My 31 : Kinabatangan (Ep 2) - Ancient

"All places are alike, and every earth is fit for burial. "
- Christopher 'Kit' Marlowe (1564 - 1593); English poet, dramatist and Translator of the Elizabethan era.

AGOP BATU TULUG
KINABATANGAN, SANDAKAN

The museum sign board - easily missed as heavily covered by trees

On the way to Lahad Datu from Sandakan, you will not missed this ancient burial site. Agop Batu Tulug or Batu Tulug cave (from Orang Sungei language) located 41 km from Kota Kinabatangan. This limestone cliff reaching 39 m high can easily seen on your left side while driving about one and half hour drive from Sandakan to Lahad Datu.

The origin of this place still unknown but popular belief it was an ancient burial site for the early Chinese settlements. Agop Batu Tulug was first explored in 1894 by an expedition team led by Mr P Brietag - the manager of tobacco estate in Kinabatangan. Further exploration and survey made by the Sabah Museum proved that this place provides valuable information regarding Sabah's past history.

From left : looking the burial site; the cave contains more than hundred carved coffins aged 200 - 250 years ago.

From left : the coffins made from 'belian' hardwood decorated with carvings of buffalo head, crocodile, house lizard and snake - resembles death and darkness power; this place are well maintain by the Sabah Museum Department that provide facilities such as staircase leading to caves, bridge, footpath, toilets and huts for resting (as above).

With Azlan on the way down from the burial site

Looking Up - And Better to Close Down Ur Mouth!

My 30 : Kinabatangan (Ep 1) - Swiftlet Nests

"God gives every birds its food, but He does not throw it into the nest."
- Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819 - 1881); United States novelist and poet.

GOMANTONG CAVE
LOWER KINABATANGAN, SANDAKAN

With Hisyam infront of the cave's entrance

Kinabatangan, a district located in Sandakan division. The size of this district is bigger than the size of the state of Pahang (the largest state in Peninsular). The name of Kinabatang famous for - 1 : the second longest river in Malaysia after Rajang, the river runs 560 kilometers from its headwaters in the mountains of southwest Sabah, to its outlet at the Sulu Sea, east of Sandakan. 2 : Who would forget the outspoken Member of Parliament represented Kinabatangan - Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin with his controversial remarks in the Parliament such as "bocor", "bigfoot of Kinabatangan" and quarrel with Karpal Singh.

From left : the main office, here it stated the fees for the cave's entrance (not including special permit for Gua Sumud Putih)

Rattan ladders that used for the bird nests collection - so high and a high-risk job to do. I'm not sure whether any insurance company able to cover them!

The other will be the Gomantong cave - famous for it's swiftlet nests. The cave system consisted of 2 main caves : Gua Sumud Hitam and Gua Sumud Putih based on the colour of saliva produced to make the swiftlet nests. Gua Sumud Hitam is easily access while Sumud Putih required special permit as it located higher and quite dangerous to climb-up.

The birds' nest collection is an ancient tradition, and the trading of these nests has been done since at least 500 AD. Twice a year, from February to April and July to September, locals with licenses climb to the roof of the caves, using only rattan ladders, ropes, and bamboo poles, and collect the nests.

The caves not just home to the swiftlets but it contains million of bats and massive amount of cockroaches! Watch your feet when you walk inside the cave - you might step on them. For those who're phobia to cockroach or Katsaridaphobia- do not light the floor as you might scream to death with the amount of cockroach you can see. Trust me as I too a Katsaridaphobia.

My 29 : Sandakan (Ep 3) - Jungle Man

"The majority of husbands remind me of an orangutan trying to play the violin."

Honore de Balzac (1799 - 1850); French novelist - famous for his novel describing French society in Comedie Humaine

SEPILOK ORANGUTAN REHABILITATION CENTRE
SANDAKAN

An adult orangutan with her baby being fed by the centre's ranger

Visit to Sandakan didn't complete if you guys didn't pay a visit to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. The centre located 25 km from the city centre - nearly 30 - 45 minutes drive. The centre was established in 1964 by the Sabah Forestry Department with the main objective to rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned baby orangutan from logging sites, plantations, and illegal hunting. Now, the centre had expanded their role not just a one-stop education centre fot orangutan but to the other endangered species in Sabah such as Sumatran Rhino. Till this blog posted - the admission fee is RM 5 for Malaysian adult.

Capturing the finest moment of orangutan with it amazing acrobatic skill


Hmm - show off ;p

DANGER - FIRE!

My 28 : Sandakan (Ep 2) - Soul Searching

"My appointed work is to awaken the divine nature that is within"
- Peace Pilgrim (1908 - 1981); American teacher and Spiritual leader.

Sandakan Mosque

Sandakan Mosque - completed in 1988, it lies next to the bay and Kampung Buli Sim Sim.

From left : hearing sermon after the eidul-adha prayers; mass traffic after the prayer finished. Guess we'll be here for sometimes

Constitutional crisis, greedy-power, selfish, economic recession etc. Guess it is never-ending problem that haunted human-being. At least the All-Mighty Creator has given us guidance to sail through this unpredictable ocean. But human are too arrogant, didn't bother about this divine help - yet, till they have suffered enough.

We're lucky that in Malaysia most people are still hold strong with their religion believes. Even it's one of our 'Rukun Negara' and the number one - to believe in God (Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan). It's mean that people who're disbeliever is not a part of this country!

St Michael's and All Angels Church - this beautiful granite church was built in 1897 and was one of Sandakan's few surviving pre-war buildings.

I admit that I never been to other church in Malaysia except several overseas. This church so beautiful resembles the old English architecture. Worth to visit.

Sabah, the Land below the Wind - blessed with their multi-ethnicity and - religion. With difference ethnic, language and religion - Sabahan still able to live peacefully among others. Somehow I wonder why do we have problems related to our differences in Peninsular compared with our brothers in Borneo. We do experienced it physically and mentally though.

May be what do we all need to do is - soul searching ...

Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple - completed in 1987, this fiery red and gold temple overlooks the town centre.

Interior part of the temple with several tools that used for the prayer.

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