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Tawau is a small town
that is located at the southeastern section of Sabah
on a stretch of coast. This tourist area in Sabah is known for its
plantations of cocoa, copra, oil palm and rubber
since the land here is very fertile due to its rich
volcanic soil. Some of the export of the state's
timber is logged from the more accessible parts of
the jungle in Tawau. Situated near the Indonesian
border, the eastern part of this place of interest
in Sabah is made up of
a massive stilt village housing mostly Indonesian
immigrants. Tawau has a fine mosque and many avenues
of shaded shops selling local cuisine to daily
household products. Tourists coming here will surely
enjoy the open air stalls along the sea front where
excellent seafood can be found.
Tawau is also a last
port of call before Indonesia and there is a
significant traffic of shipping made up mostly of
Indonesians and Filipinos. A good place to walk
around is at the town's fish market whereby fresh
produce can be found at a bargain. For those hunting
for souvenirs, there are the Bajau women which
display their handicraft of multi-colored baskets,
hats and mats which are perfect for decoration.
Another tourist attraction in Tawau is the Tawau
Hills Park which is a popular nature sanctuary among
the locals who come here for its spectacular views.
There is also a picnicking and swimming area
together with hot springs and waterfalls. Tawau is
also used by tourists as a stopover point to Sipadan,
Mabul or to Tarakan in Kalimantan but is more known
as a centre for the shipping of timber.
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