Post by Yogavatar सौन्दर्य on Feb 10, 2024 10:02:21 GMT
Ancient Rainforests
If you’ve always longed to experience
the humid fecundity of a real equatorial
rainforest, Borneo will fulfil your wildest
dreams. The island’s jungles conjure up remoteness and adventure, bringing to mind
impenetrable foliage and river trips into the
‘heart of darkness’. But look a little closer
and nuances emerge: the pitcher plants,
lianas and orchids of the lowland forest give
way to conifers and rhododendrons as you
ascend the flanks of Mt Kinabalu. Deforestation makes for depressing headlines, but
significant parts of the Bornean rainforest
remain intact, protected by conservation
projects whose viability depends in part on
income from tourists.
Jungle Wildlife
For many visitors to Borneo, their most
memorable moment is glimpsing a wild
orangutan swinging through the jungle
canopy, spotting an Irrawaddy dolphin in
the shimmering waters of the South China
Sea, or locking eyes with the reptilian gaze
of a saltwater croc. Jungle animals are shy
by nature, but a good guide can help you
tell the difference between a vine and vine
snake, between a twig and a stick insect,
and between the call of a gibbon and the
cry of a hornbill.
Cultural Riches
Borneo brings together an astonishing
array of cultures, religions and languages,
and age-old traditions of hospitality mean
visitors are welcomed. Most cities have
significant Chinese communities, while
the picturesque coastal kampung (villages) of Sabah and Sarawak are populated
mainly by Malays, but head inland and the
dominant culture is indigenous. Borneo’s
Dayak groups stopped headhunting long
ago, but many other ancient customs and
ceremonies live on in longhouse communities. There’s no better way to experience the
indigenous way of life than to drop by for a
visit – easy to arrange with a local guide.
Culinary Melting Pot
The varied ethnic and cultural backgrounds
of Borneo’s people means the island’s cuisines
are as wide-ranging as they are delicious.
Seafood from the South China Sea is served
fresh at Chinese restaurants, smoky chicken
satay stalls beckon at Malay night markets
and Indonesian eateries offer spicy sambal.
Even tiny Brunei has its own culinary traditions, not to mention Borneo’s numerous
indigenous groups. From the sublime cooking of the Kelabit people – including Bario
rice and pineapple curry – to dishes such
as bamboo chicken and midin jungle fern,
If you’ve always longed to experience
the humid fecundity of a real equatorial
rainforest, Borneo will fulfil your wildest
dreams. The island’s jungles conjure up remoteness and adventure, bringing to mind
impenetrable foliage and river trips into the
‘heart of darkness’. But look a little closer
and nuances emerge: the pitcher plants,
lianas and orchids of the lowland forest give
way to conifers and rhododendrons as you
ascend the flanks of Mt Kinabalu. Deforestation makes for depressing headlines, but
significant parts of the Bornean rainforest
remain intact, protected by conservation
projects whose viability depends in part on
income from tourists.
Jungle Wildlife
For many visitors to Borneo, their most
memorable moment is glimpsing a wild
orangutan swinging through the jungle
canopy, spotting an Irrawaddy dolphin in
the shimmering waters of the South China
Sea, or locking eyes with the reptilian gaze
of a saltwater croc. Jungle animals are shy
by nature, but a good guide can help you
tell the difference between a vine and vine
snake, between a twig and a stick insect,
and between the call of a gibbon and the
cry of a hornbill.
Cultural Riches
Borneo brings together an astonishing
array of cultures, religions and languages,
and age-old traditions of hospitality mean
visitors are welcomed. Most cities have
significant Chinese communities, while
the picturesque coastal kampung (villages) of Sabah and Sarawak are populated
mainly by Malays, but head inland and the
dominant culture is indigenous. Borneo’s
Dayak groups stopped headhunting long
ago, but many other ancient customs and
ceremonies live on in longhouse communities. There’s no better way to experience the
indigenous way of life than to drop by for a
visit – easy to arrange with a local guide.
Culinary Melting Pot
The varied ethnic and cultural backgrounds
of Borneo’s people means the island’s cuisines
are as wide-ranging as they are delicious.
Seafood from the South China Sea is served
fresh at Chinese restaurants, smoky chicken
satay stalls beckon at Malay night markets
and Indonesian eateries offer spicy sambal.
Even tiny Brunei has its own culinary traditions, not to mention Borneo’s numerous
indigenous groups. From the sublime cooking of the Kelabit people – including Bario
rice and pineapple curry – to dishes such
as bamboo chicken and midin jungle fern,