Sabah is the Second largest state in the federation of Malaysia, covers an area of 29,388 square miles with a coastline of about 900 miles washed by the South China Sea on the West and North and the Sulu and Celebes Seas on the East.
The reason why Sabah was given the name " The Land below the Wind" was because it has just escaped from the path of typhoon that swept through Philippines and Hong Kong.
Sailor of a bygone era found Sabah a safe shelter from the ravaging typhoons of the South China Sea. The geographical location of the State placed it just below the typhoon belt and Sabah thus earned the soubriquet " LAND BELOW THE WIND" More than just calm shores these early visitors also found a land of great natural beauty and friendly hospitable people.
Sabah has won the 'Best International Tourist Award' held in U.K. for 2 consecutively years.According to Sabah Board of Tourist Information, in the first 10 months of 1996, the overseas tourists that took a direct flight to Kota Kinabalu (the capital of Sabah) was 111,110. The most famous spot of Sabah is the Mount Kinabalu. There is a sad and romantic story behind the Mount Kinabalu. It was said that in the Dynasty of Sung, a Chinese general arrived at North Borneo (the then Sabah) and camped near the foot of Mount Kinabalu.The young General has fallen in love with the daughter of the local chief and eventually they got married.
Years later, the General felt home sick and decided to visit his home. The 2 lovers were forced to be separated. They promised each other that they will see each other soon.Time flew and there was still no news about the General. The wife was so anxious to meet the husband that she climbed up the Mount Kinabalu (13,455 feet), hoping that she can see the husband's ship from such height. Don't know how many sleeplessness night has passed and eventually the woman has been transformed into a rock.
In 1995, the visitors that visited the Kinabalu National Park were 193,750. There is also an annual Mountain running marathon.The other attraction of Sabah is the diving heaven -- they are the Sipadan Island and the Turtle Islands. The Sipilok Orang Hutan Center was famous for its orang hutan -- a species of monkey that resemble to human being so much that it is called the jungle man.
Click on this link to find out more about interest places mentioned above from an image map of Sabah.
