HomeMalaysia

Pulau Ketam Photowalk

byMalaysia Asia
-February 28, 2022

In February 2020, I followed a casual photography group to do a Pulau Ketam Photowalk, as it has been almost 30 years since I last visited this fishing village in Selangor.Surprisingly, very little has changed since my visit in the 90s, but there were significant noticeable ones, including the new jetty and other smaller buildings.Pulau Ketam PhotowalkBefore you continue, let me share what Pulau Ketam is about - It is an old Chinese fishing village that has been around for many years.The fishing village is also built on stilts due to the in and outgoing tides and is surrounded by a massive mangrove system off Port Klang.The beautiful Pulau Ketam fishing village.In the good old days, before air travel, locals came here to get away from the city or take a short break. Seafood was the primary produce here and still is.The locals mainly deal with the supply of fresh or processed seafood to the mainland, and in the last 20 years, the island has seen some growth in local tourism.So, when the opportunity came up for this Pulau Ketam Photowalk, I immediately signed up to attend this half-day trip, which started at 8.30 AM and ended at 1.00 PM.I also wanted to test my FujiFilm X-S10 for bird photography, as mangroves are always marvellous for shorebirds, waterbirds, and raptors.Therefore, I had my Fuji and Samsung Galaxy S10+ for this trip, using the latter for landscape and general photos.The South Port Pulau Ketam Jetty in Port Klang.This huge golden crab is spotted just before you board the ferry to Pulau Ketam.Once you are ready to board the ferry, you will walk along this new jetty.The group was decent, with 12 people meeting at the Pulau Ketam Jetty in Port Klang and then taking a speed boat (RM12 one way per person), a 40-minute journey.Once we reached Pulau Ketam, we had a quick briefing about the dos and don'ts here and went on our way.The island is relatively small, with two main streets occupied by shops and restaurants on both sides, while several hotels and homestays are available.The rest of the island is mainly dominated by the local fishermen's homes and a couple of temples; therefore, it takes work to get lost here.Sitting at the back of the ferry shows you this scenery.The locals are quite friendly, as long as you do not intrude into their lifestyle, just like anywhere else. But they smile at visitors, provided you don't show arrogance or attitude when there.Pulau Ketam is well known to be electric-friendly for those who prefer not to walk, as there are no cars or motorbikes here, just electric bicycles.Therefore, you can easily rent an electric bike for RM10 and hour, RM20 for three hours or RM50 for the whole day. I chose to walk as I wanted to see the details of the island.Photos of Pulau KetamBelow are random photos taken with my Galaxy S10+ using mostly ultra-wide-angle to capture the full beauty of the Pulau Ketam fishing village.Each photo is resized for web publishing and minimally edited here; therefore, they are not high-resolution. This is just for the viewers to understand what can be photographed here.Arriving at the Pulau Ketam jetty.As you walk along the jetty, the scenery when the tide is out.Once you enter the island, this is the first thing that greets you.And for those who prefer to take things easy, electric bikes are available for rental.Life in Pulau Ketam is simple and easy.The local Balai Polis or a police station.One of the few Chinese temples at Pulau Ketam.An arch that was done for the Selangor Silver Jubilee in 1985.Locals call this 'Kedai Runcit' or provision shop.A 'Tuck Shop' sells souvenirs, sweets and junk food.The only photo studio which doubles as another business.The post office is shared with another old-style shop.Electric bikes are the primary mode of transport on the island. There are no cars here.This is the largest building in Pulau Ketam.A lively main street awaits visitors on the weekend.Low-angle shots at Pulau Ketam town.One of the local houses at Pulau Ketam.The famous Pulau Ketam bridge connects the other part of the island.A private water gazebo.Beautiful river landscape photos.Shops sell a variety of items.Jalan Besar Pekan Road is the main shopping street of Pulau Ketam.A Chinese temple from across the river.Several hotels and homestays are available at Pulau Ketam.At least they have a little amusement centre for kids here.Electric bike rentals are available at the entrance to Pulau Ketam.I managed to also do some smartphone bird photography.Several street art murals are seen around Pulau Ketam.The beautiful landscape of Pulau Ketam.On route back from the island, I passed Northport.Where is Pulau Ketam?This could be a question for those who have never been here or non-Malaysians who work here. Pulau Ketam is an island located just outside of Port Klang in Selangor.From the main jetty, it takes about 40 minutes to get to the island via ferry from the Port Klang jetty and from Kuala Lumpur, it will take about one hour to drive here.Alternatively, you can take the KTM Kommuter from KL Sentral, which ends at Port Klang and just walk one minute to the jetty.Google Maps shows where Pulau Ketam is located.My Gear For the Pulau Ketam PhotowalkUsually, I focus on my smartphone photography, using a Samsung Galaxy S10+ for my overall photos, including landscape photos in the ultra-wide-mode and standard lifestyle and street photography settings.But this time, I also brought my FujiFilm X-S10 mirrorless camera fitted with an XF 70-300mm lens and a 2.0 TC. My sole purpose was to capture bird photography and test the telephoto landscape shots.That's me during the Pulau Ketam Photowalk.ConclusionThe Pulau Ketam Photowalk brought back some of my early day memories, namely the friendliness of the older people here.It is also a great place to explore for a day trip, provided you come here early and leave just after lunch, as it can get really hot and humid.You can also check out some of my other Photowalks in Malaysia, as I have been documenting them over the years. And if you're interested in attending my photowalks, look me up on my Facebook or Instagram.

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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HomeKedah

Things to See, Do and Eat at Tanjung Rhu Langkawi

byMalaysia Asia
-December 15, 2021

With many people heading to the island of Langkawi in Kedah, Malaysia, I have come up with a general list of things to see, do and eat at the Tanjung Rhu area of the island.
This will give you information about the northern part of Langkawi Island, which is often overlooked by many travellers heading here. Also, the Langkawi Geopark is located around here too.

Things to See, Do and Eat at Tanjung Rhu Langkawi

The Tanjung Rhu area is located in one of the secluded areas of Langkawi Island and is probably home to one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.

To get here, it only takes about 30 to 40 minutes to drive from Pantai Cenang or Kuah Town, and only one main road leads to Tanjung Rhu.Visitors exploring the Kilim Geoforest Park mangroves.
What are the Things to See and Do at Tanjung Rhu?

While Tanjung Rhu is located in the area of the Kilim Geoforest Park, which spans over 100 square kilometres from the northeast to the north of the island.

There are several beautiful attractions to see around this area, and just to reinforce, this is a natural area with no manmade tourist attractions. (Well, except for the floating fish farms and restaurants)

Kilim Mangrove Tour - This is the best thing anyone can do here, and you should always engage a credible tour company specialising in this.

This is because too many un-sanctioned tour operators or unethical operators just do it for the money. I strongly recommend booking a tour from reputable companies that practice responsible and ethical tourism experiences.The sandbank and Karst Island are outside of the Tanjung Rhu Resort.

The Famous Tanjung Rhu Beach Karst Island is easily spotted from the main Tanjung Rhu beach, directly facing the Tanjung Rhu Resort. The best time to experience this is during the full or new moon each month when the tides go all the way out. You can walk to the karst island from the beach along a sandbank.Explore the main Tanjung Rhu Beach - This commercial part of Tanjung Rhu attracts many beach lovers. The pristine white sand beach has mushroomed with businesses renting deck chairs and water-sport activities with local hawkers selling food and drinks.Tanjung Rhu is also known to be one of the bird-watching spots in Langkawi.

Bird Watchers Paradise - Tanjung Rhu is one of Langkawi's popular bird-watching locations. By just walking the resort road or the main road here, you can easily spot over 20 species of birds.

The best time is in the mornings or late afternoons, but I recommend you engage a professional bird guide for this.

Among the guides, you can always contact Tanjung Rhu Resort as they have nature and bird guides available, or as an alternative, you can look for Wendy Nature Guide, one of the recommended bird guides.Langkawi's most famous fish and chips at Scarborough, Tanjung Rhu.What are the Things to Eat at Tanjung Rhu?For those wanting some great food, there are many resorts and local restaurants along the main Tanjung Rhu Road and all the way to the jetty area.Eat at Scarborough Fish and Chips Restaurant - Probably the most famous fish and chips restaurant in Langkawi and the north of Malaysia. Scarborough Fish & Chips Restaurant Langkawi has been around for more than 10 years and made a massive name for itself. Definitely, a recommended place if you love Western food or just fish and chips.Eat at Tanjung Rhu Resort - The main resort at the end of Tanjung Rhu offers several open restaurants for the public to walk in and dine in. The Sands Restaurant offers ala-carte Asian and Continental cuisine, while the Sands Pool Bar offers interesting snacks like pizzas, burgers, and fries.The new Rumah Ikan Fish House at the Four Seasons Resort.Eat at Four Seasons Langkawi - A fantastic restaurant called Ikan-Ikan resembles a traditional Malay home setting and serves award-winning traditional Malay cuisine. However, this is targeted towards the well-heeled market.Eat at the Local Shops at the End of Jalan Tanjung Rhu. Just before the main Tanjung Rhu mangrove jetty at the end of the road, several local restaurants sell seafood and other local Malay dishes, which are also recommended to try.Dawan Thai Kitchen along the Tanjung Rhu road.Local Malay Food around Tanjung Rhu - There are several local Malay warungs found at the main roundabout here, and one of them to try is D'Bendang Nasi Campoq, by the main Ulu Melaka Road. This warung serves some fantastic local Malay mixed rice and is open for lunch only.Dawan Thai Kitchen at Tanjung Rhu - This new Thai restaurant is the talk of Tanjung Rhu, with many locals coming here to eat. However, it is not your Bangkok Thai good, but more of the Southern Thailand style of cuisine.One of the floating fish farms and restaurants at Tanjung  Rhu.What NOT to do at Tanjung RhuEating Expensive Seafood - In 2021, there was controversy about an expensive seafood meal in Langkawi at one of the floating fish farms near Tanjung Rhu. The meal was apparently had by seven locals who paid RM1,852 for a meal, including an RM1,196 Siakap fish.This says you should be cautious when eating at certain tourist places in Langkawi and always double check the seafood price before confirming your order.Renting a Car or Motorbike - Always ensure that the person or company you rent from has proper insurance coverage for any car or bike you rent. There have been cases where cheap car and bike rentals are offered without insurance coverage, and if you do get into an accident, the problems start.
Where is Tanjung Rhu Located in Langkawi Island?

A map showing how long it takes from the airport to Tanjung Rhu. Photo Google Maps

It is located in the island's northern part and away from commercial areas like Pantai Cenang and Kuah Town.

Most visitors to Langkawi will depart from the Langkawi Airport, and the journey to Tanjung Rhu will take around 25 minutes to drive one way.

There is only one main road leading to Tanjung Rhu, the main 112 road known as Jalan Ulu Melaka. By the way, Jalan is the Malay name for Road.

When you reach the small roundabout at Air Hangat, just continue straight to Road 111, Jalan Tanjung Rhu. Keep on this road until the end and you have reached the main jetty area. The Tanjung Rhu Resort is located on the left, on a private road.The resort at night.What is at Tanjung Rhu?
You can find only one main resort in the core area: the Tanjung Rhu Resort. This is a 5-star semi-luxurious resort that caters to singles, couples and family travellers who want a peaceful getaway in Langkawi.At the end of the main road is the famous Tanjung Rhu Mangrove Jetty, where visitors can book tours to Kilim Geoforest Park. Around the jetty area are also local Malay restaurants and souvenir shops.Before you enter the core Tanjung Rhu area, you will also pass the commercial beach of Tanjung Rhu, where several homestays and restaurants are found.And before you enter the mangrove area of Tanjung Rhu, you will pass the Four Seasons Resort on the left of the main road.A beautiful sunset at the Tanjung Rhu Resort.How to Get to Tanjung Rhu?
From Kuah Town, you can just take a taxi or rent a car and drive up to the northern part of Langkawi. Tanjung Rhu is located in the middle of north Langkawi.All roads will connect to the main Ulu Melaka road connecting to Road 111, the Tanjung Rhu main road. Use Waze or Google Maps, and you will be easily led there.
ConclusionThis article was created for anyone who plans to visit the Tanjung Rhu area of Langkawi Island. It is in the island's northern part and is connected by one main road, easily accessed by all areas.While first-timers may have questions about this place, the things to see, do and eat at Tanjung Rhu highlight most questions, except for places to stay.

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Langkawi Island
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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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HomeGalaxy Z Flip

Black Sand Beach at Langkawi with Galaxy Z Flip3

byMalaysia Asia
-December 07, 2021

Since Malaysia opened up to domestic tourism after the 3rd Movement Control Order (MCO3), I finally visited the famous Black Sand Beach in Langkawi with my Galaxy Z Flip3 phone.Since the Covid19 pandemic hit us all, many people have been yearning to travel somewhere, but international borders have been closed for almost two years.In Malaysia, we finally opened up for local tourism in mid-October, and this was my chance to take a much-needed trip away from the city to the island of Langkawi with my new flip phone.Black Sand Beach at Langkawi with Galaxy Z Flip3An overall view of the Black Sand Beach with the sea swings.While in Langkawi, I always put up at the Tanjung Rhu Resort due to the seclusion away from the commercial crowds, especially around the Pantai Cenang area.And when I arrive, my car rental guy will stand by a vehicle; therefore, it is convenient for me to drive around Langkawi when I am here.This trip I made in late October was more of a casual trip for birdwatching in Langkawi and sightseeing around the island.One of the places I have not been in over ten years is Langkawi's famous Black Sand Beach, located near Ayer Hangat village.Below are random photos of the Black Sand Beach taken with a Galaxy Z Flip3 5G smartphone and minimally edited for this article.You will see this sign from the car park before entering the beach area.This beautiful archway was taken with my ultra-wide mode on the Galaxy Z Flip3.You will come to the Rainbow Staircase to the beach right after the arch.The beach has two staircase entrances at the end of the Rainbow Stairs - left and right.Several notice boards at the concrete gazebo contain information about the beach.There is also some information about the local folklore of Black Sand Beach.A close-up photo of the black sand using normal mode on the Galaxy Z Flip3.This is an ultra-wide photo of the black sand on the beach here.A water outlet creates a small stream into the sea, showing the layering of the sand.The layering of the beach sand shows the brown and black mixtures containing fine tourmaline.The sea swings are located on the beach.Pantai Pasir Hitam LangkawiThis place is also known in Malay as Pantai Pasir Hitam. The island council recently completed the site, catering to local and international visitors.There is a proper car park outside, and the entrance will allow visitors to go through a small shopping arcade selling local items, including food, snacks and craft.The visit here is free, and there is no charge whatsoever. However, please note that the place may be crowded on weekends and public holidays.Google Maps showing where the Black Sand Beach is located at Ayer Hangat.Where is the Black Sand Beach in Langkawi?This beach is located along Jalan Teluk Yu (Road 113) in the Ayer Hangat area of Langkawi and near the main roundabout heading to Tanjung Rhu.It is about 500 to 700 metres away from the main roundabout, and there is a parking lot, a Medan Niaga Black Sand Beach with souvenir shops, a small local cafe, and toilet facilities.Black Sand Beach LangkawiJalan Teluk Yu,Ayet Hangat 07000Langkawi IslandConclusionThis article is part of my Langkawi Photowalk series, where I explore the island to capture photos using a smartphone. You can also see my other photos on my Malaysia smartphone reviews page.I have been actively exploring Malaysia during the Covid19 pandemic due to the international border closures and visited several locations to do smartphone photography.The Black Sand Beach at Langkawi Island is truly one of the unique natural attractions and has been for many decades.Visitors who appreciate natural attractions will surely visit here, and if you have never seen a black-sand beach, this would be a great place to start.

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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HomeMalaysia

Marudi Photowalk in Sarawak

byMalaysia Asia
-May 12, 2022

This is a recap of my Marudi Photowalk in Sarawak, which I did in 2018 as I stopped here to get to the Mulu National Park via a wooden longboat.While Marudi is one of the lesser-visited destinations in Sarawak, it is probably one of the most natural townships homes to the Orang Ulu.Marudi Photowalk in SarawakMarudi is a very small town located by the Baram River in the interior of Sarawak and borders the Kingdom of Brunei.The best way to get here is via road from the city of Miri, which is a 90-minute drive using the local roads and crossing several riverways.People used to take the car ferry system before the bridges were constructed.Once here, this township can be a total juxtaposition of what you have seen in general towns and cities across Sarawak because it is still underdeveloped.This place is a gold mine for the avid photographer as there is so much natural lifestyle that can be photographed. But one needs to know the best time to explore Marudi town.I was only passing by, but I had some free time to explore the main town area and needed to return here for more photography.Marudi PhotosBelow are random photos that were taken during my short time at Marudi when I walked around the main town area;A shopkeeper still maintaining his classic Drug Store.The famous Baram Regatta statue in Marudi Town.Boats at the Marudi jetty travel up and down the Baram River.Old wooden shophouses in Marudi.Take a time travel experience at this hair salon.Baram Chinese Society Building.Inside one of the classic coffee shops in Marudi.A classic Singer Sewing Machine signboard.One of the old shop houses on the main street.A local lady selling vegetables in Marudi town.ConclusionSpending just two hours walking around Marudi was not enough, but the natural lifestyle here impressed me.Locals are extremely friendly, and street photography here would be the best thing to capture. However, I may even plan another Marudi Photowalk in Sarawak in the near future.And if you are interested, you can also view some of the other Malaysia Photowalks I have done over the last few years.

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Malaysia Photowalk
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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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HomeGalaxy Z Flip3 5G Review

Sekinchan Photography Trip

byMalaysia Asia
-October 31, 2021

One of the things that almost all photographers in the Klang Valley will do is make that Sekinchan photography trip which is a simple day trip here.Sekinchan is well known for its beautiful paddy fields and tends to attract a lot of landscape photographers to this part of Selangor.And the best part about this location is that you can do it half a day or one full day for those wanting to fully explore Sekinchan.Sekinchan Photography TripA photo of the paddy field was taken using the wide-angle mode on the Z Flip3.As I have been involved in photography since the 90s, I have only visited Sekinchan back in the late 90s once, and that was it.My recent trip here was the second time visiting Sekinchan. I decided to explore with a local photography group from Meet Up called Kuala Lumpur Photography Club this time around.I've also been a member of Meet Up since September 2011 but hardly ever did explore much with the many groups here.Anyway, the time came when the Covid19 pandemic finally toned down in October of 2021 and when state borders started to open up in Malaysia. Many took the opportunity to travel back to their hometowns.I decided to explore with a Sekinchan photography trip organised by Mr Ching from the Kuala Lumpur Photography Group on 16th October 2021.We met up at a Shell petrol station in Sekinchan town, where we proceeded to a local coffee shop for breakfast with everyone in the group. There were around 18 of us that day, non of whom I know.After our local Sekinchan breakfast, we headed to the famous paddy fields, and this time of the year, the harvest was a beautiful bright green.Photos of SekinchanBelow are random photos taken during my Sekinchan photography trip, and I used both my Galaxy Z Flip3 5G smartphone and DSLR to capture the bird and telephoto pictures.But in this article, I will be focusing on smartphone photos only, and they are not edited, only cropped and added my watermark on them.Random flowers at the paddy field.A common Earhead Rice Bug is seen on the rice paddy.The beautiful green paddy fields from September to November.A yellow damselfly photographed with the Z Flip3 5G.Getting creative with framing.The famous Wishing Tree Temple at Sekinchan.Wide-angle looking up the Sekinchan Wishing Tree.Pantai Redang Beach is one of the attractions at Sekinchan.Beach photography at Pantai Redang.While driving around Sekinchan, there are many photography opportunities.ConclusionI have to say, the trip to Sekinchan for photography was quite exciting because it has been a while since I went on an excursion like this.Overall, I would highly recommend this place for anyone wanting to just have a quick and easy photography outing without having to spend a night.To me, the thrill of getting out of the city was good enough to excite my trapped soul after months of lockdowns. And this Sekinchan photography trip was probably timed perfectly.You can also read my review of the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G, which I did in September, as it is made for general laymen like you and me.

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Galaxy Z Flip3 5G Review
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Selangor
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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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HomeHotel Reviews

My Nature Resort Sepilok Review

byMalaysia Asia
-October 22, 2019

For anyone planning to visit Sandakan in Sabah to explore the wildlife and nature, I have done a review for My Nature Resort Sepilok, one of the most beautiful accommodations found here.

This high-end nature resort sits at the end of the Rainforest Discovery Center or RDC and is probably the best resort in the entire Sepilok-Kabali Forest Reserve.

Review of My Nature Resort Sepilok

The swimming pool at the resort

While most Asians will probably make day trips to Sepilok for the many nature-related attractions here, foreign travellers will opt to spend a few days in Sepilok.

This is because most travellers would prefer to take their time and explore each of the attractions here without having to rush.

And when you plan for this, you will be looking for accommodation that suits your style or travel, regardless if it is simple or elaborate.

Over the last ten years of visiting Sandakan, I have had the luxury of staying at various resorts or lodges found here and in 2018, I was fortunate enough to stay at My Nature Resort.

My trips to Sandakan are wildlife and nature-related; hence I visit yearly for the Borneo Bird Festival, which is held at the Rainforest Discovery Center (RDC). The resort also sits on a private hilly land area of 25 acres covered with lush primary rainforest.

There are no additional special facilities like spa, gym or gift shops available except for one master restaurant that provides all-day dining.

The king-size bedroom unit at the resort

What kind of rooms is available here?

Only 12 semi-detached chalet units are available at My Nature Resort, making this one of the premium eco-resorts in Sandakan.

In total, 24 rooms are eco-friendly and created to reduce carbon footprint using biodegradable products and solar panels.

All units are made from wood and fitted with modern amenities like air-conditioning, flat-screen television with Astro satellite service and an attached bathroom with hot water showers.

The king-sized bed at the chalet

The rooms consist of;

9 double king-size bedrooms
9 twin-sharing rooms
6 family rooms

The non-family rooms also come with a rainforest-viewing balcony, which means you have an unobstructed view of the Bornean rainforest.

The balconies are also spacious, meaning you can quickly move around to observe nature and, of course, the many birds that come about in the mornings or late afternoons.

Photos of My Nature Resort Sepilok

Below are random photos taken in and around the resort when I stayed here in December 2018 while attending the Borneo Bird Festival.

The weather was reasonably great with sudden showers, as the rainy season is from November till February.

The entrance area into the private property where the resort is located.

The main reception and welcome area of the resort.

My Nature Resort has a beautiful pool surrounded by chalet units.

The main walkway and driveway to the chalets.

I call this breakfast with a rainforest view.

Wine selection that guests can choose.

My breakfast with a view.

The chalet with a rainforest view.

The overview of the chalet room.

The spacious chalet bathroom.

The tastefully done room comes with modern amenities.

The sofa area in the chalet is quite large and significant as a daybed.

Where is My Nature Resort Sepilok?

The location of this resort is at the end of Jalan Fabia Road, the main road leading to the Rainforest Discovery Center or RDC.

The resort sits on private property, and no other accommodation is found here, making this an exclusive location for those seeking a quiet nature escape.

Map showing where My Nature Resort is located in Sepilok

How to Book a Stay at My Nature Resort?

This resort is exclusive to package bookings, which means there is no walk-in available. You must book through the tour company that manages this resort.

The company is SI Tours, where SI stands for Special Interest, and they are based in Sandakan City, Sabah.

SI Tours offers various experiences that cater to nature, wildlife and even birding packages suitable for anyone who wants premium services.

My Thoughts about Staying at My Nature Resort

I love nature, trekking, wildlife watching and bird watching; wherever I go, the accommodation is essential.

Why, you may ask? And the answer is simple - After a day of exploring the rainforest, trekking and doing many other activities, I just want to return to a comfortable place.

Yes, many accommodations may be on the budget side, but when you travel for many days, you want an exceptionally comfortable and spacious place.

I do not like crowded resorts or those with many rooms as, at times, I just want peace and comfort, especially when I am up for breakfast or back for dinner.

Well, that is just my humble opinion, and My Nature Resort is one of these places that can cater to my requirements.

If you are planning to visit Sepilok for the Borneo Bird Festival or any other activities, this is one of the options for your stay.

I captured this Racket-tail Drongo from my chalet balcony.

Conclusion

Though this may be known as one of the higher-end resorts in Sepilok, the satisfaction of quality, comfort, and peace does pay off.

So, suppose you are a single couple or small group travelling to Sabah for beautiful nature and wildlife experience. In that case, you can consider booking a package with SI Tours that offers its own accommodations.

Overall, it is not every day that one will travel to Sabah for a nature experience; most people will do this once and for numerous days.

Finally, I hope this review of My Nature Resort in Sepilok comes in handy for your decision-making. And if you have comments or questions, do ask below.

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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HomeGalaxy Z Flip

Wildlife Night Photography with the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G

byMalaysia Asia
-November 22, 2021

While everyone is busy focusing on general lifestyle and Instagram shots using their smartphones, I decided to take a different route in reviewing some of the latest phones from Samsung.Having been an Android and Samsung Galaxy user from day 1, I have been using these amazing phones for most of my travel photography around Malaysia and the world.Shockingly in 2020, the Covid19 pandemic hit worldwide, including Malaysia, and travel was crippled due to country lockdowns, which pretty much affected many people, including me.During this time, I took the opportunity to explore my local areas for some smartphone photography, and the results were astonishing.Wildlife Night Photography with the Galaxy Z Flip3 5GSteven, my night walk guide at the Shah Alam Community Forest.Apart from my regular day-to-day use of these smartphones, I often take many photos, ranging from landscapes to insects and food pics.This was when I discovered my love for macro photography with insects and flowers; hence I tested out my Galaxy Z Flip3 5g to indulge in dragonfly photography in October 2021.It was only a matter of time when I decided to take things to the next level and participated in a special night walk at the Saha Alam community forest.This is where I put the Z Flip3 to the ultimate test, and as you will see below, all the photos displayed were taken during my night walk.My incredible experience was done with Steven Wong, a passionate naturalist based in the Klang Valley, and it was indeed an eye-opener for me.The night trail here is pretty much similar to many other places, just that there's not much climbing.Along the trail, you will see signs like this, so just follow the direction.Night Photos with the Galaxy Z Flip3 5GBelow are random night photos of the frogs, snakes, lizards and invertebrates during my night walk here.Also, note that I have only edited the photos to resize them, a little contrast and sharpness while adding my watermarks.As a phone photographer, I always try to show the original photos as much as possible and with minimal edits. I don't like to use things like 'lightroom' to entirely change the images.Below is a list of what I saw during my night walk at the Saha Alam Community Forest, and once again, thank you to Steven Wong for guiding me.FrogsBlack-eyed Litter Frog (Leptobrachium nigrops) Dark-sided Narrowmouthed Frog (Microhyla heymonsi)Common Grass Frog (Feyervarja limnocharis)Common Malayan Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) White-lipped Frog (Chalcorana labialis) Four-lined Tree Frog (Polypedates leucomystax) SnakesWagler's Pit Viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri)Painted Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis pictus)LizardsChangeable Lizard (Calotes versicolor)Striped Bent-toed Gecko (Cyrtodactylus quadrivirgatus)Invertebrates (Spiders & Others)Tropical Swallowtail Moth (Lyssa zampa)White-barred Huntsman (Heteropoda venatoria)Lichen Huntsman (Pandercetes sp.)Abandoned Web Orb Weaving Spider (Parawixia dehaani)The main sign before entering the Shah Alam Community Forest.ConclusionI have to say that the A.I. or artificial intelligence chip that the Z Flip3 uses is quite spot-on and accurate in terms of colours and detecting the condition of the area and subject.However, all the photos taken were assisted with an external light source to spot insects and reptiles. If I did not use the lights, it would be pitch dark, and I would not photograph anything.I hope you enjoyed viewing my wildlife night photography using the Galaxy Z Flip3 smartphone and my honest review. I will continue to try different photography types using this smartphone in the coming weeks.

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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HomeFree Things to do in Kuala Lumpur

Saloma Link Bridge, All You Need To Know

byMalaysia Asia
-February 18, 2020

And Kuala Lumpur gets another beautiful tourist attraction, which is the new Saloma Link Bridge, which is a futuristically designed bridge that connects Kampung Baharu to KLCC.

Opened on the 5th of February 2020, this beautiful bridge has become the talk of the town, namely for social media and not forgetting the Instagram influencers. So, if you think you are one, then you need to head here.

But before heading here, I've come up with this article on everything you need to know about the Saloma Link Bridge or Pintasan Saloma as it is called in Malay.

All You Need To Know About The Saloma Link Bridge

The stunning light displays at the Saloma Link Bridge in KL

The most important question is where is this bridge? And the answer is just below. Before you head here, you need to know where, when, what and why this bridge was created.

The Saloma Link is a single span steel structure bridge that is illuminated with 4,100 diamond facade panels that come with state-of-the-art LED lighting.

The purpose of this bridge was to connect Kampung Baharu City Center (KBCC) to the Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC) as it now only takes seven to eight minutes to get from one end to the other.

The concept of this bridge is also similar to the Bridge of Peace in Tbilisi, Georgia where the LED lights illuminate to change patterns from time to time.

Saloma Link is the most exquisite pedestrian bridge ever built in Kuala Lumpur and is slated to be one of the top three tourist attractions in KL city.

Why is the Bridge named Saloma?

The majestic night view of the KL skyline from the bridge

This is probably one of the questions not many people ask but most local Malaysian will know this answer without thinking hard.

For those who do not know, Salmah Ismail or Saloma was a very famous Singaporean-Malaysian singer, film actress, trendsetter and a fashion icon who became well known in the late 1950s to the 1960s.

Saloma was also the wife to the iconic Malaysian artiste P. Ramlee, who is, of course, the most famous artist in the country from the same era.

What is the Design of Saloma Link Bridge?

The interior of the bridge seen from the inside

While it all looks super futuristic, the design is cleverly created to reflect the Malay culture. The overall design represents the Sirih Junjung or Betelnut Leaf arrangement.

The Sirih Junjung is traditionally offered in Malay weddings and ceremonies as a symbol of unity in the Malay culture that dates back a long way.

How Long is the Saloma Link Bridge?

An overall view of the Saloma Link Bridge

While it does look like a standard bridge, the total length of the Saloma Link 370 meters (1,213.9 feet).

The main structure which is the Sirih Junjung that represents the covered walkway is a total of 69 meters (223.6 feet) that spans across the Klang River and the Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway or AKLEH highway.

The start of the bridge from Kampung Bahari is from Lorong Raja Muda Musa 3, which is around 100 meters from the underground Kampung Baru LRT station.

The other side of the bridge is connected with Lorong Saloma which is just beside the Menara Public Bank building along Jalan Ampang.

How Much Did It Cost To Build the Saloma Link Bridge?

Construction of the Saloma Link Bridge. Photo from Veritas Design Group Facebook

While many may think it costs too much, the actual cost to build the Saloma Link is RM31 million (USD$7.47 million) and this includes the consultancy costs.

The initial cost was put at RM20 Million (USD$4.81 Million) back in the planning stages, but over the year, the cost escalated to the current figure mentioned above.

Where is the Saloma Link Bridge in KL?

The location map for the bridge

The bridge is located at the back of the British Council or Menara Public Bank building along Jalan Ampang.

This means that if you are at KLCC, you can just take a 5 to 10-minute walk to the Saloma Link Bridge from the Petronas Twin Towers.

Another landmark is the Jalan Ampang Muslim Cemetary or the Australian Embassy where the bridge is located behind.

How to Go to Saloma Link Bridge?

Main entrance from KLCC or Petronas Twin Towers

There are two ways to get to the Saloma Link Bridge and depends on which part of KL you are located. However, I will share both ways for everyone below.

1. From KLCC and Petronas Twin Towers

Most visitors will be coming from this direction and you simply need to walk along Lorong Saloma which is beside the Public Bank Building.

When you walk from KLCC, this is the entrance to the Saloma Link Bridge

When you arrive at the main Jalan Ampang junction, look for Lorong Saloma, which is on the left of the Public Bank building. Walk along that road for 100 meters and you will come to the entrance.

There are some local restaurants and a car wash on the left as you walk along Lorong Saloma. At the end of the road, there is an open public parking lot that charges RM1.50 for 30 minutes.

Public parking lot behind the Menara Public Bank building

2. From Kampung Baharu

Most locals will take this way as they will be driving or taking the LRT train. For foreigners, this way is tricky because it is at one end of Kampung Baharu and not a commercial area.

Parking along the Kampung Baharu area at night is relatively safe and there are no parking fees being collected as of writing this. Therefore, many are seen parking along the road to the bridge.

You can take the LRT and get off at the Kampung Baharu LRT stop, then walk to the start of the bridge at Lorong Raja Muda Musa 3.

From the Kampung Baharu entrance, there is an elevator and also a three-story staircase which means that the elderly and disabled can use the elevator.

If you take the stairs, there are a total of 82 steps to the top and for security, there is a security table by the elevator on the ground level.

When is the Best Time to Visit Saloma Link Bridge?

Beautiful KL city skyline with the Saloma Link Bridge

This is the ultimate question many will ask and honestly, the best time is when the bridge is lit after sunset. This is when you can see the lighting designs and colours come into play.

In the day - It looks nice minus the lighting, therefore if you are really short of time, you can come and visit the bridge in the day and capture some nice photos with the skyline.

In the night - This is the best time to visit due to the fact that the lighting creates a picture-perfect moment. Not only that, the weather at night is much cooler compared to the day.

Weekends - You can expect hoards of people if you come here on a weekend, and this could be quite tricky, especially for photography. Plus with a lot of people, the photo might not turn out great.

Weekdays - I strongly recommend visiting the Saloma Link Bridge on a weekday and at around 7.00 PM till around 10.00 PM as there are less people here. Less people means more opportunities for different angles.

Where is the Best Direction to Take Photos of the Saloma Link Bridge?

A photo that was taken from inside the bridge showing the Petronas Twin Towers

A question that not many will ask, but I'm listing it down just in case you need to know which part is the best for photography.

The Kampung Baharu Direction - This is hands down the best view of the bridge as you can see the Petronas Twin Towers in the background along with the Public Bank Building.

If you are coming from the KLCC way, you need to walk all the way across the bridge to the other end to get this photo angle.

There is also a staircase that leads down to Kampung Baharu and after the first flight of stairs, there is a corner where you can capture a nice photo of the bridge with the skyscrapers in the background.

The KLCC Direction - This is the main way where you enter the bridge from the Jalan Ampang entrance at the side of the Menara Public Bank building.

When you reach the start of the bridge, you walk straight in and turn left where you will see the entire bridge illuminated. This is one of the good places for a photo opportunity.

What to Bring to the Saloma Link Bridge?

Interior of the Saloma Link Bridge, perfect for that Instagram shot

If you are one of those up-and-coming influencers or those in the limelight, you should be well prepared to bring the necessary items to make your photos stand out.

The below, of course, applies to those coming here for evening or night photography. Please note that if you want some beautiful photographs, you need a high-end smartphone or a proper camera.

For locals

Bring some colourful clothes that stand out in the multiple colours the bridge displays.
Bring a portable fan as it can get stuffy when there are too many people around.
Don't use your old smartphones, the photo will not turn out nicely.

For Influencers

Bring your best dress that is striking to stand out in the sea of colours.
Bring accessories like a hat or scarf to stand out from the many people there.
Bring your extra lighting to capture your features.
Don't expect the place to be empty for your Insta-worthy shot as it is something new.

What Time Does the Saloma Bridge Open and Close?

Apparently, the bridge is open 24-hours and the lighting takes place from 7.00 PM till 10.00 PM at night. However, since Saloma Link opened, there have been many visitors coming.

When I visited on Monday at 10.00 PM, the lights were still on till around 11.00 PM, hence I suspect they put off the LED lights at around midnight.

Right now, there is no official timing on this, but I would easily recommend that you visit around 6.30 PM till around midnight.

What Light Designs Are Used?

There are about four main designs that play in intervals of ten minutes from my calculation. The most catchy one is, of course, the Malaysian flag design.

Three other designs will replace one another in these intervals therefore when you are there, you need to pay attention to the changes in the lighting.

The intelligent lighting system of the 4,100 LED lights creates a 3D like movement in the lights, and this is also great for those taking videos.

Safety Precautions at the Saloma Link

One of the beautiful angles for photography at the bridge

Without fail, any place that attracts a crowd will also attract petty thieves. This simply means that you should always be aware of your surroundings at all times. Never take things for granted.

Also, do not leave your bags lying around because you are busy taking photos. And watch out for pickpockets, especially on weekends when the crowd is huge here.

Whenever someone bumps into you accidentally, please quickly check your belongings as this is an old trick.

These perpetrators will be going for your wallet or purse as most will have their smartphones in their hands to take photos.

There are security officers located on both ends of the bridge for safety reasons, prevention of vandalism, petty traders and also touts.

Who Built the Saloma Link Bridge?

The beauty of the bridge seen at night

A good question and many may think it is the Kuala Lumpur City Council that built this, but sorry to say it is not.

The Kampong Baru Development Corporation (PKB) are the ones who build the Saloma Link Bridge. The project kicked off in October 2017 and took around 18 months to complete.

The Saloma Link Bridge just one part of the Kampung Baharu facelift which is planned until 2037 and will total around RM43 Billion (USD$10.36 Billion) for the entire project.

The design aesthetics of the Saloma Link are also done by Veritas Design Group which is also extensively involved in the master plan for the Kampung Baru redevelopment.

Photos of the Saloma Link Bridge

Below are a series of random photos taken while I visited this magnificent and beautiful bridge. The photos show one of the many designs that change colours.

A yellow-green colour tone

The purplish tone from the LED lights

A nice reddish-purple hue

Blue and purple colours

Green tones slowly take over the blue colours

A nice orangy-yellow and red mix

Conclusion

This article was written by me based on an actual visit in mid-February 2020 and spending over an hour here. I used my Samsung Galaxy S10 smartphone for all the photos taken here.

To be very honest, if you are a local or visitor to Kuala Lumpur, please do not miss this opportunity to visit the Saloma Link Bridge as it is probably one of KL's best-looking tourist attraction.

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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HomeAirAsia

AirAsia New Domestic Routes Launched for 2022

byMalaysia Asia
-January 12, 2022

Today, AirAsia Malaysia announced four new domestic routes connecting cities between East and West Malaysia and will be launched in January 2022. To kickstart these new routes, guests can secure great value flights plus hotel deals through the ‘SNAP’ icon on the Super App from just RM239 until 16 January 2022 and travel from 25 January to 30 June 2022.Those who prefer to book their hotels separately may check the ‘Hotels’ icon in the app and get an extra 10% off with the promo code AAHOTEL10.AirAsia New Domestic Routes Launched for 2022Johor Bahru to Bintulu Flights.Kota Kinabalu to Terengganu Flights.Kuching to Langkawi Flights.Penang to Sibu Flights.AirAsia has spent downtime in travel over the past 20 months to further improve and revamp its flight procedures and processes.In the highest interest of the safety and well-being of all its guests and employees, only fully-vaccinated employees will operate flights and be on duty at airport terminals. Likewise, only fully-vaccinated guests are accepted onboard.As part of its robust Covid-19 mitigation plan, AirAsia has made it mandatory for guests to check in via the airasia Super App and launched a unique FACES facial recognition boarding system that will make the entire journey fully digital and contactless.The new domestic routes are launched by AirAsia Malaysia.Riad Asmat, CEO of AirAsia Malaysia said:“As the festive season is upon us, AirAsia is excited and fully ready to offer our guests more routes between more major cities in Malaysia. These new routes further strengthen our tourism footprint in Malaysia, providing more options for international visitors to travel between the states.“We look forward to continuing our work to explore even more new routes across Malaysian airports from other parts of our Asean network. From an operational standpoint, we have extensively prepared to ensure all of our guests can travel safely, seamlessly and with peace of mind. AirAsia guests are always assured of the stringent health and safety protocols enforced on all of our flights with our highly trained and fully vaccinated crew continuing to deliver the world’s best service during the pandemic.”ConclusionAll AirAsia’s aircraft are properly maintained according to procedures set by the manufacturer. AirAsia has set up an in-house maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) unit called Asia Digital Engineering that provides services to AirAsia and other airlines.Likewise, all its pilots and cabin crew are regularly trained for mandatory refresher courses and ongoing retraining to always be on top of their job.Please visit the official AirAsia website or app for more information and details about the new domestic routes for 2022.

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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HomeAirlines

Sipadan Air - All You Need To Know

byMalaysia Asia
-September 17, 2019

The all-new Sipadan Air from Sabah will start operations from Semporna to Kota Kinabalu, which is slated to begin in September 2019.

Sipadan Air is also privately owned by Equus Air Sdn. Bhd that is based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. They are new players in the Sabah aviation industry, which aims to develop aviation tourism in Sabah.

Sipadan Air Kota Kinabalu to Semporna Flights

These special charter flights from KK to Semporna will operate on two Twin Otter DHC-6 aircraft, which comfortably seat 12 to 15 passengers, though the aircraft can carry up to 19 passengers.

The reason for this is the weight factor for the Twin Otter aircraft, where luggage and passengers are weighed to balance the plane.

Since the news of the new airline in Sabah was announced in September, the company has indicated that the two inaugural flights have been fully booked with 30 Chinese tourists.

Sipadan Air has also mentioned that the charter flights have been fully booked until the end of this year.

This news of the new Sabah airline was also covered by the Daily Express, which is Sabah's popular English news portal.

The main landing page for Sipadan Air, which is under Equus Air

Why the Name Sipadan Air?

This can be confusing for visitors, where the first thought is that the airline will fly directly to Sipadan Island. But actually, it is just a name given to the charter airline.

There could have been any other name, but the company decided on Sipadan Air to reflect the world-renown name of Sipadan Island.

Another reason could be that many China tourists and other tourists have Sipadan Island on their wishlist or bucket list as one of the places to visit in the world.

The main website is Equus Air, and it is currently not operational when writing this article, but it should be ready in the next few days or weeks.

Sipadan Island is seen from my dive boat during one of my many trips there.

Will Sipadan Air fly directly to Sipadan Island?

We all wish for that, but sorry, no. Sipadan Air will only operate flights from Kota Kinabalu to Semporna town, the gateway to Sipadan and Mabul island.

Many people who have not been here may think that Sipadan is a large island with resorts and even an airport, but truth be told, it is a small island with only a military outpost.

The name sounds catchy but needs to reflect the airline flying into the island like other islands around Malaysia. For example, Tioman and Pangkor Island have a small airport and runway.

But Mabul, Sipadan and other islands around the Tun Sakaran Marin Park are very small, with no airport space.

Sipadan Air is owned by Equus Air

Who is Sipadan Air?

Sipadan Air is a privately owned airline by Equus Air Sdn. Bhd is a local Sabahan company based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

The Chairman of Sipadan Air is Datuk Omar Ali Tun Sakaran, the son of Tun Sakaran Mohd Hashim bin Dandai, who served as the eighth Chief Minister and Governor of Sabah.

Equus Air's chief operating officer is also Capt. Adam Abdullah. The airline also owns two 19-seat de Havilland Canada Series 300 Twin Otters which will be used for the inaugural phase.

The airline also has a tagline like this - "From Islands to Highlands"- targeted towards tourist destinations around Sabah Borneo.

The S-38 Sikorsky Seaplane is a famous amphibious aircraft.

I gather that Equus Air is also planning to introduce Sea Planes to Sabah. This may be soon. The company has also sent one of its pilots to the Maldives to do some pilot training, and in the Maldives, seaplanes are the primary mode of transport from island to island.

Another exciting news is that the company will be interested in introducing amphibious aircraft in Sabah.

Equus Air is currently preparing an amphibian flight module for the Department of Civil Aviation for approval to operate.

Semporna Airport, a STOL airport located just 12 minutes from the main town area

Where does Sipadan Air fly to?

For phase one, Sipadan Air will operate from Kota Kinabalu to Semporna and vice-versa. There are plans to expand to other tourist destinations around Sabah.

For future routes, the airline plans to operate Kota Kinabalu to Ranau flights, where driving will take around two and a half hours, but the flight will take only 20 minutes.

There is also the Kota Kinabalu to Kudat flights, and driving up north will take you around three to three and a half hours one way. A flight will take you only 30 minutes.

Sipadan Air Phase 2

Phase two of the airline will see the introduction of Seaplanes or Amphibious Aircraft, which will most likely be the Sikorsky 38 or 39 models.

These seaplanes are dual-purpose and can land in water and on land, making this perfect for many island resorts located around Sabah.

The second phase for Sipadan Air is targeting flights and also special charters for;

Kota Kinabalu to resort
Tawau to resort
Semporna to resort
Island hopping flight
Scenic flight
Sunset dinner flight
Sunset round island tour

Seaplanes will also be used for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, marriages, proposals, graduation or even career promotions.

This introduction will, of course, bring in new tourism opportunities in Sabah and help to increase tourism arrivals into Sabah and the hard to get to places.

The Twin Otter DHC-6 aircraft that Sipadan Air will use

How to Book Sipadan Air Flights?

Currently, the airline is only doing charter flights, and they have arrangements with selected travel agents in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

In the future, the airline may open up to mainstream tourists for direct booking, but there has yet to be any news about this.

The route by road from Tawau to Semporna

What other ways to get to Sipadan Island?

The only way to get to Sipadan Island or Semporna is via flights into Tawau City from Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, and other major cities.

Airlines like Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia have daily direct flights to Tawau, and from there, you need to take a taxi to Semporna, which will take one hour and forty-five minutes.

Most visitors will use this way to get to Sipadan Island or any other island around the Tun Sakaran Marine Park.

The distance from Semporna Airport to the main public jetty in Semporna town

Where is Semporna Airport located?

The Semporna Airport is a STOL Airport or short take-off and landing airport, which can only cater to small turbo-prob aircraft like the Twin Otter and even the ATR planes.

The airport is along Jalan Lapangan Terbang in the Mile 2 area or Batu 2 of the Semporna main road called SA51. Another landmark is the Sabah Electricity main office in Semporna.

The airport was last used by the Rural Air Service by Malaysia Airlines with flights connecting to Sandakan and other towns around Sabah. The last commercial flights were in 2012.

In recent years, the airport runway was used by Borneo Paramotor for leisure activities, including classes to fly a paramotor.

What the Semporna Airport looks like in this photo taken on May 2019

Cause for Concerns

Did you know that tourism numbers in Semporna and the surrounding islands have been estimated to be between 60,000 to 80,000 visitors a month?

While this is excellent news for Sabah Tourism, many feel that the overtourism in this part of Sabah needs to be controlled.

However, this is a double-edged sword that needs to be looked into carefully by the tourism board and also the tourism industry.

Conclusion

The announcement of Sipadan Air flying from Kota Kinabalu to Semporna will cut travel time by a lot for tourists wanting to visit the world-famous Sipadan Island and Mabul Island.

If you are planning to head to this part of Sabah Borneo, you may also want to know what to do on Mabul Island when you are here.

As stated earlier in this article, the flights are only available for charter flights through some of the tour agents in Sabah. Sipadan Air will expand into a commercial budget airline in Sabah.

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

You might like
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HomeGadget Review

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Speculations in Malaysia

byMalaysia Asia
-July 25, 2019

With the smartphone industry moving super-fast, there have been many interesting rumours about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 10 smartphone launched on 8th August 2019.

Why is everyone so excited about this, you may ask, and over the last five years, smartphones have been getting a lot of attention from the mainstream and the consumer market.Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Speculations

I guess it is about time that I put in my two cents about the upcoming Samsung Note 10 speculations since I am already using the Galaxy S10 Plus. I also have become curious about what the Galaxy Note 10 offer.

A Samsung Galaxy Note 1 and iPhone 3G, which were both used by me

From Apple to Samsung - A Short Story

Before you read on, I just want to highlight that I have been a smartphone user since the Apple iPhone 1 back in the year 2007. The iPhone launched in the USA on June 29th of 2007, and I had my unit specially flown in on the 2nd of July 2007.

Having said this, I can state that I have been a smartphone user ever since day one, making it a whopping 12 years for me.

Back then, when I first started using it, many people laughed at me, stating how big and inconvenient the smartphone was. Well, look at what happened and look at what you are using right now?

So, I kept using Apple until iPhone 3G before making that massive switch over to Samsung Note 1 in October of 2011, and I never looked back.

Photos of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Speculations for Malaysians

Alright, enough with the history lesson, and let us get on with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 speculations that have been driving consumers all over the world crazy, including here in Malaysia.

While speculations will remain, there have been many tech writers coming out with all kinds of information and leaks, and we all know that these are only rumours that carry a 70-30 truth ratio.

One factor is the size of the Galaxy Note 10 smartphones, where it is now said that the standard Note 10 will be similarly sized as the previous Note 9 at 6.3". But the Note 10+ will be much larger with a 6.8" inch screen.

I am guessing that with not much of a price difference, many will opt for the Galaxy Note 10 Plus due to the many cool features being offered.

The S-Pen of the all-new Samsung Galaxy Note 10

Samsung Note 10 S-Pen Stylus - This is the most important part of the Galaxy Note smartphone where many improvements have been made, too; I am inquisitive about this. Apparently, they have enabled gesture control for the first time in the Note series history.

The S-Pen allows the operation of the smartphone with gestures without touching the screen surface, which is pretty mind-blowing if you ask me. The new feature is also termed as "Air Actions" gestures. Seriously, I cannot wait to try this function.

Note 10 Cameras - We can expect a triple-lens system for the new Galaxy Note series that comprises a 12MP Dual Pixel, 16MP ultra-wide, 12MP telephoto, and Time-of-Flight or ToF sensors for the Note 10+.

A 10MP Dual Pixel camera will sit inside the handset's centrally aligned punch-hole cutout, and the Smart ISO or AI-ISO is something that I am seriously looking forward to.

The Galaxy Note 10 cameras also support three different physical aperture sizes, which are f/1.5 to f/1.8 to f/2.4, to allow the best possible exposure of the photos taken with the device. As a photographer, I am pretty stoked about the aperture sizes.

There is a wide-angle sensor with 16 megapixels resolution with f/2.2 aperture for landscape photography, while another camera sensor in combination with a Teleoptik provides for a double optical zoom. (Now I'm drooling about this)

As for the low light conditions, it is also rumoured that the Galaxy Note 10 will supersede the S10 series due to the all-new AI-ISO or Smart ISO features which the company trademarked. This is exciting news as it takes smartphone photography to another level.
This translates to that the Smart ISO or AI-ISO on the Galaxy Note 10 will be perfect for its low-light or night photography. And this is what I really want to test.

For video recording, an optical image stabilizer helps to allow shake-free recordings, which come in HDR10 + and 4K videos with 60 FPS. This also features scene recognition and various special photo modes.

Wow, I think I can write a dedicated article just on the camera and video for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.

Other Core Specifications of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and 10 Plus;

Note 10 Screen Size - Expect a 6.3in FHD+ screen.
Note 10+ Screen Size - We are expecting an amazing 6.8" inch (17.27 cm)
Note 10 Resolution - Dynamic OLED display, Quad HD + (3040 x 1440 pixels), 498ppi, 16 million colours, HDR 10+, Gorilla Glass 6 and a blue filter.
Note 10+ Processor - We expect either a Snapdragon 855+ or 7nm Exynos 9825 SoC, with a maximum clock speed of 2.7GHz and comes teamed with 8GB or 12GB RAM, a 4,300mAh battery and a 256GB UFS 3.0 expandable storage.
Note 10 Battery - 3,500mAh battery with 25W charging support.
Note 10+ Battery - 4,300mAh battery with 45W fast charging / 20W wireless charging.
Note 10 Smartphone Colors - While Samsung always plays it safe with the colours, we can expect the Note 10 to come in Black, Silver, and White. But there could be other colours.
Micro SD Card Slot - This is only available for the Note 10+.
Note 10 Size and Weight - 162.3 x 77.1 x 7.9 mm, 198 g.
Note 10 Operating System - Android Pie with Samsung One UI.
Note 10 Headphone Jack - Removed/Not available

The camera system of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10

How Many Models of Samsung Note 10 Will be Launched?

Word out there states that there will be three models being launched: the Note 10, Note 10 Lite, and Note 10 Plus, and those are currently just rumours.

In Malaysia, we should expect just two models, Note 10 and the Note 10 Plus, but then again, maybe Samsung could suddenly confirm all three models?

When is the Samsung Note 10 Launched in Malaysia?

Officially from the Samsung Malaysia website, it is stated that Note 10 will be on the 8th of August, 2019, here in Malaysia.

The worldwide launch for the Galaxy Note 10 will be held on the 7th of August in Brooklyn, New York, USA, which many people are looking forward to.

Samsung Malaysia website announcing the launch of the Galaxy Note 10

When will the Samsung Note 10 go on sale in Malaysia?

The most important question in this article is when the Note 10 will be on sale for the general consumers, and there is also no official date on this.

However, it is stated that the Note 10 will go on sale in South Korea on 23 August, which is 15 days after the official worldwide launch on 7 August.

This means that we in Malaysia could see a similar sale date unless they decide on having another launch date for Malaysia and some other countries.

What is the Price of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 in Malaysia?

There is no official price announced, but judging from the history of the Galaxy Note series smartphones.

In Malaysia, we expect the Galaxy Note 10 to be around RM4,000 and the Galaxy Note 10 Plus to be priced around RM5,000 to RM5,500.

There are also rumoured prices being shared on the internet, and below are the European prices;

Samsung Note 10 - €999 or MRY4,580
Samsung Note 10 Plus - €1,149 or MRY5,268

Where Can I Get More Information for the Samsung Note 10 in Malaysia?

But the best place to get accurate information about the new smartphone will be from the official Samsung Malaysia website. This applies to those who want to know more about the local launch here in Malaysia.

After the official launching, you can also visit the official Samsung retails outlets around Malaysia, as they will most likely have the units on display.

This is not confirmed, but it could be a few days after the launch, and again, you can get more information from the official website or Facebook Page for Samsung Malaysia.

Samsung Malaysia's teaser for the launch of the Galaxy Note 10

Conclusion

With all of the speculations mentioned above, we expect the Galaxy Note 10 to offer a much larger battery, more powerful RAM, a larger screen display, a cool S-pen stylus, and an amazing camera system.

For me, travelling with a good smartphone nowadays is one of the top criteria I look at, and since changing to the Samsung Galaxy S10+, I have found the smartphone incredibly amazing.

Photos are one of the top things that most people will use on their smartphones, and even for me, when I take photos with my Galaxy S10 Plus, they turn out incredibly beautiful.

Regardless of whether it is for food, general or landscape, the photos are much more superior than my earlier smartphones.

To be honest, I am patiently awaiting the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 in Malaysia and possibly even getting to test it.

With so much technological advancement in smartphones over the years, I am sure that this will be the smartphone that many will consider upgrading to.

Apart from the upcoming launch of the Note 10 smartphone, I am also eagerly awaiting the news of the Samsung folding phone, which is also slated for a September launch worldwide.

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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HomeBukit Bintang City Centre

teamLab Lalaport Exhibition Review

byMalaysia Asia
-August 01, 2022

This August in Kuala Lumpur, the world-famous teamLab Resonating Microcosms exhibition will be held at Lalaport BBCC for four months.The teamLab Lalaport exhibition review was done three days before the event opened up to the public as once it goes live, thousands of people will be heading here as the entrance is free.teamLab Lalaport Exhibition ReviewThe fantastic lighting extravaganza is titled TeamLab's Resonating Microcosms - Liquified Light Color, Sunrise And Sunset installation and is best visited after sunset. However, do expect large crowds of people to come here.Because of the mesmerising light effects, the event will attract all walks of light as it is easily Instagrammable, TikTokable or shared on various social media platforms.The free event at Lalaport BBCC titled Resonating MicrocosmsThere will be two (2) main exhibitions on display here, which are;1. Resonating Microcosms - Liquified Light Color, Sunrise2. Sunset and Resonating TreesThe main attraction is Resonating Microcosms which will feature unique ovoids (egg-shaped sculptures) and an art space that changes through the presence of people and the natural environment.The second one is Sunset and Resonating Trees, where each tree shines brightly, and the light of each tree is autonomous, slowly blinking.Resonating Trees is a second light display at Lalaport BBCC.With both happening simultaneously, Lalaport's rooftop garden will be transformed into a magical landscape of ovoid sculptures that glow dreamily in multi-colours against the night sky.Resonating Microcosms is an interactive digital installation that experiments with the concept of colour, and each of the ovoids can change into a total of 57 colours of liquified light.When is teamLab Resonating Microcosms?This unique light show will take place from Aug 4 to Nov 30, 2022, and is a free event. This means anyone can visit this exhibition any number of times they want.Where is teamLab Resonating Microcosms Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur?The light and art event is held on the fourth floor of Lalaport BBCC Kuala Lumpur, the latest shopping mall to open in the city.It is also held on the fourth floor of Lalaport Shopping Mall, an open-aired outdoor area connected to the massive food court and several other unique retail shops.The impressive light display will be at Lalaport BBCC. Photo from teamLab.More Information about teamLab Exhibition  Date: Aug 4 to Nov 30, 2022Venue: 4th Floor, Lalaport BBCC, Kuala LumpurTime: 10.00 AM to 10.00 PMAdmission: FreeWebsite: teamLabThis will be the second time teamLab is having an exhibition in Malaysia. In 2014, they presented the MoonLab Sketch Aquarium children's interactive digital game at Aquaria KLCC.Map to LalaportConclusionFor those curious, just make your way there anytime after sunset to experience this incredible light show. I suggest you visit on a weekday versus a weekend to avoid the large crowds.This is one of the free events you can visit for tourists coming into Malaysia after a two-year international border lockdown.This teamLab Lalaport exhibition review was done on Aug 1 after a special media preview of the event, before it opens on the 4th of August.

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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HomeAirAsia Malaysia

AirAsia Super+ Unlimited Launched in Malaysia

byMalaysia Asia
-December 06, 2022

The world's first flight subscription product with lifestyle perks - SUPER+ by the airasia Super App- is now available worldwide, with an enhanced version enabling subscribers to fly further and enjoy more perks across the whole airasia ecosystem. Over 100,000 SUPER+ subscribers have redeemed over 500,000 flight seats across Asean, with the highest redemption being 100 flight seats within the 12-month period.AirAsia Super+ Unlimited Launched in MalaysiaTo cater to travellers' different needs and preferences, the new SUPER+ will now offer two options for subscribers with varying preferences of destination.Subscribers can choose from the SUPER+ Lite, which covers all Asean countries.Two packages are being offered for Super+ Unlimited.At the same time, the SUPER+ Premium provides access to all countries operated by the AirAsia airline group, including destinations in Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India, Maldives, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia.Both options include an unlimited 10% off for an airasia ride and an unlimited 5% discount on all hotels on the airasia Super App. Go unlimited now as only 200,000 SUPER+ new subscriptions are available and can be purchased from today until 2359hrs (GMT+8) on 11 December 2022.Just click on the SUPER+ icon on the airasia Super App to purchase or visit the official Super+ Unlimited page. The new SUPER+  subscription plan is priced from:RM888 in MalaysiaTHB6,999 in ThailandPHP11,000 in the PhilippinesIDR4 mil in IndonesiaAUD309 in AustraliaKRW268,888 in South KoreaSGD269 in SingaporeUSD199 for all other countries For more information on how to subscribe to SUPER+, click here. All prices above are inclusive of taxes.SUPER+ subscribers can redeem their flights for one year* from the subscription date (5 December 2022 - 5 December 2023) and travel from 1 January 2023.Tony Fernandes of Capital A at the launch of Super+ Unlimited in Kuala Lumpur.Commenting on the new SUPER+, Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A, said,“This is what we have been preparing for - the return of travel, and we are excited about reopening markets like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and more to come in the near future.The SUPER+ subscription captures the beauty of our airasia Super App platform ecosystem, which brings together all of our airlines and travel products and services like hotels, along with our e-commerce offerings such as airasia ride, which is also included as a SUPER+ benefit.This is another product that highlights our DNA to create value for our customers, and we will continue to champion this across all new products and services we will introduce in the future.” Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes launching Super+ in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Amanda Woo, CEO of airasia Super App, said,“For the first time, we are opening up the new SUPER+ for everyone across the globe to buy, even those in the US, Europe and all other regions.For travellers from the West, this SUPER+ product is the best flight and lifestyle subscription for them to fully maximise and obtain the best value to rediscover the beauty of Asia. Since the initial launch in March this year, we have more than 100,000 subscribers across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, with over half a million flights already redeemed.We are excited to be the only super app platform in the market to bring a product such as SUPER+ to the world and for more to enjoy the airasia way of life with this subscription.” Tony Fernandes jokes with Nathanon Tanmalaporn during the launching event in KL.Real-Life Testimonies from Super+ UsersNathanon Tanmalaporn from Thailand - When asked how he has been utilising his SUPER+ subscription, Nathanon Tanmalaporn from Thailand said, "I've booked 109 flights internationally and domestically with SUPER+ already. It makes it easy for me to fly everywhere. Next stop: Australia & New Zealand!"Joseph Chai from Malaysia - Adding to the excitement of getting the SUPER+ subscription for her family, Joseph Chai from Malaysia said, "I've gone to Manila with SUPER+ and flown over 100 times domestically. I highly recommend this to frequent leisure and business travellers."The launch event for Super+ Plus Malaysia.Photo session with Tony Fernandes with the Super+ users.Other InformationAll flights redeemed via SUPER+ are subject to government taxes, fees, add-ons, and other applicable charges.All flight bookings must be made at least 14 days before departure and are subject to the embargo period and other terms and conditions. Free seat availability depends on supply and demand on a particular route.Conclusion for AirAsia Super+ Unlimited Launched in MalaysiaPlease note that terms and conditions apply for the Super+ Unlimited Lite and Premium, and customers are required to read the Frequently Asked Questions to find out more.This is one of the best things to materialise from the aviation sector since the Covid19 pandemic happened, and AirAsia was smart to bounce back in this way. Well done!

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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HomeBorneo Jazz 2019

Borneo Jazz Festival - All You Need To Know

byMalaysia Asia
-May 15, 2019

This year marks the 14th year that the Borneo Jazz Festival is being held in Miri, Sarawak, and it is also the second time that the event is taking place at Coco Cabana by the Esplanade.

The Borneo Jazz Festival is one of Malaysia's pioneer jazz festivals that has seen hundreds of jazz musicians from all over the world perform here in Miri.

Borneo Jazz 2019 also takes place from 19th to 21st July, which will see numerous local and international artists take the stage for the 14th year.

Borneo Jazz Festival 2019 - All You Need To Know

Zainal Abidin performing at Borneo Jazz 2018

Once known as the Miri International Jazz Festival, the festival brand had evolved to capture the name Borneo Jazz Festival. It provided a more international name and feel to it.

This festival has been and still is the brainchild of the Sarawak Tourism Board; in 2018, it was outsourced to a local Malaysian jazz club called No Black Tie, and this is the second year that they are doing it here at Coco Cabana in Miri.

2019 also saw the Sarawak Tourism Board launch the "Three Festivals One Destination" campaign, where three notable music festivals will be held back-to-back from 5th to 21st July and from south to north Sarawak.

The scene at last year's Borneo Jazz Festival

The music festivals involved are the Rainforest Fringe Festival, The Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching, and the Borneo Jazz Festival here in Miri.

The plan was to coincide all three festivals around the same time, where visitors to Sarawak could possibly attend all festivals during their visit here.

Previously, the music festivals were held months apart, where Borneo Jazz was in May, and the Rainforest World Music Festival was in July or August.

What is the Objective of the Borneo Jazz Festival?

With any music festival or event, there is always an objective behind it, and you may be wondering what the purpose of this jazz festival is.

It is an ongoing mission to continue promoting music tourism for Sarawak and collaborating with the local communities.

This is to showcase Borneo through its vibrant people, exotic cuisine and a wide array of indigenous arts and crafts.

For any first-timer to Sarawak, you will be pleased to know that this land is not your typical commercial tourism destination but something you would least expect.

One of the performers during the last Borneo Jazz Festival in Miri

Who is the Organiser or Owner of the Borneo Jazz Festival?

The Sarawak Tourism Board has always been the creator and owner of the jazz festival to this very day. It has been part of their portfolio in promoting Sarawak, using music festivals as an avenue for people to visit.

Since 2018, the Sarawak Tourism Board has leased out this project to a well-known jazz club in Kuala Lumpur called No Black Tie. They have successfully run their jazz shows in the capital for many years.

Therefore, since 2018, No Black Tie has been the organiser for the Borneo Jazz Festival, which is still being held in the resort city of Miri.

Some of the local and international performers at the Borneo Jazz Festival 2019.

Who Is Performing at the Borneo Jazz Festival 2019?

As usual, there will be a creative mix of jazz performers and artists for the Borneo Jazz Festival in Miri, and for this year, the performer list is;

Alberto Marsico Trio from Italy
Chande Rule from the USA
Clinton Chua from Sarawak, Malaysia
Fox Capture Plan from Japan
Ireson from Mexico
Jasmine Chen from China
Julian Chan Orchestra from Malaysia
Kirk Lightsey Trio from USA/Malaysia
NJWA from Malaysia
Pete Kallang from Sarawak, Malaysia
Robo Jupiter from the USA
Arabyrd from Sarawak, Malaysia
Asyraf Hardy from Sarawak, Malaysia
Benzooloo from Sabah, Malaysia
Zed Peace from Brunei

Coco Cabana, the official venue for Borneo Jazz Festival 2019

Where is the Borneo Jazz Festival Held?

The event is held at Coco Cabana at Marina Bay in Miri City, Sarawak. This is an event space by the famous Miri Seahorse Lighthouse and is home to many other events.

The venue was chosen last year as a new venue for Borneo Jazz, and this time it is by the seaside with no obstructions.

The structure where the jazz festival is held is a traditional wooden structure that can house up to 500 people. The majority of the design was hand-carved wood, which the specialist was brought in to do.

A glimpse inside Coco Cabana

Coco Cabana is also minutes from the heart of Miri City, making it easy to access for anyone who is visiting for the jazz festival. There are numerous hotels, restaurants, cafes and other shops located in the vicinity of the area.

Previously from 2006 to 2017, the Borneo Jazz Festival was always held at the ParkCity Everly Hotel, which is about 10 minutes drive from Miri City.

In 2018, the official venue was moved to the new place, Coco Cabana, at Marina Bay Miri.

Ticket prices for Borneo Jazz 2019

Where To Buy Tickets To Borneo Jazz Festival?

You can buy tickets from the official Borneo Jazz website or at the event's door. However, you will be entitled to an early booking discount when you buy early.

Ticket prices vary from one-day tickets to the entire three-day ticket passes. This means that if you are a jazz lover, it is recommended you take the three-day ticket pass, which is much cheaper.

AirAsia is one airline with multiple daily flights into Miri City.

How To Go To Borneo Jazz Festival 2019?

There are a few ways, depending on where you are coming from. You may be coming in via road for locals or expatriates in the area, and those out of Borneo will have to fly in.

Flying into Miri - If you come to Sarawak, you will have to fly directly into Miri City. There are numerous direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Miri, so you will connect via Kuala Lumpur if you are from another country. Airlines include AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines.

Driving to Miri - If you live in Brunei or Sabah, your best option would be to drive to Miri, as it will take no longer than two hours one way. Those from Bandar Seri Begawan or Kota Kinabalu can do so, and best to leave much earlier to avoid the immigration lines.

The location of Coco Cabana in Miri

Where is Coco Cabana?

Coco Cabana is located at Miri Marina Bay and at the end of Jalan Bandaraya. It is an event venue and function space which caters to many other events in Miri.

The overall structure is a massive wooden architecture building, the main venue for the Borneo Jazz Festival. Surrounding the area, there are a night bazaar, restaurants and even a bistro.

The famous Miri Seahorse Lighthouse is located here, a highly popular location to catch beautiful Miri sunsets.

One of the split villa units at Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club in Miri

Where To Stay In Miri?

There are many hotels, resorts, and even budget accommodations found all over Miri, and this provides many options for visitors coming to attend the Borneo Jazz Festival.

It all depends on how you plan to travel, and as a couple, group or family. Most hotels are located in the central city area, making it easy to get to the venue.

But again, if you are travelling with elderly people, I would recommend you take a taxi or Grab to the venue from the city, as it will cost around RM3 to RM5 one way.

For places to stay in Miri, I am recommending the following accommodations;

Pullman Hotel Miri Waterfront - This is one of the more excellent international hotels in Miri and is suitable for both business and leisure.

Miri Marriott Resort and Spa - This is a five-star resort considered quite close to the venue and suitable for those who want some luxury.

The Roosevelt Studio - A practical and nice budget hotel, which is the closest accommodation to the Borneo Jazz Festival at Coco Cabana.

Meritz Hotel - Located in a shopping mall and convenient for just about anyone. Single, couples of family travellers.

Jinhold Service Apartments - This is suited for those who prefer something like Airbnb, an apartment-style stay.

Amigo Hotel - This one is a budget style hotel in a shop lot area, which is very close to Coco Cabana. This will be a great place with convenience if you are not fussy.

Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club - If you love jazz and golf, this is the place to stay. It is Miri's best golf resort too.

Miri City Homestay - This one is super budget-friendly, simple, and suitable for budget travellers. It is located quite near to the venue as well.

A sit down jazz session during the festival.

Borneo Jazz Festival 2019
Date: 19th to 21st July 2019
Venue: Coco Cabana, Marina Bay, Miri, Sarawak
Website: Borneo Jazz Festival

*For complete detailed information, I recommend visiting the official website of the Borneo Jazz Festival above, as they have the artist breakdown and much other valuable information.

An actual sunset was taken at Coco Cabana in Miri.

Conclusion

If you have heard about the Borneo Jazz Festival and want to experience this, you should start planning ahead for your flights, accommodation and tickets.

Unlike other music festivals, this festival showcases a unique side of jazz and is not your typical concert-style event.

I hope that you make it to the Borneo Jazz Festival 2019 and that this article has come in handy for you. If you have questions, please ask in the comment form below and see you there.

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

You might like
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