The small town full of surprises

Just came back from Sandakan few hours ago (yea, internet addicted) and am going with dad to fetch mom from KLIA later cause she took a different flight.

Surprisingly, Sandakan was not as dull as i thought it was. I underestimated the wonders this small town could offer.

Firstly was the roads. A highway straight across the town really shorten the time it took for us to travel from one place to another. It was like we all lived in one big neighborhood. My aunt said if we drive fast we could get to the airport from BDC in 5 minutes. But what use is it to drive fast in such a small and peaceful town where everything is several beats slower and everyone is in such a relaxed mood. We could drive 50km/hr on the "highway" and no one would honk or flash lights at us.

Secondly, the sky at night. It's been quite a long while since i was able to look up and voila! millions of stars, shinning so brightly and clearly. The feeling was just so awesome, i could have sat there on the pavement and just stare at the sky for hours. Just so coincidence, i read a book about the night sky in a bookstore few weeks ago. I learnt how to read few of the signs and to my amazement i spotted it right there in the sky, among hundred thousands of other stars shinning just as bright and confuzzling (confusing and dazzling at the same time). This has sparked my interest to learn as many signs i could and the next time i'm going back, i will be ready. =)

Thirdly, the amount of angpao i received in just four days. I can't believe i have this much relatives in Sandakan all these while. Visited almost all of them in four days span and to be honest, i felt quite good to be able to meet them and their family. I used to be ignorant when we visit them during those visits years ago. Normally my parents do all the talking and socializing while i stuck to my sister(s) and we sort of gossiped there by ourselves. This year i was alone, and since my parents were independently sociable, i had to get around by myself and try to fit into conversations. It is still hard for me. Seems like i have lost the ability to sustain a conversation. I shall try harder next time.

Fourth, the Chinese New Year atmosphere here is just awesome. Everywhere i went decorations adore the houses and shops. Lion dances and drum sounds everywhere. Big beautiful fireworks every single night i was there. It's either the fireworks/firecrackers were dirt cheap or everyone was rich enough to splurge on it. Or it was just plainly families spending on something special on this special occasion where all family members gather together.

I have no idea when will be the next time i'm coming back to this town, but this trip surely left a deep mark in my heart which i'll be treasuring it well. Not to mention the fresh seafood, the chewy soft ngao lam mee, the fat juicy tender lamb i had at my aunt's house, the sweet refreshing lung dan fish soup which i can still remember the taste, and on top of all food, is the reminiscence feeling i had whenever we passed by some familiar place i once visited/lived at.

I guess this is why they say home is the place you truly cannot hate and forget.

Pictures up next, after i finish figuring out how to convert the videos in my phone into watchable format.