There are, of course, alternative ways to get there too, of which you can read in this article posted last year.

Sabahbah.com was there, but unfortunetally only equipped with a Canon Ixus digital camera.  However, we still managed to capture the clip below, which highlights a short portion of this entertaining Lion Dance.

Also, if you want to read more about what the accommodation in Kota Kinabalu’s TuneHotels.com is like, then read our report here.  We visisted TuneHotels.com and got the skinny first hand.  Yes, the rooms are small, but damn, are they clean – and if you’re really an intrepid explorer, then that’s what you need.

The event is taking place this Saturday, 20 September, and the group will depart at 10.30am from the Sabah Parks jetty opposite the Hyatt Kinabalu in the centre of Kota Kinabalu.

Downbelow Dive Centre will provide the speedboat transfers to their dive station on Gaya island, also the location of the Sabah Park Headquarters for the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.

The clean-up operation will be based here and will entail rubbish collection from the beach and river mouth, as well as from the reefs in the immediate vicinity.  An open-water dive qualification is required for the latter activity.

Downbelow Dive Centre has made their diving infrastructure available for this event, and Sabah Parks has agreed to waive the park entry and jetty fees, which means this Project AWARE sponsored event is completely free for participants.

As a result divers cleaning the reefs will have equipment available at no cost to them and for everybody, the boat transfers, lunch, park fees and jetty fees will also be free of charge.

In summary:

Date: Saturday, 20 September 2008
Time: 10:30am – 4:00pm
Location: Depart from Sabah Parks Jetty in front of Hyatt Regency Kinabalu
Event Location: Gaya Island, Tunku Adbul Rahman Marine Park
Cost: As many bags of rubbish as you can collect.
Included: Return transfers, lunch, equipment rental, party entry fees, jetty fees

Remember, you’ll be out in the sun all day, so bring along at least sunscreen and a hat.

We only had space for 30 participants at this particular event, and we’ve already filled the quota.  In future more such events are planned, so join the KK Dive Club and make sure you’re in the loop next time.

The Welcome

We stepped into the grounds of Shangri-La’s Chi – The Spa and stood there for a moment taking in the beauty and admiring the landscaped gardens with the island backdrop, before being pleasurably interrupted by a gentle wafting of a indistinctive scent that begged to be identified.

Even before we could venture a guess, Spa Manager Alyssa Lim greeted us and within seconds had us seated, sipping cool cinnamon and pandan tea, an appreciated chilled beverage in contrast to the heat and humidity.

As we settled in we were introduced to the spa’s concept of the five elements (wood, fire, earth, water or metal) meant to balance a person’s energy.

Based on ancient Chinese and Himalayan beliefs, Chi works on the philosophy of helping one’s life force flow freely throughout the body and harmonising the Yin and Yang energies.  Therapies at Chi – The Spa are inspired by ancient healing treatments and rituals from the Himalayas, where Shangri-La, the legendary utopia that James Hilton wrote about in his 1933 novel, Lost Horizon, nestles.

A range of spa treatments, from all-in-one packages, to hot stone treatments, massages, wraps, scrubs, hand and foot treatments, and skincare all beg to be enjoyed.  Sabahbah.com chose the Pulau Bayu retreat, which, according to the menu, includes a footbath, uplifting himalayan bath therapy, a body scrub, and a Borneo Therapy Massage.

“Traditionally, we try to identify our customer’s element of the day first to determine the best scent to use during treatment to balance out their energy,” said Alyssa, handing us a form, which asked for info such as medical background and preference in food tastes and colours. After determining our elements for the day, a therapist showed us to our villas.

Chi – The Spa Experience – The Pulau Bayu Retreat

Filled with anticipation we arrived at our private villa after a short stroll through the spa gardens. Both single and couple villas are available to suit customers’ needs and spa treatments.

Our private villa was equipped with a changing room, treatment room, outdoor shower, steam room and outdoor bath with sun beds.

Our footwear come off at the door, while our daywear had to wait till the changing room. The robes provided were ultra plush and light, different from the usual heavy cotton or terry cloth.

For most people, disposable underwear found at spas are an uncomfortable and unflattering necessity, but the Chi experience provides a breathable, albeit see-through, garment, which is suprisingly comfortable and will sculpt itself around body shapes ample and slim.

A sarong for ladies or a pair of shorts for the men will protect any modesty you may have.  A ring of the bell later we were welcomed into the treatment room and the real pampering began.

Up first was another soothing cup of tea, served in cups fashioned out of pure jade, while our therapist explained the flow of the session.  A foot soak started us off, with warm water peppered with lemongrass, lime, betelnuts, lime leaves, ginger and cloves, topped off with a foot scrub.

The outdoor bath, already thoughtfully filled with hot water, beckoned us to perpetuate the relaxation from the footbath throughout.  Soaking in the tub amidst the creeping vines, looking out into the garden where we caught a glimpse of the South China Sea, is one of the most indulgent things yet we had the pleasure of doing here at Sabahbah.com.

After reluctantly getting out of the tub, we were lured to the treatment tables where it was time for the pearl cocoa scrub. Like its name suggests, the scrub is a scrumptious combination of crushed pearls from the east coast district of Semporna and cocoa beans, mixed with soya, ginger and pegaga leaf. It certainly smelled good enough to eat.

Our modesty was always protected by the therapists who respectfully veiled their gazes by lifting the sheets as we got comfortable on the table, either when lying down or turning over. Before the treatment begins, ladies are asked about their preference of having their chest area massaged.

After a shower to rinse the sinfully delicious smelling coconut off our bodies, a lovely experience with the outdoor-esqe rain shower, we once again were directed to the treatment beds.

This is where the Borneo Therapy Massage, a signature treatment of the spa,  promised to get rid of any stubborn tenseness that remained in spite of the prior pampering. The massage treatment is inspired by the traditions of bobohizan, the Kadazandusun native healers, and uses palm and thumb pressure that releases wind in the body and promotes good circulation.

The soothing music did wonders to while away the two and a half hours and before we realised, the treatment had come to an end. Another few sips of tea later, we were back in the changing room preparing for our imminent return to the real world.

But fortunately or not, a whiff of Borneo Therapy seemed to have rubbed off on cellphone or notepad, and continued to linger around us for days after, a wistful reminder of the indulgent escape we had at Chi The Spa at Shangri-la’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa.

Relax Yourself

Chi – The Spa’s garden is extremely conducive to relaxation. With stone elements intertwined with lucscious greens, surrounded by calm blue ocean, the garden’s western corner features a glass-walled hut, which overlooks the nearby islands.

This is Chi – The Spa’s Yoga & Tai Chi room where everyone with a health-concious mind in Kota Kinabalu is welcome to join a class to de-stress and refocus their energies.

Yoga Sessions
Monday & Sunday: 8am – 9am
Wednesday & Friday: 5pm – 6pm
Price: RM 70 per person or RM 100 per person for a private session

Tai Chi Sessions
Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays: 4pm – 5pm
Price: RM 60 per person or RM 80 per person for a private session

For more information about Shangri La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa Yoga or Tai Chi session, or Chi – The Spa, please email tah@shangri-la.com.

Night Dive – Friday, 29 August 2008
By popular demand, members have the opportunity to join a night dive in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.  We’ll meet at Sutera Harbour and depart from there for a thrilling night dive.

Departure Time: 5.45pm (don’t be late)
From: Sutera Harbour Marina
Includes: 1 night dive
KK Dive Club Member Price: RM 80
Other Fees: Park fees (RM20 Malaysian or RM50 Non-Malaysian), torch rental at RM30 (unless you want to swim in pitch blackness, but that’s not so much fun).

Pulau Tiga Overnight Package – Sat 30 Aug to Sun 31 Aug 2008
Last weekend the first of the KK Dive Club members went to Pulau Tiga and had themselves some fabulous dives – in the ocean and in the mud volcano!  It was such a hoot that guests and KK Dive Club members alike demanded another, longer outing.

So this weekend, we’re at it again.  We leave at the crack of dawn (fine, shortly after) from Jessleton Point and head off to Pulau Tiga.  The weekend includes 4 guided boat dives, a trip to Snake Island and lots more mud (bring swimmers you don’t want ruined, the mud stays forever).

Departure Time: 7.30am (don’t be late)
From: Jessleton Point
Includes: return boat transfers, 4 guided boat dives, accommodation in a twin-share standard room (bathroom, aircon, fan), meals (buffet lunch, dinner, breakfast, lunch, tea & coffee & non-alcoholic beverages), guided walk to volcanic mud baths, boat trip to Snake Island, park fees.
Super Low Club Member Price: RM 517 per person sharing
Other Fees: None! (but if you’re drinking alcohol, that’s gonna cost you).

Obviously, at this rate the spaces are seriously limited and remember, you have to be a KK Dive Club member to qualify for these super low club member prices.

If you’re keen to join, become a KK Dive Club member and email dive@kkdiveclub.com to reserve your spot on either the night dive or the Pulau Tiga Overnight Weekend. And do it quickly, mkay?

Downbelow is an efficient dive operation, uniquely perched on the shores of a sheltered cove on Gaya Island in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (TARP) about 10 minutes from Kota Kinabalu city.

Run by master dive instructors and veteran divers Richard and Joanne, Downbelow pride themselves on professional, friendly and knowledgeable service, traits they instil in all their staff.

A PADI Certified Dive Centre, Downbelow is also licensed under the Malaysian Ministry of Culture, Arts & Tourism. Their equipment, from speedboat to regulators, are maintained to stringent standards for excellent dives both around Kota Kinabalu and the rest of Sabah.

As marine biologists, Richard and Joanne’s passion for the underwater world burns bright and is evident in the enthusiasm with which they conduct their dive operations and dives.

Also teachers of underwater photography, Richard and Joanne has documented the TARP in detail themselves, and the accuracy with which they can find small, wondrous critters hidden in the nooks and crannies of the park’s coral reefs, is truly astounding.

Taking clients slightly off the usual tourist track to expose them to a world below the water and above, less trodden by the everyday tourist, is a veritable trademark of Downbelow. That said, a near obsessive standard of safety is always paramount though, whether it be diving, trekking in the jungle or taking on Mt. Kinabalu.

If you’re interested in diving in Kota Kinabalu, Downbelow offers the following:

If you would like to book any of the above or just want more information about what the courses entail, send us an email at info@sabahbah.com, or contact Downbelow directly on info@divedownbelow.com.

Think climbing Mt. Kinabalu, enjoying the beach at the Tip of Borneo, cruising down the Kinabatangan river and diving in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (TARP) – how often do we enjoy these treasures?

Well, some of that is about to change.

A Dive Club for KK

Downbelow Marine and Wildlife Adventures is a PADI Certified dive centre and specialises in Borneo adventures with an office in Likas Square and a dive station based on Gaya Island.

Downbelow also established the KK Dive Club with the main purpose of getting locals down below more often for less, to appreciate the splendour of the corals and marine life we have right here on our doorstep in Kota Kinabalu.

The Dive Club does it cheaper

If you live in Sabah, whether you’re a Sabahan or a foreigner, you qualify for the excellent dive rates the KK Dive Club has to offer. A normal fun-dive day consisting of return boat transfers to the Downbelow Dive Station on Pulau Gaya, 3 fun dives in the TARP and lunch, will cost KK Dive Club members a mere RM 145.

Your only other expense will be the park dive fee payable to Sabah Parks, which is RM20 per diving day for Malaysians and RM50 for non-Malaysians.

If, however, you are taking part in a diving course, the dive fee is valid for up to 4 consecutive diving days, which now also covers night dives, as opposed to before where an additional fee was required for night dives in the park.

An annual fee of RM100 gets you into the KK Dive Club family, which includes a Downbelow t-shirt as a welcome gift. Membership entitles you to affordable diving days, discounted dive courses, PADI Aware events, social outings and get-togethers.

Get Busy in the Water with KK Dive Club

A regular schedule of KK Dive Club days will keep you busy and, subject to certain conditions and minimum club member requirements, outings on request can also be arranged.

How to get involved? Download the KK Dive Club membership form, fill it in and visit the Downbelow office at 9A 1st Floor, Likas Square Commercial Centre to pay your membership fee.

Alternatively, email dive@kkdiveclub.com for more information or to get the skinny about what’s next on the KK Dive Club schedule.

Downbelow Dive Centre, sponsored by Project AWARE and Sabah Parks, will host a beach and reef clean-up this Saturday, 20 September.

Date: Saturday, 20 September 2008
Time: 10:30am – 4:00pm
Location: Depart from Sabah Parks Jetty in front of Hyatt Regency Kinabalu
Event Location: Gaya Island, Tunku Adbul Rahman Marine Park
Cost: As many bags of rubbish as you can collect.
Included: Return transfers, lunch, equipment rental, party entry fees, jetty fees

Email Sabahbah.com to confirm your spot before Friday, or refer to this post for more details.

Ultimate Frisbee in Kota Kinabalu has moved back to the place where it all started; the rugby field in Tanjung Aru next to Kota Kinabalu International Airport’s Terminal 2.

And, if you’re looking to play ultimate frisbee while on holiday in Kota Kinabalu, or if you live in KK, then your chance of catching a game of ultimate frisbee is now even better.

Until at least the 26th of the month, Sabah ultimate frisbee will be played 3 times a week as we shake things up a bit and also play twice a week at the Tanjung Aru beach.

So, if you can and want to run after a day at the office or hard day of tours and exploring KK, and can jump and catch a flying disc at the same time, then join the ultimate frisbee players of Kota Kinabalu.

Don’t be shy, we don’t bite… unless you pretend to give us beer and then quickly whip it away before we can take it.

The ultimate frisbee schedule is as follows:

• Sunday: 4pm – 6pm
  Tanjung Aru rugby field, next to T2 at KKIA
• Tuesday: 6pm – 7.30pm
  Tanjung Aru beach, in front of First Beach, Tanjung Aru
• Friday: 6pm – 7.30pm
  Tanjung Aru beach again.

Did we mention there’s no charge?  Well, it’s true, there’s no charge – you can play ultimate frisbee for free.

See you there.