MY SEMPORNA..........

Semporna delineates sun, sea and sand, the unambiguous combination that never ceases to summon one's vision of a tropical paradise. Coral reef, mangrove forest and tranquil coconut trees tassel the islands. Still undiscovered and undisturbed, this sublime beauty is a rare find in the restructured clutter of the present.

At the heart of Semporna is the small main town, of the same name. Known to some as the town with its feet on the sea, small islands and coral reefs make its surrounding. The air is cool and breezy with a certain tinge of the salty sea. As you take in this unforgettable aroma of the islands, the villages of the sea gypsies, moored a little further out on the reefs, will catch your breath.

Semporna is a district lying on the east coast of Sabah. An hour's flight from Kota Kinabalu will land you in this heaven on earth, stretched just above the equator. Semporna is the literal translation of the Bajau and Malay word 'perfect'. Fulfilling its epithet, the panoramic view it offers united with the emotion that consumed you when you land on this paradise is nothing short of perfection. Captivating the sights from the skies, your eyes will not fail to catch the sylvan fishing villages, coral cays, tranquil seas with sea life in abundance. As the cool fresh air cares your face, gazed wandering further, you will be awestruck by the hues of the water that roll from sapphire.

Semporna is home to the diving paradise of Sipadan known to many who come far and wide. A cluster of about 49 islands holding 119 villages in total, complete Semporna's string of precious pearls. This potent combination of unscathed isles make it a heaven for marine habitat. Some of these islands are uninhibited and are only occasionally visited by the distant boats of fishermen or determined nesting turtles. Enchanting blue and green coral keys and shallow reefs still subsist here.

                                            

What is most striking about this place is that it is has not been influenced by the worldly modernizations. The sailboats still sit out at sea. The waters are still as blue and calm as ever. Locals still live on the gifts of mother sea.