lchin

Can anyone tell me if the hiking is on the ground or all on canopies? I am planning to go in
late Jan. and someone told me it is not possible to walk in the jungle, only above it. I have a fear of swinging bridges, esp. at heights. Is this going to be a problem?

Kathie

Not a problem. Almost all of the hiking is on the ground. There is one large canopy walk and a few small bridges, but you will have plenty to do and see even if you avoid the canopy walk. Parts of the canopy walk are very stable, the long stretch does swing a bit.

Kathie

Here are some of our photos from the BRL. This may give you a better sense of the hiking.
www.marlandc.com/Borneo/DanumValley/index.htm

glover

Ichin - we're going to be at BRL from Jan. 20-24 - will you be there then?

rivet

We'll be at BRL in a week. 2N 3D adventure for our family.

Kathie your pictures remind me of rainforest scenes in Costa Rica. Can't wait for Borneo!

One consideration of hiking that stumped us for quite a while was what footwear to bring, especially since we are entering the rainier season. Fortunately I came across a couple of recommendations for Adidas Kampungs, cheap rubber shoes available in Malaysia. These have good traction and dry out easily - at $3 a pair, a bargain.

http://my-rainforest-adventures.blog...pung-ultimate-

About the leech socks..... I was wondering about the comfort since the actual "sock" part looks like a crisp fabric, and I wondered if that excess fabric might be uncomfortable, especially if it gets wet. Read somewhere that ladies nylons or lycra blends are pretty good at keeping the leeches away. The lycra socks are meant to be worn over the pant cuff. We have decided to go with thatoption rather than the traditional style of leech gaitors so will report back on our experience.

Kathie

Let us know how it works for you. We felt the leech socks did a fine job. I would think the leeches could bite right through nylons.

I'll look forward to your report!

rivet

Kathie, I'm not sure why the leeches don't bite through the pantyhose. Maybe their hooks get caught in the tight weave?

I'm sure the leech socks would be superior but didn't you find them uncomfortable to wear with shoes? The info I have read describes the sock part as a stiff canvas which sounds nasty.

FromDC

Looking forward to your report as we will be at BRL in mid-Feb. Can you also give us an idea of the chalet layouts? We're weighing the tradeoff between a river view (which has 2 units joined) or the jungle view (single unit, presumably more privacy?)

Kathie

The leech socks are not canvas. They are tightly woven but not heavy. We wore light-weight hiking boots (with some breathability) and they were just fine. The leech socks go over your foot, inside your shoe/boot, over your pant legs and tie at the knee. You might well find pantyhose to be hotter! BTW, you can buy leech socks at the BRL at the same price you would pay elsewhere.

Look at the leech photos - they are small and they can squeeze through tiny holes.

The BRL has remodeled and added a few units since we were there, so I'll look forward to all of your reports.

susncrg

rivet and FromDC, I'll be looking forward to your reports and suggestions eagerly, as we are booked to go in March. Are either of you going to Sandakan or Sukau as well. I'm stll deciding on itinerary and would love to hear both of yours. Thanks.

FromDC

We aren't going to either of those places, just to a resort outside KK after BRL (trying to decide between Bunga Raya and Tanjung Aru)then Kuching for several days. Still don't have definite plans for either of those parts of the trip yet.

rivet

Thanks for the added info Kathie. I agree the pantyhose may be hotter. Perhaps we will get the leech socks afterall.

We will be able to do a good comparison of the room types as we have booked 2 rooms, one with the riverview and outdoor tub, the other a standard room. The standard rooms are closer to the lodge, if that matters.

lchin

In answer to your question Glover, we will be there Jan. 29-31

StanKase

Let me ask a question that hopefully you all will not dump on me. Considering I cannot hike more than about 1 mile due to a knee replacement gone bad nor handle inclines can I get 80+% out of the Borneo experience(observing the variety of mammals in their natural habitat and visiting local remote local communities) by taking late afternoon/early evening trips on the Kinabatangan River,visiting the Rehabilitation Center and short walks over 4 full days/5 nights? Can I do this without changing base camps so to speak if we are willing to take and pay for 2 hour jeep rides to the river? Though we all like to avoid the heat/humidity can we stay at a place that is not like a Hyatt that has air conditioning since we are considering going in May 2011? Yes. a lot of questions but current information based on those that are going who have done the research would provide us with useful input. Lastly we wanted to leave that area and get to am area that has quality free diving as good as the Redang/Prehentian Islands without making 2-3 connections. Is that practical and where considering the "High Alert" of coral bleaching in S.E. Asia as of Sept.

jrn

Rivet -- where are you planning to buy your Adidas Kampung??

I would like these, too, for our trip in April, but I can't find anything like them anywhere online.

Prior to visiting the BRL and the Kinabatangan, we will spend three nights at Le Meridien in Kota Kinabalu, which is located, literally, in front of the night market. Do you think we can assume that we'll be able to buy the Adidas Kampung at the market (kids and adults)?

Any info would be great!

rivet

jrn,

just putting together my trip report and I'll have lots of info for you as well as some detailed perspectives of the layouts as we had one standard and one river view chalet.

don't worry about the adidas kampungs - they are simple rubber slip ons that literally cost just over a dollar and are at all the little shoes places. KK shopping, at least near the Hyatt was like a giant dollar store.

The shoes come in black, most commom, or white. The guides at the lodge all wore these. They are generous in width and you can wear them with or without laces.

I promise lots of details in the next week or so, but it is a glorious day in Ubud so must sign off.

FromDC

Rivet, very much looking forward to your report as I still have lots of details to work out before my Feb trip.

glover

add me to the list of those looking forward to your trip report, Rivet, especially this part re BRL. we'll be there in later January . . .

and we're also fromdc.

jrn

Thank you, Rivet! I can't wait for your report!

(So, really, I can pack with full confidence that I will be able to buy the adidas kampung in the market and not lose a day looking for them?! I'm paranoid, I know! But, we want to travel with carry-on bags only, so if we can all wear a teva sandal and then just buy the adidas kampung when we arrive, packing will be easier!)

susncrg

Rivet- we go to Borneo in March, so add me to the list of people motivating you to write that report! However, I totally understand that a lovely day in Ubud is way more important to savor than giving in to our howls of yearning. Have a good time and go to Sari Organik for lunch!