Packing tips for Borneo
 

I'm leaving in a week for a 3 week tour of Borneo, Kuala Lumpur, Penang with Friendly Planet. It's time to begin packing--and I'm wondering if anyone has any tips on anything special to bring.

Excellent mosquito repellant - not joking - enjoy-la!

Where are you going in Borneo? Will you be out in the rainforest? If so, you'll want leech socks. Also, if you are really out in the rainforest you should consider anti-malarials. If you are only visiting Kota Kinabalu and Kuching and parks nearby, you won't need leech sock or antimalarials.

Malaysia is a modern, thriving country and you can find anything there that you might need or want to buy.

You might be interested in a couple of my trip reports. Borneo: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34716301

Penang: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34904681

Thanks! I have my mosquito repellent and Malerone. What are leech socks? I had planned to bring some knee socks to use on the outside of my pants. Will that do? I don't think we will be going deep into the rainforest. Itinerary in Borneo is Kuching, Semenggoh Orangutan Rehab Center, Bako NP, Batang Ai, Miri, Mulu NP, Batu Bungan, various Caves, Kota Kinabali, Tanku Ab dul Rahman Park. What about mosquito nets? I am assuming that our hotels will have them if necessary, since we are staying in fairly upscale hotels. Thanks for the links to your trip reports, Kathie. I will definitely check them out.

karinkz-Will you please post a trip report on your return, as I am considering this trip with Friendly Planet for spring 2009.

It doesn't sound like you'll be anywhere where you need leech socks.

Shellyk--Yes, I will certainly post a trip report.

Kathie--Glad to hear that I don't have to worry about leeches. I just finished reading "Into the Heart of Borneo" by Redmond O'Hanlon, and have been having nightmares about leeches!

A good book to prepare for Borneo! Do read my trip report and look at photos (including photos of leeches) at www.marlandc.com

Hi Kathie--Just read your trip reports--or, I should say, reread them, because I now remember reading them previously, when I was contemplating this tour. Great info--and I've printed out some of the sections on KK, Kuching & Penang. Thanks so much! I'll take a look at the photos tomorrow. Not sure I want to look at photos of leeches, though!

You are most welcome. Have a wonderful trip!

Re the leech socks. Are these the same land leeches they have in Laos or are they different? I wore trekking sandals as I was told that leeches would get into boots and under socks. It was easy to slip the sandals off and spray with salt water. While I was attacked by thousands (seemed like it anyway) there were no residual effects. I'm not squeamish!!

I'm interested as I'm planning a trekking trip to Borneo next year.

silverwool, leech socks are knee-hi "socks' (cotton fabric, plain, tie at the knee) that go over your socks and long pants and under your boots. The purpose is to enable you to see leeches as they start climbing up your leg so you can knock them off before they get a chance to attach somewhere.

I have no idea where the species of leeches are the same in Laos as in Borneo. In the are where we were (Danum Valley) there were two major types of leeches. Spraying with salt water doesn't bother them. If they attach, they must be individually pulled off your skin, and the wound continues to bleed for some time, as they inject an anti-coagulent when they bite.

There was a German man staying at the lodge where we were who unwisely opted to wear shorts with his leech socks. He had a row of leeches attached to the back of his legs when he returned from his hike. In my trip report is another leech tale told by a Brit we met.

Thanks Kathie

The leaches are obviously different. The ones I had died when squirted with salt water, albeit a fairly strong solution, and the bleeding stopped almost immediately.

without leech socks make sure you bring plenty of matches to burn them off with

Two other ways worked for me when it comes to leaches in Malaysia - carrying a cut lime with me and "brushing" off the attached leach with the cut side of the lime (in other words, lime juice works), and spraying the attached leach with mosquito repellant.

As for the bleeding, the longer the leach has attached itself to you, the longer you tend to bleed. If you pull it off almost immediately, the wound stops bleeding very soon.

I once found a leach on my thigh after a 2-hour trek and a lunch break - it has already sucked its fill and fallen onto my clothes, all fat and puffed up. That wound bled through the day and into the night!

did you kill it or take it to a hospital to help get your blood back? sort of a transfusion...

Err no, I flushed it down the drain when it fell out of my clothes in the shower.

Some forms of traditional medicine believe that leaches are good for your health - they suck out old blood, allowing your body to generate err fresh new blood!

Would it be worthwhile to bring a mosquito net--or can I count on the hotels to provide this if needed?

If you are staying in hotels, I would expect they would be air-conditioned, so you would not need a mosquito net. If you are staying in simple, fan cooled guesthouses, then take a mosquito net.

Karinkz -- have a wonderful trip to Borneo. As I am typing this I am looking at the framed photos I took at the Semenggoh Orangutan Rehab Center. It was a wonderful experience. I stayed at a guest house and ended up having dinner with several researchers from the Center. Also, just loved waking up early and walking around the area. I took some great photos very early morning - the sun rises early there.

Also -- went to the islands of Sipaden and Mabul for scuba diving. Really wonderful.

I don't have any specific recommendations on what to pack -- just casual, lightweight -- and, don't carry anything but your camera when you visit the Orangutan Center -- the Orangutan love to grab whatever you're carrying and take off with it! When I was there an Orangutan even grabbed someone's camera - so carry it close to your body. Enjoy every minute of your adventure.