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FireFlyz ~ 27
Getaway
headquarters also has
limited accommoda-
tion. The easiest way
of reachingMulu is
a 30-minute flight
fromMiri airport. Or
take a 12-hour boat
ride onMulu River,
with several stops at
indigenous com-
munity settlements
in the park named
after Mount Mulu,
Sarawak’s second
highestmountain.
Let there be light inside
Deer Cave.
The bat observatory
deck near Deer Cave
offers panoramic
views during the
early evenings of bats
flying out of the caves
in unique formations
before searching for food
in the jungles.
Unique formations on
rooftop inside Deer Cave.
Mulu has
evolved over
millions of
years.
Further inside youwill come across
swiftlets, earwigs, centipedes, spiders,
crickets, scorpions andwhite crabs.
Millions of bats from12 different species
thrive here as well –more than in other
single cave around theworld. Notably,
their guano droppings have a strong,
nauseating odour. At the final point,
we took a rest on an elevated platform
overlooking a lush green patch dubbed
“Garden of Eden”, once part of the cave
systembefore the roof collapsed.
The awe-inspiring Sarawak Chamber,
theworld’s largest cave, is just a short
distance away. Discovered in 1981 by
experienced explorers Andy Eavis, Dave
Checkley and TonyWhite, during an
expedition led by fellowEnglishman Ben
Lyon, their experience is told in the books
UndergroundWorlds andGiant Caves of
Borneo.
While surveying some caves, they
chanced upon a huge cavern, and though
equippedwith powerful lamps they still
could not see the other end through the
darkness. As theworld’s largest enclosed
space, they named it Sarawak Chamber.
It is three times larger than the Big
Room in Carlsbad Caverns National
Park, NewMexico, previously known
as the largest underground chamber.
An underground river runs through
Sarawak Chamber. Access it by swimming
upstreambeforemoving along a ledge,
under a 230mhigh roof.
ThePinnacles
Nearby, other highlights includeWind
Cave, and Clearwater Cavewhere parts of
a 170kmunderground river, which runs
through the park, emerge outside.We
enjoyed a dip in the crystal clear waters
to cool off. The bat observatory deck near
Deer Cave offers panoramic views during
the early evenings of bats flying out of
the caves in unique formations before
searching for food in the jungles.
Hiring a local guide is amust. The park
has gained greater significancewith
ecotourismand high-adrenalin activities
such as adventure caving. Climbing
Mount Api to reach the Pinnacles - the
limestone hills - is a precarious experience
even for experiencedmountaineers.
Heavy rain that eroded the rocks over
millions of years created the formations.
For upscale accommodation, check into
theMuluMarriott Resort &Spa along
a river. Across it, there are affordable
chalets for budget travellers. The park’s