After a night in the cool higher altitude of mount Kinabalu, we began our 4 hour journey to Sandakan. Our tour guide today was John, who apparently likes Charles Dickens and Disney. After the dozy drive, we arrived at the murky Kinabatangan river and greeted by a rickety old wooden step bridge over the crocodile infested waters. I hobbled cautiously with my 13kg rucksack over the bridge to the boat. With no phone signal, I was skeptical and panicked toward what awaited us. We arrived at the Bilit Rainforest Lodge, asked to remove our shoes before entering, and greeted by a man holding two glasses of cool orange juice. Things were looking up. We checked into our massive 2 bathroomed room with 2 queen beds. With decoratively placed towels crafted expertly into traditional tribal patterns at the end. Lovely.

After a lunch, which consisted of yet another meal of rice for me (no I do not want severed fish heads or beef that resembled the texture of a thick leather boot) we headed back to the boat. Cruising breezily down the famous Bornean river, we were joined by several safety conscious Asians who opted for the giant fluorescent life jackets, and anxiously awaited animals.