TOURIST HOT SPOT: GAYA STREET SUNDAY MARKET

What to do on Sundays, in Kota Kinabalu Central Business District? Sunday market! Originally named Bond Street, the now known as Gaya Street is the place for businesses for well over a hundred year. Well, of course you won't see shops made from bamboo or atap roof anymore, but here's where family business that has been passed down from generations of family thrived.

Now, every Sunday the famous Sunday Market will be opened along the stretch of Gaya Street from 6am till 1pm. We said 6am, but stall owners usually starts setting up their stall at 4 - 5am. These stalls are usually identified by giant umbrellas with table-full of displayed items. 6am might seem too early, but you need to be early to avoid the sun's stinging ray. Traffic along Gaya Street will be closed off to make sure your toes are safe from being ran over by a passing car.

There's no limit of what you can find at the Sunday market; shoes, local veges, yummy street foods, local fruits, plants, decorative items, arts, crafts and even pets! And, haggling is a must. But, make sure to wear comfy footwear or you might need to sit halfway through Gaya Street. To really enjoy the Sunday Market, you need to slowly stroll down the road and take your time on each stall, buy light food and munch on it while you're walking under the huge trees to the sound of birds chirping and people haggling. But, do come early as it'll get pretty crowded as the sun gets higher.

Getting There:
A short stroll from anywhere around the city or take the City Bus route C from the bus stop in front of the Promenade Hotel. The bus fair would be RM1 but make sure you inform your bus driver of your destination.