Last month I went to Borneo to photograph the island’s most exotic endangered species: pygmy elephants, orangutans, and proboscis monkeys. All are found only on the island of Borneo (except the orangoutang, which is also found on the island of Sumatra) and all are classified as endangered. Heavy rain prevented me from shooting on all but three days of my trip, but I made the most of the time that I had. Here some of my favorite pictures from the trip.
Ask Matt: Am I Qualified to Teach English in Taiwan?
Dear Matt,
I would like to know: am I qualified to teach English in Taiwan? I am a British woman with a TESOL certificate (accredited by ACTDEC). I have been teaching English in Sweden for the last 5 years (mainly upper high school students 15-19 but also younger children and employees of companies). Unfortunately I do not have a degree, just various qualifications from colleges since leaving school (none of them in the field of education).
I have read that a degree is not always necessary to teach English in Taiwan.
Is it schools that demand a degree? Or is it a requirement for a working visa? Am I able to legally teach English in Taiwan with these qualifications?
The People of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
On my first day in Kota Kinabalu I got a little camera happy and went out shooting the local folks around the city. Here are a few of the pictures.
Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo
Place
Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary
Location
Notheastern Sabah, Malaysian Borneo
Closest Town/City/Village
Sukau village
Description
Kinabatangan Nature is one of Borneo’s premier destinations for trekking and wildlife viewing. This well-known park is home to the Kinabatangan River some of the most exotic flora and fauna in Borneo, including, but not exclusive to, saltwater crocodiles, proboscis monkeys, orangutans, pygmy elephants, and macaque monkeys, all of which may be seen on river tours and treks.
Professional Travel Tips
After losing my passport a couple of weeks ago and learning that I did not have any photocopies of it, my aunt, a travel agent and veteran traveler, thought it prudent to send me a list of the travel tips that she gives to all of her clients. I found it so useful, that I decided to post it here to share.
Taiwan’s Beautiful and Bizarre Coastline: Jialeshuei
On Taiwan’s southern tip is a beautiful and bizarre stretch of coast where a unique geological cocktail of rock, including deep ocean stratum, sandstone, and coastal stone, has been moulded into alien-looking shapes by the violent wind and waves that whip and batter the coast.
This is the what it looks like.
Rainforest Discovery Center, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo
The Rainforest Discovery Center is located in the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve in Malaysia’s province of Sabah on the island of Borneo. The center is just up the road from the Sepilok Orangoutang Sanctuary, and not far from the Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. The center features a walkway where you can walk above the canopy, with intermittent towers for bird watchers, as well as trails and numerous educational signs. Both monkeys and orangoutangs can often be seen at the center, although we didn’t see any while we were there. We did, however, see a lot of beautiful rainforest. Here are a few pictures from our walk.