{"id":9190,"date":"2020-03-03T22:25:52","date_gmt":"2020-03-03T14:25:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mysabah.com\/wordpress\/?p=9190"},"modified":"2022-11-04T10:35:30","modified_gmt":"2022-11-04T02:35:30","slug":"deramakot-kun-kun-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mysabah.com\/wordpress\/deramakot-kun-kun-river\/","title":{"rendered":"River and Forest Bathing at Kun-Kun River"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

To live happily, we need food for our body, love for our soul, and money for our security. However, one ingredient is always not listed in our source of happiness, though it’s a desire rooted in human genes for 7 million years. In 1984, Edward O. Wilson coined the term Biophilia<\/em>, which suggests that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other life forms (not Wifi and phone!). Therefore, living without “Vitamin N(ature)” is unhealthy to our mind and body. That may explain why we feel happy after an outdoor activity in greenery. The worrying trend is the increasing “Nature deprivation” when 68% of the world population projected to live in urban areas by 2050<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Group
My travel buddies driven by Biophilia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Camping at Kun-Kun Campsite<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now I know Biophilia<\/em> makes me wanting to own a villa next to a river with beautiful scenery. I can’t afford to buy one, but Sabah has plenty of natural attractions open to public. Let’s check out Kun-Kun River, which scores high as the location of my dream villa.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Morning
A study conducted by psychologists found that creative problem solving can be drastically improved by both disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with nature.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Just kidding. Kun-Kun River (Sungai Kun-Kun) is situated deep inside of Deramakot Forest<\/a> (in Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia) and has no electricity supply. I travelled there with group of friends by 4-wheel drive (and chased by an elephant) and camped at the river side for a 100% nature experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Swimming
?Nothing makes you feel more childlike than being outdoors.? – Dr. Pamela Peeke, author of Fit to Live<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The jade-color river is so clean and pristine. Even though Deramakot Forest is a logged forest, they practice Reduced Impact Logging, which minimize the negative impact to the environment. For example, they only harvest the forest partially, give logged forest many years to regenerate and have reforestation projects in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Enjoying
Biophilia<\/em> makes Sabahans “itchy” if we are away from nature for too long.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Otherwise, logging will pollute the river and the water turns murky, because the land loses its natural green carpet to filter soil and debris from washing into the river. After some time, the river will become shallower and flood would happen after heavy rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Jumping
Spending more time in nature can greatly benefit our psychological and physical well-being.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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