Climbing Mount Kinabalu - An Amazingly Accessible Experience

The 20th tallest mountain in the world and the 3rd tallest mountain in Southeast Asia, Kinabalu is an impressive massif on the island of Borneo. Tourists from all over the world come every year to Kota Kinabalu city in attempt to go climbing Mount Kinabalu. Kinabalu stands 4,095 m above the sea level, being the tallest peak between the Himalayas and the Jawijaya Mountains, in Indonesia.

The mountain is very important to the local people. The natives even considered it sacred, saying that it is inhabited by the spirits of their dead ancestors. That is why tourists used to sacrifice chicken before climbing Mount Kinabalu, hoping they will soothe the mountain's spirit. In fact, the mountain's shape is even displayed on the State flag. The life of the people from Sabah is in close connection to the mountain. The villages of Mesilau, Kiau and Bundu Tahan have a tradition in providing guides for the climbs at Kinabalu Mountain.

Thousands of tourists come every year, eager to make this memorable climb. Despite the massiveness of the mountain and its impressive physical features, climbing Mount Kinabalu does not necessarily require special skills. The two-days climb can be tiring, but if you are healthy and have a good physical condition you will be able to get to the top. In fact, Low's Peak, the highest peak of the mountain, is the easiest to climb and the trip does not require any equipment. However, the other peaks are not that "friendly"; equipment and some abilities, or at least a greater effort, are needed to climb them.

The tourist trail extends to the southern part of the mountain; 8.5 kilometers before reaching the top. This journey usually takes two days and climbers spend one night at the huts in the vicinity of Laban Rata.

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Sarawak - Take it to the streets

IT'S dusk on the Sarawak River. Crouched in a longboat, a fisherman unravels his tattered nets, his lined face lit by the flickering flame of a paraffin lamp. The ropes cause scarcely a ripple as they hit the water's surface and from across the river, the call to prayer echoes from a nearby mosque. Tonight, the fisherman could be in for a long wait but in these parts, no one seems in too much of a hurry.

Despite its status as the capital of Sarawak, a visit to Kuching is a reminder of a time when Asian cities were far less hectic. Until about 150 years ago, Sarawak was the name of the tidal river cutting through a province initially ruled by the Sultan of Brunei. In 1872, the city earned its present name under the second white Rajah, Charles Brooke.

Kuching literally translates to "cat" and while there are numerous theories as to how the name came about, the most likely explanation stems from the Indochinese word cochin, meaning port.

Mistranslations aside, to this day, Kuching retains a vaguely unhealthy obsession with cats. There are cat statues on roundabouts, outside temples, inside shops. There's even a cat museum. Resembling a flying saucer from the outside, it's a bizarre tribute to all things feline - there are figurines of every conceivable size, shape and colour, as well as displays charting their history in anything from movie posters to advertising campaigns, comic books to literature. One exhibit even displays photographs of owners who have tattooed their bodies with portraits of their beloved pets.

Cat obsessions aside, Kuching is a city with many attractions. Undoubtedly, one of the main drawcards is the Semenggoh wildlife centre, 24 kilometres south of the city. Though not as famous as the Sepilok centre in Sabah, Semenggoh acts as a rehabilitation facility for more than 20 of Borneo's injured or orphaned orangutans and the primates can come and go as they please within the 740-hectare forest enclosure. The centre comes across as a decently run enterprise where the animals' welfare takes precedence over the tourist dollar.

Within Kuching itself, there are numerous attractions. For an overview of the history, geology and wildlife of the region, the Sarawak Museum is a good bet.

Though stately from the outside, the interior - which dates to 1891 - is a little jaded but among the chipped cabinets and fading glass, some exhibits shine through. Some of the best include the gruesome headhunting history of the region and the origins of oil pioneering in the 1800s.

Also worth a look is the recently restored Fort Margherita on the banks of the Sarawak River. Built in 1879 to guard Kuching from pirates, it now houses the Police Museum and showcases interesting artefacts such as old cannons and a collection of "laughing skulls".

Other popular attractions include the much-lauded (though vaguely kitsch) Sarawak Cultural Village, with its daily dance routines and traditional longhouses, the Astana, which is now the official residence of the Governor of Sarawak, and the Chinese Museum.

While all these sights have merit, the best way to experience Kuching is simply to go walkabout. With a population made up of Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous tribal people, this is a city rich in cultural diversity. Its compact centre also means most areas of interest are easily accessible on foot.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Sarawak - Take it to the streets
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Sarawak Tourism targets 10 pct increase in tourist arrivals from China

KUCHING: Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) expects more tourist arrivals from China as its top agents target a 10 per cent increase for the year.

Chief executive officer of STB, Datuk Rashid Khan said the state recorded 34,888 tourists from China last year while hosting 11,390 visitors up to April this year.

“STB and relevant stakeholders in the tourism industry would like to work together with all of you to exceed this target.

“We have set aside a substantial marketing support budget to realise the number. We will provide incentives to motivate your organisations to aspire to greater heights,” he told a welcoming dinner for top agents from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Kunming and Hong Kong at BCCK here Thursday.

Rashid added that the board would offer joint consumer advertising campaign and other media support for these agents to promote the state’s products.

The board, he said had been “aggressively promoting” the destination to China markets and hence looked forward to facilitating agents there for a mutually beneficial business relationship.

“I am sure that with your assistance, we can be confident that we can even do better.”

He was pleased to announce that the air accessibility to the state had “improved tremendously” and tourists could easily connect to Kuching and other cities in the state from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu.

The outbound tourist volume from China would continue to grow, he noted, adding that the board hoped Sarawak would be among their choice destinations.

Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Talib Zulpilip told the Chinese top agents that the state had a lot more to offer in terms of nature and culture.

“I can assure you that Sarawak is a peaceful, beautiful and friendly place. It is my hope that you all will bring more visitors from China.

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First Encounter With Mulu National Park Sarawak

I never knew that a veil could be formed in the sky. That was what happened in Mulu National Park... A seemingly endless stream of bats surging out of Deer Cave in search of food. It was a sight to behold and I was awe-struck for the 15-20 minutes it took for the undulating black ribbon, and last bat, to leave the cave as dusk began to fall. Bon appetite! I thought to myself.

I stayed in one of the wooden chalet in the Park itself and experienced first hand the rustic ambience and the feeling of being close to nature. The hustle and bustle of city life seemed so far away, and it was. The complete darkness and quiet of the night, inside and outside, made me wonder whether I was the only human there, or in the room in this case. The gentle rustles of my sleeping colleague in the next bed revealed otherwise, and came as a relief too. I was and still am a bit of a faint-hearted boy.

The other excursion, which I was faint-hearted about, occurred the next day when I took a tour of Deer Cave. I realized to my horror that viewing the bats from a distance is very different from viewing them upfront. Not that I had personal conversations with the bats, but the fact that the cave was littered, everywhere in fact, with bat guano (bat shit) made it a very personal experience for me.

Deer Cave was dark and damp. The voice of the tour guide was nice enough but not overly reassuring especially when he advised us to watch our steps and to be careful of where we placed our hands. Needless to say, my concentration was not fully on his explanations of the cave's history. I was profoundly thankful that I did not slip and fell or touch any guano. I came away with a healthy respect of tour guides who had to do this for a living.

Clearwater Cave, as its name implied, had clear water rushing and flowing through the cave. I would have liked to dip myself into the river of crystal clear cool water but unfortunately due to the rainy season, the water level was high and currents too strong for a safe dipping. So I contented myself with staring at the churning water and trying to imagine what might have been.

Continue reading at: First Encounter With Mulu National Park Sarawak
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The Philippines seeks ASEAN unity for Spratlys row of sea

July 29, 2011 - The Philippines said it would seek regional backing for a plan on pursuing joint development of disputed areas in the South China Sea amid China's increasingly robust assertions of its claims.

Legal experts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will meet in Manila in September to discuss the proposal, foreign department spokesman Raul Hernandez told reporters.

He said the aim was to eventually get the 10 ASEAN nations, and later on China, to endorse the proposal to delineate the disputed sections of the strategically located and reputedly resources-rich area.

"If we can define those disputed features then we can have the joint development of those areas," Hernandez said.

Areas not in dispute should be the exclusive preserve of the country that owns them, Hernandez said.

Competing claims to the potentially oil-rich Paracel and Spratly island groups in the South China Sea have caused rising tensions in recent months, with regional neighbours accusing China of behaving aggressively.

These areas, which straddle vital commercial shipping lanes, are subject to a tangle of maritime claims by China, Taiwan, and ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

However China maintains it owns all of the South China Sea, even waters approaching the coasts of Southeast Asian countries.

ASEAN, which also includes Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, agreed with China at a ministerial meeting last week to a set of guidelines setting a framework for an eventual code of conduct for the sea.

But China has consistently rejected efforts for the disputes to be resolved in a multilateral setting.

It prefers bilateral negotiations, which other countries fear is a divide-and-conquer approach that would weaken their bargaining capabilities with the Asian superpower.

Hernandez said that if the Philippine proposal got traction it would be tabled for discussion by ASEAN senior officials and eventually its foreign ministers.

After that, getting China on board would be the next challenge, he added.

"We are hopeful that China would listen to the voice of the ASEAN, and even the voice of the international community.

Review Sabah's tour guide zoning policy quickly

KOTA KINABALU: Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun, who described the zoning system for tourist guides in Sabah as ridiculous, has urged the Federal Tourism Ministry to review its suitability in the state.

Masidi said those responsible for introducing the system should come and look at the situation in Sabah.

He said since the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has ordered all government leaders to go to the ground, the federal ministry officials should study the real situation in Sabah and not just making decision in the comfort of their offices.

“Maybe their intention is good but they also should see the situation. We are in Sabah, only 10 minutes from the city we will see the jungle. This new policy is does not make any sense and it’s ridiculous,” he said.

“I am hoping the federal ministry would come here to analyse and study the real situation and we would be more than happy to assist,” he said.

Masidi said his ministry, together with the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), will find a way to assist tourist guides in Sabah by determining whether there is a provision in the Sabah tourism enactment to allow them to work the way they used to.

He said he will do that if the federal ministry responsible for implementing the zoning system cannot solve the problem soon.

“Sabah Tourist Guides Association (STGA) has explained to me about this matter and I sympathise with their situation, where tourist guides issued with the blue badge were previously free to guide anywhere, but are now limited to picking up tourists to and from the airports and hotels as well as conducting city tours,” he said.

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Borneo Travel to Kuching - Capital of Sarawak, Borneo

With incredible outdoor attractions, multiple endangered species, and enough rainforest to keep even hardcore trekkers busy for a long time, Borneo travel is a exactly what every backpacker dreams of. Unfortunately many budget travelers making their way around Southeast Asia tend to bypass Borneo, buying into the myth that the world's third-largest island is out of their budgets.

Malaysian Borneo is comprised of two states - Sarawak and Sabah - which are separated by the small, independent nation of Brunei. The bustling city of Kota Kinabalu in the northern state of Sabah receives a lion's share of tourism in Borneo, while Sarawak - both cheaper and more peaceful - manages to stay off the mass tourism radar. Backpackers wanting to stick to a shoestring budget should definitely consider visiting Sarawak first.

Travel to Kuching, Sarawak

Kuching, the pleasant capital of Sarawak, takes many travelers by surprise. Considered one of the cleanest cities in Asia, Kuching's enjoyable waterfront and brick esplanade is well-manicured and spotless. The waterfront also serves as a venue for many of Sarawak's festivals; there always seems to be music or some form of free, cultural entertainment taking place. Chinatown in Kuching provides cheap accommodation and eateries, while free museums and green parks keep your Borneo travel budget happy.

Things to Do in Kuching

Museums and cultural centers in the city are free and are a great way to learn more about Borneo's indigenous headhunter cultures. Headhunting was common practice in Sarawak well into the 1950s; scores of removed heads still hang on display in local museums.

While Kuching has a few interesting draws, the rainforest just outside of the city is the real reason most people choose Borneo travel. Kuching serves as the perfect base for taking advantage of Sarawak's natural wonders. Gunung Gading National Park - only two hours away by bus - is the perfect place to luck upon the world's rarest and strangest flower: the rafflesia. Flowers bloom sporadically and unpredictably; check with the Forestry Office in Kuching to see if any flowers are in bloom. Even without rafflesias making an appearance, the Gunung Gading National Park is a peaceful retreat with accommodation and excellent trekking.

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Philippines Azkals 2014 -FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers versus Kuwait for 2-1

If you think the Philippine Azkals is over in the first half, then the team make a magic after they strive to win the game over the Mighty Kuwait for 2-1 score in favor of the Philippines Azkals.

In a  90-minute encounter, it was the experience and poise of Kuwait that prevailed as Al Azraq, despite playing with 10 men in the second half, still found their way to wipe out Phl’s one-goal edge and steal a 2-1 win last night in the 2014 Fifa World Cup Asian Qualifiers Second Round at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Together with the 3-0 verdict they posted in Kuwait last Saturday, Al Azraq won the two-game series on goal aggregate, 5-1, to earn a berth in the third round and dash the Azkals’ World Cup hopes at least for now.

“This game and the previous game show how bitter and hard football can be,” said Azkals coach Michael Weiss, who’s still a picture of optimism despite failing to scale the Everest-like challenge of Kuwait, the 10-time Gulf champions.

“A team like us that’s been fighting so bravely in the last six months, and even back to the Suzuki Cup last year, can be punished so severely. That’s a hard lesson to learn and take,” he added.

Fuelled by the enthusiastic crowd at the historic venue, the Azkals drew first blood and went into the break ahead, 1-0, enjoying the prospect of pulling a W over the mighty Al Azraq.

Fil-German Stephan Schrock, suspended in the first leg, was all over the place in his return to action. Schrock sent the leather home from 20 yards in the third minute of added time in the first half, setting off pandemonium all around the venue as tunes of Pinoy Ako and Impossible blared.

The Azkals got an added advantage in the 58th when Fahad Al Ebrahim was sent off for a hard tackle on Chieffy Caligdong.

But the personnel disadvantage inside did not dampen Kuwait a little.

Yousef Naser knocked down the equalizer on a long-range shot at the 61st, silencing the Filipino crowd which was then in the mood for celebration.

Al Azraq put the dagger on the stunned Filipinos in the 85th when Waleed Jumah knocked it down on a through ball that had goalkeeper Neil Etheridge rushing out.

“I think the team can take this defeat. We had to take it fairly and also acknowledge that we went up against a tough opponent,” Weiss said. “(Kuwait) Coach Goran (Tufegdzic) sees his team going all the way through the World Cup this year.”

Al Azraq advanced to the third round where Japan, Australia, South Korea, Bahrain and North Korea have been seeded, along with 14 other winners of Round 2.

Mabul Island named one of the world’s “Best Secret Islands”

Mabul Island in Sabah, Malaysia was named one of the best islands in the world with that is not teeming with fish instead of tourists.

The Travel + Leisure magazine stated, “Diving enthusiasts should opt instead for the secret island of Mabul, off the northeastern coast of Malaysia, where the marine life is on a par with the Galapagos.”

The magazine adds, “Even better, the native sea moths, bobtail squids, and elusive paintpot cuttlefish are some of the only inhabitants.”

Diving is a year round activity on this island, with more than eight popular dive sites.

It takes approximately 15 minutes or less to reach any of the Mabul dive sites by boat.

Most of the diving in Mabul is very shallow with depths from 10 – 60 feet.

Marine life that can be seen include fire gobies, crocodile fish, pipefish, cuttlefish, snake eels, sea horses, exotic starfish, and much more.

Mabul Island is reputed to be one of the best destinations for underwater macro-photography in the world.

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Up to 50% off Pandaw Borneo River Cruises

Borneo, the third largest island in the world after Greenland and Australia, has one of the most diverse eco systems on the planet, its primary rain forest home to a vast number of species of flora and fauna.

Now part of Eastern Malaysia, Sarawak was ruled for exactly one hundred years by the Brooke family, known as the Raja Brookes, and only joined the British Empire after the war, gaining independence in 1966.

The Rajang River, at 640km is the longest river in Malaysia, flows across Borneo from Sarawak into Indonesian Kalimantan. Though well know to many from Redmon O’Hanlon’s classic Into the Heart of Borneo, there is very little tourism here due to the river’s remoteness and lack of facilities. The scenery is magnificent – a total jungle experience with the rainforest tumbling into the fast flowing river.

The Rajang is navigable on a ship of Pandaw’s size for at least 250km until the Pelagus Rapids, and further on its main tributary the Baleh River. The river is peopled with the Iban, headhunters till the 1950s, whose unique long house culture survives well to this day, blending well animist tradition with modernity.

There is much to do and see upriver, whether just gazing at the amazing scenery or visiting long houses traditional and modern. In these river towns we can explore the architectural vestiges of the Brooke Raj. Jungle treks, for all levels, are a must as are long boat trips to the Pelagus rapids.

Downriver, the prosperous Chinese city of Sibu with its old shop houses, markets and friendly inhabitants, is a calm reflection of an old China that probably no longer exists in mainland China. Sibu with its rich surrounding farmlands and tropical climate is an important agricultural area.

Continue reading at: Up to 50% off Pandaw Borneo River Cruises
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Sarawak Plan To Gazette Kuala Lawas As National Park

LAWAS -- Sarawak plans to gazette a new area made up mainly of water bodies in Kuala Lawas near here as another national park in a move to protect and conserve marine life, State Second Minister of Resource Planning and Management, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said.

He said the proposed national park that features fringe mangrove along the coastline has become a favourite feeding ground for dugongs and green turtles and would play an important role in marine eco-system.

Speaking at the South East Asia Regional Workshop on Dugong here Wednesday night, he said the plan was among the State's commitment to protect and conserve the invaluable heritage and wealth of wildlife.

He said to date, a total of 206,344 hectares of water bodies had been gazetted as totally protected areas to conserve endangered marine species such as sea turtles, marine mammals, sea horses, coral and marine eco-system.

"It is in our greatest interest to constantly improve our current approaches and innovatively transform our assets into legacies that will continue to provide beauty and wonder for generations to come," he added.

Continue reading at: Sarawak Plan To Gazette Kuala Lawas As National Park

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Why China refused to bring the Spratlys issue to the United Nations?

Is it because China knew that they can’t win over the spratlys so they refused to raise the Spratlys disputes to the United Nations?

Based on applicable international maritime and related laws, China knows that if she petitions the United Nations International Court of Justice or the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to affirm her dubious claim that she owns everything in the South China Sea aka West Philippine Sea — her chances of winning are about as likely as having a snowfall in the Sahara desert.

Both Courts have proper jurisdictions to settle sovereignty issues between nations regarding marine territories — such as those concerning the Spratly and Paracel islands.

Staging …..

Let’s imagine  what most likely would happen if  China does take her case to the International Court of Justice  and the representative of China — let’s call him Mr. Li — is before the Court headed by the Presiding Judge. Consider this scenario:

Judge:  “Please inform this Court of the basis for your claim that the entire South China Sea aka West Philippines Sea belongs completely to the People’s Republic of China?”

Mr. Li: “Thank you, your honor. Our claim is based on the historical fact that this entire area has belonged to us since the Han Dynasty.”

Judge: “How do you intend to prove your case?”

Mr. Li: “I will present to this Court an almost two thousand year old Han Dynasty map that indicates the limits of the Han Dynasty kingdom.”

Judge: “Let’s  assume for purposes of discussion  that  the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and other surrounding countries were provinces or part of the Han Dynasty during its time even if the map you hold may just actually be a navigational map which does not really define the limits of the Han Dynasty. Now my study of China’s history indicate that the Han Dynasty lasted from 206 B.C. To 220 A.D.  Is this correct?”

Mr. Li: “Yes your honor.”

Judge: “I assume Mr. Lee that you are familiar with Alexander the Great, the young Macedonian king who conquered much of the ancient world.”

Mr. Li: “I am, your honor.”

Judge: “At the time of his death in 323 B.C., Alexander’s kingdom included Greece, Syria, Persia now known as Iran, Egypt and a part of India. Are you aware Mr. Lee that Macedonia, Alexander’s country — is now known as the Republic of Macedonia?”

Mr. Li: “If you say so your honor.”

Judge: “Good! You appear to know your history. I assume you are also familiar with the Roman Empire which existed for over a thousand years.”

Mr. Li: “Thank you your honor, I do read history.”

Judge: “You are then aware Mr. Lee that at its height, the Roman Empire included most of Europe and parts of Africa and Asia.”

Mr. Li: “I am aware, your honor.”

Judge: “Now Mr. Lee, since the time of Alexander, the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty — through the course of time and historical events, various  independent countries have emerged in Europe, Africa and Asia — which now have their own respective territories. This is a reality which  we all have to accept, wouldn’t you say?”

Mr. Li: “We cannot deny reality, your honor.”

Judge: “Now Mr. Lee, another undeniable reality is that Alexander’s empire, the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty kingdom are no longer existent — am I correct in my observation?

Mr. Li: “You are correct, your honor.”

Judge: “Now Mr.Lee, in all candor, do you seriously believe that if the Republic of Macedonia and the Italian government were to come before this Court and petition us to affirm that they own the territories of these now independent countries because they were once a part of Alexander’s empire or the Roman empire — that we would be persuaded to grant these petitions?”

Mr. Li: “I understand what you are getting at, Judge — but most of what we are claiming as ours is marine area and not land.”

Judge: “The Spratlys and the Paracel islands are not land? Anyway, isn’t it a fact that China is a signatory to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which she ratified on July 6, 1996 thereby agreeing to be bound by its provisions — and part of which is that anything within 200 miles from the baseline of a country belongs to that country?

Mr. Li: “China did agree to those provisions at a time when it was not yet aware of the far reaching consequences of UNCLOS to her national interests.”

Judge: “I will not mince my words Mr. Lee. What you mean is that at that time, the world, including China, was not yet aware, that vast deposits of oil and natural gas were to be found within the territorial limits of neighboring countries. Now because of this awareness, even if China knows she is trespassing and violating international law, she is using the coercive might of her size, military or otherwise — to grab these enormous reserves of petrowealth from the territories of her smaller, weaker, poorer neighbors — who badly need these assets to improve the plight of their own people.

Postscript:  In view of all the facts and existing applicable law, the likelihood is that the UN court will find China’s petition to be without merit.

Notwithstanding requests from the Philippines, neighboring countries and the United States to bring West Philippine Sea sovereignty issues to the United Nations, China has steadfastly refused to do so. Instead, it is constantly involved in mind games, using scare tactics, insisting that everything in the whole West Philippines Sea is theirs and that this issue is non-negotiable.

By so doing, the gigantic oil hungry dragon seeks to condition the national minds of her neighbors to forcibly accept inequitable bilateral settlement agreements — without United Nations or United States involvement. The Philippines, Vietnam and other neighbor countries must not fall into this trap. They should unite and create an alliance and insist — with the aid of the global community, with military means if necessary — that China should respect their rights and leave their national patrimony alone.

The most loudly applauded part of President Benigno Simeon Aquino’s State of the Nation speech was his strong affirmation that what belongs to the Philippines stays in the Philippines. Everyone understood his meaning:  The Philippines will stand firm against China’s bully tactics and mind games in trying to grab our energy and marine resources.

What a big difference to have a trustworthy President who provides moral leadership and looks after the interests of the nation instead of one ready to sell out the country’s patrimony for personal gain.

Source:

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/7319/why-china-will-not-bring-the-spratlys-issue-to-the-united-nations

10 nations ASEAN Navies reunited to protect the West Philippines SEA - Over China's invasion

Philippines’ Navy patrol boat in Manila Bay, Philippines

Countries of the Association of Southeast Asia Nation (ASEAN) Navy official meet to reunite and to protect the seas from invaders.

Southeast Asian naval chiefs pledged closer cooperation on Wednesday (July 27, 2011) as they held their first formal talks amid regional concern over China's activities in the West Philippines Sea or also known as South China Sea.

Competing claims to the potentially oil-rich Paracel and Spratly island groups have caused rising tensions in recent months, with regional neighbours accusing China of behaving aggressively.

Vice Admiral Alexander Pama, commander of the Philippine navy, said the gathering in Hanoi was the first "formal meeting" of naval chiefs from the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc.

He said the forum was held for the "purpose of enhancing collaboration, cooperation, among the ASEAN navies".

The disputed areas, which straddle vital commercial shipping lanes, are subject to a tangle of maritime claims by China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Malaysia's top sailor Admiral Abdul Aziz Jaafar urged China to "respect the sovereignty" of states in the region, in comments to reporters during the talks.

ASEAN foreign ministers last week voiced "serious concern" over recent incidents in the South China Sea.

On Sunday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the international community should weigh into dialogue between China and Southeast Asia to ensure disputes "don't get out of control".

After attending Asia's main security forum in Indonesia, Clinton said a deal on guidelines for future negotiations was a first step to a binding code of conduct, but condemned acts of "intimidation" in the area.

"The eyes of the world have turned to the maritime area in our region," said Pama during the one-day naval talks.

"A solid ASEAN is an integral part of the solution to the South China Sea."

Hanoi's Vice Admiral Pham Ngoc Minh said the meeting "aimed to raise responsibility and define the importance of cooperation between naval forces of each ASEAN member, in maintaining peace, stability and development in the region," according to the official Vietnam News Agency, before the talks.

Tensions between Hanoi and Beijing flared in May when Vietnam said Chinese marine surveillance vessels cut the exploration cables of an oil survey ship inside the country's exclusive economic zone.

Admirals had initial discussions about a "hotline", which Pama told reporters could be used to improve coordination between naval headquarters.

He said it was too early to discuss whether such a hotline could help deal with tensions in the South China Sea.

Manila has complained that Chinese naval vessels harassed an oil exploration vessel in disputed waters in March, shot at Filipino fishermen and placed markers on some of the islets.

Philippines President Benigno Aquino said in Hanoi on Monday that his country was prepared to use military force to protect its territory, although its navy is made up mainly of World War II-vintage US ships.

Massive flooding in Korea kills at least 38 dead as heavy rains batter nation

July 28, 2011

The Changing Climate

This winter 2011 recorded the lowest temperature in Korea for -15 to – 19 degree Celsius. The Spring didn’t make the cheery blossoms bloom when the spring begun then suddenly the snow came back to stop the cheery blossoms then the summerlike warm climate rush to start, fast replacing the cold snowy spring then the summer begins.

If summer in the tropical countries like the Philippines is hot, dry and no rain; it is opposite in Korea. The summer in Korea this year is a rainy season and flooding resulting to many landslides and killing dozens of people.

According to many locals, this is rare. We did not encounter this kind of climate before.

The farms and greenhouses are submerged with water, and billions worth un harvested crops of destroyed.  The medical tourism capital in Gangnam area is like a lake and many people drowned and missing.

400 millimeters of precipitation since Tuesday

At least 38 people were killed Wednesday (July 27, 2011) as two days of torrential rains triggered landslides, flooding and power outages in Seoul and central regions, emergency officials said.

Several others had been reported missing, the nation’s disaster control agency said.

“The death toll could rise, as more reports are coming in,” an official at the National Emergency Management Agency said.

In Chuncheon, some 85 kilometers east of Seoul, 13 people died after a landslide destroyed a mountain pension and three residential buildings just after midnight Wednesday. Twenty others were injured, with four of them in critical conditions.

The victims were mostly students from Inha University in Incheon, who were in the area for volunteer work during their summer vacation, emergency officials said.

“I was sleeping on the second floor of the pension when I heard the thunderous sound of a landslide. The stairs collapsed and I was buried in mud,” one student rescued by firefighters told the Yonhap news agency.

Landslides, mud flood - death rise

In Seoul, which recorded more than 400 millimeters of precipitation from Tuesday till early Wednesday, tons of mud from Mount Woomyeon swept through nearby villages in the city’s southern ward of Seocho, killing 16.

Of them, six were killed in a village of Jeonwon.

The landslide also hit another village, Hyeongchon, killing the wife of Shinsegae chairman Koo Hak-su. Yang Myeong-ja was killed while trying to check the flooded basement of her home, according to local reports.

A plant collapsed in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, in the evening leaving three workers dead and two others injured.

Police, firefighters and emergency officials were carrying out rescue efforts, as half of the village, or about 60 houses, were still isolated.

Another six people were killed and hundreds evacuated as Gonjiam Stream in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, flooded.

On top of the casualties from landslides, at least three people were reported missing in flooded streams and rivers, emergency officials said.

Police declared a state of special emergency as roads, streets; subway stations and residential districts were flooded throughout the capital.

More than a thousand officers were mobilized to help ease traffic gridlock and block roadways deemed too dangerous.

Some 36 major roads were closed to traffic nationwide, including 23 in Seoul, and more than 700 homes were flooded in the capital, the disaster control agency said. Mobile phone networks were cut off in some areas.

The Korea Meteorological Administration said downpours tallying more than 110 millimeters of rain per hour, were recorded in Seoul and elsewhere. More rain, as much as 250 millimeters, is expected until early Thursday morning.

Korean Subway Train System Submerged

Districts in Gangnam, south of Han River in Seoul, were one of the hardest-hit areas.

“All roads near my home are flooded and it seems no bus operates here. I had to call my boss that I can’t come to work today,” a citizen living in Yangjae-dong wrote via Twitter.

Electricity outage hit nearly 10,000 homes in the Gangnam area, while hundreds of traffic lights malfunctioned, worsening the traffic chaos.

The Sadang intersection, the southern gate to the capital, was flooded, causing severe traffic jam in the area. Its nearly subway station, Sadang, was shut down in order to prevent it from being submerged. 

Subway services were disrupted.

The services on subway line No. 1 was halted for about an hour in early Wednesday morning after Oryudong Station was submerged.

Another line linking Seoul and Bundang, a residential town in the city of Seongnam, was also disrupted due to submerged railroads.

TV and radio station EBS stopped broadcasting its regular programs after its facilities were damaged by the flood.

M/S Tûranor Planet Solar Powerded by Philippines Solar SunPower

M/S Tûranor Planet Solar: exclusively powered by 38,000 high-efficiency solar cells all produced in the Philippines at the manufacturing facilities of SunPower Corporation, a German-built vessel measures 31 by 15 meters and tips the scales at 85 tons. Over 537 square meters of photovoltaic solar panels provide up to 127 horsepower – enough to keep the craft moving at a constant speed of 14 kilometers per hour.

The world’s largest and most advanced solar-powered boat, the M/S Tûranor Planet Solar, is proof that energy harnessed from the heat of the sun can power practically everything—from pocket-sized calculators to cruise ships.

M/S Tûranor Planet Solar has finally arrived in Manila Philippines, not only showcasing the potential of environmentally responsible mobility concepts, but also largely demonstrating the immense potential of solar energy, among other renewable energy sources, as a sustainable resource that can power the future.

“The sun has always been our planet’s most important source of power—wind, rainfall and waves—are all indirectly generated by the sun. Harnessing even a tiny portion of its immense power can provide us with limitless amounts of clean energy,” said World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) chair Vincent Pérez  in a statement.

“The message of M/S Tûranor Planet Solar is clear: clean and dependable renewable energy technology is here,” added Pérez, who served as Philippine energy secretary from 2001 to 2005 and has since been active in promoting renewable energy.

The German-built vessel measures 31 by 15 meters and tips the scales at 85 tons. Over 537 square meters of photovoltaic solar panels provide up to 127 horsepower – enough to keep the craft moving at a constant speed of 14 kilometers per hour.

The ship is exclusively powered by 38,000 high-efficiency solar cells all produced in the Philippines at the manufacturing facilities of SunPower Corporation. Already, it has won two accolades – the fastest crossing of the Atlantic by a solar-powered vessel and the longest distance covered by a solar-powered electric vehicle, according to WWF.

The catamaran now targets to be the first solar-powered boat to circumnavigate the world. Traveling over 55,000 kilometers westward across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, the M/S Tûranor set sail from Monaco in southern France on September 27, 2010 and has just arrived in Manila from Australia.

WWF claimed that the Philippines’ stop of the Solar cruise ship was recognition of the country’s strong support for renewable energy.

Over the next 20 years, the Philippine government, through the Department of Energy, targets to increase the use of renewable energy by threefold as clean energy is now being seen as a another way to secure the country’s energy supply.

Specifically, the Philippines will target to increase renewable energy-based power capacity to over 15,200 megawatts in installed capacity. This target will allow the country to have a power mix in which RE resources will account for over 50 percent. As of end 2010, total RE generation stood at 26.3 percent.

These goals set under the National Renewable Energy Program can be achieved given that the country has abundant renewable energy sources, with various estimates ranging from 200,000 MW to as high as 276,000 MW in potential capacity. These resources included biomass, geothermal, solar, hydro, ocean and wind.

Tour guides in Sabah boxed in by restrictive zoning

KOTA KINABALU: A new zoning policy implemented by the Federal Tourism Ministry has caused dire impact on the livelihood of blue badge or seasoned tourist guides in Sabah.

According to Sabah Tourist Guides Association (STGA) honorary disciplinary officer Lillian Agama, tourist guides issued with the Blue Badge were previously free to guide anywhere in Malaysia, but are now limited to picking up tourists to and from the airports and hotels as well as conducting city tours.

They are no longer allowed to take the guests out of the city and this has caused the 300 odd blue badge guides to consider surrendering their badges in protest at the new policy which they deem to be highly restrictive and impractical in Sabah.

In the past, licensed tourist guides, after completing their course, were issued with a yellow badge for a two-year probationary period, after which they will be required to undergo a confirmation examination to qualify for the blue badge.

A tourist guide with a blue badge could conduct tours all over the state even in Peninsular Malaysia then.

However, a few years ago, the Tourism Ministry introduced the green badge which is meant to legalise mountain guides or those who take tourists on nature tours.

This was accepted with a pinch of salt as some of these people were indeed well versed with the nature and areas they guided in.

However, of late, a new policy pertaining to zoning according to the colour of the badges was implemented and this has caused much confusion among the tourist guides in Sabah.

It has also caused much inconvenience as there have been instances of action being taken against blue badge guides because they were transferring their guests to Kinabalu Park.

Lillian said the issue is all about the badge and zoning policies that were formulated in the peninsula without prior consideration of the situation in Sabah.

“It may work well there but in Sabah it does not,” she said after a dialogue between about 100 tour guides and Tourism Malaysia officers over the issue here yesterday.

Continue reading at: Tour guides in Sabah boxed in by restrictive zoning
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Sandakan to host inaugural Borneo Eco Film Festival

SANDAKAN: The eco-tourism gateway to Sabah will be playing host to the first ever Borneo Eco Film Festival (BEFF) at the Rainforest Discovery Centre Auditorium and BALIN Roofgarden Bistro, NAK Hotel from July 29 to 31.

Supported by EcoKnights, the founders of the Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival, BEFF is a free community-service event that aims to increase public understanding of environmental issues and solutions through the screening of international and local eco-themed films.

It is also a festival to encourage the public to take up film as a means of social expression through the exciting programme of events and competitions organized.

Environmental experts and international award-winning filmmakers including Chris Chong Chan Fui, Harun Rahman, Ikhwan Rivai, Roger Munns, the Global Diversity Foundation and Cede Prudente will be sharing their talents by conducting interactive workshops and talks.

Local and national music artistes such as Roger Wang, Amir Yussof, Angelina Perete, Hezekiah Asim, Cristopher Aban and friends will also be performing during BEFF.

Continue reading at: Sandakan to host inaugural Borneo Eco Film Festival

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Sandakan Harbour Square a boost to Sandakan tourism

SANDAKAN: The new commercial focal point here, Sandakan Harbour Square, is poised to further strengthen the town’s position as a major commercial and tourism hub in Sabah.

“Most importantly, the RM500 million Sandakan Harbour Square will continue to be the enabler and catalyst for Sandakan’s economic growth, business activities and urban development,” said IREKA Development Management Sdn Bhd president/CEO Lai Voon Hon.

He said that eight years on, they are nearing completion of the Sandakan Harbour Mall and the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, which are the Phases 3 and 4 respectively, making yet another new era for Sandakan town.

“Building the first modern shopping mall and having the first internally branded business hotel within one development is indeed a heartfelt achievement. But IREKA is not alone in the journey to this success, and we would not reach this milestone without the support of SMC as well as the Sabah State Government since its inception in 2003 to continuously enhance the value of these developments,” he said during the topping up ceremony for Harbour Mall Sandakan and Four Points by Sheraton and signing ceremony of anchor tenant yesterday.

Sandakan Municipal Council (SMC) president Datuk James Wong, who was present at the ceremony, said that SMC would continue to support investment that will bring major development or significance changes to the town.

He said that in addition to their continuous effort to revive the town’s former glory, it is their aspiration to further strengthen Sandakan’s position as Sabah’s second biggest urban metropolis.

“With the foresight of the developer, ICSD Sdn Bhd, development manager IREKA Development Management Sdn Bhd and together a joint-venture with SMC, it has indeed revived the town as one of the key tourist and economic destinations,” said Wong.

Continue reading at: Sandakan Harbour Square a boost to Sandakan tourism

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Orangutans in Borneo adapt their movements to swamp forest

Orangutans living in thin forest growing in peat swamps in Borneo have different ways of getting about to their cousins in drier rainforest on the neighbouring Indonesian island of Sumatra - but not as different as scientists expected.

New research shows that the Borneo apes have to move through sparser forest canopies with bigger gaps between thinner and more pliant trees. So they travel lower down in the canopy and use special techniques like swaying trees to make them bend towards others nearby to form improvised bridges over gaps, turning thinner trunks and boughs to their advantage.

But after following orangutans during several gruelling field trips, Kirsten Manduell, a PhD student in the Locomotor Ecology and Biomechanics lab at the University of Birmingham and lead author of the paper, was surprised to find that how they get about doesn't seem to depend much on their size and age. She'd expected that sparser vegetation in peat forests would make life harder for big males, forcing them to use different tactics from their slighter peers.

'I'd expected that in this environment, the big flanged males might not be able to do things that smaller orangutans could, because they weigh so much more - a flanged male can weigh up to twice as much as a female,' says Manduell. 'So it was quite surprising to find out that age and sex don't seem to make much difference to how they move in the canopy.'

Male orangutans come in two varieties - flanged and unflanged. The latter are smaller, usually younger individuals who travel around the forest looking for females. In later life they may develop the characteristic facial ridges of the flanged male, becoming much bigger and heavier. From then on they don't need to go looking for females; they stay put and attract mates with their sonorous calls and impressive appearance.

Orangutans live in a wide range of habitats across Indonesia and Malaysia, but previous studies have focused on their behaviour in drier rainforests, many of them not seriously affected by deforestation. This is the first study of how they travel in swamp forest, based on data gathered on three trips to Borneo's Sabangau National Park. It shows that orangutans can adapt to relatively sparse forest, even when it has been severely harmed by logging in recent decades.

Peat swamp is an important habitat for orangutans. Logging has hit the swamp forest of Sabangau hard, creating gaps in the canopy that cause additional problems for travelling orangutans. The canals that loggers dig to float timber out of the forest make the situation still worse; they drain the swamp, making its peat dry and highly flammable. Forest fires have become a serious problem in recent years.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Orangutans in Borneo adapt their movements to swamp forest

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MASwings fare discount a treat for East Malaysian travellers

KUCHING: In conjunction with the coming Ramadan month prior to Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive celebrations, MASwings is offering its Ramadan Special Treats with best deals and discounts up to 90 per cent off the normal full fares throughout East Malaysia.

The two-day minimum advance purchase is available from July 25 to 31 only and valid for travel during the period from Aug 1 to 24.

During this period passengers travelling from Kota Kinabalu will enjoy fares to Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Labuan, Tawau and Miri at RM16 one way; to Bintulu and Mulu at RM21 and to Sibu at only RM26 one way.

MASwing is also offering RM11 for one-way travel from Sandakan to Tawau or vice versa.

From Miri, MASwings is offering RM11 fares to Bintulu, Mulu, Limbang and Labuan; to Sibu at RM16 one way whereas passengers from Kuching to Sibu will enjoy fares at RM16, to Bintulu and Miri at RM21 and to Mulu at RM26 one way.

“Being a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, MASwings is continuously duty-bound to offer these promotional fares to encourage its customers to plan ahead their intended travel,” said MASwings Head of Commercial Azlan Tanjong.

Continue reading at: MASwings fare discount a treat for East Malaysian travellers

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China: "We owned everything" in Spratlys - asked talk with the Philippines

China is ready to sit down with the Philippines in one-on-one talks regarding their ownership dispute over portions of the Spratly Islands, Beijing's envoy to Manila said Monday (July 25, 2011).

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao said the issue is a bilateral one and China is ready to discuss with the Philippines how to settle the dispute.

Liu issued the statement after President Benigno Aquino III said in his State of the Nation Address on Monday that the Philippines may bring the dispute over the West Philippine Sea, or the South China Sea, before the United Nations International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

China: “I owned everything”

It is hard for the Philippines to decide for between two countries talk as China has already invaded the Philippines waters more than 7 times during the first 2 quarter of this year.

The loser appears to be always as the Philippines because the disputes in the Spratlys pushed by China until inside Philippines Water most particularly the Reed Bank which is just 84 Nautical Miles from the shore of Palawan Province.

In spite of the UNCLOS laws of sea guaranteeing 200 Nautical Miles, invaders push the dispute to the Philippines shore even within less than 100 nautical miles from the Philippines shore.

The Philippines want to separate the dispute from the disputed islands and waters but it seems that the disputes infected the undisputed areas in less than 100 nautical miles from the shore of the Southern Philippines.

When Philippines questioned China for their belligerent action in the west Philippines Sea they will just replied “No intrusion happen because it is under our sovereignty”

Philippines Foreign Secretary already quoted “how could we have a bilateral talks with china when we sit down, they will just say; “We owned everything”.

President Aquino Stands over Spratlys 

"We do not wish to increase tensions with anyone, but we must let the world know we are ready to protect what is ours," Aquino said.

Aquino said the Philippines would no longer allow other countries to enforce their will over territorial disputes.

"There was a time when we couldn't appropriately respond to threats in our own backyard," he said.

"Now our message to the world is clear. What is ours is ours; setting foot on Recto Bank is no different from setting foot on Recto Avenue. In Manila"

Recto Bank is the Philippine name for Reed Bank, a group of tiny islands in the South China Sea that is claimed by the Philippines and China, while Recto Avenue is a major road in the heart of the capital, Manila.

Recto bank is just 84 Nautical Miles from the shore of Palawan Province and more than 700 Nautical miles from the closest Hainan Island of China.

Between 2 countries talk (Philippines – China)

Liu, meanwhile, insisted that the issue is "between our two countries."

"Talks are going on in Bali, in Indonesia. I hope that progress would continue to be made. So let's be diplomatic, let's give diplomacy a chance so that we all conform to the interests of all countries that this area, this region, remains peaceful and stable," he said.

"I take it as a claim that is repeated. Now, China and the countries in this region are working very hard in making sure that this place, this area in peaceful and stable one," the Chinese envoy added.

Manila has accused Chinese navy boats of harassing a Philippine oil exploration vessel near Reed Bank in March, one of the incidents that triggered a dramatic rise in bilateral tensions.

China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims to all or parts of the South China Sea, which is believed to be extremely rich in oil and gas deposits.

Tensions in the decades-long dispute escalated this year amid accusations from the Philippines and Vietnam that China was becoming increasingly aggressive in staking its claims to the sea.

Aside from harassing the oil exploration vessel at Reed Bank, the Philippines accused Chinese forces of shooting at Filipino fishermen and placing markers on some of the islets.

The Philippines has one of the weakest military forces in the region, with its airforce lacking any fighter aircraft and its navy made up mainly of World War II-vintage US ships.

However the Philippines secured a promise from the United States in June 2011 for help in modernizing its armed forces, after appealing to its longtime ally for protection amid its rift with China.

A decommissioned US Coast Guard patrol vessel that will become the Philippines' biggest navy ship is due to reach Philippine shores next month early August 2011 , which Aquino highlighted in his speech in the State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Philippines to buy more arms to defend Spratlys, SONA: Aquino

Amid rising tensions with China over the hotly-contested Spratly Islands in the Kalayaan Island Group or Freedom land Philippines, President Benigno Aquino III announced during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) that the Philippines was ready to defend its territory by acquiring more armaments.

"We do not wish to increase tensions with anyone, but we must let the world know that we are ready to protect what is ours," Mr. Aquino said in his State of the Nation Address (SONA), drawing loud applause at the packed House of Representatives.

Mr. Aquino did not mention China, which claims the entire South China Sea including the shore of the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei & Malaysia, where the Spratlys are located, as its own, and has been accused by both the Philippines and Vietnam of becoming increasingly aggressive in staking its claims to the area. But the President clearly referred to Asia's rising military power when he mentioned Recto Bank - internationally known as the Reed Bank - as clearly belonging to the Philippines as a popular downtown Manila Street bears the same name which is 84 Nautical Miles from the shore of Palawan, province of the Philippines which failed to escape from the china’s incursion.

"There was a time when we couldn't appropriately respond to threats in our own backyard. Now, our message to the world is clear: What is ours is ours; setting foot on Recto Bank is no different from setting foot on Recto Avenue, Manila" said Mr. Aquino, whose office announced last month that it was renaming the South China Sea as the "West Philippines Sea".

The President said the Philippines' very first Hamilton-class cutter, which was acquired from the United States, was already on its way to the country.

"We may acquire more vessels in the future, these in addition to helicopters and patrol craft and the weapons that (we) will buy in bulk to get a significant discount," said Mr Aquino, whose country has one of the weakest military forces in the region.

The Philippines has alleged that Chinese forces have repeatedly intruded into Manila-claimed areas in and near the Spratlys since February, including at the Reed Bank. Chinese officials have said there were no intrusions because those waters belonged to China with distance of more than 700 Nautical Miles compare to the Philippines with only 85 Nautical Miles from the Philippines’ shore.

The chain of barren, largely uninhabited islands, reefs and banks in the West Philippines Sea which is also known as South China Sea are claimed in its entirety or partly by China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei. They are believed to be the 4^th largest Oil and Gas deposit in the World.

The Philippines has said it intends to bring the Spratlys disputes before the UN's International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea. China opposed the plan and wants to negotiate bilaterally instead which troubled the Philippines because when they will set down with china; China will just say we owned everything..

Mr. Aquino said in his State of the nation Address (SONA) July 25, 2011 that bringing the case before an international arbiter would ensure that "all involved nations approach the dispute with calm and forbearance".

The President's reference to the Spratlys in an address to mark the one-year anniversary of his inauguration followed a visit by Filipino lawmakers on July 20 to a Philippine-occupied island in the disputed area.

The one-day visit to Pag-asa Island led (Freedom Land Visit)

a Chinese Embassy spokesman to say that Beijing would relay its "great concern" to the Philippines government over the trip.

The Philippines' push to secure energy resources in the Spratlys despite China's opposition may ensnare the United States, Manila's treaty ally. Washington has said the peaceful resolution of the territorial disputes and ensuring the freedom of navigation there were in the US' interest, a position that has irked China.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned on Sunday (July 23, 2011) that disputes in the South China Sea threaten to disrupt one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

There has been an increase in "intimidations, the ramming, the cuttings of cables - the kinds of things that will raise the cost of business for everyone", Mrs Clinton said on Sunday in Bali, Indonesia, where she had attended a meeting of Asian security officials.

" ... It's important for us to support freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce," she added.

At the Bali meeting, China and the 10-member Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed to draft guidelines for behaviour in the South China Sea. However, Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario was quoted as saying that with no teeth; even such guidelines would be meaningless.