Mabul Island, Sabah - A Food and Travel Blog

Weekend like these...

Beautiful. Amazing. And Mesmerizing. (You know why I said this later)

IT was an impulsive act. I booked the earliest flight to Tawau, searched for accommodation, packed my luggage, called Grab, hopped into the flight, and reached Tawau airport. 

Upon stepping out of the airport, I smiled and glimpsed while looking forward to my weekend. I rode on a van to Semporna Jetty, which took about 1.5 hours. As this was my first time visiting this town, I find that Semporna (or some would call it Sipadan) can be a little confusing.

From my research, I always thought that I would be staying on Sipadan Island, but man, I was wrong. Semporna has a collection of beautiful and gorgeous islands. To name a few, some well-known islands that never fail to awe the locals and tourists alike are Mabul, Sipadan, Mataking, Kapalai, etc.

Like the name, which means perfect, Semporna is blessed with clear, blue turquoise waters, sandy beaches, and beautiful snorkeling and diving sites. Since this was an impromptu trip, I stayed on Mabul Island. And trust me, I was in awe of my surroundings. Regardless of where I head to, the views were spectacular. 

I did snorkeling in both the Mabul and Kapalai islands, and they are just fantastic. It was one of the best experiences that I would never trade for. I did not manage to visit Sipadan Island as we need to apply for a permit at least a day before your visit. Had I known it earlier, I would probably extend my stay and applied for a permit. According to the locals, Sipadan Island is one of the best sites, and arguably, it is just as breathtaking as the Maldives.

I have never been to the Maldives so, I can’t vouch for it but seriously, if there’s more than one who says so, then this is not an understatement.

Needless, the experience has heightened and satisfied all my five senses. 

I swam with sea turtles, not one but five; I got a slight panic attack when a pufferfish tailed me; I got stung by mini jellyfishes that made my whole body itchy; I saw a school of upside-down fishes and clownfishes (known as nemos). 

When night approached, I looked up at the sky and enjoyed magnificent views of beautiful stars. Seated on the wooden jetty while listening to the waves slapping on big rocks truly calmed my heart. I turned on my Spotify, tuning in to the "It's a Beautiful Day" song by Evan McHugh. 

What else can I ask for more? God’s creation has always amazed me in many ways.

'Mama!!'

Ouch, who slapped me?! Deng, it is my baby girl who just woke me up. 

Now, I miss my weekend on Mabul Island. When can I return there again?

For video: HERE

For more photos:  HERE and HERE

Written by,

FoodiesTravel

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