Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, Sabah

Simpang Mengayau, with the bronze globe signifying the tip of Borneo Island.












Magnificent !! I could stay here all day.










I felt the same exhilarating feeling as I stood on Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, the tip of Borneo
Island in Sabah on 19 July 2009, as I have felt standing at Cape Point of Cape of Good Hope, Cape Reinga in New Zealand North island, and Tanjung Piai in Johor, the tip of Asia continent. I was bewitched by the serenity of the place and the beautiful green-blue of South China Sea and the blue of Sulu Sea. My eternal syukur to Allah for allowing me to see his creation.


View from the top of the tip of Borneo Island overlooking the meeting of South China Sea and Sulu Sea. A sight to behold!



Tanjung Simpang Mengayau was one tourist attraction in Malaysia that I found
satisfying and proud. The place is not only beautiful but also, it was kept clean by the operator, Betty and her husband James. We stayed at Betty' and James' hut chalets there on 19 to 21 July 2009. Since the Tanjung juts out to the sea, it was a perfect place for pirates to meet and hide - a long time ago. In Bajau language Sampang means meeting place and mengayau means attacking.



They have only 5 hut chalets as the compound is small with bare facilities. There is no electricity during day time and generator power is on at night untill 2 am. Though RM100 a day is steep for such simple accommodation, Bay View Chalet is the only accommodation available there.





As our hut is perched on a hill, we have a bird's eye - view of the beach and the Sulu Sea below.



















Entrance to the modest Bay View Chalet.









Betty and James keep the place superbly clean. What I really appreciate is, both of them took the trouble to collect all the rubbish and bring them all the way to Kudat to be disposed of. Thank you Betty and James for making the tip of Borneo such a pleasant sight. Call Betty at 013-8682112 for booking. Please Betty, go on keeping this beautiful place clean and I am proud of your commitment.





After staying 2 nights there, Sharipah and I went down to the cove for a swim in the clear South China Sea. I am not sure but I read somewhere it is called Pantai Kalampunian.

I stayed at the edge of the sea only, playing with the waves - I don't know how to swim!!







The view from the top of the tip or headland or tanjung is really breathtaking. The beach stretches white and clean, ornamented by white waves and sea-green sea. But my heart ached with disgust to see hundreds of plastic bottles and rubbish thrown all over the beach. I spent almost an hour collecting the plastic bottles before I could dip myself in the sea. Like countless times before, my friend just looked and not bothered, an attitude shared by many. I was furious at the local council who just turned a blind eye and not making an effort to keep such beautiful attraction clean. I wrote a letter to the Pegawai Daerah with a copy to Sabah tourism. I wonder whether they would pay any attention to my complaints.
We really need to overhaul Malaysian attitude towards keeping the environment clean. We are in dire need of strict enforcement. I gave Betty RM10.00 for her to get some local kids to pick up the remainder of plastic bottles along the white beach of Simpang Mengayau. I hope if ever I visit this place again, there will be some positive changes.



Taken from the top of the headland of Simpang Mengayau.










It was a pity though, Tanjung Simpang Menagayau is not really or aggressively promoted for tourism but those who have been there will testify that it's a place worth visiting. A bronze globe was erected there with Malaysian flag flying high. The walk up to the tip is quite long for those who don't like walking but believe me, the scenery is priceless. As you walk to the tip, you will see the fascinating cove with white sand of the South China Sea on the left and the blue sea of Sulu on the right. You can just stay there for hours admiring the stunning scenery. All your nervous tension will be blown away by the soft winds and you will be free! I walked up there trice, once in the evening when the tide is coming with strong winds that almost blew me away and another in the morning the next day with Sharipah and in the evening the same day. I stayed there for quite a while absorbing the tranquility and the freshness of the sea breeze. It is such a shame, there weren't meaningful souvenirs sold - no Simpang Mengayau keychains, no fridge magnets etc and limited T-shirts. We couldn't find any of these souvenirs in Kota Kinabalu as well.



The other side of the Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, taken from the hut on the hill - the isolated beach of Sulu Sea, just as beckoning as the South China Sea on the other side.










To go there, you can get a bus or rent a car in Kota Kinabalu or in Kudat. We rented a manual Kancil in KK at RM98 a day including insurance and I drove there taking about 3.5 hours, stopping every now and then to take photos of some scenic spots, especially the green padi fields which is kind to my eyes. If you drive, do make sure you go straight to Kudat.





Egrets/Bangau feeding on cleared padi fields along the way to Tuaran.











DO NOT turn on the fist signboard that says Simpang Mengayau - the tip of Borneo. If you do, you will drive about 4 km then you will drive on bad gravel road about 10 km which is hard on the tiny car and on your bums. We experienced this out of ignorance as nobody told us about the bad road - not Sabah Tourism, not the car rental company. Road system to Kudat is a dismay. Some parts are bad with potholes and road signs at T-junctions are absent. You have to use your imagination in which way to turn. I wonder why Sabah government neglects this area.

When you drive towards Kudat, you will see Jalan Sin San 2, turn in there until you see Jalan Pinang Soo Loro, then Jalan Tajau Tiga Papan. You turn into Jalan Tajau Tiga Papan (exotic name huh!), drive on until you see the signage of Simpang Mengayau. Then you're safe and your body and your car won't suffer. If you don't want to stay in Bay View Chalets you can stay in Kudat and it takes about 30 minutes to reach Simpang Mengayau from Kudat.

After staying 2 days in the hut we pampered ourselves by staying 2 nights in Kudat Golf and Marina Resort in Kudat with fantastic view of Marina Bay, just to lepak. There are a few budget hotels in Kudat. One is the Upper Deck Hotel adjacent to the Millineum Supermarket, near the fishing bay and fish market at RM80.00 per night. Call o88-622-272.







Fishermen's boats anchored at Kudat esplanade.












Kudat's seaview restaurant at the esplanade. Kudat is a small but quint town with limited activities.










Sabah tourist brochure boasts of places to visit in Kudat, such as the bead and gong making centres, the Rungus longhouse and the honey farm. All these places are pathetic and not worth spending time there. The bead- making centre is so dilapidated and no exciting activities are available. It's a shame! So spend more time at Simpang Mengayau instead.You won't miss anything!
Photo shows the gong-making centre which have known better days and left to rot.







The bead-making centre, welcomed by long grass and dirty ground as well as rough road going there. Sabah tourism has to act and be proactive if they sell this attraction. This place has potentials to be attractive to tourists. Now, tourists feel cheated if they pay to come here.




Sharipah and I wanted to go to Gaya Island. The only resort there is the Gayana Eco Resort which is not so welcoming to ordinary Malaysians like me and Sharipah as retirees. But if you have money, you're welcome there. The rate per night is over RM1,000.00 and so is at the lodge in Pulau Manukan.



We spent our day on 24 July 2009 at Pulau Manukan, feeding the plentiful fishes and at Pulau Mamutik, a smaller island popular with tourists. Both these islands are mesmerising and well-maintained. We really recommend people to go there especially to swim in the crystal clear sea.








Fascinating fishes aplenty at Manukan Island.












Tourists enjoying watching the fishes at the jetty at Manukan island. You're prohibited from swimming or snorkeling here but some stupid, selfish people still do. Our marine rangers should learn to be firm and enforce the regulations. Some visitors don't seem to understand the warning signage.



Our plan to stay at Gunung Emas was aborted as Sabah Tourism didn't recommend it. The place is undergoing make-over I hope but we will visit there one day. We have visited Sabah many times for work before but this is one of our real holidays there.

Sabah, Negeri Di Bawah Bayu is perfectly perfect.