We arrived in Guraidhoo at 6:00pm last night. Again, the hotel staff was waiting for us by the ferry terminal to collect our bags and direct us to the hotel. We checking in to a small hotel, only 4 rooms, but the cleanest and nicest hotel so far in the Maldives. Solih, the owner, and the staff are very friendly and helpful.
On November 2 we went snorkelling and due to strong current ended up on a resort in the island in front of Guraidhoo. We walked around the resort for a little bit and then worked on a plan to swim back to Guraidhoo. We walked to an area where we jumped in the water and used the current to swim diagonally. It was hard work but made it safely across.
While having lunch we met Lara and Irene, two Spanish girls also staying in Guraidhoo.
On November 3 we went snorkelling in bikini beach where we saw a school of rays. After snorkelling we met Carolina, Cristina and Alicia, 3 more Spanish girls that had just arrived in Guraidhoo. In the afternoon we went to have lunch with all of them.
There is not much to do in Guraidhoo so we met again with our Spanish friends for dinner.
On November 4 we left Guraidhoo at 7:00am. We arrived in Maafushi at 7:30am, our last stop in the Maldives trip.
Of course the hotel had somebody waiting for us by the ferry upon arrival in Maafushi. He picked up our bags and directed us to the hotel. We cheked in, took a shower and spent the day walking around the island and getting information about diving.
Maafushi Beach, MaldivesRays Nursery, Maafushi, MaldivesSharks Nursery, Maafushi, Maldives
Couchsurfing… it is not only free accommodation, it is the best way to meet travellers and share special moments with local people.
We remember exactly who and when we heard about couchsurfing for the first time. We were planning our first trip and a friend put us in contact with her friend that had just returned from a 6 months trip to Europe. We met with Susan who gave us a lot of valuable information. When we asked Susan about accommodation she told us that many travellers she had met talked about couchsurfing but she was not brave enough to try it. That same night we went home and started looking into couchsurfing. From this day on and for several weeks we spent our afternoons looking at people’s profiles in this website. A few days later we created our own profile and this is how everything started… a relationship with a website that changed the way we travel!
What is Couchsurfing?
For those of you that do not know what we are talking about, couchsurfing is a community of people willing to share their houses with travellers. Travellers will contact potential hosts through the website and tell you a bit about themselves and you decide if you allow them to stay in your house for an specified length of time at no cost. It is not an exchange; it does not mean that because you stay at their place you need to receive them at your place. But it is more than just getting a free place to stay; it is a way to connect with local people and to learn and share a bit about their culture. For us and for a lot of other couchsurfers it is another way of making friends while traveling!
Our first couchsurfers!
Going back to our own experience… We could not believe the day we received our first Couch request; it was very exciting that somebody had chosen us to be their hosts, but at the same time we did not know what to do and how to receive our guests. Two people that we had not meet before were now going to stay in our house for a few days. Our latino instinct came out, our untrustworthiness took over our thinking but at the same time we wanted to make them feel comfortable and welcome in our house. Thousands of questions were passing through our heads… Can we leave them alone? Do we give them keys for our house? Do we have to entertain them? Too many questions but no answers.
We were fortunate enough that our first couchsurfers were two young Irish guys (Sunny and Luke), very relaxed and friendly. Soon after we met them we were considering them our long time friends. After debating the questions and having discussed them with Carlos we decided to be honest and express our concerns. They had been couchsurfing for a while so they responded very well to all our concerns. Since this wonderful experience we have now received 22 couch requests from solo travellers and couples whom we have hosted in our houses in Canada and New Zealand. Sunny and Luke, we will always be grateful for introducing us to this amazing community and for having hosted us in your house in Ireland a few years later.
Pescando con Sunny en Irlanda
When we are at home, accepting travellers is like traveling with them through their experiences and plans. We love sharing our experiences with our guests and letting them know about those secret spots we know. We also share a lot of Colombia, its culture and food. We always try to find the time to cook something together and if possible we cook Colombian food. We have gone as far as sending travellers we have hosted to our families’ house in Colombia.
Our experience as guests!
During our trip we have stayed with 20 families that have accepted us like if we were their best friends. It is not only a way to meet local people as me mentioned before, but to exchange cultures and make new friends. Moreover, when traveling for extended periods of time, it allows you to rest from how impersonal hotels or hostels can be. Our experiences in couchsurfing have always been positive and have helped us to connect with people all over the world.
We have been hosted by single people, couples and families. We have slept on sofas, we have had our own room and in a couple of places we have had our own cabin in the garden of our hosts. We have been couchsurfing in Canada, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Switzerland, Greece, Turkey, Oman, United Arab Emirates, India, New Zealand and Brunei.
Our first couchsurfing experience was with Irene, whom we met through Sunny and Luke. Irene accepted our couchsurfing request and hosted us for a month before we started our trip around Europe. Our friendship with Irene continues and we have been traveling together in Europe and New Zealand.
Con Irene en Nueva Zelanda
Jurgen and Silvana were our first hosts in Europe. They hosted us in their house in Bonn, Germany where we had a small but very comfortable cabin in the garden of their house. Their good gestures were countless, from taking us to Cologne by train to see the city to giving us breakfast every morning. They also helped us to plan our trip through Germany and provided excellent recommendations on what to do in Bonn and surrounding areas. The best memory we have of Jurgen especially, was the guided tour of the Museum of German History, where he explained a lot about the Second World War based on his relatives stories and their lives after the war.
Jurgen y Silvana, nuestros anfitriones en Bonn, Alemania
Ajit, from India, hosted us in his apartment in Muscat, Oman. In one of those conversations about travels we told him we were going to India in a few months; this is how he put us in contact with his family in Kerala who treated us like guests of honour.
Ajit nos hospedĂł en Muscat, Oman
Turkey was a country where we did not have to pay for a hotel. The Turkish hospitality is at another level, always friendly and helpful. One of the best moments we had in Turkey was to attend “Mesa de Español”, an event where Turkish people meet in Ankara to practice their Spanish. They treated us incredibly well and we were able to help them improving their pronunciation, vocabulary or just talked about traveling experiences.
Nezcla nuestra anfitriona en Ankara y organizadora de “Mesa de Español”Mesa de Español en Ankara
Arriving in New Zealand searching for a job that would allow us to save some money to return traveling to Canada not only needed some luck but also a bit of help; this is how an experience that we will remember for the rest of our lives started. A few weeks before arriving in New Zealand we sent some couchsurfing requests. Jerry and Rebecca, who are in couchsurfing because their daughter met her husband through couchsurfing, accepted our request. From the very first minute we met them they started to help us; picked us up at the airport, invited us for dinner and a lot more. This couple gave us more than a place to stay; they lent us a hand and provided the push we needed to start a new life in New Zealand. Jerry made us laugh with all his jokes. Rebecca, with her deep thought questions, made us think and re-think many decisions. What started with a simple couchsurfing request for 3 nights quickly changed into a friendship that we are sure will last for the rest of our lives. Jerry and Rebecca, we will be forever grateful for all your help and support!
Con Jerry y Rebecca cuando vino la familia de Marcela de visit
And we could continue describing our amazing experience, but have picked some of the most memorable ones to avoid extending this post to much.
Our recommendations!
We have not had a single bad experience with couchsurfing, but this does not mean that certain precautions should be not be taken when hosting or being hosted in an stranger’s house. We are sure that there are stories online about couchsurfing gone wrong, but this is why we recommend everybody to take the time to read profiles and references of potential hosts.
If you are looking for a host please remember…
Read the description and house rules for the potential host; this way you will avoid surprises when arriving at a stranger’s house. You will find preferences that you might not share. For example, we know a host that runs a nudist house, so the rule is to get naked once you enter the house; if this is not for you do not write a couch request.
Read the references and trust your gut feeling. If something does not sound right do not send a request, there will always be another person that can host you; otherwise a hostel is always a safer option and you can avoid a bad experience.
Write a personalised message to you potential host. For us it is important that we receive a personalised message and not a generic one where they have even forgotten to change the name.
Take the time to read the person’s profile and mention something from it in your request, this way the host will know you have taken the time to read the profile. Some hosts include a keyword in their profiles and this needs to be written in the message, aiming at filtering those people that do not read profiles.
Do not write a request saying “I need a place to crash before catching my next flight”. Believe it or not we have received such requests. We do not accept this type of couch surfers; this is not the idea of couchsurfing. That is why there are hotels and hostels.
Write open requests introducing yourself and the dates you are looking to be at one place. This worked for us really well in Turkey; several people were inviting us to stay at their homes.
During your stay please remember…
This is not a hotel or hostel, this is a home that will host you for a few days. Please do not ask for the wifi password right away!
Help to keep the house clean and tidy.
Try to find something you can help with. Remember that people are busy with their jobs and help with some chores is much appreciated.
Do not expect that on top of hosting you they also feed you, ask where the nearest supermarket is and bring something small you can share with your host.
Share your travel experiences and adventures. Spend time with your host when they are available, this is the main reason why people are in couchsurfing.
If you requested to stay three nights make plans to leave after the third night, do not assume you can stay longer without discussing it with your host.
Remember that you might not find somebody to host you but you could probably find someone to spend the afternoon or to share a coffee or a meal with. The couchsurfing community is wonderful and you will not regret being part of it.
We invite you to become a member of this amazing community! And if you are already one we will love to hear you experience, please leave us a comment below.
Subscribe and become a couchsurfer! Maybe one day you will receive a Couch request from us or become one of our guests! Â You can visit the Couchsurfing website on the link below.
It was an early start on October 26. We took the 7:30am local ferry to Male, then a taxi to cross the city so we could be on time at the Vilingilli Ferry Terminal for the 9:30am departure to Rasdhoo. After 3 and a half hours we arrived in Rasdhoo, a beautiful island in the north part of Ari Atoll. The hotel staff was waiting for us at the ferry terminal to take our bags and direct us to the hotel. After checking in the owner took us to Rasdhoo Diving Club, the diving school they recommend. There we met Yaante, a diving instructor, who gave us all the prices. We also wanted to check the other two diving shops in the island so we did not commit with him.
We then went for a stroll around the island. Rasdhoo is a very small island, standing in the middle looking north, south, east and west you can see the sea at the end of each street.
We talked to the other two diving shops but the prices were a lot higher than the ones at Rasdhoo Dive Club so we went back to Yaante and booked 6 dives for the next couple of days.
In the afternoon we went snorkelling and relaxing by the beach.
On October 27 we went diving to Rasdhoo Channel and Madivaru Corner. According to Yaante both sites are very good and there is a lot of action everywhere… let’s see if it is true. At 8:30am we were jumping in the water to dive the Rasdhoo channel. It was a gentle drift and amazing dive, we saw reef sharks, eagle rays, napoleon wrasse among others. After the surface interval we headed to Madivaru Corner. This dive site is probably one of the best, it really lived to the expectations Yaante had created on us. We came to a point that was hard to choose which way to look, there were sharks everywhere, school of eagle rays, several schools of fish, barracudas, big tuna, etc. What a great dive, it will be hard to match all the action we saw in this area.
In the afternoon we had a nap and took it easy for the rest of the day.
October 28 was another day of nice diving. We went to Hammerhead Point at 6:30am for our first dive looking for hammerhead sharks but unfortunately they did not make an appearance for us. The dive is interesting because at some point we were diving into the blue deep ocean without a reference of what is up, down, east or west, the only indication were the bubbles. We encountered a massive jellyfish peacefully drifting away. For the end of the dive we headed back to the reef to see a little bit of fish. We do not think it was a waste of time and money, but when looking for specific species there is always the chance that they do not show up and you are disappointed.
Our second dive was at Rasdhoo Corner. Also a beautiful dive.
Sand Bar, Rasdhoo, MaldivesSand Bar, Rasdhoo, MaldivesSand Bar, Rasdhoo, MaldivesSand Bar, Rasdhoo, MaldivesSand Bar, Rasdhoo, MaldivesSand Bar, Rasdhoo, MaldivesSand Bar, Rasdhoo, MaldivesSand Bar, Rasdhoo, MaldivesHermit Crab, Sand Bar, Rasdhoo, MaldivesSand Bar, Rasdhoo, MaldivesSnorkelling, Sand Bar, Rasdhoo, Maldives
On October 30 we went diving again, this time we were taken to the caves and Mardigaa or commonly known as the Manta Block. At the caves it was a nice day with the formations and the reef sharks. On the second dive we were looking for manta rays so we went to the cleaning station and waited for around 10 minutes. Tired of waiting we started looking around and found an octopus so we centered our attention on it; however, all of a sudden, there were 5 manta rays surrounding us. They were eating and playing. It was a fantastic seeing these magnificent animals swimming and playing, the way they glide effortless through the water is impressive.
Diving in Rasdhoo, MaldivesGarden Eel, Rasdhoo, MaldivesMatan Ray, Rasdhoo, MaldivesLionfish, Rasdhoo, MaldivesDriving the Diving Boat, Rasdhoo, Maldives
By the end of this dive Yaante had already delivered in all the promises he made to us about what we will see in the area… the hammerheads were still missing but he said it was very unlikely that we see them.
After such amazing diving the last few days we decided to repeat Rasdhoo Channel and Madivaru Corner.
On October 31 we went diving with Yaante again. The first dive was the Rasdhoo Channel, there we saw lots of sharks, a bowmouth guitarfish (It was the first time for Yaante to see it), big tuna, etc. When we came to the surface the weather had turned on us and it was raining, windy and the sea was too choppy. Yaante made the decision to call off the second dive for the day so we will have to do it tomorrow morning.
Bowmouth Guitarfish, Rasdhoo, MaldivesDiving in Rasdhoo, Maldives
We spent the afternoon relaxing, fishing (did not catch anything) and working on a few things.
November 1 was our last day in Rasdhoo, we have had an amazing time in this island. But before we had one last time to the deep ocean of Maduvaru Corner. This time the dive was not as spectacular as the first time, but still impressive. The visibility was not that great so that took a little bit of the dive.
For those of you that like diving, this is a highly recommended spot to visit!
At 11:00am we took the local ferry back to Male. We arrived in Male at 2:30pm and catch the local ferry to Guiraidhoo at 3:00pm. Guraidhoo is almost the last island in the Male Atoll. This will be our third stop in the Maldives.
We left Kuala Lumpur in the evening of October 24 on our way to Maldives. We arrived in Male at 8:00pm. Since we are staying in Hulumale, we arranged a pick up by the hotel we will be staying. We met with the driver at the airport and headed to the hotel for check-in. After check in we went straight to bed.
On October 25 we took the local ferry from Hulumale to Male, the capital of the Maldives. We walked around the city until we found the local market and the fish market. There was a lot of things happening in the area, the fisherman come with boats full of fish to sell to the locals; they also sell them at the fish market where you can have the fish clean and fillet. The skills of the guys filleting the fish are amazing, they can convert a 45Kg tuna into several fillets in 5 minutes… what the video filleting a small tuna!
Hulhumale, MaldivasFerry from Hulhumale to Male, MaldivasMale, MaldivasFishing Boats, Male, MaldivasFishing Boats, Male, Maldivas
After the market we headed to visit the Islamic Centre and Friday Mosque. We met a local guy who showed us a nice restaurant for lunch… after taking us to a souvenir shop where we did not buy anything.
Old Mosque (Friday Mosque), Male, MaldivasOld Mosque (Friday Mosque), Male, MaldivasIslamic Centre, Male, Maldivas
After lunch we headed to the National museum. There is a nice collection of artefacts found through the Maldives, as well as things like the first generator used in Male.
We then walked to the ferry terminal to find out the schedule for the local ferry going to Rasdhoo, the first island we will be visiting. We crossed the island on foot, which took just over 20 minutes. Unfortunately there is no other way to get that information, even the info online is wrong so we needed to be sure. Â After getting the information in the ferry terminal we visited the Tsunami Monument, a memorial for all the victims of the 2004 tsunami.
Monument to the Victims of 2004 Tsunami, Male, Maldivas
After a lot of walking around the city, dealing with lots of motorcycles driving like crazy (well, not as much as in Vietnam) we took the ferry back to the hotel.
It was a good experience to see Male, however it is just another busy city. It does not have too much to see or do, other than the fish market, the mosque and the museum there is nothing else.
We spent the last few days in Kuala Lumpur working on our new website. It was a lot of work, long nights and frustrating days but at the end we got the result we were looking for.
We found out that our friend Jan did very good in the Climbathon, he finished in 16th place.
We hope to see you all there! Come to the website and keep traveling with us.
We also would like to receive lots of comments and any suggestions you might have to improve our website. Also, if you want to receive our newsletter, please do not hesitate to sign up for it.
Thank you all for following our travels in Blogger, however there will be more exciting things happening at www.somosadictosaviajar.com
Jan finished in 16th place of the ClimbathonDiwali or Deepanali – Hindu Festival of Lights, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaPetronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDiwali or Deepanali – Hindu Festival of Lights, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDiwali or Deepanali – Hindu Festival of Lights, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDiwali or Deepanali – Hindu Festival of Lights, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
On October 8 we took a minivan from Mount Kinabalu to Kota Kinabalu. We reached Kota Kinabalu around 1:30pm, checked-in at the hotel and went for lunch. We also did some laundry because all the clothes we were wearing yesterday are still dirty and wet. We spent the afternoon working on the blog and a few things.
On October 9 we flew to Gunung Mulu National Park. This national park is very isolated, only accessible by plane or by boat, it promises to be one of the best places to see wildlife in Borneo. We got to Mulu and Edward, the owner of Mulu River Lodge where we will be staying, was waiting for us at the airport. He drove us to the lodge for check-in.
In the afternoon we went to the park for information about the activities and booked a few things for the next couple of days. We have to say that this place is packed with adventure, cave exploration, hiking and nature!
I am not feeling good at all, my stomach is playing up again… I think I got food poisoning in Mount Kinabalu. Our friend Jan had the same thing the night before we left.
On October 10 we went to the watch tower but could not see much, just a few birds and squirrels. We then headed to the bat exodus where an estimated 2 or 3 million bats come out every night from Deer Cave to feed. It is estimated that they eat around 15 to 20 tons of insects per night. It was quiet the spectacle to see them coming out in their weird formations. This is the second place we see them and it does not get old!
Later that night we went for a guided night walk. During the night walk we had the opportunity to see lots of insects but not mammals or big animals. Unfortunately we were with a family of 5 that were extremely loud.
October 11 bought a lot more excitement to the table… we are going to the Garden of Eden which involves a little bit of everything, cave exploration, caving, river crossing and trekking.
The trip starts by walking 3.5Km from the park headquarters to Deer Cave, one of the largest caves in the world. Passing the cave and exiting through the other side is the Garden of Eden, which formed by the collapse of the roof of the cave and opened up an area for vegetation to grow. The hiking through the cave is challenging, in some places ropes have been installed to assist people to climb up or down. Narrow passages and slippery areas are also part of the fun! Once we passed the cave we walked through the jungle until we reached the waterfalls. We went for a well deserved dip in nice cold water!
We stayed at the waterfalls for about an hour, then headed back through the same path.
On the way back we stopped for a better look at Deer Cave, it is quite impressive because of its size, however not for its formations.
We then stopped at Lang Cave, a small cave connected to Deer Cave, but with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. It takes about half hour to go through Lang Cave but it is beautiful.
We then sat down to wait for the bat exodus… well, we are here already so we might as well see it again!
On October 12 we took another tour to see more caves. This time we took a long boat up the river; about 15 minutes later we stopped by Batu Bungan, a small village along the river. Here we went to the local market where the ladies make souvenirs. We could not resist it and bought a bracelet from the oldest lady in the village… she is the most adorable lady! They speak a different dialect so the communication was through an interpreter.
We visited the Wind Cave, a massive cave with great formations. The infrastructure inside the cave was nicely done without damaging too much the cave; the boardwalks are in excellent shape and it is all very safe.
After the impressive Wind Cave we headed to Clearwater Cave. This last cave is breathtaking; the river that runs inside it is crystal clear and provides a beautiful green colour as it runs through. My only issue was time, unfortunately the tour did not give us enough time to take good photographs inside the caves. After our last cave we had time for a quick dip in the cold crystal clear water from the cave as it comes out of it.
In the afternoon we went back to Deer Cave and Lang Cave. We convinced the park staff to take us back free of charge as Marcela was not feeling well yesterday and had to cut short her visit to these two caves. We had a bit more time to take better photos this time.
October 13 is our last day in Mulu. We signed up for the canopy walk at 8:30am. This is a 480m canopy walk along the tree tops about 25m or 30m above the ground. The swing bridges are well constructed and although they move a lot when you walk on them, they feel very safe!
This concludes our visit to Gunung Mulu National Park, a true testimony of nature, wildlife, preservation and conservation. A place with activities for everybody and where one could spend several days exploring this beautiful area. Of course it is another one of those places where we could have spent more time… but we say the same everywhere we go!
Leaving for Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Mulu National Park from the Air, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Arrived in Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Sunset, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Bat Exodus, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Deer Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Deer Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Deer Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Garden of Eden, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Garden of Eden, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Garden of Eden, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Garden of Eden, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Garden of Eden, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Garden of Eden, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Garden of Eden, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Garden of Eden, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Deer Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Deer Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Deer Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Deer Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Lang Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Lang Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Lang Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Bat Exodus, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Bat Exodus, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Bat Exodus, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Batu Bungan Village, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Batu Bungan Village, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Cave of the Winds, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Cave of the Winds, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Cave of the Winds, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Clearwater Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Clearwater Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Clearwater Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Clearwater Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Clearwater Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Clearwater Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Clearwater Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Clearwater Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Lang Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Lang Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Deer Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Deer Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Deforestation, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
On October 5 we left Sepilok, a beautiful natural experience in Borneo. We really enjoyed the different parks we visited.
We took a bus from Sepilok to Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Borneo and Malaysia. It took us just over 3 hours to reach D’Villa Rina Ria Lodge, the place where we will be spending the next few nights. Here we met Jan from Check Republic, who will be competing in the Mount Kinabalu Climbathon. This is one of the toughest climb races in the world. It is a 26Km race from Mount Kinabalu park headquarters at around 1,600m above sea level to the peak at 4,095m and back; the winner last year completed it on 2hours and 21minutes… what a monster! We are already cheering for our new friend Jan.
On October 6 we went to the Kinabalu Park, this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers lots of nature walks as well as the possibility to climb to the top of Mount Kinabalu at 4,095m above sea level. The cost of climbing the mount is very high so we will not do it, however we want to do some walks around the area.
It is 9:30am and the clouds are already covering the mountain so we are not being able to see the top. We spent the morning in a guided walk on one of the trails learning about the plants and trees endemic from Borneo. We then headed to the Botanical Garden where we learned about the different types of orchids endemic from Borneo. Unfortunately it is not blooming season so we could not see much flowers.
We spent the rest of the afternoon walking along trails and looking for birds.
On October 7 we woke up really early with the determination to see the top of Mount Kinabalu. We needed to walk fast to make it before 8:00am to see the mountain, it is a very short window before the clouds roll in and cover it. The early start paid off, we reached one of the view points early enough to get a clear view of the whole mountain. We kept walking towards Timpohon Gate and made it on time to the second viewpoint to get another glance of the mountain. Once we were there the clouds rolled in and Mount Kinabalu will disappear until tomorrow morning. We made it to Timpohon Gate, which is the beginning of the climb; from this point onwards only people with certified guide, permit and hotel reservation are allowed to continue.
In the afternoon we went for more walks along the trails, however we encountered a major roadblock… a landslide had taken down a big tree. Fortunate enough we scrambled though the mud and were able to go over the tree in order to complete the trail. A few hundred meters before reaching the park headquarters heavy rain came down and we got completely wet. We got to the hotel, got changed and had a hot tea. After so much heat over the past few weeks, it felt nice to feel a bit of cold.
View from the Hotel, Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia
Trekking in Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia
Trekking in Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia
Trekking in Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia
Second smallest orchid in the world, Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia
Trekking in Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, MalaysiaÂ
Trekking in Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia
Sunset from the Hotel, Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia
Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia
Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, MalaysiaÂ
Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia
Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia
Squirrel, Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia
Third Squirrel, Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia
Trekking in Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, MalaysiaÂ
Sunset from the Hotel, Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia
On October 3 we started at 5:30am with our morning cruise. Unfortunately we did not see much, just a lizard and a few birds.
At 10:00am we went for a jungle walk. After a short boat ride we entered the jungle through a small path. We walked for an hour but again did not see more than a frog and few insects. When on the boat the captain spotted a python snake relaxing on a tree branch. It is a small snake compared to what they become when they are fully grown adults but still a beautiful animal.
The afternoon cruise brought a bit more wildlife to the table. We saw proboscis monkeys, macaques, kingfishers, eagles and different types of birds.
In the evening cruise we had the fortune to find a python snake swimming in the river… we didn’t know how good swimmers the snakes are, wow! We also found some birds and a feline but the guide did not know the name.
On October 4 we had our last cruise before departing the Kinabatangan River. We had an early morning start… again 5:30am. We spotted lots and lots of hornbills and a few birds… but nature had saved the best for last for us. Just before the river cruise ended the guide spotted wild orangutans, there were three of them playing high up on a tree. It was breathtaking to see them in the wild, in their habitat and most probably just waking up from a good night of sleep. What a scene to end a couple of days packed with adventure, nature and wildlife watching! We left these three “man of the forest” knowing that their habitat will, one day, be converted into a palm oil plantation and they will have to find a new home and adapt to new challenges. We, humans, are the biggest predator for these animals; we are, directly or indirectly, destroying their forest. I want to take the opportunity to invite you to consider twice when buying products with palm oil, the main contributing factor in the deforestation of Borneo. It is sad to see from the air that they are still chopping down trees to make way for new plantations… when is it going to stop?
After our morning cruise we had breakfast and took the minivan back to Sepilok Jungle Resort where we will be spending the night.
In the afternoon we went to the Rainforest Discovery Centre to look for the Giant Flying Squirrel. We had seen them briefly last time we were there but now we know where they hide so hopefully we have a better chance. We got into position just before 6:00pm and sure enough, they came out of their burrows and started gliding. We were able to see a few of them, unfortunately it gets dark very quickly.
Later we went for a self-guided night walk looking for the slow loris or tarsiers… well, let me tell you we did not see much!
Kinabatanga River Cruise, Malaysia
Kinabatanga River Cruise, Malaysia
Kinabatanga Jungle Walk, Malaysia
Kinabatanga Jungle Walk, Malaysia
Poboscis Monkeys, Kinabatanga River Cruise, Malaysia
Monkey, Kinabatanga River Cruise, Malaysia
Kingfisher, Crucero en el Rio Kinabatnaga, Malasia
Kinabatanga River Cruise, Malaysia
Kinabatanga River Cruise, Malaysia
Orangutan in the Kinabatanga River Cruise, Malaysia
Kinabatanga, Malaysia
Squirrel, Sepilok, Malaysia
Sepilok Jungle Resort, Sepilok, Malaysia
Giant Flying Squirrel (not the best shot but the only shot), Sepilok, Malaysia
