I went on Monday (14 Nov 2011) on a work-related visit to Tongod. I went via Tawau as my two colleagues were there. Some may ask "Where's Tongod?". If you stick your finger in the middle of Sabah on a map; that's Tongod.
I bought the ticket on-line and tried out the web check-in. I must say the Air Asia website made it very difficult to get the "lowest" priced ticket! There were too many items to "un-tick"! Anyway, those with luggage had better pay for it on-line and drop-off their bags when at the airport.
While waiting in the departure lounge, I passed the time taking photos of an aircraft arriving ...
... and one departing ...
... Air Asia's PPE (accountants will know what that is) ...
... the houses up the hill across from the airport ...
... the RMAF Hercules C-130H ...
... the propeller at a shutter speed of 1/250 th of a second ...
... and at 1/1000 th of a second ...
... the aircraft marking was M30-06 (perhaps from Labuan Air Base) ...
... FYI for those who can't do without, there was a room at the departure lounge (I didn't go in as it was too stuffy for me in there).
When our aircraft arrived, there was some laughter from the waiting passengers ...
... the plane was a "Flying Billboard" in Lotus colours; with NAZA ...
... Team Lotus,
Hackett (London Designer Menswear),
makeroadssafe.org (Global Road Safety), ...
... CNN, & Maxis.
I had refused the seat-selection when buying the ticket. So when I did the web check-in; I was allocated Seat 31F (the very end-seat). Obviously I assumed (wrongly) that it would be worst seat in the house; but it was one of the best (as I boarded at the rear door and got off the plane at Tawau also from the rear door).
I was intrigued by the "I'm A BIG Shot" button. It turned out to be the Air Asia Loyalty Program (one of those member collect points to exchange for stuff thingy).
Looking down upon take-off, I saw the "beautification embankment project" at the Sembulan river ...
... which continued round to the end of the warehouses. I wondered if the fish-mongers (the previously best patronised businesses in the area) will move back to the embankment?
The first flyover in Kota Kinabalu (at Bukit Nanas) ...
... and the second one at Karamunsing.
A large clearing; oil palm development (from 31,000 ft).
If the "insurance" is sold by Air Asia; isn't it kinda gambling where the "house" is in-charge and has an unfair advantage?
The Airbus 310 has a
wingtip device (the yellow bit) which improve the airflow to promote safety and fuel efficiency.
On the landing approach to Tawau ...
... prawn farms ...
... a lot of prawn farms ...
... I was later told they are mostly foreign-owned.
The area next to the airport was replanted; mono-crop and monotonous ground cover.
We stopped in Kunak for a short late lunch. I took a photo of the Hotel Kunak; I last stayed there in 1980 (it looked the same, except the "a" in Kunak had dropped off!).
On the way towards Lahad Datu; there were only oil palm ...
... and many big tankers and trucks ...
... causing long queues; the "necessity" of many overtakings sometimes led to horrific accidents (single-lane trunk road with almost no over-taking lanes).
The turn-off to Danum Valley and the resort there, for the adventurous ...
Hey, Lahad Datu has new dual-lane highway stretches and more traffic lights (progress!).
Also a new hotel; funny enough, it's called My Inn Hotel!
I amused myself with photos of; a Viva with big tyres! ...
... now you know; a HiLux can hold 6 tyres across the truck-bed ...
... now you know; a Triton can carry 3 lpg cylinders across the truck-bed.
Sometimes, you can do two trucks at once.
Still 184km to Telupid ...
Now you know; the secret to carrying a HUGE load (also the reason why the roads are bad!).
We arrived at 6.30pm to the optimistically-named City Hotel at Telupid ...
... then dinner at a wooden place (I don't remember the name; something like Kopitiam Lin or something) ...
... where the owner had a big pet.
{continue in Part 02}
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