Sandakan

There has been too little time for Sandakan. I need to return, someday. The history of this place is expansive, along with the opportunities for snorkeling, diving, turtle watching, and as a gateway to much more. The Philippines are not far. Malaysian patrol boats plough the seas keeping us safe. Sandakan is the economic capital of Borneo. In the harbor are around 15 freighters. Here, in WWII, was a Japanese prisoner of war camp. The internet will give you what you need to know about that. At the time of surrender, there were only 6 Aussie prisoners left alive from the thousands of British and Aussie soldiers kept here. They were starved, marched, and worked to death. The Japanese prison officers were tried and punished on Labuan Island following the war. There are several book from pre-war and war times, written by Agnes Newton Keith, who lived through those times, which I want to investigate further.
Otherwise, today is a travel day with an arrival in Jayapura, Papua, tomorrow morning at 6:40. Iain and I have been in communication, so hopefully I will be there when he is. My flights take me to KL, Jakarta (again), Macassar, Biak, and into Jayapura.