Visiting The Tip of Borneo, Tanjung Simpang Mengayau!

On December 26, three days ago, over the Christmas vacation, my family and I travelled to a location far from our hometown. It's around 170 kilometres away. Some family members had already visited, while others were attending for the first time. We visited The Tip of Borneo, also known as Simpang Mengayau, which is located in Kudat, Sabah, Malaysia.

Because I drive slowly, it took me over three hours to get there at an average speed of 60-70 km/h. My younger brother, sister, brother-in-law, and niece are all fast drivers who arrived considerably earlier than I did. I brought all of my children, and it was their first visit to Simpang Mengayau. The journey was nerve-racking for me because I was concerned about the possibility of a vertigo attack while driving. To be safe, I avoid sweet or salty foods, as well as coffee, which was my go-to drink on lengthy rides. Unfortunately, coffee now has the potential to cause vertigo in me, particularly if it is sweet. A few days ago, I drank coffee with creamer, which caused dizziness and may have resulted in a vertigo episode. So I resolved to keep clear of it totally.

Now, regarding the location itself. I had little knowledge of Simpang Mengayau before visiting, but I must say that it is breathtakingly lovely. When we arrived, we were welcomed by a mild drizzle, not the sunny skies we had hoped for. The sky was grayish-white, but despite the rain, the sea remained brilliantly blue, mesmerising us all, particularly the children. They were overjoyed to see the ocean, an uncommon sight for them. This was their first time seeing the ocean this year.

There are few facilities around Simpang Mengayau. I observed a few open gazebos where guests could relax, sit, and eat. We found an empty gazebo and set out the food we'd cooked earlier—fried noodles, bread, chicken nuggets, sausages, and some cold drink. These gazebos are ideal for a quick rest before proceeding to the main attraction, The Bronze Globe, the area's most renowned symbol. When we arrived, there were plenty of parking spaces, most likely due to the weather. I also spotted some people secretly selling snacks from their cars, despite the fact that selling in the area is prohibited.

After eating, we walked approximately 100-200 meters to The Bronze Globe. It was rather crowded, but happily, we did not have to wait long for our turn to take family shots. On bright days, this location is usually filled with people waiting their turn. Despite the drizzle, there were still a lot of people. Unfortunately, I failed to pack an umbrella. Haiyaaa!

Aside from The Bronze Globe, there is another excellent photo location nearby where you can see a watchtower and the broad ocean. I've heard that the sunset view here is magnificent, but I haven't had the opportunity to witness it myself. I can image how beautiful that must be. There are lodgings for guests who want to stay overnight, but I didn't look into it because we were just there for a short visit. Entry to the area is free, and there are public restrooms and convenience stores nearby.

As we were leaving, I noticed several children, accompanied by adults, swimming at the beach. The waves seemed strong, and I was concerned about their safety because none of them wore life jackets. I assumed they were locals who were aware of the sea conditions, but I couldn't help but be concerned. At the same time, I was tempted to jump in and swim!