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| Labuan |
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Labuan Island
is 10 kilometres (6 miles) off the coast of Sabah, and
spreads over
an
area of 98 square kilometres or 38 square miles. It is a duty free port
and functions as Malaysia’s offshore financial hub. Great
duty free shopping and many fine white sandy beaches make Labuan
a famous tourist place.
Labuan with its four established wreck diving sites is also popular
among divers. The Cement
Wreck is good for beginners while the Blue Water Wreck
is for advanced divers. It is possible to explore the
hulls of the Australian and American wrecks, though these dive sites
are only accessible to qualified wreck divers.
Religious sites of interest are the An'nur Jamek Mosque, Kwong
Fook Kung Temple and Labuan Gurdwara Sahib. The mosque
is a place of worship for Labuan's Muslim community and has a progressive
futuristic design. The Kung temple, built in 1952 is the oldest
Chinese temple on the island. The Hokkien people stage a
deity procession with trance-like dances and food offerings every
year in March. Labuan Gurdwara Sahib is a place of worship
for Labuan's Sikh community and was constructed in 1957. The design
was inspired by the Sikh ‘Golden Temple’ in Amritsar.
The Peace Park at Layang-Layangan commemorates World
War II and is a serene retreat.
Japanese-inspired ponds and pavilions with stone bridges are scattered
around beautifully tropical gardens.
Pualau
Papan
Only 5 minutes by boat from Labuan, the island of Pulau
Papan is popular among weekenders from Brunei. Beautiful setting
of the island and its colonial lighthouse enhance Pulau
Papan's natural charm. Chalet day accommodations are available.
Camping is the only alternative for those wishing to stay overnight. |
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