Cheap Trip: Labuan

I started my year last year by visiting Labuan...with a goodfriend; Adrian.
We decided to celebrate our New Year (2009 & and as an independent soul haha) there.
Labuan is a memorable place for us, because both of as were Kolej Martrikulasi Labuan's ex-students.
Being back to Labuan remind me vividly my teen years; my crush, water crisis and chocolates. :)
I love Labuan since it's a small island and easy to explore and less people live there.
At first we planned to ride the Menumbok's bus, but then Adrian changed his mind...He wanted to drive..okay good idea!
So we travelled to Menumbok by his car..
The journey started around 8 am (maybe...hardly remember)
The funny this was, we got lost on our way to Menumbok...we took the wrong road...it's soooo hilarious...and as usual all along the way, I was the talking machine.
Then we found the right route and arrived at Menumbok's jetty around 10 or maybe 11.
Bout speed-boat ticket and waited for couple of minutes.
Then came the speed-boat...it took only 20 minutes to reach Labuan.
Ahhh...I couldn't believe I'm in Labuan :)
Well, it's sort of "spontaneous" trip actually...because we didn't even planned where to stay for the night...and we didn't even made any survey on what's hot that night...the only thing we knew was; the countdown would be at the Dataran Labuan.
So before we started to look for hotels (we both estimated around RM80 for our hotel expanses), we decided to isi our tembolok first.
We went to this mamak's restaurant...restaurant yang chantek punyaaa...and eat...well, it's Labuan's standard, the lunche costed RM20 something.
Then the search for hotels began...hmm, the funny thing was we both were VERY YAKIN that it'd be easy to find rooms...unfortunately we were completely wrong.
We never expected that there'd be lots of people visiting Labuan (that didn't have lots to offer hehe compare to Kota Kinabalu). All rooms were fully booked...
We walked here and there...I sweat a lot and started to smell terrible...Huh...
Mandi pelu habis...
After hours, we finally got the last RM80 room...hehe, I decided to take the room...and as for Adrian, he stayed in an Inn...hehe he had his own experience...even when I went to look at the Inn, it reminded me to my father's words; Bilik tempat orang buat orang...wah!
Took my bath, took a nap...at 4 pm, we're ready for some pre-countdown...
We went to Ujana Kewangan...that place haven't changed yet...still the same.
Then we went straight to the nearby beach...interesting...lots of people came to the beach probably for they're own countdown celebration...kids swimming, and lots of big-ships...
We lepak there until the final sunset of the year...it's beautiful...SO BEAUTIFUL view.
Then around 6 pm we went to the gerai for some fruits juice..
At 8pm or maybe earlier, we went to the Dataran Labuan...hmm worst countdown I've been..
I never expected that there were lots of "foreigners" in Labuan...
The Banglas were everywhere...and so dominant.
And we only stayed there until 11 pm (quite impressive though haha)...
We  went to KFC and did our countdown there...12 am, bunga api moment...
So that's how I celebrated my 2009 New Year...
2009 was the year I turned quarter century...lots of ups and downs...and even now, I hardly believe how time swifted very fast...I have great and not so great moments through out that year...sometimes, when I think deep, it's kinda funny...
But ooh yeah...I just love that struggling part we got through; the hotels hunting..haha..hmm
The lesson we learn 9Adrian told me this); it's good to be spontaneous about your trip, but never ever forgot to book a place to stay earlier... ha-ha