The Cuti-Cuti Malaysia Trans Borneo 4x4 Safari 2001 organised by a government organisation in collaboration with the private sector was a huge success. The four-day, three-night trip was geared to allow more local participants.

Called ‘Down the Spine of Sabah’, this year’s event was designed to show the attractions around the Crocker Range area. The organisers introduced the route from Kota Kinabalu to Bavanggazo Kudat through Kota Marudu, Sorinsim Park, Marak-Parak and the then newly opened Mesilau Nature Resort.

Trans-Borneo which adheres to the theme of Culture, Adventure and Nature (CAN) and promotes an accommodation motto "...five star, no star and under the stars...." has always tried to assist the state in various forms in past events.

Twenty mass media participants took part this year. Trans Borneo embarked on a project to collect water samples from various points of the Crocker Range for analysis by Universiti Malaysia Sabah.

NBE, ground handlers for the Land Rover event has learned much from Land Rover Adventures. Their experience from Land Rover instructors, Paul Lloyd, Colin Hill and Alan Rowley (who between them have 75 years of experience) were invaluable in terms of technique, safety, planning and professionalism.

The lesson learnt was and will be applied in upgrading service in this sector.

For instance on the second day of the event, the Liwagu River was swollen. Instead of trying to cross the river by complicated techniques, raw power and labour (with corresponding higher risk) the convoy backed off and instead took a leisurely drive to Tambunan Valley Resort where everyone arrived earlier and in better shape.

No vehicle was damaged and participants had more time to enjoy the tranquility of TVRC resort where the Pegalan River runs through.

The reception at Kg. Mamaitom was simple and sincere. While community leader Oongi Malinau ‘apologised’ for the simplicity of the reception, most of the foreign participants were overwhelmed by the sincere warmth and joy shown by the villagers, young and old alike. They enjoyed the local talent show, the lansaran and the tapai-testing session.

Facilities at the Sabah Agricultural Park have blossomed since last year’s Trans Borneo visit. The hostel there is well landscaped, the restaurant over the lake is now functional, and the transportation facilities are available while fishing too is now being encouraged. The campsites have been set up nicely to accommodate students and campers besides the lake.

Vermol Thomblon is now in charge of the Park, taking over from Anthony Lamb, who was responsible for the starting of the Park, which is an excellent showcase of Borneo’s flora and orchids.

A visit to the famous Yit Foh Coffee Factory in Tenom was also an opportunity for participants to see how local coffee is being prepared and the way of maintaining tradition of making delicious aromatic Tenom coffee.

The Murut Cultural Centre, 9km from Tenom Town has now a display centre on the upper floor of the RM10 million edifice.

The Tenom District Office has done a fine job, where more tour operators should take include this hub as one of their destinations. It has historic pictures, ancient jars, heirlooms, local tapestry among many are now being on display.

The Trans Borneo, in our own way, once a year, do what we can, where we can, with the media machinery that we can muster to assist in show-casing the people and places and we hope that the participants, local or otherwise enjoyed themselves.

This year, we presented three awards for outstanding contribution to the Trans Borneo events. This writer (si Fred-bah) was ‘awarded’ for his diligent coverage of the event – contributing as a writer, official driver, cook and friend to the event.

Robert Kamijan as chief scout and pathfinder and the Kundasang Four Wheel drive Adventure team for their unflinching support as well as RTM, in appreciation for its coverage of the event over the past four years, were the others awarded.

The last two Trans Borneo were focused on the promotion of Sabah, and next year, we will organise one of the ultimate adventure journeys to real Borneo, "the World Heritage Trail" from the famous Mulu National Park in Sarawak to the submit of Mt. Kinabalu.

Be prepared for an adventure that involves 4x4, camping out, river transportation and jungle trekking up to the mountain, which should be dubbed as "The Best of the East"

Among the 70-odd participants were veteran Land Rover and 4x4 photo-journalist Roger Crowhurst, who has been in numerous Trans Borneo, Borneo Safaris, Trans Peninsular and Jungle Forest Challenge events, who was among the journalists sponsored by Tourism Malaysia. He came along with two 4x4 enthusiasts Laurence Barber and Rachel Andrew from UK.

As a first timer, Laurence and wife Rachel were excited and enjoyed the event and would past on their thrill and spill as well as experience in Borneo’s wilderness t many friends in the UK.

"It was fabulous and I did not expect the event could cover the itinerary given to us," Laurence said. "The entire track was superb and the diversity of your cultures really gave us an insight of Sabah".

"My wife and I look forward to come to Sabah again and be part of the convoy in an adventure outing like the Trans Borneo, and for this trip, we got extra truly off-road condition in the Tongod area, where we saw good wildlife habitat."

The Barbers and Roger in their hired twin-cabin Toyota Hilux and an NBE escort, led by Robert Kamijan and Hillary Francis took the Britons for yet another 3-day spin of off-road and camping out adventure in Tongod immediately after the Trans Borneo.

Roger, on the other hand said this year’s event would again feature in his many features, travel, motor and adventure magazines, which are being circulated all over Europe, and he has been featuring Sabah or Borneo very widely in all the magazines.

His work piece in those widely read magazines with exotic photos of Borneo, has again caught the interest of avid adventurers from Europe, and Roger’s efforts paid off with more and more European visitors wanting to come to the Land Below the Wind.

The Japanese TV Crew producer Kaori Kume, who tagged along with four more crew members under the generous sponsorship of Tourism Malaysia, also enjoyed the whole trip, which to her was "part enjoying the thrill and part working".

"This is a truly good opportunity for tourists who love adventure, coupled with off-road thrill, nature and culture," she said.

The Japanese TV crew were in Kota Kinabalu much earlier than the Trans Borneo where they have already covered all the scenic surrounding islands, places of interests, National Park, Poring Hot Spring, Kundasang among the other tourist destinations.