Growball Fun Square and Cinemax , Kota Kinabalu

On my last post , I already promised you to elaborate more on Growball Fun Square and Cinemax located in Palm Square . So , what's the big deal about it , till it made me write another post about this particular place ?

Exterior - not so much , eh? 

It's safe to say that this post is particularly directed for tourists that would like to find some entertainment and cheap tickets to watch your favourite movies in Kota Kinabalu , the heart of Sabah.

On my last post regarding on CentrePoint , the most popular spot in Kota Kinabalu's area , Growball is one of the place that's really packed with rowdy crowds - try imagine a small place with a restaurant, three game center, a cyber cafe, two snooker and billiard center as well and two big karaoke center ; that's what I call 'amusement park' . 

social dance ground - bluffin'
garden cafe - already added to 'e-cafe site'
opera house - none , but there's a hall where could be rented for occasional events

Therefore, shall we break this down ?

Old picture - but now ? WOW .

Just right in front of the gateway , you already see a vast number of arcade machines available - I had my favourite game there too :P . From racing games to punching games , it was really great place to let loose after a few rounds of visiting another locations . And if you got lucky , you might witness the dancer of 'Dance Dance Revolution 3' machine put their names on top list . 

Take a peek at the back , then you'll see a cyber internet cafe and a karaoke site - beware , this location is likely full of crowd . Enter with your own risk . :) 

Elevator ahead , just in front of the gate will take you to the sixth floor , where the cinema halls are located . There were 9 halls (don't mind the ads above , that's old news) - upgraded and really cheap also . Read the price from my last post if you interested . Who said Growball Cinemax doesn't have 3D hall - definitely wrong turn you got there . Hall 9 (new hall , finished around 2011) completely spacious , almost like king of cinema halls in Growball area . His brother , Hall 8 is just nearby and this is a hall where you can rent for occasional events . 

Hall 8 - spacious and can be rented :D

Other ticket counter payment - old picture . 

Where to buy tickets? In fifth floor (just nearby the gateway, beside the food counter ) , or another payment counter in seventh level (must go up by stairs first then turn left until you see a cafe and a family karaoke center) .

One and only upfront counter , another one is kind of 'hidden' , I think ?

Looking for showtimes ? Click here . If you interested in Hall 8 , the information is here . 

I never done my 'exploration' since I didn't like much of karaoke ideas , so I never been to any karaoke place in here . Moreover , I'm into games and movies only , then I'll only talk more about that only , sorry . 

Here we go back , adrift for a few minutes there ... They ( Peninsula Malaysia ) said that their snooker and billiard games are expensive and discreet . In Sabah and Sarawak , one hour only cost about RM2-10 only . Discreet ? Never seen this kind of business in hidden place . As well as Growball too , RM3 per game . 

See what I meant? Just across the hallway .

Another one is quite hidden , with only 3 tables . Located in a karaoke lounge , I think it's close to another arcade center . If you kept searching (or perhaps just ask away the local) , you'll find it . 

 

Go bowling ! During weekends , this place turns into gigantic sardine tin . You had to wait for a long time if you want to bowl , on the other hand , 1Borneo have a bowling center to , quite huge if compared to CPS Bowl . Anyways , here you go , a ball straight away , condemning the pins and OUCH .. reached only zero pins take down . I had such a terrible shot in bowling !

Foods , let see . There's a restaurant (it's called E-Cafe) that offered quite several dishes that cheaper (I guess...) than local outlet in the basement and ground floor . Cheapest , RM 4.50 - a plate of fun fries and a hot dog with cheese flavoured with a 16 oz. of drink that you like OR a set of burger and one 16 oz. drink . Quite money saving, don't you think ?

Aside with a restaurant in Hall 9 , I really don't want to eat there . Not because of the food , but I couldn't got in . The bouncer wouldn't let me in without no reasonable statement . Therefore , I'm unable to taste their foods yet the menu still the same with E-Cafe . By the way , E-Cafe located just beside ticket counter on sixth floor .

Snippet : There's no Hall 4 in Growball . My best guess is , maybe the owner is Chinese . From what I've read so far, it seems like number 4 is quite ... unlucky number (yeah , just like 13) .

Maybe this place wasn't that great if compared to Peninsula Malaysia's might have so far . But this is one hell of a special place and a very big location of interest , especially for locals since this is one of the signs that Sabah never stopped developing , each and every single day . 

Have fun travelling and see you next Tuesday !