Yesterday was my first blog via iPhone, having left my laptop at Lavender Lodge for safe keeping. Once I had finished blogging I decided to have a shower to cool off before facing the fan cooled room. I must say I've never had a freezing cold shower among spiders and ants while bats swooped around my head ever before, but it was an experience!

And the nights sleep wasn't too bad either! I actually needed the blanket provided to keep warm. Which was much better than being too hot as I expected.

The gong sounded for the morning boat trip at 5.45 and we made our way out to the jetty and set off up stream. We saw a crocodile, lots of monkeys, a white bellied sea eagle, a crested serpent eagle and a few brightly coloured kingfishers before turning back ready for breakfast.

One full English breakfast later (hash browns included) and we got ready for the days trek through the rainforest.
Having been warned what to do if charged by a boar, orang-utan or elephant (ie run!!) we set off in our wellies. With mud coming up almost to my knees the going was slow, but we saw spiders and millipedes and our guide explained the different uses of all the trees, plants and fruits around us. Unfortunately the only sign of elephants was lots of dung growing a variety of mushrooms.

Lunch was a reasonable chicken curry followed by a couple hours chilling, lazing in the shade and getting some pictures of the local plants and insects.

The afternoon river cruise was a great success. We saw 3 species of kingfisher as well as some hornbills flying around. Got to get really up close with some long tailed macaque who were fishing around the edge of the river. We saw proboscis monkeys settling down in trees for the night, squirrels scrambling around the trees and a monitor lizard on the beach. A brief glimpse of a wild boar and a large crocodile finished up the trip on the return home just as it was getting dark.

An interesting meal of what we think, and hope, was some sort of pickled cucumber and Thai chicken before heading out on the night walk. Rejecting the muddy trail my friend Amanda and I decided to do our own walk using the boardwalks to wander the forest. We didn't see much other than insects but it was nice not to have to watch where we were going all the time.

Now just chilling in reception with the bats, geckos and even a praying mantis, suitably tired for bed so time to sign off again.

Night all from Borneo Rainforest xxx