Tag Archives: Tawau

One Track Mind

11 May

It was a quirky conversation after dinner. The night before we left for Tawau, Sabah, M2 sounded envious that we were going away again.

Out of the blue, she declared, “Let’s go to Your-rope!”

“Your-rope?” I raised my eyebrow, “you mean Europe.” I was emphasizing the “you” instead of “your” in the pronunciation.

“No, Your-rope,” she reiterated.

I was intrigued, “Why? Don’t you want to go to USA instead to visit your sister?”

“I’ve never been to Your-rope.” Ahh. I’ve been enlightened.

“I know,” I replied her. But before I could go on, she blurted out, “London! But you’ve been there.”

I nodded.

“Paris! Hmm… You’ve been there too. Rome? Been there! See? I am replying for you to me! You’ve been to all these places and I have not,” she said.

“Well, you’ve been to the good places starting with the letter ‘S’,” I pointed out to her, “Singapore, San Francisco and Sydney but Sydney doesn’t quite count cos I was four months pregnant with you.”

Silence.

“Let’s go to Your-rope!”

“When you are older, ok?”

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Stalled 

7 May

Going away was good and bad. Good because of the company, golf and food. Bad because wifi connection was quite a hassle, therefore communicating with both M1 and M2 was sparse, what more playing my virtual games online. We had to log in daily and each time only one device was allowed. Phone or iPad? Hassle indeed.

The week before the trip to Tawau, I made much progress for my virtual games but was stalled at Level 908 for Candy Crush and at Level 737 for Farm Heroes. And for Candy Crush Soda, issues cropped up while in Tawau.

I made it to Level 345 on the iPad but not on my iPhone. As wifi was such a hassle, I couldn’t move on and my devices were not in sync. When I finally managed to solve this, taking turns to log in my devices, I was appalled to find that the app was not updated! Either way, I was stuck and it was most frustrating.

Now that I am back, I am at my games with a vengeance. Candy Crush is now at Level 914, Candy Crush Soda at Level 351 but Farm Heroes is still at Level 737. Bummer.

Tags: , , , , ,

Where Did You Go Again?

5 May

Last night we got home by 11.00pm and M2 was not asleep. So it was good to have a little catch up with her.

“Where did you go again, Mommy?” she said.

“Tawau, Sabah.” I replied her.

“Oh.” Then a longer one, “Oooohh…” as it dawned on her.

In her world of her own to be on the internet without constant supervision and my telling her wifi is sparse, it looks like she has been oblivious to where we have been the last four days!

“I thought you went to Bangkok again!” she sheepishly admitted.

“Haha… Did you wanted the Rolls Royce again?” I pulled her leg.

“Err, no. I found a new car and thought of asking you to get it instead!”

She never cease to amaze me.

Tags: , ,

Last Day

4 May

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. 

Tags: , ,

Again!

3 May

So 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.

  

Tags: , , ,

What a Feast

2 May

After 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.

  

Tags: , ,

Where’s the Crocodile?

2 May

Shan 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.

Tags: , , ,

It’s Different

2 May

We 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.

Tags: , , ,

Where to Eat

1 May

One 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.

  

Tags: , ,

Shocked

1 May

After 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.

Tags: ,

← Older Entries