Since prehistoric times, caves have been used as places of shelter and as homes to ancient cave man. In more modern times, a few caves are still used as shelters for hermits, religious people and of course for temples. In other countries some caves are used as wine cellars (for storage), or for growing mushrooms or aging and storing cheese and wine, as they have a relatively constant temperature and absence of natural light. Others have been used as factories and stores during periods of war. Even underground endurance records have been set in caves, e.g. the longest time spent underground (held by Maurizio Montalbini who spent 366 days in a cave in Italy).

In Malaysia there are not many examples of these uses. However there was an interesting piece in the Borneo Post online on June 14th, 2009 saying that "the Heritage Department would hold the second poetry recital event in Niah Caves this year".

Gua Cintamanis in Pahang is home to large colonies of bats and is also used as a temple by local people. For years there have been various forms of nets strung across the entrance, with dead bats trapped in the netting. I'm not sure if this is an attempt to clear the cave of bats, or if any bats are removed from the netting for any reason.
One unusual event was when I was in Gua Cintamanis and there were a group of men in there to look for a spirit, as one man wanted a spirit for his house. I wrote about this Caving with spirit hunters

People go into caves to do magic or to 'pray' to get lucky numbers for the lottery. The media reported that a temple in the Ipoh area was attracting people who noticed a vision in the cave.

net strung across cave entrance to trap bats. It may be because the cave is used as an unofficial temple

this bat (probably Eonycteris spelaea) had a long slow death trapped in the net

Kek Lok Tong is used for wedding photos

Some people choose to live in caves, others to use them for entertainment. The Star Oct 2009 reported on a man living in a cave for 27 years whilst waiting for citizenship. A cave in Tambun, Perak, has been taken over as a private wine cellar. Prior to conversion the resident bats were all killed and now the natural entrances have been blocked and large air conditioners installed, so I would imagine the atmosphere inside has changed considerably. In Jan 2010 The Star did a feature on one of the Tambun caves being used for relaxation and meditation as part of a luxury spa complex. I'm not sure if this is the wine cellar cave that has been converted, or another cave.
Here are some cave 'houses' and a wine cellar -

private wine cellar at Tambun Hot Springs, Perak

this cave in Pahang is being used as a house

sadly there is also a lot of rubbish dumped in the cave

not sure if this Perak cave is being used as a house or a recycling centre!

even gas cylinders in the cave kitchen

Caves are also used in advertising.

In 2007 Digi phone company used Gua Kandu in Perak for their YCF (yellow coverage fellow) series. The yellow man was seen following some cavers into the cave to show that coverage is almost everywhere. As he goes into the cave he breaks up as he looses coverage so has to come out and he is OK again.

looking at the cave entrance

looking out from the cave

entering the cave

yellow man follows the cavers into the cave

he follows the cavers in....

...but begins to break up

so he goes out & coverage is restored

Digi advert with limestone hill behind

In Anak Kurau in north Perak, an enterprising barber has built his shop alongside the cliff face.
And in Feb 2010 I discovered one cave in Perak is being used by a Malay as a pau (dumpling) factory. It is possibly the only cave in the Ipoh area that is used by a Malay. The factory part is in the rock shelter, but a cave passage has been turned into a surau (Muslim prayer room). Is is the only surau I've ever seen in a cave.

barber shop

inside the shop

pau factory in a cave

One rule of caving is 'never cave alone' - the people in this photo are certainly not breaking that rule!

surau in a cave

horses sheltering in a cave

never cave alone © Liz Price 2008 - 2010 Last updated 10 Mar 2010