Borneo Better than Mainland
Jul 11, 2000   Malaysia
BLOG: Un-related thoughts and activites of the day . . . .

Jungles and headhunters! That's the theme in Borneo.
Old posts from my very first travel website and my first backpacking trip (a year in 2000-2001)!
Flying over a winding river in Borneo.
Flying over a winding river in Borneo.
We’re enjoying Malaysia more now that we are on Borneo instead of the peninsula. Malaysia is much more advanced than Indonesia and not as friendly. One cool thing on the peninsula was the oldest forest in the world where we saw giant monitor lizards and leaches (on our ankles!).

Saw wild orangutans the other day and they bit the leg of one of the other tourists! We’ll never make it as journalists - we did not get a photo. No injuries, though. We have also had to keep our drug trafficing to a minimum (just a joke in case any govt officials are reading this!) since it holds a mandatory death sentence in Malaysia.
Although this is a sanctuary, the orangutans are wild. They come right by you - maybe not the safest thing in the world.
Although this is a sanctuary, the orangutans are wild. They come right by you - maybe not the safest thing in the world.
Leaving one of the park accommodations. The monkeys were so aggressive here. You couldn't leave anything on your balcony or they'd come take it.
Leaving one of the park accommodations. The monkeys were so aggressive here. You couldn't leave anything on your balcony or they'd come take it.
The jungles here are amazing. We’ve seen a lot of the national parks which have great hikes, huge caves, lots of monkeys & butterflies, and bizarre bugs! We also stayed in an Iban longhouse, and visited a couple of other longhouses. One of them still had skulls hanging from the headhunting days! We have met some really nice people and have become somewhat fond of the locally distilled rice wine - Tuak.
Giant Miri Cave. The long poles are to climb up to get the bird nests for bird nest soup!
Giant Miri Cave. The long poles are to climb up to get the bird nests for bird nest soup!
Traditional Iban longhouse.
Traditional Iban longhouse.
Skulls from their somewhat recent headhunting history!
Skulls from their somewhat recent headhunting history!
In Mulu National Park, we ran into these guys on their way hunting wild boar!
In Mulu National Park, we ran into these guys on their way hunting wild boar!
Silver langur monkeys.
Silver langur monkeys.
We have seen a lot of logging here which is depressing, but you can’t really blame the Malaysians when it’s the other countries buying all the wood from them. We also celebrated Steve’s bday in Mulu National Park with about a million bats.
We went up the muddy river to arrange a homestay and visits to the Iban tribe.
We went up the muddy river to arrange a homestay and visits to the Iban tribe.
We stayed with Kabau and his wife in their home in the jungle.
We stayed with Kabau and his wife in their home in the jungle.
The hike up to the Pinnacles was super steep and difficult. I almost turned back a few times.
The hike up to the Pinnacles was super steep and difficult. I almost turned back a few times.
The limestone spires of the Pinnacles are breathtaking.
The limestone spires of the Pinnacles are breathtaking.

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