OK confirmed liao..managed to renegotiate wth the car rental company...5D4N renting a kancil for RM250 @Tawau airport..Got it from Dr google... ...Geee will be another hell of GPS tracking trip instead of real vacation...probably cut short snorkeling trip due to upcoming Bulan Hantu..sked liao..

Did you call to bargain for the car rental rate? Price not bad wor..

Will you be going to Sipadan or Mabul?

Next year, I'll fly from Pen to KK, then KK to Sandakan (plan to do the Kinabatangan River tour) then my uncle will pick us up from Sandakan. We'll have BKT enroute back to Tawau. Later from Tawau, he'll bring us to Semporna, don't know which island yet..

Ya, soon the Hantus will be all out for one month of holidaying and feasting. Me sked also, and I believe the Chinese saying, "can bully the mountain but don't bully the water"...

Nice plan...

But, how come u dun directly go to Semporna 1st from Kinabatangan?

Later on, u can continue ur trip to Tawau from Semporna lor...

Bcus the trip from Tawau <-> Semporna need to taken about 2 hours(By Car)...

Then, u can take flight back to KK from Tawau Airport.

@lexu2005

These just rough idea nia. I'm fr Penang. Last week I got the Air Asia air tickets. PEN-BKI @ RM 49, at first decided to find my way to Tawau and fly back from there, coz got uncle lived there. After considering the flight time, bought the return TWU-KUL @ RM 49, then KUL-PEN @ RM 9.
(if I fly from KK back to PEN, departs at 7 am, means I'll need to be at KK one day earlier, so no point backtrack lor)

Two days later, felt the need to fly from KK to SDK, so bought another ticket @ RM 9. (so cheap, if later change of plan forfeit also nvm la) My total airfare - RM 116 nia...!

Right now, I only researching on what to do in KK, Sandakan, Sepilok and search for Kinabatangan tour, any recommendation? The later part, ha ha, leave it to my uncle lor. Maybe aft he picks us up at Sandakan/Sepilok, he'll bring us straight to Semporna..

Btw, any idea next year LEPA REGATTA is on what date?

@Ami moi-moi,

Probably will consider Sipadan liao..bcos no snorkeling site just diving...Thinking of Pulau Sibuan & also kapalai nia..Mabul water good for muck diving & I heard is not really good quality due to the Sea gypsies settlement there.

I might be thinking of Lahad Datu & probably Sandakan..but driving up to Sandakan is just like driving from KL to Penang minus the highway....me sked liao..so probably not this time..here's my itineraries:

Day 1 - Pick-up my kancil & drive to Semporna Dragon Inn - Seafood session.
Day 2 - Snorkeling trip probably book under Singamata group (this agent owned the same resort featured in Duyung liao)
Day 3- Snorkeling /photo session at Kapalai area..& probably more GPS tracking surrounding Semporna
Day 4 - To Tawau & visit the cocoa factory & probably going to Gemuk & Tawau hill park.
Day 5 - GPS tracking around Tawau b4 return the Kancil at Airport ~3pm

@ stimix

Diving package is quite expensive hor. Luckily, I don't dive though I'm pretty sure I can go under water and only surface maybe 2 days later..

Got car and GPS - Now everybody can drive liao.

Actually, your itinerary is good for the 5 days. Not necessary to drive far. IMHO, if got time, maybe can drive from Semporna to Kunak - visit the Madai Caves..

No I'm not going for the diving package, Singmata offer RM80/pax for snorkeling trip.

Yead Madai cave will be part of my itinerary too.

Don't Go Singamata!

Coz I Join Their Singamata's Day Snorkeling.
They Bring Us To An Island, Where No Fish To See. Only Rock.
I Forget The Name. Feel Like Cheated.

The Best Part Of Singamata is Their Resort (10 Mins From Jetty) Got A Aquariam, Where Got Lot Big Fish, Fun For Snorkelling. That All.

I Join BigJohn Scuba.

Home Stay RM70 (Inclusive All Meal)
Snorkelling Trip RM120 (Kapailai + Mabul)

Means. RM190 For Two Days One Nites.
All Meal Inclusive, Snorkelling For 5 Times.
The 6th Snorkelling, We Give Up. Coz Need To Rest And Pack For Check Out.

Mabul? Okie.
Kapalai? More Cantik.

tnx Teckhooi...i was interested on their cheap package actually...Mind PM me big john location & number? - Also the floating hotel featured in the Malay movie "Duyung" intereting indeed..

@ Stimix

I Dun Have The Contact, U May Google Around.



That Is Big John Scuba Logo.

The Location? Near The Dragon Inn Only

SingaMata? Last Time We Also Tempting On Their Pricing. Anyhow, Not Worth.
Their Boat's Engine Is Smaller. Can't Go Too Far.
They Also Claim That During The Days, Wave Is Huge, Their Boat Can't Afford.

Well, All The Shop Provide Daily Snorkeling Package.
Uncle Chang, RM110 Mabul Island Only.
MataKing Island, RM200
Scuba Junkies, Full
Big John Seems More Worth, Published Price Is RM140. Discounted Is RM120

Floating Hotel? Singamata's One Not Bad. We Did Walk Around. Simple And Nice.

HomeStay In Mabul Island Also A Good Experience.

Regard Ur 5D4N Kancil RM250 - Very Good Price.
Well, I Saw Their PriceList In AirPort. Only Got Iswara RM160 (Cheapest)

Not Sure Got Kancil Or Not, Beware.

Yeah google liao after I asked..They are part of Dragon Inn complex just like unker Chang...Actually my target is going to Sibuan Island near Tun Sankaran marine park. The photos in the net given that area better than Mabul/kapalai/Sipadan area...superb crystal clear water & much scenic view (I think & hope...):

Checked here photos of Sibuan..damn so nais..(photos from google search hor )



I also luv kapalai wth the stilt resort...I was thinking if anyone can just bring me to kapalai & Sibuan in 1 day..enuf of Semporan wth these 2 islands...I dun think wanted to goto rubbish littered Mabul & also Sipdana as no snorkeling site..

Based On Picture, I Call Recall Something.
All The Place We Went For Snorkeling, They Dun Have Sand Beach.
But Sibuan Got (As I Heard From China Tourist In The Same Boat)

Btw, Sibuan Island, Also Depart From Semporna?
Sorry. I Not Too Sure.

Mostly They Provide Day Snorkeling To Mabul
Sibuan? I Did't Notice. Well, I Think Diver Is Their Major Target.
We Just Follow Diver. Haha

Yeah sibuan also depart from Semporna..It's on the Northern side whereas mabul/Kapalai/Sipadan on the Southern side.

The Northern side consist of an 1/2 collapsed extinct Volcano rim island bodgaya..More here..my GPS kaki trip 2yrs ago that leads me wanting to visit Sibuan rather than Mabul/Sipadan:

http://travel.nuraina.com/sabah-sulusea/

This is the map(Extracted from the above blog) of northern side of Semporna...less visited Tuin Sankaran group of islands....you can see the volcano rim clearly in the map (Sibuan is a tiny island on the left of the volcanic island.)



BTW, anyone of you know the exact way or the best location to shoot Bombalai volcano at tawau kah..I only know Bombalai located near tawau Hill park but so far google has nothing on Bombalai volcano...That's the only real volcano in malaysia..exploded 27,000yrs ago... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombalai_Hill

This post has been edited by stimix: Aug 19 2009, 03:11 PM

Try Ur Best. Near Dragon Inn, Got Three Shop To Ask
(Big John Scuba, Uncle Chang Etc)

Further Walk Down To Seafest Hotel Nearby, Got One Or Two Shop (Singamata, SWV, MataKing Island)

Else Walk To Another Area, Semporna Inn.

There Also Got One Or Two Shop Offering Snorkeling Service.
(Scuba Junkies)

Tnx Tech hooi for the valueable info...BTW, are they open at nite bcos I will be reaching Semporna ~7:30pm...& probably booking for the Sibuan trip nxt morning.

BTW, still googling for the less known active volcano of Malaysia..Bombalai: http://aneepcoolz89.blogspot.com/2008/07/v...n-malaysia.html
Still no pictuires..haizz

This post has been edited by stimix: Aug 19 2009, 03:40 PM

Oops.

7.30pm?
I Think All Shop Close Already.

Good Luck.

Most Of Boat Depart At 8.30am
Make Sure U Got A Deal B4 8.30am

Oh mai....geezz that's bad!! like dat really need super early breakfast at Dragon Inn b4 checking ou the price...Anyway, sun rise pretty early at Tawau..6am oledi sunrise so I think OK-lah...can wake up at 5:30am liao...

Well. Our Trip Really Free & Easy.
Only Book Flight Ticket and Accommodation

The Rest, All Search On The Spot.

Basically, We Went Tawau
1) Semporna - Island /Snorkelling Trip
2) Tawau City - Makan Trip

Those Tourism Place In Tawau, We Didn't Go.
Coz No Transport And Time.

@stimix

When U Go?

this Saturday..me lagi free & easy..I only booked 1 nite 2 days ago at Dragon Inn (RM120 for a family room) & also the Kancil (RM250 for 5D4N ex Tawau airport)
Let me see how's the condition of Dragon Inn..If bad, i switch to seafest & on the 3rd nite probably staying at lahad Datu & 4th day walk-in to any Tawau hotel..

want to ask if i plan to go to sabah around december , can i go snorkelling around the island at semporna?

worried about raining season.