Borneo

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Introduction

Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of Maritime Southeast Asia. Administratively, the island of Borneo is divided into three separate countries: Indonesia (Kalimantan, population 12,000,000), Malaysia (Sarawak and Sabah, pop. 6,000,000) and Brunei (pop. 590,000). Indonesians refer to the island as "Kalimantan". However, for people outside of Indonesia, Kalimantan refers to the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo. Malaysia's region of Borneo is called East Malaysia or Malaysian Borneo. The independent nation of Brunei occupies the remainder of the island. Brunei is the wealthiest nation on the island of Borneo.

Geography

Cities

• Kota Kinabalu - Sabah
• Kuching - Sarawak
• Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei
• Pontianak - West Kalimantan
• Banjarmasin - South Kalimantan
• Balikpapan - East Kalimantan

Sights and Activities

Malaysia

Sabah

• Mount Kinabalu - Climb this 4095-metre tall mountain for some stunning views.
• Sipadan Island
• Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre - This is a world famous orangutan centre where people can watch orangutans in their natural habitat up close and personal.
• Tabin Wildlife Reserve - a 120,500 hectare nature preserve on the east coast of Sabah.
• Danum Valley Conservation Area - A large section of virgin rainforest located near the middle of Sabah.
• Kinabatangan River - great wildlife, like proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants
• Pulau Tiga (Sabah) is an island not far from Kota Kinabalu where the reality show Survivor I was filmed
• Turtle Islands (Sabah) is near Sandakan, consists of 3 islands - Selingaan, Bakkungaan Kecil and Gulisaan
• Maliau Basin - an extremely biodiverse site in the central parts of Sabah
• Tunku Abdul Rahman Park - just off the coast near Kota Kinbalu

Sarawak

• Sarawak Cultural Village - Located 35 km from Kuching on the foothill of Mount Santubong, it is a showcase of Sarawak's fascinating culture.
• Gunung Mulu National Park (Miri) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the world's largest cave chamber, the Sarawak Chamber, measuring 600 metres long by 415 metres wide by 80 metres high.
• Niah National Park (Miri), known as The Great Cave, in this park is a very important archaeolgical site where Paleolithic era settlement and a 40,000-year-old human skull was found.
• Bako National Park (Kuching) is home to rare proboscis monkeys, found only in Borneo.
• Batang Ai National Park (Sri Aman)
• Kelabit Highlands is a highland plateau in the interior Sarawak and home to the Kelabit indigenous people.
• Bukit Lambir National Park
• Loagan Bunut National Park - including the largest freshwater lake in East Malaysia.
• Gunung Gading National Park - good place to spot the Rafflesia, the world's largest flower
• Kubah National Park
• Tanjung Datu National Park
• Talang-Satang National Park - including Sarawak’s marine turtle population
• Similajau National Park

Brunei

• Kampong Ayer (English: Water Village) is a district of Bandar Seri Begawan and home to 30,000 people. All of the buildings in the Water Village are constructed on stilts above the Brunei River and roughly one out of ten people in Brunei live here. Kampong Ayer contains many small villages that are linked together by almost 30 kilometres of foot-bridges, although speed boats nowadays are a more important mode of transport, especially on some longer distances. There are over 4200 structures including homes, mosques, restaurants, shops, schools, and a hospital and on top of the foot-bridges there are 36 kilometres of boardwalks connect the buildings.
• The Ulu Temburong National Park, one of the natural highlights of Brunei, is comparable to Borneo's many other parks, including those in Malaysia. It is located in the remote part of the Batu Apoi Forest Reserve and can be accessed only by long boat. The main feature of the Ulu Temburong National Park is the canopy walkway, suspended from the treetops, 50 metres above the forest floor. From the canopy walkway there are tremendous views of the virgin forest and you can see wildlife including birds, butterflies and monkeys. Most people visit on tours which can be arranged in Bandar Seri Begawan or the administrative centre of the Temburong District, Bangar.
• Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque

Indonesia

• Tanjung Puting National Park
• Betung Kerihun National Park
• Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park
• Danau Sentarum National Park
• Gunung Palung National Park
• Kayan Mentarang National Park
• Kutai National Park
• Sebangau National Park

Events and Festivals

Malaysia

• Kaamatan (Sabah) – A harvest festival celebrated by the Kadazan people of Sabah on 30 and 31 May each year.
• Gawai Dayak (Sarawak) – A thanksgiving day marking good harvest, held on 1 June yearly in Sarawak. Indigenous people, particularly the Iban and Bidayuh, in their colourful costumes make ceremonial offerings of traditional delicacies and tuak (home-made rice wine) to the gods of rice and prosperity.

Weather

Borneo's weather is tropical with hot and humid conditions throughout the year. Temperatures range between 27 and 33 degrees Celsius during the day for most of the year, although mountainous areas can get cooler. Nights are mainly well above 20 degrees Celsius though frost at the top of Mount Kinabalu isn't unheard of either. Borneo doesn't have a real dry season, just a somewhat drier season, which last from April to September. November to February is the wettest time of year and generally inland areas are wetter compared to coastal areas, especially in the mountains. Note that the southern tip of Borneo (Kalimantan in Indonesia) has a more characteristic dry seaons from June to September, like the surroundings of Banjarmasin.

Getting There

By Plane

• Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
• Kuching International Airport (KCH)
• Brunei International Airport (BWN)
• Sepinggan International Airport (BPN) near Balikpapan on the eastcoast of Kalimantan has most flights.
• Pontianak and Banjarmasin airports have some major connections as well.

There are several more airports (see below, getting around) in Malaysian Borneo and Kalimantan that have flights, mainly to Peninsular Malaysia and other island in Indonesia like Java

By Boat

From Philippines: Ferry services between Zamboanga Peninsula and Sandakan (Sabah).
From Indonesia: Pelni is the main operator to/from Kalimantan, including services to Sulawesi and Java (Jakarta and Surabaya).

Getting Around

By Plane

For longer distances, lowcost airlines like AirAsia are the way to go. MASWings is a good alternative as well, with some different places served. Just a little more expensive (especially if you book well in advance) and much quicker. They have an extensive network in the Malaysian part of Borneo between Kota Kinbalu, Kuching, Kudat, Sibu, Miri, Bintulu and Mulu, Labuan, Lahad Datu, Sandakan and Tawau. There are also many flights between a number of cities in Kalimantan. Flights also exist between Kuching and Pontianak and between Brunei and both Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.
Not that there are no flights between Brunei and Kalimantan.

By Train

The only trainline is in Sabah, the Sabah State Railway, operating the 134 kilometre long railway track from Tanjung Aru (near Kota Kinabalu) to Tenom. There are three trains servicing the route daily from both ways, except for Sunday when there are only two trains available. The Beufort-Tenom stretch is regarded to be incredibly scenic.

By Car

The Pan-Borneo Highway, a joint project with Malaysia connects Brunei to the Malaysian part of the island, both Sabah and Sarawak. The only overland crossing with Kalimantan is the road between Kuching and Pontianak.

By Bus

Buses travel between all the main places in Malaysian Borneo, a few in Brunei and also between Indonesia (Pontianak) and Malaysia (Kuching). There are extensive services by bus and minibus throughout Kalimantan, though travelling all the way from Pontianak in the west ot Balikapapan in the east is not possible by road. You need to travel overland by trekking and taking boats or otherwise take one or two plane trips.

By Boat

• Between Indonesia and Malaysia: Ferry services available from Nunukan and Tarakan to Tawau (Sabah).
• Between Malaysia and Brunei: Daily services from Muara Ferry Terminal in Brunei to Labuan island and Lawas (Sarawak). There are also speedboat services between Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei) and Lawas (Sarawak).
• There are also connections between Kuching and Sibu in Sarawak and connections along Kalimantan's coastline.

Eat

Drink

Sleep