Tag:caves
Three riverboats sit at the jetty near the mouth of the Batam Barang in Sarawak. With the survey over and the equipment shipped out from Kuala Belait, I had some leave accrued and decided to travel a little in the region. At high school I’d joined the school caving (spelunking) group. Every month or so a couple of the teachers would take 10 – 14 of us kids after school to explore caves in the Mendips – about an hours […]
On the way back to Koh Phi Phi Don from Koh Phi Phi Ley, having cruised by one of the caves from which the locals harvest swifts’ nests for birds nest soup, we got some up-close views of the base of the limestone cliffs. The cave action is clearly undercutting the rock over the course of the years.
This overhang in the limestone rack face was a significant swift nesting site. Out of harvesting season, there was no one working on this day. Bird’s nest harvesting is a regulated industry and there were signs above the jetty here warning trespassers off. All the bamboo poles you can see here are used by the harvesters to reach the rock ceiling where the swifts build their nests.
The ferry also stops by some of the local attractions on it’s way into the islands. Here it’s pulling up to the limestone cliffs so the passengers can see some caves where locals gather swift nests for birds nest soup. Quite why a soup made from bird spit is so sought after I don’t know. I’ve never tasted it myself. But I’m left wondering…
