Logos Hope Valletta 2011

The Logos Hope Valletta is paying a visit to Kota Kinabalu this year. As it was a "new" ship, I dropped by this afternoon.

As usual, there was a special entry lane at Kota Kinabalu Port ...

... but this year, they had bus shuttle services to the ship ...

... which looked bigger and better than the "old" one.

I think the visitors liked the bus service ...

... the exit gangway and the entry gangway.

Nice logo on the funnel ...

... I noticed they had a van with a foreign registration plate. Are they allowed to drive it on our roads?

A view of Kota Kinabalu from the ship. I think the distance from the port entrance was the reason for the bus service.

Welcome ...

... and a disclaimer!

 Nice floor and fully air-conditioned. The RM1 entry was fully justified.

The briefing area was just to announce that 100 Logos units (units used to price the books) was RM8.

On either side of the lifebouy, were some photos and write-ups about ...

the history of all the various Logos and other important events from 1970s to ...

... the current Logos Hope Valletta (purchased in 2004 and refitted for launch in 2009).

You can browse the books in air-con comfort ...

... the announcement said more than 5,000 titles ...

... all kinds of books.

After paying at the cash stations, you get another opportunity to buy CDs (Buy 2 Get 1 Free!) and textbooks (RM40 for 3 plus a free bag!). Anyone organising fund-raisers must take note; give your "customers" more than 1 chance to spend their money.

On the way out, you get to experience a visual storyboard with an audio story ...

... about a countryboy dreaming of the wonderful fun and games in the Big City ...

... them slot machines just leave you with empty pockets!

When "pok kai", then go back to your father ...

... and a simple life with someone who loves you! I think it was a version of the prodigal son story.

There was a info session on HIV ...

... and a post-it board ...

... next to the International Cafe.

Just before the "real" exit, there was a "last-chance saloon" to buy something before you leave!

I don't know what this meant.

Nice logo.

It was not often the public get to go inside the port. You have until Sunday!

Keningau Lunch

While in Keningau on 29 Nov 2011, we went for lunch at the recommended Foo Nyen. They had a specialty dish; but they were closed that day, so we went to their competitor (at the corner of the block) Loong Fung ...

 ... no, not the crabs. The ones we were looking for were in the glass cage below ...

... eels. I didn't know they were called LinDung (RM45 per kilo). Very nice lunch.

A Visit To Tongod - Part 03 Tawau back to Kota Kinabalu

 Morning drizzle (this morning from the 12th floor Promenade Tawau) ...

 ... Kuhara Court (Tawau's First High-rise Condominium! The website proudly proclaimed).

 I took this from the 7th floor balcony of the Cafe; The Holy Trinity Church on one side ...

... and the IRB on the other side.

On the flight back; one photo of a large scale oil palm development, on all hilly terrain!

On approach to landing in Kota Kinabalu; noted that this MAS Boeing 737 did not have the wingtip device (older unit?).

Full flaps down for landing (something you learn from the flight simulator computer game!).

Speedbrakes deployed after touch-down. Home at last!

A Visit To Tongod - Part 02 Telupid to Tongod and back to Tawau

The City Hotel at 6.00am (15 Nov 2011). Don't "pray, pray", I found out from reception that it was "full-house" last night (even the family suite was taken!). I just noticed that one of the vehicles had a rear tyre puncture (an unpleasant surprise for the owner).

 Telupid was beginning to boom (many oil palm estates and mills); there were many rows of shophouses ...

... the usual beautiful misty mornings (common in rural Sabah; will disappear after land development). There were also many stray dogs; probably sleeping it off after scavenging in the rubbish dumps.

Another view of the misty hills ...

... and yet another one.

While looking for diesel fill-up; we could only see "Sabah Oil"! You learn something new everyday!

The diesel was RM2.68 per liter!!!

I also noticed a 9,999 watts speaker at the shop!!!

We left for Tongod (66km to our visit site); 25km on the sealed road ...

 ... then turned off onto the gravelled road passing many kampungs; some with schools ...

 ... most seemed to have electricity, the road was being sealed from the inside out.

On the project site, the oil palm nursery used "drip irrigation" for the watering and manuring ...

 ... the drip piping had a tiny hole at each bag location (so saving on water usage and almost no weeds in the nursery) ...

... resulting in excellent and very even seedling growth.

 As usual in new development areas, you get to cross streams and small rivers (any big rise in water level from rain upstream of the river will leave you stranded on the other side).

 On the way back to Tawau, this was the most over-loaded truck I saw.

 Uh Oh ...

Luckily (for us that is), he did not block the whole road.

 After the Mile 32 Junction (those who travel these roads will know); there was still 275km to Tawau.

Rain and more heavy trucks.

We reached Tawau at 7.00pm and had dinner at e-ka-e (new shops at Kubota Square) ...

... new, good decor and reasonable prices.


{continue in Part 03}