Mabul -- A Romantic Island in Malaysia

Manasi Chakrabarti ( Bandyopadhyay )

Surrounded by coconut trees,  this  small oval shaped sand beach island in Cellebes sea, lies on the northwest corner of a two kilometre square  reef. 

There are two small  villages on the island, Kampung Mabul  and Kampung Musu , where around 2000 sea gypsies -- Bajau Laut -- lives. This village is depended on tourism and fishing. There are no roads in this island and boat is the only conveyance.

Take a flight from either Kuala Lampur or Kota Kinabalu that will take you to Tawau, the nearest airport of Mabul.  It is  fifty five  minutes flight time from Kota Kinabalu and two and half hours from Kuala Lumpur .                                                                                                                           

From Tawau, it is one hour drive to Semporna and from Semporna, Mabul is fortyfive minutes' drive in speedboat.  Many tourists also come by bus, minivan or taxi from Sabah's northern towns of Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Sukau and Lahad Datu.

If you are interested in diving , Mabul is best place to stay because Sipadan - one of the world's best dive spots - is very near from here. Affordable accommodations  are available on and nearby the island.

Mabul itself is a " Macro diving paradise.'' Because of its shallow water, a large and diversified number of small water creatures , wonderful corals live in this sea .

Or just relax !!

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