Experiencing nature at Selirong Forest Recreation Park, Brunei

Selirong Forest Recreation Park is preserved solely

for outdoor recreation, research, and nature education

Arriving at Selirong Island by boat

Exploring the island on foot

Photos courtesy of and Copyright to Helwa and Brunei Press Sdn Bhd

By Helwa

The Bandar Seri Begawan Youth Centre Club of the Youth and Sports Department, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports yesterday organised an educational trip to the Selirong Island Park as part of the second school holiday activities.

It was participated by 25 members of the club. They were accompanied by eight staff from the Youth Centre and two officials from the Forestry Department.

Selirong Island, which is 30 minutes from Bandar Seri Begawan by boat, is a place for one to experience Brunei's nature.

The Selirong Forest Recreation Park is preserved solely for outdoor recreation, research, and nature education. The mangrove wonderland is a breeding ground for much of the marine lives that populate Brunei Bay.

The trip was held in collaboration with the Museums Department, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports that provided water transportation for the group.

The activity kicked off at about 8am yesterday.

The participants were given a briefing by the Forestry Department officials and explored the island on foot.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Rendezvous with nature at Danum Valley

WALKING around the sprawling compound of the Danum Valley Field Centre in Sabah’s Danum Valley was a rewarding first morning for Malaysian Nature Society, Perak gang of four. The endemic Dusky Munias were everywhere, feeding on grass seeds at road edges.

Perched high on treetops were parties of Green Imperial Pigeons and on subsequent days, we caught sight of a White-fronted Falconet and a Bat Hawk. The Buffy Fish Owl and Brown Wood Owl called every night.

In Danum Valley, a total of 328 bird species have been recorded, including 42 Bornean endemics. We were delighted to finally see one of these rare endemics, the queer looking Borneon Bristlehead. Despite the rainy weather, we saw a total of 60 species of birds during our six-day stay, a decent haul indeed.

The valley in eastern Sabah is not only a haven for birdwatchers, it is also noted for having one of the most complex eco-systems in the world.

It is located within 438sq km of lush virgin tropical rainforest which hides many of nature’s wonders not often seen by the human eye.

Into The Forest Trails

To see the rarer pitas, trogons and other animals, one has to venture into the forest trails. The first set of trails we tackled were the Grid Trails, which are set at right angles of each other.

In anticipation of an enjoyable trek, we jauntily crossed the swaying suspension bridge over the swollen Segama River to begin our adventure. Mistake! Since we were there in March, still within the wet season, we were soon mired in muddy tracks infested with tiger leeches. After two hours of slipping and sliding and picking off leeches, which are either on our arms or legs, some of us chose to turn back.

Continue reading (incl. pics) at: Rendezvous with nature at Danum Valley

Waterfall in Ulu Sarikei a good tourist attraction

SIBU: Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) Sibu has identified another potential tourist attraction in Ulu Sarikei - a waterfall.

Tucked away in the secondary rainforest, Sungai Munsoh waterfall was about the best one could find in Sarawak, according to STB Sibu executive, Rudy Anoi.

Easily accessible through easy jungle trekking from Rumah Nyuka longhouse at Lubuk Lemba, the waterfall should be an ideal get-away destination especially for those who like to escape from the hustle and bustle of busy town life, he added.

Incidentally, Rudy had been very busy of late trying to locate new pristine spots in the interior of central region of Sarawak which could be promoted as new tourism products to boost the tourism industry.

The discovery of Sungai Munsoh waterfall was definitely very rewarding, according to Rudy. He and his team, comprising a travel agent and staff from STB, made the discovery during a recent trip to Lubuk Lemba in Ulu Sarikei upper-river interior region in search of potential tourist destinations.

The 10-member team was led by Rudy and Ling How Ming of Greatown Travel.

“As part of our tourism product identification programme, this new discovery having the good potential as a tourist destination has been very promising, considering the perfect location and surroundings,” he said.

Continue reading (incl. pic) at: Waterfall in Ulu Sarikei a good tourist attraction

Maliau Basin: Sabah's Lost World

Deep in the rugged heartland of Sabah lies a piece of paradise. It is one of the few remaining areas virtually untouched by man—not just in Sabah but in the whole world! The Maliau Basin is distinguished by its almost circular perimeter outlined by a razor-sharp rim with steep slopes on all sides. The highest point is thought to be Gunong Lotung which is over 1,600m in elevation although this has not yet been accurately surveyed.

Despite its volcano like appearance the 25km Basin is in fact a sedimentary formation comprised mainly of gently inclined beds of sandstone and mudstone. It is a single significant water catchment area drained by a set of tributaries of the Maliau River, one of which descends a magnificent series of waterfalls known as the Maliau Falls. More than sixteen waterfalls have since been discovered making Maliau Basin one of the highest concentrations of waterfalls in one area in Malaysia. Here also you will find Lake Linumunsut, Sabah’s only true lake, formed by a landslide blocking a small tributary of the Pinangah River. Maliau Basin has never been permanently inhabited and over 80% of the area remains unexplored.

Before you decide to dress up like Indiana Jones and embark on an epic journey of slashing your way through wild untamed jungle, access to Maliau Basin is strictly controlled. The 390km2 Basin was originally part of a 10,000km2 timber concession belonging to Yayasan Sabah (Sabah Foundation), a government subsidiary. Realising the immense biodiversity value of the area, Sabah Foundation voluntarily designated the Maliau Basin as a Conservation Area for the purposes of research, education and training in 1981.


Sixteen years later, in 1997, the Maliau Basin Conservation Area was upgraded by the Sabah state government to a Protection (Class One) Forest Reserve which means no commercial interests will be allowed into the basin other than limited ecotourism, and the area was extended to its present size of 588.4km2 (58,840 hectares). It is also gazetted under the state Cultural Heritage (Conservation) Enactment 1997, which provides for the preservation, conservation and enhancement of the cultural heritage of Sabah.

Early expeditions which came close to Maliau Basin date back to the early 1900s up to the 1970s but they never found their way onto the rim of the Basin itself. A pilot was reported to have almost crashed into Maliau’s sheer cliffs in 1947. The first team to properly visit the interior of the Basin was in 1982 and this opened the doors for several organised scientific and adventure expeditions. The scientific expeditions in 1988 and 1996 revealed a spectacular array of plant species, including six species of pitcher plant and 37 species of orchid, several of which are new records to Sabah.

Rafflesia tengku-adlinii, one of Sabah’s rarest plants, was found during this expedition, and no new sites have been found elsewhere since. In addition, there are many more species of rhododendrons, orchids, ferns and other plants, which will require much more research and study.


These plants thrive in a diverse and unique landscape of lower montane forest dominated by majestic Agathis trees, rare montane heath forest and lowland and hill dipterocarp forests. There are over 40 species of dipterocarps as well as wild species related to well-known fruit trees, such as the rambutan, mangosteen, durian and jackfruit. These forests are also a refuge for rare and endangered animals such as Sumatran rhinoceros, banteng, proboscis monkey and Asian elephant, along with 182 species of birds.

One of the most dramatic signs of wildlife is a clear path which cuts across low heath forest through a pass on the southern rim into more fertile alluvial forest sites near the centre of the basin. Known as “Jalan Babi”, this natural game trail is likely the migration route of pig herds in search of food, especially during intense fruiting seasons.

The label “Lost World” which has been used to describe Maliau Basin was said “to be inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle’s story of the adventures of Professor Challenger in unknown territory northwest of Manaus (Brazil), where a lofty plateau was Maliau is as pristine, as incredibly self-contained and magical a place as could be found on Borneo which is one of the world’s everlasting icons of the splendour of nature.” (KM Wong, Malaysian Naturalist, Vol. 54/3).

It is difficult to disagree with this observation. Spectacular scenery, wild unexplored jungle, undiscovered plant life, exotic animals—Maliau Basin is a treasure trove of possibilities and discovery. The real meaning of the name “Maliau” is lost beneath the dark tea-coloured waters that flow through the basin. One account says that it is a Murut word for “murky”, which describes the silt-laden river waters during floods.

Another tells of a Murut name which means Land of the Giant Staircase after the steplike hills and ridges there. Whatever meaning Maliau may carry, it is without doubt one of the most significant natural treasures of Sabah. It transcends the meaning of wilderness, remoteness and the allencompassing joy of discovery. It is simply, one of God’s green gifts to the world.

Courtesy of: New Sabah Times 'In' Sites - Sabah Travel and Leisure Guide

Uncovering Danum’s treasures

TREES here are so tall,” notes a journalist during a media trip to Danum Valley Conservation Area (DVCA) recently. She was probably mesmerised by the many majestic tualang trees that rise at least 40m above the ground.

Even as we were admiring the last tract of virgin lowland forest in Sabah, logging continues in Malua Forest Reserve, just next to this 43,800ha conservation plot.

DVCA is part of the one million hectare forest concession allocated by the state government to Yayasan Sabah to finance the state social development by utilising its timber resources.

Fortunately, thanks to the foresight of scientists on the importance of pristine lowland forests to science, a part of the valley was set aside by Yayasan Sabah for conservation. In 1995, it was elevated to Class One protected forest.

Danum has long served the research interests of foreign scientists who make up more than 90% of the research community in the world-renowned tropical forest research station.

Continue reading (incl. pic) at: Uncovering Danum’s treasures

Tenom Agricutural Park - A walk in the Park

By Anna Vivienne

NATURE’S kaleidoscopes of colours are the most beautiful offering the world has for us. The blue sky that can turn slate-y, the green leaves that can go orange and then red and then brown, colourful flowers and butterflies …it’s all there for us to enjoy.

As a child, the wonder of nature never failed to amaze and delight me and I am still being pleasantly amazed at all the beauty around.

For most of us who are curious as to how creation started, well a walk down the Garden of Evolution at the Lagud Seberang Agricutural Park in Tenom may well give us some answers if not more questions.

Evolution is change in the heritable traits of a population (flora and fauna) over successive generations. The continuous frequencies of genes over time may result in the evolution of the certain species or development of new species from existing ones.

Be that as it may, during a recent visit to Lagud Seberang, I traipsed into the evolution garden and stared at the display of the formation of the earth; from dusts to moss to grasses and trees to dinosaurs. The interesting transition from one type of vegetations to another is clearly shown.

To add a touch of reality, the effigies of a Brachiosaurus and a Stegosaurus, or what look like them, are also found there, standing proud over some fossil plants. They look almost lifelike, towering over their visitor (me!). I almost willed them to utter a roar or maybe several ear-rending roars. Alas they were still as they should be, being made from some concrete.

Anyway, if they had so much as uttered a squeak, I could have fled in a jiffy. They were almost lifelike.

Walking past the two still beasts, I came upon the pond where water lilies grow. They are not the average water lilies though. The leaves are as big as a tray, maybe bigger and the flowers are almost as huge. And they are thorny. As I stared down at the leaves (freaky, I thought) a frog jumped in and out again. I waited for the next passer by (maybe a snake, make my day) but nothing came up, so I walked past.

Several minutes later, I walked out of the evolution park and went to look at another area where various types of gardens are shown off. Actually, the park’s main objective for the garden is as a sample for visitors who are at a quandary as to how to design their garden. Well, they should come and look at these gardens. They are beautifully made.

The gardens are actually planned spaces, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The gardens incorporate both natural and man-made materials.

The gardens are not actually recognised as ‘a garden’ but little enclosures within gardens that have its own identity. The shades and enclosures are places that visitors can sit on and rest. While resting they can enjoy the scenery, mostly green, around them. There are also food-producing gardens there such as fruit trees and vegetables.

Next, I walked into the Hybrid Orchid Centre. This centre covers four acres of the park and boasts 400 species of Orchid.

I was not able to cover the whole area… but I managed to walk around the front side of the centre. The various types of orchids came in different sizes; really beautiful and they came in different colours, too. They are really dazzling.

After getting all dazzled by the orchids, I visited the Bougainvillea Court, Hibiscus Garden, Lily Glade, the cactus area and the Ixora Garden. The flowers there were in their full glorious splendour, so much so that I had to sit down every few minutes. Does sensory overload tire you?

I especially loved the hibiscus garden. As a child, I lived in a house that was surrounded by hibiscus plants with colourful blossoms. During my walk around the park I was hit many times with déjà vu. I love that park, take a walk in this park if you happen to come to be there.

Oh, by the way, the Park is in a 500-acre of land and is managed by the Sabah Agriculture Department. It is part of the 1,500-acre Lagud Sebrang Agriculture Research Station and was launched in March 2001 by the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

And Tenom is located about four hours drive by road from Kota Kinabalu city. Buses and hired taxis are available at the bus terminal near KK’s Merdeka Field.

Go on, have fun at the park.

Courtesy of: New Sabah Times 'In' Sites - Sabah Travel and Leisure Guide

Tran-Mesilau

By Anna Vivienne

The winding road meandered through hillocks and hamlets towards the Blue Mountains, like a silvery passageway in the evening sun. The hills on each side of the road, gently sloping in some places and steep at some, were dotted by vegetable patches.

The green patches remind one of patched quilt; only they were predominantly green. All hues of green.

As the road went higher and higher into the mountains, the air became crispy and fresher. There vegetations were denser and pine trees grew lushly. The little farms were no longer visible; instead the natural environment dominated the scenery.

Then the road meandered through a golf course; interesting.

The golf course was cleverly infused into the environment that one almost believed that it had always existed. Perhaps the ‘little people’ tended that green … but then again there were the tracks.. so.

A couple of miles afterwards, I saw a bridge over a poster-pretty stream that flowed from higher up the mountain.

And there as I looked up is the Mount Kinabalu Ridge... I was 2000 kilometres above sea level right on the East Ridge of Mount Kinabalu, I was at Mesilau Nature Resort. Wow!

I felt euphoric for a while.

I was with a couple from the Peninsula Malaysia and they were as awed as I was. In fact they seemed more awed because it was their first time. I would not be surprised if they make a return visit. In fact I am sure they will.

Personally, I can never get enough of Mesilau. I have visited this resort a number of times, and I am still awed by the natural environment there; the broody mountain ridge, the forests, the cascading streams and the cool air, among many others.

This place is where you want to be , if possible forever.

The cool temperate climate, the serene surrounding and beautiful lodges available here make it a haven for honeymooners and those who wish to get away from the hubbub of city life. It is also a good place for naturalists because the flora and fauna available there.

For those who wish to climb Mount Kinabalu from a different route, Mesilau Trail is an alternative trail to climb.

The train starts from the Resort, to Layang-Layang on the Summit Trail. The climb takes longer than the route taken from the Timpohon Gate, at Kinabalu Parks.

Anyway, more information can be acquired from the Kinabalu parks for any climbs.

The Mesilau Nature Resort is a beautiful place to stay in and can be an ideal avenue for activities such as seminars, gatherings, meetings, motivational meetings and even just to get in “contact with your inner self.”

The Resort, managed by Sutera Sanctuary Lodges located at Wisma Sabah, has fantastic accommodations that will suit just about everybody.

The accommodations available are the Bishop’s Head Hostel which offers 96 Beds and 12 units of Crocker Range Lodge, while the Witti Range Lodge boasts four units.

There is one unit called King Edward’s Peak Lodge, two unites of Donkey’s Ear Peak Lodge, one unit called Ugly Sister’s Peak Lodge and one unit called St. John’s Peak Lodge while one unit of Low’s Peak Lodge.


These lodges have beautifully furnished rooms, with ample closets, good bathrooms and a nice living room. Each room is furnished with a room heater; so if you can’t stand the cold, switch that on and be warm.

Food is not a problem in Mesilau. Even though you cannot cook in the lodges, the restaurant there called kadamaian Restaurant will look into your every need. Just ask them. The resort manager Shazril Ahmad Shah stresses that their guests’ comfort is very important and that his staff will accord them information and assistance where necessary.

If you like playing golf, you can ask the reception for information on how to use the 18-hole golf course they have there. The people there are quite friendly and will be happy to assist you in any way.

So if you want a complete rest, except to meander within nature’s bower, Mesilau should be top on your ‘must go’ list.

Enjoy!

Courtesy of: New Sabah Times 'In' Sites - Sabah Travel and Leisure Guide

Nature Tour in Sabah - Getting down with Nature

Nature lovers have everything they want in Sabah. They can walk in the mists in Kinabalu Parks, with the cool mountain air blowing on their face. They just have to look up and they will be able to gaze at the morning sun as it unveils the craggy top of Mount Kinabalu; they can wake up to the roar of the waves at any islands they want or the distant call of monkeys.

They can add Maliau Basin, ‘The Lost World” to their string of affairs. People are welcome there but access is strictly controlled and earlier written permission must be sought from the Sabah Foundation or Yayasan Sabah. Maliau Basin is located in the south central part of Sabah, about 200 kilometres form Tawau. It is a circular shape which accounts for it being named ‘Basin.’

The highest point is Mount Lotung. Maliau is a single water catchment, drained by a set of tributaries and out into our longest river, Kinabatangan-Maliau Basin has beautiful waterfalls and home to many kind of animals, endangered and otherwise.

They include the Sumatran Rhino and Proboscis monkey. I believe the abundance of flora and fauna there that will fascinate nature lovers for a while.

Then there is the Danum Valley. This place is actually Sabah’s largest protected area of lowland dipterocarp forest, also managed by Yayasan Sabah.

Nature lovers will just adore this area, especially if they stay at the Danum Valley Field Centre. It is fascinating and slightly awe-inspiring to be staying in the world leading tropical rainforest research and environmental education establishments in Southeast Asia. I like the ambience at night, the call of insects and nocturnal animals are just fascinating.

Where wildlife is concerned, there are Orang Utans, Asian Elephants, mousedeers and even Sumatran Rhinos dwelling in this area. If you are lucky enough you will glimpse one or more of these animals. There is also a waterfall there, located about an hour and half walk from the field centre.

A lodge called the Borneo Rainforest Lodge is available, with 31 chalets to pick from. If you need a guide, talk to them staff there. Still in Lahad Datu area; the Tabin Wildlife Reserve is also a good and interesting place to go.

This reserve allows wild animals to roam freely and live their life in peace, except for the Oil Palm Plantations. There is also a mud volcano there that is an endless source of fascination for both animals and men, generically speaking. If you want to go there; stay with the Tabin Wildlife Resort. They have perfectly nice chalets that overlook the river there.

The jungle trek is stimulating for if you stop and look around you, you can well imagine how this land of ours actually looked like a long time ago.

So if you want to get in touch with nature, these are some of the places that you can go.

Courtesy of: New Sabah Times 'In' Sites - Sabah Travel and Leisure Guide

The unforgettable Bako National Park

KUCHING: Frolicking in the motorboat, swimming in the sea, picking shells on the beach and playing models, that was what the team of Henan (China) TV did at Bako National Park on Wednesday afternoon besides having a whale of a time.

Headed by producer of cultural section, Tian Lei, the other team members, director Geng Nan, reporters, Shi Chun Li and Chen Chen went to Bako to see for themselves the rich natural park Sarawak had to offer.

They were in the State to make a documentary film on Sarawak.

There was already an air of excitement as the four wearing life jackets decided to ‘act’ out the romancing couple, Jack and Rose in the movie, “The Titanic who stood at the bow of the Titanic with the latter’s arms stretched out.

Chen Chen decided to play Rose and asked Geng Nan to play Jack much to the amusement of the boatman and Eastern Times General Manager, Ivy Ngo who escorted the team there.

As the boat was too small to have a bow to stand on, the two decided to do it sitting down.

Continue reading (incl. pic) at: The unforgettable Bako National Park

The Lower Kinabatangan Needs a Wildlife Corridor

AS WE ROUNDED UP a corner of the Lower Kinabatangan River, we spotted them. A herd of Borneo pygmy elephants were quietly grazing, barely 7m from our boat, the bull guarding the group, that includede three calves, a short distance away.

We were at Danau Girang, a 10km boat ride from Kg Batu Putih, near the Mile 32 Lahad Datu-Sandakan junction, mixed feelings of excitement and sadness welling within us. For we knew that these majestic pachyderms face an uncertain future if nothing is done soon to curb the encroachment of palm oil plantations all the way to the river bank, thus hindering their movement.

We were a group of journalists and environmentalists on a wildlife expedition to the Lower Kinabatangan through the Nature Conservation Programme under the auspices of the School of Biology and Tropical Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. The 31-member team was headed by Datuk Rajah Indran, the programme’s adviser.

The 560km-long Kinabatangan River is home to such endangered species as the Borneo pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, orangutans, hornbills, clouded leopards, sun bears and Sumatran rhinoceros.

Continue reading (incl. pic) at: The Lower Kinabatangan Needs a Wildlife Corridor

Garama River Cruise - A date with nature

Want to see the Dutchman of Borneo? Go to Garama, near Kota Kinabalu and keep an eye out for the strange-looking proboscis monkey unique to these parts.

Shortly after we checked into Only In Borneo Resort, we joined a big group of day trippers in a fibre glass longboat. We were soon on the Garama River, cruising through the Klias Wetland Conservation Area, looking for wildlife in a massive mangrove swamp.

Wetland wildlife

We were, of course, watching out for the proboscis monkeys but before encountering this star attraction we were alerted to the presence of a green, triangular-headed snake (Wagler’s pit viper) on the low branches of a tree behind the resort’s boardwalk.

We were warned to approach it with caution because its venom could kill a person in 30 minutes. That did not stop the two photographers in the group from taking close-up pictures, as they lay stretched out on the boardwalk or hung precariously over the guard ropes.

Continue reading (incl. pics) at: Garama River Cruise - A date with nature

Kinabalu's Green paradise

The majestic Mount Kinabalu is the pride of Sabah, the Land below the Wind
Administrative office at Kinabalu National Park
Among the flowering plants in the park
One of the thousands of orchid species found in the park
One of the many species of frogs

Photos courtesy of and Copyright to NYL and Brunei Press Sdn Bhd.

By NYL

Kinabalu National Park was established as one of Malaysia's premier national parks in 1964.
Playing an important role as one of the most important biological sites in the world, UNESCO selected it as the country's first World Heritage Site in 2000.

The park spreads over 750 square kilometres and is located on the west coast of Sabah.

Park headquarters is located at 1,588 metres and provides accommodation such as hostels, lodges and chalets.

A number of restaurants and exhibition centres are located in the vicinity of the park.

Park administrative offices manned by Sabah Parks are well sited.

Climbers need to register here before climbing.

The temperature varies from 20 degrees centigrade to 13 degrees as evening approaches.

The most suitable time to visit the park is from March to April, during the dry season.

The average rainfall can exceed 400 cm per year and the temperature at night can drop below freezing point especially at Laban Rata, half way up to Mount Kinabalu.

The park is blessed with such beautiful flora that you can't help but stop at every blossom to snap a memorabilia. There are more than 1200 types of orchids found here.

The unique carnivorous pitcher plant is also one of Kinabalu's endemic prized possessions.

They prey on insects by secreting alluring nectar. It is documented that more than nine species of pitcher plants grow here.

The world's largest flower, the red Rafflesia can be found here if you are lucky enough to spot one. It is beautiful to look at but has a pungent smell. It wasn't such a surprise to learn that it really is a parasite.

It can grow to three feet wide. It does not have any leaves, stems or even a root. The unique plant can only be found in the rain forests of Sumatra and Borneo. Almost extinct, it is protected by law.

The park's system of trails allows visitors to make the most of their visit, with trails ranging from less than an hour to four days in length.

The wide altitudinal range covered by the park means that a large number of different habitats and forests types are found within its environs, from lowland diptherocarp forest where only little light can enter, coniferous forests, alpine meadow and of course the stunted bushes.

Some of the richest montane oaks grow here. To date there are more than 40 different species recorded.

As for fauna, residents include orang utans, gibbons, ant eaters, sun bear, the grey and the red leaf monkey, tarsier, ferret badger, more than 200 species of birds, various types of strange insects, 200 species of butterflies and over 100 types of macro moths.

There are more than 60 amphibian species of frogs and toads, which have been recorded and 40 species of fish. There are about 90 species of lowland creatures and around 22 montane mammal species.

Few landmarks have dominated the landscape in any part of the world as much as Mount Kinabalu does over Borneo. The majestic Mount Kinabalu is the pride of Sabah, the "Land below the Wind".

The mountain came into existence less than a million years ago when a plutonic rock forced its way upwards through sandstones of the Crocker Range due to winds and torrential rain. However, the youngest non-volcanic mountain is still growing at the rate of five mm per year.

The mountain was first climbed by Sir Hugh Low who collected many of Kinabalu's unique plants.

Today's research is directed towards the conservation of this magnificent mountain and its remarkably rich biodiversity.

Climbing Mount Kinabalu may seem like no big deal these days but it is no stroll in the park either. Actually, some preparations are needed. While climbing up is one thing, the descent may be even more taxing. Bearing that in mind, climbing Mount Kinabalu is within reach for all able-bodied people.

Climbers are assisted by steps hewn from rocks and ropes placed at strategic points. Hence some 30,000 people annually are able to scale Southeast Asia's highest peak at 4,101m (13,455 ft).

The climb to the top takes about two days so you will have to acclimatise over night at Laban Rata at 10,700 feet. You will need a guide to go all the way to the top.

Enjoy the stunning and breathtaking views during your climb.

However, for those who don't intend to reach the frost covered rocky summit, you can go trekking in the foothills. For time out to unwind, head to the open air sulphur health spa, Poring Hot Springs, located 43km away from the park.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Weekend

Maliau's flora, fauna impress study group

Keningau: If the Maliau Basin in the heart of Borneo could attract an increasing number of foreign tourists, there is no reason why Malaysians in Sabah should not want to see more of their State.

This was the view of the leader of a multi-national group who recently visited the Maliau Basin.

He said not many Malaysians are aware of the presence of exotic flora and fauna in their surrounding areas. These species might have gone extinct in developed countries.

The group, comprising 15 Germans, Canadians and Peninsular Malaysians, as well as some locals, aged 25-45 years, recently went on a study tour of the Maliau Basin, after undertaking a 250-kilometre journey from Keningau.

German participant Christoph Haupt was thrilled by the number of encounters he made in the jungle, describing the plants, trees, animals and insects as "unique" considering that most of these species had gone extinct in other developed countries.

Continue reading at: Maliau's flora, fauna impress study group

Sarawak’s rich biodiversity offers promising opportunities

KUCHING - Sarawak's rich biodiversity and its multi-ethnic communities utilising the resources in the forests has resulted in a wealthy accumulation of knowledge on the state's flora and fauna.

This offers promising opportunities for scientific discoveries, said Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at the 2007 Sarawak Nepenthes (Pitch Plant) Summit welcoming dinner here on Saturday night.

"There are untouched territories waiting to be discovered, thus, we look forward to welcoming more scientists and experts to Sarawak to collaborate with us in our various conservation and research projects," he said in his speech read by his deputy Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu.

He added that many scientists had carried out their research and have not been disappointed. He hoped that many others would follow suit.

Continue reading at: Sarawak’s rich biodiversity offers promising opportunities

Bako's natural wonders

Do you know that some of the most beautiful rock formations in Sarawak are found at Bako National Park?

Bako, the state’s oldest national park, is about 20 minutes’ boat ride from Kampung Bako. And Kampung Bako is about 30 minutes’ drive from Kuching.

Tucked at the tip of the Muara Tebas peninsular and covering an area of 27.27 sq kilometres, the park is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

A treasure chest of fauna and flora, Bako is home to a wide range of vegetation, including varieties of pitcher plants and wild orchids and unique wildlife like the wild boars and the long-nosed proboscis monkey found only in Borneo.

If you have not visited this famous park before, now, perhaps is the time to do so. You can make a day trip to the park.

Don’t forget to bring along your camera, too.

Besides its interesting plant life and wildlife, Bako has beautiful jungle streams, waterfalls, beaches and trekking trails.

The park also has many fantastically shaped sea arches and stacks with coloured patterns formed by iron deposition.

Continue reading (incl. pics) at: Bako's natural wonders

My trip to awesome Temburong Brunei

Trekking up the 1226 steps to the canopy walkway
Going up the Belalong river in a longboat

High in the tree tops on the canopy walkway

Photos courtesy of and Copyright to Azz and Brunei Press Sdn Bhd.

By Azz

On July 29, I embarked on a journey where I came face to face with nature and the outdoors. Oh well, I'd better bring some chocolate along! Trekking and swimming through the jungles and rivers of Belalong, Temburong, may be a daunting task, but if it's with the most rowdy bunch of co-workers that you've ever worked alongside, it's like putting the "wild" in wilderness. So that's how it was, wild, fun, tiring, shocking, and last but not least, the most unbelievable team-building activity that I've ever been involved in.

Forty staff members and employees of BAG Networks, and of course interns like me, made the 45-minute boat ride from the jetty just off Kianggeh Food court in Bandar to Temburong town at 7.00am. But before boarding the boat, a head count was required to ensure that no one is left behind. To make life easier, all of us were divided into five teams of eight, where I happened to win the coin toss of becoming the team leader.

Our team name, "Team Laksa Mana" ("Where is the Laksa Team") was derived from my fascination with the title "Laksmana" and my mispronunciation of the title. So as all eight members of Team "Laksa Mana" boarded the boat along with the other 32 staff members and employees, I began to wonder if we are all properly prepared for the expedition that we were currently in the midst of. All I brought was a couple of Mars bars, two bottles of water, a mini towel and an extra change of clothes. The others packed pretty much the same things, minus the chocolates.

It took only 20 minutes into the boat ride and I could already see that some people were falling asleep and were bored. So to liven things up, Peter, the leader of the Tech Team at BAG Networks, decided to make everyone join a singing activity. His choice of song was "We Will Rock You" by Queen that was led by him and everyone else joined in by clapping and stamping their feet. When it was my turn, I made everyone sing the "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!" song (it was the only song that came to me at the time). Thank goodness the boat ride was only 45 minutes, because if it were any longer, I would've had to jump overboard due to the lack of melody in our singing, to say the least! After disembarking from the boat at the Temburong town jetty, we straightaway got on the buses that would take us to the organiser's rest house, which happened to be the trip's medic's house! After a quick briefing and a bite to eat, we were all given life jackets before getting on the bus again to head towards Belalong. I was already eating my third Mars bar by then!

The bus ride took around 15 minutes, and after arriving at the drop-off point, we had to take longboats up the river in groups of six. I, along with five others, was unlucky to board a particular longboat, which had a dodgy motor and kept on dying on us every 10 minutes. It was rather annoying because all the other boats that left after us kept on passing us by. After the upstream trip 12km, we finally arrived at the Ulu Temburong national park entrance, and what a sight it was, a huge camping facility where it was built along the river and halfway up the tree line.

From there, we would leave our life vests and trek up to the summit of the Canopy Walkway, which happened to be around 1226 steps from the base of the camp to the entrance of the metal staircase of the canopy walkway. The 1226-step trek up through a sloped jungle required a lot of teamwork and also a lot of support from one another so that no one is left behind. You tend to find out more about your team-mates through teamwork, and I find that you also get to know more about yourself. Like how you handle a team member who complains a lot, slow, or is just a pain in the lower back. We did reach the summit in the end, but not exactly in record time.

Up the 60-metre canopy walkway above the treetops awaited a sight to behold: nothing but dense jungle everywhere and high flying birds. Be careful as you walk up the canopy because the metal rails can get quite hot. How can climbing up the canopy walkway be complete without a few screams and shouts from the highest point of the canopy? It was nice to hear the echoes of my name proclaiming my ascent to the top of Ulu Temburong national park.

The trek down the summit was a lot easier as we took a different and less rough terrain route back down the entrance of the Ulu Temburong national park. It was almost lunchtime and our stomachs were grumbling like mad. But before we could eat our lunch, we had to get to it first. This was where the fun began! We were told that our lunch was somewhere down along the river, and that the only way to get to it was by jumping into the river and floating downstream until we reached a bed of rocks with our lunch on it! So after putting on our helmets and strapping on our life jackets, we jumped in and floated downstream.

Personally, I found it amazing that I was actually floating down a river in the middle of a rainforest. This was a huge surprise for me because initially I thought that we couldn't get into the river due to crocodiles and snakes. But after floating down the river for 20 minutes, there was nothing to be afraid of because there wasn't anything in the water, other than the rocks that we kept on running into. Even though they were smooth and round, they were still rather painful to rub against.

Coming ashore to the bed of rocks after the 30-minute float down stream, lunch was served. After lunch, came a small navigation activity where each team would have to navigate through dense jungle to reach a particular waterfall. Even though each team was given different directions and bearings, we ended up merging as one big team of 40 to go through the dense jungle. Lots of shrubs and of course my favourite "Batang Duri" were in our way of getting to the waterfall. I remember running like a madman towards the waterfall when I saw it from afar, pushing everyone out of the way and jumping into it because it was so refreshing and cooling, especially after the last 30 minutes of trekking through the rainforest. The next activity lined up for us would be another wet one, but that is another story.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Weekend

Bako National Park at night

The best way to see some of the animals at Bako National Park is to go in a small group on a selected trail at night.

As darkness falls, the park is filled with the sounds of the forest creatures, such as crickets and frogs.

During the Bako 50th Anniversary Media and Press Trip recently, senior Sarawak Forest Corporation (SFC) officer Rambli Ahmad, who is also a plant and animal expert, enthusiastically showed us the park at night.

The first thing he asked us to do was to gaze at the sky and everyone saw the bright three quarter moon!

He said watching the moon in the sky at night in a place like Bako National Park was important as the moon and sea tide had correlation with the eco system on the national park.

Continue reading (incl. pics) at: Bako National Park at night

Stunning Lakei island nearby Bako National Park

The legendary island of Lakei, located on the north-eastern tip of the Bako Peninsula, is a place that I have always wanted to visit, and with the Bako 50th Anniversary Media and Press Trip, I received the opportunity to do so. The island’s history and scenery exceeded all the expectations I had, and I highly recommend it to anybody who has the chance to go.

According to our host, who was with the Sarawak Forest Corporation (SFC), the island’s name may derived from the Chinese ‘lakia’ which means ‘native’. Chinese merchants who came from mainland China came to the island of Lakei to trade many centuries ago.

The tranquil boat trip to Lakei, which started from Bako National Park Headquarters, took about half an hour, and on the way there, we were humbled by amazing natural formations of sea stacks.

Unsurprisingly, the boatman slowed down frequently so that all of his passengers could absorb the stunning natural environment, and take photos to remember its beauty.

Continue reading (incl. pics) at: Stunning Lakei island nearby Bako National Park

Maliau Basin

By Anna Vivienne

We have all heard about Maliau Basin and how it represents a geological catchment’s surrounding the Maliau River.

It is also called Maliau Basin Conservation Area and is located around the centre of Sabah in the Sandakan Division.

It was designated as a conservation area, by the Sabah Foundation in 1981 and several years later, Sabah State Assembly gazetted the basin as a Protection Forest Reserve.

The region features the ‘much talked about’ Mount Lotung, Maliau Falls, and Lake Linumunsut.

Maliau Basin is saucer-shaped, surrounded by cliffs and steep slopes, therefore making it almost inaccessible from most
directions.

The highest point, Gunung Lotung is on the north rim, resembling a cauldron.

Lake Linumunsut is in the northern part of Maliau and was the first site for an expedition held several years ago.

One of the most photographed sites at the basin could well be the Maliau Falls, a very impressive seven-tiered deluge of crashing water.

The diversity of flora and fauna in the basin has been famous since the first expedition was held in 1988.

It was organised by the Sabah Foundation (YS) and WWF Malaysia.

Guests however have to seek permission from the Yayasan Sabah to enter the basin area.

Courtesy of: New Sabah Times 'In' Sites - Sabah Travel and Leisure Guide

Maliau Basin hopes to attain World Heritage status

TAWAU: The existence of the mysterious Maliau Basin, located in the south of Sabah’s central region, came to light in 1947 when a pilot almost crashed the light aircraft he was flying, into a steep slope in that area.

Since then, many attempts have been made to venture into this thickly forested and mist shrouded area but all were futile.

Only in 1981, a group of Sabah Foundation surveyors who used a helicopter, managed to venture into this basin.

The basin which is about 58,840ha wide is a unique in the sense that it is shaped like a huge volcanic crater.

Continue reading (incl. pics) at: Maliau Basin hopes to attain World Heritage status