Head in the clouds
⚠️ This page is an automatic translation of a post originally written in French. My apologies for any mistakes or odd phrasing that may have been generated in the process. If you read French, please click on the flag below to access the original text:
EN
ENNo more Perhentian. On to Sipadan! Two flights on Air Asia...this Monday to go to Borneo. At last!
So today, my head will be in the clouds...
Up until now, I wasn't too nervous, but now I'm more and more apprehensive about air travel. A psychological effect of the two recent air disasters, no doubt.
Well, I hear Air Asia's planes are brand new. Nothing to worry about.
Come on, it's going to be an exhausting day, but tonight I'll be sleeping in Semporna, the port from which we embark for Mabul and Sipadan!
????
Good flights! And thank you for taking us with you! PS: Me too all these accidents have awakened some anxieties ...
@ Marie-Julie: Whew, I arrived and arrived well !!! Here I am in Semporna for the night.
As for my aerial anxieties, they eased on the 2nd flight, obviously piloted by a more competent captain, and more refined in his maneuvers. The flight from Kota Bahru to Kuala Lumpur was quite bumpy, and the landing wasn't exactly comfortable or reassuring (I'd have to adjust my aim one time to the left, then the other time to the right, and bing, there's the runway). But the Kuala Lumpur-Tawau flight, despite a heavy rain cloud on arrival, was perfect, with very few jolts, a smooth takeoff and landing, and no last-minute adjustments... what an ace pilot!!!
But let's forget about those damned planes for the moment. Starting tomorrow, I'll be getting down to the real business: diving in Mabul, then a few days later in Sipadan. I probably won't be able to log on as often from Mabul, but I'll try to keep in touch! See you soon!
😉
Hello Corinne,
it's clear that crashes just before the vacations aren't reassuring, especially when you're flying exotic airlines, but if we had to stop there we'd all be staying in France 🙄
And who would then make us travel ❓ Like in futuristic fims, glasses èspeces with virtual landscapes and sensations 😆
( 💡 for a future post between 2 trips no ❓ , to dig into 😉 ).
In the meantime, make us dream a little again with lots of beautiful pictures and stories as you have the secrets ❗
good stay 8)
The naiad,
Thanks for the sumptuous pictures and the exciting travel diary.
Welcome to Borneo. I wish you new, surprising dives. And full of pleasure.
See you soon on the blog.
We're at the Café Salud and we're taking the opportunity to read your blog, which only comes around once in a while, but it's better than nothing! Wishing you great dives and happy underwater encounters. Biz, pap et mam. 😉
@ N @ me: I'm posting new images very soon. I found where to connect to Mabul... Hey, hey!!!!
Coco: It's a pleasure to be here 😉
The Sipadan and Mabul bottoms really stand out from the crowd... The three dives I did today were a delight! I'm here for the week, I'm going to enjoy myself... New photos soon!
@ Lydia & Alain: Hello salud coffee!!! 🙂
I'm delighted to hear from you. The underwater fun here in Mabul-Sipadan is going to be immense. But I'll be back to tell you all about it very soon.
🙄
Ah, the road from Tawau to Semporna !!
How lucky you are to be able to enjoy these magnificent fields of oil palms that stretch as far as the eye can see on either side of the road. They reveal all their splendor early in the morning, when the gentle rays of the rising sun caress their broad, fan-shaped leaves and give the mist rising into the opalescent sky those pinkish reflections that...
For Wifi at Mabul, you go to Bornéo Divers, take the central alley, enter the big “self-confident” building, go through the door opposite to the left of the bar and there you have the room with 4 PCs and Wifi to send us your tickets.
You're welcome, Corinne, as usual 😕
And be sure to count the school of barracudas at Barakobama Point (or something like that, I can't really remember!!), because the leaflets mention 1,000 and last time I complained because there were only 998... 👿
Hello Corine,
Well, you don't know me at all, but I read your blog regularly, and I must say I love it!
I'm leaving in 3 weeks in Malaysia, to do about the same route as you ...
Out of curiosity, where do you sleep in Mabul?
I can't wait to see your photos of Sipadan 😉
Good luck and good bubbles.
It's funny to me, “it's not worse” the fear of planes, despite all the accidents at the beginning of the summer... Don't worry! Above all, stay as light as a bubble.
@Alimata: If you think I've been waiting for you to find Borneo Divers' wifi! Only, for two days, the thing had been down... Tonight, it's working again!!!!
😉
As for Barakobama Point, I am very frustrated, I only counted 996 barracudas!!!!
😆
@Sandra: Thanks for the note and welcome to Petites Bulles d'Ailleurs!
In Mabul, after testing out a night at Billabong, I'm now staying in the longhouse of a guy nicknamed Big John (he's got a huge gut!!!). It's located right next door to Billabong's and is called Arung Hayatt. It's a hair cleaner and more comfortable than Billabong, and a lot quieter. What's more, there are a few stilt-mounted piaulas with attached bathrooms. Prices start at 60RM with three meals included (and the food is better and less monotonous than at Billabong) for rooms with shared bathroom. Rooms on stilts cost 80RM.
🙄
@Paskle: Unbelievable! I burst out laughing when I saw your comment. But it all makes sense: you always knew that planes could fall!
😆
Hello,
But how did you go to go there?
I'm trying to organize a trip for February 2013 and I'd like to go to Sipadan or Mabul, but I must admit that I'm a bit lost, between the plane, the boat, the bus...can you enlighten me on the organization of your trip?
I look forward to hearing from you
Cathy
@vasquez /Cathy: the easiest way to get to Sipadan and Mabul is to fly first to Kuala Lumpur. Then book a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau on Air Asia (via their website).
Then it all depends on the structure you choose to dive there. There's something to suit all tastes and budgets (do a Google search, or check out the Diver.com forums). They'll arrange your transfer from Tawau airport to Semporna harbor, and from there, the boat to Mabul (we don't stay on Sipadan).