Borneo

Kota Kinabalu

We flew into to Kota Kinabalu on the western side of Malaysian Borneo.  We spent a few days catching up on school, visiting a cultural village, and enjoying the fantastic sunsets.

It was definitely not a tourist area, which was great.  The food was extremely cheap and very good.  We ate at roadside outdoor cafes, and often ended up ordering by pointing to what other tables were eating, since we couldn't decipher the menus.

Watching the sun set across the South China sea towards Vietnam

The Kota Kinabalu floating mosque

Traditional tribal wedding bench where the bride and groom would accept visitors for three days

Katie getting inked

Alex, Keri, and Katie's matching gang symbols

Picture with members of one of the Borneo headhunting tribes

It was fascinating to see the jungle fighting back against development

A mudskipper!

Looks like Vietnam is on fire

Pulau Selingaan - Turtle Islands National Park

Next we drove to Sandakan on the east side of Borneo.

We took a boat out to the Turtle Islands National  Park, where they protect the nesting areas of sea turtles.  We spent the night to watch Green Sea turtles laying eggs and hatchlings being released to the sea.  The turtles were a fantastic experience.  It was the most tourist-oriented place we visited on Borneo, and unfortunately, the only place where the food made Alex and I sick.  Better to stick to the roadside cafes.

Snorkeling off of Puluau Selingaan

Giant blue and gold clams hiding in the coral

Enjoying the beach before the sunset curfew (to protect nesting sea turtles)

They've grow a lot in the past year!

Moon over Pulau Selingaan

Green sea turtle laying eggs on the beach on Pulau Selingaan

After the turtles lay eggs, they are moved to this hatchery to prevent them from being crushed or eaten

They will be turtles one day...

Hatchlings being released on the beach

Tracks of sea turtles coming ashore for nesting

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

Since Alex and I weren't feeling well, Katie and Keri got to check out the orangutans at the rehabilitation centre.  A big part of the appeal of Borneo was for Katie to see the orangutans, so I'm glad she was able to visit them!

Who needs a hammock when you have four hands to hang from

Don't be concerned about the pit vipers hanging in the trees above the trails

Katie - come play with us!

Unreal looking green crested lizard

Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre

Next stop was the conservation center for the protection of sun bears.  Sun bears have gold patches that look like necklaces on their upper chests.

Sun bear just strolling along

A white flower landed right on the sun bear's forehead

Yummy insects!

Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary

Last stop was the proboscis monkey sanctuary.  Of all of the lemurs, monkeys, and apes we've seen, the proboscis had faces and expressions that are most similar to humans.

Pondering the meaning of life

It's uncanny how human their expressions are

Amazing fuzzy hands and feet - they look like they are wearing mittens

Who invited a wookie to lunch?

Hugs!

Add one more to the list of pets/friends Katie wants

Next stop...

Thailand!

Australia - Part 3 - Tasmania

Platypus Hunting

As soon as our ferry landed in Tasmania at dawn, we headed to Latrobe, where we were told we might be able to see a platypus.  We were in luck, and managed to see three platypi (?) swimming across the river.  We didn't get any pictures of them, but we can verify they aren't imaginary creatures (even though they still look like somebody made them up!).

Can you see the platypus in this picture?

Ok...this might not be a real platypus

Launceston

We spent the first few days in Launceston, primarily catching up on school.  We also were able to take advantage of nice weather (not something Tasmania is known for) to check out the Cataract Gorge, which is walking distance from downtown.

Alex the hamster

Alex finishing a tough climb while cruise boat passengers watched him from below on the South Esk River

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

We visited the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in particular to get a chance to see Tasmanian Devils, and were also able to see wombats and feed a mob of kangaroos.

A friendly Tasmanian Devil...whose bite can crush bones

This cute wombat with stubby legs can sprint at 40 km/hour

Cute and fuzzy...and can weigh up to 35 kg (75 lbs)!

I prefer our pictures of wild koalas (see Kangaroo Island post), but this one is still pretty adorable

Alex verifying koalas are actually as soft and fuzzy as they look

Randall the three-legged echidna

A tawny frogmouth (it's "owl-like", but not an owl)

Alex found Roo!

Oooh - that's the spot!

The reason a group of kangaroos is called a mob

Hi Joey!

Climbing the Moai sea stack

We didn't make it to Easter Island, but did climb a Moai!  It's a free standing sea stack on the wild southwest coast of Tasmania.

Starting the 90 minute hike to the cliffs above the Moai

Looking down on the Moai from the cliff top

Katie enjoying the exposure

Alex on the summit of the Moai...hoping it doesn't collapse today

Victory smiles all around

Don't look down!

It's not over yet!  Katie on the two pitches of climbing to get back up the cliff, then the hike back to the car

Not climbing the Candlestick sea stack

The day after climbing the Moai, we headed back out to the other side of the bay to try climbing the Candlestick.  This is a two-hour hike each way with four pitches of climbing and a long rappel.  It also adds a swim across the channel and two Tyrolean traverses (think of a zip line that we would rig to move between the mainland and the Candlestick).

Unfortunately, it didn't work out.  I stared at the churning water, surging waves, and partially exposed rocks for quite some time, and decided to save it for another trip.  Next time!

The Candlestick is the rock pillar between the mainland (right of picture) and the middle island

The plan was to rappel down to the cliff base, then swim across the churn and rocks past the Totem, and establish an anchor on the far side

The Totem is the small freestanding pillar, and the Candlestick is the stack of pillars behind it

Next...

Back to Melbourne to catch up on school, and get ready to head to Borneo!