Malaysia is associated with the island of Borneo, which is a real legend. After all, numerous pirate stories are inextricably linked with it. There is an amazing atmosphere here, which gives the rest a special mood. Believe that your vacation in Borneo (Malaysia) will be remembered for a long time.
Location
The island of Borneo (Malaysia) has another name - Kalimantan, and it is located in the very center of the Malay Archipelago in Southeast Asia. The island is unique in its own way. The fact is that the territory of Borneo is divided between three states - Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. The total area of the island is more than 743 thousand square meters. km. The largest part belongs to Indonesia. And the territory of Malaysia is about 200 thousand square meters. km. It is divided into two provinces - Sarawak and Sabah, which border Brunei and Indonesia.
The coast of Borneo is washed by the South China Sea, as well as the Sulawesi, Java and Sulu seas, the Makasra and Karimata straits. Nearby is the island of Java, Sumatra and the Philippine Islands. Borneo has a mountainous relief, the highest point is Mount Kanabalu, its height is 4095 meters. Most of the island is covered with jungle thickets, inwhere wild animals live. Malaysia, Borneo is a great example of a country with a stunningly high standard of living. The capital of the island is the city of Kota Kinabalu.
How to get to Borneo (Malaysia)
Getting to Borneo is not so easy, for this you will have to use air travel. There are two nearest airports from which you can get to the island. One of them is located near the city of Kota Kinabalu in the state of Sabah, and the second is in Kuala Lumpur. You can take a taxi from the airport to the cities (special taxi services have been set up at airports).
The states and cities are interconnected by Malaysia Airlines flights. Such flights are in great demand not only among tourists, but also among local residents. In addition, trains and buses run around the island.
There is also a sea connection. So, ferries from Brunei and Labuan come to Kota Kinabalu. In addition, large cruise ships enter the city.
Climate and weather of Borneo
Tourists are most interested in a beach holiday in Borneo (Malaysia), which means that before the trip you should find out what weather awaits you during your vacation. In general, the island has a hot, humid tropical climate. There are no significant fluctuations in annual temperatures in Borneo. At any time of the year, temperature indicators are within - + 27-32 degrees. It rains throughout the year, but there are still periods of greater intensity.
The wettest months are October, November, May and April. But even during these periods, precipitation does nottoo bother vacationers, because they fall out, as a rule, at night and for a short time. Therefore, we can say that eternal summer reigns in Borneo, which corresponds to the equatorial climate. But still, the months of January and February are considered the most successful for visiting the resort. The water temperature on the island is not too different from the air temperature, so you can always swim here.
Borneo beaches
The island of Borneo (Malaysia) attracts tourists, first of all, with its tropical white beaches with rich vegetation and fine sand. Most of them are protected by coral islands from the waves. Between the coast and the coral islands, boats constantly ply, taking tourists to swim on them. This is especially true during the "red tide", when it is forbidden to enter the sea. The ban was introduced for a reason. The fact is that the “red tide” is nothing more than a bloom of sea water. During such periods, there is a mass reproduction of plankton, which paints the sea red. Diving into the water at this time is really very dangerous, as you can become a victim of toxic poisoning.
To the delight of tourists, there are practically no beaches belonging to hotels on the island, so you can safely place yourself on any part of the coast and bask on the hot sand. According to tourists' reviews of Borneo (Malaysia), it can be argued that the cities of Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching can boast of the best beaches. Although, the entire coast of the island is beautiful and clean, unlike the more eminent and well-known world resorts. A very nice bonus is the completeno waves on local beaches. Coral reefs reliably protect the coast from strong storms, so surfers have nothing to do here. But the sea world of Borneo simply staggers the imagination with its exoticism.
Yet the best beaches can be enjoyed in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, which includes five small islands. Having paid a trip here, you can visit all the islands at once and go diving. The islands have minimal infrastructure - cafes, showers, changing rooms, toilets and more. Not only tourists come to rest on them, but also local residents. Stunningly clear sea and clean sand - the best place to relax.
Local food
Going on vacation to Malaysia in Borneo (photos are given in the article), you need to have an idea about the local cuisine, since you will have to eat in the hotel cafe or numerous street establishments. Malay cuisine does not have a clear set of dishes. Local residents have absorbed the culture and recipes of several nations at once. So, for example, Chinese soup is very popular in the province of Sabah, and Thai fish soup was born in a completely different country, but the locals fell in love with it.
One of the main dishes on the island is rice, it is served not only as a side dish, but also as a main dish. Most of the local population is Muslim, so pork is not consumed here. Although people love other types of meat very much and know how to cook deliciously. In addition, seafood is incredibly popular on the island. Here you can taste kebab from rapans, grilled fromoctopus, shrimp with sauce. All these dishes are prepared only with fresh seafood.
Everyone on the island likes it very spicy, so the food is seasoned with different sauces, generously pouring them over the food. If you want to taste something unusual and exotic, you can order shark fins, locust or swallow's nest in broth. There is one peculiarity in Borneo. Here it is customary to pour spicy food with ice water with lime and various herbs.
Our compatriots should know that alcohol is not popular on the island. And for drinking wine or beer in front of everyone, they can even be arrested. And yet, palm vodka and wine are prepared here, which have a pleasant taste. Tourists should definitely try a delicious drink made from tangerines. Well, beer lovers will not be indifferent to this drink made from the juice of palm flowers.
Food in hotels
According to reviews of Borneo (Malaysia), resort hotels offer only breakfasts, at best, also dinner, so you will have to eat at local establishments during the day. Fish markets are very popular on the island, which are small restaurants in which marine life is kept in aquariums. You can choose any of them and order for lunch. A fresh dish of marine life is being prepared in front of you. And yet, experienced travelers recommend eating in establishments. Located in the central part of cities and resort areas to avoid unpleasant consequences with the digestive tract.
Sights of Borneo
Sights of Borneo(Malaysia) is an obligatory part of the cultural holiday at the resort. Of course, tourists give priority to beach and sea recreation, but they also do not forget about interesting places. Moreover, there are a huge number of places worthy of the attention of holidaymakers. The island for a long time developed completely separately from the mainland, which left its mark on the flora and fauna. Borneo is incredibly lucky that no minerals were found in its jungle, and therefore most of the territory has long acquired the status of a reserve. It is hard to imagine, but every year up to 50 new animals are discovered here, which were not previously known. Some of them are very small, which is why they were not noticed before. For example, in 2007, a new species of rhinoceros was discovered on the island.
The living attraction of Borneo is a unique tropical flower called rafflesia. Its diameter is about a meter. The flower exudes a disgusting smell of rotting meat. You can meet such a plant infrequently, it blooms for only a few days. During a tour of the reserve, there is still a chance to see a blooming monster.
Kinabalu National Park is located on the island of Sabah. It is on its territory that the highest mountain in Malaysia is located. At its foot the jungle is spread. The evergreen rainforests are filled with unique and interesting plants. They grow more than a thousand species of beautiful orchids. Most of the plants in Borneo are endemic, as they cannot be found in other regions. No less interesting is the animal world. Here you can see deer, monkeys andreal Malaysian bear.
A natural he alth complex was opened for guests on the territory of the reserve, where you can relax in hot springs.
Deer Cave
Tourists do not have to think long what to see in Borneo (Malaysia). The island is very interesting in terms of natural attractions. You should definitely go to the Deer Cave. The largest cave in the world is located on the territory of another national park called Gunung Mulu. In the old days, the hunter drove deer into it, which is why it got its name.
The cave is so huge that twenty Boeings could easily fit in it, but so far only bats live in it. It is very interesting for tourists to watch the mass flight of these creatures in the evening. Inside the cave there are stalactites and stalagmites, as well as translucent fish.
Wetlands
According to reviews of Borneo (Malaysia), we can recommend visiting the wetlands near Kota Kinabalu, which occupy about 24 hectares. Most of the plants here are mangroves. Once upon a time there were a lot of them, but now you can see only what remains - these are just 20 small areas that remained under government protection. The land is very important as a habitat for migratory birds.
Fort Margaret
Near the city of Sarawak is the ancient Fort Margarita, which was built to protect against pirates. Englishthe fortress played an important role in the history of the whole island. The fort was built on a hill near the river. Behind its walls, people were safely hidden from pirates. Now you can wander around its territory and see the interior arrangement. The fort has long lost its significance and is now a historical monument.
Interesting places of the resort
Experienced travelers certainly recommend visiting the island to those who dream of a bounty-style vacation. Beautiful islands and exotic nature will not leave you indifferent. The resort has a number of advantages. There are never storms and waves here, thanks to coral reefs, and the weather is favorable almost all year round. In addition, I am pleased with the large number of beautiful places and natural attractions that can be seen here.
There are man-made sights in Borneo that you can see. Of course, they are inferior in scale to natural ones, but they can impress someone. In this regard, the state museum in the state of Sabah is interesting. It occupies about 17 hectares of land. On its territory there are not only exhibits, but also a zoo, a zoo and even an ethnographic village. The museum is interesting for visiting the whole family, its exhibits can tell a lot to tourists.
Borneo Island (Malaysia): reviews of tourists
Rest on the island is always a good experience and a lot of positive. Sometimes tourists compare Borneo with Bali, making hasty conclusions. But this is fundamentally the wrong approach, since these are completely different resorts and culture. Relaxationin Borneo (Malaysia) will bring many pleasant surprises. There is very beautiful nature and rich wildlife. For thousands of years, the island has developed separately from the mainland and has been able to preserve the unique flora and fauna. Many national parks have been created on the territory of Borneo and the nearby islands in order to preserve the unique nature. The resort is good because you can visit it at any time of the year. Rains never interfere with rest, as evidenced by the reviews. The island of Borneo (Malaysia) is a mixture of different cultures, more than 200 nationalities live here. There are a lot of Chinese and Japanese in the resort, and our compatriots can be met infrequently. But in hotels, all the staff understands English, so there are no language problems. In general, the locals are great with tourists.
Borneo is also interesting in terms of scuba diving. Coral reefs and their rich underwater world are the dream of any diver. But surfers have nothing to do on the island, because the waves can not wait here.
