What is your name?
Alan Proctor
What years were you in Borneo?
2009, 2010
What areas of Borneo were you in?
Kinabalu and Kinabatangan
What brought you to Borneo?
My desire to explore the tropical forest.
If you had 3 minutes on a loud speaker that would be heard by the whole world (or all Americans) what would you tell them about Borneo?
If you are a nature lover, then there are few places in the world like Borneo. Here, you can experience nature in all its splendor: the biological variety leaves one in awe; hornbills, agamid lizards, pill centipedes, fish-hook ants, orangutans, estuarine crocodiles, pitcher plants, giant dipterocarp trees, flying lemurs, flying snakes, flying lizards, sun bears, strangler fig trees, horned spiders, horseshoe crabs, rafflesia plants…. The list is endless.
The variety of forest is equally impressive. Tropical and Sub-tropical forests, swamps and mangroves forests, primary and secondary forests, lowland, montage and alpine forests — each with their own ecosystems and biodiversities. One can walk and re-walk the same trail for weeks and each time you will encounter new sights and fresh experiences.
When you talk about Borneo and your trip there what is the thing you always are sure to say?
I tell everyone that in Borneo there is something for everyone: forest hikes, mountain hikes, safaris, beaches, diving, rafting, boating, rich cultures and traditions, exotic cuisines, and warm and friendly people.
How have your experiences in Borneo impacted your life outside of Borneo?
My experiences in Borneo have changed my views of the natural world in general. I have become more active in preservation and conservation and I have created a blog that contains all I can write about Borneo and its flora and fauna to promote awareness.
What do you think people in the US who have never been to Borneo should know about it?
They should know that the diminishing forests in the world are depriving us of medicines, science, oxygen and climate protection.
What was the thing that was most surprising to you about Borneo?
The thing that surprised me most was that the Bornean population do not appreciate, or are not aware of, the wealth of the land and nature that surround them.
Who was the most memorable person you met in Borneo, why?
The person I remember the most was an elderly man, sitting in the park above Kota Kinabalu, who stopped me to chat with him. He was very curious about where I came from, why I was there, my home, my family and my life. We chatted for a long while, during which he told me his life story, showed me photos of his family and asked to see mine. We parted ways after some time and I was left with a feeling of well-being that left a smile on my face for the rest of the day.