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Malaysia Travel Guide

Beautiful Birds Of The Blue Bornean Skies

The jungles of Borneo are a world like no other. Alive with a smorgasbord of magical wildflowers, exotic, wide-eyed creatures and a cacophony of noise. But what goes on above the dense, magical jungle that keeps our world alive? On a typical day, the skies over Borneo feature a breathtaking array of vibrant colours. Our beautiful birds feature remarkably vivid plumage that paint a delightful canvas against the baby blue tropical backdrop.

Surprisingly, while many people are aware of Sarawak’s diverse ecosystem, not many know we are also home to an array of stunning birds.

So whether you’re an avid birder or just love the site of magnificent creatures swooping effortlessly across the jungle canopy, when you come to Sarawak, don’t forget to look up!

To make it easier, we’ve created a compilation of some of the birds you can expect to see on your next visit. Oh and one other thing, just remember the best time to see these birds is at first light and for an hour or so afterwards.

The Bornean Banded Kingfisher

These skilful divers are rare in Java, scarcer in Sumatra, and extinct in Singapore! Luckily for you, they are flourishing in Sarawak. Although they are small and sometimes difficult to spot, they are strong, excitable and sometimes aggressive, especially when humans are around!

You should be able to recognise them from their sturdy red bills. Once you’ve spotted one, try to track it to a water source and watch it catch fish effortlessly.

All rights reserved by liewwk – www.liewwkphoto.com

You can differentiate males from females by their plumage: The male has a bright blue crown with black and blue banding on the back while the females are rufous with black banding on their head and upperparts.


The call of a Bornean Banded Kingfisher captured by Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS

Where to spot them: These nifty hunters can be found in the lowland rainforests of Kubah National Park.

Asian Paradise Flycatcher

Sporting long fancy tails, these birds require a bit more effort to see but are definitely worth the investment. Especially the male as he struts about, flaunting his elegant tail. Chestnut, white or a mixture of both – The plumage of males come in several interesting variations depending on where they are from!

Source: Lawrence Neo 2015

The females look like their chestnut male counterparts, except they have significantly shorter tails and smaller crests.

The call of an Asian Paradise Flycatcher captured by Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS

Where to spot them: They are mostly found in Northern Sarawak, especially in Gunung Mulu National Park and Pulong Tau National Park.

Banded Broadbill

This bird stands out because of their vibrant plumage – against their purplish-black plumage are yellow/lime green markings! They also have piercing blue eyes and a luminescent blue beak that looks like it has been been made-up with “black lipstick”.

Source: Lawrence Neo 2012

In photos, they may look canary-sized, but these birds are actually quite big! Measuring at 21.5cm to 23cm, they feast on insects, especially grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars and larvae.

The call of a Banded Broadbill captured by Tan Kok Hui

Where to spot them: The Banded Broadbill usually lurk in lowland forests, so you can expect to see them at Kubah National Park, Mulu National Park and Batang Ai National Park.

Bornean Bristlehead

This enigmatic bird gets its name from its crown, which are short projections that resemble bare feather shafts. They are often compared to crows wearing red muffler scarves!

In many parts of Borneo, the Bornean Bristlehead has had a tough time and its population has declined significantly. Amongst the birdwatching community, they are on the ‘most wanted’ list and some will even pay good money for local knowledge on where to see them!

Birds of Borneo - Bornean Bristlehead

Source: http://www.hkbws.org.hk (Godwin-C)

So if you are one of the lucky ones to see this beautiful native of Borneo, make sure you whip out your camera, take a picture and remember where you are because it might just be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you also get paid for!

The call of a Bornean Bristlehead captured by Marc Anderson

Where to spot the Bornean Bristlehead: These birds can be spotted in a few locations. Most recently, they have been sighted in Similajau National Park which is 25km northeast of Bintulu. They are also more regularly seen in Lambir Hills National Park.

Scarlet-rumped Trogon

Nope, these birds aren’t characters from Angry Birds, even though they look like one! The Scarlet-rumped Trogon sport a black hood and red body, along with white-black wings and tail. You can definitely tell them apart from their distinctive blue ‘eyebrow’, which gives them their grumpy look!

Birds of Borneo

Source: Ryan Maigan Birds

The call of the Scarlet-rumped Trogon has been used in many Hollywood films that feature lush green jungles! Many people have associated this bird’s call with the tropics of the southern Pacific Ocean. It’s interesting to think that even though most of the world has heard their voice, they belong to our very own forests!

The call of a Scarlet-rumped Trogon captured by Mike Nelson

Where to spot the Helmeted Hornbill: These birds can be found chirping their days away in lowland primary forests like Kubah National Park, Mulu National Park, and Batang Ai National Park.

Peregrine Falcon

If you think the cheetah is the fastest animal on earth, think again! OK, well technically it is but in the sky, you’ll find a bird that can glide effortlessly past a cheetah in full flight. The peregrine falcon has no problem cruising at speeds of 40-60 mph, but when in pursuit of their prey, they can reach up to 200 mph. That’s 293 feet per second and almost 3 times as fast as a cheetah!

© Jesse Gibson

At one stage on the verge of extinction, thanks to robust recovery efforts in North America, the Peregrine Falcon population has now recovered. However, only a lucky few spot them in Sarawak, and with their their bullet-train like speeds, you need to be extra observant when trying to spot one!

The call of a Peregrine Falcon captured by Lard Edenius

Where to spot the Peregrine Falcon: Peregrine Falcons are an elusive species in Sarawak but the best place to spot them is at the peak of Batu Lawi Hill, which now serves as an extension to Pulong Tau National Park.

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Delving into Sarawak’s Magnificent Caves

Bizarre wildlife found in the jungles of exotic Borneo

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Tourism Malaysia

7 THEME PARKS IN JOHOR BAHRU

Stow the kids in the back of the car and head south to Johor this school holidays for a rolling, good time! Ever since Legoland first opened its doors there in 2012, Johor has seen even more theme park openings to fulfil every child’s dream. Here, we list out seven theme parks worth visiting during the upcoming school break.

Childhood inventions with LEGO

The Johor Legoland theme park lays claim to being the first Legoland in Asia and was recently named one of the top 10 amusement parks in Asia by TripAdvisor. Whether yourfavourite was Ninjago, Star Wars or Lego Mindstorms, you can find it all here for kids and adults alike to unleash their hands-on creativity or simply to re-live childhood dreams of inventing! Combination tickets allow visitors to explore the theme park along with the waterpark and book a room at the Legoland Hotel for triple the fun!

Awesome tip:

Legoland never fails to introduce new additions to its offerings each year. The latest addition to the already fun destination is Sea Life Malaysia, a unique and interactive sea aquarium for an educational underwater experience throughout its 11 different habitat zones.

Ticketing Price: Starting at RM150 (1-day Combo Ticket – Theme Park Water Park)
Phone No.: +607 597 8888
Email: info@legoland.my
Opening Hours: 10 am – 6 pm
Address: Iskandar Puteri (formerly known as Nusajaya), Johor, Malaysia.

Splash away at Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark!

Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark is the latest theme park to open in Malaysia. Set against a backdrop of kampung-themed surroundings, it features a unique mix of over 20 wet and dry rides, slides and attractions. Its signature and unique water features are the biggest man-made wave pools (Tidal Wave Beach) and the first water roller coaster (Kraken’s Revenge) in the region! Glide lazily along the Penawar River, enjoy splashing good fun at the Penawar Falls, or plummet down a giant funnel slide into a 24-foot drop!

Awesome tip:

Make Desaru Coast a family retreat as this integrated city resort has everything for the entire family. Besides the Adventure Waterpark, there are luxury hotel stays to pamper loved ones and international-standard golf courses facing the sea to practice your swing. Future openings include shopping malls, food and beverage outlets along with a host of entertainment and lifestyle outfits to suit the whole family.

Ticket Price: RM124 for adults, RM90 for children (MyKad holders); RM151 for adults, RM113 for children
Phone No.: +603-2203-9696
Email: info@dcawp.com
Opening hours: 10 am – 6 pm Thursday to Sunday; Closed from Monday to Wednesday
Address: Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark, Persiaran Damai, Desaru Coast, 81930 Bandar Penawar, Johor, Malaysia.

Say Hello to Kitty

Fans of Hello Kitty will love spending an entire day at both Hello Kitty Town and Thomas Town indoor theme parks that are centred on these very characters.  The Hello Kitty Town at Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park allows visitors to experience Hello Kitty’s life, from dining at Cinnamoroll Cafe and parties hosted by the Strawberry King to rides and shows. The highlight of any visit is the live performances on-stage where you can take photos and interact with the larger-than-life feline and her friends, Dear Daniel, My Melody and more!

Awesome tip:

Get an extra dose of Hello Kitty by booking a Hello Kitty-themed suite at Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour by Shangri-La, Johor. Surround yourself with Hello Kitty in these hotel rooms where the wallpaper, bedding and amenities bear details of the iconic cat.

Ticket Price: Sanrio Hello Kitty Town (RM81); Thomas Town (RM81); Two-Park Pass (RM118)
Opening Hours: 10 am – 6 pm (Wednesday – Monday)
Phone No.: 1 300 88 FAMILY (326459) Malaysia; +603 2203 9668 Outside Malaysia
Address: Persiaran Puteri Selatan, Puteri Harbour 79000 Nusajaya, Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia

Flights of Fancy with Angry Birds

Dubbed the first indoor Angry Birds Activity Park in Asia, the park covers a humongous 26,000 sq. ft. and is strategically located in KOMTAR JBCC, Johor Bahru City Centre’s newest premier shopping, dining and entertainment destination. This huge indoor playground has balancing bikes, trampolines, scooters, a mini cinema, obstacle courses and more to keep any kid happy.

Awesome tip: 

If you are an Angry Birds fans, then visit the gift shop for a large collection of Angry Birds toys, stationery, yummy snacks, apparels and other merchandise are available for you to take it home.

Ticketing Price: Mycard/Mykid Holders – RM60 (Single Ticket); RM218 (Family Pass – 4 Person)
Phone No.: +607 300 5090/5091
Email: info@angrybirdsactivtypark.my
Opening Hour: 10 am – 10 pm
Address: Level 3, Komtar JBCC, Johor Bahru City Centre, 80000 Johor Bahru.


Exit Reality at Future Land Fun Zone

At Future Land Fun Zone, it is difficult for visitors to differentiate between virtual and reality…but that’s where the fun is! This indoor virtual reality theme park – the first in Johor –has all the latest technology and equipment to offer a smooth and exciting gaming experience for young and old. You can fly at the speed of fear with 360˚ flight simulators; test-drive the world’s fastest cars on a racing car simulator, lean back to enjoy a 7D cinema, test your balance on the rodeo bull simulator, get on board a virtual reality team game, and more.

Awesome tip:
Get their Loyalty Card for free and collect points with every ride you take at any of their Future Land Fun Zone outlets in Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur; The Mines Shopping Mall, Selangor; Gurney Plaza, Penang; and Sunway Pyramid (coming soon). Points are redeemable for free rides.

Ticket Price: RM60 (5 VR Games)
Phone No,: +6 019-779 5576 / +6 012-606 7550
Opening Hour: 10 am – 10 pm (open daily)
Address: Level 3, 3F-55, Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru
Website: www.senoptium.my

Cartoons galore at MCM Studio

The world’s fifth largest and Southeast Asia’s biggest indoor theme park has just opened its doors in Johor! MCM Studio, located within Johor Bahru’s largest mall, Capital 21, occupies the entire fourth floor with three thematic parks, i.e. Cartoon Planet, Music Planet and Movie Planet. The Cartoon Planet has officially opened and it looks like a treat for children especially with cartoon characters such as Mowgli, Baloo and Bagheera from Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, and Garfield and Odie to keep them company. Kids will love the “augmented reality and virtual reality” technology here along with indoor activities such as trampolines, bumper car rides, arts and crafts, magic shows and more.

Awesome tip:
MCM Studio is just part of the integrated development for Capital 21 shopping mall. Apart from the shopping experiences, Hilton Garden Inn and Planet Hotels, a themed concept hotel will be linked to this mall, offering more convenience for visitors wanting to stay and play here!

Ticket Price: RM128 Day Pass (Opening Promo), RM30 Gate Pass

Phone No.:  +603-2203 9696
Email:  info@mcmstudio.asia
Opening hour:  10 am to 10 pm daily
Address: Capital City Mall, Jalan Tampoi, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Takzim

The Great Outdoors at RAF Point Kampung Lukut

Thinking of having an adventure in the great outdoors in the Johor state? Relax Fun (RAF) Point located in Kampung Lukut Kota Tinggi could be the perfect destination for you. It’s far enough away from the bright lights of the city so you can be one with nature. The park, surrounded by rainforests and Mount Panti, makes a great venue for camping, survival training, extreme sports activities and paintball. Various types of activities are available here such as flying fox, tree climbing, abseiling, jungle trekking, mount climbing, all-terrain vehicles (ATV), night walks, blind trails, archery, camping and more. RAF Point received The Malaysia Book of Records award as ‘The first Single Zipline (Flying Fox) Archery in Malaysia’ and ‘The Longest Single Zipline Archery (260 meter) in Malaysia’.

Awesome tip:
Make this a trip with your school friends or corporate colleagues! Yes, RAF is the perfect destination for team building activities to build up a strong stamina and nurture individual as well as team spirit.

Phone No.: +60177447089 (Azman)/+60193328170(Raha)
Email: rafzipline@gmail.com
Address: Lot 9662, Rancangan Sg. Sendayan, Mukim Lukut, Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia.