The Home of the Eagles!

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Selected Tour Package from Sabah Travel Service

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Our Valuable Historical Sites

St. Michael's All Angels Church
Sandakan, lying on narrow strip of land between steep hills and the waters of the Sulu Sea, bears little evidence of its early history as a result of war-time bombing. Traces of the colonial period can be seen in the quaint stone church, St. Michael's and All Angels, begun in 1893 and looking like a colonial style building where Christianity is preached.

Tam Kung Temple
This century old temple was built around 1894, and is situated at mile 1.5 Jalan Utara. Its uniqueness lies in its preservation of a temple within a temple. The temple was built just nearby a local primary school and it has been a worshipping place for many people. During the process of conservation, with the intention of preserving most of its internal and external structure, the rebuilding work had been carried out very intensively making it looks like a brand new temple now.

Agnes Keith House
A colonial style house, built on a hilltop at Jalan Istana more than 150 years ago, is now a museum. The two storey building, which has a floor area of 8,500 sq ft, was the residence of author Agnes Keith and her husband, Harry, who was Conservator of Forest and Curator of North Borneo Museum during the time of the British Colonial. The house was destroyed in the Second World War but was rebuilt by the couple in 1948.

Agnes Keith wrote three internationally-acclaimed books on Sabah while living in the rebuilt house. Her first book was about life in North Borneo in the 1930s and was called "Land Below the Wind". The title was supposedly inspired by the constant breeze around her home. Keith's second book, "Three Came Home", was made into a film. "White Man Returns" was her third book.

Sam Sing Kung Chinese Temple
Situated at the edge of the town padang(field), the temple is the oldest building in Sandakan. The three saints are Kwan Woon Cheung- saint of righteousness: the goddess of Tin Hou, worshipped by fisherman for protection, and the Min Cheong Emperor, worshipped by those who seek success in examinations (even to this day!). Four Chinese communities got together and started the temple: the Cantonese, Teochew, Hakkas and the Hainanese. The bell was donated by the first Kapitan Cina of Sandakan, Fung Ming Shan, which can still be seen in the Temple today.

Thee Legged Stone
One of the famous tourist sites, located at the sea front of Sandakan is large stone which is called Three Legged Stone or Batu Sapi (in Malay language). In 1960s, the stone was a landmark of Sandakan. Local people and tourists alike went to look at it because it is so strange and unique. Due to the industrialisation that had taken place in 1970s at the Batu Sapi area, the stone has been neglected since then.

Other Places of Interests

Sandakan Mosque

Sandakan muslim community is served by the Sandakan mosque, built on the edges of the bay next to Kampung Buli Sim Sim, where the town of Sandakan began in 1879. The mosque is the largest mosque in Sandakan town, built in the early 1986. It is served as a holy place for the Muslim community to conduct their praying ceremonies, especially during the Hari Raya celebration.

Pu Jih Shi

Puh Ji Shi is another attraction which tourist should not miss. It is one of the largest Chinese Temple in South East Asia (SEA), which attracts thousands of tourists every year. For an unrivalled panoramic view of Sandakan Bay and a look at its temple, a visit should be made to the extravagantly ornate Pu Jih Shi Buddhist Temple, on the hilltop above Tanah Merah south of Sandakan town centre. Built and decorated in 1987 at a cost of around USD 2 million, the temple is a blaze of red and gold, with writhing dragons, gilded Buddhas, hundreds of gleaming lamps and the fragrance of burning incense.

Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple

This temple devoted to Lord Sri Sithi Vinayagar was built in 1991 at cost of almost RM300,000. The need for a Hindu temple to cater for the religious obligations of the Indian population of the Hindu faith was first realised and initiated by the Sandakan India Association. (SIA). The SIA then allocated a small piece of its land at mile 1 1/2, Labuk Road to site the temple. The SSV temple which held its ground breaking ceremony on 9 of September 1989, was built by artisans and sculptors especially brought from India. This beautiful temple, the only one of its kind in the whole Sabah and Sarawak (East Malaysia) held its first "Kumbabhishegam" or the Consecration Ceremony on 19th May 1991 and has since been an important milestone in the history of Sandakan Indian Community.

The Unforgettable Event : Sandakan's War Memorial Park

The Sandakan memorial park is sited on the original POW (Prisoners of War) camp which was set up during the WWII Japanese Occupation in 1942 - 1945. The camp was set up with 2 main sections; 1 section for the British POWs and the other for Australian POWs . The current size of the Memorial Park is only fraction of the original camp. In 1942 and 1943, the prisoners numbered some approximately 750 British and more than 1650 Australian soldiers and civilians. Many were transferred from Singapore to be used as labour to build the military airfield in Sandakan .

In 1945, the Japanese army on realising that they were losing the war and the allies were closing in, marched the prisoners from camp at Sandakan to Ranau, some 250kms away. There were 3 separate marches, the first one began in January 1945 these marches were known as the Death March.. The last March comprised of the remaining prisoners at camp in Sandakan , numbering 537. Invalids at camp who couldn't leave, were shot. There was no account of what happened at camp after the last march. There simply were no survivors to tell the tale. Those who were sent on the Death March were to trek through thick jungle, treacherous routes and some prisoners had no boots. Those who could walk no further, were killed. The march took almost a year to complete. Of the 2700 prisoners, only 6 survived of which 2 had escaped during the 2 nd march and 4 escaped during their stint at Ranau. No British prisoners survived.

The war memorial has a pavilion dedicated to the prisoners of war that spent their days at the camp. The wall mounted displays of documented accounts of the prisoners' lives at the camp, a model of the camp itself and accounts of the death marches is worth the time. The sufferings of war should never be forgotten and for generations who have not witnessed the atrocities of war, it is a gruesome teaching of what must not happen. ever again.
The Park was officially opened on 15 February 1999 .

The motif used in the Park depicts flowers representing people of the three nations who suffered at Sandakan during the Second World War. The design is taken from the stained glass window within the pavilion and is repeated on the granite memorial and decorative gates.

For more information

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-battles/ww2/sandakan.htm
http://www.sabahtourism.com/en/destination/133-sandakan-memorial-park/

Batu Tulug

Located at Batu Putih village and 41km from the Kota Kinabatangan township, Agop Batu Tulug is a steep limestone cliff that stands 39 meters high and is part of the 20-25 million year old Labang limestone formation. The word “agop” in the Orang Sungai language means cave. There are three main caves, agop suriba (lower) on the forest floor, lingata (middle) and sawat (upper) between 12-15m high. Inside the middle and upper caves are more than a hundred carved wooden coffins dating back 200-250 years, watched over by bats and swallows.

Batu Putih village can be viewed from here as well. The coffins resemble different animals associated to the beliefs of the Orang Sungai but it has also been said that they are the coffins of the Chinese who once settled in the area as Chinese artifacts were found among the remains.

Wet Land : Lower Kinabatangan Forest Reserve

The Kinabatangan floodplain is a rainforest wetland, among the most productive type of wetland and one of the most significant in Sabah. It is the largest remaining forested floodplain in Sabah. The river flows for 560 kilometres (347 miles) through eastern Sabah to the Sulu Sea. The region is gaining increasing international flame for its biological diversity. The Kinabatangan is one of only two known places on earth where 10 primate species can be found. These include the orang utan, and several species that are endemic to Borneo, such as the proboscis monkey, the maroon langur and Bornean gibbon. Nearly 200 species of birds can be found in the lower Kinabatangan. Eight species of hornbills, the rare oriental darter and Bornean bristlehead and the threatened Storm’s stork are just some of the birds common to the area.

Fascinating Wildlife of Sukau

Sabah’s Sukau is a good bet, by any standard. The riverine destination is just a couple of hours southeast of modern Sandakan, not far from the Sepilok Orang Utan Centre.

Ten species of monkeys and apes are found in a 25,000 hectares of the Kinabatangan Wetlands Sanctuary, rated the highest concentration of primates in the whole of Borneo. Besides, the area has a plethora of animals like the Clouded Leoprad, Asian Elephant, Crocodiles, Civet Cats, Otters, all eight species of Hornbills found in Borneo, Egrets, magnificent Kingfishers, Storks, Hawks and the incredible Oriental darter which dive into rivers and lakes to pursue fish!

But the most amazing spectacle is the bizarre, three footer, pot-bellied male Proboscis Monkey found nowhere else in the world except Borneo. No fossils had ever been dug up outside Borneo, a point which mystifies scientists.

Its trademark is its overwhelming, pendulous nose which droops well over its mouth. Scientists are still debating what the outrageous nose is for. Some argue it acts like a thermostat for regulating body temperatures. Others theorise it may be a sexual attraction to the females which do not have such a prominent feature.

Sighting of the Proboscis Monkeys is guaranteed, because they have one fixed habit, that is, they always sleep overnight on trees immediately above river banks. They are fun to watch because they are very active. They frolic around like skilled aerial acrobats, leaping through tree gaps and breaking through masses of leaves dangerously and noisily but always making it.

They are also great divers. Visitors have seen them diving 60 feet into rivers and since they are web-footed, they can swim strongly across rivers! A trip to Sukau also means the chance to see Sabah’s longest river, the Kinabatangan, which cuts through the area.

Borneo is the third largest island in the world. Its name alone conjures up images of vast forest, caves, rivers, mountains and unique wildlife. Many of these wonders are familiar-the spectacles of Mulu’s caves and Mount Kinabalu, the beauty of its orchids and Rafflesia flowers and the splendor of Borneo’s Orang Utans and Hornbills


For more information
http://www.sukau.com/public/default.asp

Riches of Gomantong Caves

The Gomantong Caves are an intricate cave system inside Gomantong Hill. The hill is the largest limestone outcrop in the Lower Kinabatangan area in Sandakan.

Situated in the Sabah Parks forest reserve, the caves and the surrounding area are a proptected area for wildlife, especially orangutans. Investigation of the guano deposits were first made in 1889 by J.H. Allard for the China Borneo Company, and the caves were first mapped by P.Orolfo in 1930.

The main cave system is divided into two parts: the more accessible Simud Hiram (Black Cave) and the larger Simud Putih (White Cave) which lies above. The names refer to the main type of nests produce by swiftlets in each cave. The cave system is home to many other animals, including massive populations of cockroaches and bats. Outside one can see crested serpent, eagles, kingfishers and Asian fairy bluebirds. Access is in the form of a wooden walkway circuiting the interior.

For centuries, the caves have been renowned for the valuable edible swiftlet nests, which are harvested for bird's nest soup. The most valuable of the nests, the white ones can sell for very high prices.

The birds' nest collection is an ancient tradition, and the trading of these nests has been done since at least 500 AD. Twice a year, from February to April and July to September, locals with licenses climb to the roof of the caves, using only rattan ladders, ropes and bamboo poles, and collect the nests

The first collection takes place early in the breeding season before the swiftlets lay their eggs. The birds then make another nest in which they finally lay their eggs. After the young have fledged, the second collection is made. Care must be taken to assure that the nests are collected only after the young swiftlets have abandoned these nests. These individuals are very much in demand by the people and communities that hold the Government's harvesting licenses. Edible birds' nests are protected under the Birds' Nest Ordinance and the Forest Enactment of 1968. Heavy fines and penalties are imposed on unlicensed collectors.

Every evening, over 2 million resident bats spiral out for their evening feed. As the bats leave, the swiftlets are usually beginning to make their way back to the caves after a day's foraging. There are also bat hawks that linger not far from the scene and prey specifically on the bats as they leave their roost

Simud Hitam
Simud Hitam (Black Cave) is the more accessible of the two caves, only a few minutes' walk from the entrance, and it is open to the general public. Its ceiling can reach 90 meters high. It is the source of the less-valuable "black saliva" nests. These contain both feathers and saliva and require cleaning afterwards.

Simud Putih
Simud Putih (White Cave) is the larger of the two caves, and also the more dangerous; special permission is required to enter and one must participate in at least five hours of intense spelunking. It is where the more valuable "white saliva" nests of the swiftlets are found, and is a steep 30 minute climb further up the mountains. The main entrance is located almost 90m above Simud Hitam. (Credits to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomantong_Caves)

For more information

http://www.wildasia.net/main.cfm?page=destination&destinationID=10

http://www.explorationborneo.com/gomantong_caves.html

Selingan Island : Borneo's Turtle Paradise

The Turtle Islands Park lies 40 km north of Sandakan in the Sulu Sea off Sabah’s east coast. It encompasses 1,740 hectares which includes the three islands of Pulau Selingan, Pulau Bakkungan Kecil and Pulau Gulisan; the sea and surrounding coral reefs. The islands are built over shallow rocky shoals from coral shingle from the surrounding reef on the fringes. They are covered with a variety of plant life which includes mangrove, lantana, the yellow-flowered sophora and the furry silver-leaved Tournefortia. The main attractions here, however, are the turtles which come to nest on their shores. Pulau Selingan is the main nesting area for the green turtles chelonian mydas, while the hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys seem particularly attracted to the shores of Pulau Gulisan. Both species lay their eggs on these shores throughout the year, although the best months are between July to October. The islands were gazetted as Marine Parks in 1977 primarily for the protection of these two species in order to save them from extinction.

The park is located 2 hours by boat and 40 km from Sandakan town on Sabah east coast and the first in a chain of small islands that stretch across the Sulu Sea to the Philippines, Selingan, Gulisan and Bakkungan Kecil-these are Sabah’s Turtle Islands, separated from the Philippine border and the larger Phillipine island of Bakkungan Besar by no more than a narrow stretch of water- the route of barter traders from ancient times and still the haunt of modern day pirates.

Turtle eggs have been collected from the islands since before the colonial days. Though over-harvesting was already leading to the decline in egg production even then, it was not until 1971 that the turtles were given any form of legal protection, when the islands were designed as a Bird and Game sanctuary, administered by the Forestry Department. In 1977, the islands, together with surrounding seas, were handed over to the Sabah Park Trustees and the Turtle Island Park is now a total protected area for turtle conservation.

The island received the brunt of the north-eastern monsoon gales between October and February. The best time to visit this park is during the driest month and the calmest seas between March and September.