A Cruising Holiday aboard Raja Laut – Borneo

by Maggie Joyce on 19 Apr 2009 Raja Laut sets her sights southwards to the magnificence of Indonesia and Borneo, the third largest island in the world.

Malaysian Borneo is blessed by Mother Nature, with imposing mountain ranges, lush rainforests, swollen rivers, a smattering of idyllic islands, and a smorgasbord of natural charm and friendly locals! People who have experienced this region can never talk too highly of Malaysian Borneo - 'One of our favourite places in the world!'

This area offers up a highly rewarding cruising experience for those who know where to go and the crew of Raja Laut certainly are experts. Borneo is Raja Laut’s birthplace and her spiritual home. The schooner was built on these shores, and with it the dream of exploring Borneo, Bali and beyond was also born.

Borneo is the birthplace of many an inspiring, impossibly romantic, yet sometimes very real adventure… which is a conclusion the writer Joseph Conrad must have come to having traced the paths to Borneo many times both as a sailor and novelist. Conrad did more than any other to make Borneo legend - indeed the journey from the Andaman Sea to Borneo, and then Bali is thought of as 'Conrad’s Passage'.

For much of the English speaking world, and for Conrad in particular, interest in Borneo began with the 'White Rajah' of Sarawak – Englishman James Brooke, who sailed from Singapore, armed with a 100ft schooner (not unlike the Raja Laut) and an inheritance to take on the feared head-hunters and pirates of Borneo, claim the Kingdom of Sarawak and found a dynasty that lasted from 1860 to 1940.

But these are stories for another time….

For now suffice to say that some 150 years since the days of Rajah Brooke and the head-hunters of Borneo, you are invited to have an immense amount of fun re-discovering these adventures on board the beautiful Raja Laut.

Six double cabins, beautiful open deck, air-conditioning, delicious cuisine and a crew of friendly professionals – there is no better way to experience Borneo.

*30% off for any bookings made before the 1st of June 2009.

*The 30% discount does not apply to the repositioning fee

Any booking in Banda, Papua or the Andaman Islands must be a minimum of 9 days.

Call Mariner Boating Holidays for prices, sailing dates and reservations.
info@marinerboaiting.com.au or phone (02) 9966 1244.