Palm Beach Labuan

Two Weeks In Paradise

Thursday November 24 was a travel day!  We had our last breakfast at the Royale Chulan in Georgetown Penang and caught a Grab to the Penang airport.  We are headed back to Labuan in East Malaysia.  We were in Labuan earlier in our trip and really liked it.  

We had two flights  – Penang to Kuala Lumpur (a one hour flight) and then Kuala Lumpur to Labuan ( 2 1/2 hour flight ).  We got to the Malaysian Airlines check-in and the gal tagged our checked bags as “hot transfer” items as our layover between flights is just over an hour.  We had a bad feeling about that.  We easily found our gate and settled in to wait.  Our flight ended up delayed by almost an hour!  Finally we got on board and took off.  When we arrived in Kuala Lumpur we had approximately 15-20 minutes before our next flight took off.  There was an attendant at the gate calling for us and they had a golf cart and driver waiting for us.  They loaded us on the cart and zoomed off through the airport.  As Gary said, we even had wind chill on the golf cart as the guy hustled us to the next gate.  It was a long drive – we’d never have made it on foot!  He dropped us at our gate and took off to save some other poor travellers!  First ever golf cart ride at that speed in an airport!  

The gates can be confusing in the Kuala Lumpur airport.  We’ve witnessed and been part of several chaotic boarding calls as they change gates and then change back and load two planes at the same time at the same desk. For example in Kota Kinabalu airport, gate 6a and 6b use the same departure lounge making seating impossible for latecomers.  We were worried they may already have started boarding our Labuan flight but once we checked with the desk they said there was a slight delay and they’d start boarding shortly.  Turns out this flight was delayed at least 45 minutes.  We finally arrived in Labuan around 6 pm.  Sadly, despite being tagged as a hot transfer and even our second flight being delayed, our luggage didn’t make the flight.  It was left in Kuala Lumpur!  We spent sometime with the lost luggage gal filling out forms and as a result the Palm Beach driver and van (half full of people) had to wait for us making the other guests endure our pain.  We actually know better to be prepared for the worst but once again we are caught with no deodorant or extra electrical plug adapter in our carry on. Malaysia uses these huge United Kingdom style plugs. To add to complexity the outlet is 220v and each outlet has a switch on it.  We were better off than the other 2 guys at the luggage claim – they were travelling from Bangkok to Labuan and their luggage went to Japan by mistake!  Supposedly, they wouldn’t see it for at least another 2 days if they were lucky!

UK style plug adapter
UK style receptacle with switch

We are staying at the Palm Beach Resort and Hotel for 13 nights. It’s sorta the resting part of our trip.  No more running around and making tours happen for sightseeing.  We get to spend our days either reading, soaking in the pool or walking along the beach and trees.

Shaded walkway along the beach. This view never gets old!

Today we walked about an 8 Km round trip down the beach.  We walked by many families and groups parked at the beach enjoying the beautiful cooling breeze off the ocean.  While it is quite hot, you would never know it along the beach in the shade of the huge trees.  We stopped for mini donuts and a cold glass of lemon ice water at one little restaurant.  We passed a group barbecuing under the big trees.  On the way back towards the hotel we walked by the same group again and they all said hello again.  They offered us a taste and we stopped to sample the food.  We were offered chicken wings and chicken butt (they are all washed out and clean) nicely barbecued.  Gary tried a chicken wing and Linda took a nibble.  It was delicious.  We declined the butts.  Maybe someday.  They were a very friendly group of work colleagues out for a Sunday barbecue at the beach.  We of course got asked the usual questions like “where are you from sir?” The usual “Canada” reply.  We are an anomaly and stick out like a sore thumb.  While deep down we know this, we don’t feel out of place, not too much at least.  Although Gary is wearing a bright orange shirt on this day, we don’t really feel like fish out of water, at least not too much.  

This great bunch of "kids" invited us to try their BBQ as we were walking by.
BBQ chicken wings and other parts
Skewers of chicken and wings

The locals are so friendly here and the usual question is “why would you come to this tiny island?”  They don’t know what they have here because it is all they know.  If Labuan wasn’t so far from Canada and especially Saskatoon, the place would be flooded with snowbirds.  It’s not easy to get here but once you do the price is right, the climate is amazing, and the people are welcoming.  

Peace at last

Breakfast at Palm Beach Resort

The Palm Beach Resort and Spa has been a good choice for us.  The inclusive breakfast include in the room rate of $53 CAD per night price is perfect. The food here has been delicious.  The meals that we have bought here have been super affordable.  In fact, we likely could not make our own meals at home for any less.  The added bonus is the staff are fantastic here.  We are one of a few if not the only ones staying for more than one night.  Most of the hotel business seems to be Malaysians on the weekend.  We have seen a few business meetings, luncheons, and retreats here, but for the most part we have this place to ourselves.  It’s great for us but not for the business of the hotel. 

We were sitting at breakfast today and a man came over and asked us where we were from.  Turns out he is the Manager of the Palm Beach as well as the Tiara Labuan Hotel and the Lazenda hotel in Labuan.  We had a great conversation with him.  He asked us for feedback and we asked him about things we wanted to know.  He even mentioned that he saw us at the Tiara when we stayed there. It’s funny how we stick out here like a sore thumb.  We don’t really feel like that but it seems to be.  We had an interesting conversation with the grab driver one day, brown people want to be white and white people want a tan.  He said many people even use skin bleaching lotions to look whiter.  How sad is that, no one is happy with what they have!  

After breakfast we spent a couple of hours at the pool.  We snagged the only shady spot there otherwise it would have been unbearable.  Since we were the only people at the pool, we had our choice of lounge chairs and social distancing.  We had sunny blue skies today after the previous day of clouds and monsoon rain two days ago. 

We got out of the mid day sun and spent some time in our room with a beer and a blog.  Gary likes to watch a few favourite YouTube videos while Linda is looking at sewing things online.  

The flora here is amazing!

The (non breakfast) meals we have eaten in the hotel have been really delicious at a price that is really economical. The options are the same for lunch or supper.  Linda had a grilled cheese sandwich and it was good, the downside is that it was smothered in honey.  Look at the plate, you can see the puddle. 

Grilled Cheese with Honey

Gary ordered fish and chips, we each had hot lemon tea for 38.60 MYR about $11.50 CAD.  Another meal we ordered 2 Chicken Satay (chicken skewers), one plate of fries to share and 1 tiger beer each for 51.30 MYR about $14.80 CAD.  Finally another meal Linda chose Sesame Honey Chicken, Gary had Curry BBQ Chicken with Rice, we each had a Tiger beer for a total of 46.40 MYR about $13.40 CAD.