Job Discussion Forums

[gajackson1]

The subject pretty much covers it. I have already semi-set a weekend at the end of Sept. for a KK getaway, but for those in Brunei or who otherwise can contribute something here: which do you prefer, and why?

I realize a number of things between the 2 will be similar, but if anyone has anything that sways them to choose one over the other, please let me know.

Regards,

Glen

[celtica]

Really depends on what you want. R&R or exploring?

Labuan is much more of an R&R place....much smaller for a start, an island, so different atmosphere.....made for lazing, taking your time over it all

KK takes more effort, more time to get to /explore once there. City stuff ....nightclubs, bars, restaurants plus all the tourist stuff - islands off shore, museums, head out to beaches, massive new One Borneo complex, sunday market, night markets for waterfront food, excellent seafood etc etc etc .

2/3 days - Labuan..... more than that - KK

[gajackson1]

Much appreciated, Celt -

I can manage all the rest on my own, but it seems Labuan doesn't (yet?) have a TuneHotel. So is there a good hotel recc? Something midrange~ish, pref with a pool & a view. Labuan looks small enough on the map, but somewhere easy access to the coast/beach & the central district for shopping/markets & entertainment would be great.

(and for those who haven't heard about TuneHotels yet, but have plans to go to KK or KL, you should check out their website!)

Cheers!

Glen

[celtica]

I haven't been over for a few (2/3?)years now ...last time I was on a girls' only weekend and we stayed at the Waterfront Hotel. It was getting old then ...not sure if it has been done up. Was 80MYR per night inclusive basic buffet b'fast . Good points - I like the pool, reasonably big, with trees surrounding; has a nice verandah to lounge on; bar between the pool and harbour with happy hour. Walking distance to town, moments from the 'financial centre' shopping complex which has a large local buffet style restaurant. Food at the hotel I could have missed out on altogether ...just too lazy once or twice and had a burger at the bar...just OK.

Up the other end of the island is a 'resort' on the beach ...was lovely when we looked at it years ago but had been so empty so often for so long that it smelt very badly of mould. That would have been the quintessential R&R ...old brit colonial style! Wooden rooms, fans, huge beds, french doors out only verandah etc ...such a shame so smelly .....maybe done up by now ....

Another one we stayed in around 5-6 years ago is the Tiara Hotel ...also a good pool, but was becoming very run down. I think it has had major make over and is now quite expensive. A 5MYR (then) cab ride out of town so not as handy for walking as the Waterfront ...

They are the only ones I really know about. Sheraton the usual 'doesn't matter what country you are in'.... style of hotel...never stay in them!

Hire a car (or taxi) for the day and do a tour of the island ...nice bird park, memorial garden for the soldiers in the war, good beaches up the top , a marine life centre or something somewhere - I haven't been -, a nice Chinese Temple to visit .... take a walk around the water village ...maybe even a day trip out to Kuramin island (not so cheap I believe, but very beautiful)...fabulous snorkelling. We enjoyed our time , might be time to do it again!

Good duty free liquids in Labuan! Also good Chinese seafood restuarants down by the main wharf. Enjoy.

[gajackson1]

good stuff here - between this, and a google link to a pretty extensive photo-blog from an old-hand type, I think I have everything to keep me as occupied as I feel like being for those 3-4 days. I also have the dive community to still try & tap about places.

I was hoping to get a good Malay Air deal (hooray for free flights, if you can get 'em!), but if I feel the car is up to spec, I maaay just opt to road trip it. It's been over 10 years since I have lived someplace where you could drive from 1 country to another, without land mines involved!

Cheers!

Glen

[celtica]

I enjoy the trip to KK. Some lovely land to gaze over ...the ferries over the rivers are a hoot... but the stamps fill up your passport really quickly! 14 return!

Have never driven (driven and ferry really) to Labuan ...usually just get to Muara, park the car and take the passenger ferry over. Its a lot longer journey to drive to the car ferry, but could be fun. Maybe one day when I have run out of things to see in Sabah I will do that.

[gajackson1]

oh - duh!

If anyone wants the link to the photo-blog about Labuan, here it is:

http://mohdzawi.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html?widgetType=BlogArchive&widgetId=BlogArchive1&action=toggle&dir=open&toggle=MONTHLY-1214841600000&toggleopen=MONTHLY-1217520000000

The labuan section is at the bottom (of course) - may take awhile to load, but worth it.

It is also labeled 'Part 3,' and dated July 1st (of this year) - so I am guessing parts 1 & 2 are at the end of June/top of the June archive.

Cheers!

G.

[gajackson1]

Just to let anyone else who might be newer to Brunei know - I made my trip with only minor complications, pretty much all of them beyond my control -

I made it to the ferry terminal in Muara just fine - free parking for the car there, in fact - but when I got to Labuan, the onward ferry tickets were sold out (and you can't buy a combo ticket or advance tickets in Muara). Had to do an IMMEDIATE speedboat over to the mainland, and then negotiate overland transpo into KK, as all the bus tickets were sold out, as well.

Van only took me to KK bus station; I still had to get up to my hotel (TuneHotel) after that. I opted to take the free shuttle bus, but if I were doing it over, I would have either grabbed the first taxi or City Bus I could have found to 1Borneo.

TuneHotels is an awesome concept who's time is overdue. I'm buying stock, to be honest. If there is a complaint to be had, it is that Tune KK is up at 1Borneo/up just north of MUS campus. By taxi, it will only take you 15 minutes or so to get back to KK town, but walking is no option. The mall is huge, and there is a lot to see/do there - but it is just a mall, after all, with none of the colonial architecture or vibe of KK town (and also the nightlife is, well, mall~ish).

However, when a room for 1-2 people is as cheap as $4BND (no, not a mistype!)/night, it can easily be justified. (Also, I didn't have a good recc of a hotel in KK proper).

Labuan should get one, but don't know if they will or not. However, for those of you in the BSB or especially the KB area - Tune is opening a hotel in Miri later this year - slated for December. The map of proposed properties looks very promising, as well - all popular getaway spots in the region; a lot of them opening in December.

For a mall, 1Borneo has a number of actually interesting shops, good restaurants (sushi carousel at the ground floor; Novotel breakfast buffet, etc.) Movie theater, nice pool hall, large internet cafe, 4 levels, and a lot of cool, funky shops - as well as some good discount places. Big grocery store in the basement, as well (Giant), but if you stay in Tune, no fridge option for the room.

Weather Saturday prevented diving, but I did get out to one of the beaches to muck around for awhile between rain showers.

Sunday trip back was uneventful - a nice couple of hours in Labuan town, just walking around, lunch, etc. I still haven't made the land bordertown run here yet, but I imagine that will happen in October.

Cheers!

Glen