Monday, November 1, 2010

Gomantong Caves










Borneo has been a source of bird nests, used in bird nest soup, for the Chinese market since the 17th century. The Chinese have long believed that the nests have medicinal qualities.
The bird nests of the Swiftlets, the White-nest Swiftlet and the Black-nest Swiftlet, are used to make bird nest soup. The Swiftlets nest in colonies in large caves in enormous numbers - reaching several million in some caves.
One of the most well known cave systems in Borneo for collecting birds nests is at Gomantong in Sabah. The collection of nests at Gomantong caves is strictly monitored to ensure sustainability, and many believe these are the best managed caves in the world. Enjoy photos of Gomantong Cave.
At the onset of the breeding season the Swiftlets build a nest which is harvested straight away. The birds then build a second nest and are left alone until after the chicks have fledged. These nests are then collected.
There are differences in the timing of the breeding season between species and different cave systems. At Simud Putih cave in Gomantong the initial harvest of 'white' nests is in February, followed by a second collection in June or July. In the main cave at Gomantong, Simud Hitam, the first collections are in March - April, and the second collection in Late August and September.

Nest collectors take great risks to collect the nests, reflecting the value placed up on the nests. Using traditional rattan and rope ladders and bamboo poles collectors ascend to the cave roofs where the tiny nests are cemented to the rock. They cave roofs can be 60m and higher. The nests are scraped from the roof with a traditional tool called a jalok. Another member of the team then collects the nests from the floor of the cave.
Gomantong Caves can be visited as part of a trip to the Kinabatangan River. The main cave visited by tourists is a breathtaking experience - because of the sheer scale of the cave, the enormous volume of Swiftlets and bats and the strong smell of ammonia from bird droppings on the cave floor. If you are interested in visiting Gomantong Caves as part of your holiday to Sabah, Borneo then please contact the Borneo Dream team.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Basic flying Paragliding on Pulau Berhala, Sandakan



NEXT PLACE TO FLY..

Sandakan Crocodile Farm






Sandakan Crocodile Farm





The Sandakan Crocodile Farm is Malaysia's largest with over 3000 of the reptiles. The original stock came from wild crocodiles found along the Kinabatangan River. The animals are farmed for their skins to be turned into shoes and bags.

Besides offering visitors an up-close look at Sabah's biggest reptiles, the farm hosts several other attractions as well, including crocodile and snake shows. It also features a mini zoo with a 100kg Amazonian fish, and a children's park.


Getting There
Drive from Sandakan Town to the farm takes about half an hour.


Visiting Hours

Weekday show times (Crocodiles only) - 11.45am & 4.00pm
Sunday and Public Hols show times (Crocodiles and snakes) - 11.45am, 2.00pm & 4.00pm
Daily feeding times - from 9.30am onwards until 4.30pm

The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre






Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre is located about 25 kilometers west of Sandakan in the state of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo.
The centre opened in 1964 as the first official orangutan rehabilitation project for rescued orphaned baby orangutans from logging sites, plantations, illegal hunting and kept as pet. The orphaned orangutans are trained to survive again in the wild and are released as soon as they are ready. The sanctuary is located within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve which covers an area of 5529 ha, much of which is virginrainforest. Today around 60 to 80 orangutans are living free in the reserve. It has become one of Sabah's top tourist attractions.


Agnes Keith House and Museum













former home of author Agnes Newton Keith, now restored as a museum


 The house where Agnes Keith used to live has recently been lovingly restored and turned into a museum as a tribute to her by the Department of Sabah Museum under the supervision of MS Stella Moo-Tan. It is located, in Keith’s own words, on the finest hilltop in Borneo, with a magnificent view of the harbour of Sandakan. The original house was destroyed in the war by the Japanese, and the present house, modelled largely after the war. Keith’s husband, Harry, was the Conservator of Forests. After the Keith’s departure in 1952, the house was occupied by mainly officers in the civil service until the early 1990s, when rumours of the house being haunted frightened away all occupants except the homeless. So for some years the house was neglected and became derelict, and it remained so until at the turn of the 21st century, when the Sabah Museum authorities decided to restore it.

            To get to the house, visitors should turn uphill into Jalan Istana just before reaching Sandakan town on the main road. The house is on top of the hill, about half a kilometer from JCI clock tower in a roundabout.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Tample Puu Gih Jih






a Chinese temple on top of a hill behind Sandakan where you can get beautiful views of Labuk Bay.

Sandakan Memorial Park




The Sandakan Memorial Park is adjacent to the World War Two prison camp, on the site of the massacre of 2,400 Australian and British prisoners-of-war in the hands of the Japanese, in the closing days of the Second World War, between January and August 1945. It is located about 11 km from the centre of Sandakan. Memorials to those who perished in the war can be seen in the park, surrounded by greeneries and ponds. There is also a small museum that documents the war history, along with rusting relics of the war. Negotiate a taxi to take you there (15 min), and expect to pay around RM 30 including waiting time Entry is free.

Friday, October 29, 2010

WANT TO BECOME A PARAGLIDER


WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS PLEASE CONTACT MR.ASNAWI

CABARAN DI BUKIT SIM-SIM 2009


                               PESERTA DAN CREW YANG DI ANJUR TAHUN LALU


                                                 PESERTA PERTAMA YANG LANDING


                            PEMANDANGAN YANG SEMPAT DI SNAP (PULAU BERHALA)


TEMPAT MENDARAT PADANG ASSALAM KAMPUNG SIM-SIM 


PENUTUP DAN PENYAMPAIAN HADIAH DI PADANG ASSALAM KAMPUNG SIM-SIM

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

DI BUKIT KEM PENGAKAP BATU 4 SANDAKAN

GLIDING DI ATAS BUKIT SIM-SIM








KURSUS ASAS KURANG DARI 100 METER

Monday, October 25, 2010

31.8.2006



Dari kanan, Puan Noraini Sulong ketua Puteri UMNO Sandakan, Y.B Au Kam Wah penaung Paragliding Sandakan, En. Cliff Man pilot jemputan dari Kota Kinabalu, En.Asnawi pengasas Paragliding Sandakan dan En. Hassan sebagai peminat biasa.  

 
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