Exploring Sandakan – Malaysia’s Overlooked Heritage City

Sandakan surprised me. I came here expecting a quick city visit, and ended up on a 4-hour walk through one of the most fascinating heritage trails I’ve done in Southeast Asia.

This video takes you around the city of Sandakan in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo — from war memorials to a Japanese cemetery tucked into the hillside, old colonial architecture, a replica home of an American author, and some seriously steep steps.

Along the way I meet locals, get offered fruit I’ve never seen before, and reflect on the city’s past — from World War II to early Japanese immigration. This isn’t a guided tour or a history lesson. It’s just me, a backpacker making it up as I go along, trying to soak up as much as I can before the sun goes down.

If you’re heading to Sabah, or looking for more than just orangutans and beaches, Sandakan is worth your time — especially if you enjoy real travel, slow exploration, and learning about places most people skip.

Next stop: Sepilok rainforest. Let’s see if I finally spot an orangutan…

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