Things To Do in Sabah, Malaysia

A comprehensive trip in Sabah can easily take around two weeks. Starting from Kota Kinabalu and moving further inland, the route passes through highlands and valleys, going from one top spot to another (KOTA BELUD SABAH WHAT TO DO). 

At the very northern tip lies Tanjung Simpang Mengayau in Kudat, famously known as the Tip of Borneo. It is literally the northernmost point of Sabah and all of Borneo. Here, the South China Sea meets the Sulu Sea, marking the end of the land and the beginning of the endless sea.

Things to Do in Kota Belud, Sabah, Malaysia

The second-largest state in Malaysia, Sabah, lies along both the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea, making it one of Malaysia’s top nature destinations. Its coastal districts stretch from Kuala Penyu on the west coast to Kinabatangan and Pitas on the east coast. Along the west coast, the shoreline extends northward from Kuala Penyu to Kota Belud, a district on Sabah’s northwest coast.

Kota Belud is home to the Kadazan-Dusun and Bajau communities and is known for its peaceful rural charm and traditional villages. A day is usually sufficient to explore the district, but an overnight stay in Kota Belud allows for a more relaxed pace.

Sabah, Malaysia - Things to Do in Kuala Penyu

Sabah, a state in East Malaysia on the northern part of Borneo Island, is also known as the “Land Below the Wind.” This nickname comes from Sabah’s location south of the typhoon belt in the Pacific, which means it generally avoids the storms that affect the Philippines and northern Pacific islands. It highlights Sabah’s calmer climate and safer location (YOGYAKARTA INDONESIA THINGS TO DO). 

Sabah is bordered by Sarawak to the southwest and Indonesian Kalimantan to the south, and lies across the sea from the Philippines to the northeast. Sabah is surrounded by the South China Sea to the west, the Sulu Sea to the north and northeast, and the Celebes Sea to the east.

Cumin Rice (Rice-Cooker Style)

The daily cooked rice, a staple food for Asians, Malaysians included, can easily be elevated to another level. Everyday white rice can get mundane and boring, and to break away from it, all you need is to reach for common kitchen ingredients. A handful of cumin seeds, one of the essential Indian spices (INDIAN LEAFY VEGGIE STIR-FRY) for curries and stir-fries, when cooked with rice, infuses fragrant, subtly spiced, and peppery notes.

Fry the cumin seeds in ghee first, letting its buttery aroma coat the rice, then add a red chili for a hint of heat (VEGETARIAN KANGKUNG/WATER SPINACH SALAD). This simple step brings the much-loved flavors of Indian cooking to life. The best part? It’s cooked entirely in the rice cooker, Cumin Rice Indian-Style, the homely yet flavorful upgrade to your daily rice.

Indian Fish Curry Recipe

A long list of ingredients is typical for Indian Fish Curry, but it’s the spices that truly define its deliciousness. Without them, the curry would be simple and mild, lacking the bold Indian flavors. The good news is, with easily available store-bought spice powders or ready-made fish curry powders, this dish becomes simple and convenient to prepare.

But this isn’t your ordinary fish curry (TAMARIND FRIED FISH). It’s enhanced with mango, adding a natural burst of sourness that complements the spices. The curry also uses tomatoes and tomato paste, which not only add depth but give it a vibrant color. This version is somewhat similar to a South African Fish Curry, explaining the choice of ingredients and flavor profile (MALAYSIAN MUTTON CURRY).

Vegetarian Bak Kut Teh

The food culture has changed over the years. For reasons of healthy living or a wellness lifestyle, more people are becoming vegetarians, vegans, or following a plant-based diet. Some are born vegetarians, while others convert to embrace the vegetarian lifestyle. This shift has increased the demand for vegetarian food, especially for home-cooked meals.

Take Bak Kut Teh  as an example. The traditional Chinese herbal soup (QUICK CHINESE VEGETABLE STIR-FRY) made with Chinese herbs as the core ingredient. These days, there are choices, and it’s easy to pick one that’s affordable.

Vegetarian Water Spinach Salad (Urap Kangkung)

In Malaysia, water spinach, commonly known as “kangkung”, is a well-loved vegetable in Malaysian cuisine. A simple favorite is stir-fried kangkung with garlic, while Kangkung Belacan, water spinach stir-fried with shrimp paste, is another popular dish. Among the most common Malay (VEGETARIAN ASAM PEDAS/SOUR SPICY CURRY) and Indonesian dishes featuring kangkung is Urap Kangkung, a traditional vegetarian water spinach salad.

 

Urap Kangkung is a type of salad related to Kerabu Kangkung, though the ingredients can vary. In both dishes, the water spinach is softened in hot water before being tossed or mixed with other ingredients. The result is a fresh, tasty, and healthy Southeast Asian salad.

Spinach Cheese Recipe

In Malaysia, tofu is often preferred over Indian cottage cheese, but in India, paneer (homemade Indian cheese) is a staple ingredient. While tofu is made from soybeans and paneer from milk, both are protein sources for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Paneer is indeed an alternative to tofu and is now widely available in Indian grocery stores as ready-made cheese.

Feel free to substitute tofu for Indian cottage cheese. However, the classic Spinach Cheese dish, known as Palak Paneer, is a comforting home-style dish that combines paneer and spinach into a creamy, satisfying recipe (SPINACH COCONUT MILK CURRY VEGETARIAN).

Quick Chinese Vegetable Stir-Fry

A beloved Chinese dish, known for its crunchy, colorful vegetables and healthy, vegetarian-friendly appeal. This quick and easy vegetable stir-fry is so flavorful, you can enjoy it on its own without any side dishes or rice for a simple night meal.

The addition of roasted cashew nuts brings a rich, buttery crunch that complements the fresh vegetables perfectly. Soaked and softened fu chuk sheets (tofu sheets) add a delightful chewy texture and absorb the savory sauce beautifully. Meanwhile, dried chillies lend a spicy kick that balances the dish’s flavours.

Vegetable Stir-Fry Recipe: Ponnanganni Keerai

Ponnanganni Keerai, also known as Sessile Joyweed, is a nutritious Indian green leafy vegetable packed with vitamins and minerals. Popular in traditional South Indian cooking (VEGETABLE KURMA CURRY), this humble green is valued not only for its mild bitterness but also for its many health benefits, from cooling the body to improving digestion.

Ponnanganni keerai is commonly found at local markets, usually sold by Indian vegetable traders, but it’s also easy to grow at home. Simply plant the stems after plucking the leaves for cooking. They’ll thrive with minimal care, for your home garden.

Vegetable Kurma Curry Recipe

Kurma curry ranges from chicken, mutton and beef to vegetable versions. The kurma mix generally consists of common ingredients (SPINACH COCONUT MILK CURRY VEGETARIAN), with variations depending on the country or specific region. The differences mainly come down to the spices used and whether it’s a homemade kurma paste or a store-bought curry mix.

Nowadays, countless brands offer a variety of curry mixes, including kurma curry. These ready-made mixes are convenient for quick recipes, catering to today’s busy lifestyle. While the essential ingredients remain in ready-made kurma powders or mixes, some differences may occur between brands.

Spinach Coconut Milk Curry Recipe (Bayam Masak Lemak)

A perfect combination: spinach and coconut milk. Both are affordable superfoods. When it comes to spinach, there are a couple of varieties, including Amaranth Spinach. It is truly affordable and can be cooked into spinach stir fry, anchovies spinach soup, lentil spinach curry, and many more spinach recipes.

Today’s recipe is also a curry style, Malay-style vegetable curry (VEGETABLE SOUR SPICY CURRY/ASAM PEDAS). It falls under vegetarian and vegan recipes. It begins with making the rempah, a homemade spice mix. Then, amaranth is added, which is mild and slightly sweet. Cooked with the spice mix and coconut milk, it becomes a thick, mildly sweet curry. The curry is a vibrant color mix of yellow, green, red, and reddish-purple, making it as visually appealing as it is delicious. 

Chinese Herbal Pork Soup Recipe

Chinese herbal pork soup is one of the easiest and most nourishing dishes in Chinese home cooking. Just add all the ingredients into a pot and let it slowly simmer into an aromatic, delicious soup. If you're using a slow cooker, even better, toss everything in, switch it on, head out, and come home to a pot of herbal comfort (VEGETABLE SOUR SPICY CURRY).

Whether you prefer pork or chicken, the method is the same. It’s all about your choice of protein. And thanks to the wide availability of pre-packed Chinese herbal mixes. Found in hypermarkets, Chinese provision shops, or traditional Chinese medical halls, this soup is also super convenient to make.

Vegetable Sour Spicy Curry Recipe (Asam Pedas)

Vegetable sour spicy curry, referring to a Malaysian curry, is literally vegetable asam pedas. Asam pedas is known as kuah in Bahasa Malaysia, which means gravy or curry. The core ingredient for non-vegetarian asam pedas is fish, usually fresh local Malaysian catch. But for a vegetable or vegetarian asam pedas, it’s a mix of Malaysian vegetables - refer to the ingredients list to see what they are (TAMARIND/ASAM FRIED FISH).

 

That said, the Malaysian mix of blended local herbs, known as rempah, is what matters most. The spice mix must have the right balance of sourness, spiciness, and saltiness. While cooking the rempah, tasting as you go is key to making a delicious sour spicy curry. Still, it is a simple cooking style and budget-friendly, using Malaysian ingredients, which includes popular Asian herbs (MALAYSIAN MUTTON CURRY).

How to Make Fried Fish Tamarind (Asam) Style

Tamarind or asam as known amongst Malaysia is one of the ingredients used for Malaysian savoury dishes, particularly for curries, and gravy dishes. But for Malay cooking, as well as Nyonya food, one of the dishes which incorporates tamarind juice in a different style of cooking is Tamarind Fried Fish, or known as Ikan Goreng Asam. This fish recipe may not be a familiar one for some, including Malaysians, yet, it’s a food love for those who love sourness into fish fry (MALAYSIAN MUTTON CURRY).

 

An easy recipe as there is not much to do, except marinated fish into the tamarind juice, later frying. Paired with a no-cook dip or sauce. Generally, for a such a style fish recipe, the choice is cencaru or torpedo scud, but feel free to use other suited fish, like mackerel/ikan kembung as in the second choice of recipe attached. Also, the raw dipping sauce uses the common kitchen staples. Tamarind fish or asam fish or ikan goreng asam is about tanginess, spiciness tastes. 

Top Things to Do in Surakarta, Indonesia

Getting to Surakarta
From Yogyakarta, it takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to drive to Surakarta. Travel time can vary depending on traffic. Weekdays during peak hours can be congested, and weekends may take longer as locals move between Yogyakarta and Surakarta. Driving can feel like a race, with cars moving quickly through traffic, so it’s best to sit back and stay relaxed (YOGYAKARTA THINGS TO DO). 

Riding a Bajaj
Once in Surakarta, unless traveling in a hired car or van, one must-try experience is riding a bajaj. A bajaj is a three-wheeled motorized vehicle commonly used as a taxi in Indonesia. It usually carries 2–3 passengers, is smaller and cheaper than a car, and is ideal for short rides and getting through narrow or busy streets. Bajaj drivers are skilled at manoeuvring through traffic and can reach sightseeing spots within time.