Womens Own Adventure - Location Information

Women's Own Sabah Adventure in Borneo

Malaysian Borneo is one of nature’s most exciting playgrounds. From rugged mountain tops to idyllic islands, this land is a blueprint for true adventure. Pockets of pristine wilderness cover much of these Malaysian provinces, but there are also some fascinating modern cities and contrasting traditional villages to be explored. We visits remote communities where our local friends introduce us to their traditions and customs. Travelling in Borneo can sometimes be very challenging and physically demanding but the experience is always exceptional.

quick facts

Population: 4.6 million
Capital City: Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) Pop.: 355,000
Kuching (Sarawak) Pop: 496,000
People: Sabah: 19% Kadazan Dusun, 18% Bajau, 16% Malays, 47% other
Sarawak: 30% Ibans, 27% Chinese, 23% Malays, 20% other
Language: Bahasa Malay, Chinese and many different tribal languages and dialects.
Religion: Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Animism, other spiritual & tribal beliefs
Currency: Ringgit
Time: GMT plus 8 hours
Electricity: 220 - 240V, 50 Hz
International Dialling Code: 60

visas

These requirements can change regularly and we will keep you informed of any changes.

religion, customs & conduct

Islam is the national religion; however a distinct, varied ethnic population has resulted in many different religions and languages throughout Borneo. Respectable dress is required, in most areas a sleeved shirt and long pants being the most appropriate. Often the best way to decide is to look at what the majority of local people are wearing. It is particularly inappropriate to express anger by raised voices. If you are frustrated, discuss issues in a quiet and controlled way with the people concerned. Remember that the experiences you have will be different to your everyday life and the people you meet will have different beliefs to you. Our beliefs are in no way superior, just simply different. The discovery of these differences, which at times can be stressful or funny, is surely one of the great joys of travel.

best time to go / climate

Borneo has a typical tropical climate - generally hot and humid throughout the year. Temperatures stay in the high 20's most of the year dropping back to the low 20's at night. As in most tropical areas, the rain falls in short heavy bursts with sunshine following. In theory, the wet season runs from November through to February, but in reality you can expect some rain at any

time of the year. Our itineraries are rarely affected. Sabah is famed for being below the monsoon belt and is known as the "Land below the wind".

accommodation

The accommodation available in Sabah and Sarawak is generally very simple, often staying in multishare accommodation. Many of our guesthouses are family run ensuring a friendly atmosphere. In the villages and jungle camps we all bunk in together. Be prepared for little privacy! We rotate our accommodation between multi share and twin share in bigger towns.

Twin share accommodation is fan cooled and has private facilities with cold showers and western style toilets.

transport

Travelling around Borneo is never boring. We travel by bus, express boat, long boat and planes. Although Borneo is mainly rural and small villages, there is a very modern and well-maintained infrastructure in the towns linking the different areas. Travel in Borneo often depends on the weather. Storms are quite common in certain areas and with them sometimes come floods, landslides and strong winds. When travelling by longboat up small streams, you need to be prepared to jump out and walk in the stream and even help push the boat through the rapids. When travelling by road into more remote areas the roads can be rough.

food & drinks

Borneo offers a great array of foods for you to try. Most of the food available in Borneo is of Chinese influence. We like to eat in the night markets and these are great places to not only try the local cuisine but also to meet the locals. Some of the food available is quite spicy but many restaurants cater for those who like less chilli in their food. If you're a vegetarian you should learn how to say 'tanpa daging' (no meat) when ordering, however vegetarianism is a concept few Malaysians can comprehend. Some of the sensational seasonal fruits you may like to sample are the rambutan (like lychee), fresh coconut, pineapple, banana, papaya, mango, jack fruit, guava, salak (snake skin fruit), or the smelly but very popular durian (the king of the fruits). Soft drinks are widely available as is bottled drinking water. We definitely do not suggest drinking tap water. The Malaysian government makes ice for public use. Tiger beer is the local brew, but there are many other varieties available as well. Trying tuak (rice wine) in the small villages we visit is a must.

public holidays

With such a broad ethnic and religious mix there are many different festivals celebrated, however as many religious holidays are based on the lunar calendar they don’t have fixed dates and change yearly.

New Years Day- January 1st
Chinese New Year usually January/ February
Hari Raya Haji usually March
Good Friday usually March/April
Wesak Day usually May
Harvest Festival (Sabah) usually late May
King's Birthday 1st Saturday in June
Gawai Festival (Sarawak) 1st & 2nd June
Prophet's Birthday usually early June
National Day August 31st
Malaysia Day (Sabah) September 16th
Deepavali usually October/ November
Ramadan usually November/ December
Hari Raya (end of Ramadan) usually November/ December
Christmas Day December 25th

best buys

Fantastic traditional handicrafts abound in Sarawak. Handcrafted basket ware, wooden carvings, Ikat weavings and unique ceramic bead ware are all in demand. Sabah has limited markets and shops for handicrafts, Kota Kinabalu boast a great Sunday market and Pilipino handicraft market full of interesting things to buy.

arriving early…?

On arrival in Kota Kinabalu and Miri you will find an array of maps and information booklets as well.

Kota Kinabalu: Nestled between mysterious mountains and the sparkling South China Sea, Kota Kinabalu is a modern city, spread over a wide area. Unfortunately the city was raised during World War II so there are no buildings of historical significance, however there are many things to see and do. Visit Sabah Museum or the State Mosque, wander through the waterfront market at dusk or spend some time exploring the beaches and surrounds Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park.

Miri: The fast developing town of Miri still contains an element of charm. This can be found in the old part of town where Chinese and colonial styles are still evident. Also worthwhile is a walk around the 'Muhibbah' Market, which displays a wonderful selection of fruits, vegetables and spices, commonly used by the Dayak community. A day visit to Niah Caves is also to be recommended.

health fact sheet

Click here for the travel health fact sheet for Sabah.