Highest Postbox of Malaysia

Yippee! Another special postmarked card from Sabah, this time from the

top of Mt Kinabalu! Thanks very much to Anny for braving the long steep 

hike to Laban Rata and Pendant Hut :) On the stamps there's a special Mt Kinabalu

outline but it's a bit hidden by the flowers and not very clear, all the same very excited to

get this card!

Sent: 13 June 2016   Received: 14 June 2016   Travelled: 1 day

Pulau Layang Layang,Spratly Islands

Swallow Reef, known as Pulau Layang-Layang  in Malaysia, Danwan Jiao  in China, Celerio in the Philippines and Đá Hoa Lau in Vietnam, is an oceanic atoll of the Spratly Islands administered by Malaysia which is situated approximately 300 km northwest of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Swallow Reef had an original land area of approximately 6.2 hectares (15 acres), but with reclaimed land now covers 35 hectares (86 acres), measuring over 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) long and 200 m (656 ft) wide.

The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has maintained a presence on the reef since 1983, but as with all of the Spratly Islands, the ownership is disputed, and it is also claimed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Vietnam. The Philippines does not lay claim to Swallow Reef.
Layang Layang is situated in very deep waters with the drop off outside the island's reef falling away to approximately 2000 metres. Given its location in the middle of nowhere, the ocean waters are clear and unpolluted. Deep water marine species such as Hammerhead sharks visit this location. Whale Sharks also frequent the atoll. The corals are in pristine condition and with no fishing permitted, the fish life is abundant.
Source: Wikipedia and Wikitravel

Special thanks to Arhnue for the special card sent from the deepest underwater

post office of Malaysia, (40metres deep!) You can see the Special Postmark

on the card above :D

Sent: 18 May 2016    Received: 23 May 2016   Travelled: 5 days

Gomantong Cave

The Gomantong Caves are an intricate cave system inside Gomantong Hill. The hill is the largest limestone outcrop in the Lower Kinabatangan area, Sandakan division, in the Malaysian state of Sabah, on Borneo island. Situated in a Sabah Forestry Department forest reserve, the caves and the surrounding area are a protected area for wildlife, especially orangutans. The limestone hill is also the only known site for the endangered land snail Plectostoma mirabile. Investigation of the guano deposits were first made in 1889 by J.H. Allard of the China Borneo Company, and the caves were first mapped by P. Orolfo in 1930. Detailed re-mapping and laser-scanning of the caves was conducted in 2012  and July 2014

The main cave system is divided into two parts: the more accessible Simud Hitam (Black Cave), and the larger Simud Putih (White Cave) which lies above. The names refer to the main type of nests produced by swiftlets in each cave. The cave system is home to many other animals, including massive populations of cockroaches and bats. Outside one can see crested serpent eagles, kingfishers, and Asian fairy bluebirds. Access is in the form of a wooden walkway circuiting the interior.

For centuries, the caves have been renowned for their valuable edible swiftlet nests, which are harvested for bird's nest soup. The most valuable of the nests, the white ones, can sell for very high prices.

The birds' nest collection is an ancient tradition, and the trading of these nests has been done since at least 500 AD. Twice a year, from February to April and July to September, locals with licenses climb to the roof of the caves, using only rattan ladders, ropes, and bamboo poles, and collect the nests. The first collection takes place early in the breeding season before the swiftlets lay their eggs. The birds then make another nest in which they finally lay their eggs. After the young have fledged, the second collection is made. Care must be taken to assure that the nests are collected only after the young swiftlets have abandoned these nests. These individuals are very much in demand by the people and communities that hold the Government's harvesting licenses. Edible birds' nests are protected under the Birds' Nest Ordinance and the Forest Enactment of 1968. Heavy fines and penalties are imposed on unlicensed collectors.
Source:Wikipedia

Thanks to Erica for this cave card from Sandakan! Almost can't

detect the postmark in the petals of the rose stamp :D

Sent: 29 February 2016   Received: 2 March 2016   Travelled: 2 days

Tenom Train

Thanks to Anny for this special Train card that was designed

for the Trains of Sabah Stamp issue. Here you can see the

train ticket of the Sabah State Railway and the matching

train stamp, although in maxiphilately a self published postcard

is valid for a maxicard, but postcard collector still enjoy having

a card that can match a postcard as a hobby.

Sent: 3 January 2016   Received: 6 January 2016   Travelled: 3 days

Bornean Gibbon

Müller's Bornean gibbon is endemic to the island of Borneo, inhabiting the northern and eastern part of the island. In the southwest of the island lives the Bornean white-bearded gibbon; their territories hardly overlap. Grey gibbons are diurnal rain forest dwellers, characterized by the long arms that all gibbons have, with which they brachiate through the trees. They live together in monogamous pairs, and defend their family territory against intruders with long, loud singing. Their diet consists primarily of fruits. Little is known about the reproductive patterns of this species, but it is thought to be similar to that of other gibbon species.

Müller's Bornean gibbon occurs in a number of protected areas, including Betung Kerihun National Park, Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park, Kayan Mentarang National Park, Kutai National Park, Sungai Wain Protection Forest and Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesia and Pulong Tau National Park the Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary and Semengok Forest Reserve in Malaysia.

Source: Wikipedia

Wow!!! This is such an unexpected surprise to get this card from my 

stamp guru Uncle Paul. Pos Malaysia issued Monkey stamps on 26 January 2016.

The stamps come in denominations of 60, 70 and 80 cents and RM6 miniature sheet.

On the front of the card which has been made into a Maxicard with matching

RM3 stamp from the miniature sheet. Thank you very much!!

Sent: 27 January 2016   Received: 1 February 2016   Travelled: 5 days

Dusun Tabilung

A rare postcard showing the Dusun Tobilung. 

Thanks to Isabella  for sharing this postcard!

Sent:9 October 2015   Received: 15 Oct   Travelled: 6 days

Bornean sun bear

 The sun bear is the smallest, most aboreal and least known of the bear family (see number 2 in image on left) measuring between 120–150 cm long and between 60-78 cm high at the shoulder. Males tend to be larger than females, the former normally weighing between 30 and 70 kg, and the latter between 20 and 40 kg. 

Unlike other bears, the sun bear's dark brown or black fur is short and sleek, probably due to the lowland climates it lives in.  On their chest sits a pale beige horseshoe shape marking which gives the sun bear its name being said to resemble a setting or rising sun. Similar colored fur can be found around the muzzle and the eyes. 

Source: BSBCC

Thanks to Jesse for this wonderful bear card , been looking for a bear card from Borneo for

a while. BSBCC is a Conservation Centre in Sepilok, Sabah.

Sent: 9 February 2015   Received: 10 Febuary 2015   Travelled: 1 day :p