Category: Holiday Guide

The sultry blue surrounding Malaysia is home to a wealth of fantastical dive sites teeming with exotic marine life. Situated in relatively shallow waters and warmed by tropical sunshine, reefs here offer some of the best diving the world over.

Gazetted in 1991 along with eight other islets as part of the Pulau Redang Marine Park, Pulau Redang lying just 45km off the coast of Terengganu is protected as an aquatic sanctuary, home to a great diversity of marine life including endangered sea turtles.

I had been diving un-certified for two years before Redang. And so, when I began planning this trip I just know this was it, I had to finally begin my licensed adventures at this irresistible island.

Add to that the fact that Berjaya Redang Beach Resort operates a PADI 5-Star Gold Palm Instructor Development Centre (IDC) from its base overlooking Teluk Dalam and I was entirely convinced that I had made the right decision.

Of course, at the time, a 5-Star Gold Palm IDC didn’t really mean anything concrete to me. It just sounded impressive. I was to discover through the duration of the course just what the fancy title really meant.

Day One – We began our adventure by filling in our medical forms and I unwittingly confessed to being a pesky asthmatic. After all, it did state oon my form that by admitting to any one condition, this would not necessarily disqualify me from pursuing my licence. However, I found myself whisked away to the local clinic mid-protest.

DIVE DIARY

Though I explained that I was not actually suffering from asthma at that point in time and that my wheezing was triggered by air pollution, Mr. Toh,(the dive course director who would guide and supervise us during the course) firmly insisted on medical approval. I felt like a criminal whining “But I didn’t do it!”

In retrospect, his actions on my behalf were responsible and I can appreciate the strict adherence to guidelines. But at the time it felt like I was being discriminated against based on my respiratory history. Thankfully the good doctor pronounced me fit and I was allowed to proceed with a clear bill of health.

To obtain an Open Water Divers License, you have to complete a theory exam, five modules of confined water diving and four open water dives. And so, after tossing around concepts like buoyancy, pressure and volume and learning about K-valves (amongst other fascinating pieces of dive equipment) we were more than ready to jump in pool and begin training.

But first, we were taught the proper way to assemble our equipment – from checking the compressed air that we would depend on underwater and strapping the BCD (buoyancy control device) around the tank to fixing the respective hoses, tucking gadgets into place and ascertaining the right air pressure for our dive.

Before, I never bothered about which hose went where, as long as the requlator found its way into my mouth. But, this hands-on assembly phase really does inspire more confidence – knowing where everything is affords a certain comfort.

Our confined water modules brought us to the pool where Mr. Toh patiently demonstrated various techniques for regulator recovery, mask clearing and my most dreaded: mask removal.

Through our confined water sessions, we learnt to adjust our weight to achieve neutral buoyancy (this is when you neither sink nor float – the desired buoyancy), hover, control our breathing, share an alternate air source, breathe from a defective free-flowing regulator, remove and replace our BCD and weights underwater, execute a tired-diver tow, navigate using a compass, skin-dive and many other useful skills.

Like many people who aren’t strong swimmers, my photographer who was taking her license with me, was a little afraid since she couldn’t even swim.

Taking this license requires that you at least be able to swim for 200 meters or snorkel for 300 meters with no time frame. So, fear not! There is still hope.

Day Two – With the wind in our hair, we sped off to Teluk Mak Simpang, situated to the west of Pulau Redang, about 10km from the main jetty. Though the seabed descended some 21 meters, as this was our first dive, we only went down as far as 8 meters. But even at that shallow depth the underwater scenery was stunning.

A riveting landscape of staghorn corals buzzing with large coral groupers, fusiliers, blue-spotted rays and triggerfish, this bay, sheltered from strong currents, offers excellent diving opportunities for both amateurs and professionals. The icing on the cake was definitely the school of large bumphead parrotfish circling below us in a riot of colours.

For our second dive, we explored Pasir Akar situated 3km from the jetty and submerged in 15 meters of water. A coral colony with an astounding array of hard corals such as acropora, montipora and pavona cactus to name a few, this reef is home to endangered Olive Ridley turtles and translucent smooth flutemouth trumpet fish.
This time we descended 10 meters to a relatively vast sandy area which provided an ideal spot for dive training, so kneeling on the bottom is much more pleasant and poses less hazard to the surrounding coral.

Day Three – Our third dive brought us to my favourite, Terumbu Kili, where I managed to spot a green turtle winging its way on the mild currents. This time, we ventured deeper: 18 meters – the limit for Open Water recreational divers. The seabed slopes to 25 meters and as the sandy bottom drops gently in layers, a world of colourful marine life unfolds.

Reef sharks are commonly observed in the shallow waters around three to five meters whilst silver tail barracudas inhabit the deeper realm where thermoclines occur. (Thermoclines being an abrupt line where warm water and deeper cold ocean water meet. It’s impressive the big words you can learn when you actually pay attention!)

Unfortunately, on this dive we didn’t witness this phenomenon or see any sharks of barracudas. But Terumbu Kili did treat us to blue-spotted stringrays unfurling above the sand, odd-looking yellow box fish, giant moray eels protruding from their dark lairs, ethereal blue-ringed angelfish and a profusion of gorgonian sea fans in radiant shades.

Brain corals and elephant ear corals are also plentiful here. Though this dive site has been known to experience strong currents, we were lucky. With wonderful visibility up to 12 meters, warm temperatures around 27 degrees Celsius and calm waters throughout our 40 minute dive, Terembu Kili was perfect.

For our last dive, we ventured once again to the sandy paradise, Pasir Akar to execute our last skill – underwater compass navigation. After ascertaining our ability to swim in a straight line following the dictates of the compass, Mr. Toh took us on another exploration, this time, 16 meters down. We discovered beautiful butterfly fish, shy gobies and ever-present clown fish hovering amongst swaying sea anemones as brown spotted groupers foraged sponges and coral.

Returning to the resort, we sat down for our final challenge – the theory exam. After three days of intensively soaking up as much information as humanly possible, it was time to see just how much we actually retained.

I was happy to see that we had covered everything pretty thoroughly in class and that I was able to solve the pressure calculations with no trouble, despite being a hopeless failure in math for most of my school years.

In the end, Mr. Toh’s patient tutelage, we crossed the threshold into the elite world of divers.

MORE DIVE SITES

Whale Mount (29m) as the same suggests, has been its share of large fish, namely the migrating whale shark that appears in April and around the end of August and September, following the krill bloom.

Divers may also expect to encounter giant stringrays, napoleon wrasses, reef sharks, schools of trevally, turtles and yellow tail snappers amongst the profusion of soft coral that swathe its two famous pinnacles.

Not to be outdone, the cape of Chagar Hutang (35m) protruding northwards, reels divers in with its schools of barracuda, tuna, barramundi cod, hunting jacks and the big favourites, green turtles and whale sharks roam the waters here.

In fact, the northern coast of Pulau Redang is protected as a breeding ground for turtles from April through May. Other reef residents include cobia, big eye jacks, luminous big eyes, yellow mask angelfish and various types of nudibranch.

Big Mouth is Pulau Redang’s signature dive site. At a depth of 40 meters it is one of the deepest and due to its strong currents, most challenging. Like the other two, it is recommended that only advanced divers attempt this submerged reef. For those experienced enough to take up the challenge, the rewards are immense.

Descending into a swirling world of black coral with sweeping vistas of whip coral, divers are almost guaranteed sightings of yellow tail barracudas, horse eye jacks, black and white tip reef sharks, giant marble groupers, tuna, string rays, and green turtles. Passing manta rays, eagle rays and whale sharks are also commonly spotted here.

When diving season is on, from mid March till end October, Berjaya Beach Resort sets up its floating pontoon fronting the resort complete with descent lines for easy access. Sloping from 6 meters to a maximum depth of 12 meters, the house reef is ideal for training dives as well as Discover Scuda dives.

Just a fancy title?

So, does the 5-star Gold Palm rating make a difference? Getting certified at a reputable dive centre carries with it a similar distinction to graduating from a reputable university. Berjaya Redang Beach Resort is not only equipt with PADI 5-star dive center quality facilities and dive equipment for safe, comfortable and trouble-free diving, more importantly, the Instructor Development Centre here is authorized and certified to conduct training for instructor education.
The IDC here is supervised by K.S. Toh, PADI Course Director (the highest rank attainable for a diver). He actually trains instructors to train you!

Each year only 80 to 1000 applicants make itto this prestigious level. In Malaysia, there are only five or six such certified divers. Besides being a Course Director, K.S. Toh is also a Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer (CPR & First Aid), DAN (Diver Alert Network) Instructor Trainer (Oxygen & Automated External Defibrillator & Marine Life Injury) and PADI Specialty Instructor Trainer with more than 10 specialties including deep diving, wreck diving, night diving, underwater navigation, drift diving and lots more.

So, once again, does it make a difference? Yes. Mr. Toh’s professionalism and quiet persistence as an educator throughout the duration of our course spoke volumes of his experience. And when you are venturing into an unfamiliar environment, 18 meters down with just a tank of air strapped to your back to rely on, trusting the man who leads you is very important.

As this is a recreational level course under PADI designed in accordance to performance based learning, you progress as you learn. There is no time frame, but most students complete it in 4 full days.

HOW ABOUT THE RESORT?

The natural wonders of this island are unrivalled in beauty. All Berjaya Redang Beach Resort can do is provide comfort. And this is does admirably, pampering guests with its spacious and plush guestrooms overlooking Teluk Dalam. Its brand new hillside accommodation, Redang Hillview and Redang Seaview suites offer yet another twist of luxury with an open bathroom concept revealing a large Jacuzzi surveying the bay.

Palms Restaurant offers a wide range of culinary delights at its daily buffets whilst wicked Thai treats are available at Pahn-Thai.

And for that little extra extravagance, visit the Ayura Spa and indulge in the healing power of a traditional Malay massage. After all, its not everyday you find yourself in paradise…

The resort opens all year round except during the monsoon months from November to February. The best time to visit is from March till October. Jellyfish season occurs from around end of July till early August, so if you fear these spineless terrors, try to avoid visiting during this period.

NOW WHAT?

So now I’m certified. What next? Obtaining a PADI license means that you are certified with the world’s largest diver training organization and the most well recognized. You belong to a dive community. So, check out the nearest PADI dive chapter and find out what activities you can get involved in.

Berjaya Redang Beach Resort organizes an international clear-up day with the Redang Marine Authority annually in September. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet other divers and do your bit for the environment.

GETTING THERE

Berjaya Redang Beach Resort is situated at Teluk Dalam Kecil in the north of the island.

Berjaya Air operates weekly flights from Terminal 3, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang to its air base on Pulau Redang located just 5 minutes’ drive from the resort.

A shuttle to and from the Berjaya Air base in Redang is organized for guests, so transportation on the island is no hassle.

With comfortable seating the 75 minute flight is a pleasure. A convenient 1-hour check-in is required for all flights.

Smurf Inn is one of the unique hotels offering affordable accommodation in Cameron Highlands.

Smurf Inn Homestay Room

Offering a total of 26 rooms, this boutique hotel in Brinchang is a truly different place to stay in. Room options here include:

1. Deluxe Queen
2. Executive King
3. Family Room
4. Premium

Highlights of Smurf Inn

Among the many hotels and homestays in Cameron Highlands, Smurf Inn is quite unique because of its design and outlook. It is evident that a lot of effort has been put into the interior design where you get a feel of English motifs and neo-classical architecture. Meanwhile, do not expect to see Smurfette or Papa Smurf popping out from nowhere. Within the hotel, you will notice that the sofas and fireplace are all well-designed with classic furniture and outlook.

Services and facilities

Among the facilities that you can expect at Smurf Inn include:

1. Convenient – Smurf Inn is located in Brincang. It is not too far from the city center making it perfect for a getaway
2. Free Wi-fi
3. TV and Cable TV Channels
4. Arrangement available to golf course
5. Attached bathroom with complimentary toiletries

Smurf Inn
No 8, Chateau Avenue,
off Jalan Chateau Royal Chateau,
Tanah Rata,
39000 Brinchang
Cameron Highlands

As a traveller, there are things you should know and should do and there are things you should not! After a while, it all gets easier. But not all countries are the same. Malaysia, is one unique place on earth which you can least expect the best and what it has to offer. Here are some MUST-KNOWs

Food haven

It is a no brainer that Malaysia is known for its food. Jalan Alor is the place to go if you are looking for a variety of foods. Chinese, Malay, Indian, French or even Japanese. But when you are there, make sure that you check the prices before ordering. If you are in doubt, request for the price or go to another stall. This is most important if you are a tourist. Another place that you can go is to Lot 10 Shopping Centre. You get the best hawker foods in the luxury of a food court.

Food Hygiene

There is a limit to great food. Most will tell you to look for hawker food or to mamak stalls. But if the place do not look too enticing or hygienic, run away! No matter how good the food is. There is no point risking your bowel system for a moment of good food. So, although it is a bit pricier, eat at shopping malls.

Drugs means death

Drug trafficking in Malaysia carries the DEATH PENALTY! There is no 2-ways about it. If you are not looking for trouble, don’t bring drugs. Also, if you are clubbing or enjoying the night life, there might be people selling drugs in these outlets. If you do not feel comfortable, leave the premises. If they approach you, just tell them NO! its better to be safe than sorry.

Passport your only ID

No one knows who you are if you do not have your ID. In a foreign country, your passport is your only form of identification. Your home I/D bears no meaning here. So, wherever you go, bring your passport with you. It might be cumbersome but it will be worth it if you are stopped by the police or when asked for identification

Going around on public transport

Malaysia’s public transportation system is quite good. In fact, the train and railway systems in the city is among the most efficient. But if you are going around and you are not the explorative type, you might want to use ride-sharing services. Grab is the main mobile app here. There really is no point relying on taxis. They never use the meter and you will end up paying a lot more than you are supposed to. Grab is controlled and you can be sure of getting to where you want at an affordable price.

Drive your own?

This is one of the many things tourists like to consider. You might want to rent your own car to get around. But take note:

1. Malaysia practices right hand drive. If you are from the US, then this might be a problem for you
2. Traffic laws – You will encounter speed traps and police blocks in most major cities like Johor, Ipoh, Penang and Kuala Lumpur. Abide by the rules and you will be fine
3. Roadside assistance – if you encounter an accident, call the car rental company. NEVER use roadside assistance who approaches you.

Manners

Malaysia has a strong multi-cultural background of people. Here are some major tips:

1. Malaysians take off their shoes before entering a house
2. They usually shake hands and give things using the right and NEVER the left! You won’t want to know why

Seeing everything

Believe it or not, Malaysia has everything you look for in a tourist destination. Except SNOW! There are highlands, islands, seaside resorts, rainforests, caves, city centres, villages, stilt homes, historical buildings, architecture wonders, religious places of worship, great food, red light districts, intelligent cities and many more. The only thing you cannot find here is snow, but you can go to the highlands to enjoy some cool weather though. Ultimately, you get to choose what you like, so choose wisely because you can never cover everything. If that is what you want, you might need to come here a few times.

Dress appropriately

Whatever you do, never dress indecently. Be sensitive to the people here because some of them are quite religious. If you really need to dress up (or indecently), do that at the clubs. Even if that is so, do this in moderation. There is no need to get overly excited even if you are going out for a good time. If you are visiting the places of interest, it is all the more important to cover as many of your body parts as possible.

Sipadan Island is very much synonymous with deep sea diving and that is what you get when you say this to anyone who is a diver (or at least dived once!). Sipadan Island or Pulau Sipadan has been a centre of attention for various reasons. Among them include causing the tension between Malaysia and Indonesia once over dispute on who owns it. It was then concluded that Malaysia is the rightful owner of Sipadan Island while even the Philippines joined in the fray then. Besides that, there were cases of kidnapping by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group although this is now very much under control from the Malaysian enforcement agencies.

On the other side of the spectrum, Sipadan Island is among the most beautiful places on earth. It was declared as a bird sanctuary while being used in movies and films. Those who have dived here would testify that they have seen some of the most beautiful hammerhead sharks, parrotfish schools and amazing reef walls, images that you usually seen only in photos and pictures.

Tourists from all over the world visit Sipadan Island

Sipadan Island has been given all sorts of title in the diver’s community. It has been known tob e one of the top 5 diving spots in the world while some even claim that it is the top. As such, foreign divers will come here whenever they can while there are various spots here catered for divers from all levels. Besides that, you will find the lush vegetation of rainforest jungle on the land with a myriad of flora and fauna like sea-eagles, kingfishers while turtles are known to come ashore to lay eggs.

When to visit Sipadan?

Located off the coast in East Malaysia, Sipadan Island experiences the usual monsoon rain of the South China Sea. This means that you should not come by around the year end from November all the way to early March. The best time to come is in the mid-year around April to August. July and August are known to be the best months for diving because you get water when they are calmest, rainfall at the lowest and the weather is perfect for a day out in the sun with very minimal rain.
Weather – Like any other places around Malaysia, Sipadan Island experiences a tropical climate all year-round. The average temperature here is about 27 degrees Celsius with heavy rainfall around the end of the year.

Communications – All the resorts come with telephone and mobile network access. You can expect some internet connections although you cannot count on them to be too stable.

Health – There are no major health threats here. However, if you are going to dive, check with your doctor on what medication to take to counter any problems. There are several clinics and health centres for basic medication treatment.

Hygiene – You can purchase drinking bottled water from most shops. The tap water is quite safe for drinking but the common practice is to boil them before consuming.

Electricity – The current here is 22V, 50 cycles using the Commonwealth plug designs. If you are from a country that uses otherwise, you should use a current converter or buy one at the convenience stores.

Language – The locals speak Bahasa Malaysia but you can very much get around with English Language as most will be able to understand and converse with this.

Drugs – Be careful with this as drug trafficking is an offence punishable by the death penalty under Malaysian Law.

Money – The currency used here (and in other parts of Malaysia) is the Malaysian Ringgit (RM). You do not need to carry much cash with you when you visit Sipadan Island as there are nothing much to buy or pay for. You can change currency at the Bureau de Change or banks at the towns or the resorts. Major credit cards are accepted for payment of accommodation and other purchases although most restaurants only accept cash.

Shopping – There is nothing to buy or shop for in Sipadan Island. If you are looking for souvenirs or something to bring home with, you can find some boutique shops or retail outlets at the resorts which usually sell toiletries and daily essentials.

Clothing – There are no dress-codes implied in Sipadan Island but you have to be mindful not to wear too revealing clothing in the midst of the locals as it could be offensive to their Muslim culture.

Things to see and do in Sipadan

Sipadan Island is the best place for scuba diving. Those who visit the island will come here mainly for this reason although some can choose to just enjoy the natural wonders of the island. Besides that, there are basically nothing much you can do at Sipadan because it is relatively small and has no operating resorts.

Beach in Sipadan

What you get when you reach Sipadan is a beautiful beach area where you can just sit and wander along. The white and sandy beach here is a great place to take photographs and to enjoy some of the most scenic landscapes of the sea and land.

Water Sports in the Island

As there are no resorts in Sipadan Island, you might find it hard to get any water sports here. However, if you are around Mataking Island, kayaking is available where you can rent one of these to paddle out into the waters. Besides that, you can go with the fishing trips through special arrangements.

From the beaches of Sipadan Island, you can go snorkelling as the reef is very near. If you are lucky, you could spot baby sharks or turtles but in order to snorkel, you will need to arrange that with the dive tour operators from nearby islands or mainland at Semporna which include gear rental and transportation at around RM450 per trip.

Jungle Trekking Fans can have fun too!

If you like to get into the jungles and within the trees, you can do so in Sipadan but you will practically be going in on your own. For a more ‘guided’ trail, you will need to do so in other islands.

Getting to Sipadan Island

Location of the Island – Sipadan Island is located off the coast of Borneo Island which is part of Sabah. Visiting Sipadan Island is through the sea where you will jump off at Semporna town while there are connections via Mabul and Kapalai islands as well. Whether you are coming here to dive or just to enjoy the island’s natural attractions, you need to pay a RM40 per person daily permit. On top of that, you need to come here with only licensed diving operators.

Fly In – You cannot fly into Sipadan Island. However, you can fly into the Kota Kinabalu International Airport before making your way by road to Semporna and get into a boat from there. To do this, you will need to connect to Tawau which is the nearest major town to reach Semporna. If you have pre-booked your accommodation, inform the resort of your arrival to arrange for shuttle which is usually a minivan. Flights to Kota Kinabalu and Tawau are mostly served by AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines. The advice here is to try and arrive earlier if you plan to hop into Sipadan on the same day as there are no boats at nightfall.

Dive Boats – If you are staying in the resorts around Sipadan Island, they will most likely have dive boat services that come to Sipadan. From Mabul, the trip takes slightly less than half an hour while it is half that duration if you are travelling from Kapalai Island. Coming from the mainland, dive boats will take about 30 minutes to reach Sipadan while such services are provided from Mataking and Pompong islands which are about 1 to 2 hours ride away. Most visitors will take the time to enjoy the beautiful sights along the way or getting ready for your dive.

Speedboats – Semporna is the best place to start if you want to take speedboats to Sipadan or the nearby islands. Most of the islands like Mataking, Kapalai, Pompong and Mabul are all about 30 minutes away. You can find some speedboat operators in the town or if you are staying in any of the resorts, they would have such services.

Transport Inside the island

Sipadan Island is known for its size and nature. It is actually a very small island with limited resources where it is very much a destination for scuba divers around the world. Renowned for being one of the top 5 dive sites in the world, it was once a luxury to stay in Sipadan Island itself but this has been revoked for safety reasons and as a precautionary measure. This means that there is a limit as to how many visitors can come to Sipadan Island each day which is at 120. There are no roads in Sipadan Island for vehicles which means you are very much on your own once you reach.

On Foot

Once you have hopped off at Sipadan Island, you are very much on your own to get around on foot. The island is very small which means that if you take your time, you could very much explore the land area within a few hours of walking. The best places around here are chalets that are built on stilts where you can walk around and enjoy the sights or you can explore into the island where you will see some very interesting flora and fauna.

Travel On Sea

Getting around in Sipadan Island is possible by boats but this is basically to get you to other nearby islands. In most cases, those coming here for scuba diving will engage dive boats from their respective resorts. They will take you between the islands like Mabul which is about 25 minutes ride away. Meanwhile, if you are planning to head to Kapalai Island, the boat ride takes about 15 minutes while there are islands like Pompong and Mataking which are both located further away, taking about 1 to 2 hours to reach. Besides that, a boat ride from Semporna town in the mainland takes about half an hour. Another way of getting around here is by using chartered speedboats which will get you around Sipadan Island. They are usually available for trips to the nearby islands as well where you can decide the time of travel and where you would like to hop-off.

Diving in Sipadan Island

This is perhaps the highlight of your trip to Sipadan Island. Anyone who has dived here previously will be able to tell you how beautiful the waterbed can be. Touted as one of the best dive sites in the world, what you get is dive spots catered for just about anyone. Being a protected site, the government of Malaysia has heightened its effort to preserve the island from contamination and pollution, enforcing a law that limits only 120 divers per day between 8.00am to 3.00pm each day. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned diver, operators are always available to bring you here and enjoy the deep sea water-life. Just be sure to get your permits beforehand.

As a dive site, you can expect a myriad of beautiful sea creatures and coral reefs around its vicinity. In fact, images you have about beautiful islands with clear, blue skies and pristine water would most likely be taken from here. From one point of Sipadan Island, you can see some of the most scenic seascapes ever imagined. From within the waters, you will encounter small fishes in large schools and groups to the larger ones of barracudas, bumphead parrotfish and even turtles all within the natural habitat of one of the largest fish capitals you can ever find.

Where to dive?

Hanging Gardens – This is basically a wall dive which goes about a meter down and then down into quite a deep end. Very popular with seasoned divers who like the terraces if sealife along the way.

Barracuda Point – As the name implies, this is where you will most likely find barracudas and is among the most popular dive spots among the experienced divers.

Coral Garden – A common spot for those who like underwater photography, the reefs here are simply breathtaking while you will most likely find almost every type of species in the water here.

The Drop Off – This name speaks for itself. It is very near to the beach area which makes it ideal for beginners.

Midreef – Known to house the green turtles and they come in droves.

South Point – If you can take deep dives, then South Point is your forte where you might spot hammerhead and thresher sharks.

Staghorn Crest – Not for the beginner where it starts off quite easily before going deep.

Whitetip Avenue – The spot to go if you are looking for some whitetip reef sharks.

When to dive?

You can practically come here throughout the year for diving. However, April to September would be the best months to come with July and August being the ideal when waters are calmest with the least likelihood of rain. If possible, try not to come here in the year end which is the rainy season or if you are planning to see the hawksbill turtle, the months are April all the way to September. Another issue which you must consider is getting a permit which can be quite difficult during the peak seasons.

Food in Sipadan Island

One thing to note, as there are no resorts in Sipadan Island, finding food is almost impossible. This is mainly for preservation purposes to avoid visitors throwing rubbish into the sea waters or around the island which has happened in the past. If you are visiting Sipadan Island on a day trip here, you will have to bring your own food or pack a meal or two and then bring the waste back with you. The only places you can find locations for a decent meal would be at the spots where you came from.

The best food in the island, Semporna Town

Seafood and Chinese – As it is naturally a coastal town, you will find some very nice restaurants that serve seafood. Sipadan Inn 2 is one of the places you can go to savour the local seafood cooking but this place can be quite pricey though.

Around Semporna, there are quite a lot of Chinese seafood restaurants which are located around the seaside of which some are connected to the dive operators’ outlets. The same concept applies here where you must check the price before dining. One place to take note of is at the Ocean Treasure Live Seafood Restaurant which is just next to Sipadan Inn 2 where the pricing is quite decent.

Snacks – When you are wandering around Semporna town, take note of certain stalls by the roadside where you could spot some that sells the local favourite, pisang goreng or fried banana. This is an extremely cheap snack which is usually less than 50sen each. Along these stalls, you could spot some who sell Bakso (a type of Indonesian soup with noodles) and the Nasi Kuning or Yellow Rice very popular for breakfasts. At nightfall, you can find roasted chicken and grilled fish too.

Western – You can find a nice place to enjoy continental dishes and seafood at Arthur’s Bar around the same vicinity as Scuba Junkies but this can be quite pricey or head out to Scuba Junkie Bar & Restaurant which is quite popular for its pizza and steaks as well as drawing the crowd in on Fridays with live music.

Mabul and Kapalai Islands – There are no dedicated restaurants or places to eat in the islands. What you get here are basically food that are provided at the places to stay which are usually included in the package you opted for. You can request for additional items to be packed and brought with you during your trips to Sipadan though as it is a very common practice.

Hotels & Accommodations in Sipadan Island

For preservation and safely reasons, all the resorts in Sipadan Island has been closed. As such, visitors are no longer allowed to stay in Sipadan Island for more than a day. It must be noted that visiting Sipadan Island requires a permit which is limited at 120 per day. As such, you would need to apply for the permit before being allowed here. Coming to Sipadan Island means that you will be here only for diving or just to enjoy the natural wonders here from the likes of Semporna or other islands like Mabul. If you are looking for a place to stay, your best chance is to stay in the resorts and hotels in those towns.

Mabul Island

This island is located about half an hour’s boat ride from Sipadan Island. There are quite a lot of dive resorts here while you could even stay in the fishing communities there. The My Scuba Diver is a great homestay option which comes with PADI course or you can choose the Billabong Scuba known for being a backpackers’ favourite. From RM60 per night, you can choose the Noble Inworld Diving or at Uncle Chang’s Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge which comes with a night’s stay inclusive of meals. Meanwhile, the Mabul Beach Resort is a great place to stay with an amazing view or if you are looking for something more exclusive, head out to the Mabul Water Bungalows and Sipadan Water Village Resort.

Semporna

Staying in Semporna town is quite common but it has been receiving quite a lot of negative reviews lately on hygiene and cleanliness. Nevertheless, it is still a convenient place to stay if you plan to head out to Sipadan as this is the first hop-off point. The Mutiara Inn provides rooms of different range while those travelling on a budget can opt for Semporna Backpackers which starts at RM30 per night, the Atine Semporna Backpackers Hostel, Dragon Inn and the Borneo Global Sipadan Backpacker, among others. If you are looking for something more luxurious, then, the Holiday Dive Inn, Sipadan Inn and Singamata Reef Lodge Adventures could be good options as well.

Kapalai Island

At Kapalai Island, the Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort is a luxurious resort where you get some very nice wooden chalets on stilts.

Mataking Island

Here, you will be welcomed by The Reef Dive Resort which provides you with a Malay-inspired water chalets which are only limited to 70 people at any time with a great view of the waters spreading out to the horizon.

The island of Borneo is located in South East Asia which covers an area spanning across about 740,000 kilometers square. It is home to states belonging to 2 countries here as well as the country of Brunei. There are in total almost 20 million people residing in the entire Borneo island made up of different ethnic and background in the rural and urban areas.

Despite being the third-largest island in the world, a large portion of the land remains uninhibited. In Asia however, Borneo is the largest island which is collectively made up of Brunei, states belonging to Malaysia and the Kalimantan region which is part of Indonesia.

Sabah and Sarawak are the 2 East Malaysian states here while the Federal Territory of Labuan is sandwiched in between. At the border of both the states is Brunei Darulsallam while Kalimantan covers a major land area that spans across the entire island.

As home to the oldest rainforests in the world, Borneo is known for its natural flora and fauna including its highest peak which is Mount Kinabalu located in Sabah. Before it was known as Borneo, the island was named ‘Po-Ni’ by the Chinese as well as Nusa Tanjungnagara by a Majapahit poet.

Borneo Geographical Landscape
As an island, Borneo is surrounded by sea. The northern region is covered through the South China Sea while the eastern parts are covered by the Celebes Sea and the Makassar Strait. Over in the southern region is the Java Sea and the Karimata Strait with Sulu Sea covering the northeastern parts of the island.

One of the major attractions in Borneo is its caves. The world’s longest underground rivers are found at the Clearwater Cave. The Dear Cave here houses more than 3 million bats while Mulu Caves, which is located in Sarawak is one of the top World Heritage Sites.

Borneo Food

In general, food in Borneo is influenced by the communities of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. This means that depending on which country you are in, you are bound to find a lot of a certain type of food. However, you would find that there are halal dishes in Indonesia and Brunei as a large portion of the population there are Muslims.

Indian Food – There are in general 2 major types of Indian food namely Northern and Southern influences. The former usually involved more meat and taken with bread of pastry of some kind. This includes the very popular Chapatti and the tandoori chicken, among others. Meanwhile, southern Indian dishes are spicier and consists of more vegetable choices usually taken with rice.

Kadazan Food – If you are in Sabah, you will notice a lot of Kadazan food which comes from the largest ethnic group in the state. This cuisine is usually sour in its own aromatic ways where you will be served with a lot of mango-influenced dishes.

Chinese Food – In around Sabah and Sarawak, Chinese food can be found at major towns and cities. Sabah’s Chinese cuisine includes its beef noodle while Sarawak has its Kolo Mee which are renowned across the country. Other types of Chinese food like Wantan Mee and Chicken Rice are popular as well.

Malay Food – You will find a lot of Malay food in Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan and in Brunei as they are usually halal dishes. Primarily, this type of food involves using coconut milk for preparation and several types of herbs and spices.

Seafood – One of the very popular dishes you can try when visiting Borneo is the seafood. As the countries here are all housed within an island, most of them have coastal towns with daily, fresh seafood available. The South China Sea is known to be home to a variety of seafood where you can enjoy a lot of these dishes in Sabah, Sarawak and in Brunei. As such, you can find fresh prawns, crabs, lobsters and many other fishes that can be cooked by the weight.

Oyster Omelet – This is a distinct dish where oyster is cooked together with omelet and very popular in Kuching in Sarawak.

Brief Guide to Brunei

Brunei Darulssalam is a country sandwiched between Sabah and Sarawak in Borneo island. Its capital is Bandar Seri Begawan which is the main administrative and commercial city here. Brunei is the smallest among all the regions in Borneo island where it occupies a land area of only about 5,700 kilometer square. The total population is only about 400,000, way lower than most of the other states here.

Background – Brunei is known for being rich in natural gas and petroleum resources. It is located on the South China Sea with a strong economic fish zone. Due to its size and oil-rich resources, Brunei has an extremely stable economy of which most of its people are predominantly Muslim.

Culture – As an Islamic state, you will find a lot of large mosques located around the country. As such, the people here practice a strict Islamic code of conduct where alcoholic drinks are generally not allowed. Food here would mostly be halal while there is a small group of non-halal outlets around.

Weather – Brunei experiences the tropical climate all year round. Its rainfall is heaviest around the year end which is when the country experiences its lowest temperature as well.

Major Districts – Generally, Brunei is divided into 4 regions. The central part is called Brunei and Muara which is where Bandar Seri Begawan and the major transportation hubs are situated. Tutong is around the southern part of the state in which it is made up mainly by virgin forests while Belait covers the western region. This is where the petroleum industry is most prominent while over in the east is Temburong which is separated by Limbang which is part of Sarawak.

Transportation – Getting into Brunei is most ideal using air where you will stop at the Brunei International Airport in Bandar Seri Begawan which is connected with major cities around the world. Meanwhile, you can come in through road by driving in from Sarawak via Miri and Limbang at their respective checkpoints. Ferry services are available through Muara’s Serasa Ferry Terminal.

Attractions – Visiting Brunei involves a lot of sightseeing. You can come to the Istana Nurul Iman which is the largest residential palace in occupation in the worlds and the official residence of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Meanwhile, you can take boat rides to visit the eco-tourism attractions in Temburung while the Jerudong Park is a popular theme park here. Besides that, you can go scuba diving at the Blue Water Wreck or enjoy shopping Kiulap or head out to the ‘Venice of the East’ here at Kampong Ayer.

Brief Guide to Kalimantan

Kalimantan is a the part of Borneo island which belongs to Indonesia. It covers more than half of Borneo and houses about 12 million people here. A large portion of Kalimantan is made up of dense rainforests where it is divided into 5 regions, namely North Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, South and Central Kalimantan respectively.

Major Cities – The most prominent city in Kalimantan is Balikpapan, often called the Oil City of Indonesia in which there are many oil and gas companies operating here. The largest city here is Banjarmasin which is known for its floating market while Pontianak, Palangkaraya, Tarakan, Tanjung Selor and Samarinda are all main towns here as well.

Nature – Kalimantan has one of the oldest rainforests in the world which dates back to 130 million years old. Its natural attractions here are very popular where there are more than 3,000 species of trees and more than 15,000 species of plants. In terms of animals, it has been recorded that there are more than 400 bird species and 200 mammal species here.

Weather – Like other parts of the region, Kalimantan experiences a tropical climate with rain coming in mostly during the year end.

Communication – In Balikpapan, the Sepinggan International Airport connects flight with Kuala Lumpur and Singapore while the Syamsudin Noor Airport provides air services for the southern region.

Attractions – Kalimantan is popular for being a diving spot at the Berau Archipelago in the Celebs Sea particularly in East Kalimantan around Derawan, Manatua and Sangaliki islands.

Besides that, a visit to Derawan Island is a great place for those who like marine tourism where you can spot various types of turtle like the star fruit turtle, scarlet turtle and green turtle which are all very rare. In Bontang, you will see various types of beautiful flora and fauna at the Kutai National Park while the Equator Monument and the State Museum are located in Pontianak town.

The Gunning Palung National Park and Nature Reserve is a great natural attraction here and you can spot the Rafflesia if you are lucky at the Raya Pasi Mountain. Another attraction in Kalimantan is at its central region in Palangkaraya where you can visit the Regional Museum of Palangkaraya as well as the Nature Reserve of Tangkiling which is about half an hour drive from here. For those who like to shop for souvenirs, you can find a lot of local goods like hand-woven silks, rattan furniture, bamboo handcraft as well as ceramic items.

Miri is one of the major cities in the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. Besides Kuching, which is the capital of the state, Miri plays an important role as the major economic and tourism location here. Known as the ‘Oil City’, it is where the oil and gas industry is most prevalent. Miri offers a lot of attractions and entertainment options that draw tourists in each day.

Facts about Miri

1. Currency: MYR (Malaysian Ringgit)
2. Dialling code: In Miri, you will need to dial the +6082 prefix to call land lines. If you are calling mobile number, the prefixes like 013 and 017 are used according to their telco operators
3. Airport: Miri is served by the Miri International Airport that provide connections via domestic and international flights.
4. Airport Tax: applies for both domestic and international flights
5. Distance from airport to city centre: About 5km
6. Temperature: Miri experiences temperature between 23 to 33 degrees Celsius at average
7. Climate and Weather: Tropical with high humidity
8. Common languages: English, Sarawakian Bahasa, Mandarin, Iban

Transportation Facts

Getting into Miri city centre is very easy. Bus services are available which stops at the Pujut terminal. Meanwhile, taxis are available from the airport to the city center which costs about RM30 per trip. You can however, hail ride-sharing services like Uber and Grab as well.

Highlights around Miri

Miri is an interesting place to visit if you like a bit of everything. The city centre is constantly bustling with activities while you can enjoy the seaside and maybe some countryside as well. Among the attractions here include:

1. The Grand Lady and Petroleum Museum – You can get here quite easily in the heart of Miri city. It is on top of Canada Hill which can be seen from around the city which is the first oil well by Shell
2. Enjoy some food around Taman Selera which is by the beach
3. Taman Muhibah wet market is nice if you like to buy local products. Look for chilies and pepper
4. Beach – The Esplanade Beach is about 15 minutes away from the city center.
5. San Ching Tian Temple – Reputed to be the largest Taoist temple in South East Asia
6. Lambir National Park – One of the many parks where you can go to get close to nature and to indulge into the peace of the waterfalls
7. Diving – Look for Coco Dive or Hoopa Diving to arrange excursions to the diving spots off the coast here
8. Caving – The Mulu caves would be your best option here. A World Heritage Site on its own, you can go there for a few days and head into the caves
9. Miri Heritage Centre – A popular spot to go if you are going to shop for souvenirs and craft. With a rich and traditional culture spanning more than 30 tribes, you will be spoilt for choice
10. Kelabit Highlands – Take a twin-otter flight to the Kelabit highlands from here and learn how rice is planted while staying with a local family in the longhouse

Food in Miri

Miri is very much like most of other Sarawakian cities where you can enjoy the local dishes at their best. Among those that you should try include:

1. Kolo Mee – You can literally find this in most shops around the city. Try out 2020 where it has dim sum as well but Kolo Mee is one which you must try
2. Kek Lapis – A distinct cake from Sarawak, you can get it at Miri airport or most shops around town

Entertainment in Miri

Miri has a vibrant night life which comes alive on most evenings. Located near to Grand Palace Hotel, there is a strip of bars and pubs to check out.