The XtraSuitcase

 

Borneo, Malaysia

 

Borneo is divided among three countries: Brunei
(1%), Indonesia (73%) and Malaysia (26%). 
It is the largest island in Asia and the third largest island in the
world.   

 

 

 

On
this trip, we went to Kota Kinabalu, often referred to as KK, in
Sabah Malaysia.  I am not sure how, but the hubby talked me into going scuba diving! 

 

 

 

I am not afraid of the water, but I am claustrophobic!  The hubby was certified 30 years ago but never dove outside of a pool.  Another "bucket list" item for him.  He signed us up for a "discovery dive": one that  a five-year-old can do  :  )

 

 

 

All
in, you have about 70 extra pounds on your body.  Did you know they
strap 20 pounds of extra weights around your waist to help with the
buoyancy?  The tank and gear weigh around 50 pounds. 

Look at that crazed look in my eye.  I look like a deer in headlights.  I will admit I was PETRIFIED! 

 

 

Here I am going under for the first time.  Note the photos are not the best quality; we were shooting through a plastic case.  But they are actually better than we were expecting. 

 

 

 

Despite all the extra weight, you still float upward.  I am hanging onto our instructors arm for dear life in ALL of these photos.  And you will notice there are no photos of D as I was only able to concentrate on my breathing!

 

 

 

And I held the regulator with my other hand… never letting go.

 

 

 

Our dive conditions were so-so as there were heavy rains the day before.  We did two dives, both around 30 minutes.  We went about 25 feet deep on the second dive and the visibility was much better than the first dive.

 

 

Here is the only shot of D!

 

 

What did we see?  Coral and small fish.  Not quite the spectacular colors I was hoping for.  

 

 

 

 

But it was still very interesting and quite beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I love it?  No.  But, I am really glad I tried it, and the company we used was awesome (Borneo Dream Travel and Tour).  I think one time is enough for me… unless I could see the stunning colors like in the National Geographic Magazines!

 

 

 

Unless you take full day adventure trip out of KK, there really isn't that much to do there.  But you have to wait a minimum of 18 hours after diving before you fly, so we relaxed the next day in KK and did a little shopping at the Sunday street market.

 

 

They had excellent fresh-ground coffee beans, and it was cheap.  The young guy who sold it to us was having a good time.

 

 

 

 

Food & Drinks:

Check out this soda flavor…

 

 

 

As you know we always explore the local food scene.  Specialty items in KK… grilled chicken wings – D's favorite.

 

 

And the biggest prawns I have ever seen!

 

 

 

I had to have one of these.  I opted to have it grilled, no sauce.   It tasted like lobster and was delicious.

 

 

 

We also had this very local dish called Caulerpa Lentillifera, also known as sea grapes or green caviar.  They are a form of seaweed.   It is
said to be  high in minerals and to have antibacterial and anti-fungal
properties. 

 

 

 

D said they made his tongue go numb and we were not sure they were cooked… or what they were washed in… or were they washed at all?  The next day I googled it and learned that some Caulerpa
species produce toxins to protect themselves from browsing fish.  This also
makes them toxic to humans.  Probably not one of our smarter "eats".

 

 

 

Our chef

 

 

How to clean your hands after messy chicken wings.

 

 

 

 How about this sign?  This was NOT at the place we ate   :   )

 

 

 

As we left Borneo, we got an excellent view of where we went scuba diving – and the visibility looked crystal clear!

 

 

 

Scuba diving was certianly an adventure we will not forget.  Next week we venture back to Borneo to see the orangutans!