Sepilok Forest Edge Resort

Just a little pic of Ili at our digs, and the kids swimming in the rain in the pool here! It's Bea and Angus in the pool on the second pic.

Orangutan Rehab Centre - Sepilok

Spent the morning at the Orang Rehab Centre where they take in orphaned babies and try to get them back to the forest, and then the afternoon at the Bornean Sunbear Conservation Centre. Unbelievably the bears are still hunted for food (bear paw soup) and kept caged as pets.

Rainforest Discovery Centre - Sepilok

Joined by Angus, the son of Frith's colleague from the workshop here, the kiddies and I went out to the Rainforest Discovery Centre (in Sepilok) today. Frith was of course at his workshop. The Rainforest Discovery Centre is a great resource on the edge of the forest here where the Orangs here are semi-wild as it's only a few kilometres from the orang rehab centre. Saw a mother with baby, and got a bit too close to a male who started shaking the tree in protest. We then kept a respectful distance.

Bea's wild shots

I'll ask Bea to add captions to these when we have time, but for now here's a few of the best of Bea's wildlife shots. These are all taken either in the forest at Danum where a mother and baby Orangutan came close to the Research Centre to feed on the jackfruit (so wild Orang), or the rainforest in Sepilok so are "semi-wild" (none are from the the Orang Rehab).

Moving on, again . . .

Left the Danum valley today — in the back of the truck — with many lovely memories. We spent eight hours in the forest on Sunday, in the hot, humid rainforest and the two little ones took it in their stride. Like a walk in the park, but with leeches!! Very proud of them both.

Danum valley - rainy season

Moving into the wet season here, but refreshing warm rain showers. Here's Bea in the research centre's cafe.

Wildlife watching

Here's Bea climbing the tree platform in Danum. Total goosebumps for me, especially when Ili went up and down — but they are probably safer than me!  In just a few days in Danum, we were able to see two Orangutan mother with babies (two pairs), family of gibbons, red leafed monkeys, lots of macaque, flying foxes, flying squirrels, mouse deer, leopard cat, hornbills. The kids were like little wildlife cameramen watching and snapping pics. I'll post some of their own art soon.

Bea turns TEN

Birthday morning at the Danum Valley (at the scientists' quarters where we are staying), with an early morning walk out to find gibbons, orang-utans and monkeys before heading out in the afternoon to the Borneo Rainforest Lodge (something a little plusher and fitting for a BIG b'day!). The boys rode in the back of the truck over there, and we had a very wet walk on the canopy walkway followed by dinner at the lodge — and didn't forget to organise a birthday cake.

Heading to the Danum Valley

Travel day today as we headed over to towards the Danum Valley (primary rainforest) via Lahad Datu this morning. Bea and Ili were amused at the small size of the airport! Lot of flying and driving today, but we had time for a short jaunt to the forest edge.

Kota Kinabalu - harbour side

31 degrees here today and felt even hotter. Totally melting as we had a very short excursion along the harbour, so have mainly been hotel bound. Bea and Frith have been out running early morning before breakfast along the same waterside route. Looking forward to heading out to the forest on Thursday.

 

Kota Kinabalu

Mainly hanging out at the hotel and keeping up with school work while Frith is at his conference. And our hotel is right above a shopping mall — such unforgettable cultural experiences in Kota Kinabalu (check out the wigs!).

Kota Kinabalu - night fish market

We arrived in Kota Kinabalu (Malaysian Borneo) today, and after settling in at the hotel we took a stroll to the night fish market. KK is a strange town in transition, and a mixture of the old and new. Old fishing boats chugging across the bay to the harbour, shanty villages offshore on the islands, and modern apartment blocks springing up. Frith has his conference here this week.