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Malaysia Travel - Islands and Beaches of SabahHotels Sabah |
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Mrs Newton-Keith twice called Sabah home and her beautifully restored home on a hilltop in the old capital, overlooking Sandakan Bay, is a reminder of a different, gentler age, though an age which still survives in much of Sabah. Adjoining on the same hilltop in Sandakan you can lunch at the English Tea House, stay a while and play a round of croquet Always fascinating, Sabah is set against a backdrop of the world’s oldest rainforest, pristine white beaches and clear, blue seas, unique flora and fauna and a skyline of mountains, including Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in South East Asia. There is so much to do. Take the fast ferry from Kota Kinabalu to Labuan, Malaysia’s duty free shopping port and financial centre and the site of the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery from World War II. Visit the burial site of Australian Prisoners of War and war heroes, including Captain Lionel Matthews GC MC and Lieutenant ‘Diver’ Derrick VC DCM. Discover the rich bio-diversity of Mount Kinabalu Park, take a canopy walk through the rainforest at Poring followed by a hot springs bath. Get up-close and personal with the Orang Utans at the Sepilok Sanctuary, visit the site of the former PoW camp at Sandakan, luxuriate in the beaches off Berhala Island. See where the birds’ nests are gathered for the prized delicacy, birds’ nest soup, from the caves at Gomantong.
Swim, snorkel, dive and para-sail in the crystal clear waters off the coast. Visit the water villages, built over the water where everything is dependent on the tides or go and spend a night in a traditional longhouse at Bavanggazo. See tea plantations and enjoy a cup of Sabah Tea. Take a Colonial-era train from Kota Kinabalu and experience the Borneo of years gone by. Most importantly, get to know the people and ask them about their world. |
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| With its rugged, mountainous terrain, Sabah possesses relatively few
coastal beaches. However, it does possess some of the best islands in the
region.
Sabah, which covers an area of over 28, 200 square miles (75, 500 square kilometers), is located on the northern tip of Malaysian's Borneo, the third largest island in the world. Kota Kinabalu is connected by air with a number of regional capitals, i.e. Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bandar Seri Begawan, Balikpapan, Manila, Taipei, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Xiamen, Guangzhou and Sydney serviced by carriers including Malaysian Airlines, Australian Airlines, Dragonair, Royal Brunei Airlines and Air Asia. For golf enthusiasts, there is no shortage of world-class courses to take in a round on the greens. The locations of Sabah's golf courses offer spectacular ocean and mountain views, which are absolutely unbeatable. More... Kota KinabaluKota Kinabalu is a fast emerging Malaysian hot spot located in the island of Sabah. Kota Kinabalu is the capital city and houses approximately four hundred thousand people and over thirty different ethnic groups. Gayam is the local Malaysian dialect but English is spoken all over the island as well. Kota Kinabalu is quite small and all activities and destinations can be reached quite quickly. In fact, a car can drive a complete round of the city within seven minutes, without traffic lights. Kota Kinabalu features beautiful mountains and lush green jungles which can be viewed from just a simple bus ride around the island. Water villages are also located all over the island, which are vacated by the indigenous Baja people. The people of Kota Kinabalu are friendly and the whole island emanates a nice laid back vibe. Tourism is the second major source of income for citizens of Kota Kinabalu. The island features a wide variety of luxurious hotels and resorts which are more than affordable due to the great current exchange rates. It’s close proximity and great accessibility makes this spot an easy choice destination. Kota Kinabalu has seen an increase of over 25, 000 visitors per year in the past four years after the launch of direct flights from Australia to the island. There are many activities and a variety of tourist packages that can take you into the jungles to go white water rafting or bush walking. Mount Kinabalu is climbed everyday, 365 days a year with special races occurring during every October, when thrill seekers race one another to the top of the mountain. There are over fifty different activity products to choose from, making the choices endless and exciting for visitors. Crystal clear waters await visitors who choose to go on boat tours for island hopping. Snorkeling and deep sea diving can be arranged for adventurers who want to get up close to the protected marine life. Sabah is a premium eco-tourism spot and is a world class maritime centre. The traditional flavours and spices of Malaysian cuisine, which feature on the island, are sure to please all palettes. Great seafood, spicy salads and a great variety of tropical fruits are just some of the delicious meals that you can enjoy in Kota Kinabalu. Most meals are provided by tour operators and most of the hotels and resorts provide breakfast. Kota Kinabalu is warm and sunny almost all year round. Oct- Dec is the rain season for the island, so for those who enjoy rough river rapids, this is the time to go for you. With such great exchange rates, this destination spot is more than affordable and so close to Australian and New Zealand’s shores. Making the journey is more than a rewarding and memorable experience, an amazing spectrum of colours and all year round sunshine awaits you.
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Tanjung Aru The seaside resort of Tanjung Aru is 6 km from Kota Kinabalu. International class hotel accommodations or budget chalets are available. Shaped like a 'shitake' mushroom, Pulau Sipadan draws diving enthusiasts from all over the world because of its exceptional water clarity, its unusual seascape, and its extraordinarily wide variety of marine life. Sipadan is the only oceanic island in Malaysia. Tunku Abdul Rahman Park The Tunku Abdul Rahman Park comprises five idyllic islands which are only 10 to 25 minutes away from Kota Kinabalu by speedboat. These islands--Pulau Gaya, Pulau Sapi, Pulau Mamutik, Pulau Manukan and Pulau Sulug--offer stretches of white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and some of the most diverse coral reefs and marine life in the world. They are ideal spots for picnicking, diving and snorkeling, particularly on Sapi and Manukan which have picnic facilities, and Mamutik where cabins are available for rental. Pulau Layang-Layang This man-made island, located 165 miles northwest of Kota Kinabalu, was created in 1991 from a coral atoll in the South China Sea. Soil from the mainland and sand pumped from the seabed formed what is today a major attraction for scuba divers and anglers. The 5,000 to 6,000 foot drop around the reef makes it an excellent dive site and the island has become a sanctuary for thousands of terns. Chalet-type accommodations are available. |
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DivingTunku Abdul Rahman Park IslandsLocated just 15 minutes from mainland Kota Kinabalu, these islands offer easy dives with plenty of time to relax on the white sandy beaches. Pulau Lankayan A remote island with an extraordinary variety of coral life, reef fishes and bizarre macro animal life. Divers and look forward to relaxing in well appointed accommodation. Pulau Mabul and Pulau Kapalai Sabah's popular site for macro enthusiasts seeking to encounter rare and hard to find macro animal life. Every dive holds a surprise. Pulau Layang Layang Pulau Layang Layang offers encounters with the unknown. Rising 2000 meters from the sea-bed, the reef attracts a number of pelagic fish such as tunas, sharks and more sharks. |
Nexus Resort Karambunai Kota Kinabalu