We’ve checked out from our hotel this morning and will play the last game shortly at Tawau Golf Club. It’s been hot, challenging but good and fun.
As always I look forward to our next outing with the same crazy bunch.
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Again!
3 MaySo we played at Shan Shui again today. Simply because we thought we played here yesterday, we would be familiar with the course.
But no. I lost another four balls today. Sigh, I shouldn’t complain. It was self-inflicted. Good fun though.
Tomorrow is our last day in Tawau and it will be an early tee off at Hot Spring Tawau Golf Club. How fast time flies when one is having fun.
Tonight we are eating at Yah Hoo Restaurant again. Simply because the food is good. But the choices are different save for the fish porridge which we had two nights ago. All in all this trip has been wonderful.
What Shall We Do?
3 MayIt is Day 3 and we changed our plans. Although we decided to tee off at 12.30pm at Shan Shui, we woke up early to go out for breakfast instead of dining on the free breakfast in the hotel. The venue: a noodle shop next to Kam Ling, it was yet another good and hearty meal.
After that, the van took us to go buy some dried seafood. It was a quick stop and once we were done with our purchases, we visited the local wet market. It was nice to see the wonderful colors of vegetables out on display.
With two and a half more hours to kill, we decided to check out the original 9-hole Tawau Golf Club and sit at its Clubhouse for a drink. The other Tawau Golf Club which we played at on Day 1 is also known as Hot Spring.
What a Feast
2 MayAfter snacking and drinking at the Club, we still had time to go eat the famed Soto of Tawau, buy fresh seafood to bring home and take a snooze before dinner time.
Dinner tonight was by far the most expensive. Our seafood spread consisted of the common and the exotic: a whole fish, snails, just the fish head, lobsters, flower crabs, jellyfish (2 types) salad, and fish stomach & fish lips, plus a vege and noodles. I think we over ordered. If we thought last night’s meal was good, tonight’s choice were better and more refined. But double the price.
The restaurant has been reputed to charge an arm and a leg. But when you are so well known, I guess you can get away with it.
I think tomorrow I should walk rather than take the buggy when we play our third game to burn all that calories.
Where’s the Crocodile?
2 MayShan Shui is obviously different compared to Tawau Golf Club which was very narrow. And it has a star attraction. Actually had. At the Par 3 and we heard the sad end to it.
After our game, we were seated at the Clubhouse, the Golf Director came and joined us and told us tales of how the resident crocodile ate one of his worker! Oh my goodness. We were horrified.
It seems that the worker was encroaching on the nesting beast, prodding the edge of the pond with a stick looking for lost golf balls, and mama was not happy about this. So out she leaped from the pond and grab him by the leg.
The next day, the body was discovered with the tummy section gone. Gulp… Something had to be done then. With a plan and the aid of several agencies, the resident croc was nabbed and killed. Hence, when we played today, no croc leaped out from the pond to grab us by the legs as we walked near it to approach the green. Phew.
And since we had a good time today, everyone agreed to the plan to play Shan Shui again tomorrow and play Tawau Golf Club on Monday instead.
It’s Different
2 MayWe have gone off for many golfing trips with Thailand topping the list as the preferred destination. This time it is a first to Tawau, Sabah. It is only Day 2 and I can feel the difference. Somehow one just cannot compare but just experience the moment in time.
Car rides are shorter within Tawau. Maybe because everything is closer and it is not like we are going from one far end to another like in Thailand. As for the golf course, well, every club is sculpted differently by different architects and nature, so the challenges cannot be compared. While some can be easy, some can be challenging; sometimes it is not just the course but the company as well. As for food, it is also very different.
Today we will play at Shan Shui Golf & Country Club and after that, eat at a different venue.
Where to Eat
1 MayOne must know where to eat when in Tawau. And it’s not just normal food, it has to be seafood. Do avoid big air conditioned places where their menus don’t have pictures at all, not even their signature dishes. On top of this, the service crew looks frazzled, the Captain avoids eye contact, being evasive about choices, totally rude and not apologetic when service is not up to par.
One should eat at non-air conditioned places where the food is good, cheap and prompt. Above all, they don’t make you wait an hour to be served.
In short, Yah Hoo gets our thumbs up while Maxim’s a thumbs down.
Shocked
1 MayAfter our shower, the driver recommended us to Maxim’s Seafood Restaurant for dinner. We thought it was a good suggestion until we got there. Boy! Were we in for a surprise.
The service was much to be desired but the attitude sucks! After an hour’s wait, we were quite angry when we were told our order has yet to be cooked. We found this appalling when patrons who came after us were served! We queried the Captain, who was not quite knowledgeable in recommending what to eat, and his attitude and reply really shocked us! Is this what custom-facing front liners should treat their patrons?
When we asked for the bill, ready to walk out as nothing was cooked after an hour, he was not even apologetic! Can you believe that?! Collectively we all walked out.
We then called the driver to go to another restaurant and this time, he recommended Yah Hoo Seafood Restaurant. Here the lady boss was definitely more customer savvy. The first dish came even before the seats were warm.
Within five minutes, everything came out. Everything.
Welcome to Tawau!
1 MayWe arrived in time at Tawau Airport. The weather has been good unlike what we googled up, prior to departure, through Accuweather.com which said rain and thunderstorm!
Nonetheless, Tawau Golf Club is one very challenging golf course. Up and down the hills with narrow fairways and many blind holes, I lost a good six balls! Only one game and the loss is way more than my four rounds in Bangkok and Hua Hin the week before.
We are all having noodle soup and beer now to replenish our energy before a hot shower and the real seafood dinner.
Life is good.
Surprise! Surprise!
1 MayBitten by the golf bug, we are off again for yet another golfing trip with the same people save for the 4th couple! Whee… With Friday and Monday being public holidays, this long weekend is an opportunity not to be missed.
By now, M2 is used to it but I suspect she’s very happy we won’t be around to nag her to study for the coming mid-term exams. Although the maid is taking care of her, there’s no real restriction on her watching her shows online or playing her games to her heart’s content.
I just hope this time around we will have better wifi connectivity so that I can check on her periodically. But until we arrive, I wouldn’t know.
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