“Ah, buaya!”
And although Borneo is the only place in the world where these proboscis monkeys can be seen in the wild, it was the crocodile that sent a ripple of nervous excitement through the boat.
But here in the wild, spotting one on a cruise is a special occurrence that not every boat can boast about.The writer’s seven-year-old son searching for crocodiles on a Klias Wetlands tour in early June. Containing the international airport in its bosom, KK is the gateway to all other parts of Sabah, as Sabah Tourism Board CEO Noredah Othman explains.
With international and state borders closed during lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, all sectors of tourism in Sabah were hit hard, with tours and attractions shutting down completely for some periods. A Klias Wetlands tour boat cruising down the river in search of proboscis monkeys and other wildlife. Including the fireflies. You’ll never forget cruising along a river with crocodiles in pitch blackness and seeing nature’s fairy lights.Two hours north to the bustling city centre, another very different boat is also seeing a comeback.
The jetty was just a few minutes’ walk from The Magellan Sutera Resort, so we left our room about a half hour before the 5.30pm departure time. This allowed us to explore the marina before getting on board. Up the gangway and we were led into the dining area; the long buffet line down the centre, with a small raised stage at the end waiting for the live band to set up.
The first two take visitors past the Gaya Island water village, then down to a sunset point before looping back to the KK waterfront. Just before 6pm, the buffet line is opened where guests are invited, table by table to cut down crowding, to make their first round. “Sabah’s sunsets are actually one hour earlier than in Peninsular Malaysia, usually occurring between 6.15pm and 6.40pm daily depending on the time of the year.
“Now, we are definitely seeing an increase in the international market once again, especially with the return of the Singapore and Korean markets. It is an exciting time now for the tourism industry, with the world reawakening after two years of hibernation,” Tan says.With crystal clear emerald waters, the waves just call to you, even if you aren’t lucky enough to travel to the diving heaven of Semporna on the east coast.
Towing three young children under the age of 10, we decided to hire a private boat for an additional RM550, giving us full flexibility of our schedule. Although it was scheduled to rain, the day was glorious and the whole family – save myself, I never rush the sunscreen – got cheerfully sunburned, some in areas least expected.
Tourists were returning, we were told, but things were still slow for private boat operators and diving classes that have slashed their rates in a bid to attract more people to get their PADI certifications. In January this year, Malaysian visitors to the islands clocked in at 12,617, nearly equalling pre-pandemic numbers. Foreign tourists, however, who normally more than double the number of local visitors, stood at a mere 377.
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