Tawau to Semporna

22nd Oct 

                               

                                         
The 12 seaters aircon minibus to Semporna took about 2 hours to travel this 106 km roads. It's mainly used by local and cost RM13 or S$4 per trip.

Leaving Tawau, my observation of this former British outpost built during 18th century, was that there are hardly any traces of colonial heritage left behind. The only noticeable legacy is  the roundabouts at traffic junctions.

The bus ride to Semporna was bumpy as the road surfaces are not even. Once out of Tawau town,  the entire journey was through green palm oil plantations stretching as far as the eyes can see.

 

Semporna is another small and old town. There is no visible modernization. It's crowded with cars and people. Every available spaces along the shop verandas are packed with streets vendors. Each have a space slightly larger than a chair. Along the street are plenty of vendors selling local produces even at late afternoon. Some vendors even used the wheel barrow to market their wares.

There is an open air fish market near the jetty. The jetty is crowded to boats and traffic is heavy

There is a jetty full of boats that served as water taxis transporting people between nearby islands    Semporna town.                                                                 

The roads are dusty and dirty and the air quite polluted. Many kids on the streets are also begging. Poverty and underprivileged people are quite visible.

Near the seafront is a long and covered jetty cramped with numerous small shops lining up on both sides selling dried seafood products as well as groceries. There are even some cafes too. I see many people using wheelbarrows to move goods to boats. Opposite the jetty, there are complex of houses built on stilts. Its quite common in this part of the world to see people living on the sea villages. They are the Bajau Laut or sea gypsies