I Wan'na Be Like You ...

It's our last day in Borneo and we are spending it at the Sepilok Nature resort in Sabah. Which is right next door to the orangutan sanctuary. At 10am and 3pm you are able to watch from a feeding platform the orangutans getting their daily bananas and other fruit. Opened in 1964, the rehabilitation centre is for rescued baby orangutans from either logging sites or having been kept as pets. When they are old enough and trained to survive in the wild they are release back.

Jenny - Have a wonderful time. I would love to see your photos when you return. Please forward on your details as I couldn't access your profile.

The Adventure Continues

Our time on the Kinabatangan River was filled with a host of mammals and birds along the rivers edge. Although the 3 boat trips a day had me constantly feeling as I was swaying from side to side. It was well worth it. The weather was good and it only rained once during the night. It was great to be dry and not constantly wet. We were fortunate enough to see a group of pygmy elephants and the Proboscis monkeys.

Female Proboscis Monkey

The last 4 day has been spent on the remote island of Lankayan. It's a small tropical paradise 15km off the North East coast of Borneo. We traveled by boat for just over two hours of very rough sea to get here, we all looked very green as we finally pulled up beside a welcome party on the jetty.  A very pleasant change to the humid and harsh mainland. I have been soaking up the sun or watching the array of sea life swimming past our chalet balcony, whilst my husband dives. 

Young Black Tipped shark

Tomorrow we head back to the mainland to Sepilok Nature Reserve. A sanctuary and home to some of the last Orang-Utans of Northern Borneo. 

Jenny - You will have an amazing time. A few essential things for the rain forest. Leech socks (you can buy them there). Long sleeve tops (as many as you can fit in as you are constantly wet and nothing will dry) and strangely baby talc. Something I read in a travel book helps with the constant moisture and keeps you feeling fresher!! My husband even resorted to using it :)

Borneo Rainforest

It's our 3rd day at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge and pretty much out of touch with the outside world. I have never experienced humidity like it. There has been daily and nightly tropical storms, which is very unseasonable. The drive here took 3 hours from the nearest town. Along the way a couple of the makeshift bridges has collapsed and been washed away due to the heavy rain and rising level of the river. We had to drive fortunately in a 4x4 across the river with water a 3rd of the way up the door. Because of the continuous rain it has been rumoured they have not been able to rebuild the bridge. It's going to be interesting getting out of this place.
The rainforest is amazing. The sound of so many different animals can be deafening. We have seen a small family of Orang-outangs high in the tree tops. There are very few left in this area. Organisations are trying to everything they can to protect and rebuild their natural habitat. Our various daily treks are exhausting and very challenging. The forest is very muddy due to all the rain and there are leeches everywhere. We are continuously pulling them off. One did unfortunately find its way through my trousers onto my leg. It bled for ages. If you like insects you'd be in heaven here. On yesterday's night drive we spotted a huge tarantula on a tree branch. Not one of my favourite creatures I admit. We leave tomorrow and are heading to Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge for a few nights. Here we should see more mammals and experience more of the adventures of Borneo.
(Stephanie - please let my mother know we are ok)

Victoria Park Gentlemen

Looking out at my Hong Kong harbour view with grey hazy skies it didn't seem too appealing for my planned walk. So headed to Starbucks for a coffee and pastry to work out a plan of action. Fed and watered I headed towards Hong Kong Park. Exploring a number of shops on the way. HK Park is one of a few areas of greenery within the city area. It houses a large netted aviary named after Edward Youde. Unusual pigeons swoop just above your head, strange squarks echo around you. Situated on the edge of the park is Cotton Tree Drive Registry Office. I was just in time to see a newly married young couple appear and have their photos taken in the park. As if my magic the sun appears for a short time.The warmth feels good. Next a quick sandwich and a brisk walk back to Hennessy Road to get the tram to Causeway Bay before I  fall asleep. Transport runs so efficiently here no delays, all very straight forward. I browse the many shops around the area. It's so busy and hectic, so I head out to Victoria Park for a leisurely stroll. I meet a man walking backwards and an area signed 'Laughing Corner'! Just before I left the park I meet these three very friendly gentlemen having their afternoon catch up. They seemed very happy for me to take their photo. It's been a tiring day in Hong Kong.

Whitstable Oysters

What a glorious day to be beside the seaside! Whitstable is an established fishing port on the south east coast of England. It has been associated with oysters for hundreds of years. The town holds an annual oyster festival in July. However, there is an old saying you should 'only eat oysters if there is an R in the month'! The reason for the festival in July, is that in Norman times there was a annual customary thanksgiving for fishers are dredgers for their survival and harvest. This would be held out of the oyster season.  As St James's Day (the patron saint of oysters) fell on the 25th July this then became the accepted month for todays festivals.

Super Moon

Yesterday consisted of a sunny frosty morning, blue skies during the day and a clear cold evening. Perfect weather for viewing spectacular moon. Passing the earth at a distance of 221,567 miles (356,577 kilometres). It is the closest it has been to the earth in 18 years and is know as a lunar perigee. With a 400mm lens and some post cropping I was quite please with the results.

Getting creative ...

I haven't felt particularly creative or motivated to take photo's over the last few weeks. Mostly due to the weather but also the continuous draining conversations I have been having with insurers and loss adjusters over the right off of my car. But today I thought life was too short to worry about that stuff so I turned to my fellow photo bloggers for inspiration and direction. Lisa's The Creative Exchange was just what I needed. Thank you Lisa!