Tawau
Tawau is the capital of the Tawau District in Sabah, Malaysia. It is the third-largest town in Sabah, after Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan. It is located on the Semporna Peninsula in the southeast coast of the state in the administrative centre of Tawau Division, which is bordered by the Sulu Sea to the east, the Celebes Sea to the south at Cowie Bay and shares a border with North Kalimantan. The town had an estimated population as of 2010, of 113,809, while the whole municipality area had a population of 397,673
Before the founding of Tawau, the region around it was the subject of dispute between the British and Dutch spheres of influence. In 1893, the first British merchant vessel sailed into Tawau, marking the opening of the town's seaport. In 1898, the British set up a settlement in Tawau. The British North Borneo Chartered Company(BNBC) accelerated growth of the settlement's population by encouraging the immigration of Chinese. Consequent to the Japanese occupation of North Borneo, the Allied forces bombed the town in mid-1944, razing it to the ground. After the Japanese surrender in 1945, 2,900 Japanese soldiers in Tawau became prisoners of war and were transferred to Jesselton.
Tawau was rebuilt after the war, and by the end of 1947, the economy was restored to its pre-war status. Tawau was also the main point of conflict during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation from 1963 to 1966. During that period, it was garrisoned by the British Special Boat Section, and guarded by Australian Destroyers and combat aircraft. In December 1963, Tawau was bombed twice by Indonesia and shootings occurred across the Tawau-Sebatik Island international border. Indonesians were found trying to poison the town's water supply. In January 1965, a curfew was imposed to prevent Indonesian attackers from making contact with Indonesians living in the town. While in June 1965, another attempted invasion by the Indonesian forces was repelled by bombardment by an Australian destroyer. The military conflict finally ended in December 1966.
Attractions Place in Tawau
1. Tawau Hills National Park
Tawau Hills Park was established in 1979, primarily as a protection for the water catchment area of Tawau Town, Sabah, Malaysia. It is located 24 kilometres from Tawau and comprises 279.72 km² of lowland dipterocarp rainforest, surrounded by oil palm and cacao plantations. The park offers picnic areas, camping sites, and chalets. The Park contains rugged volcanic landscapes including a hot spring and spectacular waterfalls. The highest point in the park is Gunung Magdalena (1310 m). It is administered by the Sabah Parks.
This small reserve has forested hills rising dramatically from the surrounding plain. If getting into the Maliau Basin or Danum Valley feels like too much of an effort, consider Tawau Hills a user-friendly alternative. The forest here is impressively thick, there are trails for hikers of all abilities and the park is excellent for bird-watching and night walks. On a clear day, the Tawau Hills Park's peaks make a fine sight. Avoid day-tripper-heavy weekends.
2. Maliau Basin
Maliau Basin or also Maliau Basin Conservation Area is a region in Tongod District of Sabah, Malaysia, which represents a geological catchment surrounding the Maliau River. Located around the centre of Sabah in the Sandakan Division, it was designated as a conservation area by the Sabah Foundation (Yayasan Sabah) in 1981. Later in 1997, the Sabah State Assembly gazetted the Basin as a Protection Forest Reserve (Class I) with a total area of 588 square kilometres. The region also features Mount Lotung (1667 metres), Maliau Falls, and Lake Linumunsut. Efforts are underway to nominate the area as a World Heritage Site. In 2011, the Maliau Basin Studies Centre opened, a large field centre to serve as a basis for studies and teaching carried out in Maliau by naturalists, biologists, and groups of field course students (e.g., Sheffield University, Griffith University, Otago University, and the citizen-science organisation.
3. Tawau Bell Tower
The Tawau Bell Tower (also known as the Belfry) is the oldest standing structure in Tawau, constructed by the Japanese to commemorate the signing of armistice agreement following World War I when Japan was an ally of Great Britain
The bell tower was constructed in 1921 by the Japanese community in North Borneo using prison labour and funds contributed by Japanese businessmen in Tawau. Its bell went missing in a sudden which become a mystery, and there is a legendary story on the missing bell.
Once upon a time in Tawau, there was a tower with a bronze bell with a sound that touches the heart of everyone when every it sounds. But World War II did not spare this unknown town and soon the war reached Tawau. To protect the bell from our enemy and looter, we decided to hide this bell. But where could be a safe place when during the war all historical building faces the risk of destruction 1 kilometre away from the bell tower was a church. Perhaps God can protect the bell.
4. Teck Guan Cocoa Museum
The Teck Guan Cocoa museum opened in 2002. The museum room is the old cocoa processing plant which is now used as a museum display. This is a small museum big enough to explain the many steps of cocoa powder production.
The conducive climatic conditions and many other natural attributes like the rich, fertile volcanic soil that have made Tawau most suitable place for cocoa cultivation. The moment you set foot in this cocoa museum you will sense the lovely aroma of cocoa permeating the air. Housed within a cocoa and chocolate manufacturing compound. It is truly one of the world's most unique museums. Feel free to enjoy this sweet and beautiful experience.
Teck Guan Group of Companies is one of the Malaysian main cocoa producers with the biggest acreage of cocoa plantation in Malaysia. Since the founding of this museum and factory by the late founder, Datuk Seri Panglima Hong Teck Guan in the 1970s. Majuiah Koko- which is synonymous with high-quality cocoa products" has gained a world-class reputation and recognition.
If you Visit Tawau Cocoa Factory and witness the process of dry fermented beans and see how Godiva chocolate is made from the only Cocoa Museum in Asia Because this is the only Cocoa Museum in Asia, the museum owner asking for Rm100 per person to visit his museum - one of the most expensive museums in Asia and then they have A wall chart showing how raw products processed into cocoa butter, cocoa nibs, cocoa cake and cocoa bean. There are layout charts descriptions on how raw products are being processed into cocoa butter, cocoa nibs, cocoa cake and dried cocoa bean. In Cocoa Museum are a group of Chocolate Girls serving you and explaining the cocoa processing steps fragrant scent of cocoa greets visitors entering the door Within the museum grounds are cocoa processing plant and cocoa powder manufacturing factory.
The museum room is previously a cocoa processing plant which today has been phased out and now displayed as part of the history of cocoa development in Malaysia. In this museum, the staff explain the many steps towards cocoa powder production and cocoa products. The Museum was an old factory with old machinery for visitors to have an insight into a cocoa factory operation.
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