Wild, no WiFi!
I’ll be picked up soon and travel 2 1/2 hours to the jetty. There, I’ll get on a boat heading up the Kinabatangan River to Uncle Tan’s river camp! I’ve been there once. From the moment the boat left the jetty, I was absorbed by the flying hornbills, proboscis monkeys in the trees, fishing eagles, and so many birds! The camp is primitive. I’m fine with that! It’s only for a couple nights. During that time, we’ll be going out on morning and sunset boat “safari’s”, doing some hikes in the forest and generally savoring being in a natural and wild original forest! I am happy simply to sit, listen and feel!
Sepilok! A great launching point!
This has been a great launching point! Bird sounds have been amazing. It’s a short walk to see the feeding in Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation! And it’s in the original forest. Birds, monitor lizards, more birds…really a perfect starting point for me!
Feeding time and nursery.
They have feeding times twice during the day. There was only one orangutan when I was there for the afternoon feeding. One orangutan to well over 100 camera toting tourist. For many, this is the only way they would every get to see this amazing creature. For me, I’m so grateful I’ve trekked into the jungle to see them in the wild. On the Kinabatangan River, they are wild. But wild in a limited habitat. In the original forest of Sumatra, it was a huge forest!! Tracks, empty orangutan nests, remnants of their feeding littering the trail, sounds of clouded leopard, spotting of a white handed gibbon. Such a great experience for me!
They have a night walk at the discovery center from 6:00-8:00 pm. It’s not loaded with wildlife however, I love hearing the sounds of night settling into the forest. And there was a chance we’d see the tarsiers, the oldest and smallest primate on the planet! In 2009, I heard about them in Northern Sulawesi but was not able to get to the forest there. Several other places I’ve been report having spotted them but I’ve never seen them. Our guide was amazing and extremely diligent in searching for one! He saw one but it leaped away and disappeared. Eventually toward the end of the walk, he found one. As I walked up near him, I noticed it turning it’s head. It apparently heard my foot scratch against the ground. The huge eyes are apparently for night vision! What a treat! Below are some images of that walk.
Relaxing and observing!
Sitting, being still, listening and observing, I’ve seen so much! It’s my priority! It’s also why I have found a quiet place to sit away from the crowd here. The restaurant area is noisy, loud and feels a bit like noice pollution for me. So I go where I feel more comfortable. Just a few steps away. And here, i’m watching the water, the trees, observing the blossoms and watching the birds and butterflies come through! Below are contrasting images. The first is the dining area. The second is a view spotted near where I sit to eat.
Now, I go finish packing. Once I leave here, I’ll likely not have WiFi for about 9 or 10 days. I’ll post some photo’s and, if I can capture some interesting video, I’ll put that up when I get back! Off on an amazing adventure!