Sabah

Sabah offers spectacular scenery and wildlife. If you can get a cheap ticket to Kota Kinabalu from elsewhere in Asia, come here for a few days.

WHAT TO SEE: Mt. Kinabalu, the highest mountain in SE Asia, is a joy for hikers. You'll have to overnight it in order to get to the top of this 4101 meter-high peak. Kinabalu National Park is a great place to learn about and view the fauna. You can hire a guide who will take you on a hike depending on how much time and how much stamina you've got. If you've got time, the Poring Hot Springs, 43 km away from the park's headquarters, offer soothing relief from your hike. The Rafflesia Forest Reserve, devoted to the world's largest flower, is a treat if you're in town when these monster flowers bloom.

WHAT TO DO: Rent an SUV for a day so you can drive around the jungles. If you go up the coast from Kota Kinabalu, you'll find some beautiful beaches where no one is around. You can go as far as the town of Kudat. Enjoy the stunning jungle scenery during your drive. Near the Hyatt Hotel, you can hire a boat for a few dollars to take you to any of the islands that comprise Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. You can snorkel, scuba dive, and enjoy the sparkling white beaches. For more information, drop by the Sabah Tourism Promotion Corporation (088-21-8620) on 51 Jalan Gaya.

WHAT NOT TO DO: If you go to one of those islands, don't be an idoit and feed the monkeys. Cute as they are, they will just become pests. And if they do take your food, don't be even stupider like a Korean man we saw who got bitten as he tried to defend his lunch.

WHERE TO EAT: The center of Kota Kinabalu has a lot of restaurants. Make sure the food is fresh though; it may have been sitting out all day. The basements of the main shopping centers, such as Centre Point, have much better places to eat and they appear to be much cleaner. There's a great night market at the south end of the Sinsuran Kompleks, where you can also dine at surrounding restaurants or grab a beer at a pub. Near the waterfront is a great outdoor market, if you can stand the smell.

WHERE TO STAY: Sabah can be expensive if you're on a budget. You can try the Travellers Rest Hostel, Block L of the Sinsuran Kompleks (088-21-6926). Another recommended place is Jack's Bed and Breakfast (088-35-733), 17 Block B, Jalan Karamunsing.