24th June - Sutera Harbour anchorage - Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) - Pete goes shopping

Tuesday 24^th June

Kota Kinabalu waterfront

Mt Kinabalu is 4094 metres high.  That is VERY high!  There is sometimes snow at the top…I don’t know that we will have time or energy to climb to the top but we are very keen to have a bit of a look.  So far…it is shrouded in cloud, but locals assure us that it is right there, quite visible behind the hotels and shopping malls of Kota Kinabalu.

Sunset over Sutera Harbour marina (no photos yet of Mt Kinabalu...)

We took a bus into town at midday.  Pete spent the long hot morning struggling to remove a broken rope clutch; the one which we use just about every day because it locks the furling rope for the headsail.  We have ordered a new one from the Rutgerson agent in Brisbane; we hope they will send it to John in Hobart who will bring it to 2XS in Sandakhan, on July 17^th.

So cute

I was fascinated by the fish sculptures in the streets.  Some more aesthetically pleasing to me than others…

So big

The shops in the city centre provided satisfactory experiences for both Pete and me.  I have been very annoyed with my cheap-o reading glasses, which keep breaking (or disappearing…)   As well as that I am sure the poor quality lenses are giving me more headaches than I need to have.  In the Merdekah centre, Pete pointed out an optometrist, just inside the door.  How long would it take to make me new glasses? 

So competent

Half an hour, thank you very much…

The optometrist was cheerful and competent.  He and Petwe whizzed about thirty different frames past my startled eyes and we all very quickly settled upon some strong, comfortable frames which are black and pink – what’s not to like??  They cost 260 ringgits (about $85.)

Yes i know I look slightly crazed...but I was trying to get Pete to aim the iPhone camera the right way...and he was trying to get me to show the flower side-arms of the glasses

But the happiest shopper of all was…

Happy Pete

Our Pete found several shops which just about met his every need.  (Well not a Rutgerson Rope Clutch…but a floating bilge switch, and some stretchy stuff which he can turn into occy straps, for a start.)

We went back to the marina area and sat in the enormous resort lobby (Sutera Magellan) to use the WiFi.  There are three lavish swimming pools in the complex…

One of the pools

Sabah is going all out to be a BIG player in global tourism.

We have not yet seen any of the fabled Sabah wildlife, but there are dear little pigeons, as tame as can be, around the marina.

On the way back, finally, to the boat, we stopped at the marina bar, where Pete introduced Rob to his favourite cocktail – Long Island Tea.  We stayed and had dinner, which was all very nice BUT oh dear we got so bitten…mosquitoes and sandflies, out in force, completely ignoring the coil burning bravely under the table.  We were SO silly to leave 2XS without a good supply of aerogard in my backpack.)

Rob (SV Jolie Brise); Pete (SV 2XS)