SANDAKAN – Like the locals, foreign tourists on vacation in Sabah are not wasting the golden opportunity to meet the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
This can be seen when Their Majesties were leaving for the destination scheduled on the third day of the Kembara Kenali Borneo today, to continue their journey from here to Beluran, Telupid, before ending in Ranau.
A group of tourists were seen waiting as early as 8am to witness the departure of the two royals together with their entourage from Hotel Sabah, as they headed for the Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre in Sepilok.
Some of them described the opportunity to meet the royal couple face-to-face as a chance of a lifetime.
Greg Wyman, 65, from Australia, said he was excited to meet Al-Sultan Abdullah after learning that His Majesty would be leaving the hotel where he has been staying since last Sunday.
“… in Australia we don’t have a king. There is only the King of England. To see how the people of Malaysia react to their King is too memorable, so it is very exciting to be here at this time,” he told Bernama.
Kim Nichols, 52, who is on holiday in Sabah with a tour group of 10, even asked her tour guide to skip their holiday itinerary today, which was to visit tourist destinations around the district.
Kim, who lives in Newcastle, Australia, said she missed the opportunity to witness the arrival of both Their Majesties at Hotel Sabah at about 12.30am last night and hoped to get to meet and take a picture with the royal couple today.
“I really hope to meet their Majesties this morning, because I have waited since half past four this morning,” said Kim, who is also staying at the hotel.
Wyman and Nichols’ efforts were not in vain when their wish to meet the king and queen came true even though it was just for a moment.
Meanwhile, the clear weather conditions gave some tourists from abroad the chance to take pictures and record videos of the departure of both Their Majesties and the Kembara Kenali Borneo convoy as they were leaving the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre at noon. – September 5, 2023