Mabul & Sandakan : Part 15 - Sandakan Heritage Trail Part 2

Continued from Sandakan Heritage Trail Part 1...

After my walk downhill from Agnes Keith House, I reached the roundabout with a clock. Now, I am very bad in directions and I was not sure which exit to take. So I had to switch on my Google Map to make sure I am heading the right exit which is actually opposite the exit of Agnes Keith road. It was getting hot, and I walked further down to reach a school. Opposite the school is a small parking space which is next to a remains of an old staircase which apparently was once part of the Chinese Consulate before the War.

 

The old staircase is opposite a Church.

Continue downhill towards Jalan Singapora. I walked on the opposite route and realised I was walking wrong direction after 5 minutes. How I realise it was because I don't see signs of any buildings or reaching the town because I am suppose to finish my trail. Not far downhill is a Chinese Temple - Goddess of Mercy Chinese Temple (Tokong Kun Yam). There is a mural on the floor which portrays a 3D image if taken from a certain angle which I fail to do so.

Next, just before the pedestrian bridge, turn right up a flight of steps which brings us out at St. Michael's and All Angels Church. I missed this flight of steps and I had to retrace my steps looking for the Church. I walked back to the pedestrian bridge and saw a flight of steps leading upwards. I walked and it led me to a close gate which belongs to a school. Wrong one. So I walked back down, and saw the covered pathway led further up. I followed the pathway which led me to a big compound and to my left I see a school. I walked inside the school, and saw the church. The Church is in the school.

St Michael’s Church is one of the very few buildings in all of Sabah to be made of stone. With its Gothic style architecture it looks as if it has been transplanted from an English village. The construction of the church, which took almost 20 years to complete, was begun in 1893, using ironwood, brick and then stone. During the wartime bombing of Sandakan, the church caught fire and only the stone walls remained. The church was rebuilt. The beautiful stain glass windows in the church are a more recent addition, donated by Australians as a memorial to Australian and British POWs and as a thanksgiving to the courageous people of Sabah who helped them. (Source from Malaysia Traveller). I saw the stain glass windows from outside because the church is locked.

I walked downhill and visit another Chinese temple, Sam Sing Kung. The name means "three saints temple", referring to Kwan Woon Cheung, the deity of righteousness, Goddess Tin Hou, a deity worshipped by fishermen, and Emperor Min Cheong, a deity of students, to whom anxious school children and parents pray for good examination results. Sam Sing Kung Temple was built by Chinese communities from Guangdong Province, namely the Hakka, Cantonese, Hainanese and Teochew. It was completed in 1887, making it one of the oldest surviving structures in Sandakan. (Source from Malaysia Traveller)

I missed out a few places on the Heritage Trail, and I tried to find all of them. But I could not spend more time because I was rushing to check out. I went to the bus station to catch Bus No. 7 to the airport. The bus station is the one opposite the Navy Office, but you have to walk behind the bus station to get the bus number 7. Make sure the bus has the word 'Taman Airport' printed on its side. To be safe, it is opposite HSBC Bank. Now, HSBC Bank is one of the oldest bank in Sandakan, in addition to Standard Chartered Bank. The bus ride took me 30 minutes to the airport and the bus stopped right in front of the entrance of the airport. Even the bus conductress wished me a safe flight. And the bus fare is RM2.

It was definitely a fun getaway for a week. Maybe I will try Sipadan Island next.

Overall, I spent RM1,739 .45 for my entire trip. A large chunk of it goes to my Mabul diving package of RM1,035.10. Food portion is RM57.65. Transport costs RM112. My hostel stay is RM147 (including my try in Capsule Hotel). Flight ticket is RM229.70. Souvenir is RM68. And entrance fees to tourist spots is RM40. If you would like to know how I spent my 7 days in Mabul & Sandakan, here are the links:

19.01.2015 : Overnight in Capsule Hotel

20.01.2015 : Flight to Tawau, van to Semporna and boat to Mabul. Village walk in the evening. Amazing sunset view.
21 - 22.01.2015 : Diving in Mabul.
23.01.2015 : Boat to Semporna. 8 hour bus ride to Sandakan. 
24.01.2015 : Van to Sepilok. Morning to Rainforest Discovery Centre. Afternoon to Borneon Sun Bear Conservation Centre and Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre.
25.01.2015 : Morning to Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Platform B. Afternoon to Platform A.
26.01.2015 : Sandakan Fish Market and Sandakan Heritage Trail (this post and the post before).