Astronomy

Malaysia Expedition 2013

Mr Tim Blake Head of Science

The biennial Malaysia Expedition took twelve biology and geography students to new and exciting venues scattered across North Borneo. After an overnight flight to Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, we were met by our guide, Andy, a local Sabahan, who was a brilliant guide and led us on many new experiences that the ordinary traveller could not find. We had a quick breakfast of roti at a local eatery and took the ferry to Gayana Island. Here we were greeted by the director who gave a tour of the facilities. A luxury resort has been set up to finance a coral research centre that rehabilitates reefs in the area and also repopulates them with six of seven species of giant clam. These highly endangered species can look forward to a recovery program well-funded by the resort. An unexpected treat was the presence of the very charming and friendly Gai and Robbie Waterhouse who joined in the fun.

After a day shopping we left for the Poring area and spent the night at Sabah Tea Gardens. The plantation grows the finest quality tea and exports it all over the world. It was quite fascinating to discover how tea is made. After a comfortable night we started our walk up Mount Kinabalu. This four kilometre high mountain dominates all of North Borneo and has between 5,000 and 6,000 species of plants, 326 species of birds and more than 100 mammalian species identified. We hiked up to 3270m where we spent the night at Gunting Lagadan. A very sleepy wakeup at 2.00am and an exhilarating hike, in the dark, to the summit at 4,095 metres, was rewarded with the best views we have ever had of North Borneo. It was just breathtaking with perfect weather and clarity of skies – it doesn’t get better than this.

We returned to Kota Kinabalu and a small contingent of the group embarked on a hike to the World Heritage site of Mulu in Sarawak via Camp 5. The trip started with a ferry trip to Limbang and then road to Medalam where they were treated to traditional gong music and dances by the local Iban tribe. A short boat trip to a remote location and a five kilometre hike through pristine rainforest hike (where the group became aware as to why they are called rain forests!), they arrived at Camp 5. This is situated in a remote part of the Mulu massif – a large ancient coral reef sculpted over the aeons into a series of vertical cliffs and huge caves. None of the students will forget the adventurous walk fording swollen streams, encounters with wildlife and local hunters. The hike terminated at Mulu where they joined the main party. We explored four different cave systems with the highlight of Deer Cave. This cave holds over three million wrinkled lipped bats that come out at dusk to sweep the countryside for tiny insects. It is estimated they consume five tonnes of insects each night saving the local economy millions of dollars in agricultural sprays. The highlight of the trip came when our guide, Andy, took us to the top of a local hill, at dawn, for an hour of tai chi and martial arts drills. As the drill proceeded the whole of the Mulu massif appeared from the early morning mist around us, adding to a magical moment.

From here we flew to Kuching in South West Sarawak. This is a beautiful colonial town, well preserved and full of history – unlike Kota Kinabalu which was rebuilt after World War II having been completely flattened by Allied bombing. Old and new buildings intermingle along the Kuching River in a picturesque setting. We travelled by boat to Bako National Park where we had a number of excellent hikes along the Litang Trail and through Kerangas Forest to see proboscis monkeys. The local macaque monkeys were quite brazen in their efforts to steal our belongings and wild pigs nonchalantly grazed beside the accommodation.

Our trip then took us to Gunting Gadang looking for the endemic parasitic plant of Borneo, the rafflesia. This extraordinary flower blooms for a few days only and is up to a metre in diameter. After a dip in a local waterfall it was time to head back to Kuching, stopping for lunch in the tiny Sarawak town of Lundu – an experience in itself. It was then off to Semenggok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre to see the feeding of wild orang-utans. We had the best views of orang-utans we have ever had feeding in the trees just above us. It is a sad fact that these spectacular creatures are dwindling in numbers in the wild due to habitat destruction and, whilst there is a very successful rehabilitation program, there is simply no forest for them to be relocated to.

The boys had a most marvellous trip and I thank staff members, Mr Mark Dodd and Ms Debra Renfrey, who did a brilliant job in looking after the boys.

Mr Tim Blake Head of Science