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The continent of Asia is a melting pot of different cultures, wonders and attractions. The country of Malaysia is situated in the heart of Asia. The population in this country is very mixed comprising of Malays, Chinese and Indians. Malaysia is one of the leading tourist destinations and is very popular for its towering skyscrapers, natural wonders, beautiful beaches and some of the great diving spots in the world. Sandakan is one of the popular destinations in Malaysia. Sandakan is situated on the East Coast of Sabah, Borneo. It was the former capital of British North Borneo and was one of the largest towns in Sabah. After the Second World War, the capital of Sabah was transferred to Jesselton, now known as Kota Kinabalu. Sandakan in the early years served as a major port for the early settlers in Sabah and most Chinese came in to the state through this port. At one point of time there Sandakan had numerous Chinese settlers and was hence called “Little Hong Kong”. Due to the settlement of people from various countries, Sandakan was rich with early traces of foreign cultures.
Sandakan in Sabah has a number of places of interest. These include the Puu Gih Jih Chinese Temple which is a majestic temple erected on top of a hill facing Sandakan Bay. St Michael and All Angels Cathedral is a popular place of interest built in the late 19th century. This also happens to be one of the oldest stone buildings in Sabah. Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary located 26 km from Sandakan is also a major tourist spot. Another popular spot is Sandakan Crocodile Farm located on the Labuk Road near the Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary.
Sandakan is a great place to visit if you enjoy seafood. It offers some of the best seafood restaurants this side of the Sulu Sea. Sandakan is also famous for its local Chinese delicacy Bak Kut Teh, pork steamed in a broth of various herbs.
There are several options of getting to Sandakan. It is recommended that you take a flight from Kota Kinabalu. You could then hire a taxi to reach the hotel from the airport. Getting around Sandakan is easy as the downtown area is small and can be easily covered by foot. Taxi is the popular mode of transport and charges range between RM3-RM5 for a 5 km radius. It is advisable that you negotiate your fair in advance.
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