Day 231 (Fri 23 Feb) - Kota Kinabalu / Kinabatangan River

Up at 5.30am. Completed our packing quietly and then walked to the bus station. We asked some waiting bus drivers where we could catch a bus to the long distance bus station. They waved us onto a waiting bus. We thought that this was too easy and were proved right. The bus took off, went a few blocks and then we were ushered out to another bus stop.

We waited for quite some time becoming a trifle anxious. If we missed our 7am bus another would not leave until late that afternoon. A bus soon arrived and we clambered aboard.

As the bus stopped at the bus station it was mobbed by screaming touts. Even worse than India. Fought them off and found the bus, the Tung Express, that we had been told to get and bought our tickets. We soon boarded the bus and Sarb was soon asleep as the bus made its way South.

We got off at a small town called Medan Selera where we were met by a guide called Jibrieal. We were a little early so while we waited we chatted and had some semolina and sweetcorn soup and a coke. From here we drove in Jibrieal's small van for about 1 and a half hours on an unsealed road to the river. It was a pretty bumpy and slow road! Just before we reached our drop off point J pointed out a slender black shape making its way across the road. "Cobra!" he exclaimed.

From our drop off point we boarded a small boat that took us to a point further upstream and on the opposite side of the riverbank. Our raised cabin is quite comfy. Two single beds and a shower and toilet out back. Unpacked our gear and explored the riverbank in front of us.

Met a few other travelers that had been staying there. A pair of German guys with a Thai woman traveling as a group, a young Brit couple and a lone Brit gap year student.

Later that afternoon we boarded two small boats. Sarb got in with the Germans/Thai group and Jo traveled with the Brits ( [1], [2] ). As we traveled up the river we spotted huge hornbills, kingfishers, langur, proboscis monkeys and an eagle. Peeling off the main waterway Jo's boat became stuck and her guide had to execute a 15 point turn to get them out it.

We stayed out for quite a while and were rewarded with a great sunset as we headed back to camp.

Once we were back we had a good dinner all together and a few beers. Jo and I then went for a night walk with one of the rangers, called Loise. As we walked Loise pointed out a sleeping bulbul bird, a lizard, a sleeping fruit bat and some highly colourful beetles. He then spent a little time prodding around under a tree before extracting a scorpion some 6 inches long. Having extracted it he placed it on his forearm. The scorpion was a bit lively and seemed quite content wandering up and down his arm. He asked if we wanted to 'hold it'. We politely declined. He nodded knowingly and told us that the other night a girl had agreed to hold a similar scorpion. No sooner had he placed it on her arm she burst into tears and practically fainted from shock. Muppet!

Loise was careful as we walked to point out that we should step over the occasional busy line of ants that bisected our path. Although we were wearing wellies he said that we should be wary as they were fire ants and particularly aggressive.

We walked on into the forest and just as we neared our camp we heard the sound of plants rustling and looked round to see a small furry animal with a broad white stripe making off at speed. Turned out he was a Malay badger, a member of the skunk family.

Made it back to camp where we had a couple of stiff gin and tonics before turning in.