Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sipadan Water Village
( 089-784227, 010-932 5783, 089-751777, 089-950023;
www.swvresort.com
;
Jln
Kastam)
A private operator based at the Mabul resort with the same name.
DIVING
SMART
( 088-486389;
www.sipadan-mabul.com.my
)
The dive centre operating at Sipadan-
Mabul Resort and Mabul Water Bungalow; both are located on Mabul. Also has offices in
KK.
DIVING
REGATTA LEPA
The big annual festival of local Bajau Sea Gypsies is the Regatta Lepa. (A
lepa
is a type of small boat, so the title
somewhat redundantly means 'Boat regatta'.) Traditionally, the Bajau only set foot on mainland Borneo once a year;
for the rest of the time they live on small islets or their boats. Today the Bajau go to Semporna and other towns
more frequently for supplies, but the old cycle of annual return is still celebrated and marked by the regatta
lepa.
For
visitors, the highlight of the festival is the
lepa
-decorating contest held between Bajau families. Their already
rainbow-coloured boats are further decked out in streamers, flags (known as
tapi
), bunting, ceremonial umbrellas
(which symbolise protection from the omnipresent sun and rain that beats down on the ocean) and
sambulayang
,
gorgeously decorated sails passed down within Bajau clans. On each boat you can see a smaller, rectangular
lamak
kapis
sail and the larger
lamak bua'an
sail, shaped to resemble the maw of a fish. Violin, cymbal and drum music,
plus 'sea sports' competitions like duck catching and boat tug-of-war, punctuate the entire affair. It's a hell of a
show. The regatta occurs in mid-April; check
etawau.com
for details, and don't miss the show if you're in town at
this time of year.
Uncle Chang's
(Borneo Jungle River Island Tours;
Click here
;
089-786988, 017-895 0002,
089-781002;
www.ucsipadan.com
/
; 36 Semporna Seafront)
Offers diving and snorkelling
day trips, plus stays at its lodge on Mabul (RM90 per person).
DIVING
