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It’s a known fact that Mount Kinabalu in Sabah is the highest mountain in South East Asia. Most people associate Sabah with the Orang Utangs or the last dense rain forests on earth. However, a trek to the top of Mount Kinabalu is seldom on the list of “to do” things in Sabah Borneo. Too bad. Ruhaizad Daud however realized this omission and wrote a more then excellent website about Mount Kinabalu and everything you possibly need to know.
From my own experience, I was at Mount Kinabalu in 1999, I can say the climb is more then worth and the good things was, that you do not need to be a mountaineer to climb to the just over 4000 meter top. Check Ruhaizad Daud’s website here:
It’s obvious Pulau Pangkor will be your main beach destination! No doubt. But what about a nice couple of days out, away from the heat of the cities, away from the blue waters and golden beaches? Where to go! That is the question. In the days of the British the Cameron Highlandswere already a favourite spot. And it is still a favourite spot for many locals and foreigners alike.
Well, Cameron Highlands is a unique spot. But where to begin? What can you do up there? To save time, here’s the number 1 website about the Cameron Highlands. Oh, you think I am exaggerating? Well…. I am not, look at Jan’s excellent website and then tell me if I was right or wrong. You find litterally anything you can possibly need on his site. No Pangkor? Then the Cameron Highlands with Jan:
52 new species are found in Borneo, an island which is shared between Malaysia and Brunei in the north and Indonesia south. 52 new species! I was quite excited when I read that. Usually the news is that species disappear.
“The discoveries, described in a report compiled by WWF, include 30 unique fish species, two tree frog species, 16 ginger species, three tree species and one large-leafed plant species.” You read this and think… WOW. There’s still frontiers to conquer.
And:
“The more we look the more we find,” said Stuart Chapman, WWF International Coordinator of the Heart of Borneo Programme. “These discoveries reaffirm Borneo’s position as one of the most important centres of biodiversity in the world.”
It’s good to hear news like this and it proves the rainforests on Borneo, partly in Malaysia are still very interesting.
2006 is almost over, but 2007 is coming. It will be an important year for Malaysia as the country will celebrate it’s 50th birthday. 50 years after becoming indepent Malaysia is an important economical factor in Asia. Tourism is an important part of the national economy. Here in the are around Pangkor it’s obvious, hotels, restaurants, souvenirshops and many others have a living in tourism. When you visit you will see in many places this logo:
Malaysia will welcome you with more then 50 special events. Later in 2007 I will inform you about the special dates of events. It all starts of at 6th January in Kuala Lumpur. Read more here
Last week, I cycled with Johan to Penang. Johan is an 8 years old Malaysian boy. In 4 days we cycled the distance to Penang. In the middle of the journey we had a day rest. That was the day we used to visit the Taiping Zoo, for me the second time but for Johan his first visit and a welcome moment to give our tired legs some different excersize.
We started the journey in Sitiawan, but the day before we left we gave Pangkor a short visit. We visited the Dutch Fort and the Fu Lin Kong temple and had a 2 hours swim at Pasir Bogak. Johan and I cycled from November 27 until December 1 and rode 250km. For an 8 years old boy an amazing adventure.
