Day 56

We were at dinner with friends, talking about our recent trip to Fiji and they were talking about a family holiday they have planned.  It seems that for that mid winter holiday, everyone goes to Fiji, Thailand, Vanuatu, or if you're a kiwi, Noosa (ever though it's probably only a few degrees warmer than NZ).
Now this family are fabulous, I have posted about my friend Kim before.  She would hands down have to be the World's Best Mum".  Hands down, and with not a spec of envy or jealousy I say this because I am in awe of what a beautiful and interested wife/friend and definitely mother, that she is.  I yearn to have even just a smidge of Kim-ness in me, especially on a Tues/Wed morning (Will's early start), Wed/Thurs afternoon (soccer practice/swimming/maths class), Monday and tuesday avo (homework days).  It would make me feel that there are other ways of doing this mothering gig than the current way I do it!

So is Fiji on the cards for their family hols?  Nup, her little girl loves animals, so they are looking at a trip to ....Borneo, to see some animals.  Borneo?  Borneo?  What do I know about Borneo?

So what's Borneo all about?


Borneo is the third largest island in the world (now did you know that?), located north of Australia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia. Politically, the island is divided among three countries: Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. Approximately 73% of the island is Indonesian territory. The Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah (East Malaysia), in the north, occupy about 26% of the island. The sovereign state of Brunei, located on the north coast, comprises about 1% of Borneo's land mass.
It has an area of 743,330 square kilometres.
Borneo's highest point is Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia, with an elevation of 4,095 m (13,435 ft) above sea level. This makes it the world's third highest island.  Borneo is also known for its extensive cave systems. Clearwater Cave has one of the world's longest underground rivers. Deer Cave, thought to be the largest cave passage in the world, is home to over three million bats, with guano (I'm guessing that's bat poo?) accumulated to over 100 metres high.
Borneo is very rich in biodiversity and is the centre of evolution of many species of plants and animals. Subject to mass deforestation, the remaining Borneo rainforest is one of the only remaining natural habitat for the endangered Bornean Orangutan. It is also an important refuge for many forest species, such as the Asian Elephant, the Sumatran Rhinoceros, the Bornean Clouded Leopard, and the Dayak Fruit Bat. It is one of the most biodiverse places on earth. The World Wildlife Fund has stated that 361 animal and plant species have been discovered in Borneo since 1996.  In the 18 month period from July 2005 until December 2006, another 52 new species were found.

See, she even gets family holiday destinations bang on!  No lying about the pool supping pina coladas for her!  I'm in awe!