A scientific paper study published in Plus One journal by a team experts found that the Borneo orang utans begun experiencing a major demographic decline from about 2,000 years ago based on samples collected in six different study sites in Sabah and Kalimantan.

Researchers from Europe, South America, and in Borneo have discussed the endangered orang utan habitat.

"The recent loss of habitat and its dramatic fragmentation has affected the patterns of genetic variability and differentiation among the remaining populations of orang utans and increased the extinction risk of the most isolated ones," Dr Reeta Sharma from Instituto Gulbenkian de Cincia (IGC, Portugal).

"We used orang utans samples collected in six different study sites in Sabah (Kinabatangan and Danum Valley) and Kalimantan and genetic markers to identify signals of population decline," added Sharma.

"The dating of the population decline varied across sites but was always within the 200-2,000 years period," Dr Benoit Goossens, director of DGFC and a co-author on the paper.

``This suggests that in some sites at least, orang utan populations were affected by demographic events (like climate change and arrival of modern humans) that started much before the recent human impact on environment in Borneo," added Dr Goossens, Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC, Sabah).

"However, these results do not mean that the recent forest exploitation did not leave its genetic mark on orangutans but suggests that the genetic pool of orang utans is also impacted by more ancient events," suggested Goossens.

"The orang utan population in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is an example of a recent collapse due to anthropogenic pressure which culminated 50 years ago,'' he said.

The recent findings complemented those published in 2006 on the Kinabatangan population and underscored the need to expand the conservation measures suggested under the Orang Utan Action Plan.

This include protection of private lands to connect the existing protected forest lots, corridor establishment, wildlife monitoring and law enforcement, added Dr Goossens.

This is because deaths caused by NCD such as cancer, cardiovascular, diabetes as well as chronic respiratory diseases can bring about hardship, especially if they claim the lives of a family breadwinner, the Assistant Finance Minister said.

"Not only will the loss be felt by the family, it will also be a loss to the country's productivity," Donald stressed.

According to him NCD could be prevented through easy measures which do not involve high costs, such as walking 10,000 steps daily and eating healthy by reducing the consumption of sugar and salt in food.

In his speech at the 'Merakyatkan Kesihatan Desa' mini carnival which was held at Sekolah Kebangsaan St Theresa Inobong here yesterday, Donald added that local fruits which are cheap and high in vitamins as well as nutrients are a healthy choice for the people.

His speech was delivered by Penampang Community Development Officer Bryan Matasing.

"I hope this carnival can create awareness among the local community about NCD and communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, dengue and cholera among others," Donald said.

Sabah political activist, Daniel John Jambun, who is supporting for Borneo causes, said he learned this new development from other sources including from the Borneo's ardent advocate, Clare Rewcastle, who he met here.

Rewcastle has been running the highly popular Radio Free Sarawak and the online news portal Sarawak Report.

Jambun, who is also chairman of UK-based Borneo's Plight in Malaysia (BoPi MaFo), said in a statement from London that Brown's visit should take place as soon as he has adequate justification to see the "progress" of education in Borneo.

He said Brown's office should be getting more reports and representations on education in Borneo.

"Certainly Borneo is a place that has the brightest and creative people with global potential but look what had happened to the island natives now.

All that happened there had hampered every one of our efforts to have a more educated population, as widespread as possible.

"There are real issues in Borneo, not only on education but on religious problems, environment as well as human rights. The international community and the UN should look into this and help hasten relief or else we will end up forever in the backwater of the whole progressing region.

"In fact on many fronts we in Sabah and Sarawak are worse than when we were still under British protection. Now the Borneo's natives are boiling for change," said Jambun who is also State Reform Party's Sabah deputy chairman.

Jambun further alleged that in some areas, the very few who have had the opportunity to access higher education in Sabah and Sarawak in the 1960s were the fortunate ones and some of them continued controlling the masses.

"They are in control of politics and are amassing wealth while the vast population were left to be marginalised and victimised by the political circumstances, ever since the colonials left.

"Really drastic steps need to be taken to accelerate education development in Sabah and Sarawak.

"Some native schoolchildren are still forced to walk for hours in jungles just to reach their school. This should not be the case anymore, but it still is the reality in Borneo," he alleged.

"Besides those in cities and urban areas, many of the school infrastructures in rural Sabah and Sarawak are dilapidated and in inadequate condition," he said.

This shocking situation still exists even in the near city areas like Inanam and Penampang.

"In some areas in Sabah and Sarawak there is no school whatsoever."

The Federation leaders' way of thinking must change when it comes to Borneo. This land is very vast and settlements are scattered, the authority should not simply take the Malayan model for us," he added.

Another Borneo activist, Kanul Gindol, who is also in London for the past two weeks attending several conferences and doing a bibliographical research on Sabah, said that education is certainly one of the pressing issues that "sucked" Sabah and Sarawak into agreeing to co-found a new enlarged Federation in 1963.

"In fact 'education' was one pull and push factor for Sabah and Sarawak to Malaysia.

They felt that they needed more educated local people to first gain self-determination before they could sit down with Malayan leaders to discuss Malaysia.

"But at the same time, the Malayan leaders and the leaving British then, pledged that 'education' was easier and faster to access if both Sabah and Sarawak joined in a new Federation that had already shown rapid progress in Malaya, which gained its own independence earlier from the British in 1957," he said.

Gindol, who heads another UK-based NGO, Borneo Rights International (BRI), said he planned to be writing booklets based on his research when he comes back to Sabah next month.

The farmer, Aris Kuna of Kampung Paon Gahat, was attacked by the rare animal while attending to his garden. The foreigner, however, was attacked a week later at a plantation near Kpg Baing while gathering oil palm fresh fruit bunches.

The animal that attacked the both men was described as having a 'bear and wild boar' resemblance. Fellow workers and villagers who saw the carcass, brought by the Indonesian, could not identify the animal species.

"It's a rare species. None of the villagers could identify it when we saw the body and pictures of it. Some even took to the Internet to find out but to no avail. Could it be one of those already considered extinct?

"In all my life venturing into the jungle, hunting and such, I've never come across this species," 62-year-old Louis Nyaoi said when met at his house in Kpg Mentung Marau, some 50km from here yesterday.

His son Jimmy Tubo, 27, believed that the rare animal could have reappeared due to the opening of the nearby jungle for agriculture and other developments.

When relating the ordeal of the foreign worker, Jimmy said the Indonesian had claimed that the animal gave a strange noise, firstly sounding like a hen followed by a wild boar sound, before proceeding to attack.

The victim alleged that the animal stood up on its hind legs when charging at him. He immediately swung his sickle, killing the animal instantly.

The animal had a long mane and sharp wolverine-like claws. Another mysterious attribute to the animal was that it gave out foul smell only hours after it was killed.

Another local expert jungle trekker and hunter Paul H., 41, said he never smelled anything like the stench. He also said that one could smell the stench from some 10 metres away when the Indonesian brought the carcass to the plantation's FFB pick up ram for observation by fellow workers and villagers.

On Aris' encounter, Paul, a security guard at SK St John, Kpg Mentung Murau said his grandparents were resting at a hut after tending to their pepper crops at the time.

"My grandfather (Aris) heard an unfamiliar animal outside the hut, so he went out to check. At first, he could not see where the animal was coming from although he anticipated that danger was lurking.

"Sensing that the animal was near, he said a prayer before starting to swing his machete numerous times to fend off as what he described as an 'invisible' attack. Only after he felt he had slashed something that he saw a limb of the animal's leg on the ground. Moments later, he saw the lifeless animal."

Aris immediately dispersed the body at the jungle. As for the one that attacked the Indonesian worker, the body was partly buried at the plantation.

Not ruling out the fact that the animal could have been an endangered species, Louis believed the actions of both men as self-defense.

For more information about Borneo's nature, visit Discover Borneo.

The Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary is set in 15 square miles of beautiful lush rainforest. It opened in 1964 to help once captive orang-utans learn to fend for themselves in the wild. Interesting and exciting to watch, these large red apes are also astonishingly gentle, highly intelligent and will gaze at you with almost disconcerting frankness.

Don't only visit the orangutans, there are other activities to explore such as birding, trekking and river trips in the neighbouring areas.

Kinabatangan wildlife safaris - It is not surprising that given this rich mosaic of habitats, the abundance and rich diversity of wildlife are so apparent along the Kinabatangan River and floodplain. The exceptional variety of primates that share these forests is astounding: Orang-utans, the agile Gibbon, Borneo's Proboscis Monkey are three of its most charismatic primates. Less often seen are the nocturnal flying lemur, slow Loris and tarsiers. This sanctuary home to crested serpent eagles, rhinoceros hornbills and a variety of other birdlife is also a paradise for birders.

During the drier months of the year, the Asian Elephant roam these forests during their annual migration to the floodplain. With the large network of swamps and lakes in the region, a large number of aquatic animals inhabit the Kinabatangan River including, freshwater rays and sharks; crocodiles and wild otters. Exploring the Kinabatangan River in the early evening, as Proboscis Monkeys roost in the trees along the riverbank and elephants move through the undergrowth is an unforgettable experience.

Mt Kinabalu walking holidays - The highest mountain in Borneo rises majestically into the sky at 4,095m. Dominating the surrounding landscape and often shrouded in mist, Mt Kinabalu offers the traveller the chance to watch the sunrise over the state of Sabah as you reach the peak. On descending the mountain why not refresh yourself at the Poring Hot Springs, a natural open air spa where you can bathe amidst the tropical rainforests of Borneo. No climbing experience is required to conquer the peak and only one night is spent on the mountain. Although, it is harder than it looks.

Sipadan Island diving holidays - The name of Sipadan is simply legendary in diving circles, conjuring images of twirling tornados of barracudas and jacks, patrolling hammerhead sharks, millions of technicoloured reef fish and, above all, dozens of sea turtles. Sipadan is considered one of the two or three top diving destinations in the world. This small, rainforest-covered tropical island rising from a 700 meter abyss in the Celebes Sea is a destination the committed diver cannot miss. Other locations offer fantastic diving include Lankayan Island and Mataking Island.

Danum Valley safari holidays - Your holiday not be complete without a visit to the famous Danum Valley. Set up to protect the area from logging, Danum Valley encompasses 438 kilometres squared of pristine rainforest. Aside from this the conservation area has a variety of wildlife including, orang-utans, gibbons, a variety of birdlife, clouded leopard, elephant and if one is very lucky the Sumatran rhino. With both a canopy walkway and a viewpoint which looks out over the jungle canopy and the dramatic mountains this conservation area is definitely worth dropping in on.

Best time to visit Borneo is between March and October although this does not preclude travel at other times of the year. Travellers should note that as this is a rainforest destination they should be prepared for rain at any time of the year.

Snorkeling is fun and easy way to see the underwater world, but learning a number of skills will make your snorkeling experience much easier and more enjoyable.

It's OK if you're a beginner, intermediate, or expert. There will be life vests available.

Islands to visit around Kota Kinabalu are Palau Manukan, Palau Mamutik, Palau Sapi, Palau Gaya and Palau Sulug. All reachable by speedboat. You can even island hop to 2-3 islands in one day.

These islands are rich of vibrant corals and tropical fish.

All of the islands also have buffet lunch stalls, or go the old-fashioned way and do a picnic.

A few days on the Kinabatangan River might get you 5 or 8 species of monkeys or apes including the orangutan (in Malay "orang" means human and "utan" means forest!).

Diving in Sipidan will leave you breathless as its untouched beauty can only be seen by 100 people/ day as a law.

Falling out of the boat and into those waters was one of the most incredible experiences of my life with black tipped sharks, barracuda, and beach ball sized clams all within eye shot.

Danum valley, recognized as one of the world's most complex ecosystem, this forest serves as a natural home for endangered wildlife species such as the Sumatran rhino, banteng, Asian elephant, clouded leopard, orang utan, proboscis monkey, as well as a vast range of Sabah's lowland fauna.

Sabah is a state in Malaysia which is situated in the northern region of the Borneo Island. Towards the south-west of Sabah lies the Sarawak state of Malaysia and Brunei, while towards its south is the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia.

Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah. In Sabah, the western region is mountainous, the eastern and central regions have plains and lower mountain ranges.

The population of this place was 3.387 million in 2007. Throughout the year, the climate is usually humid and the temperatures range from 25 degrees Celsius to the low thirties. The wet season is from November to April and there is 120 inches of annual rainfall. There are 30 different ethnic races in Sabah and these have more than 80 local dialects.

The major indigenous groups are Murut, Bajau and Kadazan and also considerable populations of Indians, Malays and Chinese.

"We need to start now so that we can get the new riders for competitive exposures. The more riders we unearth and discover, the better," he said.

Dzulkaflee mentioned that he wants to prepare his cylists for the 2014 Sukma in Perlis and the Sukma 2016, hosted in Sarawak. Sukma is so important to him that he also wants his cyclists to make it their goal as well.

"For the talent scouting, first of all we will start in Sematan (SMK Sematan). We will then move on to other divisions such as Miri, Bintulu, Sibu, Sarikei and Sri Aman," he added.

In another development, the current state cycling team will fly to Bandung, Indonesia for mountain bike practice sessions, and to improve their training. They are scheduled to train there in March next year.

"We specifically choose Bandung as our training location as many cycling champions go there to train. They can do it if they do their best."

"Bandung is also famous for being a place that produces many good cycling talents," he said.

Apart from preparation for Sukma, the Sarawak Cycling Association (PBS) will also conduct a coaching course here next month. The aim of the course is to produce more cycling coaches in the country.

In turn, those who attend the course will be certified as coaches approved by the Malaysia
Cycling Association (PBM).

The population of Borneo is 18,590,000 as of 2009, making for a relatively low population density of 57/sq mi, or 22/sq km. The largest city on Borneo is Kuching, Malaysia, with a population of about 681,901. There are about ten other major cities on the island, ranging in population from 300,000 to 700,000. Of particular historical interest is the small country of Brunei, the remnant of a sultanate that controlled almost all shipping in the area between the 14th and 16th centuries, during the Islamic seafaring. Today, the Sultan of Brunei, who holds absolute power, is the world's fourth richest monarch, behind only the monarchies of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Thailand. His palace, with 1,788 rooms, 257 bathrooms, and a floor area of 2,152,782 square feet (200,000 sq m), is the world's largest by a huge margin.

Borneo is a diverse island. There are more than 40 ethnic groups on Borneo, speaking 65 languages or dialects. Malay being the majority, there are many Chinese communities, and 30 Dayak sub-ethnic groups. The island is predominately Muslim, as the next majority would be Christians in Sabah and Sarawak.

Ultimately, the highlight of Borneo is its nature, not its (mostly small) cities. Borneo has 15,000 species of flowering plants with 3,000 species of trees, 221 species of terrestrial mammals, and 420 species of birds, many of which are endemic. Borneo is west of the Wallace Line, meaning its flora and fauna are derived from Asia rather than Australia. The Bornean Orangutan makes its home here, the 45,000 individuals making up the world's largest orangutan population. Other unique or endangered species found here include the Pygmy Elephant, Clouded Leopard, Sumatran Rhinoceros, Sun Bears, and the Dayak Fruit Bat. The Sumatran Rhinoceros is among the world's most endangered animals, with only a few hundred living individuals.

The island of Borneo is the location of many beautiful cloud forests, often nestled in the mountains of the island, where moisture is so thick that moss grows on practically everything. Some of the best known cloud forests are found around Mt. Kinabalu, located at the northern tip of the island. In the Malaysian state, Sabah. Mt. Kinabalu's altitude of 4,095 meters (13,435 ft) makes it the tallest mountain on Borneo, also making Borneo the world's third tallest island, behind Hawaii and New Guinea. In Sarawak (also located in Malaysia) has the former largest cave in the world, Gunung Mulu, however the 1st largest cave opening in the world.

1. Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary

The main attraction is Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center, one of the must-visit places. See orangutans in the wild as they are being rehabilitated to go back to nature.

2. Visiting the Kinabatangan River

Kinabatangan River is a nature safari available in Sandakan. Located just two hours out of Sandakan town, the Kinabatangan River stretches over 560 kilometers and is the second longest river in Malaysia and the longest in Sabah. Kinabatangan is well known for its fantastic wildlife and stunning habitats found throughout the sanctuary. If you're lucky, you could see a gang of pgymy elephants walking their rounds.

3. Gomantong Caves

Caves for birds nest harvesting and located at Gomantong Hill in the lower Kinabatangan area or Gomantong Rainforest Reserve. Consisting of two cave complexes which are Black Cave (Simud Hitam) and White Cave (Simud Putih), these caves have been harvested for the prized birds nest for many years even to this day.

4. The Canopy Walk at Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC)

This vast steel structure is located along the Rainforest Discovery Trail at the RDC in Sepilok, Sabah and if you are a nature lover or bird watcher, this is the place to be. The Borneo Bird Festival is also held here annually.

5. Agnes Keith House in Sandakan

Located in town. This famous landmark house called Newlands, was a former British colonial quarters and was once occupied by Agnes Newton Keith, a well known American writer who penned the famous 'Land Below The Wind' in 1939. You can easily walk to the Agnes Keith House from town.

6. English Tea House and Restaurant

This stunning place is located on a little hill, with a great view of the Sandakan Bay. This unique place is situated in a meticulously renovated colonial English house and is surrounded by 1.5 acres of perfectly manicured lawns complete with a Croquet Pitch and outdoor seating. English cooking classes available.

7. Sandakan War Memorial

The Sandakan Memorial Park is located in the outskirts of Sandakan town. The site is just next to the actual POW (Prisoners of War) camp which was set up during the World War Two Japanese Occupation from 1942 to 1945 which witnessed the death of 2400 Australian and British POW held by the Japanese here.

8. Seeing rare Orchids, Flowers and Plants

Known also as the Plants Discovery Trail, this is one of the highlights at the Rainforest Discovery Centre RDC in Sepilok. This 800 meter long trail is filled with all kinds of rainforest flora and is a very educational walk.

9. Staying at one of the lodges in Kinabatangan

The Bukit Melapi Lodge is located along the Sukau Kinabatangan River. Most packages to the Kinabatangan are 3D/2N and river cruises or trekking are included here. The best possible way to enjoy the natural wildlife of Borneo is staying at one of these lodges.

10. Experiencing a Night River Safari along the Kinabatangan River

A Kinabatangan River Night Cruise is one of the most adventurous trips offered at the Lower Kinabatangan River Lodges. This night cruise is an optional package at each of the lodges so you need to book with your lodge or tour guide if you want to experience this cruise along the Kinabatangan River in Sandakan to see the nocturnal wldlife. Crocodiles are a guaranteed sighting here.

Check out Sabah's Culture & Geography.

For more information about booking, view Discover Borneo's Attractions

In 2011, tourist arrivals increased by 137,128 to 24,714,324 compared to 24,577,196 in 2010, while receipts increased by RM1.8bil to RM58.3bil compared to RM56.5bil the previous year.

In addition, the sector contributed a total of RM37.4bil to the Gross National Income (GNI) of the country.

Among the top ten tourist markets for 2011 were Singapore (13,372,647), Indonesia (2,134,381), China (1,250,536), Australia (558,411), United Kingdom (403,940), and Japan (386,974).

2 million of the tourists are Chinese, look at this article regarding Chinese tourists visiting Malaysia.

Malaysia is known diverse tourist attraction that offers attractions such as culture & heritage, ecotourism, Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE), shopping, international events and health tourism, which affords visitors from all over the world choices to enjoy.

Realising this potential, the Government, through various initiatives under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) has mapped out a set of deliverables for the Tourism Ministry in order to stimulate sustainable tourism as the nation races to achieve its high-income status by 2020.

Under the Ministerial Key Results Area (MKRA), the Tourism Minister has been tasked and held responsible for delivering targeted outcomes set.

The Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said: "There is still untapped potential within the tourism sector that can provide a viable growth platform for the country.

"We have set targets via the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan 2020 of achieving 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168bil receipts by the year 2020."

One of the most successful attractions that have been identified by the Ministry is the Homestay programme which surpassed its target of 23% of occupancy rate and achieved a rate of 32%.

The Homestay programme was created to increase the participation of the rural population in the tourism sector.

In addition, homestay programme participants procured an additional income of RM15.7mil against the RM14mil target set for the year.

Ng said: "Participants of the homestay programme have been able to earn a substantial income and the activity has helped to generate more economic activities at the local level for the people.

"The focus of the homestay programme is not merely about accommodation but also showcases Malaysia's rich cultural heritage lifestyle in a unique and interesting manner."

The country's renowned and modern malls are also earning themselves popularity and net gross.

The international shopping attractions have also gained attention not only by the international tourist community but Malaysian citizens as well, documented by the shopping spend in 2011.

This was apparent by the Ministry working closely with the private sector to achieve a 30% rate in shopping expenditure against the 29% set under its KPI, resulting in a significant boost to the nation's economic landscape.

"Promoting Malaysia as a shopping haven will further solidify the position of our country as a preferred destination to visit, shop, dine and relax," she said.

Also, to further expand the shopping spend, there are talks for Malaysia being a duty-free destination.

The growth of the tourism sector has also opened up new employment opportunities across diverse industries such as retail, food and beverage, accommodation, transport and handicrafts.

In 2011 alone, a total of 55,565 jobs were created.

For 2012, the Ministry's target is stretched to 90,542 jobs.

Property around Malaysia are booming, up to 3,000 rooms with new 4 and 5 star hotels coming into the market.

The spa industry will also be given a nod with the addition of 300 new local spa therapists under a training programme at two national Centres of Excellence (COEs).

With more concentrated efforts in capacity building and rating of the spa industry, it is set to contribute RM0.4bil to the GNI of the country.

In the coming year, the Ministry's KPIs also include boosting revenues through enhanced packaging and clustering of international sporting events such as F1 Grand Prix, Moto GP, Le Tour de Langkawi, Monsoon Cup and Autobacs Super Japan.

The hosting of international events is expected to generate revenue of RM900mil in 2012.

Recognising that business tourism is a dynamic developing sphere in the world today, the Ministry is getting ready to make Malaysia a prime choice for international world conferences.

It is targeted to achieve 45 conference events in 2012 with an economic impact of RM17.6bil.

Ng said, "Economic diversification and niche tourism activities will characterize the way we move forward for the tourism industry.

"We will enhance our promotion and marketing campaigns through our global brand "Malaysia Truly Asia' celebrating diversity to energize the tourism industry and provide the enabling framework to attract and increase tourist arrivals."

She added, "the tourism sector's immense potential has yet to be fully tapped as further growth can come from innovative tourism products such as the 1Malaysia International Shoe Festival, Malaysia International Night Floral Parade, 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism, Fabulous Food 1Malaysia, Parks & Gardens Tourism, Helicopter Tourism, Bicycle and Motorbike Tourism.

"We have to constantly develop more tourist-friendly products and services to meet the needs and preferences of tourists and must continue to promote Malaysia through our warm Malaysian Hospitality," she said.

To know more information about Malaysia, check out Malaysia At A Glance.

1. Sun bear sanctuary, Sepilok

Sepilok is a popular destination to see the orangutans, however you and everyone other tourist will be there.  Right next door is a brand new sanctuary for sun bears.  These bears are the smallest of all sub-species and, like the orangutan, they are arboreal and almost to extinct through deforestation. Sadly, they are also poached, captured for pets and used in Asian medicine.

The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre currently has 25 bears in residence. Conservationists are nursing them back to health and where necessary, educating in how to be a wild bear. The intention is then to release them into the forest. As so few people know about the sun bears, including Malaysian and Indonesians, the Centre is also involved in education and raising the animal's profile.

2. Lupa Masa

Picture an eco-camp made from giant bamboo with palm thatched shelters, solar powered lighting and reed bed toilet disposal. You're in the middle of te jungle with no electricity, no roads, and only locals around you.

The real beauty though lies in the forest, which is full of jungle animals who live undisturbed. Locate exotic birds, weird-looking insects and a range of primates, such as gibbons who make the most giggly noises, while you walk around clear rivers and swimming under the magnificent waterfalls.

Lupa Masa means literally to 'forget time' and near to Poring Hot Springs, surrounded by the beautiful Mt Kinabalu National Park.  The translation says it all.

3. Picnic with the Penan

It's quite rare to mingle with locals when you're a tourist, but this experience is a must and not difficult to do.  The Penan, once a truly nomadic tribe, know exactly how to live in harmony with the forest. You'll need to take a light aircraft flight to Long Lellang, deep in the rainforest and maybe a boat journey in a hand-carved canoe.

You can learn about the tribe and how they make everything by hand.  Their shelter, bracelets, baskets are made of rattan, and musical instruments made of bamboo. The area is stunning and the guides who will take you trekking are very knowledgeable.

4. The Kinabatangan River

If you want to see animals, this is the place to be. Pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, and even saltwater crocodiles. Cruise the river at dawn and dusk, stay in a bamboo hut at Sukau or Abai Village and savour the great food being served.

5. Santubo

This is across the bay from Bako National Park near to Kuching and is a little known area. It's where 19th century British explorer and naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace carried out some of his research, thought to have been instrumental in Darwin's evolution theory. For wildlife enthusiasts there's the chance to spot rare hornbills, turtles, and the Irrawdy dolphin. 

Visit the Gunung Mulu caves website for more information.

Dave Checkley, was one of the original discoverers of the cave in 1980, he quotes-

"An hour's fabulous sporting caving took us to the cairn marking the furthest point of Andy's previous exploration. We got out our mapping instruments--a good excuse for a brief rest. I was taking the notes, Tony White would make the compass, clinometer and survey tape readings whilst Andy took photographs and helped out when the tape snagged on an obstruction. We set off slowly mapping the passage as we went, and it soon reached staggering proportions. The left hand wall faded from sight even in the combined light of our three headlamps, so we followed the right hand wall. We climbed up the steep rocky slope with the towering wall still dimly in view. The number of survey stations slowly mounted. The roof disappeared from view. Was it a chamber or just a huge passage? The roar of the river grew fainter behind us. We chatted and speculated about this huge black void we found ourselves in. This was big even by Mulu standards. As time went on I was starting to have problems guessing the distance to the wall--was it 50 metres or twice as far? The wall was our only point of reference, and I insisted we got closer to it. What could I draw if I didn't have the wall close at hand-- just an immense rubble slope? We surveyed straight towards it--amazingly it was 100 metres away. Distances can be confusing in such huge cavities. The slope was often steep and we likened it to climbing a long scree slope up an English mountain, but climbing it in the pitch dark. Andy was starting to get excited about it being the biggest passage in the world. Tony was as cool, calm and collected as ever. My feet hurt."

To know more about Borneo and other activities, check out Discover Borneo.

If you have a few days and spare cash lying around, Mulu caves are a visit. You must fly there with MASwings from either Kota Kinabalu, Sabah or Miri, Sarawak. You can do other activities such as the canopy walk tour, vilage tour, river tour, or just walk around the park on your own.

There are chalets and dorm beds available inside the park, but must book ahead. Otherwise there are 2 hostels right outside of the park entrance.

Visit 

Dutch city of Leiden, "It has been a successful expedition," the project's leader, Menno Schilthuizen of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, said in a news release. Forty researchers from Naturalis and from Sabah Parks, a Malaysian conservation group, traveled to Borneo's Mount Kinabalu last month to view the area.

Long nose horned frog

Out of the 2-week expedition, scientists collected 3,500 DNA samples. Back in the center, Naturalis' biologists will analyze the genetic code to generate family trees for all the collected plants, fungi and animals. Reviewing the relationships among the novel species found on Kinabalu, compared with the broad range of species throughout Borneo, could help researchers find out if whether Kinabalu's species evolved long ago or only recently.
"It's the first time that such an extensive expedition will go to Borneo with evolution as their main focus," Schilthuizen said. "We are following in the footsteps of Alfred Russel Wallace, who formulated a first version of the theory of evolution on Borneo."

To view all the photos and full story about the expedition, view on NBC news.

For more information about Borneo and what activities to join to find tropical species, check out Off The Beaten Track.