Thursday, August 1, 2013

3 Days 2 Nights Mabul island |Snorkeling |

Semporna is blessed with its abundance of scenic islands and its charming coral reefs, the biodiversity of marine life. The most famous island is Sipadan, a paradise dive site where only a very limited number of visitors are allowed each day and no one is allowed to stay overnight on the island in an effort to preserve the island.

However, if one is not a diver yet still adore the magnificent coral reef so much, you can opt a snorkeling trip in Mabul Island. Mabul Island is located very close to Sipadan, a 15 minutes speedboat ride distance. There are many beautiful snorkeling sites in Mabul island with crystal clear water, pearl white sand and colorful fishes and corals, meeting turtles is not rare in the island.
It is a commercialized tourism island, a large number of backpackers resorts offering snorkeling and diving packages and if you wish, there is diving courses too (The course can be completed as short as 3 days). 

How to reach Semporna from Tawau Airport?
Usually most visitors come via flight to Tawau Airport. Some of the resorts offers airport transfer to the jetty. and they charge RM 150. Coincidentally we get a contact who provide taxi service at RM 90 for 2 persons. Tawau airport to Semporna one can call this driver. He is a very nice and honest guy.

Contact 
Alimuddin Bin Osman
No. HP : +6012 - 8235197


Arung Hayat Resort


We took the snorkeling package of Arung Hayat, 3 days 2 nights snorkeling package at RM 400 per person, we didn't spend a penny once we reached the jetty, one might probably need to use money for snacks and beers on the islands. So RM 400 is certainly a very good deal. The 3 days 2 nights snorkeling package includes the following:
  • Speedboat tranfers to Mabul island (2 ways)
  • Accomodation ( fan double room, with private bathroom)
  • 3 meals each day (breakfast 7am, lunch 1 pm, dinner 7pm)
  • 3 snorkeling each day (The place is based on their schedule, the gear is provided)
  • Free water, coffee and tea
  • And a friendly host
It is a resort on the sea supported by some wood columns. The scene from the resort is so stunning, it offers a panoramic horizon view and crystal clear water sea is just below the balcony.
We snorkeled in a few sites like Paradise, Lobster wall, wrecks, and Kapalai, the most beautiful snorkeling site of our trip with a wide variety of colourful fishes lingering around the charming coral reef. We had 3 encounters with turtle, really mature (big) turtle, the feeling of seeing and even touching this rare and ancient creature is indescribably thrilled. At the first night, there was even a large green turtle feeding the sea grass meadow right in front of our room, it was memorable.
The island is very small with local inhabitants living there, taking a stroll around the sandy island is a must and there are so much more. It was definitely one of the best trip that we had and we will visit again for diving license for sure. 

Information of Arung Hayat

MOHD. HANIF AHMAD
Phone:  +6 0128229984
Email: arunghayatsemporna@gmail.com

Room of Arung Hayat


Others Budget Resorts
Besides Arung Hayat there are a bunch of others budget resorts which from our observation have a rather similar price for their packages, one could just google the name for contact and make a direct booking (this was how we booked)
Normally a 4 day diving course is charge at around RM 1300 with everything included like license, test, accommodation, meals, boat transfer.
  • My Scuba Diver (Phone: +60128662397, Email: myscubadiver@gmail.com)
  • Billabong Scuba (Phone: 089-781866)
  • Noble Inworld Diving
  • Mabul Backpackers (Phone:089782334)
  • Scuba Jeff Sipadan (Phone: 0178614391)
  • Uncle Chang's Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge
  • Big John Scuba (Phone: 60142843723)
  • Summer Friends Homestay


















Thursday, July 25, 2013

4 Days 3 Nights Kota Kinabalu Trip

Summary:
Day 1 Just check in and do some survey
Day 2 Rent a car to Kinabalu Park, Kundasang, Desa Dairy Farm, Raffflesia seeing and Poring Hotspring
Day 3 Aquarium and Marine Park, State Museum, Heritage Village, Signal Hill Viewing Point,
Day 4 Padas White Water Rafting
Day 5-8 Great experience in Mabul Island

We had missed so many great things in Kota Kinabalu like the Sunday Morning Market, hiking the mount of Kinabalu. We didn't visit Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and Matanani Island because we were heading to Mabul Island after KK. It is guaranteed that we will be back for hiking the peak of Borneo and explore places that we missed out.


Day 1 ~ settle down and check in Accommodation 



Getting to hotel, there are several ways. However as backpackers we chose the Bus  
  1. By Bus - that is a bus with "number 16" labelled on shuttle between airport and Wawasan Bus station (Bus terminal) for about every hour. Once in Wawasan Station we can take the according city bus to our backpackers Lodge. ( RM 2 per person from airport to Wawasan, RM 0.50 from Wawasan to Wisma Sabah)
  2. Taxi - There is a booth for taxi service at the entrance of the airport, a flat rate of RM 30 per taxi is charged for any places in the KK city.
  3. Airport transfer -  Or you can pick a hotel that provides airport transfer service 




Check in X-Plorer Backpackers
It is not difficult to find our hostel as the whole KK city is just very small, is on Gaya Street, the location of the Sunday Market. We stayed there for 4 night, in an A/C double room, the charge is RM 60 per night per room. One can't expect more than a shelter from X-Plorer at this rate, however there is not dirty issue and the basic commodities are all available like Wifi, water, breakfast and so on. May be the staffs are not that good in giving guidance and advice on planning our trip.
For dorm room, the rate is RM 25 per person.

Information about X-Plorer Backpackers
Address: 108 Jalan Gaya, Pusat Bandar, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Telephone: +60 88-538 780
E-mail: info@xplobackpackers.com
Website: www.xplobackpackers.com



Checking for car rental and survey for price packages in Wisma sabah
After that we went on to Wisma Sabah to survey and make some price omparison of the different service providers before we headed to get our  dinner. There are a whole lot of tourism service providers in Wisma Sabah, they almost occupy the first 2 stories. So if someone is on an spontaneous trip it will be a place for gathering information. It is not difficult to find it, it is just located beside KK Suria, the largest shopping mall in KK.




Dinner at Fatt Kee Restaurant
Without surveying any good restaurant in KK city, we decided to pick randomly. From the number of customers of Fatt Kee Restaurant, we could be told that it should be a decent restaurant. The price is generally cheap, as we order some typical Chinese food to fill our starving stomach. After walking around leisurely in the quiet city and KK Suria, we went back for rest.



Day 2 ~ Kundasang Day Trip ~



Rent a Perodua Viva
Instead of taking Kundasang packages which is RM 170 per pax, we decided to rent a car so that we can have full control on our trip. There are a couple of car rental companies in Wisma Sabah with quite identical rate. In the first place we wanted to rent a motor, a heavy type motorbike that is capable of long distance travel. But we ended up driving a Perodua Viva as all the bikes were fully booked. We were advised to take Viva instead of the cheaper Kancil because it's CC is too weak for long distance and going up mountain.

Viva should be a good choice, it's convenient, small and most important it's fuel consumption is low. With only filling RM 40, it was enough for the whole day to Kundasang. 

General Price for the vehicle
Kancil RM 90/Day
Viva (M) RM 120/Day
Viva (A) RM 140/Day
Kelisa (M) RM 120/Day
Myvi (A) RM180/Day
Saga (M) RM 180/Day

Some Useful Contacts
Victor: 016 - 5856402
Josephen: 016 - 8416258
Fizzy: 017 - 3788340




Kinabalu Park
It took us 2 hours to reach Kinabalu Park from Kota Kinabalu, one should be a good driver as most of the journey is in mountainous area. Kinabalu Park is where the hiking of the mount of Kinabalu begins besides it is also a reserved forest. The air in the park is very refreshing and cool. There is a Botanical garden in the park that charges RM 5 per person. The peak of Borneo is supposed to be visible in the park but the cloudy weather was hiding the peak from our sights. Please be noted that the tickets must be kept because it is still valid later in the other part of Park.




 Kundasang ~ Desa Dairy Farm
After some sightseeing in kinabalu park, we headed to Kundasang in 15 minutes, a little farming town on the highland. It was unbelievable to learn that there is a town in the mountain. We were told that along the way to Kundasang and in Kundasang is the best spot to enjoy the scenic Mount of Kinabalu, however it was so sad that the clould was still hiding most of the part of the treeless peak. Then we drove to Desa Dairy Farm, but we decided not to go inside because we were an hour early to see the milking demonstration. So we just stopped at the entrance, there were groups of cows in the grass meadow and the magnificent Mount of Kinabalu was just standing gracefully in front of us. It was so amazing.


Information about Desa Dairy Farm
Open hour: 8 00 am - 12 00 am, 1 00 pm - 5 00 pm
Entrance fee: Adult RM 4.00 children RM 3
Milking demonstration: 3 00 pm
Location: refer to signboard along the road 





~Rafflesia Blooming~


Next destination is Poring hotspring after a short "lunch break" in Ranau, in Ranau there are a few local restaurants and also KFC too. We were told in the Kinabalu Park that there was Rafflesia blooming on the from Kundasang to Poring Hotspring. It was true, there was a banner bound on a tree, so we just stopped by and paid a visit, the entry fees was RM 5 per person. It was not a park, it was a stretch of private land where the rare flower is planted over there. That was the 4th day after it bloomed, therefore the colour had faded a bit, and it would be totally dead the next day.

Some Information:
Location: on the way from Kundasang to Poring (observe the banner)
Fees: RM 5 - RM 10
Time: Only available for 5 days if there is blooming 




Poring Hot Spring
As I said just now the ticket of Kinabalu Park is also valid in Poring Hotspring because it is another end of the Park, the whole park is actually larger than Singapore Island. 
First we went to Canopy walk as it will be closed at 4 pm. Canopy walk or or tree top walk are a few bridges bound to towering trees in the forest. The walk was truly horrifying, each step we took, the bridge swung and shook.
Then we took a 15 minutes hike to a small waterfall. The sound of the splash was refreshing and there are some intriguing surprise there. there are some very exotic kind of fishes which when we stood still on the rocks, they swam to our feet and nibble our feet as if feeding on our dead skin. But it was unbearably itchy at first.
Then we relaxed ourselves after the day long trip in the Hotspring, there are pool in rectangular shape for us to soak our legs in the hot water. Then there are open bath tub where we could adjust the temperature of the water and relax. There is also swimming pool with hot water, but unfortunately it is closed due to maintenance.

Some Information about Poring HotSpring 
Fees for Canopy walk: RM 5 for foreigner and RM 3 for Malaysia, RM 5 for camera
Open hour: before 4 00 pm




Day 3 ~ UMS and around Kota Kinabalu


Rent a MotorBike

Today we planed to stroll around Kota Kinabalu and pay a visit to UMS Aquarium and Marine Muzeum so we rented a scooter from Go Go in "Wisma Sabah" at the rate of RM 30 for half day, where the usual rate is RM 45 per day. We filled RM 5 of petrol and it was enough for a full half day.

GoGo Sabah Info:
Location: first floor of Wisma Sabah
Telephone: 088 317385
Website: gogosabah.com
Petrol: RM 5 whole half day






UMS ~ Aquarium and Marine Muzeum ~
UMS is located not too far from KK city, it was a 20 minutes scooter ride along the breezy shoreline. To be very honest, the aquarium is not as large and amazing as expected, and the species of marine life are not that much. The fishes on display are just a few. There is a sea turtle, shyly hiding from the visitors sight fantasizing.
However the video being played repeatedly about wonderful coral reef and preservation of it.

Information about UMS Aquarium and Marine Muzeum
Open hour: 9 am to 12 am, 2pm to 4 30 pm (daily besides public holiday and wednessday)
Website: http://www.sabahtourism.com/sabah-malaysian-borneo/en/destination/158-aquarium-marine-museum/




State Museum, Heritage village, and Islamic Civilization Muzeum
The three attractions are fenced in a same place, in the State Muzeum, camera is not allowed, the 2-level Museum has a gigantic whale skeleton at the center of the front hall. And there are another 4 sections that are Ceramic, Costume, History and Animal and may be more.
Heritage Village is much more fun, with a bridge, and some traditional houses of some of the indigenous ethics In Sabah, we were allowed to go inside the house to take some photo.
Due to fatigue and tiredness, we decided not to visit the Islamic Civilization Museum.

Information of State Museum 
Opening hours: Daily from 9.00am till 5.00pm
Admission fees
My-Kad - RM2.00
Others - RM15.00
Student card - Free
Picture-taking is only allowed outside the buildings.
Tel : 6 088-253199, 6 088-263551 
Email : muzium.sabah@sabah.gov.my






Yu Kee Bak Kut Teh
We were told that it is the most popular in KK, however as we reached we were astounded by the number of customers and empty tables, our starving stomach lured us to forget about it but still insisted to give it a shot. It was proven we were right, they serve fast despite the crowd. The price is to reasonable RM 12.00 per person (depends on how you order). It was delicious.

Information of Yu Kee Bak Kut Teh
Location: Jalan Gaya, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (easy to find)



Day 4 ~ Padas White Water Rafting ~


Padas White Water Rafting
The package we took was RM 180, which was cheaper than some we found online.
This is the most thrilling part of the trip. As a swimmer, the idea of rafting was not as intimidating as some others might think. However, it turned out to be a crazily thrilling to me, I fell off the raft and got into the water and found out how weak was I in the monstrously strong current of the river. Though it was horrifying to be flushed helplessly in the current, it was totally safe if we followed the safety instruction and the most important wear the safety gear, life vest. It was just so fun, one should not miss it in KK, even if you don't know how to swim.
The whole trip consumed out whole day, it included 2 hours of mini van travelling and 2 more hours of train, and the same amount of time in the journey back, so it was a 8-hour travelling. The train was so classic, it was like 50 years old, some of the coaches didn't even have passenger seats and with the door opened at all time, we just could perched on the door of a moving train and swinging our legs.
The adventurous rafting was just around 2 hours, and another hour for lunch which was included in the package.

Some information
Cari T Lee (Sabah)
Contact: +60128115677
Price: RM 180
Time: 6 30 am to 6 00 pm

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Restaurant Ar-Par [ Ran Ar-Par ] |Kanchanaburi|

Restaurant Ar-Par [ Ran Ar-Par ]

The meaning of Ran is restaurant in Thai language. This is the driver's recommendation to us according to him Ar-Par is the best barbecue restaurant in Kanchanaburi city. I can judge the popularity of the restaurant with the amount of the dinners. It is buffet style so one can take as much as possible , but mind that waste will be penalized .



The barbecue in the center and the steamboat.


Som Tam [ A type of Thai Snack ]


Wat Arun [ Temple of Dawn ]


Wat Arun is one of the preserved temple of the Ayathaya dynasty. This is a place for sightseeing of the magnificent construction and the scenic sunset on the building. There are stairs that visitors are allowed to climb, a very steep stairs that is about 90 degree angle, the climb gives us a sense of undescribable fear of falling. Everyone minds every step in the stairs. besides the carving on the pagodas and the walls are very detailed and beautiful, definitely worth photo shooting.


The information of Wat Arun :
Admission Fee : 50 batt.
Hours : 8:30 am–5:30 pm [ Daily ]
Address: 
Wat Arun, Bangkok Yai, Bangkok, Thailand, 10600
Phone aka Contact number :  +66 2 891 2978








The sunset plays a scenic backdrop for the historic temple



Maeklong Railway Market

The market is situated on and along a stretch of railroad that is still in operation. However the major attraction of the market is to witness how the local hawkers clear the railroad as the train passes and reopen their stalls afterward. The train passes 4 times a day without following a fixed schedule. Once we reached we headed to the ticket counter to confirm the arrival time of the train. 


The weather was scorching. There are fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, seafood, clothes, accessory and anything you can imagine in a market, however the prices are not exceptionally cheap. So we just walk around, snap some picture and wait for the train to come. 



A temple in on another street near the market



Their pineapple is so sweet and juicy


I guess the hawkers must be very annoyed by the boisterous crowd of visitors each day. Especially when the train is approaching, the whole crowd surrounds the end of market with cameras and video recording devices on hand scrambling to record the amazing culture. After the train passes through, the hawkers reopen their stalls and most of the crowd leave.  





Please be noted that the hawkers dislike people to stand in front of their stalls. They will be quite rude to you if you are standing there just to wait for the train. It is reasonable, they need to face this kind of disturbance everyday. Please be considerate when visiting this market.

The train arrival time for reference



More information on Mae klong Railway Market
Hours : 0700 : 1730
Address : 
Mae Klong Railway Station, Mae Klong, 
Samut Songkhram 75000, Thailand

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Wat Pho

Wat Pho ( Reclining Buddha )


Wat Pho has the most huge Reclining Buddha in Thailand. The Buddha statue have gilt body, which is expressing dignity; especially formality or stateliness in appearance. The temple are flooded with tourists who are queuing to capture the magnificence of Reclining Buddha.


Wat Pho has a big compound. There are few pagodas, temples and also Buddha statues inside. While, I am curious as there are a variety of Buddha statues which include those Buddhism and Taoism. Does it mean that Buddhism accepts everybody as long as he/she has a good faith. Whatever, I like the buildings so much. The buildings are special where the walls are gilded with marbles and many Statues.
  








Walking further inside, there is a tall building and it has another tall Buddha statue. This is another Buddha Statue that has a gilt body. The hall is peaceful and is seemingly clad with the kindness of Buddha. There are many local Thai people kneel down and worship the Buddha. I can feel the sincerity and I do grab the chance to make a wish as well.



If you wish to know more information while visiting Wat Pho, Wat Pho also has good English speaking guides who will provide interesting information for around 200 - 400 baht, depending on how many people there are in your group and how good your negotiating skills are.

Another reason for visiting is the Wat Pho Massage School. You can learn how to give a proper, bone-crunching traditional Thai massage or experience one yourself.
Full body massage costs 480 baht an hour or Foot reflexology massage for 360 baht per 45 minutes.



The information of Wat Pho :
Admission Fee : 100 batt.
Area : 8 ha
Hours : 8:00 am–5:00 pm [ Daily ]
Address: 
2 Sanamchai Road, Phra Nakhon, 
Bangkok, Thailand 10200, Thailand
Phone aka Contact number : +66 2 225 9595

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Kanchanaburi

First day
Kanchanaburi was our first destination of our Bangkok trip, it is a province in the western Thailand. The main purpose we visited was to get closer to the natural in this trip and pay a visit to the popular death railroad.

Reaching Kanchanburi:
From Don Mueang International Airport to Southern Bus Terminal
Meter-Taxi |300 Baht|, |1 hour travel|

From Southern Bus Terminal to Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal
Bus, |110 Baht per person|, |3-hour travel|



To get to our hotel we bargained with a lorry taxi driver, who also became our driver and tour guide for the next day. 15 Baht per person for a 3 km travel from the bus terminal to Sam's guest house. Quite a packed ride.






Sam's Guest House is a rather budget accommodation for tourists or backpackers, located in the city of Kanchanaburi, there are grocery stores, night pubs, and a night market in a walking distance. The condition of the room is quite cozy too (small and narrow) lol.

Info of Sam's Guest House 
Rate : Double room, |450 Baht per night|
Contact : (034) 51 59 56
Fax. : (034) 51 20 23
Address : 14/2 Maenamkwae Rd. Tumbon, Thamakham Amphur-Muang, 71000 Kanchanaburi City 
E-mail : sams_guesthouse@hotmail.com
Website : http://www.samsguesthouse.com

Night Market
After checking in and settle up, we went to the near by night market for dinner. There was a variety of local street food at a very cheap price








The 2nd Day

Getting Around
We bargain with the lorry taxi driver who agreed to take us getting around the tourist attraction for the whole day to 7 pm and the charge was 150 Baht per person. Without our carriages the space was of the tiny lorry taxi definitely ample for a group of 15 people.

Hellfire Pass Memorial  
It was a museum kointly established by the Thai and Australian government to commemorate the sacrificed souls of the war prisoners and labors who were coerced cruelly and to tell the story behind the construction of the 400 kilometers long Death Railroad that was completed in only 4 months.

There is a indoor showroom and one can also hike along the part abandoned railroad that stretches 3 kilometers long in a greenish jungle and the path will lead us to a cemetery where the some of dead were buried. It should have been fun to hike, but we just made it till the Hellfire Pass, the most difficult part of the railroad.

Information of HellFire Pass Memorial Museum
Admission Fee: Free of charge
Open hour: 9 am to 4 pm



The indoor show room of the museum








KraSae Cave
Next move to KraSae Cave, a cave with Buddha Statue, located just beside a wooden railroad bridge. We took a train back to Kanchanaburi City at 100 Baht per person in a very old "antique" train at 4 pm. One can walk on the amazing railroad bridge before the train arrives to snap picture and have a view of the river lies beside the railroad.

The train ride was very relaxing and it penetrates some of the most rural area and agricultural area of Thailand. Then it crossed the river on the popular River Kwai Bridge before the Kanchanaburi city.








An antique interior of the old coach


So bad we were on the train and unable to take a picture of the whole bridge


Restaurant Ar-Par

We have planed to dine in a barbecue restaurant, and the driver recommended us to Ar-Par according to him, this is the most popular Buffet style Barbecue restaurant in the Knachanaburi city. I could judge the popularity of the restaurant with the amount of the dinners. The Barbecue pork slice and beacon were especially tasty.