Product Update
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PRODUCT UPDATE BB 19 Reef & Rainforest 6D/ 5N This new tour combines the best of wildlife search on land and underwater. Orang utans sightings is guaranteed as our clients are guided to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre to see them in close range. Move on to Sukau for wildlife sightings in the wilderness – exclusively on relaxing river cruises. Stay in our award winning Sukau Rainforest Lodge for 2 nights of staying-in-the- jungle experience. Drive to south-eastern Semporna town which links world top diving spot, Mabul- Sipadan via sea transport. Internationally rated as one of the top diving spots, Sipadan Island offers the richest treasure of marine habitat in the world, with more than 3000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species discovered. The oceanic island is formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct undersea volcano, which rises 600m from the seabed. The turtle tomb, an underwater limestone cave with labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that contain many skeletal remains of turtles add another unique feature to divers visiting to Sipadan. Some identified marine life includes mantas, eagle rays and barracudas. (Left) Orang utan in Sukau Mabul Island is another world-class diving spot adjacent to Sipadan Island. Oval shaped and surrounded by white sandy beaches, this unique island is just 15 minutes ride by speedboat from Sipadan. Mabul is arguably one of the riches single destinations for exotic small marine life anywhere in the world. The attractions on Mabul are of the smaller variety such as lobster, shrimp, crocodile fish, moray and garden eels. This makes it an ideal setting for macro-photo opportunities. More details on this package is available at: http://www.borneoecotours.com/tours_view.cfm?THE_ID=61 . Right) Sipadan Mabul Resort’s Water Bungalow TENGKU ZAINAL ADLIN BIN TENGKU MAHAMOOD Tengku Adlin is the Chairman of the Sabah Tourism Board (as of 2007). He is also the current Vice- President Emeritus after being Chairman and trustee of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia (1997-2005), a past trustee on the board of WWF International based in Switzerland, Chairman and Immediate Past Chairman of the Danum Valley Conservation Area Management Committee (1974-2005) and Past Chairman of the Maliau Basin Conservation Area Management Committee, Chairman Kota Kinabalu City Birds Sanctuary (2000-2005), Chairman Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society (2006), Trustee Sabah Parks (2000-2006) and Honorary Advisor of Borneo Orchid Society. Tengku Adlin is the author of numerous books and publications on nature and adventure as he had led or participated in many expeditions to unexplored or lesser known interiors of Sabah. He is one of the pioneers who ventured into the Maliau Basin ‘Sabah’s Lost World’ (1984) and subsequently planned and participated in the first scientific expedition by the Sabah Foundation and WWF Malaysia into Sabah’s Lost World (1988). Tourism Malaysia presented him its highest award the Minister of Tourism Special Award (Individual) for the 2004 Tourism Malaysia Award. The State Government of Sabah appointed him Chairman Sabah Tourism Board in 2000 to date. He has worked hand in hand with key players in the tourism industry at state, national and international levels with a common and shared vision to promote and market Sabah as a world class and a premier ecotourism destination 1 A new species of the largest flower in the world, Rafflesia, discovered on an expedition on Trus Madi Range is named after him - Rafflesia-tengku adlinii. His latest book ‘Maliau Basin Sabah’ Lost World’ is to facilitate the declaration of this unique pristine primeval rain forest as a World Heritage Site. He is currently involved in the WWF initiative to assist Borneo’s three nations (Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia) to conserve on a huge scale, the world’s second largest, the area known as the ‘Heart of Borneo’ – a total of 220,000 sq. km of pristine equatorial rain forest through a contiguous trans- boundary network of protected areas and sustainably-managed forest, and through international co-operation led by the Borneon governments and supported by a global effort, with WWF as secretariat, to realise the green ‘Heart of Borneo’ - Three Countries One Conservation Vision. Tengku Adlin was also given Malaysia’s highest recognition for services to Tengku Adlin with HRH Prince Henrik conservation, the Langkawi Award (1999) by the Yang Dipertuan Agong (King of in tree planting project, Sukau Malaysia) and followed by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) highest international award for services to conservation, the Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Gold Medal ‘In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the conservation of the natural environment in Sabah, Malaysia, at all levels; from an involvement in fieldwork, education, and public awareness to policy making and international cooperation’ by Prince Philip President Emeritus WWF at Buckingham Palace, London (1999). Sukau Rainforest Lodge is proud to dedicate room no. 5 as our highest recognition for his remarkable contribution in conservation. Read more personalities on our website: http://www.sukau.com/public/con_per.asp Mark Louis Benedict – Our Best Tourist Guide in Malaysia Tourism Awards 2005/06 In this issue, we are pleased to introduce one of our leading nature tourist guides, Mark Louis Benedict. Employed with us since February 2004, Mark had displayed outstanding guiding skill at very young age. Holding firm to his motto, ‘success is 99% perspiration and only 1% luck’, Mark believes one must do the best and give the best in life, be it at work or at home. During school days, he was an active student and was elected president of Nature Society Club for 2 years. Working in Borneo Eco Tours is his first job and he sees BET is a company with future, strong environment ethic and good welfare. “Overall, I’ve good working relationship with everyone and that shows that we all can work as a team”, said Mark. Mark enthused that fellow guides must provide the best service to all clients. “Guides are the company’s ambassador and to live up to Borneo Eco Tours’ core values, we must show that we care for the environment which is the backbone for nature tourism, particularly in Sandakan. As frontliners, we are one of the primary channels to promote tourism and to ensure guests who visit here appreciate what we have”. “A good guide is someone who has deep concern on the guests and does the best to meet guests’ requirements. We must always anticipate what the guests want. To go the extra mile, an excellent guide will foster friendship with the guests”, he added. Despite his young age, Mark never has problem getting along with elderly guests who use his service. “Though age difference can affect the topic of conversation, the important thing is to find our common ground, where both parties enjoy the topic that we can exchange ideas”, Mark continued. While enjoying guiding, Mark spends his free time playing soccer, basketball, badminton and he is also a good guitarist. In the recently concluded Malaysia Tourism Award, Mark was awarded the Best Tourist Guide in Malaysia (Nature) for his outstanding performance in guiding. Mark thanked family-like Borneo Eco Tours colleagues for their support and the award is very much a blessing for everyone who works hard for Borneo Eco Tours’ guests. 2 HAPPENINGS Borneo Eco Tours Wins Award in Malaysia Tourism Awards 2005/06 Mark Louis Benedict of Borneo Eco Tours was named the Best Tourist Guide (Nature) during the Malaysia Tourism Award ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on 22 nd July 2007. Borneo Eco Tours’ John Chin emerged finalist in the same category while in the Best Tour Program and Best Inbound Tour Operator category, Borneo Eco Tours was also selected as finalist. Read more about the award at: http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=51554 . Pix: Minister of Tourism, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor presenting the award to Mark Borneo Eco Tours Celebrates Malaysia Tourism Awards Achievement On 13 th Aug., Borneo Eco Tours’ management and staff celebrated their achievement in Malaysia Tourism Award with a simple yet significant party at Kota Kinabalu headquarters. On hand to receive appreciation gifts and certificate was Mark Louis Benedict, who won the Best Tourist Guide Award. The celebration is remarkable for Borneo Eco Tours staff as a tribute for the teamwork and dedication of the staff . Pix: Mark receiving appreciation gift from Mr. Albert Teo Duo who Helped Death March POWs Honored in Australia Two local unsung heroes from World War Two were honored on the 5th August 2007 in Sydney, Australia for their role in saving Australian Prisoners-of-War (PoWs) during the infamous 260km Sandakan-Ranau Death March in 1945. The duo are Saumin Bin Gadalip @ Kaingal, 74 and Domima OKK Akoi, 87. The historic trip to Australia was a collaborative effort by Borneo Exhibition and Education Group Inc, Perth (BEG Inc) and Borneo Eco Tours’ Recreation and Welfare Club of which Managing Director, Albert Teo is the Advisor. BEG Inc sponsored the costs of accommodation, meals and transportation for the two heroes and their escorts while in Australia. Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) in Perth, Australia sponsored the air tickets while Borneo Eco Tours’ Recreation and Welfare Club sponsored the air-tickets of the two escorts, passports for Kaingal, Domima and Fazly, visas, travel insurance and Left to Right: Domima & Kaingal winter clothes for all, costing a total of more than RM5,000. Albert also acknowledged a donation of RM500 for Kaingal from an anonymous donor. Albert said the Recreation and Welfare Club is committed to seeking out any local heroes for due recognition for acts of bravery during World War Two.