Introduction
Places to Visit
Eco-Tourism
Places To Eat
Sports
Accomodation
Beyond Tawau
The Bell Tower of Tawau is the oldest structure in Tawau and was built according to a Japanese businessman around 1921, and the guards would rang the Tawau Bell Tower at certain spans of time. Mysteriously, the bronze bell that was often rung back then had disappeared suddenly without a trace even to this day. The remains of its holder, however, still stands in Tawau at its 6 metre height. Now it rests under the ownership of the state’s museum.
Within half an hour drive from Tawau, you will be able to find “Teck Guan Cocoa Museum”. It is a one of a kind museum that gives visitors an open view of the production process that takes place in a cocoa factory. It has been open since 2004, nearly 2 decades ago. Tours are available and provided by the staff at the museum which would enable the visitors to understand all that is to know about the cocoa beans that are being produced as well as those that are exported out from the country.
The world’s best cocoa species, Amelonado, was first brought onto the land, thanks to the British during the colonial government in 1957. Since then, it was cultivated across thousands of acres by the founder of Teck Guan Group, Datuk Seri Panglima Hong Teck Guan. The land was filled with colourful pops of the plants and fruits as well as the air with the cocoa scents. There is a two hour long tour around the cocoa village where visitors can view the planted cocoa trees and fruits that grow in a fertile volcanic soil.
As Malaysia’s largest indoor market, the choices are never ending with over 6000 stalls available, selling dried produce. Travellers from other towns or states would also crowd the market, more often to find cheap dried seafood, the cheapest in the country. Scattered around ground level, items being sold includes the salted fish or dried products like anchovies, squid, abalone, and even stingray. Meanwhile, the upper level would be saved for fabrics, beauty products or clothes. There is also a food court on the second level where food and beverages are available.