B

Southwest of the Philippines is the third largest island in the world, Borneo. Sabeh is in the northeast and is one of the few remaining tropical wildernesses. A land of thick jungles, tall mountains and empty beaches. For nearly a hundred years, Sabeh was known as British North Borneo but in 1963 became part of Malaysia. It has since developed into one of the hottest destinations in Asia.

The main attraction here are the orang-utans. Orang-utan means “man of the forest.” They can be shy creatures so the best chance of seeing them is in the areas where they are fed. Many of these apes(猩猩) have returned to the wild but there’s not enough forest or fruit to support them so the foundations put out food to help them survive. Orang-utans used to spread across South Asia but are now only found here and in Sumatra. Orphaned orang-utans or those that have been kept as pets are brought here so they can learn to look after themselves. Eventually they’ll be released back into the wild. Direct contact between visitors and the apes is actively discouraged. They don’t want the orang-utans to become domesticated(驯养).

The coastal area is very flat so one of the most convenient ways to explore is by bicycle. You’ll need to start early in the morning to avoid the heat. Almost every town in Borneo has its own church and mosque(清真寺). By no means are all the religious buildings ancient. Even in the most remote areas, you’ll find impressive modern architecture. In the evening, there are varied cultural shows to provide entertainment. You can try some traditional bamboo dancing and bravely leave your ankle at the mercy of the locals.

The highlight of any trip to Borneo has to be the mountain Kinabalu. You need to allow two full days to conquer the mountain. If you don’t want to climb the peak, there are plenty of fascinating jungle walks around the lower and more gentle slopes.

With its wild vegetation, jungle animals and huge mountains, Borneo is indeed a land full of adventure.