SANDAKAN - "The Gateway To BORNEO's Wildlife": March 2007

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary

Bornean Pygmy Elephants - Kinabatangan River Sabah

Pygmy elephants are found only on the northeast tip of the island of Borneo, mostly in the Malaysian state of Sabah.
A small group, perhaps 25 to 30 elephants, live in the Indonesian part of Borneo to the south as well. The region's climate favours dense tropical vegetation and biodiversity unrivaled by most of the world's forests. Most of Sabah's forests are evergreen rain forests and local vegetation includes bamboo, camphor, ebony, sandalwood, teak, palm and mangrove forests.

Biology
Borneo pygmy elephants are smaller than other Asian elephants, with larger ears, rounder bellies and longer tails. They also are less aggressive than other elephants, leading to the theory held by many for years that they were tamer than other elephants because they were simply from a domesticated herd gone feral.

Once believed to be remnants of a domesticated herd given to the Sultan of Sulu in the 17th century, pygmy elephants were determined by WWF and Columbia University researchers in 2003 to be genetically different from other Asian elephants - and are likely to be declared a new subspecies.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Visit Malaysia Year 2007

Malaysia will celebrate it’s 50th year of independence since. A significant milestone indeed and Malaysians plans to celebrate all year round with Visit Malaysia Year 2007.The 2007 event calendar is already starting to fill up.

This is the third Visit Malaysia Year. The first was in 1990 and in 1994. Organised by the Malaysian Tourism Board the Visit Malaysia Campaign has been slowly gaining momentum over the past months, including the release of the Visit Malaysia theme song, entitled One Golden Celebration sung by Juwita Suwito, a talented local singer and voice coach, in Bahasa Melayu and English,while the Mandarin version by Chew Paul May. There’s also an instrumental version of the song which was composed by Kieran Kuek who also co-wrote the lyrics with Ismail Paul Lingan. It’s a very catchy tune.Members of the public can download the theme song from the Tourism Malaysia website or here at my Music Download site.

One Golden Celebration
Malaysia

There’s a place not far away
Different faces yet all the same
With a million dreams
In one golden celebration

Malaysia

It’s the place for us to be
It’s the time to feel so free
With a million smiles
In one golden celebration

Malaysia

Come and spread your wings
There’s so much to see
There’s a million colours
Right before your eyes
It’s one golden celebration

Come and spread your wings
There’s so much to see
There’s a million colours
Right before your eyes

It’s time to celebrate
It’s one golden celebration

Mari Adik Adik
Mari Abang Abang
Mari Ramai Ramai
Mari Bergembira
(x 2)

Feel the magic in the air
Every moment and everywhere
With a million thrills
In one golden celebration

Malaysia

A million colours, a million dreams
A million smiles and a million thrills
For you and me
In one golden celebration

Malaysia

Spread your wings
And take your flight
One celebration
One delight
It’s the time for us to be
One golden moment for you and me

A million colours , a million dreams
A million smiles, a million thrills
It’s the time for us to be
One golden moment for you and me

Come and spread your wings
There’s so much to see
There’s a million colours
Right before your eyes
It’s one golden celebration

Come and spread your wings
There’s so much to see
There’s a million colours
Right before your eyes

It’s time to celebrate
One golden celebration
(Malaysia)
It’s time to celebrate
It’s one golden celebration

Mari Adik Adik
Mari Abang Abang
Mari Ramai Ramai
Mari Bergembira

Celebration

Mari Adik Adik
Mari Abang Abang
Mari Ramai Ramai
Mari Bergembira

Malaysia truly Asia

I love the cultures, the food, the people, the sights, the sounds of nature and wildlife.It is the place I call home. And I’m inviting YOU to join me in this truly Asian country. Let’s make this a truly memorable year. Remember, Visit Malaysia 2007

Friday, March 2, 2007

Sandakan Introduction

Malaysia Map by Google

Sabah Map showing major towns.

Here's a little bit of Sandakan History, my hometown.
Sandakan was the former capital of British North Borneo from the years 1884-1946. Sandakan was one of the largest towns in Sabah in the early years with traders from Europe to Africa, from Arabia to China, from the Indies to Java and from local Dusuns to the Japanese. After WWII the capital was transferred to Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu). In the early years, Sandakan served as a major port for early settlers to Sabah, and most Chinese came through this port. With the many Chinese from Canton, Sandakan once earned the nick-name of "Little Hong Kong".

With the different nationalities of early settlers and traders, Sandakan was rich with early traces of foreign cultures. Places of interest in Sandakan include the Puu Jih Shih Chinese Buddhist Temple - a majestic temple erected on top of a hill facing Sandakan Bay; St Michael and All Angels Cathedral, erected in late 19th century and one of the oldest stone buildings in Sabah. Other places of interest that can be visited are the world famous Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary which is located just 26 km from Sandakan. The Selingan Turtle Island Park, Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Deramakot Sustainable Forest Reserve and Imbak Canyon Conservation Area.