Return to Kota Kinabalu
![Welcome to Kota Kinabalu! Welcome to Kota Kinabalu!](https://i0.wp.com/farm7.static.flickr.com/6151/6189770210_4000b756cc_m.jpg?resize=150%2C240)
My last year’s trip to Sabah, Malaysia was for a vacation (Kota Kinabalu City Tour), now, my return is for something more physical, heart-thumping, and competitive – the Cebu Pacific Backpacker Challenge 2011!
After packing my lightest baggage ever and heading to NAIA, a welcoming committee led by Alvin Quek of Exotic Adventure Borneo greeted us at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport upon arrival.
![Kota Kinabalu International Airport Arriving at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport](https://i1.wp.com/farm7.static.flickr.com/6163/6189262909_28362f5631.jpg?resize=500%2C224)
Complete with greetings and beaded necklaces, we felt the warm welcome. Our group was composed of the 10 challengers — 8 writers from Philippine print media and 2 bloggers including Sago of LetsGoSago.net. We were also joined by Zuhaira Abas of Tourism Malaysia-Manila, MP Pestano, Michelle Eve de Guzman, and Blessie Labra Cruz, all from Cebu Pacific, and official photographer Rosemarie Razon.
![Alvin Quek Philippine Media Team and Alvin Quek Welcomes Philippine Media](https://i1.wp.com/farm7.static.flickr.com/6156/6189785818_5b3f6ae01a.jpg?resize=500%2C376)
![Mini Bus Boarding the Mini Bus](https://i2.wp.com/farm7.static.flickr.com/6026/6189256399_6d2fc84db8.jpg?resize=500%2C156)
We boarded a mini bus and went straight to Gaya Center Hotel to freshen-up and get ready for a dinner hosted by Sabah Tourism Board in PortView Village near Kota Kinabalu’s bay facing the South China Sea.
![Gaya Center Hotel Gaya Center Hotel Reception / Lobby](https://i0.wp.com/farm7.static.flickr.com/6006/6189761710_ab318bcf68.jpg?resize=500%2C375)
![Gaya Center Hotel Rooms Gaya Center Hotel Accommodations & Amenities](https://i2.wp.com/farm7.static.flickr.com/6177/6189254669_b0fb89f28e.jpg?resize=480%2C271)
We met more officers and members of the Sabah Tourism Board and Malaysia Tourism at the restaurant.
A short briefing about the Cebu Pacific Backpacker Challenge Sabah Edition and simple ceremony was also held turning over event shirts, Malaysian SIM cards, and the RM1000 cash (equivalent t0 Php14200 / team of 2).
![Backpacker Adventure Challenge Gordon Yapp Welcoming Backpacker Adventure Challenge Participants](https://i1.wp.com/farm7.static.flickr.com/6170/6189773538_8f0e89b5ba.jpg?resize=480%2C208)
![Sago Backpacker Sago + Malaysian SIM + RM1000](https://i2.wp.com/farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/6189766432_5dd7d32bba.jpg?resize=500%2C313)
![Sabah Tourism Board + Malaysia Tourism + Philippine Media Dinner = Sabah Tourism Board + Malaysia Tourism + Philippine Media](https://i0.wp.com/farm7.static.flickr.com/6161/6189772744_f8a4ee58d1.jpg?resize=500%2C281)
![Joba Botana My team mate Joba Botana of Manila Standard Newspaper](https://i1.wp.com/farm7.static.flickr.com/6002/6189240509_0418f36843_m.jpg?resize=240%2C180)
It was a quick meet-and-greet over seafood-themed Malaysian dinner in preparation for the early start of the backpacking challenge proper and send-off the next day.
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