2016.
Yesterday while waiting for my Aunt Fely at the Belgian Waffle Kiosk, I found myself adrift. A good memory flooded to me as I was sipping a Malaysian Mild Coffee.
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| "Early morning walk led me here at Jesselton Terminal" |
It was 2011 when I had my first travel abroad. I was so young then - very vibrant with all the optimism a young lady of her early 20's could ever imagine. I grew up confident. I was raised in a way where human relations and interaction is already innate. Given that I was bratty before and carefree, I booked a month trip to Kota Kinabalu. Not a tinge of anxiety was in me. I was ready to leave my comfort zone and dedicate myself to traveling.
The date finally arrived. I was already in NAIA passed the immigration. I was so confident that I could make it on my own. The plane's engine exhilarated me and after a few hours, I was already in Sabah, Malaysia. Ready to see a country almost a replica of the Philippines.
Fast forward to Day 2 - November, 2011.
I stumbled on Jesselton Terminal in a busy urban street of Kota Kinabalu, a young man of his 20's approached me for a ferry trip around Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. I hesitated but then smiled at him sensing that he meant no harm. After a few minutes, when he learned that I am a Filipina, he called out his other ferry buddies and the next hours, we were seated in one of the kiosks of the terminal chitchatting about almost everything.
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"Serene and bright"
A man who was half-Filipino and half-Malaysian ordered "teh tarik" for me. I learned that "tarik" means "pull" and "teh" means "tea". I was delightful. The conversation went on while I was already feeling comfortable with these jetty operators. Finally, Dino, the Malaysian young man was convinced that he would tour me around the island parks for free.
I didn't have any idea about the marine park. I was only focused on visiting Mt. Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Southeast Asia as my travel plan but then who was I to decline from an exciting offer. To note, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is a cluster of islands - Pulau Gaya, Pulao Sapi, Pulau Mamutik, Pulau Manukan and Pulau Sulug. (Pulau - island). The tour will take you from one island to the next basically for sightseeing, island hopping, swimming and snorkeling.
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| "A good place to relax" |
One unforgettable experience that I had was when I went swimming alone in a partly secluded area of Mamutik Island. The beach was covered with white sand and the water was totally tempting for a swim. As I busied myself in the water, I saw something approaching to the shoreline out from the shady forest. A reptile which I thought as a Komodo Dragon. I panicked. The pump of my epinephrine was a thousand times normal. I got a hang of my clothes while looking at the very calm 5-meter reptile which at that time already claimed the sea. With normalized breathing and steady pulse rate, I found out that it was not a Komodo Dragon but a huge monitor lizard. But still, I stayed away from the beach as much as possible. I was still very scared.
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| "This is the very spot where a monitor lizard almost joined me for swimming." |
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| "One of the Malaysian students whom I toured around the island" |
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| "Yes. Malaysia took part of the World War 2." |
The jetty operator, Dino, left me for some hours while he was fetching other tourists. I thought of myself how lucky I was to tour the marine park for free. So to compensate, I volunteered myself to be a tour guide for his next tour. While he was away, I wandered around Mamutik Island while meeting some other operators and I even met one who worked in the Marine Museum. He walked with me and introduced me to different species of marine life abundant in Sabah, Malaysia. It was worth it.
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| "The Chinese-Malaysian who toured me in the Marine Museum" |
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| "Skeleton of a Bryde Whale Skull" |
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| "Giant Clam" |
Dino arrived after a few minutes together with 4 Malaysian students who were having their convention in Kota Kinabalu. I told Dino that I could handle the students (given that they speak and understand English and they did).
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I was successful. The Malaysian students from Kuala Lumpur even invited me for dinner after the tour. But I declined because I was up to something - the Atkinson Clock Tower.
I thanked Dino until now because he taught something more important than money.
Trust. Camaraderie. Patience.
* If it was not for free then I could have paid the following in RM (Malaysian Ringgit):
- Jesselton Terminal Fee - RM7.20
- Manukan Island - RM23
- Mamutik Island - RM23
- Sapi Island - RM23
- Sulug Island - RM23
- Two Island Hop - RM33
- Three Island Hop - RM43
- Four Island Hop - RM53
- Admission Fee for each island - RM10 (non-Malaysian)
Facts:
1. Tunku Abdul Rahman Park opens daily from 8:30A.M. to 5P.M.
2. It is accessible via speedboat about 15-20 minutes from Jesselton Terminal
3. There are friendly jetty operators around so you won't worry about the island tour.
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