Introducing Sandakan
Sandakan is a busy commercial centre at the entrance to a beautiful, island-studded bay. Most activity centres on the docks and wharves that sprawl along the waterfront. Barges, ferries and motorboats of every description buzz around, unloading fish and other produce, and taking away rattan, timber, rubber, copra, palm oil and bird’s nests. West of town, passenger ferries shuttle back and forth to Zamboanga in the Philippines. In the bay, container vessels ride at anchor awaiting their turn to unload.
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Sandakan has character and even a certain downmarket charm, though once the shop shutters come down at night the centre can feel disconcertingly deserted. The real attractions lie outside town, but there’s excellent seafood to enjoy and beautiful views from the hills at sunset.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: Car rental in Sabah
by sandysea 15 September 2011
Car rental is quite pricey unless you get something very small. Petrol is cheap at around RM1.90 per litre (subsidised by Govt). Road…
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Re: Malaysia-1week Itinerary
by hvpl 09 September 2011
Take a connecting flight to Sandakan from LCCT and enjoy 1 week of authentic jungle bliss in Kinabatangan River basin. There are several…
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Re: Packing for Borneo in September
by trurzy 07 September 2011
We've just come back from Borneo and it was still very warm even with the thunderstorms, in fact it got really hot just before the thunderst…
Hotels & Hostels in Sandakan
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Nipah Lodge
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Sandakan Backpackers
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NAK Hotel
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