Borneo, (click here for the photos)
Ah time to take a break!!! Its been a long summer and I feel the need for a change of scene, so after lots of planning, well the flight is booked-its off up and away for a mini adventure.
First on the agenda, climb Mt Kinabalu, what is this a holiday or what??? Initial worries about the heat were soon removed as it was a surprisingly cool rain forest that surrounded the foothills of the mountain. However true to name the forest did have some rain! Onwards and upwards.... lots of plant life, lots of wildlife and not enough air!!! Was it a good idea to go from sea level to 4000m over night??? Still it was nice and quiet! Next shock the guide wanted to strt climbing at 2am-think again I like my sleep, a somewhat later start saw us make the summit in plenty of time to see the sunrise, and it was worth the effort! Instead of heading straight of though a bit of an explore of the summit ridge, the via ferrata and Lowes Gully was needed which did give the guide a few worries!!! Ahead now was a huge decent to the valley below and I must admit to aching thighs by the time I got down for lunch!
Next on route was the hot springs, which sounds a great way to finish off a mountain day, but dont get your hopes up. Hot foot bath, cold pools and very low water pressure let the place down a bit. On the plus side there are some great trips into the forest, some lovely caves full of Bats, perfect waterfalls and natural bathing pools, a great canopy walk way and some unusual wildlife. But time ticks by and I want to see my orangutans at Sepilok so its onto the bus and off we go!!! Once again I find myself speechless, the orangutans are amazing, so emotive, so beautiful, they really are so human, so much so that I watched the feeding 3 times at Sepilok and each time brough something new, the mothers brought in 2 babys, an adult male arrived, the macqacs, the nervous youngsters awaiting their opportunity simply great... Very sad to leave here...
But new days bring new opportunities and the river safari boasted the chance to see lots of wildlife up close without disturbing it and it was not a disappointment at all! Others had seen Oranutans that very morning! So what would the rain forest reveal, gibbons, Proboscis Monkeys, Red and grey Leaf Monkeys, Macquacs, Giant Otters, A family of wild pigs swimming across the river, hornbills, broadbills, egrets, kingfishers, flying foxes, bat eagles, Owls, huge prawns, an occassional snake, massive stag beetles... Absolutely Great!!!
Now this holiday has been all go go go, and there's not been much rest and I must admit to feeling a touch weary.... So Mabul and a few days diving on a tropical island looks to be the perfect solution... But waking up opening the curtains, tha last thing I was expecting to see was a huge monitor lizard upa tree-looking hungily at a night heron!!! Bring on the diving, the turtles, the colourful fish and amazing corals, the sun on your back the sand in your toes.... a perfect way to end a holiday!!!
When can I go back???
Ah time to take a break!!! Its been a long summer and I feel the need for a change of scene, so after lots of planning, well the flight is booked-its off up and away for a mini adventure.
First on the agenda, climb Mt Kinabalu, what is this a holiday or what??? Initial worries about the heat were soon removed as it was a surprisingly cool rain forest that surrounded the foothills of the mountain. However true to name the forest did have some rain! Onwards and upwards.... lots of plant life, lots of wildlife and not enough air!!! Was it a good idea to go from sea level to 4000m over night??? Still it was nice and quiet! Next shock the guide wanted to strt climbing at 2am-think again I like my sleep, a somewhat later start saw us make the summit in plenty of time to see the sunrise, and it was worth the effort! Instead of heading straight of though a bit of an explore of the summit ridge, the via ferrata and Lowes Gully was needed which did give the guide a few worries!!! Ahead now was a huge decent to the valley below and I must admit to aching thighs by the time I got down for lunch!
Next on route was the hot springs, which sounds a great way to finish off a mountain day, but dont get your hopes up. Hot foot bath, cold pools and very low water pressure let the place down a bit. On the plus side there are some great trips into the forest, some lovely caves full of Bats, perfect waterfalls and natural bathing pools, a great canopy walk way and some unusual wildlife. But time ticks by and I want to see my orangutans at Sepilok so its onto the bus and off we go!!! Once again I find myself speechless, the orangutans are amazing, so emotive, so beautiful, they really are so human, so much so that I watched the feeding 3 times at Sepilok and each time brough something new, the mothers brought in 2 babys, an adult male arrived, the macqacs, the nervous youngsters awaiting their opportunity simply great... Very sad to leave here...
But new days bring new opportunities and the river safari boasted the chance to see lots of wildlife up close without disturbing it and it was not a disappointment at all! Others had seen Oranutans that very morning! So what would the rain forest reveal, gibbons, Proboscis Monkeys, Red and grey Leaf Monkeys, Macquacs, Giant Otters, A family of wild pigs swimming across the river, hornbills, broadbills, egrets, kingfishers, flying foxes, bat eagles, Owls, huge prawns, an occassional snake, massive stag beetles... Absolutely Great!!!
Now this holiday has been all go go go, and there's not been much rest and I must admit to feeling a touch weary.... So Mabul and a few days diving on a tropical island looks to be the perfect solution... But waking up opening the curtains, tha last thing I was expecting to see was a huge monitor lizard upa tree-looking hungily at a night heron!!! Bring on the diving, the turtles, the colourful fish and amazing corals, the sun on your back the sand in your toes.... a perfect way to end a holiday!!!
When can I go back???