Visitors to Johor Bahru will never go hungry as there is a great range of cheap food to try, which draws large numbers of hungry gastronomes from Singapore every day. Fresh seafood is widely available and often turned into spicy curries and traditional Malay dishes. Johor Bahru is famous for its vibrant night market and this is also a great place to find a cheap meal and pick up a bargain or two.

Hawker stalls and coffee shops are good places to find a cheap and tasty meal. Hawker stalls tend to be very clean and open until late in the evening. Curry dishes and other meals in western style restaurants, while seafood restaurants serve fresh fish prepared in the Chinese style. For western food, head to the shopping malls, where you will usually find a large food court with a number of well known fast food restaurants.

Despite being located in a predominately Muslim country, alcohol is widely available in Johor Bahru. Beer and other alcohol can be bought in bars, restaurants and 7-11 shops. The local brew is tuak, which fermented rice wine that comes in many forms. Usually served lukewarm, tuak is often flavoured with sugar or honey.

Cameron Highlands provides and oasis for those who like to walk. Pleasant  strolls are everywhere and the weather is never hot so you can enjoy the high altitude scenary without the efforts required in other parts of Malaysia.

Simple maps are available at many tour operators and hotels. You can choose organized tours or pottering about by yourself whatever you decide Cameroon Highlands with its plantations waterfalls and greenery are a walker’s paradise.

While in Brichang why not take the trek to Gunung Brinchang? This marvelous peak is not too strenuous at 2000m and can easily be reached on foot taking trail 1 from Brinchang. Many people have difficulty finding the path  as the sign is located about 10m from the main road.  Ask for the way to the army base and walk to the end of the road from there the path is clearly sign posted.

It takes about 2 to 2.5 hours to reach the summit but  The walk to the top takes about 2-2.5 hours depending on your fitness but the view is spectacular. Once there you can walk 6kms down to the road and the boh tea plantation. From here you can walk or take a bus back to Binchang.

This is a very popular and not to strenuous trek and there is really no need for a guide, however, if you prefer to walk with an aid and other walkers, there are numerous places to book this beautiful hike with local tour operators.

Cameroon Highlands offers many accommodations from guest houses to apartments to Luxury hotels and whatever your budget or requirements there is surely somewhere in this exotic, cool and beautiful destination to suit you. That said it is hard to find mid range accommodation here but the ones on offer are very, very good.

For the budget conscious or outdoor enthusiast  Sg Pauh Campsite in Taman Sedia just between Taman Rata and Brinchang is a basic amenity campsite with running water and showers.

A very popular hostel is Father’s Guest House in Tanah Rata. It has dorm and private rooms and you can book tours from here.

For as little as 8RM you can rent a dorm room bed in Daniel Kang’s Traveler’s Lodge in Tanah Rata, They offer hot showers, DVDs, a pool table and nightly bonfires, where you can barbeque your own food.

Owned by friendly Indians, The Twin Pines offers great value rooms from 12RM to 75 RM with internet, cable TV, hot showers and a small garden.

On Jalan Mentigi lies The Cameronian Inn with its cute cottages and lovely garden., afternoon tea and strawberry scones, and mix of dorms and private rooms.TV room with ASTRO. 4-Bed Dorm: RM10, Private Double Room w/shared bathroom: RM50.
In Brinchang there is the Hotel Chua Gin, with its inexpensive rooms and apartments.

For the less budget conscious there is The Bala’s Holiday Chalet in Tanah Rata. One of the most ancient colonial buildings in Cameron Highlands which started life as a school. Within walking distance of Tanah Rata this mock English guest house has lovely lawns and spectacular mountain views, just the place to contemplate and enjoy tea and scones.

The Cameron highlands may be short on bars but its restaurants and food stalls are a delightful experience and great value for money. Loads of cuisines to choose from Western, Malay, Indian and Chinese as well as superb local produce like strawberries, honey and locally produced teas. The English influence still remains and cream teas with jam and scones are wonderful.

A ‘steamboat’ is a great delicacy. They give you a pot of boiling water and you cook you own meat and vegetables at the table try The Mayflower in Tanah Rata where it’s a specialty.

Zainab Samin in Tanah Rata has fantastic Malay food.

Gerai Opah in Tanah Rata offer great mountaineers breakfasts and friendly staff.

Restaurant No. 14 in Tanah Rata has fabulous curries and other Indian delicacies.

Bala’s Holiday Chalet is famous for its afternoon teas which are delicious at any time of the day.

Right next to the guilty pleasures of Starbucks in Tanah Rata is Sri Brinchang which has great Indian food at exceptional prices with some vegetarian dishes..

Another tea room with a great atmosphere is Tanah Rata though remember they close on Sundays.

The only place to enjoy German food in Jalan Persiaran which is The German Swiss Restaurant well worth a visit the sausages are so fresh you’d think you were in Berlin

All of these restaurants serve authentic, well made food with great service. It’s a good job that there are many opportunities for exercise in the Cameron Highlands!

Going to the Cameron Highlands for nightlife is bit like going to Las Vegas for the peace and quiet. Though not totally deserted most people are coming here for the numerous day time pursuits and enjoy an early night. This mountain destination does offer a few things to do and even has a Starbucks but the traveler should lower their sights if expecting too much in the way of entertainment

As the main towns in Cameron Highlands, Tanah Rata and Brinchang are the liveliest at night with most people heading to either for the evening. There is bus service between the two which costs 1.5 RM or if there are a few of you, you might want to share a cab which is a little more costly at 6RM.

There is only one pub in Tina Rata called The Travelers Bistro and Pub. Nothing in the way of dancing or cabaret but a pleasant place to talk with friends or make new ones as this is a popular venue with fellow travelers. It also shows football matches on the big screens which are popular with the locals too.

Brinchang has a weekend night market which runs throughout the week during the school holidays night selling all manner of clothes souvenirs and groceries the honey is especially good. The market adds to the local color and is safe and pleasant to walk about at night with very little in the way of crime or vice. Apart from restaurants and shopping there are also a few clubs and lounges in the town to hang out after dinner.

Kota Kinabula is a fabulous destination easy to get around by taxi, bus, motor cycle or even just walking there is much to see and one compact easy to negotiate destination

A good place to start after enjoying the beaches is The Atkinson Clock Tower – built in 1902 in memorialize Francis George Atkinson, the first district officer of Jesselton, as KK used to be know. The tower is on a hill beside Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman very close to the city centre.

For those who enjoy religious wonders the Sabah State Mosque – located on Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and also worth seeing is The State Museum which gives a quick quide to the city’s history and culture.

Another must see is Monsopiad Cultural Village which is about half an hour south-east of the city centre, this small park shows the traditional way of life of the Kadazan ethnic group and tells the story of Monsopiad, a Kadazan local hero, who  300 years ago  killed 42 men who attacked his village. Take a cab form KK and arrange pick up 3 hours later.

Near the small town with the same name Lok Kawi Wildlife Park is just south Kota Kinabalu. It features all manner of monkeys, elephants, birds, local deer, a few tigers, a Sumatran Rhinoceros and is expanding with a reptile house very soon. It’s a marvelous wildlife experience as you get much closer than you would in the jungle. The best way to get there is a pre arranged cab with pickup from Kota Kinabalu.

There is a great deal for the golf enthusiast in Kota Kinabula  with four local courses and tours to nearby internationally recognized courses.

One of the oldest courses in Sabah is the eleven hole Kinabalu Golf Course or KGC course which was established in 1933 by the European employees of The British Charted Company.

In the city, just close to the waterfront, you will find a challenging 27-hole championship golf course designed by Graham Marsh which is beautifully landscaped with terrains and waterways and is flood lit for night playing.
There is also Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club, and Karambunai Golf and Country Club which also offer great facilities.
At a higher altitude to the waterfront is Mount Kinabalu Golf Club. Situated 1500 meters above sea level it is great test of stamina as well as skill and is the highest golf course in Malaysia.

All of these courses can be can be part of arranged tours which are great value. Or you can travel to Borneo enjoy spectacular courses and also spend time exploring with jungles and mountains whilst still regularly hitting the greens. Tours are spread over nine or five days and are well worth experiencing. Kota Kinabula is also ideally situated to courses further afield like Thailand where there are great courses in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

Depending on your time and budget Penang and Kuala Lumpur are also great destinations with fantastic courses.

Kota Kinabula is a safe destination as Sabahans and Malaysians are very law abiding people especially towards tourists, but of course common sense should always prevail. Low crime does not mean no crime here as anywhere else in Asia.

In 1999 some tourists were abducted from Sipidan Island to the Phillipines, however, they were quickly rescued and the waters have been patrolled more extensively since this one incident.

Bag-snatching or being pick-pocketed is rare, although, it has happened usually by moped and if you are using a bicycle it is unwise to put valuables in the basket

Walking around darker streets at night can bring problems with drunken beggars, prostitutes and even during the day child beggars can be relentless and frustrating. The trick is to develop a good attitude. It is very unfortunate that small children, often illegal immigrants find themselves in such desperate situations and as a matter of conscience there are many organizations here which can be donated to if you so wish.

However, when walking the streets if you do give to one child you will be pestered by twenty more which will make for a great deal of inconvenience and who knows who, where or what you are actually financing with your hand out?

The police station is located near the public harbor and the blue and white uniforms of the motor cycle cops are easy to spot

Medical care is of a very high standard here as in most of Asia here are some names and phone numbers of Medical Centers and Dentists.

Damai Specialist Centre O88-270243

Dr. Roland Chia Dental Surgery. 088-21 5802

Raffelesia Medical Centre. 088-27 2620

As you would expect in such a well visited destination nightlife here is exciting, of a very high standard. There are places to dance and drink inside and out some are located in the major hotels others small holes in the wall. Whichever you might choose the choice is extensive and worth exploring. Prices vary and so does the clientele. All ages are catered for from conservative to hip. Many have live bands and approachable request friendly D.J’s others for the a more dance orientated crowd. Prices vary but there should be something here for all tastes and budgets.

Pirates Bar – The largest outdoor bar in Kota Kinabula. Located in Asia City in the T food Court across the road from Centrepoint just behind the Mercedes Benz Dealership. It has live music at weekends.

Shenanigan Fun Pub – This lovely bar is on the ground floor of the Hyatt Regency.

• Shamrock Irish Bar – The Waterfront Lot 6. Dependable Irish fare, with outdoor seating. Add 16% tax.

• Cocoon – Locally famous this relaxed bar by day becomes a lively bar/club by night, open till the wee small hours.

• Razz-Ma-Tazz – Lust outside the central business district along Julaan Tuaran. It is one the city’s largest and most popular nightclubs.  Has two rooms the larger featuring life music and D.J’s. The smaller room, Zuave, plays house, trance, and other pulsating dance tracks.

• Bed – Nice small place on the Promenade near the night markets. One room with a cover band, Pool table and DJ.

• Beach Road Pub and cafe has live bands and a pool.