If your commitment to making 2012 the year to get off the couch and go out into the world has waned, then an active holiday is just the thing you need. Whether it’s trekking through the jungles of Borneo or cycling through the valleys of Bhutan, you just have to make the effort to put down that remote control and take that first step.

Malaysia

The Roof of Borneo
Scaling the Malayan archipelago’s tallest mountain is one way to break free from the strain of lowland living. Mount Kinabalu, which is nestled in the heart of Sabah’s Crocker Range, is a popular place for mountaineers, both seasoned and inexperienced. Discover Borneo offers a tour from US$410 ($510), for a minimum of two people, which includes daily meals, mountain guide fees, transport to and from Kota Kinabalu and accommodation at Laban Rata Resthouse. Once you complete the climb, you’ll even get a certificate to show off to your friends at home.

Getting there: SilkAir flies direct to Kota Kinabalu daily from about $445 return.

Brunei

Trekking in Temburong
If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t mind getting down into the mud, then check out Intrepid Tours’ Overnight Eco-Heritage Tour. Among the trips they organize is a two-day stay in Brunei’s Ulu Temburong National Park which starts off with a guided forest walk along the famous Temburong River. You’ll get to explore the vast rainforest, see a majestic waterfall and experience the lifestyle of rural families as they house you in an authentic longhouse for the night. For a little extra $35-40, you can also participate in a rapid water rafting session. Tours cost from BND 258 per adult ($259) for a group of 6 people (email for a quotation) and the rafting trip will set you back about $35-40.

Getting there: Royal Brunei Airlines flies direct to Bandar Seri Begawan twice daily from $490 round trip.

Thailand

A Spot of Spelunking
Not claustrophobic? Then you won’t mind a jaunt into the beautiful caves of Pang Mapha. The Cave Lodge offers a comprehensive tour that will take you through its surrounding caverns from THB600 ($24). The main highlight is the 100-meter deep Spirit Well, a collapsed cave with a pristine primeval forest at its base that’s still largely unexplored. Accommodation at The Cave Lodge starts from THB120-150 ($5-6) for dorms, THB300 ($12) for a hut with an outside bathroom and THB500-600 ($20-24) for a deluxe teak bungalow.

Getting there: Thai Airways flies to Chiang Mai daily from $541 return. Hourly buses run from Chiang Mai’s Arcade Bus Station to Pang Mapha for B250 ($10).

Mongolia

Traversing the Gobi Desert
Definitely something for the intrepid, Gobitours offers a six-day desert camp that will take you through some of the most remarkable parts of the Gobi Desert. You’ll get to see the legendary Singing Dunes, explore sites where fossilized dinosaur eggs were found back in the 1920s, travel on camel back with local nomads and visit the famous valley of Yolling Am. Accommodation is in a typical Mongolian ger, a felt-lined tent. Prices start from US$565 ($703) per person for a group of three to four people and will cover all transportation and food expenses.

Getting there: To get to Mongolia, first fly to Beijing. Pick from Air China (twice daily from $872 return), Singapore Airlines (four times daily from $1330 round trip) and Jet Star (daily, from $500 return). From Beijing, Mongolia Airlines flies to Ulaanbaator twice daily from $717 return.

Bhutan

Druk Yul by Bike
Explore the kingdom of Bhutan (one of Asia’s most underrated tourist destinations), with Spice Roads Cycle Tours on a mountain bike. The two-week trail will take you to some of Bhutan’s most amazing architecture like the fortresses and Buddhist monasteries that pepper the roads out of Thimpu. Prices start from US$4,275 ($5,318) and can be booked individually or in groups of up to 16 people.

Getting there: Travel via Bangkok, with Thai Airways (from $368 return), Singapore Airlines (from $304 return), or Tiger Airways (from $172 return). From there, DrukAir flies to Paro six times a week from $1005 roundtrip.

How do you feel to be one of the first few fighters to represent Singapore on such a grand stage?
Subhi: I am honored that I'm one of the first, but I hope I'm not the last as well. I hope there will be more fighters soon because I know there are a lot of talented ones out there just waiting for their opportunity.

Fadhli: It's an honor. It's every fighter's dream to have this opportunity. For some people they can think about this for their whole life and not achieve it. I really thank God for this. Putting your heart and soul into it, being patient and having your dream come true is something nobody else can understand but you.

MMA and kickboxing are becoming bigger and bigger in Singapore. How do you feel about that as a martial artist?
S: I think it will open gates for us when the community gets to accept that martial arts is becoming one of the major sports in Singapore. Right now, it's all about badminton, table tennis and all that stuff so we tend to be kind of jealous. We want martial arts to be on the scene as well.

F: Singaporeans are slowly getting into the scene with events like ONE FC and now with kickboxing coming in, I think it's an eye-opener. Having this in Singapore would be a great opportunity for Asian and Singaporean martial artists.

Many of Singapore's neighboring countries such as Indonesia and Thailand have already achieved great heights in combat sports on the world stage. Do you think there is a specific reason for why Singapore is so far behind?
S: I believe it's the infrastructure and the society. I mean, not all of our parents will tell us “Okay, you're six years old. Go learn kickboxing.” It's more like, “Six years old, you go and study.” For them, I think when they are four or five years old, they're already training. I think that's the big difference.

F: To be honest, being a sportsman in Singapore is very tough. You have to be strong in mind and you have to sacrifice a lot. If you want to be the best, you have to give up so many things because as Singaporeans, most of us have this mentality that sports cannot take you very far. But if you look at it, that's what will make us strong. If a Singaporean is going to go all the way, that person is going to be the best because our community's mentality is against this and if you're going to fight that and sacrifice everything to be at the top level, I'll tell you, that guy is going to be the strongest.

Obviously, kickboxing can be a dangerous sport. How do your friends and family feel about you fighting?
S: My mother gets very worried. She won't watch me fight. She has never watched me fight before because she would freak out. But my father is OK with it and is very supportive and so are my younger brothers and sisters. My friends are now quite shocked that I'm in such a big event. They usually think I'm just an amateur fighter, but here I am.

F: For me, my family is quite happy to see me move to this level. After all, they keep on saying that I always get to the amateur level and question how far I can actually go. Getting to this stage is a new level for me and an eye-opener for my family to realize that I can make it.

Do you have any role models inside and outside of the ring?
S: I really like Buakaw Por Pramuk. But outside the ring, it's my dad. He has been brought up seven kids and all of us are doing fine.

F: In the ring, I like Masato. He's my favorite. His punches, his in-fight. I like his style. As for outside the ring, the inspiration I get may not be a person, but the process that you’ve been through and all the hardship you’ve endured. Proving the people who don't believe in you wrong. That's my inspiration.

Do you see yourself making a career out of fighting?
S: I see myself as someone who likes to teach rather than a fighter. For me this is just a stepping stone. I really want to teach kids martial arts and self defence rather than be a fighter till I'm 40. I will probably continue till I'm 30 and then relax.

F: Subhi and I already have a gym at SAFRA Tampines where we teach traditional Jujutsu. For both of us, all we want to be are role models. A lot of people look up to people who play soccer and stuff, so I was thinking, why not martial arts? It can be one of the sports that can develop character in kids. People always think martial arts is just about fighting, but I believe it can also teach you about the fighting spirit, humility and how to be disciplined.

If your success in the ring continues, would you like to pursue an international or world title someday?
S: That's huge, but if it's not me, I hope it's one of the kids that I train. I want us to be there someday. Singaporeans. I'll give it 10 years. I think we'll make it there.

F: It's a dream and I would love to. We'll see.

Catch Fadhli and Subhi in action at the FighterZone World Kickboxing Series at the Singapore EXPO Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hall 2 (1 Expo Dr.). Tickets are available from $65-280 at Gatecrash.