Into the Heart of Borneo

To finish up the summer I headed out to Borneo for 8 weeks as part of Kayak Borneo. Before landing in Kota Kinabalu I had no idea what to expect, but what followed was two months of great food, minor mishaps and adventure.

We met indigenous tribes who have occupied the highlands for ten thousand years, paddled numerous first descents and ran countless class three rapids...upstream! Check out the Kayak Borneo blog for stories. Here is a collection of my favourite photos and memories.

The Telekosang

An awesome river found by the first team. We headed there early in the trip to warm up and get a feel for the white water of Borneo.

The Tuto

After warming up the team decided to leave Sabah (northern Malaysian Borneo) and head south west to Sarawak. After talking to helicopter pilots, consulting our seriously out of date topological maps and driving through the small country of Brunei we set of on an unconventional route to Mulu national park.

Two ferries, a long boat and a scary four wheel drive ride later and we were at the top of the Tuto. With persistent heavy rain we had to move camp three times on the first night whilst dodging the jungle wildlife.

The river was mostly big, big volume grade 3/4 but one rapid was so serious that it had us trapped for four hours waiting for the levels to drop. Every time we thought it was getting ok to run a tree would emerge like the sword from the lake below the drop.

Along the way we managed to get immersed in the tribal culture of Borneo; staying with Penan and Kayan tribes in traditional longhouses. We were even given a demonstration of the silent and deadly blowpipe.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Into the Heart of Borneo

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Guidebook on Mount Kinabalu's eastern trail launched

KOTA KINABALU: Plans to promote the less explored eastern part of Mount Kinabalu to adventure seekers are being worked out.

Sabah Parks chairman Datuk Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin Tengku Mahamood said while it was too early to reveal anything, he expected to come out with something concrete in the next few months.

Launching a guidebook, East Kinabalu: A Guide to the Eastern Part of Mount Kinabalu on Monday, he said part of the reason for a lack of climbers at that part of the mountain was the dearth of information compared with the well-trodden tourist trail to the highest peak, the Low's Peak.

The 160-page guidebook, written by three local climbing enthusiasts, would help address the matter and hopefully generate interest for others to venture into the less explored part of the mountain, said Zainal Adlin.

"People normally take the normal routes as east of Mt Kinabalu is for the more adventurous; it is more challenging yet safe.

"But more is needed to be done so that people will be able to experience the rocky wilderness there. We are planning something, but we cannot say anything yet until the government endorses it."

Asked about the difference in the number of climbers between the East Kinabalu route and the popular tourist trail, he said: "Last year, about 50,000 people climbed the western trail up Mt Kinabalu, but only nine people climbed the mountain's eastern trail.

"In the past, it was mostly Kinabalu Parks staff who climbed the eastern part of Mt Kinabalu, so we need to attract more local and international trekkers to this part."

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Guidebook on Mount Kinabalu's eastern trail launched

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Novel way to market Sabah tourism

INCENTIVE: Special tourism packages to give visitors a shopping spree-cum-cultural experience

KOTA KINABALU: SABAH is moving to promote the state capital and Labuan as potential holiday shopping destinations in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2014.

Its special "Oh My Shopping" package would not only provide tourists a shopping spree experience, but also get them to join cultural tours and adventures here and in Labuan.

Sabah Tourism Malaysia director Sani Sham Ahmad said the agency, under Tourism Ministry, was working closely with selected shopping malls and travel agencies.

"Travel agencies see the potential of incorporating shopping with culture and adventure to further promote Sabah and Labuan as shopping havens.

"This creative method will be more appealing to tourists as promoting shopping alone is difficult," he said at a Duty Free Seminar here yesterday.

Sani said Sabah Tourism Malaysia had sold 380 packages worth RM263,000 since the "Oh My Shopping" initiative was launched in August.

He said the city and Labuan were as good as other duty-free islands as tourists would be able to shop for various tax- and duty-free goods in malls as well as tamu (bazaars).

The government aimed to promote Malaysia as a premier duty- free shopping destination and Sabah as well as Labuan, could contribute towards this initiative, he added.

Organised by Tourism Malaysia, the Duty-Free Seminar was to encourage shopping complexes, retailers, associations and non-governmental organisations to play their role in promoting duty-free goods.

Continue reading at: Novel way to market Sabah tourism

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Proboscis Monkey is the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 Mascot

After years of having the common Orangutan, Hornbill and Leatherback Turtle as the official mascot for the Visit Malaysia Year events, it was a very nice surprise to see a Proboscis Monkey being selected as the official mascot for the coming Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

This was also officiated at the dinner gala for the World Tourism Conference 2013 in Melaka on the 21st October.

The Malaysian Tourism Minister - Daruk Seri Nazri had concluded his WTC 2013 speech which led to the official announcement to over 600 people at the Hattan Hotel Grand Ballroom in Melaka. 

Many were caught unaware of this unique primate which can only be found on the island of Borneo.

Datuk Seri Nazri initiated the launch gambit by inserting a special VMY2014 Card into a slot which opened the center stage to reveal three Proboscis Monkeys who came out to surprise of the audience here.

Specially tailored costumes of the primates were created for this event where the monkeys danced on the stage inviting the tourism minister to participate along.

A video presentation on the highly protected primate was followed with a brief introduction to the media and audience.

The Proboscis Monkey or scientifically known as Nasalis larvatus is a very unique monkey due to its habitat where it survives on a very unique vegetarian diet of leaves from selected mangrove trees.

The large nosed monkeys are commonly found around Sabah and Sarawak near mangrove areas and usually in groups.

In Sabah, they are spotted at places along the Kinabatangan River, Labuk Bay in Sandakan and also the Klias River near Kuala Penyu which is about two hours from Kota Kinabalu city.

There are also other parts of Sabah where thee monkeys can be spotted.

A number of tour operators cater to tours and trips to see the Proboscis Monkeys.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Proboscis Monkey is the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 Mascot

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JSM, first Welsh band to perform at 2014 Sarawak Rainforest World Music Festival

KUCHING: A Welsh band will the first time be featured at the 17th edition of the internationally acclaimed Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) to be held here on June 20-22 next year.

Sarawak Tourism Board, Malaysia Major Events and Mabon jointly announced this at the World Music Expo (Womex) 2013 being held in Cardiff, Wales.

The band is delighted to accept this invitation which tops off a remarkable year of shows across Europe and precedes the band’s headline ‘Taith ADRE Tour’ across Wales in November.

Jamie Smith, Mabon’s composer and accordionist said it is a great honour for the band to be invited to this festival.

“We look forward to performing to a new audience and making new friends in a different part of the world,” he said.

The mighty Jamie Smith’s Mabon (JSM) are Britain’s finest original Inter-Celtic music performers, travelling beyond borders to explore the forms and styles of the Celtic traditions and work them anew.

The band’s reputation for producing acclaimed recordings and stunning live shows is well documented. Combining traditional instruments and a modern rhythm section, JSM perform outstanding original compositions, both instrumental and vocal, by acclaimed accordionist Jamie.

The band comprising five members will no doubt thrill festival goers.

In 2011 they were awarded ‘Best Instrumental Album’ by online folk and roots magazine Spiral Earth. Since then the band has played sessions for BBC Radio 2 and Radio 3, headlined shows for Celtic Connections, Womad (UK), Interceltique du Lorient, Het Lindeboom (France), Music Meeting (Netherlands) and a host of high profile festivals across Europe.

In 2013, Jamie won the competitive accordion competition at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient.

They are a ‘must see’ act in the folk and roots world.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: JSM, first Welsh band to perform at 2014 Sarawak Rainforest World Music Festival

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