Mabul 2018

These pictures have been sitting in my DRAFT for more than a year as this was from 2018!

We started out this trip staying at UC residence and the next morning we made our way to Semporna town, did some shopping and managed to find very good TARAP - local fruit only found in Sabah.  Yes, Sabah seems to have a few things they can call their own as I have never seen in West Malaysia!

UC accommodation at his "mansion"

Yayyyyy managed to get the tarap fruit.  Its all about the timing as the season is very short and this year, it looks like there is a bumper crop and they were selling it everywhere and this truck had a full load.

Happy happy me and my tarap!

Jamilah and Aufa

Insides of a trap fruit

PR outside our chalet

We have stayed in most of the chalets at UC and still think No:8 is the best for location.  In the afternoon when the electricity is off, there seems to be a cool breeze that passes by and this chalet is in the shadows, so it is way cooler than those in the "main street"!!!

Main street chalets

Having a wiggles day out on the boat

This was a fun trip as always, and its the people that make it fun. Today the boat was filled with mainland China teenagers and this is what they wear around Mabul.  Don't we just look like two cool old cats! lol

Suckers - some kind of shell fish

Crab porridge with pee tan and salted duck egg - nom nom nom

Our dinner - one each!

Chef Ah Leong - BBQ nite

Always a hit on Mabul when its BBQ nite and I am usually spoilt by Uncle Ah Long.  He will dish out something fancy or just surprise me with my favourite and I get something extra special every trip!

The Sipadan Board

This is the BOARD!  You want to see your name on it as many times as possible during your stay at UC.  This is the reason why I go to UC every year, and this is my 8th trip to Mabul so that we can get to Sipadan. 

Anna my island daughter - also 2ic in the kitchen

Sipadan walkway blown to bits!

Favourite dish on Mabul for 2018

Apart from the critters, food is like the next best thing in Mabul.

Petai - my fav local bean/veg

The must have slipper lobsters

The daily fun is the "catch of the day".  Here you can wheel and deal with the local Bajaus and get live seafood... anything that is not swimming and kicking, its not considered FRESH!

Haggling for mantis prawns

Trying to get drumsticks

Having a swinging time on Mabul

Steamed ginger/egg Mantis prawns

Sunsets be like this...

Yes, some days we crave egg sandwiches!!!

Daily German laundry man

Some island people we have grown to know over the years and watched them grow.  This is my coconut boy - and his grandpa and me go way back 8 years and sadly his tok passed away.  We still get our coconuts from his stall which is run by the boy's mother.  

Below are random photos - gives you a rough idea what simple island life is all about ... the people, the coconut trees, the sunsets, and all the simple pleasures in life you do not find in the big smoke! Best of all, no cars on the island!!

All kinds of snacks on Kabul

The carefree easy island life style that I enjoy so much and then it is time to get back to reality!  Then I wait for the next trip to come around - and its a long wait of another year, but well worth waiting for!!