On a guided tour of Kota Kinabalu, we visited the Atkinson Clock Tower, The Blue Mosque, Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village and the Kwan Yin Chinese temple. Kota Kinabalu or KK, the capital of Sabah, is a vibrant coastal city, famed as the gateway to Mount Kinabalu, stunning islands and rainforests. It is known for…
Food / Food & Wine / General / Travel
On Day 8 of the Tour, we traveled from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu in Borneo’s other Malay state, Sabah. The State of Sabah in the north of Borneo is also known as the “land below the wind”. Renowned for its rich biodiversity, it features Mount Kinabalu – the highest peak in Southeast Asia, tropical rainforests,…
On Day 6 of the “Best Of Borneo” tour, we travelled back from Sri Aman to Kuching. We checked out of the hotel in Sri Aman after breakfast and started the coach journey back to Kuching. We drove past the statue of doves in the town centre – the symbol of Sri Aman representing peace…
Food / Food & Wine / General / Travel
On Day 5 of the Wendy Wu Tours “Best Of Borneo” adventure, we visited an Iban Longhouse on the Lemanak River in Sarawak. The Iban are an idigenou Dayak group in Borneo, primarily residing in Sarawak and known historically as “Sea Dayaks” or former headhunters. Dayak are the indigenous, non-Muslim peoples of Borneo. They comprise over 50…
On the fourth day of our “Best Of Borneo” adventure with Wendy Wu Tours in March/April 2026, we travelled from Kuching to Semenggoh to visit the Wildlife Centre dedicated to the rehabilitation of orphaned orangutans and drove on to Sri Aman for a two nights stay. We left the Waterfront Hotel after breakfast and travelled…
Bako National Park is one of the best places in Sarawak to see rainforest animals in their natural habitat. The park touches the ocean and is famous for its spectacular coastal scenery, only 37 km away from downtown Kuching. Established in 1957, Bako is the oldest national park in Sarawak covering an area of 2,742…
After a sumptuous breakfast at the Waterfront Hotel, we explored Kuching on foot with our excellent local guide from Wendy Wu Tours. We visited China Town, Gambier Street, a Malay Village on the north bank of the Sarawak River, Waterfront, Spice markets and Borneo Cultures Museum. Kuching was founded by the representative of the Sultan…
Following six weeks in Sri Lanka in February and March 2026, we flew to Borneo to explore Sarawak over two weeks with Wendy Wu Tours. Borneo, the world’s third-largest island, surpassed in size by only Greenland and New Guinea, is renowned for its ancient rainforests, immense biodiversity, and unique wildlife. The island is shared by Indonesia (Kalimantan), Malaysia…
Kimbulawala, located near the Diyawanna Lake near Colombo , is a popular 4-km scenic gravel walking and jogging track set amidst wetlands and paddy fields. It is widely used by residents for exercise and relaxation, offering a tranquil natural environment often frequented by birdwatchers to spot species like the Blue-tailed Bee-eater. Kimbulawala has many Sri Lankan…
After very pleasant six days at Exotica Bungalows at Hikkaduwa, we came to the Red Parrot Beach ‘Villa’ at Ambalangoda for five nights of rest and relaxation. The little Air B&B villa is right on the beach off the busy Colombo Road and has an open varanda, sitting and dinning room, a well equipped kitchen,…
Hikkaduwa Lake is a scenic natural attraction known for its tranquil waters and lush surroundings. The lake offers an escape from the bustling beaches nearby. It offers birdwatching, leisurely walks and an opportunity to unwind by the water’s edge. The best time to visit Hikkaduwa Lake is during the dry season, which runs from late November to April.…
Turtle Beach in Hikkaduwa is a popular, calm bay where wild sea turtles swim near the shore, offering snorkeling opportunities. Visitors can frequently see 3-4 large resident turtles in shallow, clear water. It is best visited during the dry season, roughly November to April. The Hikkaduwa Turtle Beach is only a short Tuk-Tuk ride from…
A short walk along the beach from Exotica Bungalows in Hikkaduwa takes you to the Seenigama Temple complex. A small shrine is dedicated to the local Hindu deity named Devol – protector of fishermen and boats. According to the Sanskrit epic Ramayana, Seenigama was the place where Sugriva, helper of Rama, began his campaign against…
The car from Exotica Bungalows picked us up in Colombo and drove us to the delightful little hotel by the sea at Hikkaduwa – a vibrant, tourist-friendly coastal town in southwestern Sri Lanka, renowned for its golden beaches, bustling nightlife, and excellent surfing (especially from November to April). Located about Located about 100km south of Colombo, it is a…
We returned to Sri Lanka in February 2026 for a six weeks stay. We were glad to leave the cold and damp in Harrogate behind and fly to Colombo from Manchester with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. It was not the same as flying with Emirates. The seats were smaller with less leg-room. No spirits were…
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