We get up at 5am at the Kinabatangan sunshine lodge. Our guide had kindly offered to take us on the river earlier due to us flying back to Kota Kinabulu at 10:30am. This turns out to be a great bonus. Sun just starting to rise and no other cruises out yet. There is a mist in the trees, with a fine wisp over the water. Swallows dive catching the bugs on the water. Monkeys are all along the trees by the riverside. We see more species - Silver Langers and Ora...

We both get up loaded with the cold. Grab our free breakfast. scrambled egg, toast and plenty of fruit. Start making plans for the national park. Sepilok is the first place I've seen with great hospitality. The staff at the B&B couldn't be more helpful. We had heard that Uncle Tans was a Sabah institution, where we might be able to book tickets/transport but after the walk there we find out the one in Sepilok is the only one. Again very helpful staff tha...

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 v...

Sipadan diving - we go to Uncle Chan's, where our dive boat will leave once we finish our delicious cold beans and bread. After testing our gear we get on a boat with a Korean guy who's on his 3rd Sipadan licence, a Singaporean couple and a German couple. Its a shame we are going diving at 9:30am. Some operators take you at 6:30am which would be better to see the sharks. It's a short boat ride to Sipadan, and there are police vessels and a machine gun turret m...

The entire Borneo Backpackers is on stilts and whilst the Malaysian adults go to prayer, the kids provide us with a bouncy castle experience at 5am. We opt in for 1 more fun dive and head to Stingray city. An easy wall dive with a fun drift towards the end. Spot a large friendly Broadclub Cuttlefish which I happily watch change colours for awhile. Lunch is served at 10:30am. A bonus after my bread and noodles. Ben is happy as the only dish worth eating appe...