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Malaysia Borneo 2022
  • Bronze
  • Jenny Day
Jul – Aug 2022

Malaysia Borneo 2022

A 12-day adventure by Bronze & Jenny Read more
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  • Trip start
    July 23, 2022
    Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Home Base

    July 23, 2022 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Ready for another adventure with the Chasers!
    Bring on Malaysia 🇲🇾 and Borneo and the orangutans 🦧.
    Stop over at Singapore 🇸🇬 for brief respite and then onto Kuala Lumpur population of 7.1 million and capital city of Malaysia.Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Morning Walk

    July 24, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    We walked from the hotel and Chris volunteered to be the map guide which was great.
    We decided to walk to the KL tower and also experience the local eco walk which is close by.
    Staying at five star hotels is great fun and probably the best bit is the buffet breakfasts which are so yummy and beautifully presented. The game plan is to eat as much as you can so that there is no need for lunch and you can do more sightseeing.
    I also asked the concierge to track down some kombucha which he initially thought was me wanting to know about Cambodia 🇰🇭.
    Very funny 😄.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    KL Tower

    July 24, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    The KL tower is one of the tallest buildings in Kuala Lumpur and is situated in a preserved area of rain forest 🌳 right in the middle of the city.
    It rises some 356 metres into the air and at one stage dominated the skyline but today is dwarfed by other structures.
    KL is an interesting mix of old and modern architecture which is obvious as you walk around the city streets.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Eco Park

    July 24, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    This eco park has been constructed within a pocket of original rainforest that still exists in the city of KL.
    Although we didn’t see them the space is home to about 5 monkey families. Walking into the rainforest made me realize just how amazing nature is because the sound of insects became really profound just as if you were walking in the jungle.
    There was also a peace gong nearby.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Mosque on Stilts

    July 25, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    We had the opportunity to visit a mosque that has been built out from the beach.
    Before we could enter the mosque it was appropriate for all of us to take off our shoes before entering the mosque as a mark of respect.
    Mosques around the world seem to lack any sort of religious icons and apparently also welcome others to worship which I find refreshing. The idea of the loose fitting robes is to allow people to be comfortable when kneeling and praying as well as to maintain modesty and dignity especially for the women.
    The males were then given sarongs and the women…robes as well as head scarfs.
    We walked around the mosque 🕌 and were unable to enter the main prayer chamber.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Old Dutch Sector

    July 25, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 26 °C

    This section of Melaka was initially discovered by the Dutch who colonized this area first. Melaka it seems was a city of conflict between the Dutch, the Portuguese and then the English.
    As a result there are a variety of different architectural styles that characterize the area.
    This might also be why Melaka is on the World Heritage City list.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Old Dutch Sector (cont’d)

    July 25, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 27 °C

    The first picture in the series is my Malay desert all mixed up which was the last dish we ate at a Malay Chinese restaurant. It certainly doesn’t look appetizing in the photo but when the dish arrived we were told to stir all the ingredients together and of course it had some red beans in it.
    One of the ways that you can tell the influence of the Dutch is in how they constructed the houses because every culture it seems has a preference for an architectural style that is a part of how they build.
    According to the guide the Dutch used skinnier bricks whilst the English built with shorter fatter bricks. The Dutch also had a certain style of louvered window shutter which set them apart from the English homes they also had a different style of roof structure.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Old Dutch Church

    July 25, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    This was the most impressive part of the trip to Melaka. It was an old Dutch Church that once held the grave of St Francis Xavier.
    I believe the building is dated around the 1600 and now is but a shell however the site is still very impressive especially the height of the building.
    Another significant feature is the burial stones which have been carved out of rock and are extremely heavy and line the inside of the church commemorating individuals who once lived in the area.
    The body of Xavier had to be exhumed and returned to another burial site in Goa so the empty grave site is now used as a place where people donate money and make a wish.
    Most of the building has been built with old sea bed rocks which are like honeycomb rocks that you find in Oz.
    It is genuinely an historical artefact which has been beautifully preserved which is less obvious in the other sectors of the tours we took.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Market

    July 26, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Apparently KL has a plethora of markets around the city and we visited one that was indeed in the heart of the city.
    Our guide shared that we should prepare ourselves for the different ways of food hygiene in this part of the world. It didn’t take long for that to become apparent especially in relation to the flies and lack of refrigeration.
    We were exposed to all sorts of different Malaysian foods, fruits and vegetables and had the opportunity to taste some over a cup of tea as well as experiencing some Malaysian desserts.
    The Malaysian people who are predominantly Muslim seem very friendly and hospitable and happy especially when you consider the average wage and working conditions.
    One of the most confronting aspects of the tour through the market was the amount of plastic bags they use and seem to have no concept of using recyclable carry bags.
    Probably my favourite exotic fruit is the rambutan which is like a large lychee with a more distinct taste.
    Our guide took us to a local cafe where we experienced locally made roti bread which was delicious.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    KL Goodbye

    July 26, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    After visiting the market we made our way back to the bus en route to the airport.
    Because Islam is the main religion in Malaysia there are lots of mosques 🕌 and they are characterized mostly by domes and or spires.
    They are found in most areas of KL. Another interesting aspect of KL is the presence of some really old run down places very close to the middle of the city.
    When you consider the price of real estate in most central city areas these old run down houses are probably worth a small fortune.
    Our tour guide shared a story of a place closer to the centre of KL which was similarly rundown and whose owner had been offered an enormous sum of money to sell up and had politely refused because it had been the family home for many generations.
    It was also the only time that I managed to get a shot of the Petronas Towers building.
    Malaysia is obviously a progressive SE Asian country judged by the number of skyscrapers in and around the CBD yet it still has a third world economy in many respects especially when you consider the base wage and earnings potential.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Flying to Sabah

    July 26, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Whilst I only took one photo of us boarding the plane with Leisa and her supplies. The plane trip was significant for another reason…it was the only time I have ever seen two people go into an airplane toilet together.
    This created a strange level of excitement from the rest of the passengers. Maybe someone had ambitions for the mile high club!
    The trip was itself uneventful otherwise.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Sabah & The Orangutans

    July 27, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    We arrived at Sabah and were transferred to a lovely hotel only a short drive from the Orangutan 🦧 wildlife park.
    The park is 47 square kilometers in size and is the destination for most of the orphaned or rescue animals after they have been rehabilitated.
    The rescue animals go through 5 critical rehab stages before they are re-released in to the wild.
    Each stage prepares them to become more independent and to be able to be strong enough to climb and forage for themselves.
    The facility was very professionally run by a mixture of volunteers and veterinary staff who work with rescue or orphaned orangutans 🦧.
    It is an offense in Malaysia to keep wild animals as pets namely Orangutans and Sun Bears who previous to this decree were able to be kept as house pets.
    It is also worth noting that the COViD virus 🦠 has had a massive impact on the tourist industry here as most of the operating costs of these places are offset by tourist dollars.
    Most of the shots of the Orangutans were taken at a feeding platform at stage 5 of the rehabilitation stage.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Orangutans

    July 27, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    The Orangutans have a varied diet of fruits and other edible plants they also will eat the external tubes of earthworm castings as this is high in essential minerals that the apes require to stay healthy.
    Virgin forest is such a magical space especially the noises that you hear of the myriad of insects that inhabit the forest.
    Even in hot climates like Malaysia and Borneo the forests are always cool and an essential reason why they must be preserved.
    Malaysia has a strong commitment to maintaining a diverse range of forest tranches to maintain healthy wild animal populations.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Sun Bear Conservation Park

    July 27, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Located in the same area is the Sun Bear rehabilitation facility.
    These bears are the smallest of all the bear species and are only found in this region of Malaysia 🇲🇾.
    Tragically this bear has been the target of poachers who kill the bears to sell some of their body parts to the Chinese traditional medicine markets especially the bears gall bladder.
    The bears we saw are playful and inquisitive and have very long claws for tree climbing to eat wild honey. They also have very, very long tongues to be able to access the honey.
    The other discerning feature of the bears and where they get their name from is a horseshoed shape splash of gold colour on their chest hence the name “Sun” bears.
    During the heat of the day they are reasonable sedate.
    The battle to save these bears has been the passion of a local Malaysian man who has dedicated his life to maintain safe breeding populations of these animals.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Wildlife Resort

    July 27, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    We stopped at a ecotourism resort that provided a lovely lunch before travelling to the skywalk.
    There were many private chalets dotted around the complex and it seems that ecotourism is a very popular and appealing holiday option which is great because the tourist dollars are used to fund the ongoing management of the wildlife.
    It was very pleasant eating on the deck covered in shade even though Jen ordered fish and chips and was disappointed.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Forest Skywalk

    July 27, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    This has been a relatively recent initiative by the Malaysian government to expand the tourist experience.
    This park is very busy with lots of different types of bird life however we visited in the middle of the day which even with the forest canopy meant that there were few birds about.
    This sad state of affairs prompted Chris to take off the next morning in search of more bird life and he was rewarded with a couple of great shots of two hornbills with beautiful beaks.
    Before taking to the skywalk there was a short walk to get to the structures.

    The structures have been made of steel which will stand the test of time as well blending in with the surrounding forest with lichen and vines clinging to the structures.
    Some of the birds nest ferns perched high on the branches of some trees have to be seen to be believed.t F fc

    At different times on the walk I believe that we were approx 30-40 metres In the air which gives you an idea of how high some of these structures were.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Skywalk (cont’d)

    July 27, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    There were 3-4 of these large structures which gave you an extra dimension to viewing the wildlife.
    The jungle is always thriving and gives you the perception of perpetual growth.
    With the humidity at 90% there is moisture everywhere and it sometimes rains without clouds which happened on this trip.
    The photo of the birds nest ferns gives you an idea of how opportunist some plants are in being able to self sustain in the most unlikely of places.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Sandakan War Memorial

    July 27, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Sandakan was the location of an infamous Japanese POW camp in the Second World War.
    This memorial is beautifully maintained by the RSL to commemorate the lives lost on the infamous Japanese Death Marches.
    It is a credit to our country and the respect we should all have for the diggers that served.
    Lest we forget.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Kinabatan Wetland Resort

    July 28, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    The next part of the trip was to spend two nights at the Kinabatan Wetland Resort.
    This resort is located off the coast and took a 20 min boat trip to get there. Part of that was winding up the Kinabatan river which is the colour of the Yarra and a rich source of aquatic wildlife fish, prawns etc.
    There are local people who live on the river and earn their livelihood from catching and selling the fish 🐠.
    The river has a strong current in the tide change and is home to crocodiles 🐊 of man eating size.
    The resort is built on the wet land using “iron wood” a local timber almost impervious to rot hence the name.
    The day we arrived to take the boat trip was particularly hot 🥵 mostly because it was around midday.
    One of the more confronting thing about the Malaysian water ways is the amount of plastic litter which is either floating on the surface or slightly submerged. I did my best to clean it up whilst I was there which earned some applause from the locals.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Kinabalatu Resort

    July 28, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    This resort was beautifully laid out and the super friendly team made everyone feel very welcome.
    We were staying in individual self contained chalets that were nestled into the forest.
    Every night there was a beautiful sound of frogs and other insects calling in the night.
    Each chalet was on stilts and situated in the wetland and all the chalets and main reception area were linked by timber boardwalks.
    This resort was the home base for each river tour.
    We also had the unique experience of walking around the forest boardwalk at night to observe the many different nocturnal animals and birds that emerge under the cover of darkness.
    The food at the resort was beautiful and a credit to the chef and his team.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Night Walk

    July 28, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Around the resort was a boardwalk that wove it’s way around the back of the resort and took about 45 mins to complete.
    The guides had some powerful torches that allowed us to see lots of other wildlife including a cute owl that was nestled in the hollow of the tree.
    It disappeared at first and then after turning our lights off for a few minutes it reappeared watching us all very intently.
    We also saw the Malaysian equivalent of the flying glider that I managed to capture before it took flight.
    Frogs, sleeping birds, spiders were all visible if you knew where to look.
    The sounds of the insects in the jungle at night is quite mystical.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    River Tour

    July 28, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    The main purpose for staying at the resort is to travel the river and observe the wildlife in their natural habitat.
    This area in Sabah is renown as being a treasure trove for the following species all of which we saw:
    Orangutans 🦧, Crocodiles 🐊, Kingfishers, Proboscus Monkeys 🙊, Herons, Macque Monkeys, Owls 🦉, Sea Eagles 🦅 and a variety of other birds.
    Probably one of the most confronting things is the amount of plastic bottles etc found in the river. Every time the boat went out I made it my job to capture at least 6-8 bottles…such a pity.
    One of the undoubted highlights was watching a 4 metre crocodile glide into the water and swim under our boat.    Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Chris’ Birthday

    July 30, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Our final day at the wetland resort enabled us to see even more river life including fireflies, more birds and other features of the area.
    The river is also home to a group of people who have lived on the river for decades and make their living from fishing in the river.Read more

  • Malaysia Borneo 2022

    Shanggri-La Resort

    July 31, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    We finished our trip as it started staying at another Shanghai-La resort which was a memorable way to end this holiday.
    Cocktails by the pool and eating at the restaurants in the evening.
    Chris, Jen and I went swimming in the ocean which was very refreshing and a little cooler than I expected…the swim was cut short due a jellyfish scare.
    No big deal as I cupped one of them in my hand and did not seem to get stung.    Read more

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