On a reconnaissance trip to a new destination for Untamed: Malaysia.
It was a wonderful trip, intense, gastronomic, surprising, but above all the variety of nature that stays with me, the night safaris and walks. The jungle full of life; a treasure chest of secrets, the black Malaysian scorpions, beautiful specimens in a mythical world. I can recommend it to anyone.
First, a trade show visit in Singapore. The announcement pops through the speakers of flight KL0835: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, we will be landing in Singapore in half an hour after a 12-hour flight with a direct flight from Amsterdam’. What strikes me is the bright light and the hundreds of ships that are moored in front of Singapore’s high-rise buildings and waiting their turn to unload the cargo.
Singapore a phenomenal city in the center of Indochina. 50 years ago this was a small fishing village with about 10 buildings. The beginning and end of many an adventure. I stay at Marina Bay Resort. With 2,500 rooms, three towers. 57 floors. I don’t want to be here, but à la I have a scholarship in the convention center…
I have to rethink my opinion, one disappears into the crowd, “where the world can’t find you” a city in itself. And top service, David Beckham who’s hired and runs a great PR campaign. Gordon Ramsey, Bread Kitchen in the annex shopping mall, several star restaurants and fitness on the 55th floor and to top it all off, a swimming paradise (swimming garden) on the roof with gardens, lounge and restaurants. The Formula 1 circuit within walking distance. The architecture is breathtaking!
Borneo
My journey continues to Borneo, the third largest island in the world. Through Kota Kinabalu I reach the Base Sandakan. It is the epicenter in Sabah for nature travel. My first day consists of visiting Sepilok, the shelter for primordial and probiscus monkeys.
That same evening I take a night walk/ safari. The jungle comes alive, everything crawls, thousands of frogs, reptiles, scorpions bring phantoms in my head to life. I love this, a new world, we are invaders, not suspecting what’s going on around us. I see a flying lemur, wow. It looks like a moorish shadow floating through the air. These are new mammals I didn’t know existed. What a wealth.
My adventure in Borneo is just beginning, before I know it I’m on a speedboat and i quickly cross the Kinabatangan River lined with meter-high raffia and rattan. An impenetrable cordon of green encloses the lifebloods. Rivers are the access roads in the impenetrable jungle. The canopé towers tens of meters above the marshy ground.
Safaris by boat looking for Borneo crocodile, pygmy elephant, yellow ringed catsnake, Sabah pit-viper, dollarbird, gould’s frogmouth (finally a frogmouth). Wow.
The night is an orchestra of sounds, millions of frogs bring the jungle to life. I see for the first time a ‘mouse deer’, the smallest deer in the world. And in contrast, the largest scorpion ‘Malaysian forest scorpion’. Beautiful!
Before flying back to KL(Kuala Lumpur)I still visit the Libaron fishing island. Time has stood still here, I am received with a fresh coconut from the garden. I give turtles their freedom. You are overcome by the kindness in a world we don’t know. Kuala Lumpur with the iconic Petronas Towers that overlook the Batu Caves on an arc of downtown is my next stop.
Cameron Highlands
A short visit because the next morning I swing through the central part of Malaysia, to the Cameron Highlands. Along the way I meet some Senoi, who are related to the peoples of Papoa Niew Guinea.
Cameron Highlands, best known for its beautiful mountains adorned in a dark green color of the jungle, but where space has been made for the cultivation of strawberries and tea plantations that are eternally green.
The Sultan of Pahang gives a party at the hotel where I stay there dancing and partying until the early hours. Sultans enjoy awe and adoration. Every province has such a leader.
Georgetown – Penang
My terminus, Georgetown/Penang, I reach via Ipoh and visit the Sam poh Tong temple with beautiful murals. Bustling city full of hipsters and vloggers and the world famous paintings of a.o. Alex KATZ.
