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26 ~ FireFlyz
Getaway
Go Big In Mulu
Mulu National Park in Sarawak offers attractions with
a “wow” factor, from one-of-a-kind massive caves
that are over 1.5 million years old to karst formations
on mountainous terrains, among others. The natural
wonders were discovered by the Royal Geographic
Expedition in 1977 and 1978. Over 100 scientists, in their
15-month fieldwork research, revealed a rich biodiversity
in this 52,864-ha Unesco World Heritage site.
Deer Cave, with a passage over
90mwide and high, apparently
massive enough to hold eight
jumbo jets or St Peter’s Basilica.
Photo & Words: Tan Hee Hui
I
t
has 17 vegetation zones, primarily
lowland andmontane rainforests, and
3,500 vascular plant species including
those on limestone substrates. Also one
of theworld’s richest sites for palmtrees
– 20 genera, of 109 species, had been identified.
Plank-walks built inMulu’smangroves, alluvial
flats and limestone outcrops take you to rivers,
gentle streams, caves and even an ancient Penan
(an indigenous group) burial site.
Millions of bats
We first arrived at Deer Cave, with a passage
over 90mwide and high, apparentlymassive
enough to hold eight jumbo jets or St Peter’s
Basilica, according to travel guides. Themain
chamber, at an astounding 174mwide and 122m
high, is only partially lit by sunlight.Wildlife
such as deer used to take shelter here, hence the
Penan and Berawan people named it Gua Payau
or Gua Rusa (Deer Cave). At the entrance, you
will even see a formation resembling Abraham
Lincoln’s silhouette.