By the time you read this, I should be well on my way to the Paradise for a diving trip that is long overdue. For the next few days I’ll be going from KL – Tawau – Semporna – Mabul Island – Sipadan, and should be back by Saturday with a whole lot of smile and hopefully many pretty photos.


all my gears are packed and I’m ready to roll (off the boat)

The gears that I’ve packed (and this is post also serves as my check list):

  • wet suit (not in the photo) – last used at Redang, 2005
  • snorkel & diving mask – last used by suan & horng at Kerabi, 2009
  • diving booties – last used at Krabi and Phuket, 2008
  • water proof bag – bought at Phuket, 2008, unused
  • Ikelite underwater casing for my canon S90 – just bought a few days ago for too much money
  • Seiko orange monster – bought in 2008, never used for diving
  • PADI Advanced Open Water Diver’s license


Getting to Paradise in 3 easy steps

Who said you have to go to a place of worship to get to paradise?

Paradise is just a 2.45 hours from KL via air to Tawau, another hour’s cab ride to Semporna, 45 mins boat ride to Mabul, and from there, a further 15 mins speed boat ride. Paradise is also known as Sipadan island, a place guardian.co.uk rated as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world.

This is my first trip there, and lets hope it’ll be a good one. My dive buddy will be the crazy Irene from Kuching, and this is the first time I’m meeting her, I heard she’s not entirely sane, but my life will be literally dependent on her when we’re underwater. Wish me luck!

I’ll be meeting her with four other travel buddies at Tawau in a few hours’ time. Can’t wait!

I’m heading to Paradise on Earth
Tagged on:         

38 thoughts on “I’m heading to Paradise on Earth

  • February 2, 2010 at 1:19 am
    Permalink

    wo0t! go get a nice hols dude. . . . .come back and review the bkt with #porkgang!!!!!

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 1:21 am
    Permalink

    foodcrazee,
    lets do it sometimes after CNY ya 😀

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 1:24 am
    Permalink

    Tey Cindy,
    Will do 😀

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 1:27 am
    Permalink

    after CNY will do . . .waiting for ur post!

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 1:37 am
    Permalink

    foodcrazee,
    yah lets do it. 😀

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 3:26 am
    Permalink

    Take care there have funs !!!!

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 5:39 am
    Permalink

    quaintly,
    but you are in NYC, that’s something too 😉

    Haze Long,
    thanks, will do 😉

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 7:12 am
    Permalink

    Oi. I just saw this. What’s this about me not being entirely sane? I sabo your bcd I tell you! See ya in a few hours!

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 7:15 am
    Permalink

    Have fun! I’ve never been to Sipadan, but I’m hanging out to… Australian ocean is too cold and full of sharks that will eat me to go diving here 🙁

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 7:43 am
    Permalink

    Kevin,
    Can be nicer! Hehe

    Irene,
    Your reputation preceeds u 😛 see u soon!

    Steven,
    What’s life without a little adventure?

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 7:51 am
    Permalink

    Indeed… it’s pretty average. That’s why I’m doing Langkawi and Taiwan in two weeks, and living on Koh Tao for 3 months from December this year to do a divemaster course 🙂

    Nothing will get me in to the Australian oceans… I’m too soft!

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 8:01 am
    Permalink

    Stevens,
    Wow awesome, I’d love to have that kind of luxury!

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 9:03 am
    Permalink

    that’s insane! I wanna go to Paradise too… have fun and tell me all about it!

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 10:36 am
    Permalink

    wow..sipadan…dream of diving area..paradise for men too

    from Nikel Khor

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 11:28 am
    Permalink

    Have a good trip, looking forward to see the nice photos!

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 11:55 am
    Permalink

    eiling,
    Woohoo!

    fietheelf,
    Sabah misses you too!

    Nikel,
    Paradise for men? Emmmm

    JD,
    Thanks!

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 12:13 pm
    Permalink

    wow~ hav a great trip..looking forward for your nice nice pic~

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 2:17 pm
    Permalink

    So bloody nice. I just watched a Sipadan diving video in Nicole’s blog

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 3:54 pm
    Permalink

    ShaolinTiger,
    Will do, and let’s dive together this year!

    taufulou,
    Will do! 🙂

    cumidanciki,
    You also got lotsa holidayssss

    Simon Seow,
    Hehe I will have mine 😉

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 6:43 pm
    Permalink

    Yes, pics please! There’s been a dearth of nice vacation photos on the blogs..

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 10:04 pm
    Permalink

    Hi KY… don’t forget to makan all famous food in Tawau… 🙂 I got a Tawau Makan Guide (in chinese)in word file…will email to you shortly… 🙂

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 10:07 pm
    Permalink

    Bro… just notice I don’t have your e-mail… please provide… thanks!

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 10:23 pm
    Permalink

    Suertes,
    Will do 😉

    Raymen,
    Thanks dude but probably don’t get a chance to eat at Tawau tho

    Reply
  • February 2, 2010 at 11:35 pm
    Permalink

    jauhnyer… but its worth the traveling. ^^

    Reply
  • February 3, 2010 at 6:43 pm
    Permalink

    hey bro!! have fun ya? But I’m sure you will…
    I have yet to get my scuba license

    Reply
  • February 3, 2010 at 8:32 pm
    Permalink

    OMG!!! After Sipadan you will never wanna dive elsewhere. I got my scuba license in mabul and then dived in sipadan straight and since then i have yet to dive anywhere as awesome as sipadan. I so wanna go back!!!

    Reply
  • February 4, 2010 at 1:27 am
    Permalink

    I heard they said can even see hammerhead shark when you dive. Is that you need to book one year ahead before you can go to Sipadan to dive? Cos I said they only give priority to foreigner. Anyway, have great fun in Sabah ya.

    Reply
  • February 4, 2010 at 7:43 pm
    Permalink

    ky , do enjoy the seafood at tawau taipai dang , thing in semporna is exorbitantly exensive include the seafood .same fish there can be cheaper by 3time in tawau.the place is a tourist spot . tawau tapaidang seafood were great n cheap the last time i was there .

    Reply
  • February 5, 2010 at 1:24 pm
    Permalink

    Leo,
    Make it happen!

    sharon,
    Very true!

    color of life,
    Didn’t manage to see hammer head tho, probably seasonal? We only booked 3 weeks ago 😉

    donn,
    We did eat a simple meal at semporna for less than 10 bucks tho. Too bad won’t be staying over at tawau for more than 1-2 hrs

    Reply
  • February 6, 2010 at 9:36 am
    Permalink

    Saw your updates on twitter..

    Can’t wait to see your updates on this trip 🙂

    Reply
  • February 7, 2010 at 1:13 am
    Permalink

    ahlost,
    will definitely do that soon 😉

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *