Most of the staff attended the Malaysian Merdeka Day celebratons last night at Likas Stadium in KK. I think they rotate it around all the different regions in Malaysia and this year was Sabah’s turn. Our VIP tickets had us sitting almost within spitting distance of the King. It was a pretty full on event with a shedload of dancing, singing and music but we were all too knackered to take full advantage of it and were struggling to keep our eyes open. If it wasn’t for the uncomfy stadium chairs….
We were up at 5.30am today to get to the airport and fly to Tawau, then got a boat transfer to Mabul Island. You know those desert islands that people talk about? They really do exist – not Mabul, but on the way we passed a pristine island that consisted of only sand and four or five palm trees.
Soon after arriving we had two boat dives. They were both great dives, but utterly ruined by foggy goggles, so I spent most of my time clearing them – not what you want! On the second dive we saw several turtles, very close to the island. Without exaggerating one of them was about the same length as me – the divemaster reckoned it could weigh up to 100kg.
We did hear some stories about the permit limitations for access to Sipadan diving though, and some folk were turned back today, so fingers crossed for tomorrow as my name’s on the list.
Oh yeh….I’m sitting here on my laptop, using wireless internet, sitting on the outside decking of the resort, and away to help myself to the buffet. Hard living ;-> But it is costing me a month in Thailand for a few days probably!
More updates tomorrow no doubt. I’ll have my camera out tomorrow, I just hope I see through the goggles to work the bloody thing.