MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM BORNEO!

CHRISTMAS CAROLERS WERE SINGING hymns mildly outside. The boy looked out and saw young children his age singing a tune about an evergreen at his neighbor’s house. After receiving some gifts, the children began to disperse. The snowfall was getting heavier every moment…..

He watched his mother cry. “Is there a place where there is no snow?” the boy said, changing the subject. Well child, not unless you want to stay in the tropics, which are among the hottest and most humid parts of earth, and there is no snow there.”

THE EURASIANS Chapter 61 Page 264

One year had passed and I felt the last Christmas was just few months back. Time really flies! Anyway, that is a storyline about Aaron Johnson, one of the main characters of why he ended up in Borneo. He wanted to spend his Christmas in the tropics. He ended up marrying a local, and started a Eurasian family. He loved Borneo because of its beautiful environment; but as time passed, the natural beauties of this place were slowly destroyed. 

Unlike Aaron Johnson, I think many people would find it rather awkward celebrating Christmas without snows in their backyards. From children’s books, we were indoctrinated with the ideas that Christmas, caroling and snow must come together. For us in the tropics, it is a wonderful experience to have snows while celebrating Christmas. 

But just like Aaron Johnson, many would also like to have their Christmas dinner or party in the tropics without having to endure the misery of cold climate. Christmas Eve could be celebrated on the sandy beaches overlooking the setting sun on the horizon while listening to Christmas music or songs.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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PARAGLIDING IN RANAU

Ranau is located in a deep valley, a landlocked district of North Borneo (Sabah). It is 108km from Jesselton (Kota Kinabalu) and 227km from Sandakan. It has a population of about 100,000 people, mostly Dusun. Ranau is famous for its highlands, temperate vegetables and flowers. It is also one of the most important tourist spot in Borneo because of its proximity to Mount Kinabalu; one of the highest mountain in Southeast Asia. Located nearby, is the Poring Hot Spring, where bathing here is supposed to be good for the skin because of the minerals contain in the hot-spring pools. Ranau could be a heaven on earth. However, its natural landscape is devastated by indiscriminate land clearing which scarred the otherwise pristine Ranau.

Located at Lohan near the Ranau Sport Stadium, are the jumping sites for paragliding enthusiasts as well as first-timers. The authority had readied two places; the Take-Off Base One and the Take Off Base Three. The Take-Off Base Three is about 900 feet high. The take-off bases in Ranau are indeed a beginners paradise. It is so easy for them, unlike the Kokol Hill Take Off Base which need strong nerve and precise wind speed and direction. The "runway" at this location is quite spacious, giving enough room for the beginners to build up their confidence. Crosswind is not a major concern here because there are two landing sites. Every week, this place is packed with dozens of locals and tourists eager enough to make their first tandem flights.

 For visitors to Borneo, paragliding is one of the adventures they should not miss. It is an awesome experience! The traveling time from Jesselton (Kota Kinabalu) city center to Ranau usually takes two hours by motor vehicles. Once they arrived, they will wait at the Ranau Sport Complex and the paragliders ground support crews will be helping out to take them to the Take-Off bases. For more infromation, please log on to www.travelleisureborneo.com travel page.

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TIPS FOR BUYING A HOUSE: After moving from New York City (NYC) to Borneo by Monica Smithers

Moving from NYC to Borneo is exciting and it's a big change of lifestyle

Moving from NYC to Borneo is an exciting change of lifestyle for anyone. Different culture, change of climate and living environment are the things to get used to over time. If you already made the decision to move to Borneo, you’ve probably been thinking about where to live there.

Considering that the cost of living in Malaysia is much lower than in the USA, many New Yorkers should be able to afford this kind of long-distance move. Before you hire trusted movers in NYC to relocate you, take a look at the following tips for buying a house in Borneo.

Make a budget plan

Before you plan on moving from NYC to Borneo, you should make a budget plan. The upside of relocation to Malaysia from New York is the cost of living, for sure. Considering its rich culture and vibrant people, Malaysia is getting more popular for tourists and expats every year.

Although you might have no problem with finances living in Borneo, you should make an estimate of the cost of living there. Living in Malaysia is not as expensive as living in the USA, but the culture shock and other daily necessities may surprise you.

Make sure you have a steady income

The upside of relocation to Malaysia from New York is the cost of living, for sure. Before you move from NYC to Borneo make sure to research the coast of living in Malaysia

If you are thinking about buying a house after moving from NYC to Borneo, you should have a steady monthly income. If you didn’t already find a job in Borneo, start looking for one. However, chances are you will have a job prior to your arrival in Malaysia, considering the distance of your move.  

After you made an estimate of your monthly income, research everything you can on the cost of living in Malaysia. Think about the basic necessities you and your family need on monthly basis. You will need to drive a car in Borneo. There are not so many traffic options as in New York City. Consider the cost of transportation and gas. Most importantly, check the distance from the house you want to buy to your job location.

Decide on what you need

Before buying a house in Borneo you should decide what are your needs.

·         Are you a single person with a 10-hour-a-day job, or you want to move with your family? If you have children, think about housing locations near bigger cities that have good educational programs. Finding a kindergarten or a good school is not easy to find, because they’re not on every corner. Consider looking for international education for your kids.

·         What will be the distance from your home to your job location? Not every home property in Borneo is located in the crowded city center areas. Many of the schools, cultural centers and offices take time to reach. Make sure you know the location of your house and all the surrounding amenities.

·         What housing type are you looking for? Whether you need a smaller or a bigger house to live in, chances are you will live in quite a big house. Many houses for sale in Borneo are pretty spacious and pretty affordable for a former NYC resident. Hire a real estate agent and make sure to tell him all about your needs.

Choose the location and neighborhood

Many of the schools, cultural centers and offices take time to reach. Make sure you know the distance to your new home

Living in Malaysia as a New Yorker can be challenging. Not only will you relocate on the other continent, but you will also discover a big culture shock. Besides unique natural beauties that Borneo island has to offer, there is plenty of modern cities that are evolving every year. No matter which location you choose to live in, be sure that you inform well about the surrounding area.

Moving to NYC to Borneo will bring many changes to your lifestyle. Looking for the neighborhood is quite different in Malaysia than in the USA. In Borneo, people live either in rural areas of the island or in bigger, crowded cities. It is highly recommendable to hire a real estate agent before you move from NYC to Borneo, so you have time to plan your move. If you have the chance, before buying a house in Borneo visit and explore the island. Finding out more about the culture you are about to move into will help you decide on your housing needs.

Most popular expat cities in Borneo

Kuala Lumpur is the most expat-populated city

Jesselton or nowadays known as Kota Kinabalu is one of the most popular places to live in Borneo for newcomers. This is a town that has British colonial history. In this town, you will find many people speaking English fluently. Most expats live in condo complexes in Jesselton, where they have most of the common amenities.

Outside Borneo but still within Malaysia are two beautiful cities known as George Town (Penang) and Kuala Lumpur. Here are the places for those who love urban concrete buildings and corporate lifestyle. These cities are far from the natural beauties of Borneo Island. Kuala Lumpur is the most expat-populated city and the price of buying a house in this city can be very high.

Get information about buying and other policies

If you plan on buying a house after moving from NYC to Borneo, you should get all the information about the real estate and be well informed about all the related paperwork. Malaysian culture and law are different from the USA’s in so many ways. Make sure you ask your realter everything you need to know about buying a house in Borneo. If you are not able to pay in cash, research the housing market and mortgage loan possibilities.

Consider a mortgage loan

It is a fact that around 90% of all Malaysians have to utilize a long-term mortgage to afford to buy a house. If your finances allow, consider hiring a lawyer to help you out with all the necessary paperwork. If you need to get a mortgage, think about the amount of time you plan to spend on Borneo. If you plan on moving from NYC to Borneo for the long-term, buying a house can be a smart investment!


Monica Smithers is an experienced copywriter at Movers Development with more than 500 published articles. Specialized in SEO, this creative writer helped dozens of companies position their articles at the top of the web search results. As an enthusiast and adventurer, Monica likes to explore the world , so reading articles she writes will be interesting to people with similar interests.

BETRAYAL, DECEPTION & CORRUPTION DRIVE THE EURASIANS - blueink review 
The first English romance-thriller from Borneo
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WHILE READING THE BOOK, I FEEL LIKE ANGER, HATE AND LOVE. THE BOOK WAS VERY ENTERTAINING - online book club
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TUARAN: The Crocodile Farm (Part 2)

Before I begin the story of crocodiles, visitors would be very impressed with the gold colored fish inside a pond at Taman Buaya (Crocodile Farm) in Tuaran, about 16 miles from the capital Jesselton (Kota Kinabalu). I believed they are the Japanese Carp. Packets of fish pallets are hanged around this pond and visitors could buy them at two ringgit per pack. These fish knows when you pick one and they get very excited while swimming towards you. Then they will splash around in wild frenzy.

The Tuaran Crocodile Farm is one of the largest in North Borneo (Sabah) boasting of having 1000 crocodiles on 7 acres of land. At this farm, most of the species displayed here are the Buaya Tembaga or better known as the notorious Saltwater Crocodile (crocodylus porosus). Its habitat is widespread throughout Southeast Asia and also Australia. The Australian called them "Salty". Saltwater Crocodile is unique because it lives in brackish water especially in mangrove swamps. Numerous documentary films had recorded these crocodiles swimming in the sea. There are very rare occasions in Borneo that these crocodiles had attacked and even eaten men, especially in the rivers of Sarawak.

Everyday, for about 15 minutes, crocodile trainers will display their courage by performing risky moves such as lying on the crocodile's back, kissing them and putting their hands inside the reptile's mouth! These performers assured us they are ever ready with contingency plans should the unexpected occurred; for indeed crocodiles are wild animal and their behaviors cannot be predicted. Watching them close together can be nerve-wracking!

 
 The crocodile pond looks peaceful and serene but suddenly the water exploded with action due to the violent splashing. It was feeding time which displayed the aggressiveness of the crocodiles as they muscled their ways to get close to the worker who fed them. Dead chicken were thrown into the pond and the crocodiles rushed to get to their foods. I noticed the smaller reptiles would avoid congregating with the bigger crocodiles as they battled it out for supremacy inside this enclosure.

This farm is also a mini zoo. It has rabbits, civet, otter, deer and ostrich. Except for the rabbits, all the other mammals look miserable and lonely. They are all alone without pairs or companions. The ostrich was so happy to see people as it tries to come close to them; as if requesting for attention. When they were no one around, the ostrich will stand still. The moment it sees people coming, it will come walking towards them!

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THE TUARAN CROCODILE FARM

The Crocodile Show
YouTube Video 1
YouTube Video 2

BETRAYAL DECEPTION AND CORRUPTION DRIVE THE EURASIANS - blueink review
The first English romance-thriller from Borneo
AVAILABLE AT AMAZON OR BARNES & NOBLE

WHILE READING THE BOOK, I FEEL DIFFERENT EMOTIONS LIKE ANGER, HATE AND LOVE. THE BOOK WAS VERY ENTERTAINING - online book club
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