Labuan

It was an impromptu trip to Labuan when the actual plan was to go Brunei. Took a 2-hour boat express before reaching the Pearl of Borneo. Again, like Limbang, it's much bigger than I expected. I'm sorry, I don't mean to undermine these towns. Where do I come from anyway? Sibu! :p

Express ticket. 

Even the signage is labeled with the slogan. @.@

As soon as I reached, I went to the information booth and got hold of a copy of the tourist booklet. The first thing I saw in the Labuan section is the World War II Memorial Park, which is supposed to look something like below.

virtualmalaysia.com

virtualmalaysia.com

It's the biggest war memorial in Malaysia, commemorating the fall of the soldiers from Australia, Britain, India, New Zealand and Malaya as they were tortured during the Death March from Ranau to Sandakan.

So that became my goal. After a roti telur and teh tarik, I started my journey on foot. I wanted to do it quick because I only have 3 hours on the island.

Passed through Dataran Labuan, a landmark officiated by the then DS Dr. Mahathir.

Because I don't have a detailed map, I have to rely on direction asking in order to find the place. After getting my direction set, I continued my journey, not knowing how long would it take for me to walk. Unfortunately, after walking for 30 minutes under the hot sun, I gave up, drenched in my own sweat. I headed back to the city and walked around before having lunch and then following the group back to Limbang.

Pasar Tani.

The earliest settlement on the island. 

Grand mosque. Didn't have enough time to get closer. 

Financial district of Labuan. 

The road sign showing the WWII Memorial. I guess it's about 2-3km from this point. Thank goodness I gave up. 

Seaport's view. 

Only after I got back home and googled I realise that I had just traveled about half way there that day! I should have gotten myself a cab instead of trusting my feet while battling with the sun. 

The disappointing part about this brief trip is, it's a brief trip. I should get a chance to stay on the island longer!! But, I managed to buy the only souvenir throughout the whole Limbang trip - a bottle of Scottish whisky. Ooolala. Just right for the coming CNY. :)