Going for a vacation to rest and relax is always an exciting prospect for those who live life in the hustle and bustle of the city. The demand of city life can be stressful to most people and a break away from this is always coveted.
A stress-free holiday far away from the Urban area is highly recommended for these people. The rural area is always the best place to go and unwind. Not everyone may want to go to villages, however, and prefer a quiet place that’s just a few minutes drive away.
Kota Kinabalu is a city, but it has its own nature paradise just at its backyard, as there one can reach the parks, the mountains, the rivers and the forests in less than an hour.
One can have a tough time deciding where to go, but if one doesn’t want to travel inland, the best spot to go, is a 45 minutes boat ride away Bungaraya Island Resort. It is as exotic as any island getaway, the blue sky meeting the azure sea, and the waves crashing incessantly on a beach of white sand.
Set at the shore of a beach and the hills of Pulau Gaya, are the Resort’s chalets. They are built in among the trees, its appealing natural landscape enhanced with hibiscus and other flowering plants. At one glance, the resort looks like an enchanting small village at a hillside overlooking the sea.
Indeed, with this setting, it is the perfect getaway from the hassle of city life and a brief step-away from the rat-race.
Resort Manager Laurent Driole who calls the resort ‘an island paradise’ shares that there are 48 villas to choose from, all of which are well-furnished with a veranda to view the sea and the natural environment around them. Some of them are set just a few steps away from the beach while others are set on the hills.
A winding sealed road is available which touch each chalet, allowing a buggy to access them at all time. The buggy allows them to send their guests and luggage to the destined accommodation. Along the winding roads are several types of hibiscus plants.
The chalets are surrounded by trees, most of which are quite tall. This allows for a cool ambiance to the whole area. The establishment is not allowed to cut trees as the resort is within the purview of the Sabah Parks.
The resort can host about 150 people at any one time. Most visitors come with their families, although some may come with friends or team building groups. There are also the occasional honeymooners as well as business travellers who drop by for a brief respite from their busy life.
“Guests will enjoy our 1.2-kilometre length of beach, or the swimming pool just at our beach front. Some like to walk along the road and enjoy the forest surrounding. We, however, have several activities for them,” Laurent shares.
Guests can also go for a 30-minute hike uphill and go on a canopy walk. This walk is very interesting and quite enjoyable as the canopy bridge goes from one huge tree to another. One can look up to watch birds and other arboreal creatures or look down and watch for snakes, Iguana and the likes. For photography buff, the canopy walk can be an absolute joy especially if one is attentive to the minute surroundings.
There’s also a zipline that they can enjoy an adrenaline rush through the air in the jungle. This can be a pleasant experience to many and scary to some, but it is an adventure worth doing.
Besides trekking, jungle canopy-walk and the zipline, guests can look to the sea to enjoy the water, the sand and sun.
Snorkelling is another activity worth doing. Immersed in the warmth of sea water, watching the fishes and the corals, can be absolutely fascinating. They can also go kayaking and enjoy the breeze, blue water and the sun as they steer the vessels around. Sailing boats are also available for guests.
There is an array of food available for guests at Bungaraya. Two restaurants used to be opened to guests, but presently they have only one open. They serve a fusion food, where one can even get a good western style salad and go to the mains with a local flavour. The Tuaran Mee is quite good. The food source are all local, by the way, from a farm operated by the same establishment.
As for future expectations, Laurent shares that they are ready to welcome guests, now that the country is open for overseas arrivals.
“We are ready to welcome them to our resort. As for the required SOP for our guests, we are ready with it too. We will adhere to the government’s requirement where this is concerned. I am sure we will not have a problem with it. I believe that the resort is quite safe, seeing that we are in an open environment with fresh air and breeze.”
Bungaraya is one of the host for Tourism Malaysia and GoPro on their continuation of their Dream Malaysia campaign.
GoPro led by its Southeast Asia Marketing Manager Sangeet Singh, participants from both GoPro and Tourism Malaysia were on hand to explore and enjoy what the island resort has to offer. The content creators had an unforgettable experience when Bungaraya accorded them full board throughout the duration of the retreat, including accommodation, meals. They also went diving, snorkeling, paddle boarding, and mangrove kayaking, among others.
These activities will ensure the Resort’s place on business and tourism platform through social media. -Anna Vivienne
