Assalam -
Ya Allah, Allah permudahkan kali ni kami menjejaki keindahan alam di bumi Malaysia. Tak pernah sangka Malaysia ada tempat seindah ini. Di sini nak share tips and expereinces ke destinasi dituju iaitu Semporna. Walaupun ramai yang bersangka tempat ini bahaya, sebenarnya takde apa pun. Cuma sekali sekala akan nampak bot polis marine buat rondaan, sebab the ocean is closeby with Philippines ocean. Banyak kes kidnapping of tourists happeed here. Tak heran pun jadi rebutan, it's such amazing place.
The planing started bila rasa rindu nak naik flight,mula mula ingat nak ke Langkawi, KK tapi tempat tu semua pernah pergi. Hubby macam boring pergi lagi tempat tu. Dalam masa kitorang went for tea break makan laksa gerai, dia suggest to go Mabul...Hmm menarik jugak. Bila research, aktiviti Mabul banyak untuk org pegi diving, not so much for family. Lagipun daytime, takde electricity..so not convenient kalau beranak kecil. So kita contact kawan yg rajin gi travel and kebetulan dia dah plan out itenerary travel dia nak backpacking sabah. They stay in Semporna instead. So kita follow je some of their itenerary.
Sharing the details
Venue : Semporna Sabah
Main Aktiviti : Island Hopping (Bohey Dulang is the wish list to go)
Book ticket tips
1. Go to cheapflights or skyscanner to search for cheapest flights offered. And usually noboday can beat AirAsia's price.
2. Do separate purchase of tickets. Kalau buat return ticket, ticket balik mesti double the price. Validated with the blog review, memang ada yang share benda yang sama. So, rajinkan diri to purchase 1 by 1.
Book accomodation
Go trivago find the reasonable place to stay in.
Check airbnb jugak in case you can get good deal
Tapi for places that require you for Island hopping, better to take up the stay that provide this service.
Tak pikir panjang we chose #scubatiger, sebab dia offer family room (for 5 pax) sesuaila untuk family besar ni. Masa nak booking, agoda offered the cheapest price so we booked through agoda.
Island Hopping trip
Usually it was handled by the villa
We made a call to confirm the process, and was told it can be done upon arrival. So tak perlu la nak worry. You just need to have the money. Suggest to prepare cash in advance. Pekan semporna ada sikit je ATM, tapi ramai sangat tourist. So sometimes, you give up to queue to withdraw money. So we did not go through the hassle.
Kids Preparation
1. Sunblock
2. Swimsuits
3. Snacks - sebab main air cepat lapar. Beli roti sandwich kat semenanjung, sebab barang sundries kat Sabah mahal2. Banyak datang dari semenanjung.
4. Extra shoes - if you plan for hiking, kena bawak sport shoes, nak jalan beach and other type of jalan nak kena comfy shoes seperti selipar Jepun.
5. Props - Sebab tempat ni sangat lawa, some people suka ada props. So up to you kalau nak bawak topi neelofa, papadom, sunglasses glamor, sarong color2... Just be aware of the luggage weight yea.
Eating places
Had tried few restaurants based on the recommendation on other blogs. And thes are my recommendations
1. Restoran Warisan ( just close by with Scuba Tiger)
2. Seafest - Restoran Anjung Lepa. Try the fruit juices..very refine juice. Makanan kat sini banyak, so kalau order size, we go with small first. itu dah cukup nak cover 4-6 pax.
3. Restoran tampi tampi (Bintara) - Expensive and nothing impress us.
Scuba tiger
1. Ada capacity for family room, cuma simple necessity. As long as you dont set high expectation macam tinggal kat 5 star hotel mcm hyatt, pullman..it will satisfy you
2. Boleh buat self laundry, mcm kat rumah. masuk dalam mesin basuh, sidai kat ampaian. That's a relief untuk anak ramai ni. Tak larat nak bawak laundry busuk balik.
3. Breakfast for 2 (although bilik for 5 pax), no buffet set yea. It's understandable, capacity yg stay bukan ramai sangat. So you to do ala carte. 2 options je yg ada. Porridge and Mee Goreng. We strongly recommend Mee goreng.
Do your part
I strong recommend or plea the readers to always look after the cleanliness of the place. Jangan tambah sampah. That's the sad part about this place. Maybe sebab banyak komunity atas air, they tend to throw sampah directly to the ocean. Dalam naik boat in the middle of the ocean, you can see botl air, slippers. My little one even had her free toys from the beach..botol air merata2 masa hiking... very sad. Nak kata sbab pengujung from Mainland China, we cant just make the assumption. Let's lay or part.
Finally the pictures speak louder than words
Bohey Dulang - A must place to go
Pekan Semporna
Bukit Tengkorak - Another beautiful view
Scuba Tiger and surroundings
Light Festival at Dragon Inn
