Semporna, Sabah – port to Sipadan!
Waking up at the Kinabalu Backpacker’s lodge was a refreshing sight…
of the street of KK!!
I never knew I’ll see the day of brushing my teeth facing against a busy road of city street with roaming cars.
It also helped waking up to the sight of two really hot Dutch boys in their sun tanned muscular topless body jumping into shower next to you. Eh hem~ *cough*
I decided to take a day off chilling around the city and have a cup of ice Nescafe beside the roadside while doing my paper research typing under the shade of trees.
I don’t usually drink coffee but Sabah has the WORST Milo Ais you will ever get, anywhere, anytime. It’s like diluted Milo with three tablespoons of sweetened condense milk. Seriously, it is THAT horrible.
I managed to type up quite a bit. *proud*
As evening drew nearer, I hopped onto the public bus to Inanam to board my overnight bus to Semporna, a little fish village at the South East of Sabah that would still be unheard and unknown if not for it’s passage way to the world BEST diving spot – Sipadan Island.
Second rule of backpacking – always save up a night’s stay by travelling overnight.
Evening of Inanam, beautiful moonlight.
Because of the geographical position of Sabah, the sun sets an hour earlier here. I thought I saw the time wrongly when I arrived at the terminal for my 7:30pm bus.
What? I’m an hour and 30 mins early? How can?
Only to realize later that this watch was bought in Bangkok, hence the time was still set an hour back.
The actual time
How smart of me. -.- (this is what you get when you buy all sorts of junk from around the world)
Preparing to hop on a 11 hours ride.
The bus stopped at several location for food and pee break.
I managed to find some realllllly cheap candies, all selling at RM0.10 to RM0.30.
Dinner for the night.
*Fast-forwarding 11 hours later*
6:30am
I landed with my backpack standing in the middle of no where.
*not a sound, total silence*
Right~~~
ermm... to my lodge!
Dumping my bag, I headed straight out for my first city exploration. What better time to see the town wakes up?
Morning market at the jetty
Sabah has most of its cities situated right by the sea, Semporna included.
The morning market gets busy as the fishermen returned from sea with load of goods.
Tuna Fish
Stingray?
Puffer Fish!!!!!! I want!!!
It’s quite a sight to view. :D
It’s common for people here to live on water, and the land, side by side.
And kids jumping on and off boat for fun.
Cheap is the first name of Semporna. By that I mean they will go all out to make things sold at a very cheap and affordable price.
Anyone want to buy RM1 cooking oil?
And not to forget, a BN dominated state. ;)
I’m seeing this everywhere!
I’m going to take my diving license today, tomorrow and day after. Yes, soon I will a certified PADI diver!!! Woo hoo~~~~ and my first dive is going to be in the world's MOST MOST beautiful diving spot~~!!!!
Before that….
I think… I got…
an allergy :(
*to be continued*
38 kissed Nicole
can hear *wuuaakk* *wuakkkk* *wuakkk* at Semporna.. -__-
ReplyDeleteAik? Allergy? Poor thing..hmm..be careful k?
ReplyDeleteThat's one hairy arm. Make it two.
ReplyDeletewah so nice diving in sipadan island...im so envious...do put more pics n info in yr next update i wanna go there too hopefully in the near future! cheers
ReplyDeleteMarcus
lol i cant help noticing an underwear in the background of the first pic...i'm no perv...hahaha...seriously...
ReplyDeletesecond pic i mean...keke
ReplyDeleteDiving?...8D~ veli the nice gar...Just lemember not to touch everything underwater bare hand lar...or can use a stick...(^_^)"
ReplyDeleteEhh oso hor is there a chance u be doing bikini diving ar??...8D~
u reminds me of my visit to kk 3 years back.........
ReplyDelete*WWH mind flies to kk edi now*
nice pic u got here!
ReplyDeletecoming to Miri to dive any soon?
ReplyDeleteI had similar allergy earlier this year. It was caused by an antibiotic I took for an abcessed tooth. If you have taken any antibiotics this could be the problem.
ReplyDeleteOh, I want t take diving license too. Make sure you post an entry on diving license ya?1=]
ReplyDeleteif u still got ur allergy go pharmacy n buy some polaramine. Its 2mg/tablet. should help. not expensive also
ReplyDeleteAhhh...Sipadan...diving heaven...
ReplyDeleteMy open water dive was in Redang. Very nice back then but Sipadan is still the best. Lucky you~
OMG.. is it getting better now?
ReplyDeleteHey Nicole,i got my PADI 2 years ago in sabah too,but at mamutik island.and an allergy,but from beer....my skin around my neck and limb were totally swollen and covered with hives....sigh,i totally adore sabah too,and i can't wait to visit there again!
ReplyDeleteowhh dear.. how was your allergy then? get better soon okay :)
ReplyDeletewaiting for the next entry ;)
omg! I'm so jealous! I'm getting certified in June at Koh Samui. Are you doing the Open Water Certification?
ReplyDeleteHave fun :)
get well and safe journey ya... cheers!
ReplyDeleteHi Nicole, on your way back from Sipadan, you have to pass through Tawau. Can you please blog about it? IT'S MY HOMETOWN AND I HAVE NOT SEEN IT SINCE 2005! I'm now living in Zurich - very homesick when I see your photos of Sabah....
ReplyDeleteCheers, Angie
was wondering
ReplyDeletewhen you talk about traveling
I am currently planning on going on trip to Japan
when you were there, where did you stay?
because being a student and all I have limited budget\
do let me know...
please and thank you!
Sabah Bagus BAH!.Manutik island also very nice,just 25 minutes from KK town
ReplyDeletei think i know those alergy, stop scratching it and it will be fine. i know its very very very itchy, just dont touch it. >.<
ReplyDeletewelcome to the land below the wind. may you enjoy your time here.
ReplyDeleteif you want cheaper seafood, try SALUT (20mins from KK) and for nicer iced milo, go DAMAI. there's a popular coffeeshop there.
as for sipadan, i have no doubt you'll enjoy it!
Nice entry.
ReplyDeleteBTW, what ever happened to your hair?
Second photo... is that your green panty?
ReplyDeleteHi Nicole,
ReplyDeletewowoowwoow way you go girl! You are really experiencing all the beautiful things in life - charity, diving, photography, fine dining, and not forgetting blogging! hehehe. YOu have lived ur life to the fullest, and I am truly happy for you. They say, some dream all their lives, some live their dreams! and you're genuinely the second group!
I am also PADI diver but i have completed rescue diver course. I would say frankly that it's better you take ur open water licence in somewhere cheaper like PErhentian, redang, tioman or mamutik. This is because when you start diving, you have to struggle with buoyancy and getting used to diving. Sipadan is actually a diver's gem, and when you're there, many seasoned diver will tell you to make sure you're very good then only u go there. this is coz the walls of sipadan island are so full of marine microbs and planktons that u'll accidently go too deep or to the surface without realizing it. you need to control ur depth and gauge ur dive carefully. going to sipadan is also expensive. so divers will usually tell you to master ur diving skills in somewhere cheaper before you go for the best of Asia SIPADAN so u can truly expereince every bits of it rather than struggling with ur breathing and missing out the wonders of underwater.
But its ok for you girl, you can always go back there again.
Happy for you. My favourite is moorish idol. Hvae you spoted any????
Take care! Good luck! God bless you!!!!!
the market called Tamu in sabah & village on water called Kampung Air bah!.did u ask the puffer fish(ikan buntal) can eat or not?.some peoples said it poisonous & 1st time i saw it in market.
ReplyDeleteGood luck & take k bah!
semporna is a nice place.. i never been to sipadan but i went mataking, not bad also there..
ReplyDeleteWow, nice shots you got there.
ReplyDeletei think thats shark's fin, and not stingray. =(
ReplyDeletemataking and mabul are nice too. sabah has the worst milo ais? lol. you have yet to try the most delicious milo ais in Damai, KK.
ReplyDeletewell.. not all milo in kk is like what u described.. haha.. nice try..
ReplyDeleteYou have the same phone as mine. haha.
ReplyDeletediluted milo ice?? cuz you dont know where to get the BEST MILO ICE IN KK, duh! dont say it like kk has no good milo ice!
ReplyDeletenice undie.....hmmnnn....yum yum
ReplyDeletehey,
ReplyDeletemy name is lyssa, a new bloggger.
gosh~~
i love the place u went!!
i think i'm going there soon after reading your blog!!
i just came back from Bali few days ago, feel free to visit my blog and give me some comments k?
http://lyssaloh.blogspot.com/
thanks!
Re Pic of you at Semporna THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2008 with your frilly edged knickers in the background. I always pictured you more of the Sloggi knickers type of girl :-) Fancy you still wearing the old fashioned see thru lacy type of knickers ;-)
ReplyDelete