I will be in Borneo this September and everything I've read, from guidebooks to websites, have said that if you do any jungle trekking, you must wear leech socks (to keep them out). We plan on doing jungle treks (why else go?) and I have been searching for months for these elusive socks and cannot find them anywhere in the US. I have searched the internet and nothing. There are a few places in the UK that seem to have them but not here. I know I'll be able to get them in Kuching but we're spending a couple of nights in Sandakan before moving on to Kuching. Will we be able to buy them in Sandakan? I have 6 guiedbooks and I can't find one place mentioned in Sandakan that sells them. Can anybody help so my subsequent trip report does not include the lurid details of pulling leeches out of our lsgs and feet?

laurie

This guy is in PA
http://www.mosquitohammock.com/AntiLeechSocks.html

Aloha!

hawaiiantraveler, THANK YOU!!!!! You may have just saved me and my husband from a truly disgusting experience!

Laurie, as you can imagine, I've also done some research on leech socks. They are (by the report of other travelers) readily available in Malaysian Borneo.

One of the disgusting things about leech socks is that they don't really prevent the leeches from sucking your blood, it just means they have to go past your shoes and leech socks to find someplace to attach. The leech socks are light colored cloth, and you hope that your traveling partner will see the leech climbing up your socks in time to knock it off... yuck!

Kathie, I know, the leeches sound pretty disgusting. The last thing I want to do is spend an evening with a pair of tweezers pulling leeches out of my legs. I looked at the site hawaiiantraveler put up. I actually came across that site in my research but since it didn't look like a shopping site, I never bothered to scroll down to see that they sell them. They're $25 per pair, pretty expensive and I'm sure they are a third of the price in Borneo, but do I really want to take a chance that I'll find them? If we were going to Kuching first, I'd wait, but Sandakan? It would be my luck that no one there would have them.

By the way, the ones sold on that web site are olive green. We may not be able to spot them climbing up. GROSS!

based on the discussion on another thread about the tigers and drugs, i think it if very mean to keep leaches away from their nourishment....

In that case Bob, I'll bring some back and give them to you at the GTG Oct 15. A present from my trip ;-)

don't forget to feed tham while you are on the plane...i don't want any of them to die from mistreatment at 39,000 feet...

Bob, a leech can live a year from one blood meal. Those flights are long, but they only seem like a year...

kathie...i can always count on you for the correct info...aren't leeches used in places for blood letting...isn't that considered a healthy practice???

if so i may start a clinic in boston after the GTG...

gpanda will be my first patient...

I'd better bring a big supply then.

Kathie, in doing more searches, I found there is a large mall in Sandakan called Centre Point. I can't come up with a listing of stores though. I'm torn on whether to pay $50 for 2 pair for me and Eric or wait. I did find in my research however that my bank has a branch in Sandakan. Won't have to pay the ATM charge to get money. Maybe this place is more progressive than I thought.

Bob, there is an excellent article in the renowned medical journal, The New Yorker, in the last month on current medical uses of leechs. Read up before starting your clinic!

Laurie, I would fully expect that you can buy leech socks in Sandakan. By the way, what bank do you do business with that has a branch there? (talk about far-flung branches!)

Kathie--lol--the New Yorker a "renowned medical journal". It is a good magazine though.

I do my banking at HSBC, which has branches all over the world, from London to China. I think they are British owned but the name stands for the HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd. I've used their ATM's just about everywhere and if I can't find a local branch, they only charge $1.00 to withdraw from another bank's ATM (but that's going up to $1.50 Sept 1)

did you also read about malaria treatments in the new yorker??

Laurie, thanks for the info about your bank. It makes me think about opening a "travel acounnt" there...

Bob, I'm sorry, but the journals I consult on malaria are a bit more arcane.

kathie---just pulling your leg as usual..

I will be in Borneo in September too. Last night I bought the leech socks. It just sounds too gross to be sloshing around with bloody leeches in my shoes.

aharlan, where in Borneo will you be? When? Maybe we'll be at the same hotels.