Christmas In Sandakan

Swiss-Inn Waterfront, now Sandakan Waterfront.

Took a short trip to Sandakan on Christmas. Started off early morning on Christmas eve, 7 am express bus to the city. Stop at Tanjung Aru town and had breakfast. Walk down to Terminal 2 and wait fro our flight via Air Asia. Managed to book our flight at $ 28.00 one way.

Arrived at Sandakan airport about 2.30 pm. As we had not been to Sandakan for ages, decided to take a cab to town. Cab fare is $30.00. The Taxi driver as us to walk into the hotel as  vehicle can not enter. Hr stopped at a intersection lane and ask us to walk through it. We couldn't locate our pre-booked hotel, Swiss-Inn Waterfront. We only manage to find a Sandakan Watefront. Went in to inquire and was told it's the new name.

Syn Ming Hing Cafe & Cake, Sandakan.

Syn Ming Hing Cafe & Cake.
Checked in and left our luggage then went for late lunch as were very hungry. While on the cab, I saw a small cake cafe by the main road. It caught my attention as I saw quite a heavy crowd, including westerners. We walk and search for it. Finally manage to locate it. As it's about 4 pm, most of the pastries had sold out. Ordered a fried sea food noodle, dry. Decide to try a bread, but only butter bread was available and it's the last piece. The noodle is very tasty. The bread, filling is tasty but the bread is already stiff. At night, I only notice that this cafe is highlighted at Go Sabah. Simple yet tasty cafe.

A Modern sculpture at Waterfront, guess what it is.

Went back to the hotel for a rest and make arrangement for a hire car. Being Christmas most cars were fully booked. Manage to locate a Viva for $120 a day. This shall do as there just the 2 of us. Shall collect tomorrow 8 am. When we went out for dinner, most of the shops were already closed, Christmas eve. Had McDonalds for dinner.

Orangutan having breakfast.

Had an early start as were to collect the car and head off to Sepilok. Arrived at Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary at 9 am. Just in time. Bought our entrance ticket and head for the video show. Made our way to the feeding platform and feeding time is at 10 am. Today only 4 orangutan came for food. Had a short break at the cafeteria, charges were economy, food were okay.
Special thanks to Orangutan Appeal UK and their volunteers to had put in numerous good work to support the Orangutan. These Orangutans are such wonderful creatures and very human like.

Gelison & Chikita on the ropes.

 (Click to watch Video)

Off to Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. It was quite a distance and us being not too sure of the way, drove slowly. We arrived past the feeding time, 11.30 am. Should had sip the break and proceeded here. We didn't enter as we felt there isn't much to see after feeding time. Made our way back to Sandakan.

Puu Jih Shih Buddisht Temple, Sandakan.

Visted Puu Jih Shih Buddisht Temple. It's the most well know temple in Sandakan. It is located on top of a hill, overlooking Sandakan harbor and town. The road is very curvy leading to the temple.  

As all shops are closed for Christmas, manage to find a small worn down shop. The owner sells drinks & grilled fish. There is a satay stall at front. The grilled fish is tasty. The satay is also tasty, but the gravy was too light for my liking. Saw other customer ordering extra bread to dip into the gravy sauce.

Drove to a view point, over Sandakan, next to it is the English Tea House and Restaurant in Sandakan. There were quite a large crowd there, cars & tourist vans filled the carpark. We didn't dine there as we just had grilled fish & satay, further more going for seafood dinner.

Just next to the English Tea House is the Agnes Keith Museum. Unfortunately it was closed for the day.

Sim Sim 88.

Later in the night we went to Sim Sim Buli fisherman's village. The houses here are built over the water. Connection is by bridge. Sim Sim 88 Seafood Restaurant is located on bridge 8. Walk to the end of bridge 8, turn right. There is another restaurant Sim Sim Seafood (without 88) on the left. I wonder why the crowd is with 88. It has a relaxing atmosphere, dinning at the seaside. Do expect to spent some time there as you'll need to wait to be seated and also for the food. Food is fresh and marvelous. We ordered Steamed Pomfret, Hard shell clams in ginger sauce, Butter prawns, Baby Kai Lan, fresh young coconut. Had our tummy totally filled.

Decide to leave on the 26th as we had finished our main itenary. We had check on the bus schedule to be 6.30 am and the last bus leave at 10 am. Takes about 6.5 hours to KK. We arrived at the terminal at about 7.40 am. Was about to take the express bus until I notice there is a minivan parked there with the marking Sandakan - Keningau. It cost $65 one way and takes about 6.5 hours. It cost the same but we save on time as do not need to detour to KK. The minivan takes the route Sandakan - Ranau - Tambunan - Keningau. We arrive back at Keningau 2.30 pm.

It was a great trip. Hope to do it again.