The aroma of roasting chicken wafted through the busy hallways of the open-aired market. We were at Kota Kinabalu’s Central Market, and right along our path, a few steps further, we saw the source—an unbelievable sight of skewered barbecued chicken wings. My mouth watered and my hands immediately went to my wallet.
Quickly, my enthusiasm was curbed. It reminded me of pressing matters we had to attend to first—like shopping.
Where the heck are my group mates!? I was at the port of Sabang, en route to the world famous Puerto Princesa Underground River for Star Cruises’ shore excursion, and I cannot remember who my guide was and who my van-mates were. Giving up, I boarded the nearest boat and tagged along with an international convoy of Singaporeans, Malaysians, and a Japanese gal with short funky blond hair. I’m going underground, van-mates missing or not.
Still full from a hearty Malaysian breakfast, I stepped out of the deck and welcomed the morning aboard Star Cruises’ SuperStar Aquarius. The horizon was an endless blue—the Sea of Sulu. A pool rippled along with the waves a storey below, and from afar, I can finally see land. From my estimate, I think we finally crossed over to the Philippines and I’m seeing the tail-end of the Palawan Peninsula.
