Lahad Datu to Semporna

Overlooking a dive site

We slept in till 10 this morning and then called Nazmi to see if he wanted to have breakfast with us. He'd said he would help us choose a good bus to get to Semporna. After checkout we waited downstairs for him while being assailed by Sea Gypsy children. One of the girls was very creepy, she had a voice like the girl on The Exorcist and just kept repeating the same phrase over and over - no idea what she was saying though. One boy mimicked everything I said, so I started saying "I am a monkey" and "Fully sick mate". He did a reasonable impression actually! I was going to video him but I thought that was rude since we weren't giving them money.

Yum!

Nazmi arrived and we put our bags in his car, and went to drive to a cafe. As we passed the bus station he said "so - what time are you planning to take the bus?" I explained we really didn't have a plan except to get on a bus, and he said "because I thought I would just drive you to Semporna - if that's ok?" OK ?? Fabulous! He was going to visit a friend there too so it worked out well. We left the city and came to a hill. He said you can see jaguars, monkeys and sometimes even elephants so of course we kept our eyes peeled but alas, no wildlife came anywhere near our car. We got to the top of the mountain and saw the most beautiful view out over the bay and over to Semporna. He then took us to a diving area that looked really nice. He said he's seen a whale shark there before.

Welcome to Semporna

We stopped for drinks at a town called Kunak, where Nazmi's friend Diana joined us. It's quite a small place but big enough for a hospital. Diana came along with us and we drove to Semporna, checked in and went for a walk around the place. There was a water village area with some enclosures of big fish at the end. It would have been easy to see them when the sun is shining but as there was a bit of chop, we only saw when they came quite close to the surface. After our walk we went to the Mabul Cafe for dinner. Nazmi and Diana did the ordering and deliberated for quite a while, making sure they ordered the perfect menu. And it was - we had battered prawns, Sabah vege, chicken & corn soup and a whole crispy skin fish - it was quite a banquet. The food was delicious, especially the fish. After dinner they left to go back home, and Yvon and I retired for the evening.