Kota Kinabalu What to Pack

Luggage and bags: You must leave enough room to fill with all your shopping great exchange rate means good buys

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Always remember some comfy shoes or sandals for walking especially if you have large feet. The largest sized shoes for women are size 8 (Australia) a 38 or 39 European. Not much large sized women's clothing you really have to hunt it out, so bring enough from home

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Sunscreen is very expensive and remember the tropical strength rid or areoguard repellant. otherwise all other toiletries are super cheap just stock up at the supermarkets. Basic medicines are cheap from the pharmacies but you'll need to know what to ask for. I always bring the basics like dressings, antibiotics, pain killers.

Photo Equipment: Bring a good camera for all the wonderful sunsets

Miscellaneous: If you love your wine bring a cask with you as wine is very expensive. You are allowed 1 litre per adult into Malaysia so a 2L cask per couple is ok...Local spirits & beer although not cheap by Malaysian standards are reasonable if you stock up your hotel fridge from the supermarket in the basement of KK plaza.

Miscellaneous: Tissues - I would suggest you always carry one of those pocket size packets of tissues with you.

Useful for many things, last but not least is cleaning up after gorging on those fantastically messy chicken wings the hawkers sell which are iresistable.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Thin cotton T-shirts, cotton shorts or bermudas. A hat or cap to beat the heat. An umbrella as it rains almost every evening for a few hours. It can get pretty cold up in the mountain or in the Kundasang Ranau area in the early morning and late evening so a thin jacket will come in handy.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Toilet paper. I normally carry one roll in my backpack just in case, it runs out at toilets in shopping centres. Toilets at toilet stops and coffee shops do not normally have toilet paper. Better still, bring along a hand sanitizer. Insect repellent is a must. Sun blocks!

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Diving or snorkelling gear for those who wish to visit the islands.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Cotton shorts - NOT denim. Denim will absorb water when you sweat (as you surely will here) and will not dry easily. While wet, it rubs and chafes - not a pleasant feeling in a hot humid climate.

A hat

An Umbrella (folding)

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Sunscreen

Insect repellant (with deet) if you are going to be going inland is a good idea

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Bring your own snorkling gear if you have it, the rental ones are not good

Luggage and bags: Don't carry too much, just enough for one night's stay. Make sure you have some water proof bags or some plastic cover readily available in case it rains.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Make sure you have some warm clothing for your night hike up Mt KK to watch the sunrise. Things like gloves, a good windbreaker are a definite must. When you hike, you'll be quite warm so you won't need your jacket, however, when you stop, the wind will definitely get to you.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Bring some medication of your own in case of emergency - heat rub, paracetamol (Panadol), pain killers, carbon pills.

Miscellaneous: Bring cash as food is expensive on top of Mt KK. Better yet, bring some of your own food - things like muesli / energy bars, chocolate, 3-in-1 packet drinks, these are things that aren't really heavy and would cost 10x more on top of the mountain. Bring water for your hike up the mountain as well. You'll easily drink a litre of water at least and there's no clean water source available on the way up. Don't throw away you water containers / bottles though. You can fill up at the restaurant at Laban Rata for free later on for your trip downhill the next day.

Luggage and bags: One with a waterproof cover (or at least able to keep out some water) would be good if you're moving around....and please, bring locks!! Bags are fairly cheap in KK though quality varies so you might end up buying a good bag in KK.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Travel light as what you wear outdoors can easily be worn indoors-clubs don't really have dress codes per se, especially for tourists-I'd definitely recommend sneakers and sandals, and you can buy cheap slippers which you can use in the wet bathrooms if you're staying at a backpackers. A raincoat is a good idea, and women here like to use unbrellas with silver lining on the inside to keep the sun out-again, cheap to buy in KK. No need for black shoes, or ties and suits-dress down. Oh, a full brimmed hat (aussie style) will raise a few eyebrows but is a bloody good idea.

I suppose women might wonder about dressing 'modestly,' as I've seen in some forum questions-really I wouldn't worry one little bit-MTV has us all dressing like J-Lo or P-Diddy (or whatever they are called these days...).

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: I suppose mosquito repellant wouldn't hurt if you're going out of town, or backpacking. Sunblock won't be the easiest thing to find in KK but both are available at Tong Hing Supermarket in the city (2nd floor next to the wine colection). Medicines are easily available so I won't bother. if you're off the beaten track I suppose toilet paper might be necessary but I've also known people who brought toilet seat covers-mind you off the beaten tracks, the toilets haven't got seats...bring 20 cent pieces with you for entry into most toilets.

For the guys, i've never found it too easy to get a wide variety of shaving blades, so if you think yours isn't generic enough, take enough stock.

Photo Equipment: Not expensive to buy in KK, but why spend time looking for a camera when you should be snapping away? Film is cheap as easy to find-digital reproduction kiosks are still a rarity though.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Very unpopular Malaysian pastime but becoming more common so camping so gear won't be easy to find-BYO!! Hotels will have those beach umbrellas though. Most camping gear is imported so it won't be necessarily any cheaper in KK, and could even be a bit more expensive than overseas.

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Luggage and bags: backpacks are the way to go and make sure you bring an extra bag for souvenirs!!

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: pack light. prepare for rivers, beaches and the jungle.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: for those allergic to seafoods like you gotta bring lots of claritin (antihistamine) cause the food is just great!!! you can't miss out on it. insect repellant for the garama river cruise since you actually stay after dusk too!

Photo Equipment: extra batteries and more storage space for lotsa pictures!!

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: UMBRELLA...it usually rains in the afternoon...most of the time it really does!

Miscellaneous: SUNBLOCK!!!!!

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Glove (water resist with good grip if possible)
Shoes
Although sports shoes are acceptable, hiking shoes with good grip is an advantage. Need not be waterproof. i brought spare shoes.
Thick sports socks with toe support. i wore 2 socks all the way. Bring at least 1 spare sock in case of rain.
Raincoat with hood and knee length.
Knee I ankle guard
Hat / cap. To shield from drizzle and sunlight near mountain top.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Lip balm — air at the summit is dry. Some people use them.
Sun block (at least 30 SPF). Small bottle - needed for descend from 13,300 to 5,000 feet Kinabalu base camp. Use spray type for even coverage and easy application.