Connie Consumes: TunkuAbdulRahmanPark, Sabah – An Island-Hopping Guide @connieconsumes

Our first few days in Sabah had given us plenty of culture, delicious food, and a taste of their lush forests, but what we were craving now was a healthy dose of the sea! Kota Kinabalu itself is set on the coast, but if you’re serious about getting some beach time then you need to head out to Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.

This marine park is made up of a cluster of islands, but the most popular ones for beach-goers are Pulau Manukan and Pulau Sapi which were where we headed for the day!

From Sutera Harbour we set off to the islands in style on our private speedboat… in just twenty minutes we had gone from city to sea, and moments later we were enjoying the sand between our toes and the soothing sounds of the crashing waves.

Unfortunately, that calm and serenity did not last long. Remember how I mentioned that Pulau Manukan and Pulau Sapi are popular?

I hadn’t prepared myself for just how busy they would be; we literally watched boatload after boatload of enthusiastic day-trippers swarm the beach.

I quickly came to the conclusion that this is probably not the place to come if you want a relaxing, lazy day of doing not that much on the beach.

In fact, all those day-trippers come to these islands because they actually want to do stuff like diving, snorkelling and a couple of other unique activities so we thought if we couldn’t beat them, we’d join them!

We packed away the beach towels and any thoughts of sunbathing, and did some more interesting activities instead…

Conquering the Coral Flyer on Sapi Island

I was always a big fan of the flying fox when I was a child because I absolutely loved that little thrill I got whizzing from one side to the other.

Getting on the Coral Flyer brought all those happy childhood memories back… but this was definitely like no flying fox I had ever done before!

The Coral Flyer is the world’s longest island to island zipline, it’s 250m long and is between Pulau Sapi and Pulau Gaya.

A boat took us from Sapi to Gaya where we were helmeted and harnessed, before being hooked onto the line… it was at this point that I started to get just a tad nervous! It took a tiny bit of reassurance from a certain someone, a bit of laughing from the boys in the line after us, and a bit of a push from the guide and I was off!

It was over in a flash but we enjoyed the most incredible views from the Coral Flyer – definitely one of the most memorable experiences of our trip!

Continue reading (Incl. Pics & Vids) at: Connie Consumes: Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Sabah – An Island-Hopping Guide

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Around the World in 80 Blogposts: Jungle Fever In Malaysian Borneo

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be surrounded by funny-looking monkeys? To watch parentless orang utan toddlers play hide-and-seek? To be amazed by naturally-lit Christmas trees in a mangrove forest? If your answer is ‘yes’, then you should definitely keep on reading.

Even if monkeys and fireflies are not your cup of tea, you won’t regret finishing this post. Let me share a literary piece of the superb island of Borneo with you!

Kota Kinabalu: markets, monkeys and fireflies

A severly-delayed flight later, I set foot in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of the Sabah-state in the Malaysian section of Borneo. You already know my exploring routine: it all starts with a walk. The sun was present and smiling locals in the streets were greeting me all the time (friendly Malaysians do exist! I was shocked as much as you are!).

KK’s highlights include the Filipino and Central Market, the instant stress-reducing waterfront and a stunning assortment of fish statues spread all over the city. And last, but not least, a Christmas tree consisting of beer bottles. As long as you have beer, every day feels like X-mas!

My relaxation-focussed half-day trip to Manukan Island started at the Jesselton Point ferry port. Mandatory life vest on, hair in the wind and time for a rare selfie. A too short beach break was followed by a snorkel attempt.

The extremely turbid ocean water, courtesy of the previous night’s heavy rainfall, made it a hell of a challenge to admire the Manukan underwater fauna. My eyes didn’t perceive a single fish in the first 20 minutes.

Actually, they didn’t perceive anything at all. Only after elegantly moving my body to deeper sea territory, supposedly off-limits to snorkelers, did I cross paths with a couple of dozen fish and sea urchins. Unfortunately, my eyesight was still too blurry to contemplate their true beauty. The clown fish I met seemed more like tiny swimming zebras!

The ominous clouds overhanging KK on the way back should have been a sign to stay away from the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque. I still went and didn’t regret going against nature. I faced even more puddles that evening as I checked out the night market.

A disappointing bunch of vendors with very similar assortments. Especially clothes, watches and jewellery seem to be bestselling items in the night market business.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Around the World in 80 Blogposts: Jungle Fever In Malaysian Borneo

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Soul searching in Kota Kinabalu

ISLAND hopping in Kota Kinabalu (KK), Malaysia, isn't really the highlight of our trip. It wasn't special and to be honest, I believe Philippines has better beaches.

But the beach person that I am, we went anyway. So here's an honest breakdown on our island hopping in KK.

While walking at the waterfront near the iconic Marlin Statue, Rovin (not his real name), a Filipino living in KK, approached us and offered us an island hopping tour.

Since it's a lot cheaper than the usual tours we found in the internet, we decided to get his number and go with him the next day.

He asked for 50 MYR per person per island. It's up to you what island you want to visit. We decided to visit the 4 main islands: Manukan Island, Sulug Island, Mamutik Island and Sapi Island.

Take note that Ruben isn't really a licensed tourist and that's why this way of island hopping is inexpensive. Are you willing to take the risk? If yes, message us if you want to get his number. You don't really need to book him months or weeks for the tour, tho.

Actually, you could just walk around the waterfront area and people like Rovin will walk up in front of you and offer you different kind of tours. There are a lot of people on this island.

There's a resort here. There's a part of the beach that I wanted to hang out at but it seemed that it was only for the customers that are staying in the resort.

The part of the beach for the day-tourers have a lot of stones and just plain meh. We didn't stay long here. Nicole swam and I just soaked in the heat of the sun and slept. It was nice tho.

If you're with the licensed tour, the entrance for the resort is inclusive with the payment (thus, expensive). Rovin just told us to walk pass the reception and go along with the flow of tourists.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Soul searching in Kota Kinabalu

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Tourists must carry ID – Sabah Parks

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Parks has urged the tour operators in the state to ensure that their tourists bring their necessary identification documents when traveling around Sabah.

Board of Trustees Senior Park manager Maipol Spait said tour operators had a tendency for not bringing their respective tourists’ passports when visiting Sabah Parks.

“These tourists usually leave their passports in their hotel rooms…maybe they are afraid that they may damage their passports (when they visit the islands),” he said when met by reporters during an operation at Pulau Manukan on Thursday.

“This is for their (the tourists) own safety. In the event of an emergency or an accident, the identification of victims can be easily obtained if they have their passports with them,” he said, adding that passports would help speed up any identifying process.

When asked whether legal action would be taken against tourists for not bringing their passports along, Immigration Department representative Abdul Matar Abdul Mutalib said that a warning would be issued against them instead.

The three-hour operation was spearheaded by Sabah Parks, Police and the Immigration Department and it covered three islands, namely Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutik and Pulau Sapi.

A total of 165 individuals, comprising tourists and workers and 48 boats were inspected.

Only one male boat skipper was slapped with a RM20 compound for not possessing a landing permit. None of the said individuals were fined.

“The purpose of this operation is to ensure that the procedures and rules of the Sabah Parks Enactment are complied with.

Continue reading at: Tourists must carry ID – Sabah Parks

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Monkey's Tale: Borneo, Part 1

Kota Kinabalu and area

We had a few days in Kota Kinabalu to take advantage of everything to do in the surrounding area.

When we arrived the weather was really nice, hot and humid so we took a local ferry to Manukan, one of the nearby islands belonging to the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park.

The ferry was a small fiberglass boat, and the drivers were crazy.

They raced across the ocean towards the islands at high speed.

The waves were really high and our small boat went flying at least 3 m into the air, crashing down with a hard landing.

This wasn’t just once, but several times in the 20 minute ride, we thought our boat would crack from the force. 

Manukan is a small island with a nice sandy beach, relatively clean water to swim, a few restaurants and a hotel.

After a day on the beach, we had enough relaxation so we went white water rafting on the Padas River. 

The trip to the rafting sight was an experience on its own.

There are no local roads so we took an old British train left over from WWII.

The rails were very narrow and the train shook from side to side as it traveled along the tracks.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Monkey's Tale: Borneo, Part 1

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New Marine Aquarium Centre at Manukan Island another tourist draw

KOTA KINABALU: The new Marine Aquarium Centre at Manukan Island will not only serve as a tourist attraction, but will also serve as a platform to educate the public on the importance and functions of marine life, especially sharks, said Sabah Parks director Dr Jamli Nais.

“This aquarium will be the supplier of information and, hopefully, will inspire visitors to learn more about the importance and functions of sharks in the marine ecosystem.

“This is in line with the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park’s declaration, which is to be a shark sanctuary along with the other marine parks in Sabah,” Jamli said at the soft launching of the aquarium yesterday.

Jamli disclosed that among the types of sharks that will be displayed is a blacktip reef shark.

He added that the park will be launched officially on September 1 and the entrance fee for the rest of the year will be free.

“This concept all started from an idea which is to have a marine exhibition centre very close to the city. With this new centre that we have just built, it will be easier for tourists to come and visit, as Manukan Island is only a 15-minute boat journey from the city centre,” Jamli added.

Yesterday’s event also marked the 43rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.

Continue reading at: New Marine Aquarium Centre at Manukan Island another tourist draw

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MMEA vessel sunk for tourism attraction near Manukan Island

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) created history when it sank one of its vessel as a tourism and artificial coral reef attraction near Manukan Island, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park yesterday.

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun said the purpose of decommissioning the 52-year-old KM Kuraman vessel into the ocean was for ecosystem, namely in coral reef growth and marine life.

With the new ‘asset’ in the sea, Masidi said it would indirectly attract tourists, especially shipwreck diving or ‘Wreck Dive’ in the country.

“KM Kuraman was decommissioned and sunk into the seabed at Tunku Abdul Rahman Park to serve as a new tourism attraction and ecosystem for coral reef and shipwreck diving activities.

“With this new ecosystem, we believe it will diversify the existing biodiversity in this park,” he said after officiating at the sinking of KM Kuraman at Manukan Island, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park yesterday.

Also present were MMEAFirst Admiral Mohd Zubil Mat Som and Sabah Park director Dr Jamili Nais.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: MMEA vessel sunk for tourism attraction near Manukan Island

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Sabah Bah – Island Hopping at Tunku Abd Rahman Park

Another must do activities when you are in Kota Kinabalu is the island hopping at Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.

This time around, as time doesn’t permit us, we only managed to cover 2 islands which is Manukan and Mamutik Island for just half a day.

The marine park is basically a cluster of 5 islands which is Pulau Gaya, Sapi, Manukan, Mamutik and Sulug and it is accessible via speedboat rides from Kota Kinabalu Town which will take about 15 to 20 minutes.

One thing that you should now is that the departure and the arrival are located at Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal which is next to the Malaysia Royal Custom Department.

There are numbers of tour agents around the terminal and just haggle like a pro to get the best deal of the day.

As for us, we managed to get a deal for a price of RM30 which includes 2 island hopping and a snorkelling gear.

On top of that, we even haggled on the price of the parasailing package for RM120 (for 2 pax).

Another tips, if you wanted to cover and visit at least 3 islands in the Marine Park, start your day as early as you can and be at the jetty by 9am as visitors are required to leave the island by 4pm on the same day.

Besides, you might want to avoid the long lines of tourists looking for boats and packages especially over the weekend.

Pulau Mamutik (Mamutik Island)

After 20 minutes, the boat then stopped at the first island which is Pulau Mamutik.

We were so excited to see school of small fishes at the jetty and it gave us a wide smile on our face upon our arrival.

With the white sandy beach and crystal clear waters beneath clear blue sky, we couldn’t asked for more.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Sabah Bah – Island Hopping at Tunku Abd Rahman Park

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Kota Kinabalu: A taste of Borneo

In searing tropical heat I can feel trickles of sweat running down my neck.

My t-shirt clings damply to my skin but the exhilaration of standing on an island in the heart of Borneo outweighs anything so ordinary as a bit of perspiration.

I've found myself standing on the white sand of Pulau Manukan, one of five islands off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, Malaysia in Northern Borneo.

On the short boat trip from our resort on the mainland a thick smoky haze has reduced visibility to almost nothing but now it's beginning to clear.

Our guide explains it's from local fires due to a long dry period, and crop-burning in Indonesia.

Locals apologise for the haze and tell us it isn't like this all year round.

Some wear face masks and it does make me wonder what the longer term health effects must be for those living in it day after day.

It is mid-morning and after a tour of Manukan's small resort of 20 villas it's time for our first swim. 

Replacing sweat with the still blue water of the South China Sea is bliss.

We're revelling in the comfort and re-setting our body temperatures to normal when a resort staffer casually strolls up and tells us to watch out for the jellyfish.

He points to a large red blob on the shore and then, seeing our panic, says there were many more last week.

I don't run out screaming - as I know my teenage daughter would do - but begin urgently scanning the water for red blobs, desperate to stay in the water. But it's time to get out, this is just the start of a day of island-hopping activities.

As we approach the next island, Pulau Sapi, the jetty is surrounded by a melee of water taxis all hustling to drop people off or pick them up.

The jetty itself is packed with tourists either posing for selfies or getting ready to go diving.

The beaches on each side of the jetty are packed with groups of divers, families snorkelling and more selfie-obsessed teenagers.

Some are taking a break for lunch and have set up at one of tables and chairs under several marquees.

There is a cafe but many have brought their own food and are taking advantage of the barbecues.

Soon we're on the water taxi again zooming across to the neighbouring island where we find two young guys waiting to kit us up for the zip-line.

A poster advertises it as the "World's longest zip-line in Borneo".

Continue reading (Incl. Pics & Vid) at: Kota Kinabalu: A taste of Borneo

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10 Places in Sabah You Must Visit When You’re There or You’ve Wasted Your Trip

From its concrete jungle city centre to its nature and wildlife treasures beyond- Sabah gives you the best of both worlds! If you didn’t already know, Sabah is a huge state (second largest state in Malaysia) and there’s tons of amazing places to visit there!

So unless you’re on a very, very long vacation in Sabah, there’s only so much places you could cover! That’s why I’ve narrowed down the long list of places to visit in Sabah to 10 must-visit places during your limited stay in Sabah instead.

Sabah Museum

I know, I know. Am I serious? Well, you bet I am! Being a local myself, I didn’t visit the state museum until just recently (yes, guilty!). I was surprised to see how well facilitated it was and there’s so much to see and learn there. The museum is also the best place to go to learn more about the state itself. There’s things from culture and ethnicity to zoology and science and technology!

Filipino Market

Also known as the night market in Kota Kinabalu, this is where you go to get souvenirs. Some of the things you can find there are local handicrafts, fresh water pearl accessories, dried food stuff and seafood products. It’s often crowded at the market but it’s something every tourist should experience once in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Sunset Bar, Shangri-la Tanjung Aru Resort

They say Sabah has one of the world’s most beautiful sunsets you will ever experience. Well, they’re right! And one of the most common and popular places to catch the spectacular sunset scene is at Sunset Bar. Picture this: You’re sipping on cocktail while feeling the warm ocean breeze on your face, and you find yourself watching then sun slowly disappearing under the vast horizon. That’s sort of what it’s like, only better.

Desa Dairy Farm, Kundasang

To get there, it will take about 2 and a half hours to 3 hours from KK city. So, you can either plan a day trip to go there or stay the night in Kundasang instead (lots of accommodation around). The Desa Dairy Farm is Sabah’s own little New Zealand. The breath-taking scenery and cool fresh air will make you feel like you’ve entered intoa foreign country (I was fooled too). The cattle farm consists of Friesian cows (the black and white ones) which are the highest milk producers. Also, try their ice-cream. OMG.

Island Hopping

Okay, I say ‘island hopping’ because there’s so many islands here in Sabah but the most popular ones include Sapi Island, Manukan Island and Mantanani Island. So, instead of going to just one of these during your visit in Sabah, you can choose to go island hopping and visit a few at once! Sand between your toes, salt in your hair, island breezes and sun kissed skin. Ah, that’s the life!

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: 10 Places in Sabah You Must Visit When You’re There or You’ve Wasted Your Trip

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MySabah: Manukan Island, the Most Popular Island of Sabah

With over 200,000 visits annually, Manukan (Pulau Manukan) is the most frequented island by domestic and international tourists. It is only 15-minute away by boat ride, almost a no-brainer choice for people who want an island day trip near to Kota Kinabalu City (KK).

However, to be fair, the reason Manukan Island becomes the most famous island is not just because it’s “convenient.” It does have three other outstanding factors that make this beautiful island of South China Sea a favorite destination.

Factor #1. Manukan has long stretch of white sandy beach

Its long beach spans about 1,500 Meter at southern side of the island, facing a bay of crystal clear and tranquil sea. The water is so calm and shallow that it’s also suitable for non-swimmers. Families feel safe to let their kids playing in the water. No matter how far their children go, parents still can have a clear open view on what’s going on.

Manukan is the second largest island of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (TARP in short), and its beach is vast. Though Manukan has hundreds of visitors every day, there is still enough big space for everyone. You won’t accidentally trip over a carpet of tourists sunbathing on the beach.

Factor #2. Manukan has the Most Developed Facilities

Tourists can find almost everything they need there, from toilet, shower room, restaurants, water sport activities, souvenir shop to accommodation. You can go to Manukan empty-handed (must bring cash!) and buy your things such as food, sunscreen and beachwear on the island. But please be informed nothing is cheap on the island.

Another thing I like about Manukan is its forested shore. After a swim in hot day, we can retreat to the shade, rest on the bench and enjoy the gentle sea breeze. It can be quite cooling under the trees.

There are a few lifeguards keeping an eye on the sea. They also know how to deal with injury caused by jellyfish sting and sea urchin. For crime prevention, there are some police on the island too.

Factor #3. Manukan Island has the Best Snorkelling Spot

Among the five islands of TARP, Manukan Island ranks top as a snorkelling site. Though its coral reef is not of world class, it’s still a wonderful treat to nature lovers. Sighting of Nemo is guaranteed. You can even see Nemo from the jetty, with thousands of other fishes.

In fact, many Hong Kong celebrities have been to Manukan Island. Usually they come to Manukan as personal trip and try to stay low profile. Don’t be surprised if you find WuChun or other superstars laying just next to you in Manukan.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics & Vid) at: MySabah: Manukan Island, the Most Popular Island of Sabah

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5traveltheworld: Borneo: Part 1

Three months before we set off on our trip we stumbled across an Air Asia ‘flash sale’.

For around £200 return we could all fly from KL to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo; knowing we could be in KL at the right time we decided it was too good an opportunity to miss.

After snapping up the cheap fares we then thought very little about it until last month when we started researching the options for our time in Borneo.

At that stage it’s fair to say I started to doubt our earlier ‘let’s just book it’ attitude when faced with stories of long over-land journeys, trekking through rain forest infested with mutant insects and various tropical diseases, and staying in the most basic of back packer accommodation.

But today marks the end of our two weeks here and I can wholeheartedly say it has been a wonderful experience which I wouldn’t hesitate to repeat.

Our first few days were spent in the regional capital, Kota Kinabalu.

Tourists are usually drawn here for the diving opportunities in Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park.

For us it was more a case of that’s where the cheap flight came in to, but still, we decided it would be rather rude not to take a little boat out to a white sand beach and have a dip in the warm waters of the South China Sea.

The boats are much like taxis; we selected the two islands we wanted to visit and then were dropped off and picked up at an agreed time.

We also hired a couple of sets of snorkelling equipment in the hope that we could persuade the children to give it a go.

We spent a morning on the island of Manukan.

As we disembarked at the jetty we could immediately see shoals of fish in the water below.

Seeing how close to the shore the coral reef is gave the children the confidence to tackle the snorkelling.

Harriet in particular, took to it like- well, a fish to water, and spent an hour marvelling at the thousands of brightly coloured Nemo-like fish.

Even 3 year old Josie was able to stand knee deep and have silvery fish dart between her feet much to her delight.

We would be very limited in the luggage we could take on with us from KK (as everyone calls it).

The intention was to take one pull-along case and two small backpacks with enough clothes for a run of two lots of five days (we would have a chance to do washing half way in Sandakan). 

We did however need to make space in our bags for Halloween goodies.

Luckily KK has some great shopping malls so we were able to find some face paint and sweets to take on with us so the occasion could still be marked.

We were able to leave all the rest of our luggage in the hotel in KK where it would be securely stored for the ten days we were away.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: 5traveltheworld: Borneo: Part 1

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Clive Einstein Blog: Experience Sabah For Only $125

When I got the opportunity to experience Sabah, I grabbed it and planned my trip so I could at least cover most of the places I have seen before in the travel magazines and TV show. Some of the more common words to describe the place: beautiful, exotic, unique and adventure.

My traveling companions echoed these sentiments (there were six of us). A friend of mine, who’s from there, told me to try the food, go to the island and experience the foothill of Mount Kinabalu.

Creativity has no bounds when it comes to exploring Sabah. Based on your own level of comfort and curiosity you can walk, hike, cycle, kayak, climb, dance, rent a car, hire a guide, take a bus or swim and enjoy the beautiful corals at the beautiful islands.

Kota Kinabalu (KK) is a great place to begin. As the capital of Sabah, the city offers a whole range of unique food that you can only find them here, affordable places to stay (especially if you are on a budget) and a half-an-hour boat ride to the islands off the shore of the mainland such as the Manukan Island.

While KK remains a gateway for tourists to fly into Sabah, it is not really a walkable city. But that shouldn’t stop you. You can find cheap taxis and cars for rent quite easily around the city. I would recommend you to stay around the Jesselton Point harbor area as I believe, that is  one of the most strategic locations in the city.

BUT, WHY IS IT STRATEGIC?

You can take the boat to the islands, there are plenty of shopping malls near Jesselton and a lot of restaurants and bars if you want to enjoy cold beers and crispy fried prawns by the seaside at night and the hotels around the area are not too expensive either.

Oh, don’t forget that just a five minute taxi ride from the Jesselton point, you can go to the famous Filipino Market to buy fruits, fresh fish from the sea and lots of restaurants to try seafood at relatively affordable prices.

We spent a full-day on the island. It was not the best time of the year, unfortunately. While we were there to enjoy the beauty of the place, the haze caused by the forest fire from Indonesia obscured the view though, which is otherwise undoubtedly majestic.

However, let it not dampen our spirits. For our return trip from the mainland to the island and back, lunch and snorkeling, we spent less than $50 each.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Clive Einstein Blog: Experience Sabah For Only $125

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Island Adventure in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

On the third day of our trip, we went on an island experience tour at the famous Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. This Marine Park is one of the key activities (apart from Mt Kinabalu) that tourists would visit as part of their itinerary when visiting Kota Kinabalu.

These are 5 islands are actually not very far from mainland. It is only a 10 to 15 minutes boat ride and the current is usually very calm.

Gaya Island is the biggest island, at 15 square kilometers. Apart from the usual greenery, it is home to a less-spoken-about community in Sabah – the (illegal) Filipinos, who were mainly refugees. While we were in the cruise/boat, we were steered away from that area and I did not manage to take any photos of that area.

It’s funny how the other side of Gaya Island (beyond the water villages at the eastern corner) is also home to luxurious and beautiful resorts. In fact, the zipline which I will be taking later starts from Gaya Island.

Sapi Island is the most popular island among all 5. It is home to white sandy beach and crystal clear turquoise water. It is also the starting point for the zipline.

Pulau Manukan, Mamutik and Sulug are the three other three islands. Sadly, we did not have time to explore them.

We started off our journey at a private jetty which only caters to tour customers. The tour company engaged for this trip was Borneo Passages. They had arranged an itinerary with Borneo Reef World, a floating pontoon which was opened specially for us. We were given a wrist tag with our names at the jetty and we went to the pontoon via speedboat as their bigger boat was under maintenance.

Borneo Reef World houses Asia’s largest pontoon (flat bottom boat) which is anchored to the seabed. To comply to the rules of the Marine Park, they actually shift their pontoon every 3 months to allow sunlight to reach the bottom of the seabed. It is a pretty big pontoon and I think it can accommodate 200 people without any issue.

After reaching the pontoon, we deposited our bags. We were all ready for our first adventure of the day – Para-sailing, followed by Zipline. The GM’s suggestion was a brilliant one as it was not very crowded during the earlier part of the day.

We departed on a speedboat for our para-sailing. Initially, I was a little hesitant as had not been part of the itinerary. Usually, when it comes to high elements like this, I would need some mental preparation. Not wanting to be spoil sport, I hid my fear and accepted the challenge.

If you have tried the ones in Thailand (Phuket/Krabi) or Bali, it’s a little more high tech and safe. You don’t have to run or fly/land from the beach. Instead, you sit down comfortably on the hull of the boat.

Using the retractable string system which is fixed onto the boat, you will lift off from the ground comfortably while sitting down. Before take off, you can indicate your preference of getting wet or staying dry to the boatman and he will give you your desire. The takeoff was very smooth and gradual and I was given a splash of water (thigh deep if I’m not wrong) just for the thrill of it. It kind of scared me off initially as I didn’t expect it to be right at the start.

The parachute will rise slowly and steadily, determined by the speed of the boat and also the adjustable tension of the string. Boatman was nice to me and my time up in the sky did not have much “turbulence”. If the boatman is playing a punk, knowing that you are adventurous, they might steer their boat in such a way which may make your stomach/heart go queasy.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Island Adventure in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

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Cluster of islands in Sabah presents itself as an eco-tourism paradise

The string of five islands which constitute the 50 sq km Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is only a 15-minute boat ride from Kota Kinabalu’s downtown area.

For years, the islands with their pristine beaches and waters teeming with marine life, have been a convenient getaway for city residents.

Those wanting to experience an untouched tropical forest, a trek through the hilly terrain of the biggest island of Pulau Gaya and nearby Pulau Manukan would be just the thing.

Pangolins, monkeys and even wild boar have been spotted along the 20km of trails on Gaya while hornbills can occasionally be seen flying overhead.

The highest point of the island is about 300m and the hills gradually slope towards a secluded and sandy beach, among the more popular being Police Beach that faces the South China Sea.

The second largest island in the park is Manukan, which like Gaya, is forested and surrounded by coral reefs that are ideal for snorkelling and diving.

 The other islands that make up the marine park are Mamutik, which is closest to the mainland, Sulug noted for an extensive coral reef and Sapi just adjacent to Gaya and featuring 5km of nature trails.

At low tide, it is possible to wade between Sapi and Gaya.

Indeed, the marine park is a microcosm of some of the best Sabah has to offer its visitors.

Over the years, the islands have become a major revenue earner and receives hundreds of visitors daily.

During school and public holidays, the beaches on the more popular islands such as Manukan and Sapi can become downright crowded.

Infrastructure at these islands have grown, too.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Cluster of islands in Sabah presents itself as an eco-tourism paradise

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Manukan Island

Manukan Island in Sabah is one of the most visited islands in the Land Below the Wind. While you may think why, it is simply be cause the island is only a 15 minute boat ride from the city of Kota Kinabalu or simply known as KK here. As I was visiting KK town in early May 2013 together with a group of media from West Malaysia, we were taken to many popular tourist places here and Manukan Island was one of them where we spent the morning there before heading back to the mainland for lunch.

Manukan Island is actually part of the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park or TAR Park which consist of five islands which are Manukan, Mamutik, Sapi, Sulug and Gaya Island where each of the islands is only a mere couple of minutes boat ride from each other. Among these islands, tourist usually visit Manukan, Mamutik and Sapi Island for activities and day trips. The beauty about the group of islands here is that you can visit it in the morning and be back in town after lunch therefore this place is one of the top tourist spots in Sabah.

How to go to Manukan Island

There are two main areas where you can get to Manukan Island, one at Jesselton Pier in KK town while the other is at Sutera Harbor Jetty, a 5 minute drive from town. Usually hotels and tour companies sell day trips to the islands here. Prices range anywhere from RM100 to RM150 per person, depending on your package. Some packages includes island hopping while others are for one single island You can book these packages at any tour counters or companies in KK town or hotel lobbies. Some ready made Sabah Packages would already have this in the itinerary too. The deal would usually include;

* Pick up from your hotel and back

* Boat transfer to the island and back

* Island entrance fees

* A lunch (normal or BBQ) on the island

* Free snorkeling

However, you should note that any other additional activities are charged on the spot there. This includes;

* Scuba Diving

* Water Sports Activities

* Sea Walking

* Rental of equipment

* Restaurant/Cafe food and drinks

* Souvenirs

Best Time to visit Manukan Island

Since I have been there many times (eight times in the last 3 years), I have seen the busy and also quiet period. It is recommended that the best time to visit here is during the weekday and also off peak season. If it is the local School Holidays or any public holiday, the place is sure to be jam-packed and this may result in you not having a great time there.

I would personally recommend you that you go there as early as possible, before 10.00am as the crowd usually comes in about 11.00am onwards. By lunch the place can get crowded so go early to secure a nice spot on the beach. 

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Manukan Island

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Pulau Manukan: The Summer Hot Spot of Sabah

Pulau Manukan (also known as Manukan Island) is the second largest island in Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park and is also the first marine park located in Sabah.

It is rich with fish and corals and is certainly a must-go if you ever travel to Sabah.

Manukan Island is one of the most popular islands among residents in Sabah as well as tourists.

Just beyond the shore of Manukan are beautiful coral reefs which is ideal for snorkeling and diving.

Getting to Manukan Island is real easy. If you are in the city, take a bus or a cab to the Jesselton Point ferry terminal.

There will be different agents selling boat and entrance tickets to different islands.

The speedboat ride to Manukan Island is only 30 minutes from Jesselton Point.

My friends and I jumped into the opportunity to visit Manukan Island during our trip to Sabah.

The weather was sunny and good. I brought along my Lomography La Sardina and Fisheye No. 2.

Once reached, we immediately changed and ran towards the sea.

It was a good day to be out running along the beach.

It was also the off-peak season so we literally had the beach all to ourselves.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Pulau Manukan: The Summer Hot Spot of Sabah

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Borneo or ... Things that go munch in the night!

And so on to Borneo. The mere mention of that name conjures up images of virgin jungle and exotic wildlife of varying shades of rainbows! How naïve! We arrived at KK from KL - I hope you are now ‘up to speed’ with the acronyms, dear reader! - and were surprised to find a fairly modern, compact and business like town - at least on the surface! The transport system is chaotic as we were to find out later. Most travel around Sabah is best done by air as there are precious few roads. Those that there are tend to be pitted with craters or simply run into stretches without any kind of surface whatsoever. There are four wheel drive ‘taxis’ which run between the main towns - KK, Kudat, and Sandakan!

We had sat and contemplated the wisdom of going to Sabah as there had been ‘a little local difficulty’ there in the past few weeks! About 200 Pilipino insurgents had landed on the Eastern coast and proceeded to take on the Borneo Army! There had been about 60 casualties! From what we could gather, it is a kind of Falkland Island situation! A Sheik in one of the southern most islands of the Philippines (which almost touches the Saban coastline) has some kind of historic claim to Sabah. Discoveries of natural mineral wealth (oil and gas) around the coastline have made the ancient claim spring suddenly into life again.

The fighting was intense and, as a result, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued a ‘NO GO’ notice around the area. Kota Kinabalu seemed to be a reasonable distance from the affected area - so off we went! However the insurgents had played a blinder! They had effectively cut off the most popular tourist area of the country - and, incidentally quite a few of the places we had wanted to visit!!! Nevertheless, we decided to carry on and see what we would see!

Our hotel, the Gaya Centre, was a large building on the waterfront of KK. Whilst it is a fairly modern and generally well presented hotel, it had something of the waft of an old peoples’ home! The staff were charming as were the locals who again all engaged us in lengthy conversations! Even walking down the road could present a challenge as someone was very likely to walk up to you and enquire, ‘Where you from? ’You could then kiss goodbye to the next hour or so!

We really missed this amazing friendliness when we went off the Thailand - but that’s another story! We decided to visit the KK Zoo (about 30 minutes out of town by taxi). This was one of the poorest excuses for a zoo that we had ever seen! The highpoint of our trip was the ice cream at the end! We did however spot some pygmy elephants and Oranutangs.,

We also spent a day on Manukan Island just off the coast from KK. Getting there by ultra high-speed motor boat was great fun.

And now dear readers, it is time for the Hoggtrotters ‘Question Time!’ This blog will include a photo of an innocuous looking, yellow coloured bun (or roll). Janie purchased this item from the local food market. The question is ‘What kind of roll/bun was it ‘advertised’ as, and what do you think it tasted of? There will be a small prize for the first (lucky!) correct answer! You will certainly need to use your imaginations on this one! Best of luck!

If you take a minibus, or rather a fully loaded jeep, from Kota Kinabalu and head north for about 4 hours you get to Kudat. Getting a place in the jeep is in itself an entertaining experience! As you arrive at the ‘coach station’ (a large area of broken tarmac!) you find yourself swamped by eager locals who pull you in all directions in order to get into their vehicle. At that moment we were approached by a rotund, middle aged man with 5 days of stubble and dishevelled clothes. ‘Good morning, Sir! I am Yousef and I am a pirate from the Philippines !’ I believe him! He smiles with a mouth full of half broken teeth.

Yousef is, it becomes apparent, the man in charge who is supposed to inflict some kind of order into this chaotic situation. 25RM (£5) secures us a place on one of the jeeps. This is, we are told, a far better way to travel than the large coaches which stand idly at the other end of the tarmac. They are slow and stop many times, hence, for the locals, jeep is the preferred option.

These jeeps, however, operate by a peculiar set of Borneo rules which, to the uninitiated, can seem really frustrating! They will only depart for their destination once a full compliment of 7 passengers has been assembled. 7 being the magic number! Having said that, if the existing passengers agree to cover the ‘cost’ of the vacant seats, the taxi will depart sooner. This means that it is possible to hang around for some time waiting for a full compliment of passengers.

After about 20 minutes we stop. One of the passengers gets out of the vehicle and crosses the road. We sit for about 15 minutes waiting for something to happen. Eventually the man returns with another woman (his wife sits patiently in the back seat of the jeep together with her baby) and two small children. They join the woman in the back seat - there are now 5. But the man is not done yet! Oh no! He disappears again only to return with 2 more small children!

There are now 8 passengers in the back seat! For the next 3 hours these toddlers peer over the top of the seats in amazement! Who, they wonder, are these strange looking people? We peer back and pull silly faces!

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Borneo or ... Things that go munch in the night!

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Sabah Parks staff undergo training to keep reefs safe

KOTA KINABALU: Some 20 staff members of Sabah Parks can now carry out detailed checks on reefs at the marine conservation areas off the state.

The staff, trained by non-profit firm Reef Check Malaysia (RCM), will monitor the health of coral reefs around the state.

RCM general manager Julian Hyde said the Nov 19 to 30 training would enable the staff to identify Reef Check indicator species.

“These include certain fish and invertebrates that are commercially valuable,” he said.

Reef Check objectives are to educate the public about the coral reef crisis; to create a global network of volunteer teams trained in Reef Check's scientific methods that monitor and report on reef health; to facilitate collaboration that produces ecologically sound and economically sustainable solutions; and to stimulate local community action to protect the remaining pristine reefs and rehabilitate damaged reefs worldwide.

He said the Sabah Parks staff from stations in Sandakan, Semporna, Kota Kinabalu, Kudat and Kuala Penyu were also trained to differentiate between the different types of substrates hard and soft coral and sponges and ascidians that make up a reef.

Hyde said the training was conducted at waters off Pulau Manukan at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park in Kota Kinabalu.

“Several elements have been integrated into the course, including classroom sessions, in-water training for buoyancy, photo identification assessments as well as final theory assessments.”

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Sabah Parks staff undergo training to keep reefs safe

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Allure of Pulau Gaya

PULAU Gaya, one of the five islands that form the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, offers plenty of marine attractions and is a haven for divers.

There are over 25 different dive sites, with pretty coral reefs and a plethora of underwater life.

The 49sqkm park was established in 1974 and named after our first prime minister.

Initially, there were only two islands (Gaya and Sapi) under the park but since 1979, it has expanded to include three more islands (Manukan, Mamutik and Sulug).

The reefs here lie in shallow waters with little current, making it an ideal location for novice divers.

Yet, the diverse and sometimes rare marine creatures also make it an interesting dive location for experienced divers and underwater photographers.

My first leisure dive was at Clement’s Reef on Sapi Island and my dive buddy-cum-instructor for the day was Daniel B.

The visibility was good and we came across a colourful array of fish, barracudas, shy moray eels, a variety of nudibranch and anemone fish.

Surprisingly, I didn’t see as many bleached corals and sea urchins as I had seen in Pulau Tioman, indicating the pollution factor here was less.

We ambled along for an hour, teasing many a puffer fish and soaking in the spectacular marine life before ascending and heading to Padang Point for lunch.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Allure of Pulau Gaya
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