MALAYSIA WORLD HERITAGE TOURS

Xterra Malaysia

Xterra Malaysia – XTERRA is a series of off-road triathlon, a three-sport race which include swimming, mountain biking, and trail running. This time around, in 2013 – XTERRA MALAYSIA will be offering an exciting new off-road experience. Surrounded by lush greenery, XTERRA offers participants the opportunity to explore the flora and fauna from a different perspective – off-road triathlon! It’s time to get sweaty and muddy. So, are you ready to have a dirty weekend with us?

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+603 7960 2325

Fax
+603 7960 2231

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Sabah Fest – A Cultural Extravaganza

Be mesmerised by the poetry of music, song and dance at a cultural extravaganza which showcases Sabah at its absolute best. This expression of the local spirit will relay stories about the diversity of a land which is rich in unique traditions and beliefs. Besides engaging in theatre production, visitors can also observe the distinctive are of producing handicrafts such as wooden carvings and hand-woven cloth by some of the most talented local artisans.

Venue
Auditorium, Kompleks JKKN Sabah

Phone
+6088-232 121

The natural wonders of Tawau Hills Park, Malaysia

Tawau Hills Park, just 24 kilometres from the town of Tawau in Sabah on Malaysian Borneo, features some of the largest and smallest of nature’s species on the planet.

Initially established as a protected water catchment area for Tawau, the park’s rainforest attracts visitors for trekking, picnicking, camping and staying at chalets and lodges in the park. Several major rivers originate in the park and the Tawau River provides many of its pools and waterfalls – some of which are a three-hour hike away.

Surrounded by oil palm and cacao plantations, the rainforest, measuring 28,000 hectares, initially appears dense, but as my husband and I make our way along the well-marked paths our guide Ben begins to point out various species of mushrooms, flowers and the curious-appearing ‘pill box’ millipedes, which curl into a perfect sphere when they sense danger.

As we walk further into the forest, our guide tells us about this lowland dipterocarp forest, consisting of tropical lowland rainforest trees. The trees are highly-valued as a source of timber in Borneo and most of the forest below 500 metres has been previously logged. As you climb above 1,000 metres the vegetation transforms into a thick damp mossy forest. ?

Dipterocarp forest. Pic: Tianyake, Flickr.

Our walk today won’t be taking us to those heights, but it will still give us a taste of what the forest offers the visitor – many of whom are locals who come here for walks and picnics on the weekends.

Our hike to see one of the biggest things in the forest continues with our guide preparing us for what we might see on our trek. There are not only many fascinating examples of flora, including some amazing orchids – and Malaysia’s tiniest orchid! – but also fauna, such as long tailed macaques and the red leaf monkeys, although our guide warns us that it’s rare to see the elusive primates here.
Birdlife is also widespread with six of the eight species of hornbill in Sabah being found here. As our guide talks to us we can hear them in the trees, and we’re hopeful we’ll spot one in the wild today.

What we do spot first is a red-naped trogon, a bird under threat from loss of its habitat. It’s a particularly good bird to try to spot because it blends so well with the rainforest.
As we walk further on to the sound of countless cicadas singing their tune, we see a small rodent literally zipping between tree branches. It’s moving so fast we struggle to get a photo of it until it pauses on a branch momentarily. Our guide informs us that it’s a plain pygmy squirrel, a tiny brown squirrel endemic here and one of the smallest species in the world. Before we can focus our lenses, it’s off again darting between branches to comic effect.

As the trees get taller, our guide points out a giant yam with massive leaves. While we’re no big fans of eating yams, our guide tells us we must try the yam-flavoured ice-cream, while we’re in Borneo.
While we don’t see the rafflesia, the largest flower in the world, which grows here, nor the smallest orchid, the orchid podochilus, nor the phalaenopsis gigantean or ‘Elephant Ear Orchid’, native to Borneo, we soon arrive at the viewing platform for the world’s largest tropical tree.

Identified in 2006, this shorea faguetiana, called ‘pokok Seraya Siput Kuning’, was recorded at a height of 88.32 m, while several others in the area were discovered to also be over 80 metres. It’s so monumental we find it almost impossible to grasp the scale of the trunk of the tree or take a photo to meaningfully demonstrate its size!

As we begin our walk back to the park office, we are disappointed that we have not spotted any monkeys. Our guide tells us we have to be really lucky to spot them here, as they like to stay high in the trees.

Just as we cross a small bridge close to the entrance of the park, we hear a rustling in the trees just off the path. Clearly more than just the wind blowing through the trees, we guess it must be a troop of monkeys.

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Red leaf monkeys. Pic: Paul Williams, Flickr.

To our surprise it’s not the more common long tailed macaques, but a small troop of the rarer red leaf monkeys. As sunlight steams through the trees they are sitting in, we can clearly see their stunning russet red fur. While several small monkeys play in the trees a mother with her baby clinging on joins in the fun. Our guide happily tells us that it’s only the second time he’s ever seen them this close.

Exploring Malaysia’s biodiversity with a Kinabatangan River cruise

The Kinabatangan River originates in the Crocker range in Malaysia and stretches for 560 miles before merging into the Sulu Sea east of Sandakan in Sabah, Borneo. It is the second longest river in Malaysia after the Rajang River. Sandakan is the second largest city in Sabah and is the base for many wildlife adventures like the Turtle Islands Park, Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, Gomantong Caves and of course the Kinabatangan River cruises that offer unparalleled opportunities for observing wildlife.

Beautiful Sandakan, Borneo, Malaysia. Pic: Steven888, Creative Commons.

Along the banks of Kinabatangan river thrives amazing wildlife that attracts tourists from all corners of the globe. The region is home to both orangutans and proboscis monkeys, as well as other primates. The conservation status of both the species is endangered. A large section of the lower Kinabatangan floodplain is now a wildlife sanctuary in order to preserve the natural habitat of these primates. In all, 10 varieties of primates are found in the region.

Apart from the orangutans and proboscis monkeys there are salt water crocodiles, Borneo pygmy elephants, macaques and many more reptiles and insects. The area is also rich in birds with chances of sighting eagles, kingfishers, hornbills, egrets, storks and more. Given the biodiversity and scenic beauty of the mangrove forests, a Kinabatangan river cruise makes for an unforgettable adventure.

The closest town for the river safari is Sukau ,which is 135 kilometers away from Sandakan by road. Road transfer typically takes 3 hours. The public transport to and from Sandakan to Sukau is limited to one trip per day. There is an airport at Sandakan which connects to Kota Kinabalu. There are a few lodges at Sukau which offer basic amenities for a comfortable stay. Homestay options are also available in the town. Sukau has just one road, with the town growing alongside it.

An Orangutan in the Wild. Pic: Eleifert, Creative Commons.

Early mornings, late afternoons and evenings are the best times to go on a river cruise as the chances of spotting wildlife are at their best at these times. Animals and birds come out at these times for food and water. It is also easier to spot wildlife with guides as they know the animals’ habitats and behaviors. Animals and birds are also masters of camouflage so having the expert eyes of the guides always increases the chance of spotting them. The excitement in the boat becomes palpable whenever the people get lucky in spotting something like an orangutan, proboscis monkey or a pygmy elephant. Some even get lucky enough to sight rhinos.

There are night cruises available as well that give an opportunity to observe the nocturnal behavior of the animals. It is quite a thrill to see salt water crocodiles at night, and many eyes shining from the trees. But day or night, in the end spotting wildlife is also a matter of luck and a true nature lover enjoys the experience rather than expecting a show of animals similar to a zoo. The adventure is in spotting whatever comes.

A Borneo Pygmy Elephant. Pic: ArtMechanic, Creative Commons.

A camera with a good zoom is highly recommended to photograph these creatures effectively, as they are elusive. Be careful though, I have seen quite a few watery graves for cameras when tourists get overexcited. Also make sure you can protect not only yourself but your camera gear if it rains.

November to March is the rainy season. The boat rides get cancelled frequently due to heavy rains. Photography also becomes difficult in this season. April to October is drier and flowers are also in bloom. Also, taking precautions against mosquitoes and other insects is a good idea.

People usually spend two to three nights in the Kinabatangan area as that means more safaris and better chances of sightings. Getting back to Sandakan takes three hours or so. The public transport leaves early in the morning from Sukau. Most of the transport and packages can be arranged by the lodge.

The Kinabatangan river area is so rich in wildlife that almost everyone comes away with special memories and a few good photographs. The memories of the trip will last for a lifetime.

Experiencing Borneo’s tribal cultures

Borneo, the third largest island in the world and 4th most populous, is divided up between Indonesia, Malaysia and the tiny nation of Brunei. Malaysian Borneo occupies around 26% of the island, containing the states of Sabah and Sarawak.

Of Sabah’s 3 million plus inhabitants, divided officially into 32 ethnicities, the largest indigenous groups are the Kadazan-Dusun, Murut and Baja. The first two are hill tribes, which are comprised of many sub tribes, while the Bajau are a nomadic sea-faring people who live throughout the Maritime (island) region of Southeast Asia.

“The largest indigenous tribes are the hill tribes, the Kadazan and Dusun tribes and their sub-tribes, often referred to the Kadazandusun, and the Murut. The Kadazandusun live mostly in the interior of Sabah, they are mountain people who believe the mountain is a resting place for the spirits of their departed, and thus it is sacred to them. The Rungus are arguably the most traditional of the indigenous tribes, a sub-tribe of the Kadazandusun the Rungus live mostly in the north near Kudat, many still live in longhouses. The Murut a group of several related tribes once lived in the longhouses like the Rungus, now they have mostly moved into single-family houses in the Tenom area and make a subsistence living from small-scale agriculture.”

Cultural Village, Kuching. Pic: Peter Gronemann, Flickr, Creative Commons.

The state of Sarawak is geographically larger than Sabah, but has a smaller population, giving it the lowest population density in all of Malaysia. Sarawak is home to 40 ethnicities, each with its own language and customs. Major ethnic groups include the Iban – the state’s largest group who were formerly known as headhunters. Iban are a longhouse-dwelling people with an impressive knowledge of the flora and fauna of Sarawak. Other groups include the Melanau – fishers and farmers believed to be one of the original settlers of Sarawak and who still practice many traditional animist customs; the Bidayu – land-dwellers mainly concentrated in the west of the island; and the Orang Ulu – a group including many river and plateau-dwelling tribes. The majority members of most tribes have adopted either Muslim (Melanau) or Christian (Iban, Bidayu and Orang Ulu) beliefs, though some still practice traditional tribal religions.

Sarawak – and Malaysian Borneo as a whole – is often referred to as “Asia’s best kept secret” due to its wide variety of cultures and rich biodiversity.

Thankfully there are several ways visitors can experience the traditional lifestyles of the inhabitants of both Sabah and Sarawak. One method is to visit Sarawak Cultural Village, located just 35km from Kuching in the foothills of Mount Santubong. This center showcases and supports the ethnic traditions of Sarawak, including dance, music, arts and crafts. It is also the venue for the World Harvest Festival and the Rainforest World Music Festival.

Dancers, Sarawak. Pic: Ben Sutherland, Flickr, Creative Commons.

“This living museum depicts the heritage of the major racial groups in Sarawak and conveniently portrays the respective lifestyle amidst 14 acres of equatorial vegetation. It is possible to see Sarawak’s ethnic diversity at a glance. The handicraft is both bewildering and tempting, including the Kain Songket (Malay cloth with gold inlay), Pua Kumbu (Iban housewives textiles), Melanau Terendak (sunhat), Bidayuh tambok (basket), Iban parang (swords), Orang Ulu wood carving and Chinese ceramic.”

There are many other places to witness the customs and lives of Malaysian Borneo’s various tribes. Cultural tourists can visit Lun Bawang settlements and farms, and Bidayuh longhouses in the Borneo highlands, as well as Iban longhouses in Bawang Assan near Sibu, where they can even spend the night.See the Sarawak tourism website for more.

Sabah also has its share of cultural villages, such as Monsopiad Cultural Village on the Penampang River, and the beautiful Mari Mari Cultural Village, located just 25 minutes from the state capital of Kota Kinabalu, where one can see the making of blowpipes, observe traditional tribal tattooing and sample customary tribal cuisine.

From the Sabah tourism website “Be prepared to teleport back to the times of ancient Borneo through the display of unique ingenious architecture, simulated lives and ritualistic ceremonies. Also, get acquainted with each village tribe as you enter their homes and experience their rich culture.”

Those in search of a genuine cultural holiday or those who wish to combine a bit of culture with various types of adventures in Borneo will not be disappointed by what Sabah and Sarawak have to offer. Though the occasional “headhunt” did occur in the past, tribes are now more interested in hospitality as well as preserving and sharing their cultures. This means farming, festivals, weekly open air markets (tamu), maintaining (and adapting) traditional longhouses and continuing a variety of fascinating customs, arts and crafts.

Longhouse, Sabah. Pic: Paul Mannix, Flickr, Creative Commons.

Discovering Sabah’s World War Two sites

I am standing solemnly in the sticky heat, my shirt clinging to my back, despite the fact I’m in a shaded area of forest. It’s mid morning yet it’s already sweltering and humidity is high here at Sandakan Memorial Park, in the Sabah region of Malaysian Borneo.

Pic: Terence Carter.

I’ve joined a group of some 60 people, mostly Australian passengers from the Orion cruise ship which has docked at Sandakan for the day. Two Australian women are laying a wreath at the base of the black marble monument, another two stand together, tears welling in their eyes, and arms linked to comfort each other.

The four women are descendents of the six Australian men who survived the horrific Sandakan Death Marches in which 2,400 Australian and British Prisoners of War (POWs) died between January and August 1945, and they’re here, along with the rest of the group, to pay their respects.

Sabah is best known to most travellers as an exotic tropical destination that’s teeming with wildlife and boasts some of the world’s best diving, snorkelling and hiking. Yet it’s also the site of some of the most horrific atrocities committed against POWs during the Second World War.

The leafy park, now towering with lofty trees from which I spot pygmy squirrels leaping from branch to branch, was the location of the original Sandakan Prisoner of War camp, where some 2,700 Aussie and Brit soldiers were brought by the Japanese after the fall of Singapore in February 1942 to build an airstrip.

Some 300 were transferred to other camps, with the remainder subjected to the most brutal of conditions. Sick, weak, starving, and over-worked, suffering from tropical ulcers and malaria, they were forced over three interminable periods to stagger some 250 kilometres from Sandakan to Renau. They either died or were killed, often in horrific circumstances, on their way or upon arrival, with just six Australian men surviving, after escaping into the jungle and being helped by local people.

Every year, thousands of Australians and British visit the sites, and experiencing these places with older Australians who have a connection to the tragic events can be very moving. If you’re travelling in Borneo and would like to pay your respects, these are the key sites of commemoration in Sabah you should experience:

Sandakan Memorial Park
It’s worth beginning your visit by reading the display boards at the small but compelling museum in the traditional wooden pavilion at the centre of the park so that you quickly gain an understanding of the hell that the 2,400 Australian and British soldiers went through in this seemingly tranquil forest. The black and white photos and testimonies reveal how very different it was when they were imprisoned here in the closing years of the war.

Pic: Terence Carter.

Labuan War Memorial
Nothing can quite prepare oneself for this enormous expanse of manicured lawns with row upon row of marble headstones etched with the most touching of messages – there are almost 4,000 Commonwealth soldiers buried here in total. Jalan Tanjung Purun, 2kms east of town, Pulau Labuan.

Kundasang War Memorial
The lovingly tended Australian and English gardens here commemorate the prisoners of war who died here at the end of the horrific Death Marches. Protected by high walls, each garden is quite different to the other, the Australian garden comprising a sprawling lawn with flower beds, modelled on a typical suburban garden, the other a quintessentially British cottage garden. Visitors are invited first to an air-conditioned room to watch a poignant Australian documentary, which follows the recent journey of a group of Australians, including young soldiers, re-tracing the route. Equally touching are the photographs, articles, letters, and various paraphernalia on display. There are lists of those who died on the Marches in a third area with a long pergola shading a pond, with majestic views of Mount Kinabalu. Various reports claim that the soldiers came to hate Mount Kinabalu, continually in their sights and representing quite a different challenge than it does today. On the KK-Ranau Highway, near the junction to the Mesilau Nature Resort, Renau.