Firefly tour, Tuai Paradise, in Kota Kinabalu

On the last day, before take-off, we had almost 12 hours of free time. After spending a few hours at a restaurant and a lounge at the hotel, we hit the road to see fireflies. It took about 2 and half hours to get there from city center. 

On the way, we stopped by a gas station to go to a loo. Since there was no tissue at a convenience store, please take some extra from hotel. 

Amazing experience of firefly

After over 2 hours of driving, we've got here, Tuai Paradise. Basically this place looked like a family property which provides a boat-ride for a living. 

The river and beach are definitely public place but this house and land seemed to belong to this family. 

There were many toilets, showing that there were many tourists long before. I was wondering, since Covid19 outbreak, how this family could make a living. 

On this day, there were only 4 people of Korean. Two of us, and a mom and a son. I hope more tourists come back here for travel, so that these people can have more opportunities to show their nature. 

Killing time before meeting firefly

Although there was a brief schedule of the day, basically we just had to kill the time before sunset, drawing a picture and blowing piping, and so on. 

The green banana fry and bread was not bad, though. (If you don't expect too much)  

Although the humid scorching weather was killing us, we've tried some painting and pipe-blowing, since they already prepared for us. 

This jackfruit, however, was catching my eye more. I found this, wandering around the yard, and wondered this is durian or jackfruit. I guess durians have more spiky than this.

Okay, time to go

The guy with a red cap was a captain of this small boat. The guy in blue on the right side was our driver and guide. On the way here, he gentely recommended giving some tips for a captain who has a great skill of taking photoes. (I think, he gave a hint us because we are Koreans who aren't used to tip culture.)

This old local man was literally amazing guy who spots the place of wild monkeys, and who knows how to attract hundreds of fireflies, using a lantern. 

Hello, Monkeys!!

Before watching the firefly , the captain brough us to the spots to see monkeys and crocodiles. Although it was impossible to see crocodiles under the muddy water, monkeys were so many, approaching us to get some overriped bananas. 

A group of wild monkeys abruptly and bravely jumped over on the boat, aiming at the bananas on hands, but it left a hot sausage!! (Poop!) haha 

After having a fun time with monkeys, we headed to the shore nearby so that we can get some instagrammable photos with a background of picturesque sunset moment. 

On the way, at the beach, there was a cute pattern of holes and small beads of sands which some crabs spit out. How cute the nature-based pattern is!! 

Unforgettable sunset time at private beach

From the beginning of sunset, it allowed us to enjoy about 30 minutes untill the end. but it was long enough to get some wonderful pictures. 

Even thought it was against the light, still it was great to take some photoes. This was so good since it felt like only two of us owned this whole beach. The sunset spot at the Shangri-la hotel was too crowded to enjoy our own time. but here, much tranquil and peaceful to end up our travel with a perfect memory. 

And the captain and phtographer at the same time, asked me if I have a I-phone, not Samsung Galaxy, haha. Even this hidden nature wants me to be a technology geek. 

Play time with burning sun! 

As time went by, the impression was getting bigger and overwhelming enough to stop my movement, looking at the sun without any thoughts. 

Even the clouds were grandeur enough on that day. 

Having the beautiful shades of the sky left behind us, we were back on the boat to see firefly. 

so dainty, delicate firefly! 

firefly on a hand

I am sorry I don't know how to downsize the video of firefly, using Adobe Premiere pro. All I can show you is this pic of a cute firefly on a hand. 

The captain has an interesting skill to attract all of the fireflies in the woods. Whenever he kept blocking and uncovering a lantern, making a special flick to call them, they simply took off to fly toward us and we gave an exclamation of amazing moment!  

These fireflies were much smaller than I expected, and whenever he tried to call them, he asked us to shout 'Merry Christmas!!', since it looked like big Christmas trees with small lights all over them. It was magnificent! 

So excited with all this wonderful experience, we came back to the pier, and I couldn't help giving him some tips. He was a genuine professional who does his best for tourists. 

Back to the airport, time to go back home

Still having some time to kill, I stopped by Old Town white coffee at the airport, because I had a good memory from previous visit.  

The coffee itself was not bad but normal, and the kaya toast was so bad that I couldn't believe it had nothing in it. Before, it used to have a bigger piece of butter and kaya jam, flowing out of the bread. So dissappointing. 

Starbucks downstairs must have been a better choice than Old Town. This one operates services until 2 am, I guess. 

(By the way, all of the Grab taxies are supposed to stop the Pillar 5, where is located near this starbucks. I didn't know this, so it was so confused when I landed here on the first day.)

bye bye Kota Kinabalu

Like a one of the homeless looking people, I roamed around the airport and took a nap on a metal bench right in front of the gate. It was so boring and cold. 

Full of nice memories in Kota Kinabalu, and full of relaxation for myself, I returned my home country. Life is journey. As always. 

-the End-