Last Updated: November 13th, 2018
The night market is ideally surrounded by hotels and bed and breakfasts
Contrary to the night markets with people wrangling for their place and bargaining for the cheapest price from every single vendor, the night market in Kota Kinabalu’s Jalan Sentosa is quite different. The neighborhood, while generally quiet is considered by most locals as one of Kota Kinabalu’s sketchy areas. While we certainly didn’t feel that way during our visit, Jalan Sentosa is a good place to visit compared to most of KK’s touristy areas–like Gaya Sunday Market or the Filipino Market.
Jalan Sentosa is located just a few blocks away from Gaya Street–home to Kota Kinabalu’s famous Gaya Sunday Market. With vendors offering their products with the very few people that happen to pass by–one thing you would notice is the presence of reflexologists and massage therapists in its plaza. Having encountered them the day before at the Sunday market, it still came as a surprise at how popular a quick massage is offered in a public place–let alone at a night market.
While there certainly isn’t much to see in the products they sell, the alleyways and the humdrum life of the locals make it a perfect spot for street photography. With its bright yellow street lights, the locals who speak a word or two of Filipino to get you to notice their items–this quiet spot in Kota Kinabalu is a breath of fresh air compared from the chaos of visiting the waterfront at night.
A couple of tourists haggling for the price of this man’s items
This family taking a break in the center island
Locals, massage therapists, and reflexologists converge in the plaza
While getting a foot massage
Setting up their tent
Offering samples of his perfumes–“Pare, try mo”
Jalan Sentosa
A couple of vendors taking a quick break–the night is long after all
The night market’s wide space compared to the number of visitors it caters
Brightly lit at night
In the corner is this local convenience store that’s cheaper than 7/11
One of the vendors is all dressed up
One of the many perfume vendors taking a quick break
While arranging her items
This young girl checking out the huge selection of patches
One of the vendors as she fixes her goods
At night
Getting ready
Jalan Sentosa’s night market is open daily and starts at around 7PM until well past midnight.
The Manila Project
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