Sabah
Kota Kinabalu
| Atmosphere Revolving Restaurant. Menara Tun Mustapha (Yayasan Sabah), Kota Kinabalu. www.atmosphererestaurant.com | ||
| Jesselton Point. Formerly known as the Kota Kinabalu Ferry Terminal. An entertainment, dining and retail hotspot in the making. | ||
| Gaya Street Market (originally named Bond Street. Open every Sunday morning. | ||
| Signal Hill. A lookout point on Kota Kinabalu City. | ||
| Kota Kinabalu Wetland Center. | ||
| Mount Kinabalu National Park. | ||
| Tamu Penampang, Penampang. Held on Thursdays and Fridays | ||
| Monsopiad Cultural Village, Penampang. | ||
| Kota Belud Tamu. Home of Sabah’s largest and most colourful Market, it takes place every Sunday.. |
Lahad Datu
| Danum Valley. Danum Valley Conservation Area holds over 320 species of tree within one hectare. It is one of the last remaining reserves of primary lowland rainforest, this 438 sq. km. area is said to have the world's most complex eco-system. An untouched paradise is the heart of the natural world, it is located 80 km inland from Lahad Datu. A journey by car takes 2 hours but permits have to be obtained beforehand. Overnight stays are advised to better appreciate the variety of wildlife. Viewing platforms and the 27-metre high tree-top canopy walkway give a majestic view of the forest and is perfect for bird-watching. | ||
| Madai Caves. Madai Caves in another important place for bird's nests.
The village at the entrance of the largest cave comes alive twice
a year when the Idahan community comes to harvest the bird's nests
from various parts of the caves. It is a special communal event, almost
like a festival. The harvesting is a dramatic event with the men risking
their lives to prise precious nests from the cave roof. Nowadays,
the harvesters are hired. The Idahans have held their rights to the
Madai Caves for over 20 generations. To visit the Caves, permission must be obtained from the Idahan elders. Visitors may visit the District Office in Lahad Datu town to make prior arrangements for entrance permission on their behalf. | ||
| Tabin Wildlife Reserve. The Tabin Wildlife Reserve occupies a large part of the peninsula forming the northern arm of Darvel Bay. Large mammals such as the endangered rhinoceros, elephants and wild oxes still roam about freely here. Tabin has several intriguing mud volcanoes that provide mineral salts for the wild animals. Efforts are being made to provide some basic facilities for visitors at these popular look-out spots. |
Kudat
| Tanjung Simpang Mengayau - The Tip of Borneo | ||
| Kampung Bavanggazo (Rungus Longhouse) | ||
| Kampung Sumangkap Gong Factory | ||
| Kampung Gombizau Honey Bee Farm |
Semporna
| Sipadan Island. One of the world's best diving sites. | ||
| Mataking Island. Sipadan excursion and reef dive resort. | ||
| Mabul Island. | ||
| Kapalai Island. A beautiful diving havens, 45-minute speedboat trip from Semporna. | ||
| Marine parks. |
| Sim Sim Water Village. | ||
| St. Michael and All Angels Church. Situated at Elton Hill, this beautiful granite church was built in 1893 and took 20 years to complete. The church was constructed with granite found at Buli Sim Sim. | ||
| Australian War Memorial (Sandakan War Memorial). Located at Mile 8, Jalan Labuk Utara, this RM0.75 million Memorial is dedicated to some 2,700 Australian prisoners of war (POWs) and others who died at the Sandakan POW camp and death marches in North Borneo during World War 2. The Memorial comprises three Memorial Cairns within the Park, a Commemorative Pavilion and the Sandakan Memorial. | ||
| Batu Sapi. | ||
| Batu Tulug. | ||
| Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Centre. The Sanctuary started in 1964 for rehabilitation of orphaned baby orang utans from logging-sites, plantation and illegal hunting, returning them to the wilds as soon as they're ready. More than 4,500 hectares of virgin jungle were designated as forest reserve and sanctuary for these charming creatures. The Sanctuary is about 40 minutes from downtown Sandakan. To visit, take a taxi or "Sepilok" buses from the station near Central Market in Sandakan. Feeding time are at 10:00am and 3:00pm | ||
| Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. Situated on a 400-acre mangrove forest inside the Yet Hing Oil Palm Plantation. | ||
| Sandakan Crocodile Farm. | ||
| The Agnes Keith House. Another link with the past can be found in Agnes Keith's House. Situated on a hill at Jalan Istana overlooking Sandakan Bay, it was the home of Conservator of Forest, Harry Keith and his American wife, Agnes Keith, a writer, from 1930s until 1942. Agnes' book on life in pre-war Sandakan popularise the old seafarer's name for Sabah in its title, "Land Below the Wind" (referring to Sabah's location just below the typhoon belt). Her second book, Three Came Home, about their war experiences was made into a movie. Their two-storied wooden bungalow, built on a ridge overlooking the town, was destroyed during WW2 but reconstructed when the Keiths returned in 1946. Conservation and rebuilding of the house is in progress. | ||
| Tham Kung Temple. Situated at Mile 1.5 Jalan Utara, this century-old temple was built around 1894. Its uniqueness lies in its "preservation of a temple within a temple" as conservation efforts had literally lifted the old temple and transferred it to within the new temple, a first in Malaysia. | ||
| Sam Sing King Chinese Temple. Situated at the edge of the town padang (field), The Three Saint's Temple is the oldest building in Sandakan. The three saints are Kwan Woon Cheung - saint of righteousness; the goddess of Tin Hou, worshipped by fishermen and seamen for protection, and the Min Cheong Emperor, worshipped by those who seek success in examinations (even to this day). Four Chinese communities got together and started the temple: the Cantonese, Teochew, Hakkas and the Hainanese. In the temple is a plate inscribed with the names of all those who gave more than RM2. The bell donated by the first Kapitan Cina of Sandakan, Fung Ming Shan can still be seen in the Temple today. | ||
| Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple. Situated on the hilltop above Tanah Merah, south of Sandakan town centre, the temple was built in 1987 at a cost of about RM7 million. From here, you can catch a breathtaking view of Sandakan Bay. The extravagantly ornate temple is a blaze of red and gold, with writhing dragons, gold-gilded Buddhas, hundreds of gleaming lamps and the fragrance of burning incense. It is said that the temple protects and brings good-health and wealth to Sandakan and its people. | ||
| Masjid Jamek. This mosque sits on hilltop overlooking the town centre. Its quaint architecture was designed based on a harmony of islamic elements. | ||
| Berhala Island. Situated in Sandakan Bay, this beautiful forested island has striking, prominent cliffs at its northern end and also had a small leper settlement colony. During WW2, Berhala became the camps for civilian internees and POWs. A story was told of an escape, when eight prisoners being taken to the mainland made their break at Berhala via the leper colony. They swam to the sheer walls of the Berhala cliffs and with help from natives, escaped to freedom. Each year, some families of the Australian POWs make their pilgrimage to this seemingly peaceful island to retrace that dramatic journey. | ||
| Japanese Cemetery. The Cemetery at Jalan Istana has a monument and the remains of Japanese soldiers who died during World War 2, plus some Japanese women who worked, lived and died in Sandakan. | ||
| The Central Market. It is where locals come to buy fresh produce, fruits, delicacies and crafts, sarongs and seashells. The fish market here is perhaps the biggest in Sabaha and offers a stunning array of fresh seafood. | ||
| Lankayan Island | ||
| Turtle Islands Park. Three hours' by boat and 40 km, north of Sandakan in the Sulu Sea, lies Sabah's third Marine Park, one of the most important turtle breeding spots in South East Asia. Designated as a Marine Park, the islands of Selingan, Bakungan Kecil and Gulisan are safe haven for the endangered Green Turtles and Hawksbill Turtle. An overnight stay on Seligan Island is recommended for a rare glimpse of these turtles laying eggs. | ||
| Gomantong Caves. Described by WWF as "the best managed edible bird's nest cave in the world", Gomantang Caves has been the focus for bird's nest for centuries. Historical records have traced it as a source of this precious delicacy to the Chinese Emperor centuries ago. Two cave complexes are found in this intricate cave system. Simud Hitam is a five-minute walk from the Registration Centre and a picnic area. It is a more accessible cave with its roof soaring up to 90 meters high. A well-maintained boardwalk makes it easy to explore this dramatic cave with its specialised ecology. Simud Puteh is where the more valuable "white" saliva nests of the swiflets are found. Catch the collectors in action between February and April, when the nests are first harvested just after the birds have built them. The next harvest is between July and September, when the new rebuilt nests, are abandoned after eggs have been laid and hatched. |
Tenom
| Sabah Agricultural Park. There more than 600 orchids at the Tenom Orchid Centre, Native Orchid Centre, Hybrid Orchid Centre and the Crop Museum. Sabah Agricultural Park is located about 15km from Tenom town. |
Tuaran
| Tuaran Crocodile Farm |
Tawau
| Teck Guan Cocoa Village. Located some 30 minutes drive from Tawau Airport. | ||
| Teck Guan Cocoa Museum. Located in Tanjung Batu, about 10 minutes drive from Tawau. | ||
| Bukit Tengkorak Archaelogical Site Museum, Semporna. | ||
| Tawau Hills Park. | ||
| Maliau Basin Conservation Area. | ||
| Balung River Eco Resort. |
Sarawak
Kuching
Kuching, the capital of Sarawak is a riverine city. Located on the banks of Sarawak River, it is approximately 32KM from the sea. The city is filled with ornate Chinese temples, elegant colonial-style buildings, bustling streets, a beautiful waterfront and a number of interesting museums.
| Cat Museum, Sarawak Museum. | ||
| Fort Margherita. | ||
| Kuching Waterfront. | ||
| Jalan Satok Sunday Market. | ||
| Tua Pek Kong Temple, the oldest in Kuching. Built in 1843 | ||
| Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. | ||
| Bako National Park. The oldest national park in Sarawak blessed with a diversity of wildlife, one may be able to spot long-tailed macaques, silver leaf monkeys, hairy-nosed otters and flying lemurs among other creatures. | ||
| Kubah National Park. |
Lundu
| Gunung Gading National Park. | Pandan Beach. | Siar Beach. |
Damai & Santubong
| Sarawak Cultural Village. A award-winning attraction that showcases traditional longhouse dwellings of the various ethnic groups in the state. | ||||
| River Cruises, See Kuching Wetlands National Park section. Kuching Wetlands National Park was established by the Sarawak State Government in 2002 and covers an area of 6,610 hectares on the estuarine stretching from Salak River to Sibu Laut. The Park is mostly comprised of a saline mangrove system and is an important spawning and nursery ground for fish and prawn species. The Park is the home of a massive diversity of wildlife, including proboscis monkeys, long tailed macaque monkeys, silver-leaf monkeys, monitor lizards and estuarine crocodiles. A range of bird life, including kingfishers, white-bellied sea eagles and other shore birds can also be found there. You may also find thousand of fireflies on "api api" trees lighting up like chrismas tree. | ||||
| Bird Watching at Buntal village. The Bako-Buntal Bay is now listed as an Important Bird Area under Birdlife International's Asia programme. | ||||
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Miri
| Miri Reef. Some of the best diving action in Borneo is found in the North and South Luconia Shoals, just 120 nautical miles from Miri. There are hundreds of square kilometres of untouched coral reefs as well as World War II wrecks, and drop-offs to 1,000 feet and beyond. Sightings of manta rays and other large pelagics are common here. | ||
| Mulu National Park. This largest national park in Sarawak is home to the world's most extensive cave system. Gazetted as a World Heritage Site, visitors can opt for numerous adventurous activities such a caving, rock climbing and kayaking. A highlight here is the sight of millions of bats flying out a dusk from the dim caverns with millions of swiftlets returning from the day's foraging. |
Sibu
Sibu is a naturally preferred destination in Central Sarawak. Located at the confluence of Igan River and the mighty Rajang River (the longest river in Malaysia), Sibu holds the keys to the heart of Borneo, where the cries of the wild drown out the din of city life.
| Cultural Heritage Museum (Sibu Civic Center). | ||
| Lau King Howe Memorial Museum. | ||
| Tua Pek Kong Temple (Goddess of Mercy Pagoda). | ||
| Sibu Gateway, Swan Statue. | ||
| Bukit Aup Jubilee Park. | ||
| Lake Garden. | ||
| Bukit Lima Forest Reserve. | ||
| Kutien Memorial Park. | ||
| Vui Neng Garden. | ||
| Su Kuok Garden. | ||
| Independence Memorial. | ||
| Heritage Walk (Wong Nai Siong Memorial Garden). | ||
| Bawang Assan Longhouse Village. | ||
| Sarawak Handmade Pottery Center. |
Sarikei
| Sarikei Lake Park (Taman Tasik), Repok Road. | ||
| Sarikei Open Air Market. | ||
| Sarikei Merdeka Park. | ||
| Sarikei Civic Center. |
Sri Aman
| Batang Ai Festival held in November, at the Batang Ai Hydro-Dam in Lubok Antu. | ||
| Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sactuary. | ||
| Tidal Bore Festival. An annual event held at the Batang Lupar riverbank. Witness the natural tidal-bore phenomena which occured in the month of May. Supporting activities include regatta and water sports. |
Brunei
Kalimantan