The Maliau Basin rainforest in Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia, encompasses an area of 390 square kilometres, but the land is so wild that it has never been continuously inhabited by humans. Photo courtesy of Borneo Eco Tours

Today, the Maliau is awaiting UNESCO World Heritage Site status, which would help with conservation efforts. Funding is required to support initiatives like the construction of a network of trails that would allow small group treks to explore this unspoilt jungle accompanied by a local guide.

The ‘Lost World’ of Sabah

Surrounded by steep and forbidding slopes on all sides, the basin, which covers an area slightly larger than Singapore, is unapproachable on foot. There are no roads, only winding rivers and a lush tropical rainforest. The inaccessibility has kept this remote paradise hidden from humankind for millions of years. It was first spotted in 1947, when a British pilot flying from the west coast of Sabah to Tawau nearly ran into the steep cliff rising over 915 metres above the jungle floor. Maliau Basin has since been dubbed Sabah’s ‘Lost World’ due to its unique and mysteriously intact biodiversity.

The land of Maliau Basin has never been permanently inhabited. Although the people of the Murut tribe arrange yearly hunting trips into the area, they are the only regular visitors and no record or proof of their settlement exists in the forbidding basin. In fact, to date, only 25 percent of the entire area has been mapped.

The whole basin is one single water catchment and drains through a canyon in the south by one river, the Maliau River, which flows out into the Kuamut River, eventually joining Sabah’s largest and most important waterway, the Kinabatangan River. Back in Maliau, there are over 30 waterfalls – the most famous of which is the spectacular seven-tiered, 28-metre cascade known as Maliau Falls – making it the most waterfall-rich area in Malaysia.

With over 30 waterfalls, Sabah's Maliau Basin on Borneo is the most waterfall-rich area in all of Malaysia. Photo courtesy of Borneo Eco Tours

Daring to Enter

Today, intrepid travellers up for a challenge can arrange a visit to this real ‘lost world.’ Maliau Basin contains over 70 kilometres of trails, and visitors must be accompanied by a guide at all times. To trek the land of Maliau Basin requires good physical fitness as the trails range from easy to steep and the terrain can be challenging.

Though a porter is provided to carry food supplies, hikers are responsible for carting in their own personal belongings and water, unless they are willing to pay an extra fee for additional porters. Exhaustion may take its toll gradually, but it is best to stay focused upon the various species of flora dwelling throughout this unexplored haven. Trekkers stay at campsites equipped with basic facilities where one’s guide is officially the ‘jungle chief.’

The basin is incredibly rich in botanical wonders. It contains no less than 12 distinct forest types, including Upland Sandy Clay, Agathis Tree, Riparian, Montane Heath and Floodplain. There are an estimated 1,800 tree species in Maliau Basin, where 54 are currently listed as endangered or close to extinction. Among the flora that can be found here are 75 dipterocarp species, nepenthes, rhododendrons and rafflesia flowers, as well as at least 80 rare and endemic orchids. Nine species of carnivorous pitcher plant can also be found living in the very low nutrient soils of Maliau.

Although much of the terrain remains unexplored, Maliau Basin has already revealed itself to have the most complex interaction of wildlife on the planet. Over 82 mammal species has been recorded so far, many of them endangered like the Sumatran rhino, Asian elephant, clouded leopard, Malayan sun bear, orangutan, sambar and barking deer, bearded pigs, banteng, civet and the wild ox that has been extinct in peninsular Malaysia for over half a century.

Trekking through the thick vegetation and wild terrain of Sabah's Maliau Basin on Borneo, Malaysia, requires the help of a local tour guide. It also requires good physical condition and a good sense of adventure. Photo courtesy of Borneo Eco Tours

To date, an impressive 300 species of bird have also been found, including the endemic Bulwer’s pheasant and Bornean bristlehead. No less than one quarter of the bird species found in Maliau Basin is listed as threatened by IUCN (the International Union for Conservation of Nature).

Protecting the Mega Biodiversity of Maliau Basin

In 1997, the Sabah State Assembly announced Maliau Basin as a Class 1 Protection Forest Reserve and increased its size to 588 square kilometres, adding additional forested areas to the north and the east of the basin. Maliau received further protection in 1999 when it earned status as a cultural heritage site under the state’s Cultural Heritage and Conservation Enactment.

These days, efforts are underway to make Maliau Basin Malaysia’s third UNESCO World Heritage Site after the historic cities of Melaka and Georgetown on the Straits of Malacca. Earlier this year, the prime minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, paid a visit to the rainforest. He has high hopes for Maliau Basin’s inscription into the list of official UNESCO sites. He observes that an international level of attention and protection afforded by an institution like UNESCO would help keep Maliau unspoilt for important scientific research that is already underway. He also noted that UNESCO status would attract more of the right kind of tourism to the area.

Find out more about braving the lost world of Maliau Basin rainforest on a trekking expedition of a lifetime. Contact Albert and the team at Borneo Eco Tours, the whl.travel local connection in Borneo, Malaysia.

The Monte Toboggan on Portugal's Madeira Island is just one of many ways locals have created to get from one place to another, ways that we believe are a vital part of a local travel experience

We believe that the different forms of local transport are unique qualities of a place that, when experienced, are a vital part of a local travel experience. To know a place is to get around it the way local people do: cramming yourself into a chicken bus in South America, throwing caution to the wind in a tuk-tuk in Southeast Asia or boarding a ferry in Africa. We dare you to give them a try! We’re sure you will find these rides to be a brilliant bonding experience with locals.

To inspire you… and in honour of our recent focus on local transport, we asked our network of local travel professionals all over the world to give us a glimpse of the best local conveyances in their destinations. Their responses are as varied as they are colourful – everything from trains and boats and buses to animal power and bicycles and three-wheeled wonders.

We’re pleased to present this gallery of the best of local transport inside the whl.travel network.To make it work:
+ Click on a thumbnail to open a preview.
+ Click the name of the photo to be taken to the full written entry supporting it.
+ Click the photo itself to close the preview.
+ Use the arrows to navigate through previews.

Trains on the Right Track

(click here to read more)

Bicycles Worldwide

(click here to read more)

Buses Not to Miss

(click here to read more)

Muscle Power

(click here to read more)

Transport on the Water

(click here to read more)

Three-Wheeled Wonders

(click here to read more)

“Load up quick, bad weather, come very quick!”

These are the last words you ever want to hear when you are a passenger in a tiny 20-seater plane flying into the rainforest. As the engines whirred into life, I wondered for a split second whether or not I’d bought enough supplies to last a trek to the nearest village should the plane crash. Risky or not, the flight into the interior of Sarawak only served to highlight the nature of the trip that was to come – remote and, at this point, reckless.

Ceremonial first tree planting of the project "Picnic with the Penan" in Borneo. Photo courtesy of Picnic with the Penan

Last month I headed out on a tiny plane into the interior of Borneo to spend 10 days with the Penan. The Penan are one of the indigenous peoples of Sarawak and were, until recently, the only people to live a nomadic lifestyle within the rainforest. Today, most Penan have settled in villages where they primarily cultivate the land yet still utilize their hunter-gatherer skills to supplement their diet.

I visited two villages that are part of a project called Picnic with the Penan (PWTP). PWTP is a community tourism project that is run by the Penan, and which helps to fund a tree-planting project in areas that were badly burnt in El Nino fires in 1998. In the summer mass fruiting of 2009, there was a once-in-10-year opportunity to easily collect thousands of seeds to plant – knowing that this was coming, the villages sought outside help to fund a nursery and labor costs.

Penan elder making a blow pipe. Photo courtesy of Picnic with the Penan

They realized that by planting species of Meranti, Kapor and some Shorea species, in the future they would be able to selectively use some of the new trees for building, therefore leaving untouched the rare old-growth forest that still exists further from the villages. This project has gone from strength to strength and many saplings are now ready to plant, but the longevity of the project depends on consistent funding and PWTP is still seeking help to ensure the success in this project.

The PWTP projects are facilitated by volunteers who live outside of the villages and have access to the internet and phones, completing administrative tasks that cannot be done in the villages due their remote location. However, all the money that is spent goes directly to the Penan themselves, meaning that you pay your guide/porter/host directly rather than through a middleman. What is interesting about this initiative is that it is run as a co-operative; there is no hierarchy and all decisions are made in village meetings whereby each villager has an equal voice. This serves to create a sense that the project truly belongs to everyone.

One of the many perks of this particular trip is that it remains off the beaten track. With the PWTP program, it is unlikely that you will cross paths with any other travellers for the duration of your stay. Travellers should keep in mind that tourism is new to this area, so if you are expecting five-star amenities, think again! However, if you can approach this unique experience with an open mind, and are willing to make do with relatively basic conditions, then you will surely find it to be enriching and extremely enlightening.

My plan was to enjoy this trip solo, although I did have some concerns about travelling to this remote place on my own (getting on the aforementioned plane didn’t help). However, as soon as I arrived in the village and was greeted by my guide and porter, I realized that I had nothing to worry about. Even though they spoke only a bit of English, my friendly guides successfully managed to make me forget my initial trepidation about our adventurous 3-day trek to the villages.

The Penan may be quite shy when you first meet them, but based on my experience they will open up after a few hours. Soon they will be proudly showing you around the local forests, demonstrating their incredible span of knowledge. In fact, during one of our hikes, I was shocked to find out that my guide had never walked the route we were taking before – he seemed to know where the trails were even when there was no discernible track to follow!

My guide, Paul, was very eager to show me the medicinal plants used by the Penan and it seemed that they were everywhere – almost every small shrub we walked past had some use. It’s not surprising then that the Penan do not see the forest as a monetary resource so much as their whole life, their larder and their hospital. As such, the forest must be kept intact so that future generations and their culture can survive. In a much wider sense, this need to preserve the world’s rainforests can be extended to all of humanity.

Punting down from the Penan village. Photo courtesy of Picnic with the Penan

In this regard, PWTP has empowered the villages, and increasingly there is a real sense that they can do something about their own destinies. PWTP has provided these two villages with an income, which means that in time, there will be more of an incentive for the younger generation to stay in the villages and maintain the traditional connection the Penan have with the rainforest.

Though they have lived a subsistence lifestyle for so long, money has become a necessity in recent years. Ironically this may be the resource that allows the Penan to maintain their way of life. With the funds from the ‘community fee,’ the villagers can decide together how to improve their lives, whether be by replanting hardwoods in areas of damaged rainforest or creating wet rice paddies to provide a stable food supply.

After many years of hearing disheartening news about the Penan, it is really encouraging to see that this Penan-run project is bringing about positive changes that will, in time, provide the stability needed to continue their traditional way of life for future generations.

Often also used in conjunction with today's International Day of the World's Indigenous People, this is officially the logo of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII), an advisory body with a mandate to discuss indigenous issues

When is International Day of the World’s Indigenous People? Today! Proclaimed by the United Nations, it’s a day  on which, as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said, to “celebrate and recognise the stories, cultures and unique identities of indigenous peoples around the world.”

This year the focus is on indigenous designs – celebrating stories and cultures, crafting our own future. According to the UN, it “highlights the need for preservation and revitalisation of indigenous cultures, including their art and intellectual property…. It is also a reminder of the responsibility of individuals as consumers, to understand that there is a story and a personal experience behind every piece of cloth, textile or artwork from an indigenous individual or community.”

In Support of Indigenous Culture

On this special day an in keeping with this year’s particular focus, The Travel Word is very proud to join the world in saluting the cultural roots from which we have all sprung, roots that remain robust but require our admiration, care and protection.

To this end, and given the broad reach of the WHL Group community, of which The Travel Word is a part, we have concentrated for the last two weeks on sharing word from the indigenous people and native communities in our network. Our posts have examined indigenous culture and travel as it relates to:

• an Aboriginal tour guide in Cooktown, Australia
• the indigenous shea-butter-producing communities on the fringe of Mole National Park in northern Ghana
• an arts and ethnography museum in Laos that provides important information about the country’s ethnic groups
• the indigenous Rungus tribes of northern Borneo, Malaysia
• the Tzotzil indigenous people of Chamula, Mexico
• the Maori on the North Island of New Zealand
• the Embera indigenous community of Panama
• the Sámi indigenous people of northern Scandinavia
• the Bassari villages of rural Senegal
• the hill tribes of northern Thailand
• in Vanuatu, a Yakel village on the island of Tanna and the Namba population of Malekula Island
• the aboriginal Pemon people of Canaima National Park in Venezuela

We also have older articles about indigenous culture that explore Bhutan, Colombia, Georgia, Malawi, Mexico, Pakistan and Peru.

Poster announcing Indigenous People's Week, August 8-12, 2011. By planeta.com

There’s More: Indigenous People’s Week

In extended appreciation of indigenous people, The Travel Word is also throwing its weight behind Indigenous People’s Week, which takes place from August 8 to 12, 2011.

According to Ron Mader of Planeta.com, one of the week’s co-organisers, Indigenous People’s Week is “an innovative and fun ‘unconference’ ” that calls for recommendations of educational and engaging videos, podcasts, websites and online resources as part of “a wonderful mixing of cultures – indigenous and non-indigenous – as well as cyber-savvy and friends who simply don’t want a smartphone. We don’t all have to do the same thing or have the same background to contribute to a win-win effort.”

Please start adding links or questions now to the Indigenous People’s Week event pages on Facebook and LinkedIn. When tweeting about this topic, please include the hashtags #indigenous and #ipw.

Organisations like Borneo Ecotourism Solutions and Technologies (BEST) Society help the indigenous Rungus people of Borneo, Malaysia, harness the power of tourism to maintain their vibrant performing arts, customs and traditions. Photo courtesy of Borneo Eco Tours

The Remote Society of the Rungus

Borneo is home to the Rungus people, one of the island’s few remaining indigenous ethnic groups who reside in the area surrounding the former capital of Kudat. The peaceful Rungus culture revolves around the subsistence cultivation of rice and other crops, and the women are known for their weaving skills and intricate beadwork. In fact, the Rungus are famous for their distinct traditional dress: they wear black attire elaborately accessorised with antique beadwork worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Traditionally the women also wear heavy brass coils around their arms, legs and neck, accompanied by white and coral shell bracelets.

To this day the Rungus live in longhouses, which are extended single-floor structures elevated off the ground on stilts. Designed with an emphasis on community, longhouses have large common rooms but separate sleeping quarters for individual families. Many of these longhouses can still be seen in ethnic regions around Malaysia, but the sad reality is that the numbers are steadily dwindling, along with the traditions and cultures of minority groups. Kudat is one of the last remaining places to find longhouses in Sabah.

The indigenous Rungus people of Borneo, Malaysia, live in traditional longhouse structures, which are raised from the ground on stilts and shared by several families. Photo courtesy of Borneo Eco Tours

Cultural Tourism in Northern Borneo

The Rungus people lead unassuming lives, their job opportunities being limited to what is available to them through agriculture, weaving and building. They have therefore struggled to keep up with the economic demands of modern times, mindful of wishing to hold on to their traditions.

All hope is not lost, however, thanks to organisations like Borneo Ecotourism Solutions and Technologies (BEST) Society, a non-profit foundation launched by Borneo Eco Tours, the whl.travel local connection in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan, Malaysia.

BEST Society focuses on the sustainable development of Borneo’s local communities, utilising the benefits of tourism to provide opportunities for employment and income. On a Cultural Safari tour to North Borneo, for example, travellers are brought to the heart of a Rungus village, where they can stay in a longhouse with a family for a night and truly immerse themselves in the fascinating culture.

Dance performers keep traditional Rungus culture and costume alive through shows in their villages and on tour in the rest of Borneo and Malaysia. Photo courtesy of Borneo Eco Tours

In return, BEST Society helps with the maintenance of the longhouses and conducts community development programs that promote and preserve local traditions, as well as provide sustainable income. The people of these villages have learned to capitalise on their strengths as Rungus and are pleased to share their culture with travellers from the rest of the world.

Today, many of the Rungus are dispersed across major cities elsewhere in Malaysia and earning a living like everyone else. However, thanks to renewed local tourism efforts like those led by BEST Society, Rungus culture is not lost; the Rungus have been given reasons to be proud of who they are.

While the Rungus people can often be found performing in Malaysia’s cultural shows, now their traditional way of life is being reinforced in their native regions. Sometimes it is possible for the effects of modern tourism to go hand in hand with peaceful and responsible cultural development.

As part of a community-based tourism experience, travellers to Borneo, Malaysia, can stay inside traditional longhouses with Rungus families to sample their way of life. Photo courtesy of Borneo Eco Tours

For more suggestion about the sites and tours available in Borneo, check in with the experts at Borneo Eco Tours, your whl.travel local connection.

Being able to spot one depends on your luck, but among the best places to see them in wild are Kinabatangan, Danum Valley and Tabin in Sabah (Malaysia), as well as various locations in Sarawak and Kalimantan, Indonesia.

As always, luck is non-guaranteed, so a chance to meet them up close and personal is rather slim. What’s more, the orangutan population is dwindling due to the many human threats and other natural causes.

In Sabah, one of the best spots to see orangutans is at the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre, located approximately 25 kilometres from Sandakan. It has been in operation since 1964 as a sanctuary and rehabilitation project that rescues orphaned baby orangutans from logging sites, plantations, illegal hunting operations and homes where they are illegally kept as pets.

Getting to Sepilok is not complex. There are morning flights that connect to Sandakan or a six-hour overland journey from Kota Kinabalu via public buses. There is accommodation in the form of jungle resorts with restaurants and other guest facilities that cater to tourists who would like to spend more time close to the reserve.

At the centre, on daily basis, visitors can watch video shows before feeding time at 10am or 3pm. After the presentation, a 10-minute rtek on a raised boardwalk  leads to a large viewing platform surrounded by giant trees. Visitors are advised to remain in silence and not to approach any orangutan for fear of attack. A ranger at the feeding platform distributes fruit, such as bananas.

On most occasions, orangutans emerge from the jungle, gliding through tree branches and supporting ropes to reach their meals. Some of the most endearing sights are when a mother orangutan appears carrying a baby and vies for food among her peers. Visitors also have the the option of adopting orangutans and playing a part in their rehabilitation process.

Overall, it’s a great pleasure to see the animals’ hilarious behaviour during feeding time. Don’t be surprised to see long-tailed macaques join in the feast.

Back at the centre, both a cafeteria and a mini shop supply food and drinks. There is also gift shop for souvenirs.

While in Sandakan, not to be forgotten are additional tours to nearby Turtle Island and the Kinabatangan floodplain for wildlife sighting. Fancy an ecolodge stay? Sukau Rainforest Lodge on the Kinabatangan river recently completed a room makeover and then won the prestigious World Travel Awards 2010 under the category of Asia’s Leading Green Hotel. You can expect a greener way in wildlife viewing with silent electric motors used during the river cruises in search of indigenous proboscis monkeys, other wildlife like, if you are lucky, the pygmy elephants and – of course – the orangutans!

The first of the finalists to have received a visit from the Wild Asia team was the Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa in Malaysia. The modest resort is tucked away on a quiet stretch of Langkawi Island’s prime coastline, where it boasts a generous expanse of rugged beach with easy access to Langkawi Geopark (part of the UNESCO-assisted Global Geoparks Network), famous for its 99 unusual island formations, vertical sea walls and limestone caves.

Committed to protecting the local environment and minimising the waste generated by the resort, the owners of the Frangipani have introduced a variety of successful innovations in green technology perfectly suited to the idyllic location. The area’s abundant natural light – an average of 10 to 12 hours per day – has been taken advantage of by solar panels installed on each and every building to heat the hot water, thereby eliminating the need for electric alternatives. Plenty of thought has also been paid to conserving the island’s water supply. Mindful of water scarcity, the resort has built 85 water tanks to harvest rainwater, which is channeled for use in washing and gardening.

Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa even has its own wetlands, where grey and black water enter from septic tanks. The wastewater is naturally treated by a precise selection of plants that include water hyacinth, convolvulus, mimosa and water lilies, all coupled with a mechanical aeration device. The treated water is then pumped out of the wetlands and used to sustain the resort’s very own vegetable garden.

Passionate about sustainability and giving back to the local community, Frangipani frequently hosts environmental education workshops for local schools and university students. On top of this, the resort is actively involved in local socio-economic development. Currently they are working with single mothers from Tuba Island to produce and sell handicrafts made from recycled and natural materials, such as newspapers, seashells and the leaves of the pandanus tree. Thanks to all this, the hotel is now one of the greenest properties in all of Malaysia.

Stay tuned to this space to learn more about the remaining five Responsible Tourism Award finalists, as we profile other finalists from Cambodia, Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The winners will be announced on 21 October 2010 during the Responsible Tourism Award ceremony at ITB Asia in Singapore (20–22 October 2010).

Together with the Awards will be a Responsible Tourism Forum and networking session jointly organised by Wild Asia, ITB Asia and The Blue Yonder. Themed ‘CSR in Travel,’ the forum will feature the Award finalists, winners, CSR leaders and green entrepreneurs among others. ‘CSR in Travel’ will cover topics such as tourism and sustainability, greening the supply chain and communicating Responsible Tourism, as well as share Responsible Tourism experiences by successful tourism operators, NGOs and social enterprises working in Asia.

Darron Raw (@swazitravel) – the whl.travel local connection in Swaziland
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Elsie C. Orabona (@UbatubaTravel) – the whl.travel local connection in Ubatuba, Brazil
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Kate (Ward) Webb (@rscmalawi) – the whl.travel local connection in Malawi
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Neil Lyon (@lyontours) – the whl.travel local connection in Port Elizabeth and Addo National Park, South Africa
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Nicola Swann, (@TheFarHorizons) – former whl.travel local partner in Uganda
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Rajendra Sapkota (@WHLNepal) – the whl.travel local connection in Kathmandu and Pokhara, Nepal
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Sonja Grau (@kaunostours) – the whl.travel local connection in Dalyan, Turkey
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Thomas Holdo Hansen (@whlcambodia) – the whl.travel local connection in Siem Reap, Cambodia
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Tomaz Martinek (@travelslovenia) – former whl.travel local partner in Slovenia

Willie Ki (@borneoecotours) – the whl.travel local connection in Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia

All of these #whltravel tweeps, plus those presented on Make Travel Fair and all the rest, can be found on the WHL Group Twitter list.

Making squid cages on an Andaman Discoveries tour in Phang Nga, Thailand

“We received a selection of high-quality checklists and this proves to show that the network and awareness of RT is building up,” said Deborah Chan, Wild Asia’s Programme Manager. “Travel operators from around the region are truly striving to make a difference for a better and greener future.”

Wild Asia shortlisted two choices in each category: large-size accommodation, small- to midsize accommodation and tour operators. These were determined after careful review, research, discussion and debate of all applications by a judging panel composed of responsible tourism (RT) experts, academics, conservationists and eco-consultants.

Frangipani Langkawi Resort, Langkawi, Malaysia

Judges first examined all of the completed checklists submitted by the applicants, which outline best management practices and specific RT efforts. Then, through a scoring system, the panel analyzed and ranked each answer from the entry forms. Given the extremely high calibre of this year’s entrants, judges were impressed by the broad and innovative application of RT practices. It was such a close competition!

Winners will be announced on 21 October 2010 during the Responsible Tourism Award ceremony at ITB Asia in Singapore (20–22 October 2010).

The Shortlist

Large-size Accommodation
* Frangipani Langkawi Resort (Langkawi, Malaysia) – In addition to getting its guests and staff involved in their RT practices, Frangipani Langkawi practices and promotes environmental conservation.

Heritance Kandalama, Dambulla, Sri Lanka

* Heritance Kandalama (Dambulla, Sri Lanka) – The unique architectural design blends the hotel into the natural surroundings and maximizes natural light. The structure is built on a raised platform allowing for the flow of water and movement of wildlife under the hotel.

Sarinbuana Ecolodge, Bali, Indonesia

Small- to Mid-size accommodation
* Sarinbuana Ecolodge (Bali, Indonesia) – Environmental conservation and community empowerment figure prominently as commitments to the highest standards of sustainability, also including a reliance on local, low-impact, sustainable materials and businesses.

Soneva Gili, Lankanfushi Island, Maldives

* Soneva Gili (Lankanfushi Island, Maldives) – Technological innovations help Soneva Gili focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving natural resources and effectively managing energy and waste.

Pepy Tours, Cambodia

Tour Operators
* Pepy Tours (Siem Reap, Cambodia) – Pepy Tours believes tours should be adventurous, educational and responsible, all at the same time. They also involve the community through educational, volunteer and tour programs.

* Andaman Discoveries (Phang Nga, Thailand) – Community leadership and participation through open dialogue inspire respectful interaction between visitors and local communities, and ensure direct economic benefits to the communities.

In Kuala Lumpur, while towering skyscrapers, shopping malls and the golden glove of international finance may not be prime draws for many travellers in search of the ‘real’ Malaysia, a small scratch beneath its surface reveals an immense amount of cultural diversity and places full of interesting experience. With a little careful attention, the buzz of the city can be found in its throbbing street markets and the clamour of languages; its ease in whiffs of temple incense and catnaps in the shade of the central park.

The Kuala Lumpur skyline is unmistakable, towered over by the Petronas Twin Towers, the city's most prominent landmark

Modern-day Kuala Lumpur is a far cry from its earliest days as a community of poor tin miners who had swarmed the mosquito-infested confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers (kuala lumpur means ‘muddy estuary’). Since the mid 19th century, Kuala Lumpur has developed by leaps and bounds to become one of Asia’s most vibrant cities, a vital global centre of Islamic finance and the seat of political power in Malaysia. With fantastic shopping, sightseeing and wonderful food, there’s no shortage of things to see and do in this breathtaking city.

The mix of sites and visitor experiences is very much in keeping with the city’s world-renowned diversity of cultures and commercial interests. At one end of the scale, the Petronas Twin Towers – once the tallest buildings in the world – are a defining image of the city and perhaps the most eye-catching component of the sprawling financial district. The contrasting natural splendour of the Batu Cave Complex, located within easy reach of the city, offers cool limestone caverns as escape from the topside heat; similarly, a trip to the Lake Gardens provides access to stunning local flora and fauna.

Kuala Lumpur tours are also up for grabs and provide an excellent way to really get under the skin of this city blessed with attractions like a bustling Chinatown, the head-spinning hubbub of the Central Market and the dignified edifice of the Masjid Jamek, the city’s oldest building and one of its holiest sites.

Although the rapid transfer from relaxed districts to chaotic traffic and crowded food stalls can sometimes be overwhelming, a comprehensive monorail system today makes getting around the city, and to and from the full range of Kuala Lumpur hotels a cinch.

Thirteen kilometres north of Kuala Lumpur, the Batu Caves are located in a limestone hill and contain temples that are especially popular during the annual Hindu Thaipusam festival

whl.travel‘s launch of www.kualalumpurhotel-link.travel connects travellers to local experts Khirul Zainie and Ai Lee from MegaBorneo Tours, who also own and manage the whl.travel destination websites for Kuching and Miri and Mulu.

Khirul had this to say upon launching another site in Malaysia: “I am very pleased to launch our third online portal in Malaysia with whl.travel. To people like me (a local Malaysian), Kuala Lumpur is our pride as the capital city of our country. For me personally, this is where I went to school and started my career in the travel industry around 22 years ago. Besides being a local from Miri Oiltown, I always feel that Kuala Lumpur is home, having live here for more than 18 years of my life. I am very happy to be the local connection of whl.travel network in Kuala Lumpur because I can share my local knowledge of this wonderful city to any interested travellers that want to maximise their local experience during their visit.”

The Kuala Lumpur destination portal is the whl.travel network’s fifth in Malaysia, behind Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Miri and Mulu and Sandakan.

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IN MALAY / DALAM BAHASA MELAYU:

Walaupun Bangunan tinggi mencecah langit, gedung membeli-belah mega dan kepelbagaian institusi kewangan antarabangsa bukanlah tarikan utama untuk kebanyakan para pengembara di Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur juga menawarkan tarikan kepelbagaian budaya dan tempat-tempat tarikan pelancongan yang menarik. Keistimewaan unik bandaraya ini boleh dirasai di pasar terbukanya yang sibuk, kepelbagaian bahasa warganya, keunikan bau gaharu dari kuil dan bersantai di taman yang indah di tengah kota raya ini.

Kuala Lumpur hari ini adalah jauh berbeza dari permulaannya yang merupakan pusat lombong timah di titik pertemuan diantara Sungai Klang dan Sungai Gombak. Semenjak pertengahan abad ke 19, Kuala Lumpur telah membangun dengan pesat sehingga menjadi salah sebuan bandaraya yang paling membangun di Asia, pusat global utama bagi institusi kewangan Islam dan pusat kuasa politik Malaysia. Dengan kepelbagaian kemudahan membeli-belah bertaraf antarabangsa, berbagai kemudahan pakej pelancongan dan berbagai tempat menjamu selera, anda tidak akan ketandusan tempat dan aktiviti untuk dilawati di bandaraya yang indah ini.

Kepelbagaian tempat tarikan dan pengalaman para pelawat sangatlah bersesuaian dengan kedudukan bandaraya ini sebagai sebuah bandaraya berbagai budaya dengan berbagai aktiviti komersial. Bangunan Kembar Petronas – pernah menjadi bangunan tertinggi di dunia adalah lambang utama Kuala Lumpur. Sementara Kuil Batu Caves, yang terletak tidak jauh dari pusat bandaraya menawarkan gua batu kapur dingin untuk menghindar kepanasan di luar. Sementara lawatan ke Taman Tasik menawarkan berbagai flora dan fauna yang menarik.

The Sultan Abdul Samad Building, built between 1894 and 1897 as the secretariat building for British administration during the colonial period, is the most popular landmark of Kuala Lumpur

Berbagai program lawatan Kuala Lumpur yang ditawarkan merupakan cara yang baik untuk meneroka berbagai keindahan bandaraya ini seperti Chinatown yang sibuk, Central market dan Majid Jamek yang merupakan bangunan tertua Kuala Lumpur.

Dengan kemudahan system monorail yang komprehensif, perjalanan di bandaraya ini adalah mudah tetapi perjalanan di masa keadaan trafik utama dan di tempat-tempat gerai makanan yang sibuk tetap menjadi satu cobaan. Kemudahan Hotel Kuala Lumpur menawarkan berbagai kategori sesuai untuk berbagai bajet dan cita rasa.

Pelancaran portal www.kualalumpurhotel-link.travel dari whl.travel menghubung para pengembara dengan Khirul Zainie dan Ailee Tan dari MegaBorneo Tour Planner yang juga mengurus portal destinasi whl.travel untuk Kuching beserta Miri dan Mulu.

Sempena pelancaran sebuan lagi portal di Malaysia, menurut Khirul “Saya sangat berbesar hati dengan pelancaran portal kami yang ketiga di Malaysia dengan whl.travel. Sebagai warga Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur adalah ibu Negara yang kami banggakan. Inilah tempat saya bersekolah dan di Kuala Lumpur juga tempat say memulakan karier di dalam industry pelancongan lebih 22 tahun dahulu. Selepas tinggal di Kuala Lumpur lebih dari 18 tahun, saya menganggap Kuala Lumpur sebagai tempat tinggal asal selain dari Miri tempat kelahiran asal saya. Says berasa sangat gembira menjadi ahli whl.travel tempatan di Kuala Lumpur sebab ia member saya peluang untuk berkongsi pengalaman tempatan say di Kuala Lumpur dengan para pengembara yang ingin melawat Kuala Lumpur.”

Portal destinasi Kuala Lumpur adalah portal whl.travel network yang kelima di Malaysia selepas Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Miri dan Mulu dan Sandakan.

Kuching is capital of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak and, as the fourth largest metropolis in Malaysia, is the most developed and populous area on the island of Borneo. Kuching often goes by the name ‘Cat City’, a nickname the precise origins of which have been lost in the mists of time, although the word kuching means ‘cat’ in Malay. The residents of this vibrant city have nevertheless warmed to the moniker and numerous statues of felines can be spotted in and around the town – along with a great many live cats.

The Sarawak River is the focal point of the Kuching, dividing its north from its south and eventually spilling into the South China Sea

Kuching is one of the most multiethnic cities in Malaysia and has a rich history of cultural fusion. A noticeable Hindu presence belies its origins as an Indian settlement, while the city’s Chinese – making up approximately 45% of the population – have also exerted a strong influence over its development. British colonialism left its mark on the entire state, as it was run as the personal kingdom of James Brooke, the so-called White Rajah of Sarawak, for almost 30 years in the mid-19th century.

The Sarawak River is Kuching’s focal point. It meanders gently through the centre of town toward its outlet at the South China Sea. It divides the city into northern and southern sections and some of the city’s oldest buildings can be found close to its banks. Kuching tours of the city and surrounding area are great ways to get your bearings, take in the key landmarks and get a taste of more things to see and do in greater depth. Avid museum-goers won’t want to miss a half-day Kuching city tour, while those looking to take in some of the splendid surrounding countryside should opt for a wildlife expedition tour or perhaps visits that focus specifically on orangutans, crocodiles and the visually comical proboscis monkey. There are also caves and beaches within easy reach of town if you’re worried about falling into a pitcher plant in the rainforest.

The climate in Kuching is tropical, so if you start to feel the heat, pace yourself to avoid exhaustion. Kick back and relax in one of the many Kuching hotels able to suit any budget, or enjoy a casual swim or snorkel on one of Sarawak’s oldest national parks.

whl.travel’s launch of www.borneo-sarawak.travel connects travellers to local experts Khirul Zaine and Ai Lee from MegaBorneo Tour Planner. “We hope to contribute positively to the local community of Sarawak and environment by featuring services of selected responsible suppliers to the world,” said Khirul about joining the whl.travel network. “We believe in practicing sustainable tourism in our daily business operations and with whl.travel, we feel that we are not alone in this crusade.”

This latest destination portal is the whl.travel network’s fourth in Malaysia, following Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu, and Miri and Mulu.

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IN MALAY / DALAM BAHASA MELAYU:

An Iban chieftain shows his cockfighting rooster. The tattoos on his shoulders symbolise the initiation of a man into a warrior.

Kuching iaitu ibu kota negeri Sarawak di Malaysia Timur adalah kota metropolitan yang keempat terbesar di Malaysia. Ia juga adalah kota yang paling terbangun dan mempunyai kepadatan penduduk yang tertinggi di kepulauan Borneo. ‘Bandar Kucing’ adalah nama jolokan kota ini yang melambangkan asal nama tersebut dan terdapat berbagai jenis patung binatang peliharaan ini di serata kota raya ini selain daripada kucing yang hidup merayau di serata kota Kuching.

Kota Kuching adalah salah sebuah kota yang mempunyai kepelbagaian bangsa dengan sejarah yang paling unik dengan gabungan berbagai kebudayaan di Malaysia. Peninggalan pengaruh Hindu yang ketara menjadi bukti asalnya sebagai penempatan orang India di suatu masa dahulu. Masyarakat kaum Cina yang merupakan 45% dari keseluruhan penduduk Kuching juga telah memainkan peranan yang besar kepada pembangunan Kota Kuching. Zaman penjajahan British telah meninggalkan kesan yang ketara kepada seluruh negeri Sarawak. Sebelum zaman penjajahan British, negeri Sarawak telah diperintah oleh oleh keluarga British iaitu keluarga Brooke bermula dengan pemerintahan Rajah James Brooke selama lebih kurang 30 tahun di dalam pertengahan abad yang ke 19.

Sungai Sarawak adalah yang mengalir dengan tenang di tengah Kota Kuching menuju ke Laut Cina selatan adalah satu tarikan yang paling ketara di Kota ini. Kota Kuching terbahagi kepada dua wilayah iaitu wilayah Utara dan wilayah Selatan. Sebahagian dairpada bangunan tertua di kota ini terletak di tebing Sungai Sarawak.

Acara Lawatan pelancongan Kota Kuching yang merangkumi Kota Kuching dan kawasan sekitar kota ini adalah cara yang terbaik untuk menikmati keindahan dan keunikan tarikan pelancongan kota ini dengan lebih mendalam. Jika melawat museum menjadi minat anda, jangan ketinggalan dari mengikuti acara setengah hari lawatan pelancongan Kota Kuching. Sekiranya anda berminat untuk menjelajah kawasan sekitar luar Bandar kota ini, kami anjurkan ‘Wild Life Expedition Tour’. Kepada yang berminat untuk menyaksikan Orang Utan. Kepada yang berminat untuk melihat buaya Sarawak. Anad juga berpeluang untuk menyaksikan Kera Bekantan di Taman Negara Bako.

Terdapat juga gua dan kawasan pantai yang indah berdekatan dengan kota Kuching.

Kota Kuching mengalami iklim tropika. Beristirihatlah dengan selesa di berbagai kelas hotel di kota Kuching yang pastinya ada yang sesuai dengan kemampuan anda ataupun bersantai di sebuah taman negara yang tertua di negeri Sarawak.

Pelancaran portal www.borneo-sarawak.travel menghubung terus para pengembara dengan pembekal perkhidmatan tempatan yang mahir iaitu Khirul Zainie dan Ai Lee dari MegaBorneo Tour Planner.

“Kami yakin dengan menjadi sebahagian daripada gabungan whl.travel, MegaBorneo Tour Planner akan dapat mencapai kepada pelanggan yang berminat untuk menikmati pengalaman tempatan yang unggul sambil mengamalakan sikap yang bertanggungjawab kepada pemeliharaan alam sekitar. Kami percaya kepada amalan industri pelancongan yang bertanggungjawab dan dengan menyertai whl.travel network, kami tidak keseorangan di dalm usaha murni ini. Kami akan terus menyumbang secara positif kepada masyarakat dan persekitaran tempatan dengan memilih hanya bekerjasama dengan pembekal perkhidmatan yang bertanggungjawab sahaja,” menurut Khirul Zainie mewakili semua kakitangan syarikat beliau.

Portal destinasi Malaysia yang terbaru ini adalah portal whl.travel network yang keempat di Malaysia selepas Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu dan Miri dan Mulu.

Although known as the birthplace of Malaysia’s petroleum industry – and still reliant on oil as a leading source of income – the coastal town of Miri, in northern Sarawak on the island of Borneo, is today so much more than an oil and timber town and site of national monuments like the Grand Old Lady,  or Oil Well No. 1, drilled way back in 1910.

The Grand Old Lady - Malaysia's first oil well was erected in 1910 and is now a state monument

Looking past its industrial origins, Miri and its surrounding region draw in many visitors eager to indulge in Miri tours and activities, including scuba diving, beaches  and, just 30 minutes from Miri, the largest biodiversity park in the world, Lambir Hills National Park. Another national park, Loagan Bunut, is a magnificent haunt for bird watchers, who keep watch over a central lake that shrinks every summer. Before and after such trips, a wide range of Miri hotels covers all tastes and budgets.

Mulu Caves National Park is a World Heritage Site located 110 km west of Miri. Believed to be the longest connected cave system in the world, Mulu includes marvels like the astonishingly large Sarawak Chamber, voluminous enough to accommodate 40 Boeing 747s. Mulu’s origins probably date back more than 5 million years, giving it another superlative: the oldest cave on earth.

The Kenyah are one of Borneo's indigenous tribes and can be found living in small communities across the island

Speaking on behalf of his team, Khirul Zainie says: “We are confident that as part of the whl.travel network, MegaBorneo Tour Planner can reach out to travellers interested in enjoying an authentic local experience in a responsible manner. We believe in practicing sustainable  tourism  in our daily business operations and we feel that we are not  alone in this crusade. We will continue to contribute positively to local communities by featuring the services of carefully selected, responsible suppliers and work to avoid the risk of ‘green wash’.”

whl.travel’s launch of www.borneo-mirimulu.travel puts travellers directly in touch with Khirul and the team at MegaBorneo Tours and adds to the existing destinations in Malaysia, including Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan.

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IN MALAY / DALAM BAHASA MELAYU

Miri dan Taman Negara Mulu – Destinasi WHL terbaru di Malaysia

Selain daripada dikenali sebagai tempat kelahiran industri petroleum Malaysia, Miri yang terletak di bahagian Utara negeri Sarawak di kepulauan Borneo, Bandaraya Miri hari ini adalah lebih daripada Bandar Minyak, kayu balak dan tempat Monumen nasional seperti tempat telaga minyak pertama di Malaysia atau lebih dikenali sebagai “Grand Old Lady” yang ditemui dalam tahun 1910.

Hari ini, Miri dan kawasan sekitarnya menarik ramai pengunjung yang ingin melawat tarikan pelancongan di Miri, termasuk aktiviti scuba, pantainya yang sunyi  dan terletak lebih kurang tiga puluh minit dari Miri adalah Taman Negara Bukit Lambir yang terkenal dengan keperbagaian sumber  biologinya dan air terjun yang indah. Taman Negara Niah dan Taman Negara Logan Bunut adalah diantara pusat tarikan pelancong yang terletak  tidak jauh dari Miri. Miri juga menawarkan Miri hotel dari perbagai kategori sesuai untuk  pelbagai cita rasa dan saiz saku.

Abraham Lincoln’s Silhouette is a natural limestone formation in Deer Cave part of the world's oldest cave system at Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Taman Negara Mulu adalah sebuah kawasan “World Heritage Site” di negeri Sarawak yang terletak 110 km Barat Miri. Dipercayai system gua yang terpanjang di dunia, Taman Negara Mulu megah dengan keluasan Gua Sarawak Chamber yang boleh menyimpan 40 buah boeing 747. Dengan usia yang lebih dari 5 juta tahun, Taman Negara Mulu juga dipercayai adalah gua tertua di dunia.

“Kami yakin dengan menjadi sebahagian daripada  gabungan whl.travel, MegaBorneo Tour Planner akan dapat mencapai kepada pelanggan yang berminat untuk menikmati pengalaman tempatan yang unggul sambil mengamalakan sikap yang bertanggungjawab kepada pemeliharaan alam sekitar. Kami percaya kepada amalan industri pelancongan yang bertanggungjawab dan dengan menyertai whl.travel network, kami tidak keseorangan di dalm usaha murni ini. Kami akan terus  menyumbang secara positif kepada masyarakat dan persekitaran tempatan dengan memilih hanya bekerjasama  dengan pembekal perkhidmatan yang bertanggungjawab sahaja,” menurut Khirul Zainie mewakili semua kakitangan syarikat beliau.

Dengan pelancaran www.borneo-mirimulu.travel oleh whl.travel, para pengembara dapat berhubung terus dengan MegaBorneo Tour Planner dan menambah satu lagi destinasi  baru di Malaysia selain daripada Kota Kinabalu dan Sandakan.

Put succinctly on the Wild Asia website: “Our ultimate goal is to promote sustainable practices that will minimise adverse impacts on the environment, ensure that local communities are engaged and that local cultures are respected.”

Responsible Tourism Initiative

In addition to several other programs and initiatives – focusing on sustainable agriculture; the establishment or enhancement of ‘natural corridors‘ where wildlife can live and move with minimal human interference; and direct financial support (amounting to 25% of Wild Asia’s annual profits!) to causes in Asia, for example, through seed grants – Wild Asia directs a far-reaching Responsible Tourism initiative (RTI).

Ecosphere Spiti, India, is a homestay programme started in 2002 to develop models of envionmental and social sustainability. It was a winner of Wild Asia's Responsible Tourism Award 2008.

The RTI “aims to promote the best practices of sustainable tourism in Asia. Our goal is to demonstrate that there are clear financial incentives for doing the right thing. The reward for tourism operators is simple; we offer them unique marketing opportunities to reach out to a growing global market for responsible tourism. The reward for travelers – ecologically and socially sound tourism – is just as important, because they make choices with their conscience and their budget alike.”

To achieve these lofty goals, the practical and intuitive professional services Wild Asia offers include responsible tourism reviews and assessments, the documentation and communication of best practices, rewards for best practices and opportunities for training and education. Also available free of charge on the Wild Asia website are thought-provoking prompts for businesses and, specifically for tourism operators, carefully assembled responsible tourism checklists used even well beyond Asia’s borders as superb benchmarks taking into account our common future welfare.

For travellers, there are clearly presented responsible tourism guidelines and an interactive responsible tourism map spotlighting tourism practitioners in Southeast Asia committed to responsible tourism. (Far from compendious, the map is more of a demonstration of how little is out there right now, something sure to change in the years ahead.)

On 11 January 2009 the New York Times (NYT) published a piece entitled The 44 Places to Go in 2009. The introduction suggests that they are the new year’s ‘most compelling destinations’ and they’re presented in an order of preference ‘recommended’ by the NYT. At the article’s request, readers also voted on their favourites and, with the click of a button, the preferences can be shuffled to reflect readers’ recommendations too.

Reader comments on the article covered fairly predictable ground, lamenting omitted destinations (“Nothing in China? I am a bit surprised.” “Not a single Canadian destination?”), suggesting new ones (“Visit Poland!” “Tanzania? Kenya”?), criticising those on the list (“Dallas? You’ve got to be kidding!” “Beirut? Get real.”), questioning the division into sub-categories (“How is Greece not a cultural option?” “Can someone explain to me how $600 a night in South Africa is ‘frugal’?”) and even challenging the validity and sustainability of the topic (“Honestly, how many working people will be able to afford big vacations this year?” “Do the authors and publishers of travel pieces like this bear responsibility for the environmental damage wrought by those who go?”)

One of my personal favourites is this one: “Please add the category that shows where the jobs are that allow people to spend money to travel. In my world, most of these trips are the equivalent of more than a couple of month’s rent. Call it ‘employo-tourism.’ ”

I won’t add my own very long list of criticisms of the choices offered or of people’s responses. Well, OK, I can’t resist just one: Just how could Buffalo (New York) be the number three people’s recommended destination for 2009? I have nothing against the place, but, really, more appealing than the entire country of South Africa? Please.

Actually, I have another one: Like many of the people who commented, I find the presentation of the list to be incredibly disingenuous. While I can imagine the day when whl.travel will publish its own lists, I will endeavor to be more transparent about our selection criteria and more clear about our original pool being solely our suite of offered destinations.

Then again, I wonder if these lists serve any real purpose or if (as I sometimes suspect) they are really just a commercial obligation put forth as an opinion. Have you ever made a travel choice as a function of such a list (I haven’t)? And, in the end, is it fair for one set of apple destinations to be compared to the orange set and the peach set and the pineapple set? How can you ever measure the comparative merits of ‘A Pennsylvania Farm’ over all of India?

(On an related-but-different note, I find very encouraging how well whl.travel has anticipated this (dubiously accurate) New York Times overview. If you subtract the 10 American and 10 major European destinations (markets into which we have not yet pushed), of the remaining 24, whl.travel has active partners in or near 14 of them, including (in order of NYT preference) Beirut, Qatar (coming), Dakar, Phuket, Marrakech, the Aegean Sea (see Greece and Turkey), Penang (see other destinations in Malaysia), Florianopolis, Boracay, South Africa, India, Madagascar, Tasmania (see other destinations in Australia) and Zambia.)