Hi Dive Girl. My son went out there at age 16 and he and his mate did all there own organisation. He said the hotels were fabulous, and ery cheapThey climbed Mt Kinabalu!! I met up with him in Brunei and we went off to Australia together for a month. 24 years ago now.
We went for a meal in a cafe on a South China Sea beach. Beginning of the monsoon season. The lads were in the sea snorkelling . A terrific storm and had to paddle back to the car with water nearly up to our knees. Fortunately the car was on higher ground!
We went to Tioman Island for the last part of the holiday. Boat trips galore, snorkeled round a tiny island where we swan over a group of Black Tipped Reef sharks and daughter got to stroke a turtle... ah, happy days!
I'm pleased that this has brought back happy memories for you both.
It sounds as if we are in for a treat as long as we don't get bitten/stung by something or other.
I am saying this because, one month after returning from South Africa, I am still being treated for a tick bite. It's made me a bit wary of foreign insects and creepy crawlies.
I would have liked longer out there. Three days before Australia and three days on the way to the Uk. It wasnt exactly a holiday , but two long stopovers with free accommodation to link up with my son. I would have loved to seen more than just Brunei.
You do get to see some weird and wonderful creatures but on balance it is so worth it! We did have to have a couple of injections before we went [I really can't remember what].
We also visited a water village but that was a bit of a disappointment. Not what we expected at all but got to taste some fantastic teas lol
Arghhh I need a holiday now!
Daughter and I are planning Columbia for later in the year or early next year... I want to handfeed hummingbirds :)
We're not beach holiday lovers either. Nor city lovers. We're all about wildlife and nature and mixing with local culture. Well we were. But holidays now are over.