zillion of place to choose from and your grill seafood will be accompanied with sambal belacan or air asam. We already had our dinner before we found this place. Since we still full but cannot resist the temptation we decide to try few and we definitely love it. 

 (One piece of grill fish for RM7)

 (one stack of grill squid for RM8)

(RM8, XL size prawn)

Sabah also have a nice island, since we are staying in city centre we can walk almost everywhere. Jesselton ferry terminal for island hopping and ferry to labuan is only 10min away. We took tour to Manukan Island & Sapi Island. Weather wasnt so good on that day, when we left jetty the sky already dark. Since we didn't chartered a boat and join other tourist for that visit they only stop at Sapi island for 30mins and an hour at Manukan island. If im not mistaken it cost us RM40 each to go to both island. Its so frustrating since our waterproof camera still in workshop for repair and we cant take picture because of rain.

Sapi island are more crowded with tourist since it small. Unlike Manukan the island are bigger with wide beach. We have to pay RM10 for Malaysian once we enter any of this island and with the same ticket we didn't have to pay for the next island. Snorkeling equipment, life jacket can be rent at each island if you don't any with you with reasonable price. The best part is you can do snorkeling right from the beach, there's no coral to see but all the colorful fish and sea creature are enough to entertain you and keep you in the water even on raining day. If it wasn't raining we definitely going to have blast swimming here. Well, better luck next time. 

 (Sapi Island)

(Manukan Island)

The next day weather are so much better and its bright and sunny when we start our trip to see Mount Kinabalu. We rent a car for a day, fill in the tank and headed to Kota Belud. It was scenic view along the way, we cant resist to stop few times for taking picture. I thought its going to be cold like Genting Highland or Cameron Highland but surprisingly not. We are so lucky because of sunny day and we are able to see the peak of mount kinabalu. 

(enjoying the view)

 (almost flew, very windy)

(Glorious day)

Kinabalu Park is the starting point for all climber. If you didn't intend to climb mount kinabalu hiking at its many trails can be entertaining also. We did try one trail, unfortunately i didn't wear proper shoes and the track is slightly slippery for my slipper. It feel so fresh in there, everything seems moist, fresh and alive. 

We drove further up to Ranau since i wanted to see tea plantation called Sabah Tea, We make a stop at kundasang where the place also famous for its mountain and scenery view. This area can be very cold after sunset and its really weird how the temperature drop from hot to cold. 

Unfortunately Sabah Tea plantation wasn't as good as Cameron Highland tea plantation. Nothing much to see and not so many choice of flavored tea. But they have flavor that cameron highlang didnt have such as misai kucing and ginger which i found interesting and a unique souvenir for my parents. 

 (sabah tea)

Since we have to turned, to go back to KK we make a final stop at Poring hot spring. Honestly the place is boring, it just an area where people seat and dip their feet into the hot water. Thankfully, poring hot spring have more to offer. They also have canopy walk and waterfall further up in the forest. We reach there at almost 4pm and the canopy walk already closed for visitors, so i guess we are not so lucky. We continue to kipungit waterfall and happy that it was nice. 

 

 (Kipungit waterfall)

Its a short weekend visit and there's still a lot more we want to see but cannot make it. So on our last morning in KK, we make an effort to go to Kok Lawi Wildlife Park. Its a zoo, a small one but really make you feel connect with the animals. They seems to live in their own habitat  their cage is big and close enough for people to see them. Unfortunately there's no orang utan, since their place been renovated at that time. Their animal shows is a must see shows, it was so entertaining and the staff really interact well with audience. 

I really hope we will get a chance to go to Kk again this year since we haven't check their cultural village, didn't spend so much time on sunday market and definitely want to come back for its seafood. We both agreed that Sabahan are so lucky to stay in KK and enjoy all these. Envy you Sabahan!!!