Travel option - Ferry to labuan island

One of the transportation option to the island is taking the car ferry which depart daily from Menumbok a small coastal town in Sabah. Departure time from Menumbok is at 10.30AM and 4.30PM. Returning from the island is at 7.30AM and 1.30PM. the journey usually takes only 1.5 hours and you can see the sister island Papan and Daat along the way. It is an enclosed air-conditioned upper deck which can get pretty cold at times especially on a rainy day. The passenger fees is affordable, only RM5 per person.If you are driving, the car fees is not more than RM60 inclusive of the landing fees. Of course the fees depends on the size of your vehicle and the carrying load.

The ferry service counter can be contacted at:

Labuan office: 087-418333

Menumbok Office: 087-831933

Usually the ferry is booked full during the long festive holidays and school holidays. Make sure you get your ticket in advance. Tickets can only be bought via the counter which can be quite inconvenient if you want to travel last minute.

Keeping your head cool

It was raining heavily as I reached the capital city kota kinabalu. The 3 hours ferry ride from the island Labuan started quite calm but ended up with the monsoon rain pouring ferousiosly. Unprotected from it, I stood soaking wet at the terminal while waiting for my transport,then I noticed the traffic jam had already begun. The narrow road in the city is not sufficient enough to cater the ever increasing number of new cars in the city.

My cousin picked me up in her little cute car and I was further soaked from running towards her car. Quickly manuevering the car out of town was a challenge as the normal rush hour is worsen by the heavy rain. It is a true test of nerves. Keeping calm in situation like this requires a shift in paradigm. Listening to talk shows on the radio can ease the nerve at times as the DJ host picks a provoking topic concerning relationship between men and women and opinions on the latest hot happening.

Coming from a small island Labuan, Kota kinabalu traffic jam can be ridiculous at times.I have learned that listening to motivation talk and keeping a magazine handy in the car can be a great traffic buster. Fuming over something that is beyond your control is not productive at all, might as well make the best of it.

Pearl of Borneo - Labuan

This island, what I call home is only 75 km². Despite not big in nature, it is rich with history and also an ideal gateaway from the bustling busy life in the city. Labuan island lie 8 km from the third biggest island in the world , namely Borneo.

Surrounded by six other smaller islands (Pulau Burung, Pulau Daat, Pulau Kuraman, Pulau Papan, Pulau Rusukan Kecil, and Pulau Rusukan Besar), which have a combined total area of 92 km².

Labuan Island is mainly flat and undulating and the highest point is only 85 meters. Over 70% of the island is still covered with vegetation.

The island was formerly known as Victoria during the british colony in 1846. It was used as the refuge place for ship damages by the rampant presence of pirates in those days.