Sakau Lodge

Up again early but the reward was two breakfasts, one before and one after our boat ride to see the sunrise and monkey families waking up for the day.








Once again no rain today so we feel blessed here in the forest and then after lunch Graeme and Marcus saw an Orangutan out off the boardwalk behind the lodge amongst the vines and elephant tracks - no elephants unfortunately but we can't complain as the monkeys and colourful birds just keep on coming by and are very cute and the food has been great down on our deck by the river.









Graeme, Wendy, Luke, Simon, Kate, Bec, Marcus.

Orangutans on safari

The day started off wet wet .wet with a wake up downpour as we were leaving Selingen Island.at 6am. At least the boat ride back was smoother and the rain cleared quickly to make a beautiful day.

And then we went to Sepilok and saw the Orangutans and it was even better than I had imagined.




But then just another 2 hour boat ride later ( nice and calm along the mangroves and river ) we got to see one and then another in the wild. Amit, our guide is fantastic and he just spots things as the boat goes along so we do a u turn and just sit for as long as we like. We also have watched Probiscus monkey families and hornbills so far and there is more for tomorrow.








And the food is fantastic ......
Off to bed as the birds get up early here and 1st breakfast starts at 6.


Graeme, Wendy, Luke, Simon, Kate, Bec, Marcus.

Mt Kinabalu

Spent the morning driving 2 hours in our mini van to Mt Kinabalu World Heritage site. We walked in the rain through the botanical gardens and looked at all the orchids, ferns, and carnivorous plants. Then back in the bus to dry off and head on down the mountain to pouring hot springs, where we went on a canopy walk. Very wobbly bridges set between the trees up high in the canopy. Very good views for all. Then to bath in the hot hot springs. Kate found her Zen in the hot water, while Bec refused to dip In the cold pool, she much preferred the hot water.








Big day wondering why we didn't climb the mountain, the rain should have been a big hint but then when it finally peaked out from behind the clouds we really understood why .



It big and rocky and steep - very pretty to look at but not much fun on the way up or down I imagine. We were lucky to get a glimpse and felt suitably awe inspired even though we all had to wake up ( including Felix our guide ) to tumble out of the bus for the photo op on the way back to KK.


Graeme, Wendy, Luke, Simon, Kate, Bec, Marcus.

Turtle Islands - practically in the Phillipines.

It was a very early start to the KK airport to enjoy our full service flight to Sandakan - thank you Malaysian airlines for the juice and peanuts and full entertainment package - pity it was only a 50 min flight before we landed on the sunny East coast and made our way to Selingen Island by speedboat ( or spine jarring hell boat depending on your point of view and which way the swell was heading !!! )

The Island is in the middle of the Turtle Sanctuary group of Islands, a national park continued on the Phillipino side which is good for the breeding turtles who return here to where they were born.

The accommodation was basic and food woeful but the beach and hatchery was right there and the turtle tracks practically came up to the restaurant.








It rained on and off during the afternoon but we rested and swam and waited for night when the turtles in the hatchery would emerge and maybe a mummy would come onto the beach to lay. We were fortunate to see the babies in their little wire nest enclosures and then even luckier to be able to shoo them on their way to the sea and a hopefully long and happy life.





When the mothers lay the rangers scoop up the eggs and put them in labelled nests to improve survival rates and aid research and then 2 months later when hatched they are returned to the beach to imprint their geological position and hopefully return in many years to start over again.

It rained and we waited and waited but as it is off season only a couple of turtles come each night ( 5 the night before ) and it was not our night but the sleep was good.


Graeme, Wendy, Luke, Simon, Kate, Bec, Marcus.

Rainforest and beach

Our real adventure began today in our little bus with Felix almost to ourselves ( had to share our almost family tour with two nice Austrians today ) We headed off to the fancy end of town marina and then onto our little speedy boat and to the island of Gaya. Seemed like everyone else was going to the beach island of Manukan but on a true Ross family adventure we need trees and rocks and real mud, as well as some lizards and mangroves and mozzies.








After what seemed like buckets of sweat later we left the dangerous rattan vines and ants behind and took a cute little speed boat to Manukan Island to enjoy the sunshine and our picnic lunch. So after the rain stopped it was real lovely in the water, not too cloudy to see the fish but not as warm as expected.





We swam and swam and then back on the boat to KK just before the rain really set in .

Graeme, Wendy, Luke, Simon, Kate, Bec, Marcus.

Day one. Downtown Kota Kinabalu.

Hotel Shangrila breakfast full of school kids - luckily enjoying the congee and dried shrimp leaving the hash browns and chocolate cornflakes for the more intrepid westerners to enjoy.
We headed off into the busy streets to find the markets setting up for the day and a few tour boat touts trying to get lucky. KK has a population of 400,000 and a mix of oldish and new, is very clean and traffic not too wild. The markets were colourful with lots of locals out good shopping and very few tourists in the narrow trinkets alleys.





Despite it not being too too hot we ended up for an early lunch ( see dinner later ) and then a restful afternoon after MacDonald's coffee ( pretty good actually ).


At 6pm the official tour started and we went on the bus to the highest point in KK signal point. The place where telegrams were sent from in the war. Very nice view of 'sunset' or cloudy sea. The local backpackers is the building where the Australian army stayed during their time here in KK. Then too night markets, the same markets we were at earlier today. Only difference is that we bought stuff and it was raining, lots of tuna, crabs and other fresh fish at the fish market. Then off to our restaurant for dinner (the same one we had lunch at lol) a banquet that was full of too much food.

Bec had a horrible day, even with a 3hour afternoon nap, she hit her head coming off the bus before dinner, and then fell out of the bus in the wet and hit her elbow and hurt her back. Sympathy was a hard find for poor Bec, on the way back from connivence store to get recovery chocolate she stubbed her toe on one of the many booby traps Borneo has on offer.




Graeme, Wendy, Luke, Simon, Kate, Bec, Marcus.

And it's take off !!!

First family holiday in 4 years, and first holiday ever with the lovely company of Luke and Marcus. All checked In and sitting at gate 33 ready to get on our flight at 11:55.
Everyone is on their iPads making not much conversation at all.
Had a lovely first dinner last night, in darlinghurst at Lucio's Pizza, the most delicious pizza and the cheese was Devine. Lol

Hopefully we will have wifi at our first hotel ( and all of the hotels ) in Kota Kinabalu or Bec might just have a fit.

We are all excited for an amazing adventure, to see the beautiful nature and learn a bit about Borneo. Kate found out last night that seeing a orangutan is not guaranteed, let's just say we better see one or we may have very grumpy girls. Lol

See you all soon.


Graeme, Wendy, Luke, Simon, Kate, Bec, Marcus.

Location:Sydney International Airport