Walkways into the sea
Hundreds of metres over water.
CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Aliazer Abdurajim — CC BY-SA 3.0 · shankar s. from Dubai, united arab emirates — CC BY 2.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0
An old water village on the Sandakan coast, its timber houses standing on stilts over the sea, said to be the seed from which Sandakan grew in the late nineteenth century. It is still a living village of fishermen and their families. The village is divided into many quarters, each reached by a long walkway of timber or concrete stretching hundreds of metres into the sea, lined with houses, small shops and fishing boats. Between the quarters are colourful houses and small mosques, with a Chinese temple near its entrance. The village and its surroundings are known for fresh seafood restaurants popular with townspeople, and for scenes of fishermen's daily life in the morning. Wandering is free, but these are residential quarters, so behave quietly and ask before photographing people. It is a few minutes by taxi from central Sandakan, and best in the morning or before sunset. Pair it with a city tour and Sandakan Memorial Park.
Hundreds of metres over water.
Morning scenes.
Fresh local restaurants.
About three kilometres east of central Sandakan, on the coast
It is a residential village that tourists usually visit by day; keep to the main walkways, watch your step on the planks and respect people's homes.
