Michael Palin’s Trip To Sabah & Sarawak

Writer (The Weekend, Hemingway’s Chair), broadcaster (Pole to Pole, Palin’s Pacific), actor (A Fish Called Wanda, The Missionary), comedian (Monty Python’s Flying Circus) and keen observer of humanity, Michael Palin visited Sabah and Sarawak in 1996 as part of his epic circumnavigation of the Pacific. His journey was recorded by the BBC for a ten part television series, Full Circle. Michael Palin and his team travelled with Borneo Adventure throughout their stay in Sabah and Sarawak. Pages 148 to 163 of the book which accompanies the series describe Michael Palin’s Borneo Adventure. The Full Circle production team spent 3 days at Borneo Adventure’s lodge at Nanga Sumpa longhouse. You’ll find Nanga Sumpa featured on pages 153 to 162 of the book. Basil Pao’s superb photographs, which accompany the text, offer the reader a colourful glimpse of the Nanga Sumpa travel experience.

Michael Palin, like most of our travellers, signed the Visitors’ Book at Nanga Sumpa. Here’s what he had to say.

"A journey into the unknown and a voyage of discovery at the same time! I’ve seen many places but nowhere quite like this. To stay in the rainforest is a magical experience in itself - to be looked after an extra bonus. Enormous thanks to all the people here for a quite unforgettable time."

Michael Palin, with the BBC
15th-18th January 1996

Full Circle - Michael Palin
Published by BBC Books, 1997
ISBN 0 563 37121 8

A BBC Video Set (BBCV 6256) and Audio (Cat No. ZBBC 2016) are also available.