Borneo Safari Holiday

Flights to Borneo and chapter for the wildlife of Borneo

2011-02-27T09:47:00.000-08:00

Borneo, is blessed island on a number of the world to the natures third and largest in Malaysia. Borneo is the hilly region with dense rain forests. The forests of Borneo are rich in flora and fauna. The climate is hot and humid, enjoys the rainfall of between 150 and 200 inches per year. The major monsoon receives months March through October. It is still a paradise, herbalists, botanist and zoologist and receive and schedule flights to Borneo, to improve your knowledge and expertise. The Plantation is quite different due to the expense of rainfall. Approximately 11,000 different types of flowering flora, monitoring more than 700 species of trees in Borneo. This is the logic that herbalists and chemists from all over the world reserved Borneo flights get the best medications of various diseases and preparation of chemicals. Borneo is enriched with wild life. According to a survey by WWF 1994 was estimated at least 222 species of mammals, 420 offers the birds and 394 freshwater fish are in Borneo and new species are discovered every year. The beautiful island of Lankayan in Borneo contains a large collection of sharks and whales. From March to may the oversize undisruptive sharks are regularly seen in the island. Travel agencies offer cheap flights to Borneo especially make diving offers activities in the package. Lankayan is also a good destination for tourism. Families and children, are looking for relaxation and leisure vacation trip to visit the island and many people every year Book cheap flights to Borneo and have fun in the island. Sukau rainforest - is situated on the River Kinabatangan, houses the forest of Sukau probably the most concentration of wild animals in Borneo. 1000 Plants, 250 species of BirdLife and 90 species of fish are observed in the forest. Many renowned botanists to study entitled Borneo flights of these creatures every year. Some trunk monkeys, crocodiles, macaques, pygmy elephants and otters are also observed. Sepilok orang utan rehabilitation centre ã ¢ â'¬a €œ the Centre for the interests of the orang utans (trunk monkey works) established 1964 in. The Center strives to orphaned and treatment of the injured. The Center offers a great opportunity to see the apes in their natural habitat. Worldwide involved in the cause, especially for flights to Borneo go scientists to visit the Centre. http://www.borneoflights.co.UK Tabin wildlife reserve ã ¢ â'¬a €œ is engaged in the cause of various wildlife in Earth rare and endangered as the Sumatran Rhinoceros, Tembadau, Borneo Pygmy elephant and some BirdLife is. Many tour operators give Borneo flights offer special tour in the reserve in the package.

Make the most of your vacation, diving in Borneo

2011-02-27T06:12:00.000-08:00

The sovereign State of Borneo is the largest island in the world and North of Australia. ã'â, its huge miles long coastline that meets the calm, warm waters of the South China Sea make diving in Borneo immensely popular avid divers and for beginners and hobbyists. ã'â the northern part of the island is dotted with several dive, divers offers many options to enjoy your holiday or vacation.
The island of Borneo offers beautiful sights for hiking and touring, high class hotels, and miles and miles of coasts. ã 'Â it's so much to see and do, OnÃ' â of this idyllic island, Borneo diving is only the tip of the iceberg. ã'â this means that you can go diving holiday and your spouse is a explosion, even if he or she is not a diver.
Find a dive center, for example, in the Malaysian part of the island. ã'â diving in Sipadan Mabul enjoy the diversity among water animals and wildlife, as well as interesting reefs and land forms. ã'â in addition to traditional diving, this is an excellent location for muck diving. ã'â this is a form of diving in the sighting animals living in the mud and sand at the bottom of the sea, seahorse, Frogfish and prawns as well as many other creatures, the water.
Further South in the Indonesian part of Borneo, diving more, see cities rays coming in this part of the coast, as s ' angalaki, an area known for the schools of Manta.Â ' â about 15 minutes by boat takes you to the Samama where the divers can see sharks, eagle rays, tuna and Barracuda.
Every city along the northern coast of Borneo will boast friendly shopping and dining options, tourists, so that the time you spend not dive as well will be pleasant.Â ' â to bring when you come or come your scuba gear to Borneo are here to learn diving can a dive shop or a scuba shop when you arrive.
The best months, to visit Borneo are may to October, although Borneo enjoys year-round mild temperatures.Â ' â temperatures ranging from 27 to 32 degrees Celsius and average days rain per month range from September 13 to 24 May and November. ã'â average hours of sunshine per day ranges from 6 to 7.Ã'Â this area is in the rain forest region, even if it is not raining, expect 80 percent or more moisture in the course of the year.
What time of year you choose to travel, you will be excited to experience the beautiful and exotic waters and this of course amazing island.Â ' â select a dive center when looking for advice, support or a buddy.Â ' â find a Charter boat with a captain and first officer, both of which know the waters and where to best diving. ã'â if you are a beginner, find a tutor or trainer with you out to take. Experienced divers and rookies alike have a wonderful holiday, diving in Borneo.

Make the most of your vacation, diving in Borneo

2011-02-27T02:02:00.000-08:00

The sovereign State of Borneo is the largest island in the world, North of Australia. Make his big miles of coastline which meets the calm, warm waters of the South China Sea dive immensely popular avid divers in Borneo and for beginners and hobbyists. The northern part of the island is dotted with several dives, divers offers many options to enjoy your holiday or vacation.Beautiful sights offers for hiking and touring, high class hotels, and miles and miles of coast of Borneo. There is so much to see and do on this idyllic island Borneo diving only the tip of the iceberg is. This means that you can go diving holiday and your spouse is a blast, even if he or she is not a diver.Find a dive center, for example, in the Malaysian part of the island. Diving in Sipadan Mabul enjoy the diversity among water animals and wildlife, as well as interesting reefs and land forms. Besides the traditional diving, this is an excellent location for muck diving. This is a form of diving in the sighting animals in the mud and sand at the bottom of the sea such as Frogfish, shrimp, sea horses and many other water creatures life. Further South in the Indonesian part of Borneo, diving more, see cities rays coming in this part of the coast, as s ' angalaki, an area known for the schools of Manta. 15 Minutes by boat takes you to the Samama where the divers can see sharks, eagle rays, tuna and Barracuda. Every city along the northern coast of Borneo will boast friendly shopping and dining options, tourists, so that the time you spend not dive as well will be pleasant. Bring your scuba gear on Borneo coming or when diving are here to learn can a dive shop or a scuba shop when you arrive.The best months, to visit Borneo are may to October, although Borneo enjoys year-round mild temperatures. Temperatures ranging from 27 to 32 degrees Celsius and average rainy days per month range from 13 days in September and 24 in May and November. Average hours of sunshine per day ranges from 6 to 7. This area is the rainforest region even if it is not raining, expect 80% or time of year you choose to travel more moisture in the course of the Jahres.Was, you will be excited to experience the beautiful and exotic waters and this of course amazing island. Select a dive center when looking for advice, support or a buddy. Find a Charter boat with a captain and first officer both know the waters and where to best diving. If you are a beginner, you can also a tutor or trainer with you take out find. Experienced divers and rookies alike have a wonderful holiday, diving in Borneo.

Make the most of your vacation, diving in Borneo

2011-02-26T21:58:00.000-08:00

National Park holiday Borneo Mesilau natural park, one alternative to the Kinabalu National Park

2011-02-26T17:33:00.000-08:00

The most popular destination Borneo is undoubtedly Kinabalu National Park which is Mount Kinabalu. Every year thousands of visitors visited Kinabalu National Park for either a refreshing National Park vacation tropical sun to escape and catch a glimpse of the highest mountain in Southeast Asia or the mystical mount Kinabalu.Nevertheless, a unique national park to take holidays in Borneo, ensure that you are less known Mesilau National Park is nature park, drop of only about 30 minutes on the road away from Kinabalu. Reach of Kota Kinabalu, which it takes capital of Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia only about 2.5 hours drive Park.Mesilau nature park Mesilau located near the Kinabalu National Park on the Pinosok Plateau close to Kundasang city. The stretch of road from Kundasang city after Mesilau nature park which is about 2,000 m above sea level, very steep and winding. But the power of the ascending ride has planted road conditions immensely recently improved a Kinderspiel.Auf the way you are certainly spectacular views of the terraced hill slopes Kundasang Valley Highlands vegetables and parts the scenic beauty of Kundasang mount Kinabalu golf course, a challenging 18-hole golf course for enthusiastic golfers, undeniably caught the highest golf course in South East Asia.But once Mesilau natural park, you notice that the location now "commercialized" Kinabalu natural and "Virgin" as the National Park. Because the Park at the foot of Mount Kinabalu, is Mount Kinabalu of even more spectacular towering with a sheer granite wall a few thousand feet of from the virgin forest floor and ends in jagged peaks look. This breathtaking sight Mesilau Pinnacles.To experience called aptly the best thing that can provide Mesilau, must spend a night or two is nestled on the eco-friendly Mesilau nature resort between the trees at the foot of the mountain within the Park. The resort is amazing, because it has been carefully planned and built in its natural environment Mischung.Die are surrounded chalets on slopes, trees with the whole look River flows beneath the Mesilau. And for food, the Kedamaian restaurant is known for its piping hot Steamboat and BBQ dinner, makes it a good excuse to spend the night.Mesilau nature park is also the starting point for the alternative and more sophisticated route up Mount Kinabalu. If you are an adventurous nature hike up to a kilometre or two, even if you do not plan to climb Mount Kinabalu. Because the Mesilau Summit trail is relatively new and less than the old crowded Summit trail, your chance of encounter (tamed) Wildlife is also brighter.An outstanding feature of the route is the seemingly abundance of orchids (rhododendron) and pitcher plants. The world's largest pitcher plant, which is "Nepenthes Rajah", recorded in abundance here. Less taxation guided walk around the Park is recommended for most visitors. It will leave you with "natural" memories.Mesilau is not enchanted with his cool temperate climate (temperatures vary by 17-21 degrees Celsius during the day and 10-15 degrees Celsius at night) and serene surroundings as a really amazing paradise. Mesilau nature park and its resort is an ideal place for relaxation or retreat. the biological diversity of flora and fauna, found here Mesilau makes an oasis for naturalists. National Park is one of the best locations in Borneo for an unforgettable holiday.

Orangutan of sanctuary in Borneo, Sarawak, Kuching - a journey to the mysterious tropical rainforest

2011-02-26T13:08:00.000-08:00

Welcome you at orangutan sanctuary at the Semengok in Sarawak, Borneo located. As one of the best orangutan sanctuary in the world. Semengok wild life Center is the best place in Borneo of semi-wild orang utans, ads were rescued from captivity and trained in the surrounding to survive forest reserve. The Rehabilated animals roam freely in the rain forest and often back to Central feeding. Thanks to the successful breeding programme at the Semengok it is a great way to one of the most heart-warming sights in Borneo - an Orang Utan to experience mother with a young baby. The Centre is 30 minutes drive from Kuching and additional 20 minutes on foot. On the way visitors pass through the ethno botanical gardens with its unique collection of rainforest plants. Semengok may a series of short jungle trails and optional forest walks into tour.How to get to the Orangutan sanctuary in Sarawak, Malaysia, Borneo?You can fly either in the city and the capital of Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur, and from there you can Malaysia Airlines and air Asia to Kuching, Sarawak city. You can contact us or book a trip with us and we bring you personally in the Orangutan sanctuary where you can see these amazing animals. More information can be found at the bottom of the resource box. What can we in Sarawak? Sarawak, Borneo - a country full of secrets, hidden in the tropical rainforest. We typically recommend our visitors here to stay for 2 weeks, and experience life in the rainforest, exploring the world largest cave systems - Mulu caves, kayaking in the rainforest, visit the local long House which remain hunters to visit orangutan of sanctuary in the tree house at the top of the tree to enjoy nice and beautiful beach owned by the head and take a trip on Satang island for turtle conservation and hatchery area. Enjoy the local cuisine and meet the local people to.What is the weather in Sarawak? Overall, Sarawak is equatorial climate. The temperature is relatively uniform within the range of 23Ã ' â ° C to 32Ã' â ° C throughout the year. During the months March to September the weather is generally dry and warm. Humidity is consistently high on the plain ranging from 85 percent to 95 percent per year. Is 3,300 mm to 4,600 mm, depending on the location the average precipitation per year, and the wettest months are November to February.Getting?We would generally advise our visitors, plan your trip before you come to Sarawak or we plan it for you. Please contact us in the resource box. Is Sarawak, Malaysia-safe? Under the South-East Asia I can say, Sarawak, Malaysia is to travel one of the best and safest places for visitors. The people here are friendly and helpful, most of you are a mixture of Dayak, Chinese, Malay and any money changers in Sarawak is some Hindu.Is? Yes, there is much of the money changers and banks in Sarawak and Yes, you are safe and legal.Visit visa questions or another tour, car rental or hotel accommodation information link below, thanks.

The best time to visit of Borneo

2011-02-26T08:43:00.000-08:00

Hot jungles of Borneo are hidden in Malaysia, located in South Asia and surrounded by other exotic locations. A person looking to take a trip to Borneo is the kind of person, like a unique journey, an unforgettable experience and one that will appreciate really all wild animals and foliage. No matter what you visit time of year, be ready to handle some heavy jungle weather!Borneo due to its location on the Equator and ocean edge, dense rainforest with a climate consists of which can be picky and spirited, so you you excursion have much gear for whatever you make should out, whether it is to a Wildlife Safari or hike through the vegetation. The best times to visit are between March and October, when temperatures are not too hot and the rainy season has passed. In General, Borneo is wettest in November that all remain generally between around 70 to 90Ã through February.Temperatures in Borneo' â ° F (21 to 32Ã' â ° C) year-round, but because it a rain forest, you should expect extremely high humidity as well as the possibility of rain at any time. Hold a raincoat with you and a solid few waterproof hiking boots for all your adventures so you stay dry and comfortable how through the hills and rivers to see monkeys, Asian elephant, amazing BirdLife, trek and blooming Fauna.Likewise, avoiding the rainy season also more Beach allows you to see the myriad creatures time and diving off the coast life. The Borneo coast offers plenty of fish, barracudas, hammerhead sharks, as well as smaller Technicolored reef fishing set to dazzle your eyes.The most months on good for visiting as long as a lot of rain don't mind you during some of you. The locals are friendly and willing to help, the celebration of the Festival as the harvest festival in Sabah in may, see tourists and certain months known as Tadau Ka'amatan dance music, enjoy laughing and of course lots feasting!Borneo is an amazing place, so take your time, the rainforest treetops to marvel at. Keep an eye out for colourful birds, dancing to your colleagues; and hear the cacophony of calls to monkeys, birds, and big cats elephants. Party with the local and simply having a wonderful time.

Top tips for traveling safely in Borneo

2011-02-26T04:39:00.000-08:00

An incredibly beautiful island country in Southeast Asia, Borneo offers far more than most expect. This beautiful country is home to some of the world's most valuable animals, including the popular orangutans. Â ' â there are many nature park with unspoiled landscapes and habitats that you enter in the animal world without help in danger. They are an experience as healthy never able, as replicate during the visit of Borneo. Read further can no longer, why discover this magical country Miss...
When to visit is the best times of year to visit Borneo Borneo somewhere between March and October as wet or is rainy season from November to February. It is a humid climate in the rain forest areas, but this country always tend to Sun and warm weather in most is sharing really pleasant year-round, with much. Bring your sunscreen, particularly during the visit of the Borneo beaches!
Where to visit in Borneo, there are many places to visit excellent in Borneo. This country may be small, but there are certainly a lot to offer. Of art and culture, to religious and outdoor adventures Borneo has a bit of everything for all ages. Here are some of the must see destinations while traveling on holiday to Borneo: the Bako National Park Damai Beach Danum Valley Garama wetlands Gaya Island Kapalai Island Kudat peninsula Lankayan Island Maliau basin Manukan Island Mataking island of Niah caves & Lambir Hills National Park mount Kinabalu Mulu National Park Mabul and Kapalai Islands Tabin wildlife reserve turtle Iceland National Park if you are more interested in for the amazing culture and history of Borneo to visit, you need the IBAN headhunters in the Borneo jungle, where visiting their longhouses and show their grand culture, see. Also, Miss the Penimbawan stilted village can go on a cruise and its fishing culture experience or take a city tour of Sandakan which was the British North Borneo capital until it was liberated in the first world war. Sarawak cultural village of close to Damai Beach, one of which must to visit places listed above.
Borneo is in a quiet and serene country, take your next holiday. Before posting make all your holiday arrangements you sure you know exactly the kind of travel insurance cover you need and then you search online. You will be able to compare prices and pick up a great value packages for less. This way you can enjoy your travel to Borneo, without feeling an ounce of stress, worry about the cost a flight should be cancelled, or if you happen to get sick.

Two good reasons to Borneo head

2011-02-26T00:14:00.001-08:00

Although hard to a finger on it, there Borneo something, simply by other parts of Malaysia and South East Asia. And with some of the best wildlife and stunning scenery on the planet is also increasingly environmentally aware. So you can get back into your luxury eco Villa kick without having to worry too much about your carbon emissions balance. So, now the blame has been dealt with, it is time, find something, inspire go to you on your own Borneo adventure.

See head into the jungle of the orangutans of Borneo point your theatrics as you swing from tree to tree. Although these monkeys are smarter than you think. Listen to this: the orangutans have learned that by holding leaves over their mouths can your votes to lower, to fool predators in think you are bigger than you actually are. Pretty clever, huh? Or how about the fact that your swinging and swaying actually behind it to keep a science falling from the trees? Pretty fascinating stuff.

There's nothing like the experience of seeing such a magnificent creature in the flesh (or fur). The last wild orang-utans in North Borneo can be seen at the famous Kabili Sepilok forest reserve, worth a visit for some stories, which can tell you the grandson of a day.

Look up of Borneo's rainforests and blinded by other spectacular sights. Annually for the start (in the truest sense of the word) of the fifth Borneo International Kite Festival. The extravaganza draws thousands of visitors, can log on in the numerous kite flying and kite make to compete competition. If you miss the Kite Festival, there is much more to offer. See the Dragon, Unicorn and Lion Dance Festival in Padang Merfeka: a truly dazzling event.

A holiday to Borneo is an opportunity not to be missed.

Borneo Safari Holidays-Top 10 Wildlife Destination On Borneo

2011-02-18T09:34:00.000-08:00

Borneo Safari Holidays-Top 10 Wildlife Destination On Borneo

Are you thinking of going to Borneo?A Borneo Safari Holidays vacation offers endless excitement for wildlife adventures and awesome scenery on the world's third largest island. The island is home to exotic and endangered species such as orangutans, pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, tarsiers and other wild animals.Tropical rainforests are dense entanglements that give cover to wild animals. Unlike an African safari holidays, where the open Savannah easily exposes large groups of wildlife, observing wild creatures in Borneo takes a bit more effort. But that's also part of the fun.The states of Sarawak and Sabah make up Malaysian Borneo Safari Holidays. The two key gateway cities are Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. Here are some of the parks and sanctuaries to visit for the best chance to see some of Asia's most endangered species and a diversity of wildlife not found elsewhere in the world.Sabah, Borneo Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary - Take a ride on the Kinabatangan River for a wildlife outing in one of Malaysia's best nature experiences. If you're lucky you can observe Asian pygmy elephants grazing along the river bank, long-nosed proboscis monkeys sitting in treetops, hornbills and kingfishers flying by and enjoy this easy floating safari. Tabin Wildlife Reserve - As a primary rainforest, this wildlife reserve protects important habitats for many of Malaysia's large mammals - elephants, rhinos, orangutans.For birdwatchers, hundreds of species are found in the jungle and swamplands, including hornbills, owls and eagles.

Take a night safari to enjoy the sights of wild animals on the prowl. And don't forget to visit the mud volcano during the day for a splash in the muddy pools.Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary - If you want to see orangutans up close, then do not skip a trip to this lowland rainforest reserve famous for rehabilitating former pet animals into wild residents. Walk on the boardwalk through towering tropical trees to observe these wonderful endangered primates that are under threat from deforestation and conflicts due to the expansion of plantation agriculture. Go to Sepilok for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to view one of the planet's most interesting species.Sipadan Island - For those seeking an underwater adventure, Sipadan is rated as one of the world's best dive spots. An unending parade of marine biodiversity displays everything from schools of barracuda to reef resting green turtles. Nature explodes with diverse coral structures and a technicolor panorama of triggerfish, anemones, sea fans and angelfish... just for starters. As Malaysia's only oceanic island, a vertical cliff descends 600 meters to showcase an encrusted sea wall of plant and animal life.Turtle Islands Park - Protecting the traditional landing and nesting grounds for Green and Hawksbill turtles, a visit to the park offers a chance to observe these ancient mariners returning to shore to start the next generation. Learn about the plight of sea turtles and local conservation efforts to save them from extinction. Danum Valley Conservation Area - A research center amid some of the best lowland rainforest in Asia, Danum Valley is a trekker's paradise for birdwatching, wildlife observation and nature photography. If you want to get a real feel for the jungle, head over to Sabah and spend a few days on the forest trails.Sarawak, Borneo Safari Holidays- Bako National Park - If you go to Kuching, this park is just a few hours away for a great day trip to see a spectacular coastal reserve. A mixture of mangrove swamps, sandstone cliffs and seaside forests, wildlife abounds with proboscis monkeys, pit vipers, flying lemurs and other wild creatures. Enter the park from the sea and capture the gorgeous scenery of this pristine habitat.

Gunung Mulu National Park - Rugged limestone formations surrounded by dense tropical rainforest provides for fantastic scenery outside and cave exploration inside. Watch millions of bats emerge at dusk from some of the largest cave chambers in the world or trek through the jungle to mountaintops to explore the unique blade-sharp Pinnacles rising from the forest floor like daggers.Niah National Park - Gigantic caves are home for millions of bats that exit each night to forage on hoards of insects, while swifltlets make edible nests on cave walls. Jungle trails traverse through lowland and hill rainforest to expose an assortment of wild animals such as monkeys, monitor lizards, flying lizards, hornbills and other rainforest birds.Batang Ai National Park - Located in pristine interior jungles next to a wildlife sanctuary, the park is an oasis of wildlife set against a lake reservoir formed by a hydroelectric dam. Orangutans, gibbons and hornbills provide good opportunities for wild sightings in excellent rainforest habitats. Visitors can also learn about traditional Iban lifestyles by spending time in a longhouse and going into the jungle with an Iban guide.

Borneo Safari Holidays-Eco Adventure And Culture Diversity In Land Of Headhunters

2011-02-18T08:52:00.000-08:00

Borneo Safari Holidays-Eco Adventure And Culture Diversity In Land Of Headhunters

The third largest island in the world, Borneo is a tropical paradise housing the oldest and most bio-diverse rainforest on earth, endless pristine white beaches and an abundance of national wonders. Borneo is divided between Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia, the largest territory being appropriated to Malaysia.

Culture Diversity In Borneo Eco Adventure Safari Holidays

The two states of Sarawak and Sabah, separated from mainland Malaysia on the west by the South China Sea, make up Malaysia's part of Borneo.As large as it is, Borneo is still a microcosm of spectacular flora and fauna, housing the Rafflesia, the world's largest flowering plant, and the scary, insect-digesting Pitcher plant. As well, Borneo is home to unique animals, among them the shy Orangutans, the rare and unusual Proboscis Monkey and the ludicrous Bearded Pig.Travel to Borneo is a step into adventure. An abundance of national parks, virgin jungles and rainforests, meandering rivers and cascades, extensive cave systems and sandy white beaches offer adventures of every kind for every level. A morning stroll in Mulu National Park or a week's trek in pristine jungle; a river safari or white water rafting on the Rejang, Malaysia's longest river; caving and exploring the world's most extensive cave systems or snorkeling and scuba diving off the unspoiled reefs of the South China Sea - all are here for the taking.In concert, Borneo's cultural diversity, including 27 distinct ethnic groups speaking 45 languages and dialects provides a unique local experience. Indigenous culture remains ingrained in the lifestyle of its inhabitants, who adhere to a variety of native traditions, practices and religions.

Borneo Safari Holidays-The Tribes And The Cultures

Beyond the towns and cities, life here still revolves around the longhouses, kampungs and the rivers. Malays and Chinese established themselves alongside native groups with such evocative names as Iban, Melanau, Penan, Kelabit ad Bidayuh, grouped together under the general term Dayak, to form a richly varied population, each with their own culture and traditions. To this day, the largest group, the Iban, reputed to be Borneo's most formidable headhunters of past, dwell in communal fashion in longhouses, stilted structures with many rooms that house an entire community of families. Beside them, the Melanau, traditionally fishermen and seafaring people, live in Kampungs (Malaysian villages) - a cluster of wooden homes on high stilts near Borneo's rivers.Be it eco adventure outdoors, a cultural experience or both, Sarawak and Sabah, Malaysia's Borneo Island states boast the most diverse, exciting and the very best of family adventure travel on earth.

Boom and bust in Sarawak (headhunter)

2009-07-09T03:02:00.000-07:00

SYLVIA , QUEEN OF HEADHUNTERS by Philip Eade Weidenfeld, £20, pp. 408, ISBN 9780297847885 £16 (plus £2.45 p&p) 0870 429 6655

On stage at Wyndham's Theatre just now, the curtain for Somerset Maugham's The Letter is a map of South-east Asia, circa 1920.

In the middle lies Sarawak, a slab of northern Borneo about the size of England. This is appropriate because Sarawak, which he visited frequently, was the mise-en-scène for much of Maugham's work. Less appropriate is the fact that, along with Ceylon, Burma and Malaya, Sarawak is picked out in red.

But Sarawak wasn't a colony or a British possession; it belonged to a single English family, the Brookes.

The last king of that land, known as the White Rajah, was Vyner Brooke who married an Englishwoman called Sylvia Brett, the subject of this biography. I met the lady in question, my great-aunt, only once.

She came to our house in Oxfordshire for lunch accompanied by a professional walker, waddling on slippered feet and aged 86.

Nevertheless the lunch was a lively affair.

Sylvia was born into an unusual and largely dysfunctional family. Her father was Reggie Esher, the second Viscount, a man of exceptional ability and charm who became well known as the éminence grise of Edwardian politics and friend and adviser to everyone from Edward VII down. She and her sister were terrified of him, although in fact they were largely ignored both by him and their mother. Desperate to get away from the family, Sylvia accepted a proposal from the soon-to-be Rajah.

Vyner Brooke probably had no idea what he was getting. Sylvia was a feisty girl, had shown some talent as a published writer and had made literary friends such as J. M. Barrie and G. B. Shaw, who was rather taken by her sharp wit, unconventional behaviour and outspokenness. Waiting in bed for her husband on their wedding night she described his approaching steps on the staircase as 'the beating of the executioner's drum'. Her attitude to sex was that it was 'rather ridiculous', but that did not prevent her from producing three children in quick succession, all girls unfortunately, which was to have repercussions later.

Sylvia took to Sarawak like a duck to water. Although her father, who never visited it, regarded the whole place as the setting for a comic opera, Sylvia enjoyed the ceremony, the ethnic mix of European civil servants, Chinese, Malays and, most exotic of all, native Dyaks (whose dark doings up-river sporadically included a fetish for collecting human skulls), the climate, the colour (she was a painter as well as writer), the chance to dress up.

In the Twenties it was boom time in Sarawak with state surpluses (i. e. Brooke profits) running at about $1 million a year. The new Rajah and his wife bought an expensive house in London and Sylvia began to take advantage of her exalted position. She set up as a London hostess, made friends in show-biz, filled the house with the arts and crafts of Sarawak, dressed in a yellow sarong, visited America where she received much attention and became to her own satisfaction a gossip columnist's dream. Apart from this love of self-promotion, other faults came into prominence.

She was waspish, indiscreet and tactless.

She made an enemy of her brother Oliver and in Sarawak her behaviour was considered by the officials there to be undignified and outré to the point of embarrassment, including dancing the conga with prostitutes and inviting them to the palace.

In the Thirties and early Forties things began to go sour. Sylvia's daughters were as wild as her, there was an economic slump in Sarawak, the natives were restless and to make matters worse the Rajah became embroiled in a war of succession between the heir apparent, his nephew Anthony Brooke, and Sylvia's schoolboy grandson Simon Mackay (now Lord Tanlaw). The real war intervened, the Japanese invaded and afterwards, with Sarawak impoverished, the new Labour government became determined to bring an end to the Brooke Raj, 'adding to the empire at the same time as divesting itself elsewhere'. A cession agreement was signed in 1946 and the Brookes left Sarawak for ever, having accepted in compensation a sum of money barely sufficient to support the family during their lifetime. In all of this Sylvia played a disruptive but peripheral part.

Philip Eade traces this tangled tale with diligence, humour and an easy style. Sylvia was anathema to the official mind and unpopular elsewhere; it is brave of him not only to trawl over old ground (much has been written about both the Bretts and the Brookes) but also to tackle a subject whose character is perhaps best summed up by sub-headings in his index -- 'cattishness, dottiness, outrageousness, recklessness, scheming, tactlessness'. On the other hand it isn't necessary for a biographer to like or even admire his subject, only that the life he chronicles should be interesting. No problem there.

When she left our lunch party, Sylvia, who was on a mission to promote her new autobiography Queen of the Headhunters, travelled up to London to appear on the Parkinson show. The BBC binned the tape, but I remember her performance. It was a wow -- candid, irreverent, outlandish and shot through with sardonic humour and selfdeprecation. Queen of the Headhunters was Sylvia's greatest literary success. The book was much admired for its candour and wit, but by her own admission it was wildly inaccurate. For the true story read Philip Eade.

Panorama Of The Sightseeing On sarawak

2009-07-09T02:49:00.000-07:00

Pictures Of Longhouse In Sarawak

2009-07-09T02:43:00.000-07:00

Pictures Of The Tradisional Dancer

2009-07-09T01:58:00.000-07:00

Discover a Malaysian Borneo Paradise

2009-07-07T00:27:00.000-07:00

Located within the Malay archipelago, Borneo is made up of three different regions: Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. Perhaps the most frequently visited of these is Malaysia, dived into two distinct regions by the South China Sea.

Visitors to Malaysia commonly choose East Malaysia, the larger of the two land masses. The two states of Sabah and Sarawak offer a multitude of attractions to suit any holidaymaker, from diving and off-roading to golf and birdwatching.

Sarawak, the largest, is a nature-lover's heaven. Some of the most breathtaking and rare species in the world are indigenous to this region. Visit Bako National Park, Sarawak's oldest, and see bearded pigs, monitor lizards and over 150 species of birds, all used to people so they're less likely to be hiding from you! Sarawak is also home to several primates; perhaps the best known is the Orangutan, second in size only to the gorilla. At the Semenggok Wildlife Rehabilitation centre visitors can see Orangutans and Gibbons that were orphaned or kept as illegal pets and then abandoned, along with many other species that are victims of the same fate.

Perhaps one of the most unusual of Sarawak's indigenous species is the Proboscis monkey, threatened with extinction because of humans encroaching into the habitat. The monkey, named after its large red nose, can only survive on vegetation found in Borneo, and it is estimated that there may only be around 3000 left in the world. Because of the primate's unusual appearance they are much sought-after by zoos in other parts of the world, but due to their fragility and exclusive diet they cannot thrive outside their natural environment. A visit to Sarawak is the best way to see these highly intriguing creatures safe and happy in their ideal living conditions.

If looking at other species doesn't take your fancy, why not venture into the Mulu Caves; one of the longest cave networks in the world. To give a comparable size, the largest chamber within the underground network can accommodate 40 Boeing 747 aircrafts, while the biggest passage is big enough for five buildings the size of St Paul's Cathedral. Visitors brave enough to be inside the cave at dusk will be witness to millions of bats and swiftlets swarming out for their nightly hunt around the jungle outside the cave entrances.

To truly experience a taste of Malaysia, take a trip around the living museum of the Sarawak Cultural Village. This unique attraction is, as the name suggests, a fully functional village with a population of around 150 people from various ethnic groups prevalent in Malaysia. The residents demonstrate traditional activities and craftwork within their culture, all surrounded by the native structures and dwellings. From Iban longhouses to Chinese farmhouses, the village can give a glimpse into a way of life seldom experienced by anyone in the Western world.

Not to be outdone, the second largest state of Sabah has its own appealing attractions. The Borneo pygmy elephant, the smallest species of elephant, can be found roaming the largest river systems in Borneo. The Kinabatangan River lies in the shadow of the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia, Mount Kinabalu (4101m), and holds dense concentrations of wildlife, crocodiles, otters, elephants, are but a few of the seemingly infinite list of animals that can be found here. If you are extra lucky you might even glimpse the Sumatran Rhinos, a species that until recently was considered extinct in Borneo.

The carnivorous Pitcher Plant is found in Sabah, named because of it's shape; resembling a giant pitcher filled with a sticky, poisonous substance which lures insects and small animals to a slow death. Equally spectacular is the Rafflesia arnoldii bloom - possibly the largest single flower in the world. The reddish-brown flower of this parasitic plant can grow to over 3ft in diameter. The Rafflesia Centre is a research facility dedicated to preserving and studying this unusual flora, which blooms just once a year for 5 days, before wilting and exuding a noxious stench not unlike rotting flesh.

Moving away from stinky plants, Sabah is also a great place if you have your sea-legs. The island of Lankayan is a virtually uninhabited paradise with lush green jungle and pure white sand - and one of the best diving resorts in this part of the world, with 40 different recommended dive sites. The gentle giant whale shark is indigenous to this area, and can usually be indicated by the seabirds lurking above the surface of the Sulu Sea. Fans of marine photography may be lucky enough to get close to this aquatic creature, but be quick pressing the shutter! The Lankayan Wreck is another great dive spot to visit, with a variety of unusual marine life such as the painted frogfish and marbled stingray. Lankayan island accommodation fits in beautifully with the surroundings; compact wooden bungalows which are perfect for those seeking a tranquil getaway in a genuine paradise.

Of course, one of the best things about visiting a foreign country is the diversity of food available to sample, and Malaysian Borneo is no exception. It's an amalgam of several ethnicities; Chinese, Indian and of course the native Malays. This cultural melting pot lends itself to one of the world's most varied cuisines, and in addition there are many indigenous ethnic groups which each have their own diet and heritage; the once-fearsome headhunters the Ibans and Muruts, the nomadic sea-faring Bajau and the hospitable Biayuh. Each ethnic group has its own traditions and handicrafts and, as is evident at the Cultural village in Sarawak, are happy to display these to visitors.

If you choose Borneo for your holidays, you'll be plunged into a lush paradise with some of the most spectacular views and wildlife the world has to offer. Discover Borneo travel company offers a wide range of packages to suit every taste, be it diving, rafting or simply soaking up the sun.

sarawak land of the hornbill

2009-06-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang ("Land of the Hornbills"), it is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia; the second largest, Sabah, lies to the northeast.

The administrative capital is Kuching which has a population of 579,900 (2006 census; Kuching City South - 143,500; Kuching City North - 133,600; Padawan- 3rd Mile/ 7th Mile/ 10th Mile - 302,800). The name Kuching literally means ‘cat’ (kucing). Major cities and towns also include Sibu (pop. 254,000), Miri (pop. 263,000) and Bintulu (pop. 176,800). As of last census (Dec 31, 2006), the state population was 2,357,500. For more details about the population see Demographics of Malaysia, though it is interesting to note that Sarawak is, like Sabah to the north, a multicultural state, with no ethnic majority.

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A Quick Guide To Climbing Mount Kinabalu when in borneo island part 1

2009-06-15T23:14:00.000-07:00

The majestic and awe-inspiring Mount Kinabalu is one of the premier destinations for thousands of visitors to Sabah, Malaysian Borneo each year. Kinabalu National Park, a designated World Heritage Site, boasts an estimated 4,500 species of plants which includes 1,500 species of orchids, 77 of which are endemic to Kinabalu, Nepenthes pitcher plants, and the Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world. The Park also supports 289 species of birds and 290 different types of butterflies.

Besides being the highest peak in Borneo and the whole of South East Asia (between Irian Jaya and the Himalayas to be exact), and the youngest non-volcanic mountain in the world, Mount Kinabalu is extremely climber-friendly and compared to other much lower mountains around the world, Mount Kinabalu is an ideal first mountain for novice mountain trekkers to conquer.

The standard climb up Mount Kinabalu is via the Kinabalu Summit Trail at Kinabalu National Park (~1,560m above sea level). The first ascent is from the starting point at Timpohon Gate, about 4km or 30 minutes drive from the Kinabalu National Park Headquarter.

If you prefer to start the ascent on Day 1, it is advisable to arrive at the Park late morning the latest or else, depending on the weather, the Park may not allow you to do the first ascent due to hazardous condition (i.e., the fog may be too thick by late evening causing visibility problems and/or the trail may be extremely slippery).

Most climbers prefer to stay overnight at Kinabalu National Park upon arrival to not only acclimatize to the altitude but also to enjoy the magnificent flora and fauna at the Park before the �assault� on the next day/morning.

My Recommended Top 10 Things to Do in Kuching in 48 Hours

2009-06-15T23:06:00.000-07:00

Many tourists like to visit Kuching city, fondly known as the Cat city in Sarawak, Malaysia. Some tourists come on their own based on Lonely Planet guide recommendations of where to go, see and experience. What better ways to experience the city than through a local person's recommendations.

1. Upon checking in at the hotel in the morning, go for a Kuching city tour. If you follow one of those guided tour, the tour will bring you to the top of Civic Centre Tower for a panoramic view of Kuching city skyline, Sarawak Museum to learn about the past histories and then drive past the gigantic Cat Monument. Many tourists would stop by to take pictures. If you come during the Chinese New Year, the Cat could be seen wearing a traditional Chinese costume. If you come during the Ramadhan month where the muslims celebrate Hari Raya, the Cat would be wearing a green Malay costume. You will also get a glimpse of Kuching South city council, drive through Chinatown, visit Sarawak's older Taoist Temple, Catholic church, pass through the Malay village and then visit the old State Mosque with 5 golden domes.

2. Next, you will go to one of those famous Sarawak Pottery Factory. If you visit it in the morning, you may get a chance to see the skilled workers carving the lamp, vase and etc. The tour will then end at Kuching Waterfront where most of the pre-colonial buildings are situated.

3. Next, you will go for souvenir shopping at Waterfront or along Gambier Road. You may even chance upon some antiques that you like to buy home.

4. In the afternoon, go visit Semenggoh Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. You may want to check with your guide or the travel agent counter the feeding time of these orang utans so that you can catch them in action.

5. You will then come back to city and have your dinner at Topspot Seafood Restaurant. There are several seafood centre for you to choose from. The dishes that you MUST order are stir fried midin, a local jungle fern stir fried with belacan, a type of prawn paste, bamboo clam fried in curry powder and oyster pancake.

6. The next day, you will have the famous Sarawak Laksa for breakfast. You can easily find stalls selling them at any of the coffee shops in the city. The food is spicy. If you cannot eat spicy food, then you are recommended to have Sarawak kolok mee for breakfast.

7. Then you will set off to Sarawak Cultural Village and spend the whole morning there. As it is almost an hour drive from the city, you are recommended to take shuttle service to there. You may purchase the shuttle service ticket at Grand Margherita Hotel entrance. Otherwise, you can easily inquire from the hotel receptionist. When you have reached Sarawak Cultural Village, do visit the various ethnic houses and do not miss the cultural performances. You should be back in the city by noon time.

8. You will then have stir fried tomato noodles for lunch. It is a specialty dish available only in Sarawak.

9. Next, you may want to go for a foot massage by this blind masseur located beside Mc Donald outlet opposite Grand Margherita Hotel. The service is not expensive.

10. Then you head for dinner at any of the fine city restaurants in Kuching. Some of my recommended restaurants are Jambu Air, Magenta and several others.

After an evening of fine dining, you will head back to hotel to catch a flight home the next day.

Sandy K, a local Sarawakian wants to introduce Sarawak to the whole world. Though legally trained, her first love has always been in writing, traveling, internet and entrepreneurship. She wants to use her expertise to help expose the mystical beauty of her homeland to the world at large with the power of internet media.

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Kaul Festival in Mukah Sarawak

2009-06-12T01:16:00.000-07:00

Mukah, located in Central Sarawak is slowly emerging into an important coastal town with a bright future. Its population are mainly Melanau where they are know as the sago-eating tribe. Kuching city on the other hand is located at the Western tip of Sarawak. There are many ways to go to Mukah and one can go to Mukah either by car, plane from or by boat from Sibu. It takes over 5 hours to reach Mukah from Sibu.

The local Melanaus in Mukah, Sarawak recently celebrated the Kaul Festival (Pesta Kaul). It was a myriad of events with more than 10,000 people attending it. This festival is unique to the Melanaus is held every year around the month of March to April. Kaul Festival is a thanksgiving festival to appease the spirits of the farms, forests, land and sea. The Melanaus would express their gratitude to the spirits for keeping them safe through the monsoon season. They are also expressing their desire for an abundance of fishes caught on their fishing journeys.

The main highlights in the event is the "tibau", a traditional giant swing 20 feet high. Young people would daringly dive down to catch a swinging rope. This is obviously not for the faint hearted. Graceful dancers also performed at the event with their traditional alu-alu dance. Sri Ritma won the first prize with rm2,000 prize money. Other activities included martial arts demonstrations and parade by local community leaders. It is at this event that you get to witness the many facets of the Melanau community.

The most famous dish from Mukah would be the umai dish, which is a raw fish delicacy prepared out of raw fish and consumed in the form of salad. Several different types of raw fishes are used for preparing Umai. You can either have it plain, sliced fish with spicy chili sauce or raw fish mixed with lime juice, sliced onions, chilies, sugar and salt. The other popular dish would be the sago pellet.

Come visit Mukah and learn about culture and their uniqueness.

Secrets of the Lun Bawang Tribe, Sarawak

2009-06-12T01:07:00.000-07:00

Ethnic tribes in Sarawak considered clay beads a mystical item. Each tribe's unique and differences are reflected in how they string the beads together. New born babies wear bead anklets to mean another set of protective eyes to protect them from evil. Beads are commonly sewn into clothing or a beaded collar for iban's jackets or dresses to be worn on special festivities or occasions like weddings or other grand ceremony.

A Bidayuh's main costume is black and red, with the beads adding colours to it. Women's dance costumes have colourful beads embroidered into the colourful artworks of black and red velvet.

Beads signify wealth and status of the Melanaus and Bidayuhs. These beads include rare antique beads from the Middle East, Venice and China which dated back to centuries ago ie. that ancient traders have traded here in Sarawak.

The natives in wearing these beads would include a wild boar tooth for strength and responsibility or a brass bell for women wearers, to protect the wearer from harm. Beads are passed down from generation to generation, and like an asset, its value increases over time. Mothers collect beads from the time their child was born. A man may also use beads as a dowry when he wants to get married. The type and numbers of beads that a man owns reflect his worth and status in society.

The Lun Bawang tribe in Sarawak, also known as Orang Ulu (the Ulu People) are famous for their beadworks. The Lun Bawang tribe from a village called Long Tuma located at the northern tip of Sarawak produces their own ceramic beads to decorate their baby carriers, women handbags and sun hats,bracelets,anklets, belts and others.

Most of the Lun Bawang tribe stays in Lawas, a 4 hours drive from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Those Lun Bawang women uses their creative skills to make beadworks from clay and sell it to tailor shops in the city.

Long Tuma's history dates back since the Brooke era. Most of the women in the village are involved in producing ceramic beads for necklaces, bracelets and other clay based accessories as a source of income for them. The government of Sarawak through the Development of Rural Industrial Programme has commercialized the bead making skills of the Lun Bawang people through exhibitions and expositions around Sarawak. These beads are attractive to Bruneian tourists. Lawas is located quite near Brunei. Hence, the tourists would frequent the village to purchase the beadworks. The government has exported these beads to Sabah, West Malaysia and overseas.

10 Ideas For Places to Dive Worldwide

2009-06-12T01:05:00.000-07:00

Diving for me means; explore a breathtaking new world, experience breathing under water, seeing many different kinds of beautiful creatures and have fun with your buddy. For all of these elements you will have to dive at the right location with the right person. Here is a list with 10 of best places to dive worldwide.

1. Pulau Sipidan: Pulau Sipidan (what means Island Sipidan) is situated on the east coast of Sabah and the north coast of Borneo and is by far the best dive place. The island can be visited by a limited number of people. Make sure you make a clear reservation and make sure you have all the required papers carrying with you when you will visit the island. The underwater world is filled with many turtles, lobsters, rays, barracuda's, coral fishes, white tipped sharks and if you are very lucky you can see a hammerhead and more.

2. Pulau Mabul: Pulau Mabul is located nearby the island Sipidan. From Sipidan you can reach the island in 25 minutes by boat. You dive along steep walls with beautiful corals and on the other side you see a dark endless hole. In the steep walls you will see many lion fishes, turtles and all kinds of fishes. I think it also is a good place to start your PADI dive course.

3. Hurghada - Egypt is a very beautiful place to dive, especially the coast in front of the city Hurghada. Here are many manta's, colorful coral reefs, napoleon fishes, moray eels, sharks and turtles. And if you are taking a boat trip and you are lucky, you might get to see some dolphins.

4. Belize - Belize is situated on Mexico and Guatemala and it has a coast of 280 kilometers which is the second largest barrier reef in the world. Over here you can see nurse sharks, (which I think are great!) rays, turtles, canyons, sponges, soft coral species, tarpons and angel fish. You really have to experience this! It really makes you feel unreal and dreamy.

5. Great Barrier Reef - The Great Barrier Reef is located in the Coral sea, east of the state Queensland and is the biggest coral reef in the world. In this place, every dive is an adventure! The many colorful fishes, manta's, sharks and the amazing amount of coral is indescribable. Henron Island is the place to be for divers and snorkelers. It is part of the Great Barrier Reef and mainly divers and nature lovers come here because, the sea turtles are laying their eggs over here and in June and July you can see humpback whales swimming in front of the coast. That truly is an experience you will never forget.

6. Lanzarote - Diving in Lanzarote is a great place to dive! I think it is a special place because in front of the coast are many reefs and spots where you can dive such as the Homereef, Timanfaya Reef and Cathedral. Here you can make a cavern dive that is almost 15 meters high and wide on a depth of 30 meters, I think it is amazing. Furthermore there is a variety of fishes such as angel sharks, moray eels and many squids.

7. The Galapagos Islands - The Galapagos Islands is a beautiful place to dive but you really must have dive experience because on the Gorden Rocks is a heavy current. The dive schools over there will not give you any kind of equipment unless you can prove how many dives you have made. The minimum dives you must have done is 30. But ones you are in the water, you can see hammerheads, sea turtles, stingrays, eagle rays, sharks and sea lions.

8. Scapa Flow - Scapa Flow is located on the north east coast of Scotland and offers many shipwrecks left over from World War One. The many ships are close by the surface and the depth is about 15 meters so everyone can do a dive in here. The visibility is excellent over here and it is a great opportunity to do a wreck dive.

9. Fiji's - Fiji has many islands that offer great places to dive such as the Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Kadavu. On Viti Levua you can do cave dives, cavern dives and wreck dives.

10. Mauritius - The best time to dive on Mauritius is from October to April because the weather and the temperature of the water are more pleasant. If you are a diver and you are on Mauritius, you should go to 'Serpent Rank'. In every little corner you will see an eel or moray, sometimes they are 3 meters long. There are also many scorpions, lion fishes and stone fishes. At Grand Baie in the North is a vulcanic crater, that is often visited by sharks and rays.

Borneo - Exotic Island Paradise

2009-06-12T00:59:00.000-07:00

SABAH is Malaysia's premier nature adventure destination situated in the northern tip of Borneo Island, the third largest island in the world. Sabah is popular for its wildlife conservation attractions, rain forest, surrounding nature and islands, beach resorts, tropical white sandy beaches, crystal clear water, and its warm and friendly people. If you are thinking of visiting Borneo, these places of interest and activities will whet your appetite!

Mount Kinabalu

Let me begin with my favorite place and definitely not to be missed if you are visiting Borneo, Mt. Kinabalu (4,093m). It is the summit of Borneo and the tallest mountain in South East Asia. This mountain is sacred to the locals. Thousands from around the world have trekked to its peak. At the feet of this mountain is Kinabalu National Park, a botanical paradise where rare plants are found: rare orchids, nepenthes pitcher plants and the rafflesia, the largest flower in the world.

Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre

If you haven’t heard yet, the most popular native of Borneo is the Orang Utan. The world-famous Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre enables visitors to come in close contact with these amazing animals. This sanctuary allows visitors to witness an exciting conservation programme in action. Set in 43 square km of beautiful rainforest, the sanctuary helps once captive Orang Utans learn to fend for themselves in the wild. Watch how these orphaned Orang Utans being taught to climb, and then go to a platform where you can witness them coming in from within the forest for their daily meals of milk and bananas.

Danum Valley Rain Forest

If nature is close to your heart, then this next destination I am going to introduce you is a must visit, Danum Valley. Danum Valley is nestled deep in the rain forest of Borneo where nature is at its most pristine. As you travel deeper and deeper into the jungle, you will suddenly come across a magical paradise of the Borneo Rainforest Lodge (BRL), erected overlooking the magnificent setting of the Segama River and flanked by tall hill ranges. BRL is an impressive resort, designed by naturalists and built on stilts using traditional timber materials, and has the comfort of a 3-Star Hotel. I totally recommend Danum Valley to those who yearn to see wildlife in a primeval Borneo rainforest - the rare Sumatran rhino, proboscis monkeys, Orang Utan, elephants and over 275 species of birds.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Island Park

When you think you have enough of sightseeing and you want to take a day’s break idling around to charge your energy, then I suggest you take a 30-minute boat trip to Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. The park is made up of five beautiful islands and is a well-known sanctuary where peace and tranquility prevails. The tropical white sandy beaches are ideal for relaxing and tanning. The crystal clear water is fantastic if you fancy snorkeling or watching the sea lives and corals. The park is also a great spot for a BBQ picnic under the long hours of golden sunshine. Other activities include windsurfing, fishing, parasailing, kayaking and bird watching.

Golfing Holidays

If golf is your sport, then try the numerous high quality golf courses in Sabah. One of the courses as described by its designer - “I had to create a masterpiece by combining the natural splendor of the mountains and the seas, with ingenious architecture, and create a first class championship course to provide an enjoyable, yet challenging game for top professional golfers and amateurs alike" - Graham Marsh. Enough words said for the quality of golf courses here.

White-Water Rafting

For the true adventure seeker looking for an adrenaline-pumping activity, Sabah offers some of the most exhilarating thrills in the world. My scariest experience, only because I am not a good swimmer, is white-water rafting down the Padas River (a grade-3 river). Whilst trying to negotiate the rapids along this raging river for a distance of about 5 kilometers, do enjoy the breathtaking view that the surrounding rain forest does offer. However, be warned, don’t take your eyes off the rapids and waves too long!

Scuba Diving

Off the North Eastern coast of Borneo lies a tiny jewel of an island, Sipadan, with a marine ecosystem so perfect and unique that it is world renowned as one of the best dive spots in the world. Sipadan Island rises as a pristine Coral Sea mount, 650 meters from the floor of the Sulawesi Sea. This pinnacle off the eastern coast of Borneo is an oceanic magnet for marine life. As soon as you enter the crystal clear waters of Sipadan Island, you’ll understand why you have endured a journey that has taken you halfway around the world. As you begin to descend into this tropical water, you'll also understand why the World Wildlife Fund says, "No other spot on the planet has more marine life than this island."

Best Places to See Borneo Wildlife in Nature

2009-06-08T10:51:00.001-07:00

Outside of the US, there are more exotic animals available for viewing at places such as Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica, the Komodo Islands in Indonesia, Tanjung Puting National Park in Borneo, Polar Bear Observation in Canada, and of course a Kenyan Safari.

The Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica is a brilliant rain forest that contains over 100,000 acres of land and 5,000 acres of marine habitat. The park is home to 116 species of amphibians and reptiles, 139 species of mammals and more than 400 species of birds. There are no roads into the park, only hiking trails. Unless you are an avid hiker and have excellent map-reading skills, a guide is recommended. In addition to the trails, there are also viewing platforms built atop massive ajo trees.

The Komodo Islands in Indonesia house the world's largest population of Komodo dragons. These animals can grow to be over 300 pounds and up to nine feet in length. These islands are now an Indonesian national park and permits and tour guides are required, but they make the experience much more user-friendly (Komodo dragons aren't in petting zoos for a reason). In addition to land tours, you can also take a sea kayak around the park and see coral reefs, fish, dolphins, whales and sea turtles.

Tanjung Puting National Park in Borneo is one of the last places to see orangutans in their own natural habitat. Through an elaborate network of hiking trails, you can see the orangutans up close, swinging from branch to branch, suckling their young, or building nests to sleep. There are also orangutans in captivity which can be viewed. They are being rehabilitated before being returned to the wild. There are other jungle species as well that can be viewed in the orangutan jungle, including clouded leopards, civets, Malaysian sun bears, deer, numerous species of birds, and butterflies.

Bornean Bay Cat

2009-06-08T10:51:00.000-07:00

Residing solely on the island of Borneo, Bay Cat is also known as Bornean Bay Cat, Bornean Red Cat or Bornean Cat. So reclusive is this cat that it was only in the last decade that the first live specimen was successfully photographed. Bearing close genetic resemblance to the Asian Golden Cat, it is in fact smaller in size - weighing up to ten pounds and having a body length of just under three feet, including tail.

Pardofelis Badia, the Bay Cat is described to occur in two different color variants - reddish brown and bluish gray. Light colored spots exist on undersides and limbs. Face and tail is marked with white stripes, the latter ending in a white tip. Ears are rounded and dark colored, as is the head, marked often by an 'M-shaped' marking. The cat's teeth are unique and the overall appearance bears a striking resemblance with the jaguarundi.

Very little is known about the behavior, diet and activity patterns of this reclusive feline. It is believed to feed on small animals and monkeys as well as birds and carrion. The reproductive profile of the Bay Cat is also poorly understood.

The Bay Cat is so named since nearly all its sightings have taken place in bay areas, around water bodies, mangroves and swamps - this may be due to the preference of such a habitat for its abode by the cat or simply researcher bias of the area of study. It does however reside solely in the thick rainforests of Borneo.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on Bay Cat