15th Sun 16th Mon 17th Tue 18th Wed 19th Thu 20th Fri 21st Sat 22nd Sun

1st Day - 15th March 2009 Sunday


Air Asia's flight began to descent. When I sighted this island, I knew we are almost above KK city and will be landed within couple of minutes.

Dinawan Island is a private resort island situated at the southern part of Kota Kinabalu,  half an hour speedboat ride away from  Sutera harbor Marina Club.

 

This beautiful tropical island is fringed by swaying coconut trees. Build among the coconut trees are the 20 chalets of the island resort. An ideal place to chill out and rejuvenate to enjoy the gentle tropical breeze. The children will enjoy diving into the sumptuous coral green, swimming among the splendid corals, giant clams and colorful fishes. And there are many water sports activities available on the island. Watching sun rise above Mt. Kinabalu and sun set on South China Sea are another the main attractions of this island..

This private island accept tourists only through pre-arranged tour package from own tour agent. As such this is a popular destination of Chinese tourists who travel in arranged group tour.

I definitely like to come to such isolated island but a 3 Days/2 Nights stay in this island for a child cost Rm600.00.  Such amount is definitely out of our budget.

With this amount in a place like Sabah blessed with islands and beaches, we local Sabahan have many alternatives to chose from. Our 6 days of continuous clear sea water and long beaches proof to be right.


By 12:00 noon We already loaded our 3 small simple luggage into a small car rented from Borneo Express at the airport counter. Rm 130 per day normal price but at a discounted rate for us because we rented  for 4 days.

"Viva", this new model from Perodua, became our main transport the next 4 days bringing us to explore many interesting beautiful places along the Kota Kinabalu - Kudat highway.


Our first stop for lunch at 1Borneo - the largest shopping mall in Borneo.
 
There is apparently a singing contest at the Center Atrium which Yin was much interested to watch. But the contest will start only at 4:00 PM and last till late at night. We do not have such time for such event. We have a long journey to continue. After all our holiday main pursue is outdoor adventure not indoor events. 
 
   

D Potrait is a gallery beside Apple cafe  restaurant

A small scale art gallery but big in Sabah standard. .The gallery design is very special.

Very quiet inside, no one inside, Attracted by the arts and displays, Xing wanted to go in but could not open the door. He tried a few times only to realized the door is locked. So we view the art works  from outside through the glass panel.

The abstract art are attractive. We stand outside a long time to observe. This art gallery belongs to a foreigner artist, he painted all the painting. This artist, according to what I read, he did not received formal training in art. He just like to draw  beginning from an early age.

He learns through  admire other people's work His paintings are abstract painting and one has to try to understand what his painting meant or what the arts trying to convey. In art one do not draw for others, but to draw for your own self. The artist know not many people could understand his paintings but he still continue to draw him, never stopped, because he likes to draw, because he is a draw himself.

Other then his own works in the gallery are also great works of other artists. Those Artists display their works here for display as well as for sell.

There is an increasing of artistic atmosphere in Kota Kinabalu City. An atmosphere that Tawau Town may need another 50 years to pick up.  This is a good sign.


Nexus Karambunai Resort

   
  We never been to Nexus Resort at Karambunai so we drove in to have a look.

This one of Asia’s finest luxury resorts has 485 rooms, an 18-hole championship Golf Course, and a 6 km white sandy beach.

Nexus Resort Karambunai nestles upon the sandy fringes of  Karambunai peninsula, 30kms North of Kota Kinabalu city (40kms from the International Airport)

Literally a world unto itself, the resort is an secluded 45 acres of tranquil, natural beauty on Karambunai Peninsular. Surrounding the resort is  3,000 over acres of unique and unspoiled rainforest.

 
 
 
  As we drive off the high way into a smaller road leading several kilometers to Nexus Resorts what first caught our eyes is this beautiful golf course that has a Mountain view on one side and sea view on the other side. The view is green forest and green garden in every directions.

This 18-hole Par 72 international standard golf course is designed by Roland Fream. An award-winning 18-hole championship golf course
 

 
 
  6 km white sandy beach. The resort offers 480 over finely-appointed rooms and suites that are fully equipped with wealth of amenities and conveniences.

At the Nexus Karambunai Resort have a full option of facilities and recreational activities including  convention centre and family recreational activities.

A batik class was going on in the open air (under a sun tent) for a family with several children. Yin was so attracted by what they were doing that she also wanted to joint in.  The 2 hours class started at 3 and now is toward the end of the class.  I promis her we will come

 

 
   


On our way to Tuaran to put up our first night, we drop by Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort in time to watch our first sun set this year.

Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort is a 5 Star Luxury set on Pantai Dalit beach surrounded by 400 acres of lush tropical vegetation, including a unique nature reserve. The beach, with its fine brown sand, stretched along the South China Sea as far as the eyes could see. Over the blue sea is magical sunset, one of the most beautiful things Malaysia could offer to visitors.

Our last visited to this resort was back in 1995 when Yin was not been yet.

Nature Interpretation Centre (NIC) is attached to Rasa Ria resort.  On the hill of NIC is an  Observation Tower which one enjoys a stunning 360 degree view on Kota Kinabalu town, Rasa Ria Resort, the forests and the distance Mount Kinabalu. We have not time for NIC this trip. 



Sunset over the South China Sea in Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort

Look! The Golden sunset, it is breathtaking as usual. Sunset is breathtaking in Sabah (as in all over the world).

Sabah has beautiful scenery such as gorgeous sunsets when the sky turn from a nice blue, to golden orange and finally a shade of lemonade pink just before the sun sink into the dark blue sea.

A magical sunset over the South China Sea is one of the most beautiful thing ever.










 


Previous   Day 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  Next


 Homepage of Wong Family Website   April 3, 2009 / Wednesday, August 26, 2009 12:45:27 PM

blogspot visitor counter