I
had earlier planned to spend the Malaysia Day weekend (3D 2N) in Kota Kinabalu
and had bought the air tickets accordingly. I had also planned to go to an
island but when I checked closer to the date of travel, I found that the resort
was already fully booked for 16 September (I didn’t want to book earlier as my
card would already be charged at the time of booking and I was – still am - a
bit stretched these few months). The resort offers a residents’ package but for
a minimum stay of two nights so I had no choice but to book a hotel in the city
for one night and change my flight ticket to return a day later. I had to pay
for the ticket reissue (RM100) and fare difference (RM6) so in that aspect,
changing the return date wasn’t expensive. Having stayed at Sutera Harbour
Resort a few times and twice at Hyatt Regency Kota Kinabalu, I decided to book
Le Meridien this time for one night and then made booking for the resort at the
island. I didn’t have much choice and had to settle for Canopy Villa.
Friday,
16 September 2016
A
very early start to the day. I left after Subuh prayers and a very light
breakfast. It was drizzling as I made my way to the bus stop for the bus to KL
Sentral. I had to wait for a bit but the light traffic meant I arrived with
plenty of time left. I didn’t want to get wet so went into Nu Sentral and
navigated my way to the bus station at KL Sentral for the bus to KLIA. It
rained on and off along the way.
I
was so weak and hungry by the time I reached KLIA and went to hunt for food
(the mug of Milo and cereal earlier was too early and too little). Alas, the
Food Paradise was closed when I went to check it out (it looked like it was
undergoing some renovation work) so I bought two Gardenia buns instead. I sat
down to eat and finished my novel and buns simultaneously. Then I got up and
head for my gate.
There
was a delay in take-off due to the queue at the runway and I was surprised when
I woke up from my doze to see we were still on the ground! We took off not long
after and I decided to watch a movie (due to the late flight times of late,
it’s been a while since I last watched an inflight movie) and finally settled
on The Intern. Our brunch was served shortly after and I chose nasi dagang over
chicken murtabak (I’m still cutting down on my chicken intake).
We
landed at KK 20 minutes later than scheduled (due to the late take-off earlier)
and I managed to get the 13:15 Airport Bus to the city. I got down at
Centrepoint and browsed a bit before making my way to the hotel. As check-in is
from 15:00 and there was no possibility of an early check-in as the previous
occupant checked out close to noon, I decided to perform prayers first.
My
room was at the 7th floor and had a view of the sea and islands. I
rested for a while, had a cuppa and went out after 16:45 to the market across
the hotel. I walked around the market then continued on to the Filipino Market
then the dry seafood product market before having dinner. I finished off with
some durians before turning back. Before returning to the room, I ventured to
Warisan Square and Centrepoint for a quick browse.
It
had been a long day and I turned in just after 23:00.
Saturday,
17 September 2016
I
woke up for morning prayers and before long, heard the sound of rain. It turned
heavy at some point before petering out but it continued for some time. I had
wanted to go for a morning walk and jog so I finally headed to the gym. But I
dislike gym and I disliked the gym there with its leaking ceiling. I did some
cycling and stretching then returned back to the room to shower.
It
finally stopped raining while I was having breakfast. Alhamdulillah. I had
planned to walk to Jesselton Point and was not prepared to fork out RM15 for a mere
1.5-km trip. I ate too much for breakfast though and had a tummy discomfort.
Fortunately, it didn’t last long. I checked out at 11:10 and set off for
Jesselton Point. It took only 23 minutes to get there.
I
actually walked right past the resort’s office and had to ask around before I
was directed to the office. I must say I wasn’t at all impressed with the small
cramped office and having been to Pangkor Marina, I was disappointed that we
were not given any scented cool towel or cool drink before boarding the boat.
We
left slightly later than the scheduled time of 12 noon. The boat trip took less
than 20 minutes and there was a small group of resort staff who were at the
jetty to greet us and lead us to the lobby. We were finally handed a cool towel
and a glass of drink at the lobby. Before long, I was attended to by Jason, a
Filipino from Manila. He then showed us around: the pool, the Pool Bar, the six
rooms where you can drop by to relax, read or have a little nap, the reading
room and gym building and Feast Village where breakfast and dinner are served.
Those on residents’ package can opt to have their lunch at either the Pool Bar, Feast Village or at
Tavajun Bay, a private beach only for the resort guests. After comparing the
menus of the Pool Bar and Feast Village, I decided to have lunch at the latter.
For lunch, those on resident’s package can choose either a starter and a main
course or a main course and a dessert. I chose prawn salad and pizza.
I only finished lunch at
15:35 and hurried back to the lobby. Jason was nowhere to be found though so we
waited until another staff came to bring me to my room. Canopy Villas are on a
higher elevation (Kinabalu Villas are even higher; one would really need to
hike up to one’s villa but one is rewarded with a view of Mount Kinabalu in the
distance). I must say I wasn’t best pleased when I saw my room. It didn’t have
any view (except for that of some secondary forest); there was no sliding door
between the bedroom and the rest of the villa; there is no outdoor pool; and I
was expecting a different day bed. And the bedroom slippers were the common
slippers that any three-star hotel would provide. Seriously, for the shitload I
was forking out for the villa, I expected more. Maybe it wasn’t fair of me to
compare it with Pangkor Laut but hey they’re both under the same company. (And
yeah, I know I’m fussy).
I ran the bath tub,
poured in the bath salts and unpacked a bit while waiting for the tub to fill
up. I then had a soak but not as long as I liked as the tub plug didn’t plug in
well and the water slowly trickled through the hole.
After prayers, I went to
the Spa Village for the group meditation scheduled for 18:00. It lasted
slightly over an hour and after a quick run back to the villa to apply my eye
drops and use the bathroom, I went off for dinner. Unlike lunch, those on
resident’s package can have a starter, a main course and dessert. The full moon
was out and it was a beautiful evening.
The resort has a Movie
under the stars programme at 2100 outside the lobby area if the weather
permits. I stopped for a couple of minutes then decided to return to my room.
Sunday, 18 September
2016
I decided to go for a
morning walk after morning prayers and when I stepped out, I found the ground
wet. It drizzled lightly but not heavy at all to bother me. I wandered up to
the end of Canopy Villas, turned back and walked up to the Kinabalu Villas,
spotted a monkey, walked on, heard some jungle noises and took a staircase down
to the Bayu Villas. The area around the Bayu Villas was somewhat swampy and
there was a boardwalk that connected the Bayu Villas to the Feast Village and the
rest of the resort. I also went down to the beach.
It started raining in
earnest as I was at the beach and I quickly grabbed a brolly at the lobby (one
thing about YTL resorts is they are thoughtful like that). I then sat out at
the gazebo overlooking the jetty but got restless after a while and decided to
return to my room and read a bit before breakfast. I went for breakfast at
08:00.
I
joined the 09:00 guided nature walk and as there were about 20 of us, we were
split into two groups. The trek lasted an hour and I learnt that there are no
leeches in jungles near the coast. I also saw the ara trees, the tongkat ali
plant, some lizards and flying lizards too. After that, I went back to the
lobby to inform that I wanted to take the 13:30 boat to Tavajun Bay. Then I
returned to my villa to shower and rest.
It
was a hot afternoon when I emerged out and I hurried over to the jetty. There
were only four of us for that boat ride and we arrive at Tavajun Bay barely
five minutes later. The same two-course-for-lunch applied. I had kicked off my
FitFlops and wandered to the water and then put my straw bag (provided by the
resort in each room) at a beach chair. I was looking at the menu when a wild pig
appeared. I had seen photos of them but
I was kinda hoping I wouldn’t bump into them (before my guided nature walk, the
guide told me a guest saw a wild pig at the resort area that morning. Man, I
was so glad and thankful that I didn’t bump into it especially as I was
alone!). The pig went to one of the reclining beach chairs and snagged a straw
basket. Luckily, some staff chased it away and I quickly went to rescue my
FitFlops and straw bag. I spent lunch keeping a lookout for potential
reappearance of the pig or its family member.
I
took the 14:45 boat back to resort and rested in one of the rooms while waiting
for the Yahai Pupuan activity at 15:30. I started reading my book but the heat
and the recent lunch made me doze off a bit. I managed to get up on time for
the activity. It involved stretching and breathing. I really need to work on my
breathing.
After
that, I returned to my villa to shower and rest. I went for dinner after 19:00.
Thankfully, they changed the menu slightly. Imagine having to eat at the same
restaurant for dinner every night you’re there! There are other restaurants (a
Japanese restaurant close to the Canopy Villas) and Fisherman’s Cove but you’ll
have to pay to dine there. Tonight’s movie was Terminator 3 and, well, thanks
but no thanks. I wanted to read but was too sleepy so I turned in early.
Monday,
19 September 2016
I left the room just before 08:00 and stopped by the lobby on the way to breakfast. Each guest (including children) have to pay a conservation fee of RM32 for the first night of stay and RM22 for each night threreafter (inclusive of 6% GST) by Sabah Parks, an organisation set up as the caretaker of Tunku Abdul Rahman marine Park conservation triangle. I was hoping the fee would have already been included in my room charge but no such luck.
I had arranged to take the 09:00 ferry back to mainland and again, it set off late as we had to wait for a fellow guest/passenger. Back at Jesselton Point, we had to wait for our bags to be brought from the boat to the office. I then took a cab to the market and bought some dried seafood products and buttons for Abah’s baju Melayu. Then I walked to the bus stop across Centrepoint for the airport bus.
We took off about twenty minutes later than scheduled and I spent the whole journey up in the air reading. We landed at 15:20 and I went to perform prayers before collecting my bag. I hadn’t taken the KLIA Express since the price hike but decided to do so in the interest of time.
And so that was my trip to Gaya Island Resort. I might share some photos later (no promises though). Will I return? I doubt it. I wouldn’t mind returning to Pangkor Laut Resort though. Now that leaves with with Tanjong Jara Resort to explore next. InsyaAllah one fine day I’ll get there.
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