Had day of relaxation around Kuching, walking and exploring - we visited the local market too! Next it was off to the Irrawaddy Dolphin cruise in the evening to Santubong peninsular. We were collected by minivan from the hotel and then off on a 50 min ride to Santubong (north coast from Kuching). We joined a local boat at the Santubong River along with 25 or so others all eager to see some wildlife. We set off at 5pm with the blue sky above and the warmth of the sun waning, a little! It was a leisurely cruise across the wide river towards the mangroves which formed both banks of the Santubong. The captain and crew were on look out for wildlife and lo and behold 10 mins in they spotted the first - a crocodile - floating, with head and body just above the surface (see pic!) some 30-40 metres away. The engine was turned off and we floated silently as folks snapped photos furiously. The boatmen here were 100% respectful of all the wildlife we saw, keeping a fair distance away and not luring with food etc.. nice to see! Off we went once more as the small mud-skippers scurried along the muddy coastline and hid in the water with just their eyes protruding. I managed to snap a shot of a Sea Eagle which was 100m or more away, with its pale head feathers. We chugged up the river until we reached the estuary mouth and the South China Sea, it was a little choppier here and all eyes were on look-out for Irrawaddy dolphins (snub nosed) we passed the large mountains and rainforest and into open water. As the sun slowly crept towards the horizon it was just us and a handful of local fishing boats. We all scanned patiently when the Captain shouted that a dolphin had been seen near a fishing boat. We headed across the bay and cut the engine.. everyone was silent. Then, suddenly, a dolphin slipped above the crest of a wave and down again. Everyone was animated, grabbing cameras and pointing - then again, it surfaced, with its head visible. I struggled in the vastness of the water to keep one eye on the water and the other on the camera viewfinder, Sheryl assisted by pointing them out! I managed some shots and voila! Success - a few shots, not perfect but dolphin shots nonetheless. We continued for 20-30 mins boat bobbing around quietly as we caught glimpse after tantalising glimpse of the dolphin - he was fishing for tidbits from the fisherman's catch as they hoisted their small nets into their flimsy fishing boats. As the sun approached the trees we switched the engine on and we were off.. in search of monkeys! We raced down the coast with the boats wake splashing up in a cool white foam and the fresh sea air in our faces. We pulled to a halt in front of the tall mangroves and there were 4 large Proboscis monkeys, resting and looking for evening food, silhouetted against the orange sunset. I steadied myself and squeezed a few long shots (see pics!). We floated for some minutes - I shuffled to the stern of the boat and focused on the beautiful orange/red sunset over the mangroves and rainforest and we then set off once more passing small Sarawak fishing communities, with stilted houses balanced precariously on the muddy coastal plain - each with boats tethered below. As the sun set dusk hit us quickly, as it does near the equator - and we sped in the approaching darkness, toward the final challenge - fireflies! The boat bounced like a huge flying fish as we crossed the sea back to Santubong and the lights of the fishing villages became like fireflies in the distance. The captain slowed the boat and approached the mangroves - it was pitch black. As our eyes grew accustomed to the emptiness he cut the engines and we coasted toward the coastline. We were now only feet from the foliage and could see hundreds of little lights in the trees twinkling - a pale orangey colour - silent. A beautiful sight and a lovely end to a great cruise! As we relaxed on the short van ride back we marvelled at what natural beauty we had been priveleged to see - animals and more.... a great day! See you all soon after our Iban (overnight) longhouse trip to the depths of Borneo!....