Explore. Connect. Contribute. 4 May to 12 May 2018, Borneo
Inspired by Kuching INSPIRED JOURNEY Explore. Connect. Contribute. An Inspired Journey is no ordinary holiday. We take you behind the scenes to meet the inspirational people striving to make the world better. We ll meet world-changers, eco warriors, peace makers and love spreaders diverse people united in their belief in a better world. You ll join Inspired Magazine founder Samille Mitchell as she interviews these inspirational people to feature in Inspired Magazine. You can t help but to feel fired up to make a difference yourself after hearing their personal stories firsthand. Afternoon: Immerse yourself in the charms of Kuching one of Asia s most intimate and unpolluted capital cities. Perched by the waters of Sarawak River, the city enchants visitors with an easy charm. 4 May We ll also roll up our sleeves to do our bit to help, whether it s crafting play toys for orphaned orangutans, picking up plastic from aboard boats in remote rivers, or buying wares from indigenous jungle women. We ll also take the time to be inspired by the nature of the places we visit, taking time out to experience the immensity of cathedral-like caves, strolling through the pulsing womb of the jungle or kayaking down meandering water ways. We ll meet the locals, learn their stories and do our bit to help them save the world. Inspired by orangutan rehabilitation SEMENGGOH WILDLIFE PARK Morning: Semenggoh Wildlife Park was established more than 40 years ago as a rehabilitation centre for endangered animals and now has expanded to become a research facility into orangutan biology and behaviour, providing vital information to safeguard the orangutans precarious future. Semenggoh also provides a successful breeding environment for orangutans unable to be rehabilitated into the wild. We ll have the chance to see the sanctuary s semi-wild orangutans, ranging from heart-meltingly cute infants and boisterous adolescents to the powerful male adults, as they enjoy life in a secure natural habitat. We ll also met with Mutazah the Principal carer of the orangutans in rehab for an interview. 5 May Afternoon: From Semenggoh we venture further out of the city to embark on a kayak journey along the Sungai Sarawak Kiri River, stopping at scenic locations for swimming, sightseeing and a traditional longhouse lunch at a Bidayuh Village. You ll be amazed at the ambiance, pristine beauty and sense of isolation of this river, only an hour from the State capital. Evening: We ll visit a local bar where volunteers work and all profits go towards helping Project Orangutan. Inspired by Heart Treasure Centre BAKO NATIONAL PARK Morning: Journey to Bako National Park on a 20-minute boat ride through a stilted water village bustling with local fisherman. As the inlet opens to the calm waters of the South China Sea we pass traditional fish traps, mangroves and islands. Look out for the bottlenose dolphin, crocodiles, water monitors and coastal sea eagles. Bako National Park provides regular sightings of the proboscis monkey, longtailed macaque, silver leaf monkey and wild boar. This is your chance to be inspired by nature and reflect on the amazing people we ve met so far. 6 May Afternoon: Meet the brainchild behind Heart Treasures, which aims to create job opportunities by connecting community and environment. Established in 2011, the group provides financial security and therapy for disabled adults and youth while creating stunning jewellery and handcrafts from recycled materials. Heart Treasures currently employs 13 trainees with a range of impairments such as Down Syndrome and Autism. Individuals are trained in areas that work towards improving motor skills, concentration and social interaction. Heart Treasures was one of nine recipients of the Amplify Award from the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre Social and has opened its own gallery from the proceeds of this grant. You ll have the opportunity to indulge in some ethical shopping while you re there.
Inspired by endangered wildlife MATANG WILDLIFE CENTRE, HOME TO PROJECT ORANGUTAN The dedicated staff and volunteers at Matang are committed to the care and rehabilitation of endangered Bornean wildlife. You ll have the opportunity to get behind the scenes and learn what is required to keep this valuable volunteer project at Matang afloat. Warning you may find yourself smitten by the endearing nature of the resident orangutans. "Warning - you may find yourself smitten by the endearing nature of the resident orangutans." 7 May Project Orangutan is a conservation company helping to save and protect the endangered wildlife on Borneo. They specialise in ethical volunteering and tourism experiences working with the magnificent orangutan and other protected species such as the clouded leopard, binturong, sun bear and false gharial, among others. As we join the Project Orangutan team for the day we have an exceptional opportunity to gain a behind-the-scenes insight into orangutan conservation and rehabilitation. We will have the chance to spend time with experts in the field, who will be happy to share their experiences and knowledge as they orientate us with the centre s residents and facilities. Inspired by arts After lunch it s our turn to help out, whether it s making toys for orangutans, building infrastructure or muckingout living quarters yep, we roll our sleeves up and get down and dirty in our effort to provide real support to the centre, rather than a tokenistic volunteering gesture. Here we ll meet and interview Project Orangutan founder Leo Biddle. 9 May Inspired by nature MULU WORLD HERITAGE AREA We ll start the day with a short flight from Kuching to Mulu World Heritage. After settling in at the national park headquarters, we ll take an easy 2.7 km trail to Lang and Deer Caves. As you saunter through the rainforest and by jungle streams your guide will regal you with captivating stories of the plants and wildlife you encounter, and the traditional roles and customs for people who live in the jungle. 8 May Lang Cave is possibly the most stunning cave in Mulu with a low ceiling that makes spotting the swiftlet and bats nesting in the bell-holes easy. It is adorned with lavishly decorated walls of shawls, layers of rim stone pools and spectacular stalagmites and stalactites. Not far away is the jaw-dropping Deer Cave. With a cathedral-like cavern snaking two kilometres under the earth and a ceiling never lower than 90m high, Deer Cave is the biggest show-cave in the world. Its cavernous reaches are also home to around three million wrinkle-lipped bats that emerge from the cave most evenings around sunset. We time our walk to witness the phenomenon of these bats streaming from the cave entrance a stand-out scene in David Attenborough s Planet Earth series. Watching the bats swirl through the sky in meandering rivers of black is a truly heart-stopping experience. From within the cave you can also visit the Garden Of Eden, one of the most pristine collapsed cave systems in the world. Witness its dazzling beauty by peering through a 30-metre column of water streaming from above, like a giant shower for the jungle gods. Accommodation: Mulu National Park lodgings We leave the park by longboat at 9.30am and travel up river stopping at Batu Bungan Craft Market. Here you can test your skills with a blowpipe, pick up some local crafts direct from the women who collect and weave the products or try your hand (or should we say nose!), with a Penan nose flute. As we journey further up the river and out from under the forest canopy you ll start to see the breathtaking beauty from a different perspective. Any boat ride on these rivers is like a meditation in nature and this one is no exception. You can t help but feel alive, relaxed and complete as Mother Nature soothes your very soul with her beauty. Next we travel through an intriguing underworld of cave passages, formed over two million years to create a winding network of tunnels snaking 220 kilometres under the earth. First, we visit the Cave of Wind to enter the lavishly decorated halls of King Chamber, adorned with stalactites, stalagmites, flowrocks, helitites and rock corals. From here we set out on a meandering boardwalk perched precariously along the cliffs to Clearwater Cave Picnic Area where we recharge with a light snack and refreshment before venturing through the ancient underground river passage of Clearwater Cave. Clearwater Cave is one of the largest networks of cave passage on earth. Currently weaving over 200km through the limestone you ll be in awe of mother nature, her power and her ability to shape change landscapes both above and below ground. There is time to enjoy the cool clear waters of Clearwater cave before returning by longboat to the park for lunch. Afternoon: We ll meet and interview Violet Tan from the non-profit Helping Hands Penan who empowers indigenous jungle women by selling their basketware and weaving in tourist shops and boutiques. Optional sunset cruise. Accommodation: Mulu National Park lodgings
"An Inspired Journey is no ordinary holiday. We take you behind the scenes to meet the inspirational people striving to make the world better."" Fly from Mulu to Kota Kinabulu Helping man s best friend Morning: Optional canopy walk through the tree tops of Mulu. Morning Meet the people behind the International Aid for the Protection and Welfare of Animals, who operate a dog shelter in Koto Kinabulu. We ll enjoy a hands on meeting with dogs rescued from the streets and given a new life in the shelter. Lunch: Fly from Mulu to Kota Kinabalu. 10 May Afternoon/evening: Free to explore Kota Kinabalu. Accommodation: TBA 11 May Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Kota Kinabalu. Meet a local medicine man, get a luxurious and cheap massage, buy some gifts. Accommodation: TBA Home sweet home Say goodbye to the inspirational people and places of Borneo. 12 May
Pricing Price includes all internal transfers, internal flights, qualified local guides, accommodation in private rooms, and lots of great meals but not all of them (international flights not included). $2900 per person Itinerary subject to change depending on weather and other variables. For more information, or to make a booking, contact Alison Pritchard below. Book now Visit www.bit.ly/bookinspiredjourney Contact Borneo Ethical Adventures Alison Pritchard info@borneoethical.com ph: 0458099210 www.bit.ly/bookinspiredjourney