The Borneo Vacation.....part 4......Sukau and the Wallet story
We left Turtle Island early next morning for Libaran Island where we were given breakfast. there was corned beef and baked beans. No too fantastic but edible. Then the boat ride, passing again the fishing village. We said our goodbyes at the jetty to Zowie, the New Zealander girl and the three of us were placed in an MPV with Amran the guide for the next part of our trip.
We stopped at our hotel in Sepilok so that we could change our clothes and collect our laundry. I repacked my bags with new clothes double checking that this time I had them really in my bag pack!
They drove us to Sukau which was about 3 hours away. One pit stop cos I needed to use the rest room. JAR and BHR saw two monkeys caged up and some palm oil seeds. They took us to Guomantang Caves where the swift bird builds its nest. These nests equals a small fortune for the skilled workers who climb bamboo polls to retrieve the saliva-made nests for medicinal Chinese dishes. The cave was full of bat-dung and cockcroaches and smelt of bat urine. Outside the cave, we saw a wild orang utan with a baby. That was a bonus.
After the cave, we were driven to Sukau where we took a boat to cross the river to Sukau. Sukau River lodge is situated right at the river. We were greeted by the lodge staff with a cool wet towel each. Very refreshing for a bunch of tired travellers.
The water in the rooms were brown in color and that is prolly cos it is basically rain water collected and processed by the lodge itself. They gave us lunch which had the chef barbequeing lamb for us. Quite delicious. They fed us food but charged us for the drinks here......not quite so innocent here, travellers beware!
At 3.30pm they took us on the best river cruise along the river......we saw wild proboscuis monkeys, birds, snakes, etc. There even was a dramatic scene of two monleys having a fight. I love the river ride! It rained a little ..... i tried to use my ponco but found it more comfortable to just let the rain fall on me. We came back for dinner and a little rest. Then it was time for the night walk.
A walk along the lodge area and we saw many sleeping birds and insects. We have had a full day and after a shower everyone fell asleep.
Next morning we had breakfast and then Amran took us on another boat ride. We stopped by to look at some fish/ prawn/crab traps. There were pythons and other snakes on the the trees byu the river. More monkeys too. JAR got to see more hornbills flying thru the air. Then we reached our destination for another jungle walk.
It was another hour's walk....hot and humid....full of sweat. More leeches but this time its easier cos Amran had taught us how to deal with them. Just pull or roll them out. JAR had a few leeches crawling up his shirt. More mud and puddles to cross. My new Timberland shoes being put to good use. They were fantastic and served me well! We ended the walk feeling happy and relaxed.
We got back to Sukau lodge and JAR and I washed our muddy shoes....JAR found two leeches stuck on his. We had lunch and then it was time to leave Sukau. it was raining and we took the boat and ran across to a rest house as soon as we arrived. Our car had arrived but the driver needed a rest before he could take us on the 3 hour ride again.
We were on the gravel road for almost an hour when I realised that my wallet with all my credit cards and driver's licence and currency was missing. They stoppped the car and we searched all over. No wallet. There was no network coverage for Amran's cell phone to work.....we drove on for another 15 minutes....at a junction he managed to call the rest house....they had found my wallet!!! The wonderful Sabah people showed that there is still honesty and intergrity in this world....we waited in the afternoon sun for half an hour for the kind people to drive along the gravel road to send me my wallet! I love Sabah people!....The wallet was intact!
We arrive at Sepilok and said our goodbyes to Amran. Our Borneo holiday was almost at its end. We had one more night. We went yet again to the Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center the next morning.......also another fruitful experience....there was a pair of monkeys humping away in front us all!!!
Then it was a drive to the airport and our final goodbyes to Borneo! It was fantastic holiday......prolly only second to the Grand Canyon River Trip of 2004 that JAR took me on and thats saying its a great holiday!
We stopped at our hotel in Sepilok so that we could change our clothes and collect our laundry. I repacked my bags with new clothes double checking that this time I had them really in my bag pack!
They drove us to Sukau which was about 3 hours away. One pit stop cos I needed to use the rest room. JAR and BHR saw two monkeys caged up and some palm oil seeds. They took us to Guomantang Caves where the swift bird builds its nest. These nests equals a small fortune for the skilled workers who climb bamboo polls to retrieve the saliva-made nests for medicinal Chinese dishes. The cave was full of bat-dung and cockcroaches and smelt of bat urine. Outside the cave, we saw a wild orang utan with a baby. That was a bonus.
After the cave, we were driven to Sukau where we took a boat to cross the river to Sukau. Sukau River lodge is situated right at the river. We were greeted by the lodge staff with a cool wet towel each. Very refreshing for a bunch of tired travellers.
The water in the rooms were brown in color and that is prolly cos it is basically rain water collected and processed by the lodge itself. They gave us lunch which had the chef barbequeing lamb for us. Quite delicious. They fed us food but charged us for the drinks here......not quite so innocent here, travellers beware!
At 3.30pm they took us on the best river cruise along the river......we saw wild proboscuis monkeys, birds, snakes, etc. There even was a dramatic scene of two monleys having a fight. I love the river ride! It rained a little ..... i tried to use my ponco but found it more comfortable to just let the rain fall on me. We came back for dinner and a little rest. Then it was time for the night walk.
A walk along the lodge area and we saw many sleeping birds and insects. We have had a full day and after a shower everyone fell asleep.
Next morning we had breakfast and then Amran took us on another boat ride. We stopped by to look at some fish/ prawn/crab traps. There were pythons and other snakes on the the trees byu the river. More monkeys too. JAR got to see more hornbills flying thru the air. Then we reached our destination for another jungle walk.
It was another hour's walk....hot and humid....full of sweat. More leeches but this time its easier cos Amran had taught us how to deal with them. Just pull or roll them out. JAR had a few leeches crawling up his shirt. More mud and puddles to cross. My new Timberland shoes being put to good use. They were fantastic and served me well! We ended the walk feeling happy and relaxed.
We got back to Sukau lodge and JAR and I washed our muddy shoes....JAR found two leeches stuck on his. We had lunch and then it was time to leave Sukau. it was raining and we took the boat and ran across to a rest house as soon as we arrived. Our car had arrived but the driver needed a rest before he could take us on the 3 hour ride again.
We were on the gravel road for almost an hour when I realised that my wallet with all my credit cards and driver's licence and currency was missing. They stoppped the car and we searched all over. No wallet. There was no network coverage for Amran's cell phone to work.....we drove on for another 15 minutes....at a junction he managed to call the rest house....they had found my wallet!!! The wonderful Sabah people showed that there is still honesty and intergrity in this world....we waited in the afternoon sun for half an hour for the kind people to drive along the gravel road to send me my wallet! I love Sabah people!....The wallet was intact!
We arrive at Sepilok and said our goodbyes to Amran. Our Borneo holiday was almost at its end. We had one more night. We went yet again to the Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center the next morning.......also another fruitful experience....there was a pair of monkeys humping away in front us all!!!
Then it was a drive to the airport and our final goodbyes to Borneo! It was fantastic holiday......prolly only second to the Grand Canyon River Trip of 2004 that JAR took me on and thats saying its a great holiday!
posted by akumangkok at
11:18 AM
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