Hello everyone 👧.
Last weekend, I'm having my family vacation for 2 days 1 night at Gayana Marine Resort on the Gaya Island at Sabah. In this post, I'm going to share with you all my experiences there from day 1 to day 2 with the 9 ladies of my family members.
Check in
We arrived at Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal before one hour of the check in time, 12.00 pm. My cousin said we can check in early at the Gayana Marine Resort's counter that situated inside the ferry terminal. Therefore, we walk straight to the resort's counter to manage our check in procedure first before having our lunch.
After entering the ferry terminal, we saw stalls selling goods that suitable use for attire and fun on the island. I bought a sandal that cost me RM10.00 for just in case my current sandal that I use been swept away by the sea wave when playing on the island.
My cousin, who a former tour guide helps us manage the check in procedure. As for me, I'm busy taking pictures the environment inside the check in's rooms and did some selfies too.
We having our lunch after we handover our luggages to the resort's employee.
As per the locals on the ferry terminal said, no groceries shop on the Gayana Marine Resort and the prices of the foods and drinks were very expensive. For example, the price of 1.5ml bottles of mineral water here only RM1.50 whereas the resort offer price was RM8.00 per bottle. As a result, we bought some light snacks and few bottles of water to bring there.
The rules said we were not allowed to bring any foods and drinks to the resort's premises. However, the resort's employees did not bother it when they saw us bring the foods and drinks into the resort.
We queue waiting to board the resort's high speed craft and at the same time looking around the surroundings of the ferry terminal near the jetty.
On Boat
We must wear safety jacket when we on board on the high speed boat. But, the jacket was very small, most of us including the Korean's tourists unable to hook it. So, we just wear the unhook safety vest throughout the journey to the resort's island.
The distances from the ferry terminal to Gaya Island was very near. However, it's took around 30 minutes to reached the resort by using this boat.
Arrival
The resort employees were very friendly welcoming us when we arrived at the resort. Our luggages been carried by the male employees and directly send it to our respective room.
My cousins and aunty play with the resort's cat named, Bagal after just step on the lobby. My other family members and the Korean's tourists looking around the resort before the employees guide us to the next area.
We been given wet tissue with sanitizer on it by the resort's employee. The employee also gave us watermelon juice too to have a drink.
Talks from Resort's Manager
Before entering to our room, the Resort's Manager, named Karl introducing us the resort's facilities offers to us and also the details of the marine life on the resort's island.
The manager showing us how he feeds the giant's grouper fish for us to do next after him. The Korean's children happily throwing the raw fish to feed the grouper fish. Myself also having fun feeding the grouper fish but no one taking picture on me when I'm doing it. My family members busy playing the cat that follow us instead taking picture on me.
To the Room
After done the talks from the manager, we been guided by the resort's employees to our respectively room.
One of the employee explained to us the map of the resorts and she reminded us to always locks our door when we not in the room.
Monkey, the reason why we need to lock our room when we going out for fun in the resort.
Reached our room.
Our room was semi detached and there got a door that connected to our neighbour room. We open it since our neighbour room stayed by 2 of my family members.
Our room's balcony was facing the jungle where the monkey live.
The resort's employees came in to our room to explain us the necessities provided in the room. Since our room just next to the jungle on the island, she mentioned that that mosquito repellent available for us to use.
An antique radio that still functioning well.
The room that I'm staying only have 1 queen bed for 2 people to sleep on. We requested an extra bed but I'm almost falling down when I sit on the end of the bed.
We went to another 3 of the family members room that facing to the sea. There got sea view and got place to jump to the sea for swimming.
Water Activities
We having our first fun activities swimming in the pool.
Next, we have fun for kayaking on the sea and have a race for it. I'm on period, water activities I'm been excluded. So, I'm been appointed as referee and camerawoman for the race.
I'm with the resort's guard dog stay here to wait who the winners of the kayak race.
After done the kayak race, next sea activity was snorkelling.
High Tea
While the other family members enjoying water activities at the sea, I follow my 2 aunties having high tea at the resort's restaurant. The resort's restaurant just beside the pool that we went just now.
My aunties chit chatting with one of the restaurant's employee. We get the information that the resort's employees were not staying on the island. They have to commute to work or back home by using the high speed craft daily.
Although the foods very expensive here, but the taste of the foods were damn delicious.
Reflexology
I and my aunties went for massage at the resort's reflexology center.
Only 1 therapist available during that time. We select 1 hour massage package for each person. I have to wait for my turn to get massage after my aunty done hers.
Monkey Attack
After I done my massage, I saw funny events that in my family's group chat. The family members' who done water activities back to their respective room and they saw monkey staying on the balcony.
My cousin, that her room facing the sea, thought the monkey will not disturb her. By the time she sat on the lazy chair at the balcony and started to eat her sandwich, the monkey suddenly snatched her sandwich. My cousin shouted and faster went inside her room at lock the door. Below is the picture of the monkey eating my cousin's sandwich.
On my way to return to my room after my massage, I saw a monkey infront of my room. Luckily I'm staying semi detached room with my another family members, I went inside my room through another door to avoid confront with that monkey.
Dinner Time
I plan to have a sea view during sun set but I miss it due to I directly have a nap in my room until dinner time.
10 of us family members choose weekend BBQ platter for our dinner.
We went straight to our room for rest and did not do any activities at night after our dinner. I'm having a cup of darjeling milk tea before going to sleep.
Morning's Breakfast
I sleep quite early at night but I woke up late at 8.00am in the morning. I cancel my plan to do a light exercise with fresh air on the balcony as the monkey stare at my room from the balcony outside.
We went to the same restaurant as yesterday dinner for our breakfast. The breakfast was free and some of the dishes refillable. From the dinner last night and now breakfast, all the meals very delicious.
Many monkeys came out from the jungle. The resort's employees have to take action chasing out the monkeys in order the monkeys did not disturb us and other tourists when we having our meals.
Fun Before Check Out and Monkey Again
We spent the remaining time of the day staying on the resort by playing at the pool first. Monkeys stare at us a on the top of the restaurant's building. I'm and my another aunty who not doing the water activities have to stay alert to take care of my family members' belonging to avoid the monkey snact it.
We went to the recreaction building (not sure what the name) to have fun next. In that building, gym equipment, dart board, snookeling table and board games available for tourist to use it.
The view from the first floor of the recreation's building.
The Activities That We Miss Out
We only stay in the resort for 2 days and it's not enough for us to do all activities that available in the resort due to time consuming to do these activities.
Jungle tracking or hiking will required 3 to 4 hours to done it.
Mangrove exploration will need 4 hours or more for us to see the wildlife such as hermit crab, wildboar, long nose monkey, and many more.
Another is Marine Ecology Research Centre situated in the resort that only available 2 times of session per day (9.30am and 2.30pm). Each session might need to spend 2 hours or more including coral planting activities.
Hopefully, next time I'm able visit this resort in future.
Check Out
We ride on a much smaller high speed boat for our trip back to the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal. When we on the boat, the resort' employees including the employee who busy with his snorkeling waving hands and said bye bye to us.
I don't dare to take picture on my surrounding when I'm on this boat. The boat was more faster than the yesterday high speed boat and it went against the sea wave that cause us have a bumpy ride.
It's took us only 8 minutes from the resort to the ferry terminal by using this boat.
That's all. Thanks for reading my long post 🤗.
