The Soul Searcher

The Soul Searcher isn’t content to rest in the leather armchair of his or her soul; this traveller is always looking for new landscapes and new experiences for that life-changing moment, or to simply ponder on the deep philosophies of life. The Soul Searcher understands the importance of caring for oneself, and seeks to rejuvenate, revive or just relax their physical and mental state of being. Serene sights in which to reflect on one’s self is an absolute plus. Brunei

Of the four districts that make up the Sultanate, Tutong might be the most overlooked (which is just silly – after all Tutong is the district that introduced us to the best rojak in Brunei via KK Koya Restaurant and the best pulut panggang via

Mei Fang Restaurant). But if there were ever a place to veer your vehicle off the highway and down long winding roads, then Tutong would be it. Residential houses vary from humble to modern to ostentatious but one thing unites them all: nature. All over the place.

But you’re a soul searcher so this is your jam, and speaking of jam, did you know that Eco

Ponies Garden promotes locally made jam made from ingredients plucked from the jungle? By the way, Tutong also has its own bee farm, which produces its own honey, and also its own watermelon farm, and while we’re on the topic, they even have their own brand of tea. Located in Lamunin, Eco Ponies is a family-run, community supported farm stay with quirky paths connecting little wooden huts scattered around a large lush green landscape. It is serene, quaint, and fantastically photogenic.

Look for your soul in Eco Ponies Garden, and if your soul is a foodie, you might never want to leave. Employing a farm-to-table concept, everything you eat here would be home cooked kampung cuisine prepared in the traditional way, and it is simply delicious. You can bring a little of that home with you, with their Eko

Kampung brand which makes local jams and teas (we did say you could get this in Tutong).

But we encourage you to explore Tutong. Visit Kiudang Village, which has a house exhibiting cultural antiques and their own brand of tea. Visit Brunei’s largest natural lake, Tasek Merimbun, which is located in Mukim Rambai and is surrounded by the lush greenery that make up the Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park.

And please do go into town, try the aforementioned rojak and pulut panggang, which you can enjoy in a restaurant located in an old shophouse overlooking the Tutong River, and while away some time spotting as many different species of birds that fly over the serene scene, and maybe a crocodile or two.

Sabah

Remarkably, Kota Belud is not one of the more popular hotspots in Sabah. But we should be thankful for this as well, because if it were a place crawling with tourists, then it might lose its appeal. So let’s be selfish together and be happy that there exists such a beautiful and secluded spot not far from Kota Kinabalu, which is primarily occupied by the West Coast Bajau people, and is home to some of the more underrated scenic views in the state.

Friendly people, serene rivers, emerald green paddy fields, an odd buffalo or two, lush tropical greenery and blue skies as far as the eye can see - this is what you can expect from Kota Belud. Glamp along Rampayan Beach at the Cabana Retreat, which offers you all of the amenities and services you’d expect from a hotel, with one exception: your room will be in a tent. But this is glamping, so expect luxurious furnishing in the spacious interior, and know that when you sleep at night, it’ll be to the sounds of nature, with a priceless beachfront view as soon as you step outside.

Rejuvenate at the beach, but revive yourself by taking in the kaleidoscope of colours, smells and sounds by walking through the open air market of Tamu

Kota Belud, where you can take part in some friendly haggling of prices with the locals when you shop for local produce and locally made handicrafts while munching on delicious local snacks.

Speaking of eating, we hope you’re a fan of noodles because the lovely people at Kota Belud are. They love it so much in fact that they have their own type of noodle dish called Mee Sup Kota

Belud – which consists of chicken broth and homemade noodles. Take a trek up the scenic

Bongol Hill, offering panaromic views of Mount Kinabalu and the Kota Belud coastline. Or hit the water – take a river cruise down mangrove-lined waterways or have some fun and go river rafting on the Kiulu River.

Sarawak

The rainforest, a mountain, sprawling beaches with unparalleled vistas, monkeys with big noses and pigs with beards, spending a night in the trees – this is the kind of unique experience Borneo can offer a visitor looking to reset and revive. The Santubong Peninsula and the Bako

National Park is truly one of our favourite places in Borneo, and they had some pretty stiff competition!

It’s just under an hour’s drive away from the Kuching International Airport, and in that short space of time you are immediately transported from the city to lush green scenes and vast waters. The green slopes of

Mount Santubong is where the rainforest meets the sea, and the sea is home to finless porpoises, Indo-pacific humpback dolphins, and the rare Irrawaddy dolphin.

If being in the thick of all of this natural wonder and wildlife is what gets your soul breathing, then we suggest you check into the Permai Rainforest Resort where instead of rooms in a building, or in chalets, or even in cottages, you’ll be getting the treehouse experience. Cabins are built on wooden stilts about onestorey up (yes, there are stairs to climb up, be warned) and you’ll find yourself in accommodations that are almost hidden by the thick foliage that surrounds you. And monkeys. Let it be known that there will be monkeys too.

From your treehouse, it’s a quick walk out of the rainforest and into the fresh open air of the beach with a fantastic view of a misty Mount Santubong and some of the best sunsets in Borneo.

If climbing Mount Santubong is on your agenda, Permai Rainforest Resort can help you out with that. Along with this, there are plenty of activities they can help you with from kayaking to snorkeling. Bako National Park is just a twenty-minute boat ride away – a wildlife sanctuary with blissed out views. You’ll get a little bit of everything here: sandy beaches, mangroves, rainforests and rocky outcrops. Just about every known species of Bornean animal can be found here except orangutans, which are just a twenty-minute drive away at the Semenggoh Orangutan Sanctuary.