..::everyday thru my viewfinder::..: mabul

Monday, July 5, 2010

Phototrip to Mabul Island, Sabah-Part 2

Here is the sequel from the 1st part. After about an hour travel using the speed boat, we arrived at Spheredivers (our resort). So, our journey at Mabul Island begin. I've stayed there for 3 days 2 nights. The resort is nice and peacefully (most important is affordable). After taking our breakfast (ate bread and jam with a cup of nescafe - i really need this to kick off my day), we packed our camera and gears to go or sight-seeing around the island. It is undoubtedly the water around the island and not the island itself that is the main attraction of Mabul. For non-divers (like us), Mabul will be a haven of relaxation and below are some tips for keeping busy when you need a distraction from just drinking in the scenery and serenity.

The footpath around the island takes me right through a local village. Around 2 000 people call this village, made up entirely of wooden huts built on stilts, home. The villagers are Bajau, a term used to group a number of small tribes and ethnicities found in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The Bajau are a people that have lived in the region for hundreds of years. They are often called Sea Gypsies, because of their nomadic lifestyle that is intertwined with the sea from birth till death. While many are Malaysian citizens, many are immigrants from the neighbouring Philippines, often without legal documents. Island village life is as laid back as it gets, but not untouched by the presence of tourists. Handmade necklaces, earrings and seashells are on display in huts that have been converted into small stores.

Children play in the sand around the huts and eagerly pose and smile for every passing camera. Of the villagers, over 800 are children. Their parents work in the neighbouring resorts, or make a living from their boats and the sea as their people have done for centuries. A school on Mabul provides basic primary level education, but those without the required documentation, proving their citizenship or legal residence in Malaysia, are unable to attend. Many of these children follow in their parents’ footsteps and make a simple living as fishermen.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Phototrip to Mabul Island, Sabah-Part 1

Masa yang ditunggu-tunggu telah tiba. Setelah merancang perjalanan hampir 2 bulan, 5 orang ahli Jalan-Jalan Cari Foto (JJCF) yang terdiri daripada Aqiera, Nik, Andy, Azli dan saya telah berangkat menaiki pesawat Airasia AK5154 pada jam 4petang (24Jun10)dari LCCT ke Tawau. Penerbangan ke Tawau memakan masa lebih kurang 2 jam setengah dan tiba di Tawau pada jam 6.30pm. Ketibaan kami disambut oleh Abang Abdul yang seterusnya membawa kami ke Sipadan Inn yang terletak di Semporna untuk bermalam disana.

Lepas je check in kat Sipadan Inn, kami pun terus keluar untuk mencari sesuap nasi (maklumlah, masing2 tgh lapar gile time ni...). kami makan kat restoren yang terletak betul2 kat depan hotel tu. Restoran Bismillah (similar name with mamak's stall yang famous kat area Sri Serdang). After taking our dinner, straight away went back to hotel and layan World Cup (Paraguay vs New Zealand). After goalless match, we go to sleep and dream about the next day...

On 25th June 2010, i woke up early in the morning (7am actually) because we will depart to Mabul Island at 9am by speed boat. FYI, sunrise here is about 5.30am so we miss the sunrise on the first day..

to be continued....