2009 > Sebana Cove to KK
En route to the Tioman Islands, west coast Malaysia. The vapor trail shows a good choice made by the drivers, probably on climb out of KL.
Picked up a mooring and spent a great few days diving at Aur, 28 nm SE Tioman Island
Landfall Borneo, Sarawak, Malaysia. An idyllic anchorage N 02 01.919 E 109 39.427. A freshwater lagoon behind a sandy beach. Our friends and fellow sailors Allan and Erika ham it for the camera.
We attended the Rainforest Music Festival, Santabong. It ran for three days/nights during July. International and local artists came together to demonstrate and promote their music. Well worthwhile to attend as we witnessed some wonderful skills and visual effects.
Riverfront at Kuching, and on the opposite shore the State Legislative Assembly, Kuching
Niah Caves near Miri, Sarawak. Reportedly the second largest cave worldwide.
Enroute Miri to Brunei, numerous platforms dot the horizon. Anchored in an artificial harbor, Brunei. Complete with palaces ashore, an artificial island plus berthing for mega yachts/ships. All made possible from the enormous wealth from the petro dollar falling into the hands of just a few namely the Sultan of Brunei and his family.
Took a tour up a small river near Bandar Beri Bagawan, capital of Brunei. A great experience, not so good for the health of propellers as you can see. The journey upriver terminated at a tourist "eco site" with a small museum and a fantastic boardwalk through the tree tops.
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Tree top Boardwalk great views from dizzy heights
Bandar Beri Bagawan
14.07.09
16.07.09
21.07.09
Miri
Today we checked in and out, at immigration and customs. No money cost.. I have paid the marina up to 24.07, at 2rm per day for power and water, and a rm per foot for the boat. (44 + 2=46x8 days =368rm) Not to bad in price.
It’s lovely having the air con, it is great , the place is alive with sand flies in the evening, so we can scurry down the borrow out of the way of the pests.
Tomorrow we go to some caves and then a dinner the day after that and then we leave Miri for Brunei.
24.07.09 E/hrs 7762
Miri - Brunei
25.07.09
Brunei
Anchor up 0600hrs too tired to remember to take down E/hrs. 25nms to Brunei.
Anchor down 1030hrs at the 1st yacht club point, and typical no one knows what the go is. It took 4 hrs to get checked in. Dinner BBQ was bloody fantastic at the club.
26/27/28.07.09
Brunei
3 days of constant rally things, we sailed down to the other site of the RBYC, with 3 teenagers and 2 adult ladies on board. Good Morning, we watched Baker Street run a ground, and arrived in time for great lunch roast at the club. 1400hrs saw us on a bus to do tour of the city, yet again, great. Back to the boat for a quick change and then of to the Polo Club for Dinner, just average food but lots of money around in opulence and the Sultan. On way home I asked to see the Empire Hotel, fantastic. Next morn back on bus at 0715 for the rainforest river trip, yet again great. We rafted down the rapids on a lilo and the river taxi rides which they call coffin taxi were unreal.
We really like Brunei and Allen Richies made money from us but every cent well worth it. Dinner at the club and it was movie nite also.
28.07.09 E/hrs7783
Brunei - KK
Anchor up 0700hrs to head back down to the 1st yacht club anchorage, so we can check out. Anchor down 0845. In to the club with the usual waiting waiting waiting ect. Finally the boys (Al and MPG) got in the dingy and went them selves to check out at customs and immigration. Last lunch at club and the anchor up at 1315hrs on way to KK E/hrs 7784
Should be there in early morning. Now just on dust we have some wind and engine is just ticking over. What a lovely sail.!!!
29.07.09 E/hrs 7793.5
KK
Arrived out side Kota Kinabalu Sutera Harbour Marina, at 0600hrs, got the boat ready and we were able to get into this absolutely beautiful Marina with Indulg next to us. Although very tired we have checked in and settled in to KK.
30.07.09
KK
Will stay in this paradise for a while. We think we have a bike lined up for today, so when it stops raining we can go for it. Got the bike and have done heaps.
31.07.09
KK - Kadat
Rode to Kadat today 190kms on the bike, long bum sore trip, but great to be out and doing it. The boat yard is very primitive, and we won’t lift out Mahili there, so that means back to Langkawi for us. Stayed over nite at Marina hotel, crappy, but severed the purpose of rest for the old girl!! Rode back next morning, good ride back. Very pretty country side.
We will do land travel here for a while and see as much as we can around Sabah.
02.08.09
KK Final Rally function Sutera Harbour
Last do for the rally tonight. I went to town, had a wax job, great to feel hairless again. Cocktails on jetty at 1800hrs then dinner on the Tennis court. Fantastic night.
03.08.09
Indulg last day today. We will go to supermart and out board place with them today, then dinner tonight. Hope to get on the rode again in the next few days. Found the super mart not to bad, Dinner was good at small Chinese eating house not far from marina.
04.08.09
KK
Indulg left today Al even cracked up, he didn’t want to go. Any way we will now decide what to do. This is a lovely marina, but it’s now time to get on the go again.
05.08.09 – 09.08.09
KK
Well we have made plans!!! Tomorrow Monday10th we ride to Sandakan, there we will do the river jungle run with 4 Star Michelle & Midge. Return and get ready to leave for Langkawi on the 17th-20th where we will pick up Kermit and ride to Penang, for clutch work and skin Dr. Riding from there to Hat Yai and then on to Trang to say hi to Jayne and Roger. Moving then North to Chang Mai area and then to Laos and Cambodia. Even maybe Vietnam. All depends on time.
Back to boat and KK 1st Nov prepare then to go to Aus on the 10th Nov-20th Dec.
Back to boat again prepare to leave for Philippines. Yes!!!
We are enjoying this marina, except for the wee in the marina/ holding tank problems. We will survive. We have had a few problems with Eric Fruen but all is well now. They leave soon for Langkawi. So we may not see each other for a while.
Will write on our return from Sandakan.
10.08.09
Sandakan
WOW what a great 4 days. Rode to Sandakan, it took 9hrs or so as we took the wrong long way, but it was really beautiful. The mountains and hills and cool weather were lovely. Arrived very tired at the Sandakan Hotel, very western and a big bed and hot shower. We met Hardi our guide. Told him we would have the next day to rest and do our own thing.
11.08.09 Sandakan
Went to Agnes Keith’s house unreal, I really got a buzz out of seeing that. We were told we could not go in as the power was off, but I was able to sweet talk the guards and they let us in, just for a few mins, which was great as no one else was there. So we snapped of as many photos as we could, and made a quick get away. Then on to the Yacht Club, Dump!! Then just relaxed back at the hotel.
12.08.09
Met 4 Star at the Airport, and then we were on our way. Bird Nest caves 1st; even I climb up to the top, which was good as we saw an orang-utan the 1st of many. Hardi showed us the white and black birds nest, and even the collection of them.
To the river and drop of our gear and lunch, river prawns, bloody beaut.
On the river we saw the most incredible things No# 1 Pigmy Elephants Fanbloodytastic. We saw lots of monkey’s Proboscis and others. Birds, snakes, u name it, it was there all thanks to Hardi. Dinner followed and then another boat night safari trip, which I went to bed instead, MPG loved it.
13.08.09
Up at 0530 and on the river by 0600hrs till 0900hr and breakfast. Again the river was full of interesting animals and with Hardi’s keen eye site we saw it all. We then drove back to town and the Hotel and dinner with 4 Star on the water’s front bistro. Early night as we were all buggered.
14.08.09
Rode all the way back the right way, to KK, only talking 71/2 hrs. Thank God its Friday Martini’s on Fruen, our last drinks together, for a while.
15.08.09
Said goodbye to Fruen this morning. Sad but it’s time to move on. We now pack and get boat ready for Monday to go Langkawi and the bike.