Malaysia
by Mateosh
"Itinerary"
Day 1) September 2nd, 2007, Sunday
-Arrive at Kuala Lumpur Int'l at 1:00. Take taxi from main terminal to LCC terminal. Depart KUL to Tawau on Air Asia at 1750 arriving at Tawau at 2035.
-Hotel Accomodation=KING PARK HOTEL.
Day 2), September 3rd, 2007, Monday
-Transfer van with Borneo Divers at 7am meet from lobby in King Hotel to Semporna by van / coach for approximately 1 1/2 hours journey. Arrive in Semporna and proceed to Mabul Island by boat around 10:00 a.m. for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour journey. Briefing, registration and check-in, lunch. 2 boat dives on Mabul.
Day 3, September 4th, 2007, Tuesday
-1 boat dive at Mabul Island and 2 boat dives at Sipadan. Visit Sipadan Island.
Day 4), September 5th, 2007, Wednesday
-Depart at 6:30am from Mabul to Semporna and then to Tawau arriving at 9:00am.
-Drop off at UMNO building in Tawau, office is at 2nd floor of that building for maliau Basin Expedition
-Transfer on a 4 wheel drive to the Maliau Basin Security Gate which is 180 km away (bout 5 hrs journey). After a short briefing at the security gate, drive to Agathis Camp.
Day 5), September 6th, 2007, Thursday
-After breakfast, trek for 7 km through the rainforest and over the rim of Maliau Basin to reach the Camel Trophy Camp. Arrive the camp site at around 2:30pm. You may choose to swim at a nearby stream or trek to the Giluk and Akkaka Falls about an hour and half away. Overnight at Camel Trophy Camp.
Day 6, September 7th, 2007, Friday
-Start trekking through heath/montane forest and further down through highland dipterocarp forest for about 5 hours to reach Luba Camp. The first few kilometers upon entering the heath forest, discover the abundance of Nepenthes plants locally referred to as “monkey cup”, and wild orchids found here. At the helicopter pad near Luba Camp, enjoy a full view of the Maliau Basin rim which is about 25Km in diameter. Settle in and enjoy the panaromic view of the “Lost World of Sabah”.Descend for about an hour to the highlight of the adventure --- the cascading 7-tier Maliau Falls. Overnight at Luba Camp.
Day 7, September 8th, 2007, Saturday
-After breakfast, trek along the forest making a loop back to the Agathis Camp. This will take about 6 – 8 hours. Day 10, September 9th, 2007, Sunday
-After breakfast, drive to Tawau through the Maliau Basin Security Gate. Transfer on a 4 wheel drive to the Tawau airport which is 180 km away (bout 5 hrs journey).
-Depart Air Asia 2100 Tawau arriving Kuala Luampur @2345 LCC Tereminal
-Accomodation Kula Lampur at Bed and Breakfast near airport. Day 11,
Day 8) September 10th, 2007, Monday
At 6am take train to Batu cave approx 1 hour and visit hindu caves and dark cave. Private tour into bat cave and observe bats. Then return to airport through Kuala Lamour and depart at 2:00 PM MYT (afternoon).
"Maliau Basin"
Words can't describe how many leeches there are here.
Photos
Chicken , Lamb and beef satay with peanut sauce
CAMERA BATTERY CHARGER AND SPARE MEMORY CARD
Local people passing the TALK lodge junction
SAD POEM
Forum Posts
sandakan versus KK
by aucangen
Since we have only 4 days in N. Borneo, I felt that there was more to enjoy in Sandakan than in KK. Therefore the bulk of the time should be spent in Sandakan. How do people feel? Aucangen
Re: sandakan versus KK
by SangAji
with 4 days, i wud spend 1.5 days at sandakan for orang utan [pm] n turtles [overnite], 1/2 day at mount kinabalu park on way to KK on way out.
Re: sandakan versus KK
by Josilver
KK has my vote. I would go to Sandakan for specific things but KK is much better for relaxing. Island hopping in Abdul Raman NP is a must, the markets are also great.
Re: sandakan versus KK
by GrumpyDiver
Depends on what you want to do.
Take it easy - stay in KK
See the wildlife - head to Sandakan. Agree with the other writers on things to do, plus if you really want to get into the middle of nowhere - head out to one of the eco-resorts for one night and see the rainforest and see the wildlife.
Re: sandakan versus KK
by balhannah
Sandakan itself has very little, it is what is nearby that is of interest. The Turtles, the Orangutans and the River trip up the Jungle.
Kota Kinabalu is much larger, with more to see in the town and the islands are only a very short trip.
Re: sandakan versus KK
by din2x
I'll choose KK instead of Sandakan and agree with Josilver. Just want to add few things:
The only thing that you can't see in KK is a trip to turtle island. BUT even if you are in Sandakan, that doesn't mean that you can hop on a boat and take a trip to Turtle Island. They only allowed limited number of people on each day, and you have to make an early book and hope that the date you wanted are available for you.
Now, For OrangUtan, of course Sepilok (near Sandakan) is the best place. But if you are in KK, you can go to Lok Kawi Wildlife Center, where you can see OrangUtan, Proboscis Monkey, Pygmy Elephants etc. It's not like in the wild (like Sepilok), but it's not a caged zoo too.
For river cruising, in KK, you have alot of other option. Like in Kinabatangan (From Sandakan), from KK you can also see proboscis monkey in the wild. at night, you can also do river cruising, to watch fireflies an others. (but if you are also going to Kuala Lumpur, watch firefly in Kuala Selangor instead of here).
You might not be able to go to turtle island in Sandakan, but like Josilver said, don't miss out island hoping at Abdul Rahman NP (or just stay in one of the island for the whole day). Anywhere within the KK city Core is a walking distance to the Jetty.
You can also go to Pulau Tiga (Tiga is Three in Malay and Pulau mean Island). It suite well if you do river cruise on Klias River. (You will be able to see proboscis monkeys, long tail macaques, birds and fireflies), and then go to Pulau Tiga because it is not far from each other. In Pulau Tiga, you can enjoy the mud volcano there, the wetland and wild animal in land (Flying fox, over 60 species of birds, Monkey, etc), in water (salt-water snake: Laticuda Calubrina). You probably seen Pulau Tiga in the first season of Survivor (TV Series) for USA, Swedish and British shows.
Going to Mount Kinabalu Park is easier from KK, than Sandakan.
For shopping, market, handicrafts, transport, accommodation, etc, KK have alot to offer compare to Sandakan.
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