Pearl Of The South China Sea: Part III

On Monday, after waiting 30 minutes, I took bus number 1 to the War Cemetery to pay respect to those who fought and died in Borneo during WW II. Because of the long unsuccessful fruitless wait for the bus back the previous day, I decided to walk back to town and it turned out to be a pleasant walk. I stopped en route at Pantai Tanjung Batu, Pantai Tanjung Purun, the Clock Tower, Marine Museum (the highlights are the skeletal remains of a 12-metre long baby finback whale that washed up on Malacca shores in 1892, a preserved dugong and artefacts from shipwrecks), Financial Park and Labuan Museum. I even went for blood cupping at Financial Park. I then went to have lunch at Loong Fish Head Soup Restaurant before walking back to my room to rest. Dinner was had at Mama’s Kitchen again. There are a few Muslim restaurants there but mainly selling Indian Muslim fare. There were flashes of faraway lightnings across the evening sky.

 

On Tuesday, I went out for breakfast at a coffee shop very near my hotel. It was drizzling. I then checked out and walked to the central market to find some dried seafood to bring home. I then left my bag in bus number 5 (driver told me he would leave at 10:30 and agreed to bring me all the way into the airport area) and went to explore some shops. I reached the airport at 10:40 and went to drop off my bag. My flight took off on time and we landed at KLIA at 14:25. My bag took such a long time to emerge. In the end, I took the bus to TBS and from there, took LRT back to Ampang.

 

I found Labuan to be an interesting and exciting place to visit. Enough people have told me it was a boring place but I found enough things to do to occupy myself. In fact, I wouldn’t mind a return trip.

Pearl Of The South China Sea: Part II

On Boxing Day Sunday, I woke up for morning prayers. I left after 07:40 and walked to the bus terminal. I had planned to catch bus number 6 to the Chimney Museum but when bus number 4 came, I boarded it for Peace Park. This park was built with the collaboration of the Malaysian Government, Sabah state, Labuan Corporation and the Japanese Government to commemorate the fallen soldiers who fought the WW II in Borneo. I didn’t stay long here and hurried to catch the bus back to the bus terminal. The journey took 20 minutes one way. Back at the terminal, I asked the driver when bus number 6 would next depart and as I had about thirty minutes until then, I decided to check out the central market while waiting.

 

I boarded bus number 6 and after about 20 minutes, we reached Chimney Museum. The museum details the history of Tanjung Kubong and the animal it was named after and the coal mining activity in the area during the British rule. After touring the museum and taking photos of the chimney tower, I set out to hike the Chimney/Tanjung Kubong Trail. This trail will lead you to one of the six geopark sites in Labuan which is at least 15 million years old. I had to write my name at the museum’s guardhouse before starting my trek.

 

I was not amused to find some motorbike wheel tread at the start of the trail and it led through a muddy patch. I gingerly tried to avoid the muddy ground and what do you know, I ended up landing in the mud. It was a good thing I was wearing my FitFlops and not my Skechers sneakers! I was so not amused. After 15 minutes, I reached Ammunition Store (Gedung Ubat), believed to be a Japanese storage area for artillery and explosives. I stopped to take pictures before continuing on. The trail descended to a beach and I quickly went to wash my feet. I spent some time there exploring the area.

 

 

I climbed back up to the trail and continued, following some signs for a past running competition. However, the trail led me to another section of the beach. I didn’t want to go down only to climb up again and decided to continue but before long, I found myself deeper in the woods and no trail seemed discernible. I decided to turn back and after a while decided to just go back the way I came. This time, I managed to avoid the muddy patch which I landed in when I set off. Alhamdulillah.

 

I waited for a bus back to town but after a long while, decided to take Maxim car with the help of the young guard and his friend. No joy. Finally I arranged for Grab. I guess if one is keen to visit the area, one needs to take the first bus out to have better chances of catching a bus back to town. I don’t know if the bus never came because it was Sunday or if the service was reduced after mid-morning. Back in town, I walked to Mama’s Kitchen for a late lunch. While Labuan is a duty free island, dining out is not cheap but at least the portion served at the restaurant was huge. I then went back to my room and rested.

 

I ventured out after 17:30 and walked to the nearby ferry terminal. I then went for a walk and turned back when I reached Labuan Museum.

To be continued

Pearl Of The South China Sea: Part I

I had bought ticket to Labuan in 2020 but the pandemic lingered on and on. I decided to call MAS in September 2021 (I think) and was surprised to find that the ticket was valid until 31 December 2021 and not 31 December 2022 so after trying a few possible dates, I decided I would fly on Christmas Day. I then looked at hotels and booked one (only to change to another hotel about a week before departure).

 

On Christmas Day, I left house pretty early as I wanted to catch the 08:00 bus from KL Sentral. Bus runs every two hours instead of every hour as it did before (KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit services have been combined for now and runs on an hourly basis) and it was a combined service to KLIA2 and KLIA. I reached KLIA (oh hello KLIA! Missed you so much!) just after 09:00 (the bus stopped at KLIA2 before continuing on to KLIA). I went to drop off my bag and while I was the first in line, those before me (a family? A small group?) sure took a long time dropping off their bags and things.

 

I decided to have some food and went to Food Garden on level 2. I ended up having overpriced yong tau foo. I then went back to departure level and went in. I browsed some accessories and books before walking to my gate.

 

We boarded at 11:00 and the plane took off on time. We landed at Labuan Airport at 13:35. After getting my bag, I walked out and asked a airport staff who confirmed that me I could get a bus into town at the main road. I walked down and sure enough, there was a bus stop. I waited in the hot sun (thank God I remembered to pack a small brolly) for twenty minutes before a bus came along. The journey took less than ten minutes.

 

I walked to Labuan Avenue Hotel from the bus terminal less than ten minutes’ walk away. I checked-in – was asked if I had any preference which level I’d like to room in – and decided on a ground floor room. The hotel only had two other guests although one family came in after me. After checking out the reading/dining area and pantry, I went to my room to perform prayers and rest.

 

I went out after 17:00 and walked to the central market and walked behind it to the shortcut leading to Patau-Patau Water Village, one of the two water villages in Labuan. The houses here are built on stilts over water in the bay. I walked in the village for about twenty minutes before turning back as it was getting dark. I then walked back to town and explored it before returning to my room.

 

To be continued

The Year That Was: 2021

2021 followed from 2020 with the pandemic showing no signs of dying out; in fact it accelerated and we had to endure with continued restrictions. I know I’m not alone in facing the trials, challenges, headaches, frustration and anger. It was another testing, trying, tiring year but at least we were in it together and while it’s no consolation, I know there were others in much worse situation. Dad showed further signs of slowing down and health deterioration but I suppose for his age and health challenges, he did pretty well. If I can say anything positive about the pandemic, it’s that it taught us to be more patient, resilient and grateful for what we have.

The political situation escalated into cringe-worthy episodes which were so frankly embarrassing and just serve to show how clueless and thoughtless those in charge with leading the country are. Meanwhile, more people tested positive and more Covid deaths took place, including my dad’s younger cousin and some high school seniors and juniors. The common people were given different treatment than those who were connected. It just shows how sick things have got in this country.

Each day brings me further away from Mummy. I still miss her with such intensity that hurts to this day.

Conflicts and war continued in Syria, Yemen, Palestine, India, Kashmir, Myanmar and other countries. Oppression continued in China against the Uyghurs and the world continued to stand aside in silence.

 

There were natural catastrophes too and the worst of the floods hit a few states with the politicians proving themselves further unprepared to face the disaster. A few cases of stupidity resulted which was shown abroad too like stopping an ambulance to let some VVIP cars pass through and cleaning of already cleaned drains of bird and lizard dropping. Seriously WTF.

After the inter-district and then interstate travel restrictions were lifted, I managed to make a few trips as follows:

 

September: took the train to Kuala Kubu Bharu

October: took local transportation to Kuala Selangor and then took the train to Tanjung Malim

November: took the train to Pulau Sebang/Tampin on one Saturday, the bus to Raub on another Saturday and then spent a weekend in Port Dickson with the family

December: spent a weekend in Penang and then flew to Labuan on Christmas Day.

 

Alhamdulillah.

 

It continued being a hard year for any Arsenal supporter and the new season didn’t start off promising at all. Auba was stripped of the captaincy in mid-December. The young Guns are showing promises but our record against the big clubs continued to be poor.

 

I managed to read 154 books in 2021, Alhamdulillah.

 

I went for an occasional morning walk and had taken to picking rubbish along the highway at the start of my walks. I had cut down somewhat on junk food and will continue to try eat healthily.

 

Happy New Year 2022. May this year be a better and kinder year for us all. May we be strong to face come what may, insyaAllah, and may Allah keep us safe in His care and bless us. Ameen.