Hello from a newly qualified rescue diver! So today I finished my final day of the Rescue Diver course and managed to pass my final exam (100%) and the practical rescue scenario without too much difficulty. It has been quite a chilled course, spread over 3 days, when it could have easily been completed in 2. There is a lot of theory (like all the PADI courses) backed up with some practical exercises in rescuing divers from the surface and from underwater....

With my flight not until 2 today I decided to leisurely head back to the Rainforest Discovery Centre for a few hours after breakfast. Not meeting a soul on my walk around the park I saw lots of birds and lizards as well as a couple of black squirrels who had been so elusive the day before when it was busy. I found the 'Sepilok Giant' a massive 65m high tree before heading back to the canopy walkway to watch for birds and listen to the sounds of the rainfo...

My time by Kinabatangan River ended with a final river cruise this morning. Beginning with a massive 4 meter crocodile and some proboscis monkeys still lazing in a tree we also saw a darter and a beeeater (types of bird) before rushing off to catch a glimpse of an orang-utan. After breakfast I packed up, checked out and caught the boat across the river to the waiting coach to Sepilok. Sleeping all the way I was hit by very hot weather as I got off outside the R...

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 t...

Hello from Borneo Rainforest! I'm sitting in the middle of the jungle on the Kinabatangan River watching sheet lightning flash between the trees. After and early start this morning I caught a taxi with Emma and Nadiah to the airport for my 0705 flight to Sandakan. Mount Kinabalu towered above the plane as we rounded it to reach the East coast and the clear skies gave a beautiful view of it in all it's glory. A short taxi ride in arrival dropped me in Sandakan...