Borneo

Me next to a tree !! Stopped off in Sipilok to see the Orangutans. The jungle was hot, humid and full of leeches, think we prefer the mountains, couldn't put up with Diane screaming all the time, left my nerves in tatters :)




Out of the Jungle and on to Sipodan for some class diving. The town itself was a complete dump, rats everywhere and bloody great lizards crawling around. In complete contrast to the crystal clear waters and amazing diving.

Picture perfect little islands are sprinkled up and down the coast, all with their own reefs

Diane lookin trendy, I especially like the socks :) You can just make out the padding on her left leg. An insect bite that had become infected became a boil the size of a fried egg. Three days after this shot Di was laid out in the clinic and the Doctor took the scalpel to it as it had turned into a leg ulcer, Blimey talk about screaming, the other patients must have thought someone was about to have a baby. Nasty business but it had to be done, Fairplay they cleaned it right out and dressed it. We are 2 weeks on now and its almost healed. Di never complained once heh. Whilst I did the final dives on the last day, Diane was laid up in bed finally resting her leg up on pillows ready for our 2 day climb up Mt Kinabalu the next day.

I just love diving, here we are 2 happy skylarks heading for another dive site. We hadn,t seen a turtle till we got to Sipidan but we must have seen about 10 on the first dive !! On my final dive the guide pointed one out in the sand, it was some way off. As we got closer it was clear the thing was massive. Never seen a turtle so huge. The size of a small family car, head the size of a large dog. I sat not more that 3 or 4 feet from this gentle giant and watched it gob smacked, I could only wonder how long this beautiful creature had roamed the ocean. Definitely one of my top dives.

little baby Orang with the keeper

You cannot imagine the extent of the palm oil production in Borneo. They used to say that an Orangutang could swing from tree to tree crossing the whole of Borneo and never touch the ground! Sadly those days are gone forever. There are still areas of pristine forest but they are being ever more hemmed in and encroached by the logging and plantation owners

yuk leeches are gross

At least they must eat the rats thats gotta be a good thing

couple of vids for the kids the urangs are great