Malaysia - Mabul, Sipadan Island and onto Kuala Lumpur.

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Sunny days lazying around on islands

To seek out paradise on the far Eastern coast of Borneo in the Sabah region was next. So onto Semporna which is the mainland town where we booked our trip to Mabul Island. At Semporna there is very little to do, no beach and really is the town where you organise your next place of visit. Here we stayed at The Dragon Inn, an amazing hotel wholly built on stilts above the water. The floorboards had water reflecting through the cracks illuminating the rooms ceiling. Oh it was a super place to stay!!

Mabul Island - chill out
Uncle Changs floating ‘hotel’ is where we stayed next on Mabul Island. There didn’t seem any other offers available. We really didn’t expect it to be so much fun! The band sang their Sipadan song whenever people arrived or departed. Staying for 3 nights, in accommodation built on stilts over the water was amazing. The people here were mainly travellers who wanted to go diving. Every night the band played, creating a relaxed and cheerful environment. The first night Uncle Chang had most people drunk on his free flowing rum and cokes, topping up the glasses when they were empty, dancing until midnight or more. The price to stay was great as it included everything, hey fully inclusive!

Tropical Snorkeling on Sipadan Island
From Uncle Changs we went on a great snorkelling trip for the day, stopping off at Sipadan Island (uninhabited paradise) to chill out and have lunch. . The tropical sea waters have astonished me, so clear, turquoise and so warm. The fish so colourful, hey I’ve seen a resting shark, turtles swimming about around us and nemos type fish dancing in and out of corals!! The white powdery beach was gorgeous too. Now that’s cool!

Unfortunately the Island we were staying on, Mabul, was as people described it ‘a bit of a dump’. The rubbish is a major problem as it seems to be everywhere apart from in the main expensive resorts on the island. Such a pretty island, but the locals need to sort this out! The other thing was the lack of beaches to sit on, we were shown a map with an island with a beach all the way round - this certainly wasn’t so, but most of us from Uncle Changs found the empty posh resort and so occupied there comfy sun loungers for free on their clean white sandy beach and turquoise sea to swim in.
We really enjoyed our stay on Mabul at Uncle Changs.

And next we go....
Next stop was Kuala Lumpur, 2 nights before flying to Laos. We only had a day here but packed it full of shopping, eating and drinking! We are coming back to Kuala Lumpur as we fly from here to the Golden Coast, Australia in March. We couldn’t decide how to get to South America as flights are so expensive; we found that stopping in a few places along the way about the same cost. That’s how we going to Aussie, from there we are going to Hawaii!!!!! Life is good!

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Photos

Uncle Chang and I raving!
(Not my uncle really!)

Uncle Changs resort.
As the band plays the people sing us goodbye.

The resort walk way.
No rails, keep focused.

KL Twin Towers.
Are they the World's Tallest Towers?

Comments

[mum]

hard to keep up
well you are both hitting the high life great photos what happened to the curls Phil !!! bet you were sad to leave Mr Chang..by the way Charlotte and Paul have left you a wall to paint at the house we had a busy week when they came..eating drinking painting weather was good for them not as good as you are getting...think we have sold the house so who knows perhaps see you ib Hawiiii.take care love mum dad

[MumJane]

weather
Just found out how to do this it looks like an idilic place you both look happy. Looking forward to next Blog.

[josie]

uncle chang's hostel is the best
hi there..just got back from a trip in mabul sipadan stayed at uncle chang's lodge...it was fun and relaxing stay.....realllly fun....