We just got back from a week in Sabah, Malaysia and had some interesting adventures along the way. Our flight to Kota Kinabalu only took 2 hours and our hotel was right on the waterfront with a fantastic view of the South China Sea and the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park Islands where we'd be snorkeling.Only a minutes walk away was a wide array of food stalls. Warm waffles and Starbucks coffee for breakfast, flakey Indian canali(sp?) bread dipped in curry for lunch and the freshest, yummiest seafood all along the waterfront. The 'Phillipino night market' was amazing. Clear pavement 
parking lot by day
but at night it filled with multicolor umbrellas and underneath were vendors were selling fresh veggies and fruit, fish just off the boats, and on one side, rows and rows of tables filled with people feasting on freshly BBQ'd fish, squid, and monster prawns. No utinsils, just lots of condiments to make your own dipping sause, and plenty of lime juice and fresh water for washing your hands when you were full. Mmmm... We were regular visitors. :-)
parking lot by day
but at night it filled with multicolor umbrellas and underneath were vendors were selling fresh veggies and fruit, fish just off the boats, and on one side, rows and rows of tables filled with people feasting on freshly BBQ'd fish, squid, and monster prawns. No utinsils, just lots of condiments to make your own dipping sause, and plenty of lime juice and fresh water for washing your hands when you were full. Mmmm... We were regular visitors. :-)
Our second favorite restaurant was just down the waterfront. We selected our live seafood from the wall of fishtanks, specified how we wanted it cooked, and sat down to watch their Malaysian cultural dance show. Sara was the proud expert at removing the snails from their shells with her long wooden skewer.
The first day we went on a white-water rafting trip. I thought I'd signed us up for a leisurely float down a river but when they started issuing helmets we realized it might be more exciting day. The girls were happy to sit in the middle of the raft and there were enough gentle rapids to keep things wet and fun but not enough to worry us. Quyen and the girls even joined others in floating down a portion of the river in just their lifejackets.On two separate days we took a 20min. boat ride 
out to the islands of Manukan and Mamutik islands. Both of them were the classic tropical paradise with white sandy beaches, palm tree forest interior, and bathwater warm water for snorkeling! An area of coral had been roped off (about half a football field) for snorkeling only- no boats but LOTS of fish. Someone showed us a neat trick- we filled an empty plastic water bottle half full of bread bits and water. As we swam along, just one squeeze of the bottle and the fish would come running (swimming). What an amazing array of colors. My favorite were the multi-colored parrot fish; the girls both thrilled at seeing a family of about 8 clown fish darting in and out of the anemone (just like Nemo); and Quyen coaxed an 18in. long barracuda with our bread bottle so we all got a good look at his big teeth. Yikes!Not many other visitors at the island but we enjoyed visiting with a Korean couple who sat at the adjoining picnic table. They were there for a teacher's conference. Great location for some continued education, huh? Tia's show-n-tell she took back to school on Monday was some itchy and painful sores on her leg. Sadly, she and Quyen had an unfortunate encounter with some jellyfish. Owch!
out to the islands of Manukan and Mamutik islands. Both of them were the classic tropical paradise with white sandy beaches, palm tree forest interior, and bathwater warm water for snorkeling! An area of coral had been roped off (about half a football field) for snorkeling only- no boats but LOTS of fish. Someone showed us a neat trick- we filled an empty plastic water bottle half full of bread bits and water. As we swam along, just one squeeze of the bottle and the fish would come running (swimming). What an amazing array of colors. My favorite were the multi-colored parrot fish; the girls both thrilled at seeing a family of about 8 clown fish darting in and out of the anemone (just like Nemo); and Quyen coaxed an 18in. long barracuda with our bread bottle so we all got a good look at his big teeth. Yikes!Not many other visitors at the island but we enjoyed visiting with a Korean couple who sat at the adjoining picnic table. They were there for a teacher's conference. Great location for some continued education, huh? Tia's show-n-tell she took back to school on Monday was some itchy and painful sores on her leg. Sadly, she and Quyen had an unfortunate encounter with some jellyfish. Owch! 
We rented a car one day and Quyen drove up into the jungle of Mt. Kinabalu. It's interesting how similar the vegetation is to the rain forests of WA. Lots of ferns, vines, big trees and even a few evergreens. Of course, the bannana and coconut trees kept it pretty clear we were in the tripics.. We took a jungle canopy walk through the treetops. The entire walkway was made of secure ropes, netting, and a plank for our feet. Kind of unnerving to be walking from tree to tree 45meters in the air, but the girls had no fear. Sara kept skampering ahead to spot the next critter. I only saw one brilliant blue bird and no monkeys, but the butterflies, insects, and camoflauged lizards were sure interesting. The canopy walk was above the Pouring Hot Springs. We decided to not try the sulfur smelling ceramic tubs people were swimming and washing their feet in, but the girls had a blast in the simple water slide fed by spring water. Whee! Definitely nice for us all to cool off after that hot hike.
On the last day I got my wish. We went out to the Orangutan conservation center where the girls and I watched three 2-3 yr. old orangutan play in the trees. One even came right up on our viewing platform! What fun to watch them dip water out of a stump for drinking and practice their vine swinging skills. Sometimes one would lie on his back just at our feet, and the next minute two would be climbing SO HIGH in the trees! Just like three little playful toddlers. All in all, a great trip. I'd definitely recommend this vacation to anyone considering visiting Malaysia. Maybe we'll be back again... Love to all, Paula
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