My 27 : Sandakan (Ep 1) - Looking Back

"We are not pleasant people here, for the story of war is always the story of hate; it makes no difference with whom one fights. The hate destroys you."
- Agnes Newton Keith (1901 -1982); an American author.

SANDAKAN
ELOPURA

Sandakan - was founded by William Clarke Cowie, a Scottish gun smuggler from Glasgow, who received permission from the Sultan to establish a small trading base. Sandakan means "the place that was pawned" in Tausug or Sulu language - then known as Kampung German based the large number of Germans post in Sandakan. The new British resident later named the place as Elopura means "the Beautiful City" in 1879. A few years later, the name was changed back to Sandakan, but Elopura still refer to this city.

Agnes Keith house - also known as Newlands - two-storey home of local author Agnes Keith and her husband, lived on this site from 1930 to 1952: they rebuilt the present house on the foundations of their pre-war home which had been destroyed in World War II. The house has recently been restored after a number of years of neglect.

"the Land Below the Wind" makes Sabah a renowned place in the world for her beauty, peaceful and harmony state with multi-ethnic and religion. Thanks to Agnes Keith who gave this 'unofficial motto' - Sabah made her way on the world map. Mrs Keith, an American author - married to Mr Henry G Keith and had spent her life in North Borneo; particularly in Sandakan and has made three famous autobiography about her lifetime in Borneo - during pre-, and post- World War II. Mrs. Keith wrote several books about Sabah and its people, including Land Below the Wind, Three Came Home, and White Man Returns, and a novel, Beloved Exiles.

From left : resting in the house; the house working desk with old typewriter and telephone on display.

From left : the 'original' bathroom that have been restored; master bedroom on the first floor.

Sandakan at dawn