Many of my friends have asked me over and over again when will i feature Sandakan…the town where i grew up for more than 15 years. Well folks…it’s finally here. I wish to dedicate this special review to my late father who raised me up in this town.

Sandakan town

The well-known Sandakan roundabout

Overview:
Sandakan is the second-largest city in Sabah, East Malaysia, on the north-eastern coast of Borneo. It is located on the east coast of the island and it is the administrative centre of Sandakan Division and was the former capital of British North Borneo.

Sandakan was also known as “Little Hong Kong” at one time and was first and foremost a port for the export of logs and timber. In fact, it was said that Sandakan timber went into the building of Beijing’s Temple of Heaven. Depending on your sources, in its heyday, Sandakan used to boast of having the greatest concentration of millionaires in the world! No bullshit. Just asked the Sabahans and you will get the same answer. Today, it is known more as the gateway to nature’s most prolific treasures in Borneo.

Wisma Sandakan

Sandakan town Centre

Sandakan town centre

Highlights:
As Sandakan was almost totally destroyed in World War II, there are few surviving buildings of any age. Some of the main sights today include:

Agnes Keith House
Also known as Newlands - two-storey home of local author Agnes Newton Keith and her husband Harry (the Curator of the North Borneo Museum) from 1930 to 1952. The house was destroyed in World War II and was rebuilt on the same site. Mrs. Keith wrote several books about Sabah and its people, including Land Below the Wind, Three Came Home, and White Man Returns. The house has recently been restored after a number of years of neglect.

English Tea House - Located in the grounds of Agnes Keith Museum, fine restaurant on the hillside above Sandakan serving traditional English and Asian cuisine. address: 2002 Jalan Istana - tel: 6089 222544

Sandakan Memorial Park - built on site of the Taman Rimba prisoner-of-war camp.

Japanese Cemetery - housing a memorial to the Japanese war dead on Borneo.

St Michael’s and All Angels Church - Home to my kindergarden, primary and secondary schools, this beautiful granite church was built in 1897 and is one of Sandakan’s few surviving pre-war buildings. It was recognized as one of the world’s heritage since year 2005.

St. Michael’s Church, Sandakan

My school…St. Michael’s Secondary School

Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple - completed in 1987, this fiery red and gold temple overlooks the town centre.

Sam Sing Kung Temple - completed in 1887, it is the oldest building in Sandakan.

Sandakan New Market - one of the largest and busiest in Sabah.

The old wet market which no longer exists. Photo taken in Feb 2007…two days before they shut down

Crocodile Farm - located 12 km (7.5 miles) out of town, it houses more than 2,000 of the reptiles in concrete pools.

Sepilok - The Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre is where orang utans rescued from plantations and also from being kept as pets are re-adapted to living in the jungle. Most popular are the twice daily feeding times when the orang utans come out from the jungle.

Turtle Islands Park - Three islands in the Sulu Sea where you can see turtles laying eggs and also turtle conservation at work. You can only stay on Selingan Island.

Gomantong Caves - The massive cave is home to swiftlets and their nests are harvested as a Chinese delicacy. The harvesting processes involves people climbing to the roof of the caves with bamboo poles and ladders.

Accommodation:
Ease Boutique Hotel Sandakan
Hotel Hsiang Garden
Hotel Sandakan
Sanbay Hotel
City View Hotel

Best Way To Get Around:
Taxi - travel by taxi out to places such as Sepilok or the War Memorial is easy, however fare negotiation will be required as meters are not commonly available.

Bus - there are buses and vans going everywhere in the areas around Sandakan, to the airport, Sepilok, Buli Sim Sim etc.

By foot - Sandakan is only a small town and it is easy to walk around. There is a walking trail which covers all the main sites.

My classroom and my seat

St. Michael’s Sandakan school logo

Before i begin my story, i need to warn you of the length of this review. This is simply because i’ve come to like this small and unique town located down south of Malaysia. Here it comes…

The name Kluang derives from the Malay word ‘keluang’ which means a type of flying fox or rather a type of fruit bat. These used to be plentiful in the district decades ago. They have almost completely disappeared due to the combination of hunting and destruction of their natural habitat. I was told by a local friend that pictures of bat can still be seen on road signages and boards. Kluang is a town located roughly in the middle of the state of Johor in Malaysia. The population of Kluang district is considered small but has now exceeded 250,000 residents with more than half are centralized in the town itself.

Kluang had a very interesting World War 2 history when the Japanese soldiers once relocated their headquarter from Kuala Lumpur to Kluang in 1942 and later used the airbase to launch air attacks on targets ranging from Singapore to Sumatra.

Me and a worker (maybe the boss) of Kluang RailCoffee

The famous Kluang RailCoffee outlet

Worker preparing the food and drink

Roti bakar, Coffee, etc

The shop and its patrons

Highlights:
Kluang Railway Station
One of the charming places to visit in Kluang is the Kluang Railway station. The railway is surely the main highlight of this town as it cuts the town into two halves when the train passes through Kluang town. This will lead to temporary closure of the road to the town for the the train to pass. It is a common saying among local residents that when the trains approach Kluang Railway station, the entire Kluang town stands still. The station itself withstood the test of time and should be of interest for those who have passion for nostalgic photographs.

Kluang Station Coffee
It is widely claimed that the famous coffee shop at Kluang Railway Station, serves the best coffee in Malaysia (plus the shop’s specialty “Roti Bakar” - toasted bread with half boiled eggs). This local dish is available for breakfast between 7.00am and 12.00noon and for afternoon tea between 2.30pm and 6.00pm. The coffee shop now has expanded into franchise business and more outlets are available in major cities including Kuala Lumpur.

Tong Fong Cafe
Also worth taking note is an authentic coffee shop located in no. 56, Jalan Lambak by the name of Tong Fong Cafe (a.k.a. Eastern Cafe) which was very popular with the British soldiers during the heydays when Malaya was still under British rule. The operator is a second generation descendant of the owner and the coffee shop has been operating since 1954. Good coffee amidst nostalgic environment where orders are still being shouted from patrons to the back of the shop where each cup of beverage is being concocted the old traditional way, retaining the original flavours. Coffee can still be ‘doggie-bagged’ via used milk tins with a raffia string as loop for the dainty finger. It is worth a visit for visitors and regulars.

Gunung Berlumut & Gunung Lambak
Gunung Berlumut and Gunung Lambak are popular with jungle trekkers like me.

Machap
The area of Machap (on the road between Simpang Renggam and Air Hitam) is well known for its pottery and porcelain

Best Way to Get Around:
Car: This is your best option as the town is small and easy to move around.

Taxis: They can be scarce and difficult to locate when you need one. Mind you…you need to bargain with them as they don’t use their metres.

A signboard at Gunung Lambak. Take note of the bat picture on top

Me at Gunung Lambak

One of the smaller ponds found up at Gunung Lambak

The City of Kota Kinabalu, formerly known as Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah. Located on the west coast of “the Land Below the Wind”, under the watchful eye of majestic Mount Kinabalu, and on the fringes of the South China Sea, Kota Kinabalu is the bustling and colourful gateway to Sabah. Here you find the international airport, world class hotels, innumerable restaurants and café shops, shopping malls and business districts. We call our fast developing and modern city with some 350,000 inhabitants simply and affectionately KK!

Highlights:
Atkinson Clock Tower - One of the most enduring landmarks in Kota Kinabalu, which has stood prominently on the bluff along Signal Hill Road, is the Kota Kinabalu Clock Tower. It was built as a memorial to Francis George Atkinson, the popular first District Officer of Kota Kinabalu. This memorial has the distinction of being the oldest standing structure in the whole of Sabah that survived the air raids and blitz of World War II.

Mount Kinabalu - The tallest peak in South East Asia at 4,101 metres. The State Park is 80 km from the city. If you intend on climbing the mountain there are limited climbing permits and accomidation on the mountain available and it is recomended that you book 3 months ahead. Typically whether you create your own package or go with a tour you start your climb in the early morning then stop at the resthouse for the evening. There is one restaurant there with a buffet dinner option or there is some accomidation that has basic cooking facilities available. After spending the evening at the rest stop you get up at about 3 in the morning to finish the climb and hopefully arrive at the summit in time for the sunrise. All climbers must have a guide which you can obtain at the park when you register. There are also many packages available through touring companies however it is far cheaper to create your own plan

Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary - is a natural site for wildlife and is located in the heart of the city. The Bird Sanctuary has an important natural function and has a feeling ground for many species of birds and also for several migratory species from Northern Asia.

Gaya Street Fair - The Gaya Street Fair is held every Sunday morning and is the place where locals come to buy their goods. You can find almost anything at the Fair. From local handicrafts, souvenirs and clothing to food, drinks, Chinese medicines, delicacies and even animals like chickens and pet dogs, can be purchased for very reasonable prices. It also is a good opportunity to try out your bargaining skills.

Sabah Museum - The Sabah Museum is located at Old Palace Hill (Bukit Istana Lama) only 5 minutes from Kota Kinabalu city centre and is situated on 43.3 acres of lush green natural and planted jungle. This location houses not only the Sabah Museum, but also an Ethno Botanic garden, a Zoological garden and a Heritage Village all in one place!

Shopping - There are 5 major shopping complexes in KK: Centrepoint, Wisma Merdeka, Wawasan Plaza, Karamunsing Complex and KK Plaza. Although most of the shops in these complexes carry fixed priced items the goods sold are all reasonably priced especially during the Mega Sales months of March, August, and December.

Signal Hill - Signal Hill is one of the best places to get a good view of KK. The hill is in a natural area where one can peacefully enjoy the beautiful skyline of the city with a view that extends to the islands.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Islands Park - The Tunku Abdul Rahman Islands Park is located just 3 to 8km. off Kota Kinabalu shore. Only 10 to 20 minutes by boat from Kota Kinabalu city, you can enjoy the beautiful tropical islands and indulged in lots of R&R. Some of the islands are equipped with chalets and food outlets to accommodate your needs. The Park consists of 5 islands, namely Gaya, Mamutik, Manukan, Sapi and Sulug. It is a favourite place to go to for picnickers, divers and nature lovers. The park offers ample space to try water sports and you can also enjoy and adventurous jungle trek to see the flora and fauna at namely, Gaya, Manukan and Sapi islands.

Best Way To Get Around:
Taxi - Taxi fares around town would cost around RM20, at most.

Bus - RM1.50 from Kota Kinabalu International Airport(Petagas) to the city centre. While RM1.00 from Terminal 2 International Airport(Tg.Aru) to City Center.

Hi there and welcome to another edition of the Destination of The Week. I just came back from a stress-free trip to this wonderful island, Pangkor Laut. Don’t mix up with the other nearby island called Pangkor Island. Both of them are different islands altogether. Pangkor Laut is a privately owned island located three miles off the West Coast of Malaysia in the Straits of Malacca. Situated on this exotic island is the internationally acclaimed Pangkor Laut Resort. Although the island encompasses a total of 300 acres, only a fraction has been developed to house the Resort and its Estates while the rest is covered by lush and unspoiled two million year old rainforest.

It’s been my yearly trip to this island resort since my first visit back in 2003. It is the one and only resort on this island. The island resort has won many prestigious awards since day one of its operation, including this year’s ‘5 Star Diamond Award’ from Condé Nast Traveller. Meanwhile, their beach, Emerald Bay, considered by independent travel consultants as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The resort, as far as i know, is the most prestigious and best managed 5 star resort in Malaysia. It’s simply world class, you can say, thanks to the sound management of YTL Hotels and Properties. Plus…the room rates for Malaysians are unbelievably reasonable at RM799 for 3 days/2 nights, which includes return private ferry transfer and all meals with unlimited orders.

There are 148 Malaysian-style luxury villas in the main Pangkor Laut Resort and eight magnificent Estates in a nearby secluded cove. Every villa, suite and Estate is elegantly designed and furnished, yet complements and blends in with the surrounding natural environment. As the island is only accessible to the guests of the Resort and Estates, it makes the perfect private holiday getaway. Voted the second best island destination in the world by Condé Nast Traveller (October 1999 issue), Pangkor Laut Resort consistently ranks high on the itinerary of international pleasure seekers, including celebrities like Joan Collins, Luciano Pavarotti, and Lee Majors (Actor of Six Million Dollar Man). I have included some pictures taken at the island resort. Don’t just take my words, go and see it for yourself. Seeing is believing.

Idyllic Gayana Island Resort is an ecological paradise nestled away in a beautiful bay on the far side of Gaya Island, off the shores of Kota Kinabalu. Crystal clear waters and secluded beaches wrap around the inlet, with lush tropical rainforest and mangrove forming a serene backdrop.

Gayana Island Resort is located just off Western shores of the 3rd largest island in the world; Borneo. The Northern most region is called Sabah, known affectionately as the “Land Below The Wind,” as the tip of Sabah lies just below the typhoon belt. The capital of Sabah is the vibrant, coastal city of Kota Kinabalu.

Gayana is nestled into the tropical wildness of the largest of the five islands, Pulau Gaya. It is only here that one is caressed by gentle, lapping waters of the South China Sea and senses are awakened by the sounds and mystery of the primordial jungle.

Hightlights:
Swimming Pool: The so-called swimming pool is my favourite. It’s actually the sea itself. It’s a natural swimming pool in the sea. You’ll get the opportunity to swim with the friendly fish inside the pool without going out to the open sea for snorkelling. Wonderful isn’t it??

Accommodation: Gayana features 22 semi-detached overwater chalets built on timber stilts constructed out of sustainable local woods with thatched roofs. All 44 rooms are tastefully furnished and absolutely relaxing with spacious private balconies, and equipped with modern conveniences for your comfort. An elevated wooden boardwalk winds its way past the chalets, lined with flowering bougainvillea and tropical plants.