Tanjung Aru Beach

by Gay Mitra - April 18, 2010August 13, 20142

To cap off our 9-day northwest and eastern Borneo vacation, Shervin and I spent our last dusk sauntering along Tanjung Aru Beach in Kota Kinabalu. Each of us only shelled out P11,749.20 for the entire trip (including roundtrip tickets, terminal fees, my travel tax, accommodations, food, transportation, souvenirs and admission fees). By executing well-thought-out decisions,…

Into the Rainforest

by Gay Mitra - April 14, 2010August 13, 20140

Nature lovers who flock to Sandakan are certainly pumped up. Sure it’s a gateway to ecotourism, but many are not aware that this rainforest has also witnessed a dark past. Nope, I’m not just pertaining to the diminishing number of wildlife. A POW Camp was once set up in Sandakan, and a gruesome “death march”…

Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary

by Gay Mitra - April 10, 2010August 13, 20142

Sabah, Malaysia will leave ecotourism, jungle tourism and wildlife sanctuary fanatics infatuated. If not, madly in love. As written on one if its brochures, “Eco-treasures from mountain high to ocean deep”. In Sandakan alone, there are at least 5 destinations where tourists can learn about ecosystem protection. Due to time and budget constraints we were…

Sandakan Sights

by Gay Mitra - April 6, 2010August 13, 20146

Sandakan was once under the governance of the Sultan of Sulu. Imagine if the Philippines still owns the resource-rich east coast of Sabah, the economical gain must have been heaps. No wonder our ol’ dictator President Marcos set up an operation to take back the land, which unfortunately led to the Jabidah Massacre – but…

East Malaysian Borneo: Sandakan

by Gay Mitra - April 3, 2010August 13, 20146

This former capital of British North Borneo is a 6-hour bus ride from Kota Kinabalu.Though two of Sabah’s main tourist attractions can be found here, the Orangutan Rehabilitation Center and the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, the city still remains a not so beaten track. Sandakan, a bustling port town.After checking out of Summer Lodge,…

Valentine’s Day Date: Camping at Pulau Mamutik

by Gay Mitra - March 30, 2010August 13, 20147

Our second Valentine’s Day together and we still haven’t celebrated it over a romantic candle-lit dinner in a swanky resto. As a backpacker couple, we have more than a dozen other mushy ideas of our own. And yes, camping is one of them. Our tent, Hurley. His first trip overseas.Although we weren’t able to secure…

Kota Kinabalu Pre-Chinese New Year Celebration

by Gay Mitra - March 26, 2010August 13, 20144

Okay, so we really don’t know what the event’s called. Last February, two days before Chinese New Year, locals and tourists flocked to the big midnight market – which by the way only happens once a year according to the cab driver who drove us from the airport to our B&B the day before. Whenever…

Signal Hill Observatory Platform

by Gay Mitra - March 23, 2010August 13, 20142

I reckon one whole day is enough to explore Kota Kinabalu City center. A day and a half if you include Sabah Museum. We’ve seen much of the sights on our first visit 9 months ago, only two left we were eager to see. Sitting on a bench, Signal Hill. Waiting for the sunset.Morning of…

Kota Kinabalu: Summer Lodge

by Gay Mitra - March 19, 2010August 13, 20147

The first time we flew from Clark to Kota Kinabalu, Central Luzon was being beaten up by a signal no. 2 typhoon (60-100 kph wind speed). Our death defying Air Asia plane departed on time, and the ride was turbulent until halfway. I found myself praying to a god I have not contacted in ages!…

The Preggy Traveller

by Gay Mitra - March 16, 2010August 13, 201439

Some if not most people have this notion that marriage and long term travel will never have good chemistry, let alone backpacking with kids in tow. I am determined to prove otherwise (if you are too, throw your hands up at me!). Hubby-slash-backpacking buddy and I do not have our bundle of joy yet, but…