Monday, May 25, 2009

Mantanani Resort

More Photos


Mantanani is a group of 3 isolated islands (06-42.8N by 116-18.3E) northwest of Kota Belud, or about an hour's drive from the state capital of Kota Kinabalu. Although only approximately an hour's boat ride by speedboat from the mainland, the islands are a reminder of an earlier and simpler place and time. Time slows down here amidst the crystal clear blue waters lapping on white sandy beaches. Tall slender coconut palms, like windsocks, tells of gentle breezes from afar.


Until recently, the islands were only known to a few locals. The surrounding waters offer splendid fishing and scuba diving adventures. Sailfish and marlin are the main quarry of sport fishermen in these waters. Scuba divers come here for the underwater wrecks, which still hold plenty of the secrets from the day they first settled on the sea floor. These wrecks are now home to a menagerie of marine creatures and an unrivaled marine photo studio. For the novice scuba diver, the coral reefs of these islands offer some of the best scuba diving this side of Sabah.


Mantanani Resort lies at the edge of a white sandy bay at the western end of the largest island. Nestled amidst the tall coconut palms, are scattered beach cabins surrounding the main plantation styled house. These large and comfortable cabins come with attached bathrooms and air conditioning. The relaxing atmosphere makes this resort one of the best places to come to relax and get away (even for a little while) from the drumbeat of urban life. Afterall, there's only one resort here in these 3 islands, not the other way around.



Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Proboscis Monkey, Only In Borneo


Proboscis Monkey, among the world's most unusual and endangered animals. This kind of monkey is also known as the Monyet Belanda in Indonesian and the Malay dialect (literally: "Dutchman monkey"). In Englihs it is also often referred to as Nasalis Gerardis and the Long-nosed Monkey.
The Nasalis Lavartusis is endemic to the island known best in English a Borneo, occurring in Brunei, Indonesia (Kalimantan) and Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak). Originally it inhabited the whole of coastal Borneo, as well as the satellite islands of Berhala, Sebatik and Pulau LautThe Proboscis Monkey is endemic to Kalimantan and Borneo's riparian-riverine forests, coastal lowland forest, mangrove swamps, peat swamps and freshwater swamp forest. It rarely ranges far from its local habitat’s waterway.
Proboscis Monkeys are mostly found in the State of Sabah, Malaysia (formerly known as North Borneo). One of the largest group of proboscis monkeys can easily be found along the Klias River. Proboscis Monkeys usually move in group of 8 to 15 numbers. Larger group may consist up to 20 or more (http://www.borneostarcruise.com/proboscis.cfm).
 

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