Now Borneo ! Arrived from Kuala Lumpur had 3 nights in hotel before starting our Rain Forest Trail. Hotel -- Grand Borneo --next to large shopping centre top floor dedicated to entertainment eg cinema bowling arcade with every sort gambling machine can think of even archery which of course Dan had go First day taken to Kinabalu Park did about hour walk through rain forest, , very interesting seeing all the different plants etc, also into the batonical gardens. The lodge stayed at for 2 nights was well ----- setting beautiful but that was the only good thing, the lodge was more than dated, cold and in need of repair and we the only ones there ! Very much like a dated Butlins !! No communal place to sit so had to sit in room as it was raining on a night luckily we had taken some DVD anyway room was clean and there was no where to move to as quite isolated and we were on a tour ! We did go for a walk as we thought we had seen a nice restaurant when arriving , it turned out to be like a transport cafe !! Had a drink then returned to the room. The first afternoon we were taken back to the park shown a video about Mt Kinabalu then shown round a museum both interesting but wouldnt have minded missing ! Second day more interesting, went to some hot springs in the morning again walked through the forest but along a canopy walkway, 5 different walkways with viewing platforms inbetween, the walkway 40mt above the ground, only about a foot wide and just planks to walk on with high mesh sides, very scary for me !! (Desrie) they swung as you walked and as I dont like heights terrifying but did it so chuffed with myself even if didnt look down to admire the view !! Then into a butterfly area saw some lovely ones .After a picnic lunch went to the hot springs, very strange sort of hot tubs of different sizes with taps ! people just sat with their feet in, not what we expected ! you could book a private room with ' hot tub ' for three pounds an hour so decided on that as had swim things with us, went into room it was just a round bath with partition and taps to fill the bath ! very strange.
Very long drive to look at some caves, not impressed !! Loads of bats and covered with bat poo and stunk awful ! Then off to the Lodge, it was on the river bank which was lovely but again very run down and in need of repair everything seemed to have not been touched since it was built in the 80's the same as the last one, but we did have a better room in a little lodge on stilts. We sat out in the garden which was lovely and on a night sat on our veranda with a drink. In the late afternoon we were taken on a river trip lovely we saw some elephants, one swam across the river in front of us, also loads monkeys and a monitor lizard. Only us and 6 other people there ! There was a trail around the lodges but advised not to go as the elephants were really close !
Next day off again on the river and a short walk into the rain forest but did see herd of elephants very close up ACE !!! Back to the lodge for lunch then we decided to go for a walk on the trail in a very short distance saw some fresh elephant dung and foot prints then after about 10 mins heard the elephants and could smell them, saw the bushes moving so decided to hot foot it back as a bit too near !! The guide told us it could have been dangerous especially if it had been a Mum and clalf !
Next day off to Libaran Island had brill 1/2 hr speed boat trip ! The island lovely but again very run down even more so than the others, only 6 others there as well !! The room --- one in a row of about 7 right on the beach -- was more than basic but hey no where else to go !! only about 400 people lived on the island, it was a beautiful setting with great beach but such a shame so run down. Just had a swim and chilled. Had an amazing tropical storm overnight, we sat outside watching the lightening for ages before it started to rain.
Next day the others had all left so we were again on our own !! Shame about it been so run down we felt like royalty !! In the morning we were taken to a deserted island where we could swim and snorkle we saw some amazing fish and coral it was lovely . In the afternoon we were taken to another island, again great speed boat ride to get to the boat we had to walk along the jetty that was very iffy not safe with lots of planks missing and patched up !! it was were the giant turtles came to lay their eggs, we had a walk along a beautiful beach then had a facinating night, first we saw a video about the conservation of the turtles then looked around the museum we then had to wait until the ranger said there was a turtle ready to lay her eggs we then got up really close to watch her lay well over 60 could even touch her ! The ranger took the eggs away as soon as she had laid them for conservation. We went to see what they did with the eggs then had the amazing sight of over 50 hatched turtles been let free into the sea it was quite amazing watching them all quickly go into the ocean.
Visited state Sabah Museum quite interesting skeleton of a whale and odd things of interest but nothing special !
Our last day and the highlight although we had a lovely day the day before, taken back to the mainland then to the Orang utan conservation centre. Shown a video which was really interesting also sad to see how some of them came to the centre, apparently as they are so cute some local people will kill the mother then take the baby to keep as a pet . We then went on the walkway to watch the ranger come to a feeding post at 10am while waiting saw some more monkeys and one of the orangu tans swinging along a rope way while waiting for feeding time. Once the food was put out 3 of them came to be fed it was lovely to see a large one was sat eating while a smaller one was swinging from one of the rope ways, when the one on the platform turned around the one swinging very gently reached out and took some of the food the large one turned round and looked at the food then the other orangu tan squeeled and went after it so a chase erupted !!! so so funny just like children ! Also it was strange to see the orang utans and three other types of monkey all on the platform eating together . After a lovely morning we came back to the centre for couple more nights staying again at Grand Borneo hotel before moving back to Kuala Lumpur
Amazing few days loved it all
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