Review Accommodation: VS Guest House, Tawau ,Sabah

VS Guest House

Price
-Cheap & affordable.
-RM88/night for Family room. 2 double beds and can accommodate up to 4 persons.
-RM 58/night for standard double room.

Location
-Very good.Near mosque and Tawau Town.(In front of KK hotel)
-Really near Tawau Central Market (shopping for souvenir,pearl)
-By walking can reach Pasar Tanjung Tawau ( to buy dried fish, traditional food,having breakfast), Pasar Ikan Tawau (fresh fish).
-By walking can access to Tawau Bus station.

Receptionist counter
-It is in 2nd floor, you have to use stairs to go to receptionist counter and rooms.

-Extra hour need to pay. RM 10/hour.huhu.
- Can ask receptionist to book a taxi to airport. RM 45/taxi

Breakfast
-No breakfast

Room

-Air condition
-Size of room is ok.New.
-Include TV.

-Iron can request from receptionist counter,he/she will send to your room.

Bathroom
-Heater is provided.

-Attached bathroom.
-No door, just put curtain.

Room service
-No room service

Wifi
- Provided.

Details/Booking:

Via Booking.com

Conclusion :
Value for money.Good location.Recommended

Review Accomodation : Borneo Global Sipadan Backpackers Lodge, Semporna,Sabah

Borneo Global Sipadan Backpackers Lodge

Price
-Not sure because included with tour package already. But I found this in the website:

• Air Condition Family Room – RM 120.00 per room (1 Queen Bed + 3 Single Beds )
• Air Condition Triple Room – RM 90.00 per room (1 Queen Bed + 1 Single Bed )
• Air Condition 8 Beds Bunker Room – RM 25.0o per person

Source: Here

Location
-By walking can reach Dragon Inn Floating resort (famous place to take photos),restaurant nearby.

-The most unlikely because the dog always wandered around the entrance door. huhu.

Receptionist
-Nice.

-Can request to rent underwater camera. RM100/day (Pls make sure you bring your pendrive@ CD to copy the pics taken. They didn't provide@sell any CD to copy the pics)

Breakfast
-Light breakfast is provided (bread+ tea/coffee).Self service.

Room
- The size is ok as we stayed in family room (3 single bed and 1 double room)-can accomodate up to 6 persons.

- Initially, they did not provide enough towel for us but we request it and they gave it.

-Air condition

Bathroom
-Heater is provided.

-Attached bathroom.

Room service
-No room service

Wifi
- Provided.

source:google

Details/Booking:

http://www.borneotourstravel.com/backpackers/borneo-global-sipadan-backpackers/ 

@

email to: info@bgbackpackers.com / borneogb@gmail.com


Conclusion :
Value for money.Recommended

Total perbelanjaan Trip Tawau-Semporna-Mabul bah #TMM 2014

Salam,
Sebelum pergi Tawau, Ilia dah collect RM350/pax utk bayar tour pakej dan accomodation di Tawau.


Date: 22 - 24 Februari 2014
Untuk makluman pakej 2 hari 1 malam utk Semporna -Mabul berharga RM 300.
Tour pakej kami include :

Day 1.

1 .Pick up dari Tawau Airport ke Semporna
2. Penginapan semalam di Borneo Global Sipadan Backpackers Lodge.
3. Dinner di Jetty Borneo Semporna Proboscis River Cruise.

Day 2.
1.Light breakfast di Borneo Global Sipadan Backpackers Lodge.
2.Snorkelling equipment @ mabul,boat,guide
3.Transfer ke Tawau.

Untuk maklumat lanjut pasal pakej ni, boleh go through:


Masenang Travel 

or else, boleh directly contact pihak borneo backpackers di sini:

Borneo Tours @ email: info@bgbackpackers.com / borneogb@gmail.com


Ilia book pakej ni time MATTA FAIR 2013 dengan Masenang Travel.Tapi akak receptionist tu ckp boleh jgk book dgn depa @ Borneo Tours tu.  Recommended sangat pakej ni :)


dan balance RM 50 tu, digunakan,

1. Tip utk driver van dan snorkelling guide/instructor.
2. Rental underwater camera dari Borneo Global Sipadan Backpackers Lodge.
3. Accomodation di VS Guest House utk semalam.

ada lagi balance bapa ringgit utk sorang tapi kami beli makanan  sahaja.

Roughly Perbelanjaan di Sabah :

Food: RM12 +RM 2+ RM 9+ RM 5 + RM 7+ RM 11.50+ RM 3.50 = RM 50
Transport ke airport : RM 15 
Shopping/souvenir: RM 23+ RM 20+ RM 5 +RM 20  +RM 33= RM 101

Total : RM 50 + RM 15 + RM 101 = RM 166

Roughly perbelanjaan dari Sri Iskandar-PUDURAYA (kakak pick up & tido umah dia)-LCCT-PUDURAYA-Sri Iskandar

Return tiket bus Sri Iskandar-KL Sentral : RM 45.20 ( 2 ways)
LRT Kelana Jaya- KL Sentral : RM 2.10
KL Sentral -LCCT: RM 1O
LCCT- Pudu sentral : RM 8

Total: RM 53.20

Tiket flight AirAsia:

Return KL-Tawau : RM 130 ( beli bln 7 tahun 2013 lagi.hehe. terbangnya bulan 2 ,2014 :P)
Luggage Tawau-KL : RM10 (share 20kg/3 org)

Total: RM 140

So, total expenses : RM 350 +RM 166 + RM 65.30 + RM 140=  RM 721.30
                                                                                         = +/- RM 730.

Disebabkan dah setel bayar dekat Ilia time awal bulan 2 hari tu, so senang la budget skit utk transport ke KL dan expenses di Sabah :)

Overall, better pergi trip Mabul 3 malam 2 hari at least. Lagi rasa berbaloi :). Sebab boleh amik kesempatan ke pulau lain such as Kapalai (akak receptionist tu ckp dekat sini lagi cantik dari Mabul), Bohey dulang & etc.Kalau boleh,apply cuti lama-lama sikit utk berehat di Mabul.


kisah-kisah sepanjang trip boleh baca di sini:

Semporna bah
Mabul bah
Tawau bah,Day 2
Tawau bah, Day 3 part I
Tawau bah, Day 3 Part II


Sekian kisah trip budget Eija :).

Tawau bah, Part II Day 3 #TMM2014

Sambungan dari sini

Selepas simpan barang dan say bye bye kepada ofismate Ilia yg akan pulang dgn flight yg lebih awal, sambung teroka Tawau. Kami ke

Central Market Tawau

Lokasinya belakang VS Guest House ja..dekat ja pon,mmg yg ni nak g last.heheh.
Dekat dalam ni boleh dapatkan souvenir , mutiara, tshirt dan makanan (ad foodcourt).
Bagi Eija ok la harga souvenir, standard, RM 5 utk 3 keychain. pastu kat sini jugak la kami jumpa keychain yg ad tulis Mabul. Hanya dekat satu kedai tu sahaja.

jual pakaian,kain batik,kain pelekat

Kedai yg jual mutiara kt dalam sikit/bahagian tengah.Mutiara kat sini bg Eija mahal berbanding di Kota Kinabalu (KK).Eija x beli pon sebab mmg dah beli dah dulu time g KK. Brooch sini pon mahal berbanding KK. So,kesimpulannya, terjah la KK utk shopping brooch dan accesories pearl.

pearl

Selepas penat menjelajah central market ni, tetiba bila kuar tu lalu dekat kawasan food court. Dengan cuaca panas, tetiba rasa nak pekena ABC.

ABC+Buah+Milo nama diberi

Ice teller

cucur

Sedappp, dgn cuaca panas ni,mmg menyelerakan.hehehe. Then, pulang ke VS Guest House utk pack barang dan kami mintak check out lewat sikit.tapi tapi kena caj jugak, 1 hour late=RM10/ room.
Then dalam 1.30 tgh hari terus ke airport menggunakan taxi yg kami suruh guest house tempah. RM 45/taxi. P.cik taxi tu cakap kena cepat2 sebab tadi dia dtg tadi jalan jem. Tapi alhamdulillah, kami g smooth sahaja. Dalam setengah jam dah sampai airport. Drop luggage and boarding. Time nak masuk gate tu org AirAsia check luggageeeee. cuak dah sebab ad kawan  luggage lebih 7 kg. tapi nasib baik lepasss...hehe..pukul 3.30p.m terbanglah kami ke LCCT. Bye bye sabah. Till we meet again!
Safely landed around 6.15 p.m, terus g dekat kaunter, tya bus ke Pudu ada  ka tidak. Luckily ada. So, tak payah Eija ke Kl Sentral dan then ke Pudu. hehehe....
The end.

Thank you to all my travelmates!
Dear Ilia, Izzah, K.Hana, Syikin, Angah dan 3 orang ofismate ilia (baru first time jumpa time travel g mabul ni),
Semoga  kita dapat travel lagi sama2. :)

Tawau bah, Part I Day 3 # TMM 2014

Salam,
Sambungan dari sini..

Day 3,
Pagi ini rehat dulu di bilik... Dalam pukul 8.15 gitu kuar utk menjelajah Bandar Tawau. Jalan kaki sahaja.hehe. Destinasi2 kami :

Pasar Tanjung Tawau

Selepas jalan kaki dari VS Guest house dalam 10-15minit, sampai la ke Pasar ini. Tujuan adalah untuk breakfast dan shopping! shopping ikan kering dan traditional food :)

pintu masuk pasar tanjung

Pasar Tanjung ni ala2 Pasar Siti Khadijah yg dekat Kelantan tu. Disini, setiap level jualan berbeza. Ground floor ada jual traditional food sabah such as amplang dan sayur-sayuran. 2nd level ada jual ikan kering,sotong kering gitu. Third floor x silap ada jual pakaian. Dan atas sekali food court. Bila duduk di meja makan, m.cik2 gerai tu datang bertanyakan makanan apa yg nak di order. kesian plak beramai2 datang tp dekat seorang ja la kami order. tapi tapi kan , m.cik2 ni baik sesama mereka. tiada dengki dalam perniagaan. kira, sorang yg dapat order tu, dia akan agihkan ke kedai2 lain. bagus kan. semua dapat rezeki sama rata. kira utk seorang, dia assign utk satu kedai even kami order benda yg sama.kami 6 orang,kira 6 gerai yg berbeza.,bila order sampai, different person yg hantar. itu yg kami dapat figure out tu. cuma nya time nak bayar kena igt m.cik yg ambik pesanan tu.senang skit nak bayar.nnt dia yg bayar kan kt kwn2 dia.dekat semenanjung nak dapat situasi macam ni, memang tak la.

Menu yg lain skit adalah Soto Makassar. Kawan Eija yg order.sedap jugak .ala sup.

Breakfast Nasi goreng kampung sahaja.

view dari foodcourt

pandangan dari atas

Selepas kekenyangan breakfast, kami menuju ke level bawah utk shopping buah tangan seperti ikan kering, amplang dan etc.

hasil shopping :)

Kemudian, kami ke,

Pasar Ikan Tawau

Pasar ini terletak belakang Pasar Tanjung. Kat sini boleh dapat ikan fresh.Tujuan adalah untuk mencari lobster pesanan ayah Izzah. Tapi kat sini tiada yg frozen utk di bawa ke semenanjung. Bila sahaja jejak kaki di dalam pasar ikan ini, akan da budak-budak datang mengikut nak tolong angkat barang. Tapi later kena upah. pandai-pandai elak la ya. budak-budak tu nanti asyik mengikut ja dalam pasar tu. so,abaikan la depa.

Budak-budak yg mengikut

Selepas yg dicari tidak dijumpai, kami pulang semula ke guest house.

Tawau bah, Day 2 #TMM2014

Sambungan dari sini..


Selepas 2 jam perjalanan dari Semporna, tibalah kami ke Tawau. Transportation ke Tawau pon dah include skali pakej:)...
Misi mencari VS Guest House. Di sebabkan p.cik driver tu mcm xpnh dgr VS Guest House tu, kami pon guna GPS utk assist. Pakej tour kami sampai setakat ini sahaja.Untuk makluman, VS guest house ni berada sebaris dengan masjid, berhadapan dgn hotel KK, dan berada berdekatan dengan Tawau Sentral Market, dan berdekatan dgn Servey Supermarket. Selepas check in, rehat sat dan misi mencari dinner.perut dah lapo.First igt misi utk mencari seafood, tapi kami jmpa kedai yg di propose oleh receptionist tu, ada signage carlsberg terus x jad.Sorry sesangat, x igt nama kedai seafood yg dipropose tapi if stay dkt VS guest house ni , ad dia lekat kat papan notis dia pasal kedai seafood tu.kitaorg pon tgk direction by map yg dia lekat dkt papan announcement dia. g cari jalan kaki ja...lepas x jadi mkn seafood,kami just makan dekat kedai muslim yg sederet dgn kedai seafood tu.sebab malas dah nak cari plus perut dah lapo.huhu. Menu yg menjadi pilihan, Nasi Lalap.

Rupa nasi lalap

Sedap jugak nasi lalap ni [tetiba rindu nasi katok brunei.huhu]. Harga pon ok  la, RM5. ad 2 ketul ayam kot.hehe. boleh try...
Misi utk dinner seafood x berjaya, sebab dah x tau nak cari kat mana dah. Tapi lepas kami siap makan, ronda2, tgk rupa-rupanya ad lagi kedai makan yg jual seafood di bahagian belakang.Ad tgk asap2 org dok bakar2. huhu. Tapi dah kenyang ..huhu..
Then pulang ke guest house, terjumpa jgk kedai makan di area belakang guest house. tetiba rasa,oh my,ad ja kedai makan dekat.huhuhuhuh...
then sampai bilik terus zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

Mabul bah, Day 2 #TMM 2014

Kesinambungan dari sini...

Bangun subuh di sabah around 5.30 pagi...dan sempat menikmati sunrise~~Subhanallah, cantiknya...

pics from Izzah

Hari ini hari yg ditunggu2!
Snorkelling di Mabul :)
Pukul 7.30 gitu gather di bawah sambil menikmati light breakfast (roti+ tea/coffee) yg disediakan oleh pihak penginapan and check out skali. Then, dalam pukul 8 lebih, gerak ke Jeti Pelancongan Semporna.. kami naiki bot disini bukan dari Jeti Umum Semporna

Kemudian dok kat sini relax2 dulu dalam setengah jam sebab company yg kami amik pakej ni handle tourist yg nak g diving dekat sipadan dulu..wowowow... lepas abes settle dgn depa, baru kami di entertain dan di bagi briefing...then lepas tu pilih fin :)

di jeti :)

after that depart..:)

rumpai laut

Selepas 45 minit, sampailah ke mabul! Yeay :)..

SubhanaALLAH terpegun..cantiknya :)

note the difference?

Boat park dekat area2 ni dahulu.untuk snorkelling + water confidence...guys g snorkelling dulu, kami yg girls g jalan2 dulu dekat jeti ni dan bergambor..hahha.

Awesome:)

kemudian jom snorkelling!!!tapi tapi Eija swimming ja.haha.x snorkelling pon,x nampak sangat pon coral2 kt bawah tu sebab Eija rabun.power spek dekat 300-400,.huhu.nampak la ad sumthing kt bawah tapi x tau pon apa benda.hahah...

jelos ngan pic mamat ni

tapak sulaiman

saya swimming sahaja:P

Oh, utk makluman, kami sewa ja kamera underwater ni dari pihak  Borneo Global Sipadan Backpackers Lodge. RM 100/ day. so share la ramai2.Then,lepas dah penat snorkelling,terus lunch di atas boat.mmg instructor tu bawak siap2 before kami depart tu....then relax2 atas boat.

Selepas itu ,kami di bawa ke pantai...wehuuuuuu...

Subhanallah...putih suci pasir pantai...superb :)

putih bersih

batang pokok kelapa?

bajau laut... depa mintak duit,up to u nak bagi ka x, tp nnt geng2 dia mai mintak jgk,tanggung sendiri :P

Then,lepas bersiar2, sambung balik snorkelling dekat tempat laen~~~~
Odw ke 2nd destination, ternampak penyu!!!!! dari atas bot boleh nmpk penyu.tapi xsempat nak tangkap gambar.huhu.

Eija really satisfied dgn service yg diberikan kecuali satu ja la, safety jaket time snorkelling tu..huhu..susah nak berenang,sbb sumtime zip terbukak la...guide tu bagus ,tolong tangkap gambar kami time kami snorkelling...jaga safety kami..

guide kami.excelllent!

Then after sejam lebih jugak,gerak ke Semporna balik...

Siap2 tukar baju di  Borneo Global Sipadan Backpackers Lodge (even kami dah check out, dia benarkan kami mandi+ bersiap di bilik dorm depa), kami ke area Dragon Inn utk last shopping di Semporna sebelum gerak ke Tawau.

Semporna bah, Day 1 #TMM2014

Salam,
Last saturday gerak ke tawau dari kl menggunakan airasia.
Tiket flight KL-Tawau-KL only cost RM 130 [beli bln 7 thn lepas lagi :)]
Trip ni kira reunion dgn kwn2 langkawi dulu yakni Ilia & Izzah...
tapi kami p total dalam 9 orang...
Misi utama adalah utk ke Pulau Mabul!

Berkumpul di LCCT, then departed around 11 a.m (tentatively 10.40 a.m), then estimated 2 hours 55 minutes, we arrived at Tawau Airport. Lama gila flight.huhu.

safely landed:)

Turun ja dari flight, mmg cari makan dulu.lapo. breakfast makan roti saja b4 naik flight tu.
Ok, makan nasi ayam + air orange twister kena RM12. ok,fine, dekat airport, harga mahal.huhu.
Oh bila dah sampai tu, ad tour guide yg dtg pick up sebab Eija and the gang g under tour pakej. Pakej 2 hari 1 malam cost us RM300/person.Thank you to Ilia yg carikan pakej ni time Matta Fair.sgt puas hati. Tapi sebenarnya ad 2 trip flight,geng2 oficemate Ilia dtg naik flight tgh hari tu, so kena tunggu depa jgk.
Then sementara tu, makan + sembahyang siap2.

Bila depa dah arrived, kami pon gerak ke Semporna. Perjalanan mengambil masa kira-kira 2 jam.

van yg membawa kami ke semporna

Tibalah kami di Semporna..Kami menginap di Borneo Global Sipadan Backpackers Lodge.

antara pakej tour yg disediakan

Selepas letak barang, tanpa berlengah decide utk jalan2 di sekitar area situ.

Jalan kaki dalam 5 minit,sampai di Dragon Inn Floating Resort.wowowo, resort atas air.nice~~~

kawasan sekitar

Oh, sekitar sini ad dijual souvenir. Eija grab fridge magnet  Semporna and t shirt tulis mabul~~~hehe. tp honestly, ssh sgt nak dpt fridge magnet/key chain mabul dekat semporna ni.huuhuh. fridge magnet yg paling murah dapat 5 keping RM10. Memang x beli pon fridge magnet/key chain mabul kt sini sebab x jumpa.jumpa satu fridge magnet ni tulis mabul tp harga around rm20++, mmg x beli lahh..huhuh.

Selepas round2 sekitar situ, dalam pukul 6 kembali semula ke tmpt penginapan.then, kami dibawa ke Borneo Semporna Proboscis River Cruise utk dinner. dalam sejam jugak rasa perjalanan kami.tapi kami x la dinner atas cruise ok. ad restoran di situ.

Di area ni byk species monyet Proboscis. color kulit dia koko cerah and kecik skit dari monyet biasa.Kawasan ni pon kawasan paya bakau.

ansara langkawi :)

tp bila sampai tu makanan x ready lagi.huhu. so,kami lepak2 dahulu menikmati udara segar. perasan tak ad bot dekat jeti tu, rs2 nya tu la bot yg digunakan utk tourist yg join river cruise. then, ada performance tau menyambut ketibaan pelancong yg ikut river cruise tour tu..yg join pakej Borneo Semporna Proboscis River Cruise.. kami pon menumpang tengok sama la...for those yg nak join tour tu bleh book kat sini @ sini

performance menyambut ketibaan pelancong yg join river cruise

Then we enjoyed our dinner. makanan yg disediakan ala bufet. ada seafood. tapi yg x best tidak disediakan air sejuk.huhuhu. ad tea/coffee/air masak.hauhauhauah. Kat restoran ni beware dgn monyet2 situ, ad monyet nakal yg boleh amik barang kita.huhu.

Selepas kekenyangan makan dan kena gigit dek nyamuk, kami pon bergerak pulang ke tempat penginapan. Oh, bila pulang pon , org tu buat persembahan jgk. :)

 Selepas rehat sat,keluar balik ke area Dragon Inn resort floating menikmati angin dingin malam :)

Then zzzzzzz.

Review Accomodatin : Tune Hotel 1Borneo, Kota Kinabalu

During my conference time for IOGSE 2013, I stayed at Tune Hotel. The location is really near the conference venue,Novotel Hotel.
Just a bit info about the hotel from my experience.

Tune Hotel 1Borneo, KK

Price
-My friend manage to get cheap price. Just cost RM56.80/person for 3 nights. A total price per room for 3 nights was RM 170.40. This include towel,toiletries kits & 24 hours aircond [as u all aware that,everything need to purchase when staying @ Tune Hotel.huhu.]

Location
-Inside 1BORNEO Mall. about 20-30 minutes to KK Town.But you can get free shuttle bus to KK Town at the mall.

Receptionist
-Ok

Breakfast
-No breakfast provided

Room
-  The size is small

Bathroom
-Ok

Wifi

- Need to purchase.

Details & Booking can be done through tunehotel website.

Conclusion :
Value for money and I prefer to stay at KK town if I come for travelling. 

Review Accomodation: High Street Inn, Kota Kinabalu

High Street Inn,KK

Price
-Affordable for the backpackers like me. RM80/person for 2 nights.

Location
-Good. By walking can reach city attraction such as Suria Mall, Jesselton Jetty, Gaya Sunday Market, Pasar Malam

Receptionist
-Ok

Breakfast
-No breakfast provided

Room
-  The size is just nice
- Aircond

Bathroom
-Heater provided

Wifi

- provided.

Details & Booking can be done through here 

Conclusion :
Recommended for backpacking.value for money and the location is good. 

Conference @ Sabah Bah: Day 6

Huh. Dah masuk hari ke-6 berada di sabah.
Bgn awal siap2. Then kami ke GAYA SUNDAY MARKET.
 igtkan jauh, rupany2 selang sebaris dari tempat penginapan kami.dekatttt ja.hahaha. kami just round. window shopping. Yon ad jgk beli souvenir, Eija tgk sahaja..hehe.

sekitar area gaya sunday market

then,kemudian amik barang ,check out and amik taxi ke KKIA.

High Street Inn - KKIA  Cost: RM 30/taxi.

Then terbanglah kami ke semenanjung menaiki MALINDO Air. Tiket price : RM98 . Harga tiket termasuk luggage 20kg + air+ roti. Saja nak try naik MALINDO. first time.hehe.ad flight entertainement lagi.layan movie satttt..hehe.tapi yg movie dalam list tak provide substitle dlm bhs melayu.huhuuh.

Landed di KLIA around 2 p.m if not mistaken.

sekian sudah perjalanan ke sabah. Tq to CGS of UTP kerana support fee conference + hotel + meal [hotel n meal  claim lagi ni.hehe] , LRGS kerana support transportation [boleh la merasa naik MAS & MALINDO]. 

Rentetan pengalaman + perjalanan Eija di sabah:

Pre departure
Day 1
Day 1,part II
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5

P/S: all photo di sabah kredit to Yon. al maklumla Eija xdak kamera.heheh.