susncrg

DH and I are going to Borneo on a dive trip and are planning a land trip prior/post the diving. The only set dates/places are being in Tawau to meet up with the dive group and be taken to our dive boat, the MV Celebes Explorer, on April 3, 2011. We depart the boat on April 13.

I've wanted to see the orangutans and other wildlife for years. I've contacted Borneo Rainforest Lodge for available dates, so am remaining flexible till I hear back from them. I've copied Kathie's TR to use as a basic guide and have a guidebook as well. Unfortunately, I want to go everywhere I've read about. That being impossible, I've decided I probably only have time to cover Sabah, and maybe a stopover enroute from home.

1. Any opinion on whether Hong Kong or KL would make a better place to spend a few days?

2. Has anyone tackled Mt. Kinabalu on either a guided trek or indepently? If so, how was the experience?

3. If anyone knows, are BRL and the Last Frontier Resort sufficiently similar that you would only do one of them (eg, the terrain and wildlife). I know you go on a boat at Last Resort one evening, so that's a tad different).

4. Kathie- I may have missed this, but if you had a choice, would you stick with the BRL 2 night or have done the 3 night? Also, do you think you would have enjoyed Kinabalu Park if you'd gone prior to BRL, or should we just skip it, knowing better things are coming?

Thanks for any advice people have. I'll probably have more questions after I find out about availability at BRL. One further itinerary problem - I think we'll need to fly back and forth a few times more than I'd like. It seemed to make sense to go to Tawau straight from Lahad Datu since it's a lot closer than KK to Tawau, but it seems there are no flights between the 2, at least on Malaysia Air. Also, if I do go back to KK after BRL, I can leave all my dive gear in KK without dragging it around the rainforest. But it would be nice to know if someone offers that domestic routing. Couldn't find anything online yet, but maybe I'm missing a good website. Anyone know?

Kathie

Ok, Here's my opinion:

1. Hong Kong. No contest.

2. I know there are a couple of people here who have climbed Mt. Kinabalu. We didn't.

3. As far as I know (having been only to BRL), I'd choose just one. They are in different places - the BRL is in a protected conservation area, lots more protected area around, more pristine rainforest, orangutans are truly wild, not in a rehab center where they are being fed. The boat ride is the one thing that attracted me to the places on the Kinabalangan River, but ultimately, the BRL won out for us.

4. Two nights was enough to see some great wildlife. If I were to do it again, I'd opt for three nights. Knowing what I know now, I'd skip Kinabalu Park.

When I was there, the only flights out of Lahad Datu went to KK. I don't know if there is a small airline operating now that could take you to Tawau, though I doubt it. You might ask the agency that now books the BRL (Borneo Nature Tours?).

You certainly could store things in KK. We stayed at the same hotel before and after the BRL and stored things there (the Hyatt), even leaving things like cash, jewelry, etc, in a safe deposit box. I'm sure hotels in KK are accustomed to storing things for guests.

It sounds like a wonderful trip!

susncrg

Thanks for the quick reply. If I can swing it, I think I will do the 3 night then. I can go to the orphanage later, if we just can't find any wild orangs. Anything else, not mentioned in your TR that you want to recommend?

By the way, was it you (or maybe Marmot) who recommended the drive up to the Dieng Plateau on Java a few years back? Because we did it based on the Fodors post and loved it.

Kathie

I recommend the drive to the Dieng Plateau, but I'll bet Marmot did too.

We also planned our itinerary so that if we didn't see any orangutans in the wild, we could opt to visit a rehab center. Fortunately, we saw the orangutans at the BRL!

silverwool

I tried Mt Kinabalu last year and got altitude sickness so only made Laban Ratu. From what i was told the summit is difficult but achievable if you are reasonably fit. (I was 61 and handled the first part of the climb without any problems ) However, I have heard something about health risks associated with altitude and diving within a short period of time. Worth checking out if you are considering doing both.

Also a guide is compulsory if you are climbing Mt Kinabalu. Ours was basically useless, spent most of the time smoking, coughing his lungs out and playing on his mobile phone. Spoke very limited English.

crellston

We made it to the summit of Kinabalu about 10 years ago. We were a group of 10 friends, all reasonably fit (some very fit)half of us made it. As the climb is done over a 24 hour period with a night on the mountain there was little time for acclimatisation and all of us suffered the effects of the altitude (headaches, excessive tiredness etc) but none suffered true AMS. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Would I do it again - yes. In fact we did an even higher ascent in the Andes which was actually a bit easier as we had been living at altitude for some weeks.

There are few words that can describe the sense of achievement of having made it to watch the sunrise above the clouds on the summit and looking over the edge into the 4000ft sheer drop which is Lows gully.

Silverwool is spot on with the description of the guide. In fact, I think we must have had the same one! Ours left us at the summit and disappeared back down the mountain on his own! They are however a requirement. We booked ours on arrival at the mountain but I guess you would get a better service booking a tour from the town (at a price). It is difficult to get lost as there is only one way up but we did appreciate the guide on the final ascent which started at 2.00am and involved traversing some quite narrow rock ledges with just rope to hang on to in the dark 9a head torch is a must!). The descent was the hardest part using totally different leg muscles I found it quite painful for a coulpe of days after and really regretted not spening a little more time in the gym beforehand.
SW is correct re diving and altitude. Advice varies but we were told to leave 24 hours between dining and ascent (or 12 hours in a pressurised plane.
Some good tips at
http://www.mount-kinabalu-borneo.com/

susncrg

DH nixed the mountain ascent. Not worth getting too sore when we have 10 days of diving we'll need our leg muscles for. I know how sore I got on the Milford Track and this is at higher altitude as well.

Would it be worth going and doing the several day hikes in the general area?

silverwool

I think you are probably wise skipping the climb in favour of diving. For the benefit of anyone else I think that even when you book a tour from Kota Kinabalu you end up with a 'local' guide. I suspect its just the luck of the draw as some other people I met were very happy with their guides.

Kathie

The day hikes at Kinabalu are, in my opinion, underwhelming. Personally, I think your time is better spent elsewhere.

susncrg

I ran across a blog on my google searching and they went from BRL by road to Sandakan. Anyone spend some time there? Or, we could fly back to KK after BRL and go to Kuching. I know you found it charming, Kathie, but was it that way because of your personal connection with Hornbill, or would you have enjoyed it a lot anyway?

Kathie

We did love Kuching. It's a charming city, and we would have enjoyed it even without Hornbill. Sabah is great for wildlife, Sarawak has the tribal cultures. You could arrange for a longhouse visit or even an overnight stay if that interests you (but don't do the Hilton Longhouse). Bako was one of the places near Kuching we would liked to have visited.

In looking back at our trip to the BRL, I remembered there was a couple there who we met who had spent a couple of days at one of the lodges near Sandakan that does the river trips before coming to the BRL. I think they may have come overland rather than flying. I don't remember what they said about the roads.

susncrg

Thanks. Brings back memories of my parents' tales of a night sleeping in a longhouse with a tribe. My mother got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and went back to the wrong sleeping area. Not sure what the male occupant thought she was up to!!

susncrg

Confound it!!! I've tried contacting BRL 3 times using their own website, Borneo Nature Tours website and directly at [email protected]. No answer from any of them. Anyone have any other suggestions? I guess I'll try phone contact, but would love to them to answer email as it's a lot easier given time differences.

jrhogan

I travel to Borneo quite frequently and will be heading there again in October '10. This time to explore the Birdwatching Festival out by Sepilok. If you ask me, Sabah and Sarawak are absolutely filled with nature activities, eco-tourism and diving. 10 days there wouldn't be enough to do everything. I one met a 'flashpacker' who spent a good 2 months exploring just Sabah and Sarawak from May to June 2010 when I was in KK for the Harvest Festival.

For the record, I work closely with Sabah Tourism in helping them promote much of their amazing Eco-Tourism activities via twitter, facebook and the general internet. One of the places I would recommend would be Sandakan and you would need at least minimum 4-5 days there to visit Sepilok Orangutan Rehab Center, Rainforest Discovery Center (RDC), Gomantong Caves and the famed Kinabatangan River for the stunning wildlife there. There's also Turtle Island and Lankayan Island off Sandakan to do some diving or snorkeling so this place would be perfect for a week if you want to achieve all that. I have written a number of articles on these places and you can find them here - http://blog.malaysia-asia.my/search/...ia%20-%20Sabah under my Sabah Borneo title. Most of the places are Eco related with pics and information.

To try and achieve Sabah and Sarawak in one week or 10 days would be missing out on a lot of beautiful attractions. My honest opinion would be to do it in just one state. This way you have a reason to go back to the next state in future. Providing you are a full Eco, Nature, Sea lover. If you need more information on Sabah, you can also visit the official Sabah Tourism site: http://www.sabahtourism.com

I hope the information here helps and that you plan out a fab itinerary to Borneo.

Regards,
David

jrn

Borneo Nature Tours is the official site for Borneo Rainforest Lodge. Try emailing Vanessa at [email protected] -- she booked our upcoming stay for April 2011 and has been great to communicate with. Good luck! Maybe we'll bump into eachother! ;-)