Sabah's Philippines Market

After had seen a little part of the Pulau Gaya Philippine migrants' houses built over water on stilts while on our water scooting around island parks, I'd got to frankly say their life as refugees isn't a pleasant one.

With the breaking of dawn comes the promise of a new day in Kota Kinabalu.

We returned to Kota Kinabalu city centre early morning after our breakfast at the resort so we can get to stroll around the Philippines Market for some souvenirs and seafood produce before taking off and back to the land of the Foochows and home of the Kampuas.

We had cooling coconut juice at the coconut market where every stall under one roof is selling the same thing, that's coconuts and coconuts products from fresh cooling coconut juice to coconut jelly and cakes.

At the Philippines Market, it seems like the daily routine starts immediately after the sun has risen over the horizon and the sky is still red. Vendors can be seen arriving on boats in Kota Kinabalu from Pulau Gaya to sell fish and vegetables at the location provided for them.

Here is where the rarity of middle aged men with their sewing machines ever ready to mend or make new clothes outside row of the market.

Our tour van dropped us right at the entrance to the market leaving us for about an hour to tour around the market area. The boys just love the Philippines tidbits seeing the variety of cakes and crackers for finger snacks.

The Handicraft Market, a bazaar hawking a hodge-podge of things that ladies would normally desire. Inside, the stalls are really packed, with aisle just wide enough for a person to shuffle along.

We were told most items were shipped from the Philippines to be sold in the market to mostly tourists who would visit the market as one of the must-visit destinations in Kota Kinabalu.

At one of the stalls I was introduced to tiger eye stone for the first time by a young female vendor who spoke fluently Malay language with Philippine accent. Besides agate, crystal, jade and turquoise beads, gemstone beads are also available tagged very high but still very negotiable. In fact, there were too many of them, I reckon I won't be able to recognise between the genuine and the fake stones.

Jewellery items like sea water pearl or south sea pearl are plenty at the market to choose from, we were told to practice bargaining skills before coming here. "You could get up to 50-70% off for pearl items if you're good in bargaining." said our tour guide.

My nephews got souvenir key chains for RM1 a piece the same items I'd got at one of Poring Hot Springs handicraft stalls for RM3 a piece. Apparently he was telling the vendor I got it for RM1, hearing that the vendor agreed to settle for RM1 provided he's buying more than 3 pieces of the items.

Next to the Philippines Market, is the Dried Sea Critters Market. Looking at the dried shrimp (weigh in kg) and selling at RM60 per-kg surprised us!

The market selling dried seafood from shrimp, anchovies, sea cucumbers, scallops, salted fish to dried fish stomachs.

Yes, expensive fish stomachs! However, prices of almost everything in Philippines Market are negotiable.

You'll only get to eat this special fish stomach delicacy at CNY, probably.

Sea corals, sea shells and starfish for your fish tanks.

We indeed bought several dried seafood items to be brought home and some fresh straight from Kundasang farm vegetables.