Understand
Sandakan was the former capital of British North Borneo until 1946.The town prospered in the early days due to its port with visiting traders from about the world.Sandakan is an important town to Australian and British WWII history with the infamous Death Marches commencing here in 1945 (http://www.diggerhistory....) and (http://www.sandakan-death...). After WWII the capital moved to Jesselton now Kota Kinabalu.
"Sandakan" is derived from the Suluk word "sanda" meaning, to pawn and "kan" being the suffix. So "Sandakan" means the place that was pawned. Who pawned it, and to whom, remains a mystery.
The town does not see too many foreign tourists and specially non-asian tourists. Most people are nice and friendly if treated with respect and a smile but be prepared to be stared by everyone and to be the constant target of laughter and jokes by youngsters if you are from a different race.
