Convention Destination

Zooming in on Sabah

Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu is situated on the tropical island of Borneo and is the capital of the Malaysian state of Sabah, one of the two states of East Malaysia. Often called the 'Land below the Wind' because it lies below the typhoon belt, Sabah occupies the eastern part of North Borneo and is East Malaysia's second largest state with an area of 74,500 sq kms. Sabah has the South China Sea on the west and the Sulu and Celebes Seas on the east. Kota Kinabalu, lies in a fertile lowland plain where most commercial and administrative activities are concentrated and is named after Mount Kinabalu, situated about 90 kilometres north-east of the city. A well known destination internationally, it is a major getaway into the state of Sabah and Borneo. The city offers good recreational facilities and there is no dearth of leisure spots and conservation areas. Anjung Samudra is a waterfront entertainment spot in the city, speckled with restaurants, cafes, pubs and nightclubs. Tanjung Aru, located about six kilometres from the city centre has a beach stretching over two kilometres in length studded with a number of food and drink stalls.

Kota Kinabalu also plays host to one of the most popular national parks in Malaysia, the Kinabalu national park, about two hours drive from the city. The park covers an area of 754 sq kms and is made up of Mount Kinabalu, Mount Tambayukon and the foothills. It has been gazetted to preserve this valuable natural environment. The mountains have a fascinating geological history, taking 'just' a million years to form. The mighty Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in South-East Asia, is actually a granite massif that was later thrust upwards through the crust of the surface. The park offers a spectacular view of the mountain and has been assigned the status of a world heritage site by the UNESCO because of the diversity of plant and animal life.

Other sites include the state mosque in Sembulan, which is the largest mosque in Sabah and is embedded with real gold plates. The Mustapha Tower, a 30-storey glass building, supported by high-tensile steel rods, stands at 122 metres and is arguably the tallest building in Borneo.

Popular shopping spots in the city are Kompleks Karamunsing, Centre Point, Wisma Merdeka and KK Plaza. The Filipino market and the Gaya Street Sunday Market are popular for traditional handicrafts, souvenirs and food stuff.

Just outside Kota Kinabalu in the South Chinese Sea is the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park with five tropical islands - Pulua Gaya, Pulau Sapi, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Sulug and Pulau Mamutik. All the islands offer refreshing opportunities for diving at the coral reefs and the swift multi-coloured tropical fish are a real visual treat.

There's lots to do in the city; for avid nature lovers, there are the rainforests to explore and for sports enthusiasts, there is always sailing along the azure blue coast. Outside the city, Crocker Range National Park, located about 70 kilometres away from the city near Keningau, is a popular spot for jungle trekking and camping. The world's largest flower species, the rafflesia, can be found in Tambunan. A stone's throw away is the Gunung Emas Highland Resort which is another spot popular for its scenery and cool climate. The Tuaran Crocodile Farm, about 30 kilometres north of the city, has around 1,000 crocodiles in its enclosure, making it the largest of its kind in Sabah. The newly opened Sabah Zoological and Botanical Park (Lok Kawi Wildlife Park) in Lok Kawi, about 20 kilometres south of the city, is the first zoo in Sabah. Set on a 280-acre piece of land, it is arguably the largest zoo in Malaysia.

Sandakan

Sandakan is the second-largest city in the state of 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 is known as the gateway for eco-tourism destinations in Sabah, such as the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, Turtle Islands Park, Kinabatangan River and Gomantong Caves.

The area is also infamous as the site of a World War II Japanese airfield, built by the forced labour of 6,000 civilians and allied prisoners of war. In 1945, surviving prisoners were sent on the Sandakan Death Marches only about 10 of them survived the war. It was also once known to be the place with the world's highest concentration of millionaires. 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. 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.

Other musts-sees include:

• English Tea House - Located in the grounds of Agnes Keith Museum, fine restaurant on the hillside above Sandakan serving traditional English and Asian cuisine.
• Sandakan Memorial Park - built on site of the Taman Rimba prisoner-of-war camp.
• Japanese Cemetery houses a memorial for Japanese soldiers who died in Borneo.
• St Michael's and All Angels Church - This beautiful granite church was built in 1897 and is one of Sandakan's few surviving pre-war buildings. It was recognised as one of the world's heritage since year 2005.
• 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 Mosque - Completed in 1988, it lies next to the bay and Kampung Buli Sim Sim.
• Kampung Buli Sim Sim - Stilt fishing village on the original site of Sandakan town.
• Sandakan Market - One of the largest and busiest in Sabah.
• Crocodile Farm - Located 12 km (7.5 miles) out of town, it houses more than 2,000 of the reptiles in concrete pools.
• Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary is a perfect observation spot for tourists who want to have a closer look at these monkeys in their natural habitat.

Orangutan, Sandakan Sepilok

Many come to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre for half day just to see the orangutan and then quickly depart for their next destination. But Sepilok is more than just that. It is a virgin rainforest reserve, so you also can see other wild animals such as hornbills, snakes, lizards, tortoises, spiders, and many interesting bugs. There are a few jungle trails that open for the public to experience at Sepilok.

Visiting Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary is a must. The centre is known to do an excellent job of rehabilitating orphaned orangutans and returning them to the wild. A wooden walkway takes one through some of Sabah's most beautiful rainforests to the feeding station in the heart of the sanctuary. Any trip to Sabah would not be complete without a visit here. Highly recommended.