Tawau/Semporna (IV) - Day 7 (Semporna Town - Tawau Town)

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We didn't sleep well the night before and only managed to get up around 8.45am for breakfast. It was a gloomy morning, with heavy rain on and off. Our stay at Casa Casa came with a complimentary breakfast for two at Secawan Cafe, served from 6.30am to 10.30am. We had already chosen what to eat during check-in, as guests were required to place their orders in advance.

Breakfast came with a small bottle of orange juice, which was refreshing and slightly sweet, along with free-flow coffee and tea. I had sourdough bread served with butter and jam. The bread was soft and fluffy, with a slight crisp on the edges. My partner went for peanut toast topped with cheese, egg, and crushed peanuts, all drizzled with honey. I found the peanut butter a little too sweet for my taste. While we were eating, my partner ran into a friend who had come all the way from Penang with his family for a holiday. It was such a small world moment and added a fun surprise to our morning.



Secawan Cafe


Secawan Cafe


Secawan Cafe


Secawan Cafe


Our breakfast order at Secawan Cafe


Orange juice, coffee and tea


Peanut toast


Sourdough bread


Address:
Secawan Cafe
FJH5+HV, Pekan Semporna,
91308 Semporna,
Sabah
Opening hours: 7am to 7pm


Since we still had some time before checking out at 12pm, we wandered around the small town. Fung Ling Restaurant, located just opposite Casa Casa, caught our eye, so we decided to share a plate of Singapore fried bee hoon. As usual, my partner ordered his favourite teh c ping kosong. The drink was smooth and creamy, while the vermicelli was soft and chewy. The dish also came with slices of chicken, which were surprisingly good.

(Total bill - RM 16)



Fung Ling Restaurant


Teh c ping kosong - RM 3.50


Singapore fried bee hoon - RM 12.50


Address:
Fung Ling Restaurant
Block B, Lot 9, Bandar Baru,
Jalan Tawau Semporna,
Pekan Semporna,
91308, Semporna,
Sabah
Opening hours: 7am to 8.30pm


We walked back to the motel at 11.30am and checked out by 11.45am, dragging our luggage to the main Casa Casa building. We then waited for the resort van to pick us up for the airport. The Pearl Island Resort package included a direct transfer from the island to the airport. So technically, they could have skipped picking us up since we stayed a night in Semporna. Still, it was really thoughtful of the resort to arrange it for us.

The van arrived at 12.15pm, and there was a couple inside who had stayed at Pearl Island Resort the day before. It had nine seats, not counting the driver, and after picking us up, the driver stopped at Jetty Pelancongan Semporna to pick up three more passengers. We set off for the airport at 12.30pm and arrived around 1.35pm. The ride was bumpy and warm, since the guy sitting in front kept adjusting the air conditioning for himself. It felt like he was controlling the climate just for his own comfort, and the rest of us sitting behind were stuck trying to deal with it.



Our pickup van


The AirAsia one-way ticket from Tawau Airport to Kota Kinabalu International Airport cost RM 438 for two people, excluding a 20 kg checked luggage bag (RM 70). Self check-in for AirAsia was smooth and fast. We had a late lunch at Sipadan Cafe. I ordered the kampung fried rice and iced lemon tea. The drink was very sweet but refreshing, and the fried rice was flavourful, although the anchovies weren't as crispy as I hoped. Instead of kangkung (water spinach), the dish came with cabbage, carrots, and onions. My partner had the black pepper chicken rice, but the sauce was a bit too salty for my taste.

Our flight was delayed. Boarding was supposed to start at 4.05pm for a 4.45pm flight, but we didn't start boarding until 4.55pm. The flight itself was only 50 minutes, departing at 5.10pm and landing at Kota Kinabalu International Airport around 6pm. Once we landed, we couldn't get any Grab rides since it was buka puasa time. So we had dinner at McDonald's in the airport while waiting for more ride options before heading home.

Overall, it was a relaxing and memorable trip. From Tawau town to the island stay and our short time in Semporna town, everything felt nicely balanced. There was time to relax, a bit of exploring, and of course, plenty of food along the way...



Tawau Airport


Sipadan Cafe


Sipadan Cafe


Iced lemon tea - RM 5


Kampung fried rice - RM 15


Black pepper chicken rice - RM 14


Departure gate


Boarding gate

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