Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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 (not as easy as you
might think) and between a twig and a stick insect as long and thin as a pencil. They can
also help you differentiate between the call of a gibbon and the cry of a hornbill, and
identify a dominant male orangutan (hint: size counts but so do the cheeks). If you're keen
to have close encounters of the animal kind, Borneo's jungles offer a unique combination
of extraordinary biodiversity, unspoilt habitats and practical accessibility.
Cultural Riches
Borneo brings together an astonishing array of cultures, religions, languages and cuisines
and, thanks to age-old traditions of hospitality, they're all a cinch for visitors to approach.
The cities of Sarawak and Sabah have significant Chinese communities and the pictur-
esque coastal
kampung
(villages) are populated mainly by Malays, but head inland and the
dominant culture is indigenous. Borneo's Dayak groups stopped nabbing noggins long
ago, but many other ancient customs and ceremonies live on, in harmony with a few mod
cons, in longhouse communities. There's no better way to experience a slice of the Dayak
way of life than to drop by for a visit - it's easy to arrange this with a local guide.
