It was some where in May 2009 when we booked our Air Asia flight to Kota kinabalu from Penang Island, it was cheap (RM250 return) & I haven't had any other trip overseas this year. As our last minute planning goes, we where to reach Kota Kinabalu & take express bus to Labuan Island. That was the only thing we were sure off, all three of us. We haven't booked a thing and had no tour guide to show us around. We landed in kota kinabalu at 1pm (3 hours journey from penang), we knew we could not catch the 1pm direct ferry to labuan earlier but what we never expected was that the last direct bas from KK to labuan also had left at 1pm. They folks there we friendly enough to tell us how else to get there. We had to take a bas trip from KK to beaufort then some how catch another bus from beaufort to Menumbuk which is the closest jetty to Labuan. The bus driver already informed someone to wait for us at a turning to menumbuk so we didn't have to get all they way to beaufort. The bus journey was terrible as the seat were small & it was a local bus only, so is the direct bus to Labuan. It was a 2 and half hours journey to Menumbuk. As soon as we got to the jetty there was already a speed boat waiting, in sabah the public transports leave only when it's full (Bus & speed boat). The 20 minute ride from there made us feel rejuvenated as the strong wind breeze flow & the atmosphere gave us energy. Labuan was finally in our sights. There were a lot of international ships at the shore lines & petroleum treatment centre can be seen first before we reach the Labuan jetty.
Labuan is a duty free island which is not part of Sabah, it's part of Wilayah Persekutuan. More famous for it's night life as there is a lot of clubs and liquer is cheap. Trips to labuan should be planned before 5th & after 10th of every month as it will be visited by off shore workers which would mean most of the hotels,lodges & inns would be full and the clubbing area overcrowded. Taxis is a great way of getting to know a new place, we choose to stay nearby the clubbing areas as it would be safer. There's few clubs generally know there, Beyond 2000, King & Popin. They start to be over crowded after 10.30pm. If you're looking for liquor bottle you can purchase nearby the jetty itself. You're allowed to carry out of Labuan 1 liter liquor bottle after a 24 hours stay. These clubs tend to be visited by sabahan & Filipino people. We stayed at Labuan Inn where it was at the centre of the clubbing area. Rooms there were cheap & clean. The eating restaurants also were in the same area. We were lucky to meet some of our local friends there, so we were able to find more about Labuan. Partying all night together we had to wake up early at 6.30am to catch our 8.30am ferry to Kota Kinabalu as we had made appointment for snorkeling in Tunku abdul rahman park at 1pm. We picked up the pamplet for great N famous tour at the KK airport when we touched down and saw a good deal for snorkeling at 2 islands for RM170. We only made the confirmation during our bus trip to Labuan. The ferry to KK took us 3 and half hour to reach there, then we went to our Promenade Hotel which we booked during our bus trip also.
Great N famous tour had arrange a pick up for us at the hotel at 1 pm, to bring us to the jetty where a speed boat would be waiting to take us to Sapi island & Mamutik island , both which is part of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. This park consist of 5 islands which is Gaya, Manukan, Sapi, Mamutik & Sulug. It's a 20 minute trip to Sapi island from KK jetty or more know as Jesselton Jetty. Picked up our fins & snorkels first which was included in the package also. A fun speed boat ride there passing by Gaya Island which is where the fisherman village is. Sapi Island was pack with tourist from all over the world, there's a small hut like cafe where we had our free lunch. Expensive by Malaysian standards but just good enough to eat. We had an offer to take parasailing for RM80 each. The unique thing about this was that we will lift off from the speed boat & land back on the boat itself. Me for one was new to this, I was doubtful at first safety vise as we are doing thing in the open ocean but I & my friend took a chance. It was a specialized boat with a platform on the back & a motor to reel in the cable for the parachute. He took us from the Island towards the open sea. It was a beautiful sight as the deep blue ocean lines perfectly with the horizon. There was no islands in sight in front of us, strong wind blowing in our faces and we were ready to hook on to the parachute. We were kinda tumbling here and there as the wind was picking up. Then slowly the cable was released putting us in the air. What i never expected was for the ocean dip before we were brought up. They slowed the boat down to make us submerged into the water before he picked up speed. It was a bit scary at first as it was the deep sea, I couldn't see what was in the water. Too much movie influence i guess. On one hand i was thinking of which shark's lucky day was today & the other if the parachute might touch the water. I was even trying to avoid the water a little, but then i set aside my fear as no point worry about the unknown. The other thing was my friends leg was longer so the shark would go for him first then me. After making a big round then we headed back to sapi island where we started with our snorkeling. The diver showed us how to use the gear properly and escorted us for the whole time. The water was still a bit murky & the corals seem some what simple. Did manage to see some coral fish & so other fish variety there. Finish most of our time there then took some snaps around the island then we were of to Mamutik Island. Due to short of time we weren't able to go to Manukan island instead. Mamutik island was a little smaller & had less people snorkeling at that time. It was already 4.20pm, we had till 4.40 to snorkel there. There was less variety there & big sea urchins spoil our exploration there. Stepping on one would be very painful & would cause swelling as the poison needles would stick to the skin. Pissing on the affected area would relief the pain so they say. Time was up and we headed back to our hotel. It was still a great experience snorkeling away there.
It was a saturday & Terence wanted to go to the saturday mass at Sacred Heart Church few minutes drive from KK town. The travel agency was kind enough to wait for us to change & take us to the church also. It was a big church visited by many sabahans. Prayer lasted to 1 hour then where were off to have our dinner in KK town. We were looking for a place called Kampung Air or Water village. It was some where nearby our Promenade hotel. It's a place famous for cheap seafood restaurants. With the help of people we were shown the correct way there as we were traveling by foot from the bus station. It was kind of like a food court with all the restaurants were under 1 roof. Beware to choose the right restaurant, just survey the prices first before settling down at one restaurant. We got a great restaurant where 1kg of mud crabs was only RM13.80, some restaurants were selling at RM40 for the same crabs. On the order the three of us got kinda greedy in a sense that we order too much. We order 2kg of crabs prepared 2 different ways, prawns, fish & Sabah vege which was something new that we couldn't find in Peninsular Malaysia. Meanwhile i surveyed the price for lobster, it was only RM16 per 100g. But since we already ordered too much we didn't order that. The table beside us actually order a king size lobster, almost as big as a human head. It was around 2.5 kg worth around RM400. We were pretty surprised seeing that, and the presentation was magnificent. We were there for quite a long time as we couldn't finish the food, it tastes good but just that there's no more room in our stomachs. I did a mistake of eat all the rice also thinking I can have all the crabs later. The shop owner was a lady from butterworth penang which was very nearby our place, she was very friendly also. We told them to pack the food and give to her workers as not to waste the food. Full we then make our journey back towards our hotel. Terence had his sinus problem reoccuring perhaps due to the crabs so we had to stop by at a clinic nearby. It was a 24hours clinic situated near the apartments behind our hotel. It was already 12pm, Terence still wanted to go to a pub after taking his meds. I suggested to go to BED which was actually a famous club name in KK situated at Waterfront which right in front of our hotel. We choose our hotel which was strategically located in town & nearby the entertainment centres. So happened the bus station also was walking distance. Arriving at BED it was overcrowded and had a queue just to go in, we then decided to check out the other clubs. Cock & Bulls was the other club there, so we just settle down there. it was late and the clubs close at 1. We only had and hour there. Then we had to close for the night as we have a buffet breakfast in the morning at Promenade hotel.
We were checking out at 12 but had to leave earlier because we wanted to go to Gaya street which was famous for it's sunday market which starts at 6am-1pm. We first looked around for a place to stay and found an Pantai Inn. The room was just nice for 3 of us. Our flight next day was at 7am so we just needed a place to put up the night. Gaya Street was really busy with tourist and a lot of things were sold there such as crafts, pets, sarong, T shirts, crystals & pearls. It's the best place to buy your crafts as the price is cheaper compared to the Filipino Market which is a lot more expensive even thou you'll have more choices. Pearls are famous in sabah, especially black pearls. You'll get more choices at the filipino market, but need to watch out for the prices. There are fresh water pearls & saltwater pearls. Some are cultured pearls while some are originals. Fresh water pearls are more like corn shaped rather then round like salt water pearls. I was pretty lost there as i didn't know how to choose the pearl. All looked the same to me, not knowing which is fake i just choose to go for the cheaper option. All prices can be bargain, some more then 50% cheaper. First I surveyed the prices and asked around before actually bargaining or buying something. Gaya Street market is just one stretch of street meanwhile at filipino marker it's all under one roof with rows of crafts being sold. I bought some crafts at the Gaya street itself luckily as the same items sold in filipino market was too expensive. The only thing I bought in Filipino market is white saltwater pearls. The more rounder the pearl is the more better the quality is but watch out for plastic pearls. A scratch test could prove a true pearl also.
Shopping was done for the day and we retired to our room. We planned to meet a friend of Terence at night & go clubbing after that. He took us around KK showing us the other which is near University Malaysia Sabah. We wanted local Sabah food but nothing was really there, at night nearby the filipino market was the wet market which had BBQed food/ Ikan Bakar. There was so many stalls selling the same thing and chicken wings, the place didn't look clean so we choose to go somewhere else. We went to Jesselton Jetty instead, it was very quite there and no music playing also. I thought it would have been happening there at night but it was kind of a disappointment there. We ahd dinner and return back to our room to change and headed to BED at Waterfront at around 10. Still quite early there, it was a Sunday so one jug Carlsberg was only RM30, by 11 the club was packed. A lot of sabahan people there, and the music band was good. Great place to let loose. After that we headed to Cock & Bulls which was like a pub, more low toned & talking crowd. Hanging there till 2am then our night in KK was over, we headed home and took a taxi to the airport in the morning.
We felt we had not enough time to enjoy there in KK, no real friends there could be the problem but we manage to squeeze out what ever time we could find to enjoy our trip to Sabah.
