"Land Beneath the Wind" a State of Sabah Travel Page by suzyq40

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Mt Kinabalu

Mt Kinabalu National Park and Poring Hot Springs

We travelled from Kota Kinabalu, with our guide Terance (Wildlife Expeditions) to Kinabalu National Park, where were taken on a guided walk looking for flora and fauna, visiting the Mountain Garden to look at mountain plants and wild orchids. The orchids were absolutely beautiful, and some quite large. The next day we ventured to the Poring Hot Springs, where we walked the 500m to the Canopy walkway. (almost killed me it was so hot) looking for birds and animal life. After having a packed lunch, we started the drive back to Kundasing stopping at the War Memorial, before heading back to the Wildlife Mountain Lodge for drinks and dinner

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Houses in Sukau

Gomantong Caves, Sukau and Ox Bow Lakes

After a lengthy drive, across the Island, we arrived at Gomantong caves where the Swift birds come to lay their eggs in the nests harvested for birds nests soup. This I would think would have to be one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. You wouldnt catch me up on a rattan ladder collecting birds nests thats for sure. Our guide Terance (nicknamed George by now, as in George of the Jungle) took us off the main boardwalk and in a little way to the jungle where we found the red lipped monkey looking at us. Pretty exciting as this was the first animal we had seen.
We then jumped back in the car and headed down to Sukau and to the River lodge we were staying at before jumping back in the boat for a twilight river cruise to look for monkeys of the Proboscis and Marqueque(apologise for the spelling) monkeys. Unfortunately this time we didnt see many of them, however we found a herd of wild Borneo Pygmy elephants, the smallest elephants in the world. We managed to get up close and personal to them up to 2 metres away.
The next morning it was time for the "Jungle Walk". We had joked the night before that because we hadnt seen many monkeys the night before that we wanted to see at least 5 wild orang utan. Poor ol "George" he thought we were serious, and was really disapointed when he couldnt find us one, however we did spot a Orang utan nest that had been used the night before, we were just a little too late. That afternoon after lunch, we went on another river cruise and saw hundreds of monkeys of various sizes shapes and breeds. The trip to Sukau would have to be the highlight I think.

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Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary

Turtle Island and Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary

After Breakfast, we took a 2 hour drive to a jetty for a 15 minute ride to Liberan Island for lunch before transferring to Selingan Turtle Island. The heat and humidity was unbelieveable. After arriving we found there was no water or electricity, so off to the beach we went. Went back to the rooms after to find that there still was no water and no electricity. So what do a bunch of stupid Australians do when there is nothing else to do? Drink beer of course. Before meeting back at the Cafe at 630 for a briefing about the turtles we were expecting that night. Time was going very slowly however we were entertained by playing Charades for a couple of hours. At the annoucement that the turtles had arrived there was a rush for the door, as we all stumbled over each other to get down to the beach where we watched 1 turtle lay her eggs and then followed the ranger back to the hatchery as they buried them giving them the 2 months it takes for them to hatch.
The next phase was the most exciting, holding one of the baby turtles (which I named Beulah) Boy was this cool. These little fellas are so strong. We then released them into the Ocean where only 3% will survive to lay eggs on the beach again (if they are female of course). At the end of the nights activities, it was time to head to bed for an early start the next morning.
The next morning, bright and sleepy eyed we boarded the boat back to the mainland for the trip to the Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary where we stood in the humidity of I am sure 100% and waited patiently for the Orangutans to come out to eat, which they did. By 11am we were on our way again down to Sandakan where we had lunch at the English Tea House (amazing food and service) before our flight back to Kota Kinabalu for a well earned 5 days of doing nothing.