One of the most beautiful Sunsets in the world

The word " the most" and " in the world " attract people's attention naturally as it did to me! I am sure many people enjoys sunset, all over the world. Some even travel to places just to see these magnificent events and wrote about it in their travel. So why should I write about sunsets? Do you think it will be a boring topic?  I choose to write about it because one of the lovely sunsets is right in front of me, most evening and I feel proud it's in Sabah!😂 Do you know that Borneo (Kota Kinabalu) sunset, is rated the 15th place of the 24 in the world, according to the google site I searched -https://www.roughguides.com/gallery/the-worlds-best-sunset-spots/

 

This amazing sunset photo was taken by a friend's friend from her office at the upper floor of the building, Kota Kinabalu town facing the sea.
Thanks to Luvita for sharing this photo to my blog.😂😊

Sun set views from the Waterfront, Kota Kinabalu

This beautiful photo was taken by a friend during our hangout moments at the Waterfront. 

Thank you Wotti and Dorothy for such a lovely evening.🌹

Amazing changes of the colours in the sky during sunset within minutes at Waterfront, Kota Kinabalu,

 It's a lovely evening sitting at the Waterfront with a glass of cold beer watching sunset this way🍺

At 6.19pm - Sun began to set

6.24pm

The last sight of the sun 

6.28pm

The sun has disappeared but it is still emitting light and this is the best part of sun set because the sky changes to many different colors within a minute or two. It's beautiful to watch.😃

7.05pm 

The sun has gone. The sight of sea and sky turned to darkness. Only lights from the fishing boats were noticeable.

Photos of the sunset on top of the hills, Kokol Haven Resort. 

Thanks Mag for sharing your photos in my blog😘.

We are lucky to have mother nature, to witness such beautiful, mesmerising sunsets in our hometown.

To most people, sunset makes them happy, a feeling of contentment. The moments, even though it's short but enough to give people great enjoyment. Sunset can bring a magical experience or feeling. 

But there are some, like my parents would say “what’s so good about sunsets? It is more important to have money in your pocket and able to fill your belly!" 😜😜 People like my parents who worked hard for a living, all their life to survive, didn't appreciate such nature like sunsets, mountains or beaches in our hometown. I respect their opinion. 🫡

For those who love the sunsetting, they admit to spending time embracing this event.

When I was 16yrs old, I went to our home town beach at Tanjung Aru(KK), with my school mates. That was about 47 yrs ago, when we came across a couple of Japanese tourists taking photos of the sunset. At that time, we didn’t know how to appreciate a sunset and was wondering why they focused their special camera at the sky during sunset. Ahh..... now I understand it's to take the wonderful looking rays of the sun spreading around the sky, the moment the sun disappeared in the horizon. 🤭

About 11 years ago, when my husband retired, he also loves to go to the water front here in KK, especially in the early evening, the beaches at Tg Aru, Shangrila Resort and Pantai Dalit (and still does) just to sit down, enjoying having a cool beer while watching the day end.

Some of my local friends think it’s a waste of time, sitting down looking at Sunset, when they can see it every day. That's the reason!  It's because we see it every day, we tend to take it for granted, without appreciating the nature around us. Just like the magnificent Mount Kinabalu standing right in front of our eyes when we visited National Park at Kundasang. Did I ever climb or make an effort to try? No, and I still haven't😅. Yet, people from all over the world came here to experience the climb. For most of us here, the way we view our nature, is different from how our tourists/visitors here did. 😅How many of us really embrace the beauty of that mountain like our visitors did?

On the 27.11.2019 I googled to find out that there are, in their opinion 24 spots for the world's best sunset , and Kota Kinabalu (KK)is one of them!. Wow! Not bad eh?

1. Taj Mahal, India

2. Atacama desert, Chile

3. The Matterhorn, Switzerland

4. Punta del Este, Uruguay

5. Zanzibar

6. Siem Reap, Cambodia

7. Isle of Skye, Scotland

8. Santa Monica, California, USA

9.Maasai Mara, Kenya

10. Sussexm England

11. Port Waikato, New Zealand

12. Cairo, Eygpt

13. Bali Indonesia

14. Hawaii

15. Kota Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia

16. Lofoten, Norway

17. Santorini, Greece

18. Massachuetts, USA

19. Uluru, Australia

20. Cape town, South Africa

21. Veneto, Italy

22. Grand Canyon Arizona, USA

23. Venice, Itay

24. Alaksa, USA

Yes, Kota Kinabalu has one of the worlds’ best spots for viewing the sunset. Sadly, most people in our city are not aware of how fortunate we are.

A friend of mine, Jennifer, spoke about an unspoiled beach in Tuaran she once visited. It was further away from our KK town. She sent me a photo and it was this photo that influenced me to google and write about the topic.

So, on the 1st Dec 2019, I made a promise to myself, to go and embrace the beauty of our sunset at the 3rd beach of Tanjung Aru, before they were taken over by the Eco Project. When I was writing this story, that's in Dec 2019,  it was still a public area.  Our Tg Aru beach has 3 parts. The 1st beach which is the outer part of the beach is not as peaceful or clean as the 3rd beach. The 3rd beach is further away and more isolated. The 1st beach is always crowded with tourists. More people, more rubbish thrown on the beach, how sad😢.

My son and his son by the beach. Photo taken by my daughter in law😊

December is mostly monsoon season for Sabah, but I still try my luck. I drove to the beach on the 6th December 2019  but unfortunately luck was not on my side. There was no sign of a sunset because of the thick heavy clouds and rain that  covered the skies or rays from the sun😥😭😞.

But I didn't give up😜 and came back the next day for a better luck. The weather had improved, even though it  rained, I was able to get a few good shots of the sunset😎. I don't have any fancy hand phone camera or top rated camera but I am happy enough with some of the photos I took at the beach.😊Mission accomplished!

Sunset at 5.59pm on the 7th December 2019

The reflection of the sun makes the sea look like it's on fire!

My homeland sunset looks like a painting.

 It's mesmerizing😍. A breathtaking golden beauty. 

The rays from the sun spread all over the sky leaving so many varieties and shades of red, orange and many other colours, is a phenomena. The final part of the sunset gives a wonderful feeling. Day after day, month after month and year after year, I feel each one is different even on the same beach. That’s nature.

Within a minute or two, the colours of the skies change

The silhouette of coconut trees stand out beautifully. 
 

The 3rd beach of Tanjung Aru is a lovely place to visit. It's very care free, cleaner and pleasant. I believe the sunset has a powerful effect in making people comfortable and happy in their surroundings. 

It was lovely to watch people enjoying their moments on the beach. 

Some sitting at the long bench, listening to the motion and sounds of the sea.

 Some were just like me, posing and taking photos.

Family photo shots

Lovers admiring the sunset. 

 Someone embracing the energy from the sunset😂

Children enjoying their dip under the sunset while their parents sat on the sand, close by, watching.

Looking at these happy events, put a smile on my face at the end of the day.

These were all just photos. It would be even better if you witness it yourself.

Sun set views at Sutera Harbour Resort, Kota Kinabalu on 23.04.2023 @ 6.47pm. 

Beautiful sight of the Celestial bodies (Sun, Moon, star) outside earth atmosphere.
 Very rarely I see these 3 natural objects together so I couldn't resist taking this photo.
Such a blessing! 🙏

The Sun, Moon and the Star! - 23.04.23

One of my friends, Christy was also at Sutera Harbour Resort, Kota Kinabalu when she captured this beautiful photo at 6.30pm on the 24.4.23.

After the sun disappeared from the horizon, the sun's rays looked like fire explosion in the sky. Spectacular sunset!

 Strange shape of the clouds during sunset that looked like the map of Sabah!

This photo was shared by a dear friend, Wotti. 

7th August 2025 @ 6.42pm

Another beautiful shot of sunset, taken at the Peak Vista Condominium, Signal hill, Kota Kinabalu, and then shared by a friend's sister Cheryl Chew. 

I thank God for giving me good friends who were willing to contribute their beautiful sunsets photos of our hometown to my blog. 

This chapter was updated on 07.08.25

http://www.wwf.org.my/?17825/WWF-Malaysia-concerns-over-DBKKs-Local-Plan
https://www.roughguides.com/gallery/the-worlds-best-sunset-spots/
https://foursquare.com/top-places/kota-kinabalu/best-places-sunsets
https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2018/06/28/the-most-beautiful-sunsets-in-the-world/#2586d2935a72