Lankayan Island Dive Resort

A jewel-like tiny island in the Sulu Sea, a 1.5 hour boat rides north of Sandakan; Lankayan has been declared part of an immense Marine Protected Area to adopt the eco-tourism concept. Unpopulated and covered by thick tropical island vegetation on its topside, this peaceful, untouched little bit of paradise is ringed by an endless pure white sandy beach, offering simply elegant and exquisite accommodation in all 23 wooden, roomy and perfectly appointed seafront chalets.

While the ideal destination for those who search for tranquility and relaxation in a virgin natural setting and for families with children, Lankayan Island is also becoming one of the hottest diving destinations on the map today: its dive sites - all just a few minutes away - boasting unbelievably colorful macro, fauna, fascinating wrecks and in season from March to May, regular sightings of gigantic and harmless whale sharks, the "dream date "of every diver in the world.

Situated within the Sea Turtle Corridor, Lankayan Island is also a nesting place and foraging ground for sea turtles; most commonly Green and Hawksbill Turtle. Therefore, guests will have a chance to see turtles nesting as well as new hatchlings of baby turtles released to the sea especially in season from June to September.

Lankayan Island is a virtually uninhabited island, located deep into the Sulu Seas off the North-Eastern coast of Sabah in Malaysia. There is only one resort offering access to these unspoiled waters.

Lankayan has been created as a truly beautiful resort, not only for discerning divers but for anyone who appreciates the serenity and tranquility of a paradise island - white sandy beaches, swaying casuarina pines, beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

The normal route to the island is through Kota Kinabalu International airport. here are also direct flights to Sandakan from KL on AirAsia. From KK, a connecting flight takes you to Sandakan where a transfer is made to the jetty to board the twin engine fibre glass boat to Lankayan Island, a journey of about 75 minutes on good seas. Note that there is only one boat transfer to Lankayan each day, departing Sandakan jetty at 10.00 hrs. Depending on your arrival time in Sandakan, you may need to spend a night in either KK or Sandakan.


Chalets on Lankayan Island

Lankayan Island is a small island fully covered with tropical vegetation, featuring tall casuarina trees and the ubiquitous pandan screwpine. The island is pristine, not having suffered human occupation for long, and has some interesting fauna subjects. After a dive, the place for relaxation is the upper lounge which overlooks the western beach and jetty. Here, the tourist can enjoy some sun with a favourite cool drink. A TV room is available for viewing the day's video shots or other footage.

Despite the remoteness, Lankayan offers all the amenities of a tropical resort.
A Beach on Lankayan Island

Visitors stay in bungalows, constructed from local timbers to blend into the natural surroundings. Twin/triple bungalows are available in Chalet accommodation. All chalets offer direct access to the beach. The chalets are well appointed, with hot bath and clean water from the RO system. Power is available with 220 V or 110 V.

In total, the resort accommodates between 40 and 50 guests at a time



The island is a great place to explore or simply to relax. Welcome to Asia's best kept secret.



FOOTNOTE

Lankayan Island is part of the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA) which covers approximately 46300 ha. It was declared a conservation area in December 2001. The area is jointly managed by Sabah State Wildlife Department and private sector representatives. Lankayan is also governed by an extensive management plan to ensure sustainable use of resources and environmentally friendly tourism policies. Among other things, SIMCA representatives enforce a no fishing policy in the area, protect Turtles and their eggs, ensure a no anchoring policy for boats and limit tourist numbers and tourist facilities. Lankayan Resort used environmental consultants to design and implement waste management and recycling methods, build rainwater collection areas and ensure continued health of island flora. The results are positive and visible - healthy corals and rich vegetation.

The dive package to Lankayan Island includes:-

• Land and Sea Transfers - Sandakan Airport to Lankayan Island and return,
• 3 meals per day plus afternoon tea and snacks,
• Accommodation on twin/triple sharing basis,
• 3 boat dives daily around the Island except on arrival and departure day,
• unlimited beach dives in front of Jetty,
• Provide tanks, weights and belt,
• Limited gear is available for rental,
• No extra charge for Night dives in front of Dive Centre for advanced divers or divers with night dive experience,
• Guided tour to Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabitation Centre on departure day from Lankayan (Optional) - entry fee to Sepilok not included

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Crocker Range National Park

Keningau

144 kilometers away from Kota Kinabalu is the Crocker Range National Park (CRNP), situated in the Crocker Range, Sabah. The Crocker Range Park is located 13 kilometers from Keningau town, approximately 25 minutes away by car. 

The Crocker Range was designated to be a forest reserve in 1968. In 1984, Crocker Range Nature Park was then established in order to protect the water catchments area which was supplying clean drinking water to the West Coast and the interior of Sabah. It was renamed Taman Banjaran Crocker (Crocker Range Park) in 1996 and is managed by the Sabah Parks. 

Located in the heart of Crocker Range Park, the newly developed Sabah Park’s facility which opened in February 2004 is ideal a place for meetings, camping, jungle trekking and outdoor educational activities. Among the attractions to found in the Crocker Range Park are the Rafflesia sites, trekking courses, and camping ground. 

The rising concern for protecting its rich biodiversity and rare species of flora and fauna had been the prime propellant in the initiative to gazette it as a national park. 

Tariff	Malaysian	Others
Entrance Fee	RM3.00 per person	RM10.00 per person
Camping Ground	RM20.00 per person
Chalet	RM60.00 per room	RM100.00 per room
Hostel (18 years below)	RM10.00 per person
Hostel (18 years above)	RM20.00 per person

The Crocker Range Park is open daily from 08:00am to 17:00pm.

Getting ThereThe bus to Keningau can be taken at the long distance bus station near Merdeka Field (to reach Keningau bus station). Schedules for departure are at 7a.m, 8.am, 10p.m, 12p.m, 1p.m, 2p.m, and 5p.m; the bus fare to Keningau is RM16 per person. 

Visitors can also take the taxi from Kota Kinabalu to the Keningau Taxi station for RM120 per taxi. 

From the Keningau bus station/ Keningau Taxi station, visitors would have to take another taxi to reach the Crocker Range station. One way fare is RM40 per taxi. However, all prices are estimated and are subject to change.

Further Information:Please contact the Crocker Range Park (Head Station Keningau) at +6019-809 8683 or fax to +6087-330924.

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Source: http://www.sabahtourism.com/sabah-malaysian-borneo/en/destination/122-crocker-range-national-park/

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The Regatta Lepa Colourful and Excitement

Every year in April there is a water festival held in Semporna, a small town in the eastern coast of Sabah, called The Regatta Lepa, one of the major important events in our National Tourism Calendar.

This year, the 20^th Regatta Lepa will be held from 26^th – 28^th of April 2013 and the event attracted thousands each year. “Lepa” means “boat” is believed to be originated from the Pa'alau Bajau people who live in Bum Bum Island and used by fishermen along the coast of Semporna.

The unique lifestyle and festival is celebrated by the Bajau Laut ethnic community, the major dwellers in Semporna. The Bajau Laut people are seafarers at heart and well known for their Lepa, which is the traditional single-mast sailing boat used in their daily lives.

colourful Lepa

Nowadays, the practice of this traditional lifestyle is slowly dispersing with modernity. Few modern Bajaus use the Lepa today as many of them migrated to the mainland. Nonetheless, Lepa remains a symbol of tradition and a precious legacy for the Semporna Bajau community.

With the change of time, the Lepa might not be used in the same way as it used to be but the Lepas will never be forgotten for yet another year as the symbol of pride of the Bajau people and a cultural heritage.

The Bajau seafarers' proud maritime heritage came alive in this annual festival of Regatta Lepa, featuring their boats, the Lepa with participants dancing at the helm of their boats, decorated with bright colour sails known as sambulayang and tapis (small triangular flags).

The sleepy Semporna town comes to life as the colourful sails take to the sea to compete for the prize of the most beautiful Lepa! The highlight of the event is the sail-past of the Lepa, each boat decked with smiling dancers and lively musicians, hoping to be crowned `Most Beautiful Lepa' - the grand prize of this much-anticipated water festival.

Every Lepa family has their own or daughter beautiful girl welcoming visitors with graceful igal-igal dance, a traditional dance of the Bajau.

beautiful girl welcoming visitors with the traditional igal-igal dance

The Regatta Lepa is not just a water festival, in fact the whole town of Semporna has a carnival atmosphere, what with the various concerts staged, and so many stalls set up to promote or sell products and services to the population, visitors and tourists that have certainly swelled manifold.

Further Information

Organiser : Semporna District Office
Venue : Semporna, Sabah
Contact Person : A.M Ibnu Haji A.K baba
Telephone : 6089-781518, 6089-781663
Fax : 6089-781472
Email Contact : AmIbnu.Baba@sabah.gov.my
Event Website : http://www.sabahtourism.com

Source:http://blog.tourism.gov.my/the-regatta-lepa-colourful-and-excitement/

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Sipadan Island

Sipadan is a very small island not far from the town of Semporna on the East coast of Sabah. Sipadan is an oceanic island and was formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct undersea volcano which rises 600m from the seabed. The boat ride from Semporna takes around an hour. Like many tropical islands, it is thicky forested and surrounded by sandy beaches. The geographic position of Sipadan puts it in the center of the richest marine habitat in the world and the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin. More that 3000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in this richest of ecosystems.

Sipadan is well known for its unusually large numbers of green and hawksbill turtles which gather there to mate and nest and its is not unusual for a diver to see more then 20 turtles on each dive. Another unique feature to divers visiting Sipadan is the turtle tomb, an underwater limestone cave a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that contain many skeletal remains of turtles that become disoriented and the drowned. The residential schooling barracuda and big-eye trevally are one of the highlights on every divers wish-list which often gather in thousands forming spectacular tornado-like formations. With the possibility of seeing pelagics such as
mantas, eagle rays, scalloped hammerhead sharks and whale sharks, each dive at Sipadan is a highly anticipated event.

Its not only the big fish that amaze divers coming to Sipadan but the macro life is equally mesmerizing. Garden

eels, leaf scorpionfish, amntis shrimp, fire gobies and various pipefish are guaranteed at various dive sites. The diversity and abundance of marine life found at Sipadan gives it the reputation of being one of the ten best dive locations in the world. The number of guests on this island has been restricted to protect its reef and marine life. Dive sites found here are Barracuda Point, Drop Off Point, Mid Reef, Staghorn Crest, Whitetip Avenue, Coral Garden, Hanging Garden, South Point and Turtle Cavern.
In order to protect such a beautiful islands, there are lots of rules on the island as below:

No littering of any kind is tolerated.
Do not collect shells, corals or other marine organisms.
Take care not to break or damage corals or other marine organisms.
Fishing is not permitted anywhere on Sipadan.


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How to get there

There are many daily flights available direct from Kuala Lumpur via Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia. To save your money, we strongly recommend you to take AirAsia flight. AirAsia operates 7 daily direct flights to Terminal 2, Kota Kinabalu Old

Airport from the LCC ( Low Cost Carrier ) Terminal, Sepang. Booking may be made through www.airasia.com or walking into AirAsia’s sales offices which are located at KL Sentral and Airport. Alternatively, you are welcome to contact the Nationwide Call Centre at 1300-88-99-33 ( within Malaysia ) or ( +6 ) 03-78849000 ( outside Malaysia ).

From KK to Tawau, you are advised to book yourself on any of the following domestic Malaysia Airlines or Air Asia flights again. Then take a 2 hour ride to Sempona, and Sipadan Island is located just off the coast of Sempona, approximately 45 minutes from the mainland.

Alternatively, if you are affordable, you may fly to Sipadan directly from Tawau in a helicopter and save at least 6 hours of round- trip travel.

Source: http://malaysiabudgethotel.com/

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Kota Kinabalu in 24 Hours

Formerly called Jesselton, this humid, tropical city on the western coast of Borneo is a main transit point for travelers going off to explore Southeast Asia’s fifth tallest peak (and Malaysia’s tallest) – Mount Kinabalu which is located just 90 Kilometers away as well as a jump-off point to the islands around it as well as a convenient and cheaper alternative to enter Brunei Darussalam (via the international port in Labuan). Rather than a destination on its own, Kota Kinabalu serves as a major international gateway to those who want to explore the myriad jungles and cultures, not only of Sabah but Borneo – so if you are in town – here is the best way to see and experience KK, as Kota Kinabalu is fondly called, all done in 24 hours.

Shop! Shop! Shop!
While most locals would tell you to head out to Centre Point (Lebuh Raya Pantai Baru corner Jl. Duapuluh) to get your fill of great bargains for souvenirs, do not go there – you’d be lucky if you can actually see an actual store selling souvenirs at Centre Point otherwise this huge building, with a pretty messed up, complicated layout houses pretty much cheap (and of doubtful quality) knock-offs of every kind. We had no choice but get our luggage at the Centre Point, after our old luggage, a veteran of many international travels, just broke apart the moment we arrived at our hotel. The luggage is about RM 160 – pretty cheap for one big suitcase and an extra medium-sized suitcase (we will see how it is going to measure up on my future international travels).



Whilst in Centre Point, beware of scam artists operating in the area- I had the misfortune of being accosted by two men (not in uniform) flashing two little cards, just moments after I stepped out of a money changer and demanding that (in broken English) I needed to come with them (to where, I do not know so I resisted)- it was about 9:45AM on a street just outside Centre Point (on the Wisma Square side). One of the guys told me that I littered, but the funny part was there was litter all around the area and I asked for a sign that says No Littering and they both pointed on a badly tattered old sign in Bahasa and then afterwards asked me for RM 20. I told them, I needed Ringgits so I needed to go back in the building and buy more Ringgits. This time the messed up layout of Centre Point worked to my advantage and I deliberately lost them and went straight to the Sabah Tourism Board to file a complaint. Apparently, I learned later on that these scam artists prey on unsuspecting tourists and basically extort or mug them outright even in broad daylight. Thank heavens that I was also not traveling alone, as I was with another travel writer from the Tourism Paradise Philippine site that time but that shook me a fair bit.

So where to buy? The answer is actually not too far away from Centre Point. For best value shopping, nothing beats the souvenir stalls at Asia City, a mall just across Centre Point. We got great discounts from the traditional Sabah weaving, a Murut tribe mask, fridge magnets and even a copy of the Holy Quran. We basically did our entire souvenir shopping at Asia City and were quite happy with the heaps of discounts that we got compared to getting it from any other place. Haggling is expected here (the Filipinos who man the stores there gave me tons of discounts which I don’t think would be given to other people), and as common sense dictates – start very low and work your way to a compromise. The stuff at Asia City is even generally cheaper than those that you could find at the Handicraft Market (Jl. Tun Fuad Stephens) although the Handicraft Market does have a lot of choice- the prices here are pretty much touristy- therefore, way more expensive..

There are little stores that dot all over the Kota Kinabalu city that also have quite good selection of yards and yards and yards of great quality sarongs, malongs and sampings (the traditional Malay men wrap-around skirt).

Also do not forget to check the Sunday Market at Jl. Gaya for more souvenirs and handicrafts, however, get there in the morning- as the place folds up early.

Average time spent- 3 hours.

A Taste of Sabah
Whenever I travel, I also make it a point to try the local fare, and being a fan of Malay food; I was curious how different Kota Kinabalu was from the rest of the more popular Penang flavors. The more expensive Evening Food Stall at Sedco Square (Jl. Sapuluh) is a small square with seafood restaurants with big aquariums lining its sides. The Old Village Seafood Restaurant is one of the cheapest around – and the soft-shell crab cooked any way you liked it is just wonderful – the shell was so soft that you can actually eat it as well. I had mine cooked chilli crab style, it wasn’t too bad at all since I had to pay about $100 SGD for a plate of black pepper crab in Singapore’s Chinatown plus we got a heap of discounts plus a free fruit platter for dessert from our waiter (who was also Filipino). The Evening Food Stall has a Fried Ice Cream stall, the batter was very underwhelming but the luscious Durian Ice Cream inside it saved the day.



In my opinion, the best place to eat is by the Filipino Market – food stalls that resemble a complicated mini-tent city right next to the Handicraft Market by the Waterfront. Food is pretty inexpensive here but very savory. Check out the Martabak (RM 1.50); Pisang Goreng (RM 1.00); Ubi Manis (RM 1.00) but our most favorite is a steamy bowl of Soto Ayam for a mere RM 3.00 and delicious Cendol (similar to Filipino’s Coconut-Pandan on Milk and Shaved Ice) for RM 2.Extremely yummy and the best meal we ever had in Kota Kinabalu, hands down.

Before leaving Kota Kinabalu, I had some Kwey Tyao at Sri Melaka Restaurant. It was not quite as good as the Kwey Tyao I had in other countries before though. One thing of note if you are dining in Kota Kinabalu, make sure that you do not touch the peanuts served nor the table napkin – you will be charged extra for it. Those peanuts are not for free. Knowing this, as I had the same experience in Singapore, I skipped the peanuts and using the table napkins. I checked our receipt and we got overcharged several times- it took the waiter three times to finally give me the correct bill.

Average time spent – 3 hours.

Walkabout KK
Kota Kinabalu has some interesting sights that one can check out by just walking around the city center. The city’s most famous landmark would be of course the Atkinson Clock Tower by Bandaran Berjaya (a very short walk from the city centre) was built in 1905 and used to be the navigational aid but is now dwarfed by the taller buildings in the area. One can also trek up the Signal Hill (which can use a little bit of cleaning as well – we spied a big pile of trash going up near the Merdeka Field) to view the other side of the hills and do a little trek to get a taste of the Bornean jungles (especially near the Istana can be quite lush and green and a refreshing respite away from the dusty city centre). On a clear day, one can see as far as the peak of Malaysia’s most famous mountain – Mt. Kinabalu.

Other great places to check out would be the State Museum, Sabah Art Gallery and the Heritage Village – however opening times are sketchy and going there is a bit of a stretch – one needs to get a cab at a taxi queue at Centre Point – one way is about RM 10. The cabbies in Kota Kinabalu does not use any meter or at least not in any of the cabs that we took while we were there. If you are heading away from the city centre, one should know that it is very hard to get around Kota Kinabalu if you do not have your own transport – taxis are hard to come by anywhere – be prepared to walk a long bit to get one like we did when we went by the State Mosque at Sembulan).

Average time spent – 3 Hours.

Relax and play
Whilst not exactly a stunning beach, Tanjung Aru Beach was a passable and a good short escape from the city centre with al-fresco dining that lines parts of beach. If one cannot hop on to the several islands off Kota Kinabalu like the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park nor Pulau Tiga, Tanjung Aru Beach is the cheap and the most accessible option to hang around by the beach. Be careful, however, of the rip tides that are common all throughout this area. We did not see any lifeguards on patrol, so you swim at your own risk.



Tanjung Aru Beach is about 15 minute walk from the Kota Kinabalu International Airport so if you want to drop by just before your flight out, you may do so and grab a few drinks and catch some sea-wind and sun before leaving Borneo.

Tanjung Aru Beach is also close to the Kinabalu Golf Club and the local Race Course and the Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club.

Average time spent – 2-3 hours.

Kota Kinabalu has different characters thrown in together, mainly because of its very multicultural nature. Kota Kinabalu and Sabah in general is home to the many indigenous peoples as well as the Malays, Indians, Chinese and Filipinos which makes this tiny city a curious, interesting and at the same time complicated melting pot of cultures. A step into the real Kota Kinabalu is a step into the region’s underbelly- so go on, walk and see the real Kota Kinabalu and experience Malaysia like nothing that is on any hyped guidebooks.

Dave Ryan A. Buaron is a travel writer on Tourism Philippines. For him, travelling is just not about getting drunk every night during a trip but actually soaking up the local culture, appreciating the beautiful sceneries and doing something new each day.

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