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I am blogging about my 1st backpacking experience!

Submitted my resignation letter.
Booked a flight spontaneously.
Decided to do it the backpacker way.

A familiar place to travel back in time. I made this decision to experience things that I have missed out in my 3 years of studies.
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah is the best destination as my first experience.
Couz picked me up from the airport and we went for Sang Yok Mee.No where except KK serves the best Sang yoke Mee.

It sounds weird but as a backpacker, must always know to cut down ‘expenses’ larh.
Moreover, couz was so desperate to see me. *thick face*

I did everything spontaneously, in a way, last minute.
My first time staying in a backpacker lodge and I was quite nervous before checking-in as I did not know how does it look like and who am I gonna sleep with for the 1st night.
I chose Borneo Backpacker Lodge for my stay during the trip.It is absolutely the best choice ever!
I have good instinct for making accomadation choice.
When I stepped into the dorm which can accomadate 10 people, no one was there.
So, I had no clue who would be speding the night with me.

FYI, while I was checking-in, I asked many question to Nani (the person-in-charge) regarding the people who have checked into the room.
Gender is the main question.
I had to wait till night and find out are my roomates!
The first day was something free and easy, alone.
Strolling around the town.
My main love to the sea.
Deep breathe, baby!

A must check out at the night market that sells seafood.
Dirt cheap that it can burn your pocket!

Philippines market has its uniqueness.
The men sew and alter clothes. It is something that impressed me and there’s no difference of the gender to use a sewing machine.




While walking along the night market, I reached a point where it led me to the wet market.At this moment, Hilda came into my mind.
She’s my coursemate and we spent uni as well as internship moments together.
We did not attend to the same company but we stayed under-one-roof. More accurate to be under-one-room.
We both have the aunty personality to spend some time at the wet market.
Whenever you are in any corner of Sabah, you can find friendly people.

The hospitality of the Sabahan cannot be compared to people in West Malaysia. It is totally undeniable.
The fishmongers are happy to pose for you even though you don’t buy even a fish head from them.
The friendliness and incalculativeness that cheer people up.


It was evening and the sun was going to set. I still have this habit since uni life of reminding myself to have my dinner before 5.30p.m. since am out and about all by myself.
I was afraid that the sky was getting darker.
Got myself to the night market and after surveying the stalls that sell seafood, I decided to choose a stall whereby there was only a customer there.
The reason is that I don’t need to wait for a long time for my food to be served and to stay away from the stuffiness that created by atmosphere as the hawkers were bbq-ing the seafood everywhere.
I chose a stick of mini squid and prawns.
Instead of having too much meat for dinner, I ordered a small chunk of raw seaweed.
OMG, my 1st time eating a raw seaweed!!!!
It is chewy and it took me sometime to chew just a small portion of it.
The locals always have its ‘secret’ recipe chilli gravy to match with any food. The chilli for the seaweed taste spicy and sour at the same time as it add with lime.
Ohai to my dinner! Looks yummy!
It was quite struggling to take a self-shot of the food and I. First world problem whenever am travelling alone.
The previous was my trip to Taiwan.
I was struggling to finish my food too although the portion looks small.
I could only finish the prawns and only 2 of the squids.Another first world problem!
Although I have spent my 3 years there but it was my first time to try out the barbequed seafood at the night market.
All the stalls would display their bbq-ed food to attract their customers.
The environment is a little bit uncomfortable but this is where you can search for the satisfaction as your experience to have a close-up feeling with the locals.
I was so impressed and glad that they purposely served me a glass of ward=m water which they don’t serve.
Done with dinner. The night has arrived.
I was having this anticipating feelings while walking back to the lodge and was thinking who were my roomates.

When I was back to my room, there were 2 guys, Tim from U.S. and another Japanese guy who is a timber researcher and he is fluent in Bahasa Malaysia.

Around 12midnight, there were 2 guys checked into the room.
I was like: “OMG! 4 guys and a girl in the room.”
My first time sleeping with 4 strangers and moreover they are guys!
I was kinda insecured but I was brave enough to get rid of it.

Next morning, I had a small chit-chat with the 2 guys from Hong Kong and they thought I’m from Cambodia as I was wearing a “I love Cambodia” T-shirt.
FML.
My Japanese roomate disappeared early in the morning and left for his research.

Nice people I met.