CROSSING THE LINE

Today we just crossed the line.  No wild parties though, just an announcement from the captain before lunch.

Two Hikes in the Jungle

I am in recovery today.  Yesterday there were two hikes in the Borneo jungle - the second, in the afternoon lasted about three hours. It was billed as “only for the very fit”.  20 passengers of the 100 on board signed up. It was hot, humid and included more than 250 steps up ladders.

Monkeys, Pigs, and a Viper

The upside? Amazing views of the South China Sea and at the end a long walk along a beach where we found macaque monkeys on the ground and giant ginger Proboscis monkeys with long white tails in the trees.  There were also wild pigs and a bright green venomous pit viper lying in wait on a log. The water in the sea must have been at least 90.

Ladders, Boardwalks and a plant that catches rats

On the trail there were ladders to help us scale some very steep slopes. Most of them were in good shape, and 80% of the rungs intact. The morning hike was more difficult than antisciiapted because a forest fire had burned much of the wooden infrastructure.  For both hikes we were warned to keep to the paths as leaches lurked in the undergrowth - everyone followed this advice. Boardwalks were to avoid snakes. Along the trail the most interesting plants for me were the pitcher plants.  A large cousin of the venus fly trap, which catches flies, these are so large they catch rats. I took photographs -  did not have time to look inside them.

Time for champers

Humid, humid, humid. Water underfoot, dripping from trees and temps in the 90’s. I carried three bottles of water in my Yosemite backpack.  Great experience - good to be back to air con.  I celebrated with a glass of champers.

TTFN