Bumbling Through Borneo

by Thomas A Schmidt

Overview

Bumbling Through Borneo, an educational yet comical trek through Borneo’s hinterland, takes the reader on an entertaining journey of discovery by following the misadventures of a fictitious cast of bumbling characters as they stumble across the natural treasures and indigenous cultures of the Malaysian state of Sarawak – including the environmental challenges they currently face. With over 180 beautifully hand-drawn illustrations, the book’s day-by-day account of the bumbling travellers’ journey through Sarawak seeks to instill the reader with an environmental and cultural awareness of the island’s rapidly changing situation. WWF-Malaysia calls the book “Interesting! Recommended reading for backpackers to Borneo." Awarded Silver Medal - Graphic Novel / Drawn Book (Humor) category 2009 Independent Publisher IPPY Book Awards and Bronze Medal - Comic / Graphic Novel category 2009 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789881806659
Publisher:	Kakibubu Media Limited
Publication date:	03/10/2009
Series:	Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series , #1
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.23(d)
Age Range:	16 Years

About the Author

Tom Schmidt is an architect, writer, illustrator, musician, and part-time stand-up comedian. Born in the United States, following his studies of Architecture and Environmental Design at the University of Colorado, his wanderlust has carried him through various bumbling adventures in over 70 countries around the world, while based in the Asia-Pacific region. He conceived, wrote and illustrated the award-winning Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series, which to date has received five international book awards since its inception. Schmidt is a licensed US architect, a LEED® Accredited Professional, a founding member of the Hong Kong Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and a member of the American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI). He has resided in Hong Kong since 1997, and is founder of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, an architectural consultancy specializing in sustainable hospitality design.

Tom Schmidt is an architect, writer, illustrator, musician, and part-time stand-up comedian. Born in the United States, following his studies of Architecture and Environmental Design at the University of Colorado, his wanderlust has carried him through various bumbling adventures in over 70 countries around the world, while based in the Asia-Pacific region. He conceived, wrote and illustrated the award-winning Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series, which to date has received five international book awards since its inception. Schmidt is a licensed US architect, a LEED® Accredited Professional, a founding member of the Hong Kong Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and a member of the American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI). He has resided in Hong Kong since 1997, and is founder of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, an architectural consultancy specializing in sustainable hospitality design.

Editorial Reviews

"... A travel book with a difference. Engagingly written and amusingly illustrated in comic book-style format, it combines a rollicking backpacker's adventure tale in the heart of Southeast Asia's disappearing jungles with an increasingly serious environmental message." - South China Morning Post
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"... You can expect the usual - longhouse, river, jungle - in the next few pages, but it is the way Schmidt tells the story which makes it so interesting. His black and white illustrations help you visualise everything: the book's layout is graphic and neatly presented so you get a cross-section of a longhouse, a cargo express, maps, etc. This is accompanied by fact boxes of the places Bob visits so you learn a lot about Sarawak, the people and its natural wonders. I wish my school geography books had been this well put together. Most of all, Schmidt tells a good story. It is simple but never simplistic and he taught this Malaysian a thing or two about Sarawak." - Joan Lau, The Malaysian Insider
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"Part of 'The Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series,' Bumbling Through Borneo is a novel based on a true story, about an American architect on a once-in-a-lifetime journey through the depths of Borneo, along with a dedicated troupe of backpackers. Set in the 1990s, Bumbling Through Borneo has a strong environmental message amidst its exciting narrative of exploring a virgin rainforest and encountering diverse cultures. Cartoon-sketch style illustrations on every page add life to this enthralling adventure, told in day-by-day journal format." - Midwest Book Review
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"Encouraging anyone to have an interest in exploration and the natural world can never be a bad thing, so Bumbling Through Borneo, which is set to entertain while imparting information, is a welcome blend of narrative with an underlying conservation message ... the underlying message is excellent - adventure mixed with fact and just thing to hook a youngster into wanting to explore the world." - Descent Magazine
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"Part of "The Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series", Bumbling Through Borneo is a novel based on a true story, about an American architect on a once-in-a-lifetime journey through the depths of Borneo, along with a dedicated troupe of backpackers. Set in the 1990s, Bumbling Through Borneo has a strong environmental message amidst its exciting narrative of exploring a virgin rainforest and encountering diverse cultures. Cartoon-sketch style illustrations on every page add life to this enthralling adventure, told in day-by-day journal format." -- Small Press Bookwatch, May 2009
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"Bumbling Through Borneo is an adventurous tale of backpacking through Borneo that will have you packing your bags and resigning from work without a second thought." -- BC Magazine, Hong Kong, April 2009
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"Part light-hearted travelogue, part graphic-novel, part responsible-travel treatise; this idiosyncratic tale of one man's calling from his day-job in Hong Kong to the longhouses and rainforest of Sarawak, engages all senses in telling its author's story. Packed with witty anecdotes, information on how to stage your own 'bumble' and unpretentious environmental advice, by the time you get to the last page you will have been persuaded to quit your own job in favour of a Bornean adventure." -- Peter Adkins, "Borneo in Books, a Countdown of Ten of the Best Books on Borneo," Borneo Insider's Guide, Apr-Jun 2012
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"This book is a unique approach to share stories of disappearing plants, animals, lands and waters local people need to survive. A good blend of a tourist rough guide, conservation notes and a comic book. A good treat for eyes and mind."
-- Ahmad Fuadi, Director of Communications, The Nature Conservancy - Indonesia
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"Interesting! Recommended reading for backpackers to Borneo." -- Dato' Dr. Dionysius Sharma, Executive Director / CEO, WWF-Malaysia

From the Publisher