An orangutan and a turtle

After leaving Kota Kinabalu (and please excuse me for my memory as my pure laziness and tropical lifestyle of recent has resulted in me not posting or taking notes or writing anything), our little travelling family ventured on to Sandakan with the hope of seeing some orangutans in Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary (I suppose the name guarantees a sighting). True enough, the following morning, as we were brought into the sanctuary, it was feeding time for the little orange folk. Only 2 made it out for feeding which I take as a good thing, hoping that the others can find their own food and are capable of wilding it up. Not to bore anyone with too much detail...Orangutans = Cute and baby orangutans = super cute.
Also in Sepilok we made our way to the Rainforest Centre where there are many canopy walkways high over the forest floor and giant trees, aptly named the Sepilok Giant. The rainforest is great value if even only for the wild baby monkey that became quite attached to Stephen on the way out.

Orangutans - Check
Monkeys - Check
Turtles - Pending

So we leave the jungle, the big mosquitos and primates and head for the south east coast of Sabah. Driving to Semporna, its hard not to notice (if not being constantly reminded by your seating partner) the devastation of the borneo rainforest for palm oil mills. Rows and rows of palm trees as far as the eye can see. The reason for these orangutan sanctuaries became much more apparent, they're pretty much homeless!

Arriving in Semporna I felt we were off the tourist trail a little and was delighted but alas this was not the case. Its a diving mecca which means many tourists, just a little segregated is all. In anycase, Semporna provided us the perfect outpost for a turtle search. Staying in the (rather fancy but also providing dorm rooms for us wasters) dragon inn hotel, an amazing floating resort, we arranged a trip out to Mabul and Kapalai for a snorkel or two. This did not disappoint. The snorkeling around Mabul was pretty spectacular and the island itself is quite the paradise.

Turtles - check.

Time to leave Sabah and time to say goodbye to the girls. Next on the list....

Proboscis Monkeys
Manta Rays
Buffalo
Eagle Rays ..... any many more.