Tom's Blog

An Island Unimagined

Imagine a chunk of land the combined size of Minnesota and Iowa, then double it! (We believe in bonuses.) Most of the 20 major rivers begin in the highland rainforests, according to cartographers. (We believe in scientists, but prefer to call those forests jungles!)

The rivers empty into not one sea, but four – I believe we can name them the Celebes, Sulu, Java and South China. While we’re at it, let’s run a nearly invisible, imaginary line straight across our island. Eureka! It’s the equator. Our island takes up just 600 miles of the equator’s 24,900 mile length. (We’re not greedy.)

We’re delighted to discover that this land rivals Africa with 15,000 species of plants, 200 to 300 of which can typically be found in an area the size of a living room. Did someone just mention animals? Yes, galore! Birds, snakes, pygmy elephants, monkeys, orangutans, crocodiles, and the smallest bears in the world.

Less well-known to the outside world are dozens of indigenous peoples, languages, and cultural groups. And the continuing transmigrations in from neighboring places.

The rainforest (a/k/a jungle) is being whittled down all the time as logging, palm oil production, and mining exploration continue. Onshore and offshore oil production is humming along.

Indigenous and other local people and international groups work hard to conserve beautiful aspects of this unimaginable island.

Greetings from … Sabah and Sarawak states of Malaysia in northern BORNEO ISLAND. The southern 73% is politically part of Indonesia, while one percent (Brunei) is ruled by a sultan.

Southern Borneo, which I traversed by river for a few days four decades ago, will become home sweet home to Indonesia’s transplanted capital, since parts of megalopolis Jakarta on Java Island are sinking toward below sea level fast.

Your correspondent,
Tom