Life Explorer Camp

Sabah Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park

Marianne and I chose Sabah to celebrate our friendship silver anniversary in 2023.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is a state park located in Gaya Bay, a mere 30 minutes ride away from Sutera Jetty or Jesselton Point Jetty. The best part is Sutera Jetty is just 5 minutes ride to the KK airport we landed for those who can’t wait to get into their diving feat! Since my curiosity is picqued, I did a google search and found out it was named after Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman. It was gazetted in 1974 as Sabah’s second national park. That was before Marianne and I are both born and we are amazed by how well preserved and pure the waters are! It’s so transparent and in the perfect sea green color you would desire for a prime diving spot in Asia! Our tour guide Johnny who is an avid diver in Asia told us there are more sea creatures in this Marine Park than any part of Asia so we are in for a great visual feast! 

Marianne snorkeled for merely 15 metres offshore and already found fishes as long as her lower arm! Oh! We certainly fell in love with this Marine Park and vowed to return again with more friends next!

The Marine Park covers an impressive huge area of 50 sq kilometers comprising 5 islands, their surrounding reefs, and sea. With such an extensive preservation efforts, their fauna, flora, and marine eco-systems are well protected. You certainly don’t get to see commercial marine vessels passing by this part of Asia.

Interestingly, on further research, I discovered the names of the islands are not only used for the meeting rooms in the Sabah Le Meridien Hotel we stayed, the names are symbolic of their history and early discoverers. Pulau Gaya (‘big’), Manukan (‘fish’), Mamutik (‘for shell collection’), Sapi (the sound of a mowing buffalo), and Sulug (commemorating the ancestry of the Sulu peoples of Sabah). Initially, the Park covered two islands – Gaya and Sapi. In 1979, the Park’s boundaries expanded to include three other islands : Manukan, Sulug, and Mamutik. On this trip, Marianne and I covered Manukan for sea sports such as sea walking. Imagine feeling like an astronaut in the round transparent helmets walking on the seabed and the entralling parasailing in pairs in the middle of the ocean! It’s simply sensational! 

The mineral rich pristine waters makes it refreshingly therapeutic to soak it all up, mind and body.

This part of Asia is certainly a rare gem, a perfect getaway and revitalizing retreat for busy professionals and students. Sabah is also known for their freshest catch sent to the restaurant and the huge and variety of sea cucumbers as local produce. You need to let the restaurant know you would like to have lobsters so they will order fresh in the morning to be prepared for your dining plate!

We chose Le Meridien Hotel for 3 things. Firstly, the rooftop skybar with a 180 degree paranomic view of the Marine Park! This hotel has the most strategic location 10 mins ride from the airport, within 5 mins ride away to Imago – the largest and newest mall there with Marianne’s favorite Ripcurl brand and departmental stores and Gaya weekend market. It is in fact, right beside the local (dry) seafood retailer and in front of the local produce market where you can get all sorts of Sabah’s well-loved snacks. Secondly, they have fantastic and spacious rooms. We got 2 very comfortable queen size beds in a 42 sqm room. It’s so big you can put a pool table inside next to the bed! Thirdly, Le Meridien is well known for their extensive 5-star hotel buffet breakfast. The classy restaurant is crowded with patrons you can imagine the high occupancy and popularity of this hotel. The Assistant Front Office Manager, Ms Anna Wong, is such a joy with her cheerful and hospitable presence! You should see how children crowd around her as she chatted warmly with their parents. Her service excellence is top-notch! She made sure coffee is served right at our preferred table, by the corner glass panel. Her keen eye for details and guests walking into the restaurant makes sure you feel you certainly have her full attention and very presence with you. When we went to the skybar, we were raving about her to the skybar service staff and they also attest she is Ms Popular among the F&B service team. What a megawatt and fine lady who left us such a deep impression! She certainly epitomizes Sabah’s 5-star F&B hospitability.

Our hotel Conceirge recommended us New Gaya Seafood Restaurant a $5 grab ride away (5 minutes) and you see Marianne and I there for 2 nights at a row. If we can go 3 nights, we will go 3 nights to indulge on the freshest sea catches. That is right after enjoying the stunning 180 degree view at the level 14 sunset skybar at Le Meridien Hotel, helping ourselves with the uniquely concorted mocktails and cocktails for Le Meridien Hotel skybar, and reminiscing how we have grown since our schooling days. A silver friendship anniversary is certainly a proud occasion to celebrate here at Sabah in absolute pamperama style!

Sabah is simply breathtaking and the people staying at Sabah are truly blessed to have such marine parks to be envious of.

Contributed by Lynn See & Marianne Ha, Singapore