Orang Utans

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We spent the last few days of our trip in the Sabah region of Malaysia. It is part of Borneo and renowned for its wildlife.

We arrived in Sandakan unsure as to whether we would be picked up or not. We actaully had a bit of a problem at the customs (again), this time we couldnt prove how we had got into Malaysia cos the immigration computer wasnt uptodate with the train info. Anyway we were the last ones through but all ok in the end.
We were picked up and taken by mini bus to a supermarket and cafe area where we scoffed noodles and curry and filled up on extras as there were no biscuits or luxuries at the lodge. We set off again and after another 2 hours and along an unmade road we got to the village and river. We were then told that we had to cross the river - this surprised us as there didnt seem to be a boat big enough for all five of us and our luggage! Anyway the boat clearly was ok as we got to the other side - we didnt know when the picture was taken that the river was infested with crocs - we wouldnt have looked so carefree if we had known that at the time!

The lodge was basic to say the least - an eco friendly log cabin with holes in and running cold water. We were concerned about the mosquitos as the fly screens didnt seem to meet in the middle - a good douse of fly spray and sleeping in long trousers seemed the solution!

Our first trip was a river cruise (yes along the croc infested river Kinabatangen). We were blown away by it. We saw loads of monkeys on the side of the river - probiscus and macacques together with mangroves snakes, hornbills and a wild boar (OK we can see them at home!). The final treat was the sunset which was idyllic.

After dinner which was a tasty chicken curry we went on a night trek into the jungle, avaoiding the biting fire ants en route - we saw a tree frog and several unpleasant looking insects. The next moring all the rest of the family slept in and I went on the early morning river cruise.

We went on a four hour jungle trek in the late morning - by that time I had realised that I had a particular attraction for leeches and I was named Leech Lady as a result of several bloody sites of carnage that appreared on my body through the walk.

Later in the afternoon we went on another river trip and it began to rain - what a lot of rain falls in the rain forest - we got soaked thorugh. Anyway the highlight of the trip was that we saw wild orang utans in the forest - they were fairly uncommon to see. We couldnt get over how big they are in comparison to the monkeys and moving so like humans. We were all bowled over.

After that the weather went downhill and it rained and it rained and it rained - but we left with fantastic memories of the area.

We spent a couple more night just outside Sandakan. We went ot the orang utan sanctuary where we could get close up viewings of these animals. Also, we took an impromptu tour of Sandakan courtesy of a local taxi driver. We visited the river village on the outskirts of the town and a huge indoor market selling all sorts of fruit, veg, meat and lots of unusual fish.

We will keep lots of momeories of this last week of our trip.

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Photos

On the way to the camp
We didnt realise at the time that there were crocs in the river!

Giant Pea
This was growing off a plant on the jungle trek

Orang Utans
At the sanctuary