August 6,

Up earlier than we should have been. We neither one slept well due to the horrible bed. While having our Javas & Breakfast of Muesli and milk, Jeff received a surprise text… availability for a river tour today! We had not booked a tour ahead of time quick enough and all spots had filled up. It’s high season here. So we had been placed on standby – if there was a cancellation/availability that opened up… I was excited and I started scrambling. Jeff texted The guy got back, but he took a while to respond. So I stopped as we were still in limbo. Finally he sent confirmation and info so we readied very quickly – packing for two days and one night.

Jeff met the guy at 1000 and paid 760 Ringgit each, which is basically $180 each. Finished sorting/packing, because well we had not really even unpacked yet!! We met the guy at 1115. He is of Chinese descent, his family has been in Malaysia for a couple of generations. He gave us a map of Sandakan and some info. Then drove us to a drop off where the bus was. We were given time to go to a grocery store; picked up a few snacks; then boarded the bus for Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort. The bus had 28 seats, but we were all by ourselves.

We left at 1138, picked up other tourists. Ah-Ha! Some at the airport and the rest at two different resorts. We did wait a long time at the last place for others to come there. Finally, we set off at 1320. We hit rain around 1340, ugh. The roads were horrible as in Laos quality! As we leave the city proper, the road is flanked with palm trees. It’s huge plantations of them and they go on and on! Jeff had looked it up, Malaysia is the second largest producer of palm oil in the world. There were so many palms, and I realized this may be one of the reasons why Orangutans are critically endangered. This is one animal we hope to see on this tour. Where we turned off the plantation ended. It stopped raining about then also. Yay!🤞🏻

We arrived at the resort around 1515. A receptionist boarded the bus and walked us through the happenings of our tours. This is our day one. We checked in and were taken to our bungalow. The whole resort is mostly bungalows with a couple of dorms, but all are elevated. We even walk along on an elevated wooden path to our place. It is quite a trek as we are in the latest edition area. We unloaded quickly and went back to the main building – reception and food hall. We have a 1600 River Excursion! We were all divided into groups. Our grouping is eight- three couples including us, and two single men. Then there is Linda the guide and the boat driver (didn’t catch his name).

Linda introduced herself and explained that we will be out two hours. She hopes to help us see “The Big Five” – Bornean Orangutan, Proboscis Monkey, Bornean Pygmy Elephant, Rhinoceros Hornbill, and Saltwater Crocodile. We set off on the Kinabatangan River!

Not very far Linda spotted a three meter Crocodile, but he flipped under water before most saw it. Then ahead we saw boats congregated and we sped to see a Buffy Fish Owl. One of the other guides had a laser pointer, so was easy to find. We moved on seeing flying and perched Oriental Pied Hornbills. Then… more boats grouped up and we saw Pygmy Elephants!!! They were walking along an elevated bank of the rivers edge amongst the trees. But you could make them out through opening. We sat here a while. Don’t know how many there were, but did not care… it’s a Pygmy Elephant! Linda said they were waiting for us to leave so they could come down into water. We finally did leave, moving on.

Next she saw and pointed out some Pig tail Macaques, up in trees. Then we saw a baby Crocodile – it quickly went underwater also. But not before we could all see it – the babies have more yellow alternating with black-gray. Interesting. Next one of the single guys and I saw a Proboscis Monkey, but it was too late and no one else saw it, because we sped up to another grouping of boats… an Orangutan – at quite a distance. I could not have said it was an Orangutan, but Jeff said he saw it move and knew. So technically I have now seen four of the big five!

Next we saw a small group of Proboscis Monkeys. So everyone on board has seen four also. Linda then spotted a Wrinkled Hornbill, and we moved on to another boat grouping. A group of ten or so Pygmy Elephants!!! We stayed here a while. They are not as small as “pygmy” implies, about 75-90% the size of a normal Asian Elephant. There was one brave elephant in the water. The group on shore: some were playing- one was sitting on another, and two were “trunk” kissing; some were eating; and the rest were protecting at least two babies. Linda said she thought the babies were around three years old. The biggest elephant had a tracking collar on. Linda said it was so it and the group could be tracked. Two other elephants got in the water! Cool to see them lumber in!! Then we moved on, we turned around to head back.

As we went, we saw a Storm stork. It is a very rare stork species- less than 500 wild ones, according to Wikipedia! Also saw an eagle, Linda did not say what kind it was. Then we saw more Macaques; Jeff pointed out a Langur. I saw a Kingfisher skimming the water. Next we saw Bushy-crested Hornbills, many in a single branch of a tree, weighing it down. Almost back at the resort, there was small show of color for sunset. Just as we were within sight of our place Linda finally saw a male and female of the Rhinoceros Hornbill. We stopped briefly and watched them. Linda has binoculars and has past them around. Wow! WOW! WOW!! What an excursion. We were blessed to see the Big Five of Borneo! Praise be to God to witness more of His creation!

We arrived back, unloaded and had a buffet feast: Roasted Honey Chicken; Beef in Dark Soy Sauce with peas, onion and medium chilies; Stir-fry Cabbage with long beans, carrots, onions and peppers; and Potato in Coconut Milk creamed with carrots. It was yummy and great end to our adventure. Finished we went back to our room, exhausted but so, so happy. Bed by 2100 – early morning tomorrow!