Mabul Island, Semporna

    

MABUL ISLAND

    

• Mabul Island has gained its own recognition as one of the best-muck diving site in the world
• If are not quite sure of your abilities as a diver, the best place you can go to and improve them is the shallow water surrounding the Mabul Island from the Malaysian archipelago.

INFO:                                                

• Mabul is a small island off the south-eastern coast of Sabah in Malaysia. The island has been a fishing village since 1970s. Then in 1990s, it first became popular to divers due to its proximity to Sipadan island.
•  Mention Mabul Island and visions of swaying coconut trees and idyllic water villages come to mind. And that’s just above the water. Located only about 15 minutes by speedboat from the famous Sipadan Island.
• Mabul is a small oval shaped island fringed by sandy beaches and perched on the northwest corner of a larger 200-hectare reef. The reef is on the edge of the continental shelf and the seabed surrounding the reef slopes out to 25–30m deep.

This among the other chalets that available in Mabul.  Each has its own advantages in terms of both design and also the position and views of their chalet.

The resorts here offer the tourists all the comfort back home, with the splendid exotic view as a bonus. The dishes served in the restaurants are based both on the international and traditional Malaysian cuisine.

MULTITUDE OF MARINE SPECIES

                If the middle of the sea water receded, many sea creatures that can be seen on the shore such fish, seahorses, starfish, crabs, coral and others.

                                       

                                       

                                       

A lot of people who love coming here every year because of  the multitude of marine species that can be met here.

Different varieties of eels, scorpion fish, sea horses and frogfish offer an interesting study material for every amateur marine biologist who chooses Mabul Island as a destination for an exotic vacation.

ACTIVITIES

Usually the visitors who come to this island have their activities such as relaxing by the sea, relax by the beach, swimming, sunbathing, fishing, snorkeling, diving and many more. 

         

• Mabul is renowned for its amazing array of macrolife, making it an underwater photographer’s dream location to capture some of the rarest ecological species on film. 

EXTRA INFO:
How to get there

• From Kota Kinabalu, take a 55-minute flight to Tawau and enjoy an hour’s drive to Semporna. From here, Mabul is another 45 minutes by speedboat. Be sure to pre-arrange transportation with your respective resort/dive operator.

Namdaemun Gate, Seoul, South Korea...

Namdaemun Gate : This was a symbolic place where everyone wants to visit when they come to Seoul.

History

Namdaemun is Korea’s 1st national treasure, and its original name was Sungnyemun. Namdaemun is the largest castle gate stone structure with an arched entrance in the middle. There’s a column on top of a platform, raising the roof, distinguishing the upper stories and lower stories of the building. A passageway for traffic is located at the east and west ends of the gate.

Different from the other gates, Namdaemun’s tablet has Sungnyemun written vertically. 

When the first king of Joseon Dynasty, Lee Seong-Gye (reign 1335-1408), had constructed the capital city, he believed that fire will reach to Gyeongbokgung Palace as well as the capital city as Mt. Gwanaksan of Seoul is shaped like fire according to feng-shui principles. Sungnyemun’s name means fire, which is from the harmony of the Five Elements and if written vertically, the Chinese character ‘fire’ looks as if it is providing protection. This was Taejong’s (1367-1422) first son, Yangnyeongdaegun’s (1394-1462) famous writing.

Namdaemun illuminated at night

The Great Fire. Much to the whole nations dismay, on February 10th, a gentleman who the media reports only by his surname Chae, attempted to destroy the historic landmark by putting it on fire!!!!! I later found out that the reason the man claimed to start the fire is because his land got taken away from him in some type of unfair court case. This fire was his own personal protest...and to make matters worse, this man was 69 years old!

Namdaemun Gate after fire

South Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration estimated it would take at least three years to restore the gate fully and would cost some $21 million. Yet, local architects suspected the damage was too extensive for restoration, fearing the authority might have to rebuild the whole monument.

Activity

These type of historic landmarks are really cool places to visit because there is generally, a lot of activity surrounding them! Let me tell you about a few:

1) The Doksugung Palace

A few steps from the Great South Gate is Doksugung Palace. Of course it once housed royalty of the Korean nation until the Japanese came to Korea and overtook it :( It is quite beautiful though, and has guards that stand watch of this historic monument.

The Guards dressed in ceremonial robes for the Change of the Guard

ATraditional Korean Drum

  2) The Namdaemun  Marketplace

This market is considered a traditional type of Korean market and offers all types of clothing, kitchen ware, spices & traditional Korean items.  Located in the Jung-gu area of the city, this 24 hour market can be a shoppers dream! Complete with booths, malls & arcades full of goods to meet almost all tastes and styles. Actually, it can be quite overwhelming to take in at once. During my first visit to this area, it was quite cold, so the marketplace full of people to block the spine-chilling wind was definitely a welcomed site. There are so many different places to shop in this marketplace right across from the Namdaemun Gate.


                                     

Addtitional Information

Opening Hours

• Namdaemun or Sungnyemun’s opening hours is from 10am to 5pm daily, and tourists may take the center passage of Sungnyemun, Hongyemun to visit the area. At night, the castle gate’s mercury lamps light Namdaemun beautifully for one to witness.

Admission Fees

• Free

Directions

• Take Seoul subway line 2 to Sicheong Station and go out of exit #8, a 10 min. walk 
• Take Seoul subway line 1 to Seoul Station and go out of exit #4, a 5 min. walk 
• Take Seoul subway line 4 to Hoehyeon Station and go out of exit #4, a 5 min. walk

Hope you enjoyed today's posting...as you can tell, Korea has a LOT to offer...(@~@)