Sandakan '09

14 January 2010

Weeeee~ It's another annual family trip. And this time we went to Sandakan, Sabah. It's great to be there since my brother who is currently having his third year posting at that little town. So he can be our local tour guide. In short, money can be saved for other activities. LOL.

But seriously, my bro is really a pro tour guide. No joke. Who would ever prepare a full itinerary just for a 4D3N small family trip? He actually did. And he did it so precisely including highlights of Sandakan and meal times etc. Great job, bro =D.

DAY 1 (24/12/09)

Gosh my parents and I practically did not sleep the last night. We were busy packing and need to send Brandy to the pet shop to take care of him. Since our flight is as early as 8.10 a.m., we had to wake up at 4.00 a.m.. Well.., I woke up later than my parents ahehe.

We landed at Sandakan Airport at around 10.50a.m. or so. And my bro drove us to Sim Sim, a fishermen village-like housing area where there are loads of Chinese speaking Cantonese living in wooden houses on stilts. We had a reallyyy fresh seafood noodles for lunch. The taste was normal, but the seafood was totally remarkable! Mmm.

Since bro had lectures after lunch, he drove us to the hotel. So my parents and I explored the hotel until my bro is came back to fetch us for dinner. And yeah, Christmas countdown!! We went to a special place name Balin Roofgarden Bistro and Bar. That place was, yes, on the roof top. A really peaceful and serene place to go to.

Day 2 (25/12/09)

It's Christmas Day!! To us, it's the Animal Day. That's because we went all over Sandakan in search for the orang utans, proboscis monkeys and crocodiles! I was the most excited at that time since I'm really looking forward on seeing a real wild orang utan hanging on the tree. Blame me not. I'm born in the Year of Monkey, don'tcha remember? lol.

Orang Utans

Proboscis Monkeys

 

really 'tame' silver leafed monkey..

*pukes*

There's plenty other animals in the croc farm..

Crocodile show

Later on at night we went to my bro's lecturer's house for a Christmas party. Not too Christmas-ish, I'd say. But it was fun! We did caroling and stuffs like that. And I get to try the authentic Burmese laksa. Once again, yummy. I really love the broth!

Merry Christmas!~

Day 3 (26/12/09)

It was Places of Worship Day. After breakfast, bro drove us to a Buddhist temple up on a hill.

We visited the St. Michael's Church arter that. Such an old and magnificent church with stained glass on!

We also visited the Agnes Keith's house. Where did Sabah gets its nickname, the Land Below the Wind? From her, Agnes Keith. She wrote a book with that title. =3

The English Tea House. The waitresses there wear Frechmaid costumes!! It was nicee. The trees and plants there brought out the European kind of garden tea party. It feels especially European since there were two westerners sitting at the table behind us x).

Sandakan's most famous seafood restaurant - Ocean King

Beers are cheap here! So are the scallops (fei lo)

Day 4 (27/12/09)

The hotel's swimming pool

It was the last day. Bro brought us to the Sandakan War Memorial in the morning. Even though it's the original camp site of the prisoners of war, that place isn't scary at all. At least it isn't until I've read about the prisoners' life during captivity which is on display on the walls of the exhibition hall =/. Admission is free.

This place looked beautiful, no?

After that we went back to Sim Sim to have our last meal in Sandakan and bought some frozen seafood.

After choosing the seafood, the workers will clean and pack it.

The restaurant has a jetty for the fishermen to come and sell their goods

Then, my favourite dessert time! It's some kind of dessert parlour at Bandar Indah. And the yohgurt ice cream was really a marvel. It is so smooth and tastes sweet and sour at the same time!

Mango flavoured yohgurt ice cream

So that's all about my Sandakan trip. really had a great time there. This trip is more like a food trip though. And did I mention that the scallops there are really cheap? I mean, if we're in KL these scallops do sound like so expensive stuff where you can only have it in some kind of  restaurants isn't it? But in Sandakan here, these fresh scallops are known as fei lo, are eaten commonly. And it's really fresh too! *mouth waters* Lol.

Also, thanks bro for everything, including the unforgettable experience you've gave me!~

Some funny road signs..

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