SABAH and Sarawak have some of the country's most magical attractions such as breathtaking rivers, lakes, mountains and caves.
As the country's two largest states, they house amazing natural treasures which tempt nature lovers from all over, including back-to-nature beauty queen Vivienna Alfred, a native of Sarawak's capital city Kuching.
Vivienna, 27, is a cave lover, and she has taken up the challenge of experiencing the darkest and deepest mysteries found in caves around her home state, in a brand new back-to-nature documentary series 'Caves And Caverns'.
ENCOUNTERS
Hosted by Vivienna, it highlights the journeys of cave lovers, who encounter lots of interesting and strange experiences in various locations particularly in Malaysian Borneo.
Vivienna said: "Not everyone has the willingness to patiently explore the country's many cave systems which challenge them physically as well as mentally, but unearth lots of beautiful and out-of-this world natural wonders deep within them.
"Having to go through risky challenges through darkness, dangerous paths and exhaustion, it all pays off when you see for yourself how magical each cave is.
"The feeling of amazement is difficult to express in words."
CITY GIRL
As a city girl, Vivienna is honoured to host the show as she is a true adventurer.
"I am super excited to be the host of a programme close to my heart. It has always been my wish to be known as more than a beauty queen and model.
"Hosting is an on-screen challenge I love to partake in, as I love sharing what I enjoy with fans around the country.
"I've always loved to do outdoor stuff, be it caving, mountaineering, sky-diving or bungee-jumping," she said.
SOUTH AFRICA
Recounting her journey in the new documentary, Vivienna said that during an interview with the production team, she told them about her skydiving activities in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates as well as her bungee-jumping in South Africa.
"They know that I like having fun with back-to-nature activities, and activities that take me deep into the jungles and caves of Borneo are tailor-made for me."
Vivienna said that her most unforgettable caving experience was in Sabah, and there she encountered something "mystical".
"It was in Sabah that I learnt about taboos that needed to be followed while inside a cave."
GAMELAN
She added that since time immemorial, there was a ceremony that needed to be performed for people to enter a cave and the head of the nearest indigenous village conducted such rituals.
"When I entered my first cave, I was one of the people at the end of the row.
"When I moved inside, I suddenly heard the sound of the gamelan.
"At first, I remembered someone opening a TikTok video but no one was playing their phone at the time.
"I just kept quiet because I remembered the village head's orders. I only spoke during dinner that day."
STIGMA
Vivienna said that she was thankful that no untoward incidents, such as being possessed by evil spirits happened during her caving missions.
The show's producer Sherry Sidek said: "The show is more than just a travel and tourism documentary series. It also highlights the extreme action experience, the beauty of caves, and breaks the stigma of society that caving is a 'men's job'."
Sherry added that many challenges were overcome by the production team in order to make the documentary a success, and they did a stellar job wrapping it up.
"Their level of enthusiasm was very high. They are passionate about adventures that are rooted in the back-to-nature experience."
DETERMINATION
Sherry said that the show aimed to challenge traditional stereotypes by showcasing women who were tough, brave and adventurous.
"We focus on the determination and seriousness of women who make extra effort to achieve their dreams, especially in uncovering the country's best kept secrets of nature."
She said that the challenge of producing 'Caves And Caverns' was to gather the right team with high stamina, the ability to work for long hours and overall courage.
"The filming locations are not always 'smooth sailing' places. The paths in the caves are narrow, slippery and sometimes pitch dark."
VISION
Sherry said that her vision was to depict the uniqueness of each cave and the adventures of visitors to such caves.
"We believe 'Caves And Caverns' has the potential to be a great reference for viewers because of its stunning visuals and inspiring stories."
Sherry explained that Sabah and Sarawak were chosen for the programme because of their breathtaking landscapes and rich flora and fauna.
"However, we will not rule out the possibility of exploring the states of Peninsular Malaysia as well as neighbouring countries in future."
PERSPECTIVE
She said that exploring the Peninsula and countries in Southeast Asia will dignify Malaysia's natural treasures.
"In fact, this will offer the audience a broader perspective of the beauty and significance of Malaysia's amazing landscapes," she said.
Broadcast over 13 episodes, 'Caves And Caverns' take viewers on explorations of Sireh Cave, Silabur Cave, Wind Cave, Buddha Cave, Pari-Pari Ajib Cave, Posih Cave, Niah Cave, and Mulu Cave in Sarawak.
In Sabah they explore the Madai Cave, Terpadung Cave, Agob Batu Tulug, Gomantong Cave and Makam Penyu Cave.
'Caves And Caverns' airs every Wednesday at 5.30pm on TVS, Channel 122 of MYTV, Unifi TV and Astro.