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Welcome to Semporna Tourism Action Council
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| List of attraction around Semporna Ka'andaman Spa Mabul Kapalai Island Mabul Island Mataking Island Pom Pom Island Sipadan Island Tun Sakaran Marine Park
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ACCOMMODATION
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On
mainland of Semporna |
On
Islands off Semporna |
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Accommodation in and around Semporna Town
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| Semporna is a well known gateway to beautiful islands such as
Mabul, Sipadan, Kapalai, Mataking, and Pom Pom. Semporna town was founded soon after the establishment of Sandakan town by British North Borneo Company, which the name means place of rest or place to settle. The town is mainly populated by Bajau ethnic community, also known as the Sea Gypsies. Most of them live in sprawling stilt villages over the sea water on the outskirt of the town, or live inside their traditional Lepa boats. |
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Semporna Shark
Sanctuary The proposed Semporna Shark Sanctuary (SSS) would specifically protect sharks, mantas, mobulas, turtles and humphead wrasses and address other environmental protection issues (ecosystem approach). It also includes a plan to address alternative livelihoods for fishermen, a comprehensive framework for management and enforcement of the sanctuary and the funding mechanism to finance these operations. |
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Take the Semporna Proboscis River Cruise to enjoy a
relaxing, eye-opening tour through the mangroves down Buaya River to
catch glimpses of proboscis monkeys and other wildlife such as fruit
bats, hornbill birds, and the crocodiles from which the river got
its name. The mangrove swamps of East Coast Sabah are home to the proboscis monkey, a protected species endemic to the island of Borneo. It is notable for its large nose, especially among the males. Its local name, monyet Belanda or 'Dutch monkey', came from the Indonesians who observed that like their Dutch colonisers, these creatures have large noses and bellies. The proboscis monkey is both arboreal and
amphibious, being good tree-climbers and swimmers, known to even
swim from island to island. |
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MABUL MARINE WEEK Mabul Marine Week (MMW) is a highly anticipated
programme where divers and snorkelers from all over the
world come to Mabul Island, Sabah in mid-July every year
to assist Mother Nature in rehabilitating damaged and
degraded reefs. |
| Diving package available from Island Resorts Mabul Island is close to Sipadan Island. All island resorts offer budget diving. Popular package is 3 Day/2 Night pick up from Semporna, includes accommodation, 3 dives a day, equipment and transfers RM 700 to 100.00 (some meals not included). Available also organized snorkeling camping trips to the other reefs and islands.
Sipadan, of course, is the most famous Island rated
as one of the world’s top 10 dive
destinations. But visit to Sipidan is only possible if
you are booked with one of the resorts.
Semporna is the 'jump-off' point
for Sipadan Island the diving paradise and other islands.
Every one come to the town of Semporna for the world-famous diving spots in Pulau Sipadan, and Pulau Mabul and Kapalai Reef. Daily dive trips can be arranged from Semporna to
Pulau Sipadan and the boat journey takes about 1.5 hours. More about
The Island of Sabah Semporna is visited by tourists as a base for
scuba diving or snorkeling trips to Pulau Sipadan (Sipadan Island), some 36
kilometers southeast of town. More about diving in
Semporna.... |
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TOUR OPERATORS IN SEMPORNA TOWN
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Semporna Date : 22 - 23 April 2011
LEPA Water Festival
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Semporna is the gateway to beautiful islands in Sabah's East Coast. Known as an illustrious scuba diving and snorkeling spot in Malaysia. Off the coast is this Tun Sakaran Marine Park
(Semporna
Islands Park) gazetted by Sabah Parks only in 2004.
Tun Sakaran Marine Park (Semporna
Islands Park) Only a thirty-minute ride by boats is Tun Sakaran Marine Park rich in marine
biodiversity at Darvel Bay. Here lays the remnants of an extinct volcano crater
flooded with seawater to form a lagoon, an underwater paradise to be discovered. SEMPORNA ISLANDS PARK ACTION PLAN 2001-2005 : http://www.mcsuk.org/semporna/actionplan/actionplan.htm Pulau Gaia, off Semporna Town , is one of the most beautiful island lagoons in Sabah The Semporna Islands Darwin Project (SIDP) in Sabah, Malaysia The Semporna Islands Darwin Project (SIDP) is an initiative involving local communities in coral reef conservation in the 2004 gazette Tun Sakaran Marine Park, Sabah, Malaysia. The project is managed by the Marine Conservation Society in collaboration with Sabah Parks, and the aim is to protect the outstanding features and biodiversity of the site while promoting sustainable use of natural resources, economic development and traditional culture. |
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JETI PELANCONG DAN PUSAT
MAKLUMAT A RM2 million new project for tourism facilities in Semporna
JETI PELANCONG DAN PUSAT
MAKLUMAT The Jetty is the entry to all tourism activity in Semporna when you arrive in town. Information services ranging from tourism
attractions to lodging and transportation are to be found here. |
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Sibuan Island This most beautiful island in the Celebes Sea is only 20 minutes speed boat ride from Semporna Town (30 minutes for longboat) This island has the most beautiful beaches among the islands of Semporna |
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Semporna is well-known as the exit point for divers who head for Pulau Sipadan dive havens. A majority of Semporna folk depend on fishing and collecting coconuts, while some work in the private and public sectors. In the Bajau and Malay language, "semporna" literally means, "perfect". The town with its feet in the sea, Semporna and its many islands are like a dream come true... pure white sandy beaches, coconut palms and tranquil waters lapping over colorful reefs in the beautiful turquoise waters of the Sulawesi Sea. The richness of the sea, fishes of all kinds, sea cucumbers, shells, pearls and in recent years, seaweed farming - all these have attracted seafarers and fisher-folks to Semporna and its islands. The early Bajau people lived their entire lives aboard their boats. Today, most live along the coasts, perched on stilts over shallow reefs, where they continue their love affair with the sea. Every April, Semporna celebrates with a Regatta Lepa. Thousands sail into town in all kinds of boats including the gaily-decorated lepa and jungkong, their traditional boats, to compete for prizes. Arrangements can be made to explore the islands off Semporna to visit water-villages and seaweed farms, swim and snorkel. The Semporna people also boasts they have the best seafood in all of Malaysia, the freshest and least expensive! |
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SK Tampi-Tampi |
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SK Kg Simunul A Modern Semporna - Wall painting at SK Kg Simunul, Semporna SK. Kampung Simunul, Semporna is one of the 40 schools in the district of Semporna, Sabah. A Grade A school 2 kilometers from the town of Semporna. |
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The new Semporna Branch Library of Sabah Stat Library opened to public in 2009. The building is within walking distance from SK Pekan Semporna, a primary school originally built in 1939. |
Encik Bianus Kontong WWF-Malaysia’s Semporna Coral Reefs Project 15th February 2008 Dragon Inn, Semporna |
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WWF-Malaysia’s Semporna Coral Reefs Project Semporna Coral Reefs Project is a project on managing coral reefs with fisheries and tourism. So that these coral reefs and marine ecosystems will remain healthy and managed to protect biodiversity. This
Semporna Coral
Reefs Project Marine
conservation project partnerships including
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http://www.sabah.gov.my/pd.sprn/pelancongan.html Tourism Malaysia | Sabah Tourism Board | Semporna Tourism Comittee Semporna Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide http://www.travbuddy.com/Semporna-travel-guide-1098708 Fish cage culture farm in Pulau Bum-Bum Island, Sabah : http://www.mcsuk.org/semporna/resource/23.htm Management Plan for the Semporna Islands Park : Semporna Islands Park (PDF) Safeguard Semporna's exceptionally high level of marine biodiversity : http://www.dive-the-world.com
More about
Semporna Town in Malaysia
Link - Semporna Travel Blogs :
http://www.travelblog.org
Tour Agents in Semporna : Sipadan Scuba |
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| Arriving Sabah As most travelers start their journey to Sabah from Kuala Lumpur, you should check with your travel agent on how to get to Semporna. Kota Kinabalu is the capital
city of Sabah. There are
direct flights from Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong,
Taipei, Manila, Brunei, Singapore, Kuala
Lumpur and Kuching. Semporna is the departure point to the world's best dive sites and island-resorts of Sipadan, Mabul and Kapalai.
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Transport Buses and taxi’s are abundant. Taxi do not have meters, it is best to negotiate the price.
Communication Golfing Just 25 km from Semporna is an 18 hole golf course set in a palm oil plantation, owned and operated by the plantation. There is a beautiful clubhouse set in the local style with a jungle walk and waterfall behind. There are cabins for overnight stays, but I heard they are closed at present for renovation. There is a local pro to help with any problems, and best of all there is never any congestion. I have played there and we were the only people on the course except for the ground staff. The price for a round of golf was reasonable as well. Setarawarni Tourism will put together a package for a day’s golf with lunch, caddie, transfers for RM 85.00. |
| Entertainment
in Semporna In such a small town DO NOT expect plenty of nightlife and restaurants or such city life like night clubs and disco or Karaoke. While the town of Semporna does not have much nightlife, the Seafest Inn serves cold beer and good food, and there are a variety of sea food, Chinese, Indian, and local restaurants to choose from. This very small town does not have enough street lights. Most new visitor do not feel safe walking around at night. |
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| The Kumpit During the festival In Semporna waterfront are two types of boats; the decorated Lepa, and the smaller, less ornate Kumpit. |
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| Sipadan | Mabul | Kapalai | Mataking |
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The local population is made up of a great mix of local Bajau, Chinese, Philippino, Indonesian and few other mixes speaking a variety of dialects and languages. These are some of the friendliest people as they don’t often get to meet to many foreigners. Semporna population is around 133,000 in 2006. Majority is Bajau live in sprawling stilt villages over the sea water on the outskirts of town. Marine products are still the mainstay of the local economy. Pearl culturing is a major component of this industry. |
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TOKONG SAM SHEN |
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MARKAS OPERASI Polis Diraja Malaysia |
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Sejarah Bangunan The original Semporna District Office built in the 1930s is now restored as a heritage building by Jabatan Warisan Negara. |
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Majlis Daerah Semporna |
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S.K. TAMPI-TAMPI |
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Jeti Umum |
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In 2000 the dive resorts on Pulau Sipadan were ordered to ship out in a controversial move to conserve the island's fragile ecosystem. As a result dive centers, budget motels and hotels have sprouted along the waterfront of Semporna to cater for the increasing number of tourists. The waterfront section of Semporna has been transformed with new shop houses that host a few budget hotels. Water taxis busy plying the shore. More about the Waterfront of Semporna. The local Bajau Laut (sea gypsy) display their exotic lepa sailing boat design. They associate themselves with the bountiful ocean surrounding them. A stroll to the nearby fishing harbor as well as the wet market is spectacle. More about The Fishing Harbour of Semporna. Just right before sunset, witness the dozens of lepa single mask boats parading themselves home, bringing back daily catch. Most Visitors know Semporna as a gateway to Sipadan - an island voted the world's Top 5 Dive Destinations. But Semporna is more then that. This little town is also gateway to an ancient seafaring community on islands to be explored and discovered. There many inhabited islands in the Sulu Sea off Semporna. A place where people still live as they have done for centuries, with some modernization. The old ways are dying out but visitors can still see very traditional weddings and local dancing, performed not by paid performers but by the village people. There are 49 islands scattered off the coast of Semporna, with some of the best coral and beaches one can find in Malaysia. Many of the islands are uninhabited with only the local sea Bajau visiting on fishing trips or to camp overnight. In Semporna you can stop at various points along the sea side to watch the every day Sea Bajau's life such as floating villages, seaweed farming and fishing and how the locals going about their everyday chores. You'll see many different types of boats that the sea gypsy depend on for transportation.Semporna is also the place where Sabah pearls are cultured. The original Semporna district office – (built in the 1930s) - is currently being restored as a heritage building by Jabatan Warisan Negara. |
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Rumpai Laut - Seaweed
Seaweed culture in Semporna started in the late 1970s. A priority of the Department of Fisheries Sabah as a supplementary income-generating activity among the fishing communities in Semporna. In 1980 a demonstration farm was set up on Sebangkat reef top. Today many fishermen have involved in seaweed farming of Euchema cottonii because it provides a higher income to fishing. Culture plots are found mostly on the extensive ‘reef top platform’ to the north of Sebangkat and Selakan. In SIDP, Seaweed Farming is an alternative livelihood for the fisherman in Semporna. Fishing communities now can earn extra income by growing seaweed for sale to processing plants in Sabah. Carrageenan extracted from the seaweed is used as a stabilizer in food and cosmetics. Department of Fisheries provided manual on seaweed farming. This manual, in Bahasa Malaysia and Bajau, made easy the farming method by illustration in cartoon drawings and step by step instructions. Under the 9th Malaysia Plan (9MP), Sabah is to produce 250,000 metric
tones of seaweed by the year 2010. Financial support to augment production is not likely to be an issue since
the Federal Government has "identified" seaweed farming as a 'high impact
project', where it is going to get high priority treatment and emphasis 1) Semporna seaweed processing mill 2) Lahad Datu-based seaweed processing mill Both mill process 'semi refined caragenaan' (SRC) for export to Japan, UK, USA, China and Korea Sabah is looking for application of "fine technology" for the production of high-quality seaweed seedlings which feature high gel strength, faster growth rate and resistant to disease. This is the key strategy is to improve farm technology. For seaweed production Sabah can be found in following areas: 1) West coast of Kota Kinabalu and Labuan Island; 2) Kota Kinabalu northward South China Sea islands; 3) Balabac Straits; 4) Murudu Peninsula including Darvel Bay 5) Semporna Peninsula; 6) Reefs and islands in the Semporna area. |
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Photo Left : Dr Bert Hoeksema
holding a rare species of mushroom coral (Halomitra clavator)
encountered at various sites in the Semporna Priority Conservation
Area.
About WWF-Malaysia |
| 24-hour free Internet service for people in Pulau Larapan Sunday, October 17, 2010 Daily Express : http://www.dailyexpress.com.my
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) launched
on 16th October 2010 a Telecentre in Pulau Larapan, Semporna, to
bridge the information gap between urban and rural areas in Sabah. |
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"Semporna is home to fresh
seafood and the gateway to the world's best dive sites."
"Semporna has so much to offer. Many people are willing to travel far to visit exotic locations like this one in particular. The exquisite culture and traditions of the natives on the island have lured many." "People surely want to learn more about our culture. We need to be open and exploit this situation for the betterment of the island. What is obvious about the people in Semporna is that most have not been off their island. They are not exposed to the opportunities available to them." "I firmly believe that Semporna is a vital part of our country. This island can undeniably contribute to the development of Malaysia. Its unique attributes which are highly spoken off in other parts of the world can become an asset to our nation." "The people of Bajau need to be aware that they have to develop themselves in order to function in the demands of today. They have to move forward in every aspect. This will contribute to the strength of Semporna."
Datuk Seri
Mohd Shafie bin Haji Apdal |
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Transportation in Semporna Photo above : Long distance bus terminal at Jalan KD Sri Semporna Pangkalan (TLDM) MANIS EXPRESS SDN. BHD. 089-784900
Tips for getting around Semporna posted by real travelers : http://www.virtualtourist.com
MADSAHIRUN TRANSPORT SDN. BHD. 089-781412
Contect : Shukur 017-8976492 |
| HOTELS | DIVE RESORTS | PHOTO GALLERY |
Updated on 24-4-2011 SUN 9:35AM
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Photo Trek: Semporna with Rabani & Ted Semporna, a hidden beauty in the backwaters of Sabah, The Land Below The Wind, is a gem to be discovered by photographers. Long a diving haven for enthusiast, now YOU can capture the beauty of this hidden gem with your camera. For a mere RM1,500.00 investment, you get to master the basics AND enhance your photographic skills in portraits, streets and landscape photography. Photo Trek Itinerary – 03~6th June 2010 – 4 Days 3
Night
Detail Information |
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An aerial view of Semporna taken in 1952 the year I was born.
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Friday, December 11, 2009 This is how it looked like about half a century ago, almost nothing to show off, yet I am still proud to have been born a bumi here, eventhough Semporna is just small town situated in the east coast of Sabah, but she has established milestone of our history perhaps people of Semporna have the gut to be proud. Read full blog of:
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Semporna Wheeling ...our encounter of a curious fellow by the
name of Hassan. We were strolling near a large stilted complex, containing
among other things a variety of restaurants, an aquarium, which was really
just a bunch of fish in nets, visible below us, in the crystal clear water,
and a hotel called The Dragon Inn. ..... we had found the Dragon Inn to be
full and without WiFi, that Hassan maneuvered into our life.
Read full story from |
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29.3.10 - Ajim in Semporna ......such a wonderfull 4 days.. was @ hometown.. this time ajim n mimie were with me... so much photos to be shared... part one @ semporrna : floating........ See more photos of |
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Japan Grants
Financial Aid For Solar Energy Project In
Sabah March 10, 2010 21:14 PM A Telecentre To Improve Livelihood Of Bajau Community KUCHING, March 10 (Bernama) - The livelihood of the Bajau community in Pulau Larapan, one of the 49 islands in the picturesque Semporna, Sabah will be improved with a telecentre on the island becoming fully operational by May. It is hoped that the telecentre, named "Paglatunan (meaning messenger in Bajau) eLarapan" by the locals, would improve the economy of the people. The island, which has two villages - Kampung Larapan Hujung and Kampung Larapan Tengah - has a total of about 1,000 residents with fishing being the main economic activity while a small number of them work at pearl farms not far from the island, while some women are involved in small-scale tapioca farming. Pulau Larapan, about 30-minute boat ride from Semporna, is glaringly marginalized from the mainstream development as the people are relying heavily on individually-owned generators to light up their houses. The telecentre will be powered by a solar system, which utilizes one of the most efficient and powerful sources of natural energy - the sun. Project Manager for the eLarapan project, Mohd Faisal Syam Abdol Hazir said a homestay proramme would be implemented to uplift the livelihood of the people. "We hope Pulau Larapan will become a tourist destination and generate income for the people and to improve their livelihood," he told reporters here on Wednesday. -- BERNAMA |
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About Semporna : April 19, 2013 06:58:16 PM |
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