Thursday, February 11, 2010

Pulau Tiga Survivor Island - A disgustingly nice mud bath

Pulau Tiga, which means three islands, was unknown outside of Sabah before the turn of the century. Located about 160 kilometers south of Sabah’s capital Kota Kinabalu, it has since become a favorite destination of local and foreign tourists.

If truth be told, the reality show Survivor has much to do with Pulau Tiga’s popularity. The British and American editions of the hit television show shot in Pulau Tiga at different times.

Loretta Bandaya, a Filipina who has been working the resort there for 19 years, was involved with both editions, the British one in 2000 and the American version two years later.

The truth, according Bandaya, was that the British participants, who were brought to the other side of the island in the middle of the night, were told that Pulau Tiga was an uninhabited island. But resort facilities were already completed and reserved exclusively for the participants and the 150 production staff and crew of the series while the Malaysian government also established its own lodging facilities, which is also open to the public as the island was designated as a forest reserve as far back as 1933 and as a marine park in 1978.

The two other islands that complete the Tiga count are Kalampunian Besar and Kalampunian Damit, more popularly known as Snake island. Tourists go there to see these sea snakes.

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