SDK-TWU-SPN trip (back date 17-21 April 2014) Semporna Trip

To travel all the way from Tawau to SEMPORNA is easy because they have a very nice highway that links them together. That's why if you want to go to Semporna, you need to fly to the nearest airport which is in Tawau before travel by land to Semporna. Semporna is forever a tourist hotspot which packed with tourists from many other countries for its nice islands and sites for diving! For this trip, our plan was just to go for some island hopping and snorkeling only. We hired one boat that ferry us from one island to another island all day long. Let the pictures tell the remaining story! =)

High tide at the jetty. Just need to remove our slippers and hop on the boat! 

 On the way to Bohey Dulang! 30 minutes boat journey to the island for some hiking (warm-up) before snorkeling.. =)

Bohey Dulang.. Hike for about 600 meters ( ~ 30 to 45 minutes) and you can get a nice view of the islands below! =) 

Everyone still look energetic in the picture =)

 600 meters.. Almost there...

Ta daa.. Fascinating  view from the peak!!!

 We can't leave this place just like that without a group picture..

 Group picture before leaving Bohey Dulang for Pom-pom Island!

Just spend a little time at Pom-pom Island before heading to Mataking Island which is 30 minutes boat ride away! 

Clear sea of Mataking Island =) Time for some snorkeling..

Jumpshot time! #1

Jumpshot time! #2 

Okie, last view of the blue blue water before leaving Mataking Island! 

Time to go home... =(

The cost of renting the boat is RM 1000 regardless of the number of people. Package includes traveling to 3 places and snorkeling set. The more people you have, the lesser it's being divided among everyone. Packed lunch (Nasi Lalap) is included as well with bottles of mineral water. There are actually many companies which offer such services. So, try your best to search for the best one on the internet and book before hand!

To be continued...

SDK-TWU-SPN trip (back date 17-21 April 2014) Mui Lok Coffee Shop @ Tawau

On the day before we were heading towards Semporna for island hopping, we managed to have our breakfast at this little coffee shop, Kedai Kopi Mui Lok. The shop is located the corner of rows of shops and facing an old petrol station. This coffee shop opens very early in the morning and they have a lot of varieties of food, ranging from buns, char kuey, roti kahwin and dim sum. Luckily we came in in quite a big group and we managed to taste bits of everything! =)

The steamer for the buns!

Roti kahwin.. Just plain fresh bread from the oven spread with some butter and kaya... Simple but yet nice..

Dim Sum.. Not too bad. But it's a bit too heavy for the early breakfast! 

Roti kahwin again but with the toasted bread this time.. =) Finish it once served on the table.. 

Steamed buns with lots of stuffing!  Really worth your money...

Char Kuey with butter and kaya.. Taste almost the same like that one at Bukit Padang! 

 Red bean bun. Lots of stuffing as well. Portion to bread is 1 to 1.. =)

 One group picture without me before we start our journey to Semporna! =)

p.s. Total damage done = RM 44.60.
To be continued...

SDK-TWU-SPN trip (back date 17-21 April 2014) Pumpkin Cafe & Sam Kei @ Tawau

After checking into the hotel, touring around Tawau town and picking up one more buddy who came all the way from Kuching, Sarawak, it was already time for dinner! And again, food trip is never satisfy with only one dinner! Ha-ha.. First destination was the Leong Porridge House a.k.a Pumpkin Restaurant. This restaurant is located near the town jail in Tawau and it's about 33 KM drive from the airport. And it's packed most of the time. Operating time is 5 pm onwards, close on days which they have not enough workers to run their business. I have no idea why this restaurant comes with 2 names but that's not our concern. Our concern is just how good is their food!

Basically, they are famous for their pumpkin dessert, 3 colour porridge, pork satay, ye sang and wotip. So we just ordered what they have and start comparing with other places one!

Pumpkin dessert came first! Something special which you must try. Tasted something like smooth squeezed pumpkin with some added sugar! Not too sweet and tasted just good for everyone!! 

 "Ye Sang" (Raw fish slices) with sesame oil, ginger and perhaps some lime. One of their specialty... Not a good choice for those who doesn't eat raw food

Stewed pork internal organs... Very tasty and but a bit too salty with the salted vegetables.. Overall: Good!!!

"Wotip" (Pan-fried prok dumplings).. I guess KK have better wotip than this one! It doesn't seems like minced meat to me within.. RM 8 for 10 pieces

Pork Satay.. This one is better than KK one.. Good complementary with the spicy sauce! We even bought back some to the hotel for supper! It's only RM 1 per stick..  

 3-colour porridge. It's actually white porridge with salted egg, century egg and normal chicken egg. Mixed all together and you will get something like the picture below!!

Ta daa... 3-colour porridge after mixing. Something different from the normal porridge which you have meaty stuff!! Total damage done for dinner #1 = RM 79.30

 Group picture before moving the next place and cameraman is always not in the picture!! =)

Next, to find this place is never easy because this small tiny little stall is hidden behind Kam Ling Seafood Restaurant. Our next destination is Sam Kei Claypot chicken rice with ye sang and wotip! It seems that the friendly owner is also from West Malaysia. He started this business since many years ago. When he was asked why there wasn't any sign to direct the customer to this restaurant from the main road, he was quite pissed off. So please don't ask this question anymore. You know, I know!

Appetizer, second round of "Ye sang"! As compared to the previous one, this is inferior to the previous one. But not too bad overall.

Claypot chicken rice. The one portion is big enough to feed at least 3 hungry mouths! No doubt that this chicken rice is recommended by some blogs. One of the best one in Sabah.. 

"Wotip"... This is definitely not the best one in town... The meat within is a bit too dry...

And one last thing to avoid constipation for everyone! =) Total damage done for dinner #2 = RM 57

That's all for the second day of the trip in Tawau... Seafood has yet to come... Hiak hiak... =p

To be continued...