Author: James Alexander Ritchie

The ballad of Ba Kelalan

Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure. — JK Rowling, British author If Frank Sinatra left his heart in San Francisco, I left mine high on a hill at Ba Kelalan.It was at Ba Kelalan that I first became a believer. When I stepped foot on

Chronology of an eccentric eco-warrior

Birds are the indicator of the environment. If they are in trouble, we know we’ll soon be in trouble. — Roger Tory Peterson, American naturalist I have written the last episode of the fascinating life of iconic Swiss environmentalist Bruno Manser. It’s completely different from the highly-exaggerated film “Paradise War” which

Long Lamai — role model for nomadic Penan

My dad taught me from my youngest childhood memories through these connections with Aboriginal and tribal people that you must always protect people’s sacred status, regardless of the past. — Steve Irwin, Australian wildlife expert At about 2pm on Hari Raya Haji Day on March 29, 1999, a pale and pint-sized

Conquering evil through faith and love

To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible. — Thomas Aquinas, Italian philosopher What does it profit a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit his soul? This statement is particularly true following the end of the Easter celebrations and the

An unforgettable jungle jaunt

And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. — John Muir, mountaineer In 1993, I travelled by motorcycle across the Indonesian border to attend an ancient ceremony of the Maloh of West Kalimantan (Kalbar). Called “Gawai Madu Buling” or the Great Mourning Festival, it was

Celebrating Sarawak’s pioneering heroines

I stand on the shoulders of heroines who never sought public acclaim but served as inspirations to the generations that came after them. — Gina Haspel, ex-director of CIA As the saying goes, the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world. In fact, many famous leaders

Life of an orangutan casanova

More than a year has passed since my namesake, Ritchie the orangutan alpha male, disappeared from the 653ha Semenggoh Wildlife Centre forest. I have done my own investigations to find out what happened because several years ago, he fell from a 150-ft tall tree and broke a limb. Thanks to

March 25 — Kelabit leap of faith

Sometimes all you need is a big leap of faith. — Sean Bean, English actor Mist covered the entire Kelabit highlands as the first batch of eight Allied Forces commandos prepared to jump from an American B-24 Liberator bomber. It was a leap of faith because none of the men knew

THE BROKEN PROMISE …

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. — Winston Churchill, former prime minister of UK It was the eve of Confrontation and the British Army was preparing for a massive incursion by enemy forces from across the border. President Sukarno was

A cock and bull story

We need not feel ashamed of flirting with the zodiac. The zodiac is well worth flirting with. — Lillian Smith, American writer We often read about the wealthiest, powerful and most influential people in the country and have often wondered whether we truly know who they are. We have heard the