Isn’t it true that we are blind to the treasures of where we live, only to be reminded by tourists who flock here to enjoy what we take for granted?

Think climbing Mt. Kinabalu, enjoying the beach at the Tip of Borneo, cruising down the Kinabatangan river and diving in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (TARP) – how often do we enjoy these treasures?

Well, some of that is about to change.

A Dive Club for KK

Downbelow Marine and Wildlife Adventures is a PADI Certified dive centre and specialises in Borneo adventures with an office in Likas Square and a dive station based on Gaya Island.

Downbelow also established the KK Dive Club with the main purpose of getting locals down below more often for less, to appreciate the splendour of the corals and marine life we have right here on our doorstep in Kota Kinabalu.

The Dive Club does it cheaper

If you live in Sabah, whether you’re a Sabahan or a foreigner, you qualify for the excellent dive rates the KK Dive Club has to offer. A normal fun-dive day consisting of return boat transfers to the Downbelow Dive Station on Pulau Gaya, 3 fun dives in the TARP and lunch, will cost KK Dive Club members a mere RM 145.

Your only other expense will be the park dive fee payable to Sabah Parks, which is RM20 per diving day for Malaysians and RM50 for non-Malaysians.

If, however, you are taking part in a diving course, the dive fee is valid for up to 4 consecutive diving days, which now also covers night dives, as opposed to before where an additional fee was required for night dives in the park.

An annual fee of RM100 gets you into the KK Dive Club family, which includes a Downbelow t-shirt as a welcome gift. Membership entitles you to affordable diving days, discounted dive courses, PADI Aware events, social outings and get-togethers.

Get Busy in the Water with KK Dive Club

A regular schedule of KK Dive Club days will keep you busy and, subject to certain conditions and minimum club member requirements, outings on request can also be arranged.

How to get involved? Download the KK Dive Club membership form, fill it in and visit the Downbelow office at 9A 1st Floor, Likas Square Commercial Centre to pay your membership fee.

Alternatively, email dive@kkdiveclub.com for more information or to get the skinny about what’s next on the KK Dive Club schedule.

Downbelow Dive Centre, sponsored by Project AWARE and Sabah Parks, will host a beach and reef clean-up this Saturday, 20 September.

Date: Saturday, 20 September 2008
Time: 10:30am – 4:00pm
Location: Depart from Sabah Parks Jetty in front of Hyatt Regency Kinabalu
Event Location: Gaya Island, Tunku Adbul Rahman Marine Park
Cost: As many bags of rubbish as you can collect.
Included: Return transfers, lunch, equipment rental, party entry fees, jetty fees

Email Sabahbah.com to confirm your spot before Friday, or refer to this post for more details.

Ultimate Frisbee in Kota Kinabalu has moved back to the place where it all started; the rugby field in Tanjung Aru next to Kota Kinabalu International Airport’s Terminal 2.

And, if you’re looking to play ultimate frisbee while on holiday in Kota Kinabalu, or if you live in KK, then your chance of catching a game of ultimate frisbee is now even better.

Until at least the 26th of the month, Sabah ultimate frisbee will be played 3 times a week as we shake things up a bit and also play twice a week at the Tanjung Aru beach.

So, if you can and want to run after a day at the office or hard day of tours and exploring KK, and can jump and catch a flying disc at the same time, then join the ultimate frisbee players of Kota Kinabalu.

Don’t be shy, we don’t bite… unless you pretend to give us beer and then quickly whip it away before we can take it.

The ultimate frisbee schedule can be found on the main page, which is linked in the box above.

Did we mention there’s no charge?  Well, it’s true, there’s no charge – you can play ultimate frisbee for free.

See you there.

Don’t read this if you’re hungry. Especially not if the thought of juicy, char-grilled, beef ribs makes you salivate.

Mosaic at Hyatt Regency Kinabalu is importing juicy, 300g prime Australian ribs to tantalise the taste buds of discerning diners in Kota Kinabalu and torture everyone else in KK with the exquisite, smoky aroma of their char-grilled delight.

The tender ribs are marinated an seared a full day before it’s served to you to lock in its natural juiciness. The final preparation is made moments after your order and just before it hits your plate, hot, aromatic and sumptuous.

Accompanied with a generous helping of French fries, corn-on-the-cob, string beans and tomatoes, your char-grill rib meal is a hearty one.

Mosaic presents this gastronomic feast, including a glass of wine at just RM60, or RM48 sans the wine.

Enjoy this special treat during August on at Mosaic, Hyatt Regency Kinabalu.

KK’s newest band Switch Grove started playing at night spot Rumba this Friday.

Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu recruited this talented 7-piece band from the Philippines to delight the crowd that regularly gathers at KK’s first and only Latin grill & bar.

Equipped with an extensive repertoire of popular music such as rock, latin, R&B, reggae, top 40 and pop, the energetic Switch Groove promise to give you the urge to dance.

The band members comprise 6 guys and a girl, so let’s meet the band.

Cooky is the band’s only lady and leads on vocals. A long time visitor to KK, Cooky previously fronted the band Swerve who played at Tang Dynasty in 2003 and BED in 2006.

The male lead vocalist JC, inspires with heartfelt singing and is new to KK.

Joe, second on vocals, returns to Kota Kinabalu after a previous stint at Shenanigans with the band Poetry. Joe also appeared with the band Swerve when they performed in BED, back in 2004.

Dean strums the rhythm guitar and plays the keyboard.  He formerly played the keys for DB8, a band popular with the KK pub crowd.

Art plays the bass guitar and also previously starred in DB8.  He returns to KK after successful stints with that band at Shenanigans.

Vin is the lead guitarists and Rod is on drums.  Both joined Switch Groove after successful stints with other bands.

Switch Groove gets the party started at Rumba, which is open every day except Sundays, from 5pm – 1am, or until 2am on weekends and the eve of public holidays.

Rumba is in the city centre, located at ground level, street level at Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu, and as KK first and only Latin grill and bar and offers vibrant flavoursome Latin food, a great selection of wines and a marvelously minty Mojito.  Cuban cigars and great music are par for the course.