^{Kota Kinabalu has a constant equatorial climate with very heavy rainfall, high humidity (over 80% throughout the year) and constant temperature all the year round. The highest daily temperatures are in the low thirties centigrade. The lowest daily temperatures are in the low twenties. The temperature changes little throughout the year but April and May are the hottest months with December and January being the coolest. There are marginal shifts of one degree centigrade and so really of little effect to ones enjoyment of the location, however, the visitor must be aware of monsoons before travelling here.}

^{Like all of Sabah Kota Kinabula is subject to two monsoons the Northeast Monsoon and the Southwest Monsoon.  The Northeast Monsoon occurs between November and March the Southwest Monsoon occurs between May and September making it a difficult destination at these times. Also there are two inter-monsoons occurring between April and May and between September and October will also bring difficulties to sightseeing and amenities.}

^{February and March are the driest times to visit and the monsoon is at its peak in mid October so travelling will probably be the most easy and enjoyable at these times of the year.}

The start of Kota Kinabula begins in the far off days of the 1800’s when the British North Borneo Company set up a small settlement in Gaya Bay already somewhat developed by the Bajau people. This created understandable friction and resentments by the Bajau  who rebelled against the British company and in 1897 the whole settlement was destroyed by Bajau rebels led by Mat Salleh

The company relocated to the more protected island of Api-Api which became the highly successful port of Jesselton named after company vice chairman Sir Charles Jessel. It was also terminus for the newly built railway making it a major trading post for rubber, wax, honey and rattan. However, despite the prosperity brought by trading Jesselton was never a political success and the company fought off attacks and demonstrations by Bajau rebels constantly.

For the next forty years the British hung on to Jesselton until the Japanese invaded. The town endured bombing after this by the British. Bombing was extensive and little remained of this mighty harbor and railway terminus when the Japanese surrendered in 1945.

The British North Borneo Company returned to rebuild Jesselton but failed due to financing problems. The new colonial government took over to elect Jesselton as the capital of North Borneo.

Jesselton was renamed Kota Kinabula by the Federation of Malaysia in 1968 and received full city status from the Malaysian government on February 2 2000.

The Cameroon Highlands is a very kid friendly destination with a mild climate and easily accessible attractions. Although little here is children specific, except for some playgrounds and park exhibits, the destination itself is exciting for young and old alike.

Even the most unfocused child should have a lot to occupy them. With a little pre arrangement games, such as spot the fauna or name the insect can provide hours of contented fun.

There is so much to see and do that a three day family visit is action packed. Getting around is very easy with on foot or local buses for the budget conscious. Maps are plentiful so make sure you pick up one for you and one for them!

Taxis and four wheel drive offer tours of the area.

The Butterfly Park contains fish snakes, turtles, tortoises, scorpions grasshoppers, stick insects and guinea pigs. Most children will find this very interesting but supervision and support is needed for the more sensitive child! Allow 1-2 hours here which includes ample time for lunch or refreshments.

The Strawberry Parks are everywhere and kids not only love picking strawberries but can also eat them later with ice cream topped with sugar. Yum!

The Cactus Farm and Robinson waterfalls are well worth visiting but supervision is, of course, recommended in both these areas.

A trip to The Smokehouse Restaurant for tea and scones is a must and maybe as a reward for a picking up litter excursion which many children enjoy. Hotels provide a plastic bag and a useful activity for the ecology of this wonderful place.

The main hospital was established in 1943 as a small health clinic with only one Hospital Assistant along the main road of Tanah Rata.

The Outpatient Department (OPD) is located on the ground floor and opens from 8.00am to 4.30pm daily from Monday to Friday. On Saturday, it opens from 8.00am to 12.50pm. It is closed on all Public Holidays.  Foreigners have to pay RM15.00 for each OPD visit. This charge does not include laboratory investigations and procedures done in the Hospital. Medication is included.

Emergency radiological services are available. Ultrasound services for maternity cases are available.

The Inpatient Facility has two wings, with one wing for Maternity and Gynecological cases and the other wing for general medical, surgical and pediatric cases.

There is a labor room catering for normal deliveries as well as instrumental deliveries. Patients requiring a Caesarian Section have to be referred to Hospital Ipoh.

There are no charges for admission into the wards for Malaysians but foreigners are charged RM50.00 for a delivery. Admission is by referral from the OPD or Casualty.

The Casualty is situated on the ground floor and caters for emergency cases during and after office hours. After office hours, patients ring the bell at the front or inform the Ward staff upstairs. There is always a Doctor or Medical Assistant On-Call.  Foreigners are charged RM15.

The Pharmacy is situated on the ground floor and caters for ALL patients of the hospital. Only drugs prescribed by the Doctor or Medical Assistant are dispensed.

The Dental Clinic is situated on the ground floor towards the back of the building. The operating hours are the same as the OPD. The clinic is manned by one Dentist and 2 Dental Nurses.

All cases are by appointment. Walk-in cases are on a case to case basis.

Depending on the type of dental procedures, there will be a fee levied

There are no separate charges for the drugs dispensed.

Taking its name from surveyor William Cameron who mapped the area in 1885 The Cameron Highlands quickly became developed by Chinese vegetable farmers, tea planters and rich colonialists attracted by its cool, high altitude weather.

The temperature never drops below 10˚c or rises above 21˚c perfect for tea  making the area became the centre for Malaysia’s vast tea industry. Vegetable cultivation also flourished here as well as flowers which grow in commercial abundance to the present day.

In recent times property development has grown at an unprecedented and rapid rate. Modern high rise have done much to destroy the once peaceful English colonial atmosphere.

The environment has also suffered greatly from unchecked and  often illegal land clearance.

Vast hillsides have been flattened and streams filled in to increase farmland causing flooding and landslides.  Erosion had caused Ringlet Lake to silt up almost completely by 2005, when lengthy dredging operation began, and flooding problems will no doubt continue. The Malayan Government has introduced tougher laws against water pollution another ecological nightmare. After many years of construction a better road running from Ipoh to Brinchang and Tanah Rata is now open, making trips to and from the Highlands easier and faster. This new and better access will no doubt bring even greater population and prosperity to the area let’s hope with a more respect for the nature which originally started it.

Cameron Highlands is a hill resort at the northernmost tip of Pahang state. The main towns in the Cameron Highlands are Tanah Rata and Brinchang. The Highlands are the centre of the Malayan tea industry and offer the traveler a mountain Eden resplendent with rose, vegetable, butterfly and strawberry farms. Temperatures never rise above 25˚C becoming a tranquil retreat from the heat and bustle of modern Kuala Lumpur.

From Kuala Lumpur buses to Tanah Rata can be caught at Puduraya Central Bus Station and take about 4 1/2 hours to reach Tanah Rata. Buses leave from early in the 8 o’clock in the morning to mid afternoon everything is easily reached by local buses, taxis or foot during your stay. Hiking is simple and not too exhausting with local maps easily picked up and delicious English afternoon teas available almost everywhere.

Accommodation is varied and suitable to all budgets from guest houses with dorm room to colonial style hotels.

Food is delightful with European breakfast both continental as well as greasy English and of course terrific Malayan fare all at reasonable prices.

Must sees include Robertsons Waterfall just a short walk from Tanah Rata or take a tour that uses 4WD vehicles to see the Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower.

Visit the Cloud Forest a short walk up the new boardwalk at Gunung Brinchang

You can see how roses are grown and buy cheap roses at the Rose Centre and Rose Valley at Kea Farm and Rose Valley. A must for any romantic.

With its natural beauty, interesting history and many architectural marvels, Kota Kinabalu is a popular destination among tourists from all over the world. Because of its small size, tourists can enjoy walking around Kota Kinabalu to admire local attractions while other popular tourist destinations are only a short drive away.

State Mosque
The main mosque is located in the outskirt of Kota Kinabalu on the way from the airport to the city centre. This is the central place of worship for Muslim community in Sabah boasting its beautiful domes and golden motifs. It is also a fine example of contemporary Islamic building.

Sabah Museum
Just five minutes from Kota Kinabalu’s city centre, the museum consists of many interesting galleries displaying totemic figures, old photographs, ancient pottery from all over Southeast Asia and antique Korans. A variety of life-size replicas of traditional houses of ethnic entitles in Sabah are shown in the Heritage Village. Here you can also find an Ethno Botanic garden and a Zoological garden, an all-in-one stop that invites visitors to discover diverse cultures and fascinating history of Kota Kinabalu.

Atkinson Clock Tower
This is one of the major landmarks in Kota Kinabalu located on the bluff along Signal Hill Road. Built in 1905 by Mary Edith Atkinson as a memorial to her son, Francis George Atkinson, who was the first District Officer of Kota Kinabalu, this clock tower is one of the oldest structures in Sabah that has survived the WWII.

Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary
Located in the heart of the city, the bird sanctuary is home to a number of bird species including many migratory species from Northern Asia and also hundreds of tiny fish that hide under the mangrove roots to escape feeding birds. One of the best-known natural sites for wildlife in Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary is a must-visit place that will delight children and adults alike.

Mount Kinabalu National Park
This is one of the best national parks in Malaysia with Mount Kinabalu being the highest peak in Southeast Asia. Offering breathtaking views from Mount Kinabalu, the park is also perfect for trekking and walking. Tourists can observe many beautiful species of fauna and flora while many find it an ideal place for camping.

Melaka is simply bursting with interesting sights reflecting a long, rich history or maritime trade and Portuguese and Dutch occupation. Here are just a few of the top attractions.

A Famosa:
The remains of this mighty fortress are is the oldest surviving European architecture in Malaysia and consists of a small gate, canons and foundation stones. Built in 1511 by the Portuguese during the colonisation of Melaka, the fortress was taken over by the Dutch and was later given to the British to prevent it from falling into the hands of Napoleon’s expansionist France.

Cheng Hoon Teng’s Temple
Awarded by UNESCO for outstanding architectural restoration, the Cheng Hoon Teng’s Temple is one of the most exquisite Chinese temples in Malaysia. Boasting its beautiful walls with ornate mythological figures, spectacular Chinese paintings and carvings dating back to the early 1600s, the temple is a centre of worship and spirituality for the Chinese, remaining one of the most significant sanctuaries in the Southeast Asia. You can also observe how the Chinese pay respect to their gods here at this temple.

Kampong Kling’s Mosque
This stunning temple marks as an important venue of worship for the Muslim community. One of the oldest mosques in the country, the Kampong Kling’s Mosque reflects rich Sumatran influence through its magnificent three-tired pyramid-shaped roof and an infusion of Oriental influences through a tall free-standing white pagoda. Tourists are welcome to visit this impressive mosque but no flip-flops, shorts and sleeveless shirts are allowed.

Maritime Museum
The museum is built in a replica of the ‘Flor De La Mar’ (the Flowers of the Sea), a Portuguese ship that sank off the coast of Melaka and disappeared mysteriously on the way to Portugal. Visitors can explore the ship and detailed history of Melaka here at this museum. Children will find it fun to play pirates and sailors while adults can observe a map displaying actual charts used by Portuguese sailors in the past.

Melaka’s Sultanate Place
This large and lavish palace reveals outstanding Malay architecture based on the sketches found in the Malay Annals. Believed to be a replica of the original 15th century palace of Melaka’s Sultanate, this beautiful place now houses the Maleka Culural Museum displaying an impressive collection of artefacts, prints, photographs, drawings, costumes, jewelleries, brassware and ancient weapons.

St. John’s Fort: is another stunning sight in Melaka, St. John’s Fort was built as a chapel by the Portuguese but renovated into a fort by the Dutch. The fort enjoys a perfect location on the top of the hill where visitors can witness picturesque views of the city and clear blue sky. Interestingly, unlike other forts, St. Paul’s Fort was built to defend from inland invaders so the canons are faced towards inland.

The Baba and Nyonya Heritage: is a private museum run by the Babas and Nyonyas (Chinese of noble descendants) of Melaka who have blended the Malay culture into their own. The Babas and Nyonyas are also known as ‘Straits-born Chinese’ or ‘Peranakans’. Displaying distinctive and unique heirloom, the museum is a hidden gem that will unlock the rich history of the Babas and Nyonyas for visitors to see.

The Stadthuys:bBuilt in 1650, the Stadthuys (or the Dutch Square) is one of the most famous landmarks in Melaka. Boasting its exquisite bright red-painted buildings and a magnificent clock tower, the square also houses a Historic and Ethnography Museum displaying traditional bridal costumes and relics. Visitors can also observe outstanding Dutch architectural details shown in heavy wooden doors, thick red walls and wrought-iron hinges.