Assalammualaikum,
Recently, I went to Mabul Island. It was a very short trip and was not planned. The earlier plan was actually a trip to Tawau (according to my husband, Tawau is the only city in the world with only 2 letters...Ta and Wau) but everyone would say its not worth to visit Tawau if you miss Mabul or Sipadan Island. So, we all decided to go there although one of my friend, Khairul reluctant to go due to safety reason. Three of us are from Kuala Lumpur and one of our friend will joint us in Tawau.
Our flight scheduled is at 6.45 p.m. from LCCT on 1st June 2012 (Friday). So, I and Umi planned to take bus from KL Sentral to LCCT. After meeting Khairul at LCCT and checked in, we dined at Mary Brown while waiting boarding. We were excited talking about the trip until we notice that we only have 15 minutes to board the plane. As lightning, we ran to the boarding area but the plane has departed. I was so shocked and having somekind of feeling...sad and funny at the same time and this is my first experience after so many times flying. Khairul was faceless and very cool and Umi look so normal and she said that missed flight is very common to her.
The holiday mood is still burning inside us and we decided to get another flight to Tawau. However, the earliest flight to Tawau is at 7.00 a.m. next day. Since our holiday has already started, it will not be cool to return home (actually we dont want to be a laughing stock). At first, we checked the Tune Hotel but the price was crazy..for 2 small rooms exclude towels and aircond is over RM400. So, we settled at Pan Pacific KLIA which is cost us more a less a same as Tune Hotel. After having dinner at KLIA we straight went to bed as we have booked the earliest shuttle to LCCT at 5.00 a.m.....the charge is RM10 per pax.
The next morning after checked in we were the earliest passenger at the boarding area...hehehe. Flight to Tawau took about 2 hours 50 minutes. We reached Tawau around 10.00 a.m. We met Kamal at the airport and transported to Semporna by my husband schoolmate, Hj Hussin who was waiting for us at the airport too. We have arranged our accomodation at Mabul Island with local resident, Panglima Mabul, Hj Yusof. We reached Semporna around 11.20 but waited until 2.00 p.m. for spring tides. The journey to Mabul Island took about 45 minutes by speedboat (We have to cancel our trip to Sipadan due to time constraint).
Our photo at front desk Pan Pacific Hotel
The room
Early bird at boarding area
Tawau Airport..
Tawau airport lobby
In the boat to Semporna...still dock at Semporna jetty.
still a happy face....wait until the ride...
View from the boat
Far away ...Mabul Island
Brief Map of Mabul Island
Sea Gipsy children. They hops every resort for donation.
One of the water chalet
One of exclusive resort in Mabul Island
Scenery from my chalet
Self photo...At one of Mabul Island's jetty
with Umi
Another self photo
Whose leg is the prettiest
All my friends went snorkeling but not me...but they said it hartly to see a fish.
Local villagers and tourist in diving event..
I just snap this picture.
This oil ridge was converted to luxury resort by Dato' Haris Salleh, former Sabah Chief Minister
Sunset view at Mabul Island
Sea Gipsy childrens
This are the newly wed couple...they came by car from Kota Kinabalu
Our dinner at Panglima Homestay..Haji Yusof is also the village chief in Mabul
Sipadan Island brief map at Mabul
That night Mabul was hit by a storm..I slept early that night but Umi woke me up at 3.00 a.m. and I saw heavy tides outside my window. I continued sleeping and the next morning I was told that some chalets was flooded and the guests were evacuated. One of the chalet, Uncle Chang was badly flooded and their guest came to our chalet for shelter. I thought the storm was normal at Mabul Island but according to the villagers, it was not occurred for the last 40 years. Alhamdulillah nothing happened to our chalet or otherwise this trip will be full of unwanted stories to tell.
The next morning after breakfast we went back to Semporna and thereafter to Tawau by taxi. We reached Tawau around noon and fly back to Kuala Lumpur at 7.00 p.m. The trip was short and full of adrenalin but it was worth going and I intend to go there again maybe I bring my family..