Blown Away By Land Below The Wind

Suddenly i remembered about that Sabah trip i made with my friends in 2009...it was still fresh in my mind...4 days of blissful trip to the beautiful Sabah...7 of us...Ina Ned Ryn Ha Fizi Nazri and myself...

Bought MAS ticket return for RM199...they were having promo back then...for MAS it is indeed a good deal...so we all purchased the ticket and made all the arrangement planning prior to going there...Ina being one of the ex-UMS student...she is to lead our trip...hehehe...

We took the nite flight directly to KK...once we arrived...the staff from the place we were staying picked us up...we stayed in Lavender Lodge right in the centre of KK...nothing luxurious...just dorm with shared bathroom...but it was enough for us...as we were only going to be in the room just to sleep and to change...nothing more and nothing less...luckily for us...since we were in a big group...we had the dorm to ourself...the girls in the dorm for 4...and us the guys in the form for 3...it also comes with a simple breakfast...which we really appreciate...if i remember correctly it cost us about RM20 per person per nite...hehehe...that nite we just walk around the town area and had dinner...then we went back to the lodge...and rest...we all can't wait for the morning to come...

The very next day...we had breakfast...just a simple toast and coffee...complimentary of the lodge...then we walk from the lodge to Jesselton Point...it was kinda far...serious...but of course...it was fun walking with friends on the same wavelength...we laughed and we walked...once we arrived...we bought the ticket for Manukan and Mamutik Island...paid about RM50 per person for all in tax and what not...then we were off to Manukan...beautiful island...crystal clear beach...sandy sands...perfect getaway...we had our breakfast by making sandwiches at the nearby stool with table...and had the time of our life...just watching the beautiful beach...go swimming...making fun at each other...then we were off to Mamutik which we just spend for a while and back to Jesselton...by the time we reached Jesselton it was nearly dark...then we walk yet again back to the lodge...freshen up and went to the Philippines Market for some dinner...had grilled fish and what not...then we went for a night cap...while waiting for the car rental person to send his car to us...its avanza and we managed to get a good bargain...RM250 for the whole day...then we went back and sleep for the day...as the next day will be another exciting day...

The following day will be spent out of the city area...after breakfast...made a stop in the 7-eleven just to buy some food as it will be a long day...Ina was the driver...first up...we drove to Kundasang...en route we just stop by to any place that will have a great sights to be captured...we stop by the view point which has via ferata in view...off to Kinabalu Park...went up and down inside the area...then we went straight to Poring Hot Springs...then off to the 'geli' moment with the fish...which i can't remember where...then Ina had that will to go off to Kudat...which was about 4 hours away...eager to watch the sunset at tip of borneo...but one thing we forgotten was...Sabah is one hour earlier...so the sun sets earlier...by the time we reached Kudat it was already dark...then we drove back to KK...had dinner by the sea...and proceed back to the lodge for the final nite...

The next day...check out from the lodge...put our bags at the reception counter...then proceed for the final day in KK...this time we went for the city tour...a walk to the shopping mall...then we waited for the shuttle bus to 1Borneo...it was just newly open when we were there...we really act like a tourist...taking pictures non-stop...regardless where we were during that time...we proceed to have lunch in Dome...took pics again...hahaha...i don't know how many pics we had taken...hundreds of pics...then we went back to the Philippines Market...bought some souvenir and proceed back to the lodge to take our luggages and going straight to the airport...for our flight back...it was actually an international flight from Narita which made a transit stop to KK...we heard those elderly Japanese people going on shouting as we were to take off...its kinda cool...hehehe...another 2 hours and 30 mins later...we reached KLIA...still we were smiling like crazy and laughing while recounting the last 4 days together in the ERL back to Putrajaya...

Overall...it has been a wonderful trip...the first time we went for a trip together...then later on...Ina Ned Ryn and myself have this annual trip to places together...Ha was quite tight up already by then...Nazri getting married and all and hardly have the spare time...Fizi got married the very next year...but i couldn't make it to his wedding...but non-the-less...it will always be one of a very fond memory together...we were young...we were practically junior officers...going off over the sea to a foreign land...at least it was for me as it was my first time to KK...but it was the fond memory...the memory of how we were...blown away by the land below the wind...

T.Y.S