Short trip to Lubuk Manggis, Hulu Langat, Selangor

Yesterday we went up to the Lubuk Manggis, near Hulu Langat Selangor. Took about 1hrs drive from Shah Alam. izzit?

Privately owned and managed by a local resident, this is a popular picnic and recreational spot amongst families. The bubbling river waters that are knee-deep make it a great place for children and their to frolic in. A wooden bridge connects the main road to the booths and camp sites where picnic-goers can take shelter in and enjoy their meals and siesta.

trying the water flow... but i failed..!! X X X

(still in learning process mah... right?)

While they BBQ-ing, im taking my time to enjoy the nature... while in my mind said... "Sabah is more nature-ally" But then at the same time i just need to appreciate everything... i t won't last forever! NO COAL! (oppps free ads for the Gomen)

Yeah thats all, thanks to my sis cos bring me to this place. at least my brain can stop working for my upcoming exam.

The Bajau - Sea Gypsy (Semporna Trip 2010 - Part V)

When we were doing our island tour on Mabul. we did meet with this beautiful kids. They are the Bajau kids also known as Sea Gypsy. what was that?

Playing around... doing some stunt...

Sun bathing... everyday huh?

The most hyperactive one

some me the 'gun' hehehe

simple smile..

The Bajau, (also written as Badjao, Badjaw or Badjau) are an indigenous ethnic group of the southern Philippines. Due to escalated conflicts in their native Sulu Archipelago of the southern Philippines, many of the Bajau have migrated to neighboring Malaysia over the course of 50 years. Currently they are the second largest ethnic group in the state of Sabah, making up 13.4%^[1] of the total population. Groups of Bajau have also migrated to Sulawesi and Kalimantan in Indonesia, although figures of their exact population are unknown. They were sometimes referred to as the Sea Gypsies, although the term has been used to encompass a number of non-related ethnic groups with similar traditional lifestyles, such as the Moken of the Burmese-Thai Mergui Archipelago and the Orang Laut of southeastern Sumatra and the Riau Islands of Indonesia. The modern outward spread of the Bajau from older inhabited areas seems to have been associated with the development of sea trade in trepang.

*wikipedia (-__-)

so normally they are nomad. but i think these Bajaus are from Mabul island and already settled down for a quite long time already.Here in the island village,they got school and mosque.

One thing about these Bajau kids they are very friendly and easy to approach. But once you too close with them, they usually asking you for money. This could be maybe their parents already thought them to do so since lot of tourists, divers coming into the island.

2 + 1 = ???

Friendly Bajau kids

asking for money.. poor kid..

So when you come to Mabul Island, don't forget to mingle around with these kids.

Till then

see ya.

TQ

Mabul Island (Semporna Trip 2010 - Part IV)

Continuity from my trip at Semporna. In this post i would like to share my visit to Mabul Island. Semporna town is blessed with beautiful sandy beach island and colourful corals... So when you come to this town dont miss it!

Woke up.. early morning and go to the open market nearby.. cos my mom asked me to buy some sotong kering and banyak lagi lah..... hahaha

so me and others walked passing this beautiful mosque (below)

Semporna Mosque

After walking through the market we asked people around for the direction, and after several minutes of walking, we finally found that place. If you are a seafood lover, this place might be your haven!

The sea is the lifeline of Semporna, and everything related to the sea can be bought at very cheap prices.

Sotong Kering

The Sotong Kering or Dried squid is really nice if you cook sambal on it.. The cooking methods is heat oil, add ground ingredients, salt and sugar, and fry till fragrant. Add sotong, fry for a while then add tamarind juice and leave to cook till fairly dry. and lastly Bon a petit!

Enough with the cooking recipe, after that we were back to our rooms and packing. Because afterward we will be heading to Mabul Island!

After packing we have to go to the Borneo Divers Centre at Semporna Oceanic Toursim Centre just few meters from Dragon Inn Resort. They will serve and bring us to Mabul and Sipadan later on.

Borneo Divers & Sea Sports

Borneo Divers, founded in 1984, was the first full service professional dive operation in Borneo. Their company headquarters are located in the modern city of Kota Kinabalu, and with outstanding dive destinations include the world famous Sipadan and Mabul on the East coast of Sabah and training centre on Mamutik, just a 15 minute boat ride from the city of Kota Kinabalu where regular courses are conducted at all levels from Open Water Diver to PADI Course Director. With years of experience and a leadership role in professionalism, Borneo Divers is still the first choice of discriminating dive travelers who want the best that Sabah has to offer.

We left Semporna Town by Borneo Diver boat. From here it takes about 50minutes journey by speedboat.

Bajau lady waving for my lens

Leaving the Semporna town behind

Who wants to buy this house??

This boat journey makes some of my friends do their most favorite things to do... which is sleeping!!

How on earth they can built those wooden house??

Seaventure

Finally we reached Mabul Island

You can take a look pictures that i snap below....

Borneo Divers Jetty

How clear the water is... amazing

Snorkeling activity

Corals in Mabul

This jetty will lead us to the Borneo Divers Mabul Island Resort

Beautiful white sandy beach

Kampung Pulau Mabul (Mabul Island Village)

Home sweet home.... ;)

SWV, Sipadan Water Village.. one of 5 star resort here in Mabul

SMART (Sipadan-Mabul Resort)

Monitor lizard

Sunset in Mabul

I did try this.. this is water sports equipment

Borneo Semporna Proboscis Centre (Semporna Trip 2010 - Part III)

Located 20km from Semporna, is our next location. Borneo Semporna Proboscis Centre where our transportation provided by BGB Country Tours (kounsikou kio!). My previous post (click HERE if you missed it!) talk about where me and others were on duty at Kadaiku Booth during Regatta Lepa 2010 Festival.

BSPC (Borneo Semporna Proboscis Centre) is newly added tourist attraction here in Semporna. was being launched the day before this Regatta Festival by Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Datuk Nasir Tun Sakaran at the centre which are located at the water village and this was the first River Cruise in Semporna.

Personally this is my first time experiencing the river cruising and watch the Bayau and birds. So my expectations is very HIGH. hmmm...

"On arrival, a walk along a 150- meter wooden bridge will lead to the centre where visitors can watch and feed the long tailed macaques with guavas and bread at 4pm." We arrived there around 2pm and its quite hot but didnt see any monkeys.. ;(

The Sambulayang. A proud flag of Bajau peoples here in Semporna. On top of it written the BSPC name.

This is the 150 metres long boardwalk.

"Come as a stranger... leave as a friend..." nice!

The Borneo Semporna Proboscis River Cruise will bring tourists along the Sungai Buaya in Kampung Tonggulangan, about 20km from here, to watch the unique proboscis monkey, a species endemic to Sabah.

Joining with us is the Sabah Tourism Board Chairman, Dato Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin. He's also very excited to witness any Bayau here...

Mangroves everywhere...

We are cruising at the Sungai Buaya and there is no Buaya (crocodile) it was just the name... perhaps all the crocs already gone long time ago. ha ha..

Eagle's nest

Both side of this mangroves is prohibited area since it was reserved forest.

Wonder nature of Sungai Buaya

Its a bird! Its a plane... No! Its an eagle..!!

The BSPC visitor centre (this time we still didn't found any monkey)

After awhile i felt loss-hope because didn't see any monkey... Tengku said maybe because this aren't the good time.. The monkey wouldn't go out on sunny (hot) day.. so i just enjoy the nature-lah...

so here's the snaps2 enjoy it!!

After the river cruise, we going back to the visitor centre and having some tea break and after that go back go Semporna Town.

The Macaque monkey

The thinker: "I'm thinking.... I'm thinking...."

Quite enjoy eventhough didn't see any bayau where i really want to see it lively... huhuhu... besides that i really enjoy the nature and services by the BSPC management staff...!


Here info about them:
BGB Country Tours & Travel
(Wholly Owned By Tamasda Continental Corporation Sdn Bhd)
Ground & First Floor, Lot No. 29, Karamunsing Godown, Jalan Karamunsing , 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Tel: +6088 270976 (Reservation & Office)
Fax: +6088 270975
Email: info@bgbackpackers.com borneogb@gmail.com
Next post we are going to Mabul Island...!!! Diving....snorkeling...sunsets....island tours... and many more!!!