🌿 Sandakan Memorial Park: Where History Whispers Among the Trees

#kotakinabalutrip Stepping into this quiet green sanctuary, you'd never guess its heartbreaking past. The crunch of gravel underfoot mixes with birdsong as sunlight filters through towering *Casuarina* trees - nature's own cathedral. Then you see the bronze plaques. **The gut-punch moment?** Standing at the **obelisk memorial**, reading the simple inscription: *"To all those who suffered and died here."* Suddenly, the rustling leaves sound like marching boots. **Hidden detail:** The **original airstrip stones** still visible near the pavilion - walk where the POWs once dragged supplies under brutal sun. **Must-do after:** Quiet reflection at the **English Tea House** (2km away), where scones with *kaya* jam taste like survival. **Itinerary:** ⏰ 8:30AM: Arrive with the morning light ⏰ 9:00AM: Walk the interpretive trail (bring tissues) ⏰ 10:30AM: Sit at the contemplation pavilion ⏰ 11:00AM: Tea house pilgrimage **Visiting Tips:** - Wear respectful attire (this is hallowed ground) - Read "The Last POW Camp" beforehand - The 11AM guided tour brings stories alive Not just a park - a sacred conversation between past and present. The trees remember. Will you? P.S. The resident hornbills' calls sound oddly like a salute at dusk.