August 19, 2012 - Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia, Borneo
I left my hostel just outside the Kinabalu National Park in the morning and was lucky to get a seat on the bus to Sandakan. I was told that buses during this time were all pretty full due to the end of Ramadan and many people going home for celebrations.
After some 4 hours on winding roads, we arrived at the city of Sandakan located on the east-coast of the island of Borneo and the second-largest city in the state of Sabah. A kind of pick-up truck took me and a few other travelers into the center of the city. I didn't have a hotel reservation due to not having had internet at the hostel but soon found a small Muslim-run place called Alonto Hotel with the usual amenities I am looking for - shower with hot water, a/c and WiFi accessible in the room.
It was Sunday and Ramadan had just ended. The streets were filled with people, most of them dressed in colorful clothing and obviously in a festive mood. There were lots of Hellos, smiles from both men and women and quite a few requests for taking people's photographs.
Here are some of the pictures I took during my first walk around the center of Sandakan.
Faces of Sandakan:
A group of girls asked me to take their picture which has been quite unusual so far.
This place looked like it was selling lottery tickets ...
They were selling belts and other leatherware. The young boy is holding the hole puncher.
One street was lined with these open-air sewers.
A young man wearing sunglasse and his songkok.
A group of guys on the waterfront celebrating.
Love those glasses ...
A quick snap of some passer-bys ...
A taxi driver gives me the thumb-up ...
Youngsters on the waterfront ...
A young Muslim woman carrying her boy.
More young guys looking cool ...
Waiting to cross the street ...
Details of the day:
Busticket from Gunung Kinabalo (Kinabalu National Park) to Sandakan: 43 RM
Pickup-truck shuttle from Sandakan busstop to city center: 5 RM
Hotel Alonto: Double room incl. a/c and WiFi: 85 RM
1 Euro = approx. 4 RM
1 USD = approx. 3 RM
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