Borneo Trip Advisors

Sabah is blessed with incredibly beautiful beaches and islands that are world-renowned for their ecological marvels. With attractions that include the highest peak in the region, the world largest Orang Utan rehabilitation sanctuary and some of the best dive sites in the world, Sabah is a land of eco-treasures. Known as ‘The Land Below the Wind’ because geographically, Sabah is below the typhoon belt, sitting at the tip of Borneo and shares a border with Sarawak and Kalimantan. With an inland area of 74,500 square kilometres and a coastline that stretches 1,400km, it is surrounded by South China Sea on the west and on the east are the Sulu and Celebes Seas. Historically, Sabah was under several chieftains and traded with the Chinese as early as 9th century A.D. Later, the state started trading with the Spanish as well as the Portuguese. During the 15th century, Sabah was a vassal of the Sultan of Brunei. In 1704, the Sultan of Brunei ceded the land east of Murudu Bay to the Sultan of Sulu. In the early 1880’s, Moses, an American trader, obtained a lease over Sabah from Brunei. The lease eventually passed to Alfred Dent, an Englishman. In 1881, he signed a treaty with Brunei and Sulu, converting the lease into a cession, thus British North Borneo (and later changed to Sabah) was born. It was administered by the Chartered Company of British North Borneo until the Japanese occupation. In 1945, after World War II, Sabah became a British Crown Colony. In 1963, it gained independence and joined Malaysia. This East Malaysian state’s handicrafts bear the unique stamp of its many indigenous peoples. In particular look out for beads, hand woven baskets. Pua-weaving indigenous to the states of Sabah and Sarawak, is distinguished by ruddy hues and a predominance of plant and animal motifs International access to Sabah is through its capital, Kota Kinabalu, which receives flights from Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila, Brunei, Jakarta, Seoul, and Taipei. Domestic travel in this vast state is via daily flights between Labuan, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, and Tawau, though large areas are still inaccessible. A rail network stretches from Kota Kinabalu to Tenom, and buses, taxis, and boats are also available.