Visit our Popular Forums

MarkJ · 30-08-2009, 23:57

Hi folks!
We are in Kumai, Kalimantan, Borneo after arriving from a 460nm passage from Bali. We have just concluded our tour deal to take a small boat for 2 days into the jungle to see Orang-utans in the wild and visit some Orang-utan rehabilitation and release centres.

We have the boat to ourselves except they give us a skipper, cook and an English speaking guide and a boat boy who sleeps on Sea Life (in the cockpit!) for security.

Anyways, it sounds truly fabby and we can't wait till tomorrow!

Nicolle wants her own baby Orangutan and I have said 'Yes' as long as she trains it to go up the mast

Photos in 2 days time! (OK, provided the internet works etc...)

Mark

Pelagic · 31-08-2009, 00:53

I imagine Nicolle is quite used to living with an Orangutan by now, so the little one should fit right in.

Seriously..... have fun, we did that before and enjoyed immensely

**Boracay** · 31-08-2009, 01:34

I shelled out for breakfast with the Orangutans at Singapore Zoo a few years ago. Yes I know, not PC but they fascinate me.

This big female sat beside me and I'd swear she was trying to talk. Probably something like "Keep the good food coming...").

I think they ate better then I did.

Randal Johnson · 31-08-2009, 01:42

We did that last year and loved it. My wife encountered an Orangutan on the walkway and walked right up to it. The Orangutan grabbed her camera and held on. Fortunately the guide had a treat in his pocket and traded it for the camera. Those guys are no fools. I saw another Orangutan grab a man's bottle of water. The guides were yelling at the man to let him have it but his instinct was to try to keep it. Needless to say the man lost.
Be sure to watch the film in the conservation center. At the end there is an official standing on a big pile of logs at a logging operation. That official was the one in charge of protecting the forest.
Randal
www.mydoramac.com

Beverly Stayart · 01-09-2009, 14:02

You're right, she probably was thinking, "Keep the good food coming."

donradcliffe · 01-09-2009, 14:37

Definitely a worthwile stop--I enjoyed the baby Gibbon more than the Orangs. Just don't go swimming in the river and feed the crocodiles. There are also some interesting wooden boat builders there.

anjou · 01-09-2009, 14:43

Poor animals are in danger because of the logging and intrusions into their jungle. A two fold problem caused by the logging for teak and other tropical hardwoods, so be sure to only buy timber thats from sustainable scheems and secondly from deforestation to plant palms for palm oil. This oil is used to make bio fuels and in junk food production. Hydrodgenated fats are not only the driving cause of deforestation but hazardous to health. Hydgogenated fats are banned in many countries including the US, but in other developing places they play a large part in the production of processed foods from burgers to biscuits. Please be an aware consumer and dont support logging and palm oil production. Have a nice trip Mark and Nicole.

imagine2frolic · 01-09-2009, 15:18

It wasn't so long ago Nicolle was a wee bit anxious. You 2 have done great, and all your post, andpics are appreciated.......i2f

GOOD ONE Pelagic!

cat man do · 01-09-2009, 15:30

Was just reading this story about the deforestation for Palm Oil, more than a bit sad.

Spears Vs Bulldozers in Borneo

Enjoy the 'rangas Mark, we'll be up there next year to have Breakfast with them in Singapore and also see them at Sepilok

Heres a movie about the poor little fella's that can be downloaded for free Green Quite sad and actually a good film with little or no dialogue.

maxingout · 01-09-2009, 20:02

Enjoy the Orangutans. They are awesome.

GeoPowers · 01-09-2009, 20:39

Cool! One of the neatest places I've visited is Kota Kinabalu, hiking up the mtn, drinking flaming lamborginis, whitewater rafting on the Padas River, and then doing a trek in Borneo. I never got to see the 'tangs, though. I wish I was you---have fun!

MarkJ · 02-09-2009, 03:04

Nicolle attacked by Wild Orang-utan!!

Nicolle was attached by a wild Orang-utan today after the animal became incensed with Nicolle pretending to be a mother Orang-utan.

Taking vengeance the full size baby grabbed a tree and clocked Nicolle’s noggin!