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Sipadan Island, Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo)
 

“I have seen other places like Sipadan 45 years ago. Now we have found again an untouched piece of art”. - Jacques-Yves Cousteau

The internationally famous island of Sipadan lies five degrees north of the equator in the Sulawesi Sea (Celebes Sea). Lying 35km south of Semporn, on Sabah’s mainland, like many tropical islands it is thickly forested and surrounded by sandy beaches. 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 geographic position of Sipadan puts it in the centre of the richest marine habitat in the world, the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin. More than 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 it is not unusual for a diver to see more than 20 turtles on each dive. Another unique feature to divers visiting Sipadan is the turtle tomb, an underwater limestone cave with a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that contain many skeletal remains of turtles that became disoriented and then drowned.

The residential schooling barracuda and big-eye trevally, which often gather in thousands forming spectacular tornado-like formations, are one of the highlights of every diver’s wish-list. With the possibility of seeing pelagic species such as mantas, eagle rays, scalloped hammerhead sharks and whale sharks, each dive at Sipadan is a highly anticipated event.

It is not only the big fish that amaze divers coming to Sipadan, the macro life is equally mesmerizing. Garden eels, leaf scorpion fish, mantis shrimps, fire gobies, and various pipefish are guaranteed at various dive sites. The diversity and abundance of marine found at Sipadan gives it its reputation of being one of the ten best dive locations in the world.

Conservation efforts in Sipadan

Sipadan Island was established as a bird sanctuary in 1933 and in 2004, the Government of Malaysia has decided that all onsite dive resort operators are to move their operations out of Sipadan Island by 31st December 2004. The island is open for divers from 6am to 4pm - no night dives are allowed. The number of divers allowed to dive in Sipadan daily has also been limited to 120 pax in an effort to preserve the island’s pristine state.

Sipadan is a treasure which we want to save for the generations to come, before Sipadan can be saved, it must first be truly appreciated - hence the conservation efforts. Nevertheless, a treasure amounts to nothing if it cannot be enjoyed. Therefore, Sabah welcomes everyone to enjoy and appreciate Sipadan, and this appreciation will hopefully incite a bigger desire to save.

Sipadan Dive Sites

There a total of 12 dive sites in Sipadan Island namely the West Ridge, North Point, The Drop Off, Turtle Cavern, Barracuda Point, Coral Gardens, Whitetip Avenue, Mid Reef, Turtle Patch, South Point, Staghorn Crest, Lobster Lair, and the Hanging Gardens. The most popularly recommended dive sites are the Turtle Cavern, Barracuda Point, South Point and Hanging Gardens. 

Barracuda Point

The Barracuda Point is located at the north Coast of Sipadan Island. Famous for its astounding vortex of barracudas (hence the name Barracuda Point), divers have also reported sightings of white tip sharks, grey reef sharks, eagle rays, turtles, as well as the bumphead parrotfish. A caveat: currents can get too strong, so don't go too deep!

Turtle Cavern

This site is famous for its population of green turtles and smaller hawksbill turtles. This cavern which lies 20 meters underwater is believed to be the final resting place of turtles. Divers are reminded to be extremely careful when exploring the caves as visibility can be drastically reduced to zero should the silt be disturbed.

South Point

South Point is one of the most likely sites for the rarer sharks such as the hammerheads and thresher sharks which are normally only seen around the 40-meter point. Divers are advised to be wary of the strong currents at this site.

Hanging Gardens

Named after the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the topography of the Hanging Gardens consists of a 2-meter-deep reef that slopes down to a terrace at about 70 meters which subsequently plunges into an abyss. This is an excellent spot to view soft corals with dendronephthya alcyonarians in multifarious pastel colours encrusting the slope. Do keep an eye also for the diverse macro life.

Where to Stay

The Malaysian government has decided that all existing onsite dive resort operators were to move their operations out of the Sipadan Island by 31st December 2004. The move is aimed at conserving and maintaining a balanced marine and land ecosystem on Sipadan’s environments. However, Sipadan will remain as a dive site and divers are to be ferried by operators operating from the mainland or nearby islands other than Sipadan and Ligitan.

On an overnight trip to Sipadan , choose to stay in any one of these excellent resorts:

1. Borneo Divers & Sea Sports (Sabah) Sdn Bhd (KPL 1510)
2. Explore Asia Tours Sdn Bhd (Sipadan-Mabul Resort) (KPL 2941)
3. Seaventures Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd (KPL/LN 2639)
4. Sipadan Water Village Resort Sdn Bhd (KPL 3143)
   * Resort rates may vary

Getting There

From kota kinabalu, take a 55-minute flight to Tawau and enjoy an hour’s drive to Semporna. From Semporna, Sipadan is another 40 minutes by speedboat. Be sure to pre-arrange transportation with your respective resort/dive operator.

More Information

For booking and enquiries, please refer to the list of Sabah Dive Operators

Malaysian Food

Enjoy a Sumptuous Array of Tastes and Flavours

Malaysia has some of Asia's finest cuisine, given the wide variety of cooking styles and cultural influences. Here, visitors can savour not one, but an irresistible variety of tastes and flavours. enjoy the best from the kitchen of various  communities such as Malay, Chinese, Indian as well as the indigenous people. The successive colonial influences and intermarriages have led to the birth of unique communities such as the baba & Nyonya and malaysia Portuguese, famed for their gastronomic delights and specialties. The gastronomic journey is endless in malaysia!

Malaysia Culinary Scene

• International events such as Fabulous Food 1 Malaysia
• Countless dishes and cooking styles
• Availability of halal food
• A variety of dining experiences, from exclusive gourmet creations to hawker fare
• World famous local specialties such as satay, nasi lemak and roti canai
• 24-hour restaurants

Must Try Items on the Menu

Nasi Lemak

A Perennial favourite, nasi lemak is rice cooked in coconut milk and enhanced with spices such as ginger, star annise and cinnamon. This wholesome dish is served with fried anchovies, boled eggs, a spicy sauce called sambal, fresh slices of cucumber and cruncy groundnuts.

Rendang

Rendang is a thick, dry Malay dish that is made of beef or chicken. It is usually eaten with white rice or glutinous rice (sticky rice). Rendang is a must have specialty during Hari Raya, a major Muslim festival.

Chicken Rice

Coming from the Chinese kitchen, this delicious rish dish features roasted steamed or poached chicken. It is served with ginger paste, chili sauce and soy sauce.

Yong Tau Foo

Yong Tau Foo is a Chinese soup dish with a variety of ingredients such as fish balls, crab sticks, ladies finger, bitterground and chili. Vegetables such as bitterground and chili are stuffed with fish or pork. It can be eaten by itself or with a bowl of steamed rice or noodles.

Mee Rebus

This is a noodle dish with a thick frangrant gravy. The gravy is made of potatoes, curry powder, salted soybeans and peanuts. It comes complete with hard-boiled eggs which are cut into two halves. Th dish is garnished with spring onions shallots as well as chili.

Char Kuay Teow

An iconic hawker dish, char kuay teow is a type of flat noodles that is  stir-fried over high heat with cockles, prawn, chicken and bean sprouts. There is usually a long queue for a plateful of sizzling char kuay teow, but food lovers say that it is well worth the wait!

Nasi Briyani

Rich and satisfying, nasi briyani is a great choice for rice lovers. Briyani is a special type of rice grain, infused with saffron and turmeric. It is a sensation of aromatic flavours and tastes. Briyani rice is  served with curry and a traditional yogurt salad.

Rojak

a traditional fruit and vegetables salad, rojak consists of chopped cucumber, young mangoes, pineapple, turnip, deep-fried tofu and fritters. It is  served with a thick sauce made of shrimp paste. Another variation of Rojak, known as  Mamak rojak, consists of prawn fritters, boled potatoes, cuttlefish and hand-boiled eggs. It is savoured with a peanut gravy.

Roti Canai

Roti canai is a crispy  Indian pancake which is made from  wheat flour. it is easily one of the most popular choices in Malaysian restaurants at any time of the day. Other Indian delicacies include  thosai and capati. When you order roti canai, don't miss the chance to watch the experts pound, stretch and loss the dough before it is cooked on a griddle.

Teh Tarik

Teh tarik literally means 'stretched' or 'pulled' tea. It gets its name from the art of 'pulling' (or pouring) the tea from one mug to another, to increase the aroma and cool its temperature.

ABC

Air Batu campur or ABC is easily one of the most popular desserts in Malaysia. It is filled to the trim with shaved ice and variety of condiments such as red beans, crushed groundnuts, creamed corn and colourful jelly. It is sweetened with condensed milk and sugar syrup.

Homestay

Malaysian Homestay Programme

What is a homestay programme?
A homestay programme gives tourists the opportunity to stay with a chosen family, interact and experience the daily life of their homestay family and learn the culture and lifestyle of the rural community in Malaysia. A homestay programme cannot be classified as a lodging facility. It focuses more on lifestyle and experience, including cultural and economic activities.

What types of activities are offered in a homestay programme?
Each homestay programme offers different types of activities, depending on the culture, food, economic activity as well as location. Every state in Malaysia has its own uniqueness in terms of culture, ranging from the nasi dagang in Kelantan to the sumazau dance in Sabah, as well as the long houses in Sarawak. Examples of homestay activities include:

(i) Culture and Lifestyle

• History
• Traditional dances, traditional songs and traditional food
• Traditional games and sports
• Culture: marriage, assembly of animal sacrifice and festivals

(ii) Economic Activity

• Rubber tapping
• Fish breeding
• Agriculture: paddy, cocoa, oil palm, fruit

(iii) Recreation

• Sightseeing
• Jungle trekking
• White water rafting
• Visit to nearby tourism products

(iv)  Environmental preservation

• Tree Planting Programme: Tourists are encouraged to plant trees at their homestays with the aim of preserving the environment and further beautifying the landscape of the homestays.

The Malaysia Rail Explorer is a new homestay package where tourists are invited to experience rural life in Kelantan. Visiting Kelantan by train is the best way to experience the culture and traditions of the state apart from enjoying the railway journey from Singapore to Kelantan. For further information and to make reservations for this package, please visit www.malaysiarailexplorer.com.

How much are the homestay packages?
A 2-day 1-night homestay package is between RM150 and RM250 inclusive of accommodation, food and activities (the cost depends on the activities offered by the homestay operator and activities requested by tourists). A detailed cost for each package can be obtained from the official Homestay Malaysia website at www.go2homestay.com.

How do I make a reservation for a homestay?
The particulars and cost of each package can be obtained at the official website of Homestay Malaysia at www.go2homestay.com. Tourists may choose the state they wish to visit as well as the activities they wish to participate in. The map to the homestay and the information about each homestay can also be found at the website which makes it convenient for tourists to make their reservations directly.

The Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC) at Jalan Ampang is the focal point for information about tourism in Malaysia. It also provides the facility to make reservations for homestays.

"The Malaysia Rail Explorer" is a new homestay package inviting tourists to experience rural life in Kelantan by taking the train from Singapore. It is the best way to learn more about the culture and traditions of the state. Reservations for this package can be made via www.malaysiarailexplorer.com. 

Legoland Malaysia - My First Trip for Year 2013 (By Diana Diane Teo)

Boyfie and I just love to visit amusement and theme parks whenever we go. Just like Universal Studio in Singapore as well as Ocean Park and Disneyland in Hong Kong few years back. So when we knew about Legoland opened in Johor, both of us instantly listed this international theme park as one of our wishlist to go. Lucky us where we managed to secure a return ticket KK-JB-KK via AirAsia for only RM15 each, when initially both of our budget was RM50 each. So without any second thought, immediately we booked and here we are at one of the latest attraction in town. And with this, this is my official first trip for year 2013.

#1: Legoland Malaysia - Malaysia's first international theme park and the first Legoland theme park in Asia

 

#2: The entrance tickets where you can keep and bring back home

Just like every other theme parks, Legoland Malaysia has seven distinctive themed area of attractions to cater all ages, whether for the kids, teenagers and even adults who are young at heart. 

[Note: By the time we visited, Legoland Water Park is still under construction] The Beginning

This is where the adventures begin. Right after passed through the main entrance area, this is where typical amenities located - locker rental, stroller rental and ATM machine are available on the right-side whereas the restroom is located on the left-side. There are also a cafe and souvenirs stores available here but both of us intended to save it first and return back by end of the day. There is no any attractions, shows and rides in this themed area. 

 

#3: Ticket counters. I would recommend to purchase the tickets via online to save up to 20% and also to avoid the long queue.

 #4: Big Shop - Legoland's largest store selling all kind of Legoland merchandise.

#5: All of these life-size characters were made from Lego bricks. Impressive!

 Imagination

We started with this area first before it was getting more crowded. Most of the attractions and rides here are designed specially for kids. However, there are two rides which attract us here - Observation Tower and Lego Studios 4D.

Available Facilities: Baby care and Prayer room.

#6: Imagination Themed Area

#7: Observation Tower - where the guest could have the view of the entire Legoland as well as the areas surrounding it. [Warning: If you are afraid of height, then don't try this]

 

 #8: Studios 4D. There are four appealing 4D shows for the guests to choose from and each show runs every 45 minutes (for weekday) and 25 minutes (for weekends and public holidays).

Boyfie and I managed to catch two of their 4D shows but frankly speaking, they ain't interesting as those 4D in Universal Studio Singapore and Hong Kong Disneyland. Quite disappointed. 

#9: Another colourful Lego bricks creation

Land of Adventure

This particular themed land reminisces the combination of Jurassic Park and The Mummy movie series where both are separate into two different section. The attractions and rides here are designed for both kids and adults especially the Dino Land ride. Unfortunately, we didn't experience this ride cause we afraid of getting wet as we didn't bring any spare of clothes.

#10: Land of Adventures Themed Area. The parrots on the right side were made from Lego bricks as well. 

#11: Dino Island ride and prepare to get wet by the end of the ride. 

 

#12: Kids will love this Lost Kingdom Adventure - a ride with a laser-blasting.

 

#13: Good place for phototaking

Miniland

Situated right in the heart of Legoland, this is where the guests can enjoy some of Asia's notable and well-known landmarks in masterpiece and detailed miniature. This is my most favourite themed area compare the rest and we were also being surprised when the whole Miniland comes to life with the touch of a button. Pretty interesting, right?

#14: Petronas Twin Towers and Kuala Lumpur Tower

#15: Can you name all of these South East Asia's landmarks?

#16: Pirates of the Caribbean boat?

#17: Taj Mahal of India

#18: Singapore City and Merlion

Lego City

Lego City is mainly designed for the little one where they can become a captain of a boat or even drive a car at the very young age. Like really? Passing through this area and Boyfie told me how he wish that Legoland open during his young age so he will able to enjoy this ride. So if you have the little one with you, now you know which themed area you should head first.

#19: Remove Control Boat - where adults can play along. Of course, we didn't miss out this for sure.

#20: The Shipyard - An adventure paradise for the little one to climb and crawl.

 

#21: Legoland Express - Board on Lego train for all sights of the theme park

 

#22: We took a break and ordered lunch in Market Restaurant. A set of chicken rice cost RM23.00 and a small bottle of Coke cost RM5.00 - No doubt the price of the foods in Legoland are slightly expensive cause this is theme park afterall. 

Lego Technic

If you are looking for exciting and thrilling rides, this is one of the themed area that offer all; from wild high-speed ride in Project X, crazy spin wheel in Technic Twister or even get wet in Aquazone Wave Racers. 

#23: Project X. The one and only ride we experienced here and we indeed love this.  It's one of the rides not-to-be-missed.

#24: Albert Einstein Lego bricks

Lego Kingdom

This is where the legend and myths come alive. I personally love the design and structure of this particular themed area especially the looking strong and tall grey colour royal castle. This is also where the whole themed area are filled with dragons and knights which mainly built using Lego bricks. The main highlights here would be The Dragon and Dragon's Apprentice rides (these two are two different rides apparently).

  #25: Lego Kingdoms Themed Area

 

 #26: Once upon a time...

#27: Royal castle, dragons, knight and is that Joker?

 We ended our fun and adventures in Legoland by visiting Big C which located in The Beginning Themed Area

#28: Couldn't recall how much the T-shirt and keychains cost but the fridge magnet cost RM55 for a set of 3. That's the one and only thing I bought and it was eventually quite expensive right?

TIPS:

1. Grab a guidemap once you enter the main entrance. Never underestimate the size of this theme park cause there is high possibility you might get lost.
2. Bring along spare clothes cause some rides might get you wet; such as Dino Island in Land of Adventure, Aquazone Wave Racers in Lego Technic and even Boating School in Lego City.
3. Apply sunblock or even bring cap and umbrella along cause firstly, lack of shaded area within Legoland and secondly, Malaysia's weather is always hot and humid. Luckily, I always brought my umbrella whenever I travel. 
4. It's best to arrive early cause besides to avoid the overcrowded, it's also to avoid the unpleasant heat.

Overall, I think the trip to Legoland is worth for a visit although most of the rides are not that as wild and scary as we thought. Both Boyfie and I were indeed fully utilised the amout of the entrance fee we paid by spending our whole day there in Legoland; from 9.45 am until 5.00 pm. Furthermore, we managed to experience majority of the rides except for few where we thought they might be kinda childish rides. As a theme park lover, I noticed there is no any character mascots or even parade in Legoland Malaysia but they don't bother me anyway cause the life-size characters Lego bricks creation were enough to impress me. If you have little one and can't make up your mind where to bring them during this school holiday, why not plan your holiday by bringing them to Legoland? Trust me, they will enjoy all the fun and excitement here. 

How To Get To Legoland Malaysia

For more information especially if you plan to take public bus, check out HERE. 

I can't share my previous experience on how my Boyfie and I get to Legoland Malaysia cause I found out the bus number has changed apparently. But from my experience, it is advisable to reach the starting point station as early as you can cause at the late hour, it will be more crowded. If your station is JB Sentral, it takes about 45 minutes to reach Legoland Malaysia.

Diana Diane Teo

http://dianateo-dt.blogspot.com  Back to Sharing Experiance Menu