We decide to slow the pace and spend the day in Sepilok. We are both feeling a little ill from the dirty hostel in Mabul, lack of sleep and fairly dirty air in our scuba tanks. Apart from a few places to stay, there are a few activities.
In the baking heat we walk to the rainforest discovery centre, pay our 30 ringet (£6) and it turns out to be very peaceful. We're the only ones in there other than 1 Japanese Ornithologist. We head up to a canopy walk with various towers to climb. The sounds of the jungle washing over us and bringing a bit of calm back to the week (LT). Monkeys can be heard in the distance and the view above the trees is worth the heat. Craig dozes listening to the jungle orchestra and I simply enjoy being there. Craig can't be bothered walking back and climbs over a fence and down a ladder whilst I wander back. We meet near a pond with lilies and follow a sign to Hornbill tower. There are numerous walks, some stretching 6km but we don't have the energy. Passing through the jungle path, lizards and butterfly's scatter and we climb the larger tower. We can see hornbill nests at top of the trees but the birds are nowhere to be seen. A wind starts up and as it passes through the rainforest the canopy rains leaves down to the floor. A peaceful site.
Feeling exhausted we return to the B&B for lunch enjoying a fiery chicken curry that hopefully will sweat this sickness out. After rehydrating its time to see the Orangutans at the sanctuary. On the long walk a Dutch family who we spoke to on the boat from Mabul wave as they pass in their air conditioned car. A lift would have been nice, but we eventually reach the centre. I grab us both an icecream that feels like a reward (LT). Its 30 ringet to get in and a 10 ringet fee for a camera. All belongings including water need to be left in a locker. Following the path we reach the feeding station, but are told to go to another area. It turns out to be an air conditioned room with glass between us and the monkeys. Not quite what I expected but nice to watch them feeding and playing. Mostly young who have lost their parents. The centre feeds and teaches them before hopefully they get bored of just bananas and move on. There is a 68% success rate. We trudge home and are moved to another dorm, the previous one has been booked. Our new dorm is bigger but luckily empty and the air con should keep some mozzies at bay. Nowhere to go in the dark, we grab some sweet and sour chicken, both of us scratching and coated in deet before calling it a night at 7:30pm. Typing this as I lie on my bed, the jungle alive with a soundtrack worth recording. Birds and insects on lead vocals.