18Sep

Traffic Jam In West Coast Sabah

Filed in Sabah | When I Do Travel Leave a comment

Unlike our drama-filled ferry ride from Muara (Brunei) to Menumbok (Sabah), our ride for the trip back was a breeze.

The drive from Kota Kinabalu to Menumbok Ferry Terminal though, was a different story.

On normal days, this part of the trip takes about 2.5 hours. On NORMAL days.

The day that we chose to return was obviously not a normal day because we encountered slow traffic from Kinarut (about 15 mins from Kota Kinabalu) all the way to Beaufort.

An 1.5 hour trip that turned into nearly 3 hours!

Everyone was out in full force and cars were turning into every single junctions there were along this stretch. Not even the most daring drivers could over take.

Fortunately the last 60km was rather deserted – and we made up for lost time, pleaded with the ferryman to wait, willed time to slow down and telepathically shooed all animals off the road as we stepped on the gas pedal as much as we dared.

We reached the ferry terminal with only minutes to spare.

It was a moment worthy of any Amazing Race Asia episodes. The kind of moment that acne-prone individuals  would scramble to get their treatment for acne supplies ready for the eruption that was sure to come from the STRESS – of nearly missing the ferry and the possibility of having to take the alternative : 14 hours road trip!

12Sep

Animal Park For Small Kids

Filed in My Daughters | Sabah | When I Do Travel Leave a comment

Judging from my kids’ enthusiasm when we brought them to visit the much smaller Lok Kawi Wildlife Park – we learn one thing.

It does not matter that this park has less than 10%  of the animals at Singapore Zoo.

To them, it’s fun because it has real live animals.

Even my father who visited this place for the first time saw plenty of things to photograph,  found a picnic area with a swimming pool and met some old colleagues who changed the field of their administrative and sales jobs from plants to animals!

So Lok Kawi Wildlife Park may be small and uninteresting to some – but my kids enjoyed it tremendously despite missing all feeding times, catching the orang utans in their most languid mood and tigers during their napping time – AGAIN!

Personally, I think they love it because it is small enough to walk around without being too tired!

Suffice to say, this is a must-go attraction for us whenever in Kota Kinabalu.

*Picture : Peacock at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park

07Sep

Sea Cruise No More

Filed in Brunei Life | When I Do Travel Leave a comment

Going for at least one sea cruise is something I would like to do in my lifetime.

Hotel rooms, dining outlets for all kinds of cuisines and recreational facilities from playground for the kids and spa for grown-ups. All under one roof! No big city crowds and traffic jam!

Seriously, this definitely sounds like the perfect kind of holiday for me.

Except I forgot to consider one thing.

Waves that were bent on purging the content of my stomach!

And that was what I experienced on our maiden ferry ride from Brunei to Sabah recently. I managed to take several pictures that fortunately still made interesting slideshows of our trip – but they will also remind me that this was the moment that effectively cancelled all intention for a cruise ship holiday.

I am not looking forward to sailing into Brunei bay again – and that’s dread with a capital D!

*Picture : Sun Princess cruise ship at Muara Port, Brunei

28Aug

Berakas Beach

Filed in Brunei | Brunei Life | Places | When I Do Travel 3 Comments

From our house in Lumut, the beach is less than 5 mins drive away.

Over in Bandar Seri Begawan, the nearest beach is at the Taman Rekreasi Hutan Berakas (Berakas Forest Recreational Park) – which is still around 15 mins drive away.

But despite being this “near”, it was only recently that we brought the kids to Taman Hutan Berakas. Located along Muara-Tutong Highway, the entrance is marked by giant Nepenthes sculptures in bright green.

You won’t miss it because there are signboards way before the entrance and there are nothing but trees, kilometres and kilometres before this junction.

The kids were thrilled to spot monkeys on the narrow and dim road with forest on both sides that finally led to one area of the park where there are swings, barbeque stands and picnic huts – and beautiful view of the blue sea.

This side of the park was pleasantly shaded by tall trees and I can imagine how busy it gets on normal afternoon (it was quiet then being fasting month).

The kids headed straight to the swings and there they stayed until we left – without even setting foot on the beach.

Because the beach was several steps down!

Not only is Taman Hutan Berakas a lovely park, this is a perfect place to visit when you fancy a picnic WITHOUT bringing home clothes and car full of sand.

Just ask the kids – Are you SURE you want to walk back UP these staircases later. You can already hear their answers when they look down the many, many, MANY steps!

01May

Miri

Filed in When I Do Travel 1 Comment

Even though it is only across the border – 2 hours drive from my home, we very rarely visit Miri (Sarawak).

I know folks who will not miss a weekend without visiting this place or at least once a month – saying how much cheaper are things, how much more variety than what’s available in Brunei and etc.

But I’d take going back to Kota Kinabalu any day – even with the 7 hours drive.

For one thing, besides the Popular Bookstore in Bintang Megamall, there is nowhere else we fancy going to here – except maybe for their herbal soups at the market or a cuppa at Starbucks or Vincci and the likes…

Anyway this particular mall is perhaps the only one we would always visit whenever we are over and since our last trip over mid last year, we have been keeping an eye on this hotel construction jobs, waiting for it to be completed.

When it is completed, this Luxton Hotel would be THE best place to stay in Miri.

Related Posts with Thumbnails

TOP