Nev and I set off on another adventure… this time (diving) in Borneo… I have to admit I was a bit dubious about this trip… My memories of Borneo where pretty gloomy, it wasn’t so much the place as the people and the huge cultural difference… I guess matters were not helped by the fact that I was a lone Asian female in a Muslim country and although expected to, couldn’t speak the language!
This time however there was no mistaking I was a tourist! Traveling in style with a huge white guy and staying in hotels as opposed to (excuse me for being so blunt) $%!t holes!
Borneo was just as beautiful as I remember it… wet… but beautiful none the less.
We spent our first night in KK and then headed off to Sandakan the following day .
The journey to Sandakan has got to have been an adventure in itself… after spending a few hours at the airport, 2 delays, a cancellation, a change of flight and then more waiting, we were told that our original flight had finally arrived… as we were traveling light and seemed to be the only passengers booked onto that flight with hang luggage we were quickly ushered onto the completely empty plane! We took our private jet across the country to the jungles of Easter Sabha to visit the famous Sipilok Orangutan Sanctuary and also the amazing Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary…. It was amazing to see these creatures in their natural habitats…. Waiting for them to arrive at feeding time and trying to spot the multitude of little red faces hiding in the trees.
Our next stop was Tawau…… this being the real reason for our visit… Sipidan! One of the top 10 dive sites in the world.. and let me tell you it didn’t disappoint! If it’s turtles and sharks (not to mention the odd sea snake) that you are after, this is the place for you. It was just as beautiful and breathtaking as I remembered… I was stoked that Nev was able to experience it for himself! Sipdan Water Village was stunning (with a ‘interesting’ i.e. strange, mix of local and foreign inhabitants) and I was glad that the experienced was not tarnished by the fact that we would have to stay in Sempora!
Anyway enough ranting for now…
Next stop Thailand!
;o)
