Mad dogs and travel writers go out in the midday sun,” I was telling myself as I braved that fiery ball at that very hour to check out a market. This was the Sunday Market on Satok Road. It was hot — perhaps 34 seething tropical degrees — as I trudged through the city centre, [...]

Sarawak’s botanical riches, diverse landscapes and wildlife make it a favorite stomping ground for nature lovers and scientists alike. Where in Malaysia can you find a state that boasts more than 20 national parks, five wildlife sanctuaries, three nature reserves and 700,000ha of totally protected forest land (10 times the size of Singapore)? The picturesque [...]

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Hoary but true. Perseverance in what you do is the sure way to success and happiness, insists Henry Law Ing Hua, 58, whose dogged pursuit of his dream of an agro-tourism resort has made him “the luckiest man in the world”. Law was just eight when [...]

A trek in Lambir Hills National Park starts with trails winding through gargantuan Keruing trees and giant Licuala fan palms, with a sprinkling of colorful fungi. The dangling carrot at the end of the hike? An ethereal cascade plunging two storeys down into an emerald-green pool. Jump in for a refreshing splash! Map, Location and [...]

If Mother Nature is a master artisan, then Bako National Park is her masterpiece. Millions of years of erosion have carved a coastline of sheer cliffs, rocky headlands, sculptured sea stacks and white sandy coves. Although just one-tenth the size of Kuala Lumpur, Bako houses seven distinct ecosystems. One second you’re crossing grasslands on a [...]

when half a million swiftlets return to their nests whilst half a million bats fly out. The park is linked by an extensive network of boardwalks. Some of the chalets are air-conditioned and are good value for money. The park canteen serves decent food, and Batu Niah town, five minutes away, offers more options. For [...]

Bako National Park has many faces. ALAN TEH LEAM SENG bravely walks into Kerangas, the land where paddy cannot grow. THE heat is sweltering in Kampung Bako, the gateway to the Bako National Park at the tip of the Muara Tebas peninsula in Sarawak. But it doesn’t bother me. In fact, I’m pleased that the [...]

Sarawak has a coastline that runs 700km along the northwestern side of Borneo. A good place to begin discovering its beauty is Damai Beach, in Santubong. This vacation spot is embraced by the South China Sea and has the majestic jungle-clad Mount Santubong as its backdrop. Mount Santubong Some of the state’s best beach resorts [...]

At the south western most of Sarawak lies a town call Sematan. It’s the last township in Borneo since it lies at the tail of Borneo. If you look at the following map, Sematan is really located at the end of Sarawak. Apart from its unique location, Sematan is a famous old seaside market located [...]