Pulau Sapi *by JS*

The next day after the Mt Kinabalu adventure, monkey and JS decided to go island hopping around the Tunku Abdul Rahman(TAR) National park. The National Park was established in 1974, just offshore Kota Kinabalu. It comprises 49 square kilometers of which two-thirds are sea, and the rest are coral reefs and five islands namely Pulau Gaya, Pulau Sapi, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutik and Pulau Sulug. The park is named after the first Prime Minister of Malaysia.

The little island is Pulau Sapi

Pulau Sapi, literally known as "Cow Island" in Malay is just off the south-western tip of Pulau Gaya. The 25 acre island features one of the nicest beaches in the park and most popular with tourists for snorkeling and scuba diving. It is developed with tourist facilities that includes a jetty, picnic shelters, barbecue pits, tables, changing rooms and toilets. The forest is inhabited by curious crab eating macaque monkey so watch your belongings !

The island is underlaid by folded sandstone, shale and marl which are basically sedimentary rock and are part of the Crocker range rock formation of the western coast of Sabah. Towards the end of Ice Age which happened about one million years ago, changes of the sea level occurred, resulting in portions of the mainland being cut off by the sea, thus forming the islands of which one of it is Pulau Sapi. Exposed folded sandstone outcrops still feature the coasts of most of these islands forming cliffs, caves, honeycomb and deep crevasses hence creating a very interesting shoreline.

no crab eating macaque monkey insight but got this carnivore monkey :)

Pristine beach

View of beach from the other side

Contrasting rugged side of Pulau Sapi

Interesting sedimentary folded rock formation

curved sandstone cliff sculptured by the forces of nature

This honeycomb rock was probably form by waves trapping exploding air as it crashes on the shore thru the course of time

Really serene side of Pulau Sapi

The island in the distance is Pulau Manukan which we are heading to soon

amazingly crystal clear turquoise water and just look at the fishes!!

there was a few garfish swimming around!!

and something for you wildlife enthusiast!

So folks, you have seen quite a fair bit of Sabah in the last couple of days.....it's now time to log on, book your flights, book your hotel pack your swimming trunks/bikinis and head for the "LAND BELOW THE WIND" :)