About

Hello everyone, I’m Derynh, an entrepreneur living in Sandakan and a passionate lover of vegetarian cuisine.   

Many people ask me, why did I create an experience like the "Sandakan Market & Coconut Cooking" activity?  The answer is actually quite simple—I want you to see the vegetarian side of Sandakan through my eyes. I was born and raised here. Since childhood, I’ve walked through the market stalls with my family, listening to the vendors’ calls, smelling the rich aroma of coconut milk and spices, and touching locally grown fruits and vegetables still glistening with morning dew. To me, the wet market is more than just a place to buy groceries—it’s a living museum of human stories, culinary wisdom, and community memories. 

However, I’ve noticed that many visitors to Sandakan often miss out on this authentic and heartwarming local flavor. They might try the seafood, enjoy the scenery, but rarely get the chance to step into the heart of local life, touch the ingredients with their own hands, and cook a true homemade meal of this land. That’s why I decided to build a bridge from market to table: 

- I want you to feel the texture of life  This isn’t just sightseeing—it’s about choosing coconuts with your own hands, identifying Southeast Asian spices, and sharing a few words with the auntie selling vegetables. Food tastes better when it connects people to the land. 

- I want to pass on a light yet abundant culinary wisdom  Coconut is the soul of Nanyang (Southeast Asian) cuisine. From coconut milk curry to coconut-based soup, I want to teach you how to create healthy and flavorful vegetarian dishes using natural ingredients. This isn’t just a cooking method—it’s a sustainable way of living. 

- I want to share the taste of "home"   Here, there’s no restaurant-level elaborate plating—just sincerity, warmth, and the relaxed joy of cooking at home. I hope you take away not only recipes, but also a fond memory of life in Sandakan. If you also believe—  That real travel means understanding a place through its flavors;  That true deliciousness hides between the market and the kitchen;  That true wellness can begin with a single coconut—Then I look forward to meeting you in the morning light of the wet market, in the coconut-scented kitchen. 

Let’s savor Sandakan together—with our hands and our hearts.