SANDAKAN (day 58)

The state is largely covered by rain forests and plantations. It is one of two northern Borneo states in Malaysia that is  primarily Christian. Although it encompasses 29,388 square miles it only has about 2 million people.

THE SANDAKAN DANCERS  HAVE GRACEFUL HAND MOVEMENTS THAT TELL A STORY LIKE THE POLYNESIANS AND THE BALANESIANS, THE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR DANCING IS THAT THEY DO NOT EXAGGERATE ANY PARTS OF THEIR BODY. ACTUALLY THEIR MOVEMENTS APPER TO BE MORE HUMBLE.

FACE OF A FEMALE DANCER

DANCERS ON THE DOCK WAITING TO GREET THE SHIP

DANCERS WAITING TO GIVE A GIFT TO THEE SHIPS PASSENGERS WHO ARE ENTERING THEIR COUNTRY

VISITED THE SEPILOK ORANGUTAN REHABILITATION CENTER 

GIVEN THE FACT THAT LUMBER IS ONE OF SABAH'S MAIN EXPORTS THE ORANGUTAN'S NATURAL HABITAT IS DISAPPEARING AND THEY ARE BECOMING AN ENDANGERED SPECIES. THE REHABILITATION CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED IN THEIR LUSH RAINFOREST TO COMBAT THE ORANGUTAN'S DECREASING NUMBERS.

OTHER SPECIES LIKE THE PROBOSCIS MONKEYS, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT HAVE A PICTURE OF, SINCE WE DID NOT SEE ANY, ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF AS WELL.

THIS IS CHARRA A 10 YR. OLD. HE PUT ON QUITE A SHOW. I TOOK THIS PICTURE WHILE STANDING JUST BENEATH HIM. AMAZING...

   

All for now...

More SANDAKAN pics tomorrow.

Tomorrow we will be at sea on our way to Manila.