The flight from Phoenix to Borneo (Sandakan) was endless. It was hot and tropical when we landed in Sandakan. Training definitely took a back seat this week. As you can see below, there were hardly any training sessions.
- Monday, August 28: Recreational Walk | 0.9 miles | Rainforest Discovery Center, Borneo
- Tuesday, August 29: Rest Day (day spent in Sukau Rainforest Lodge – river safaris)
- Wednesday, August 30: Rest Day (day spent in Sukau Rainforest Lodge – river safaris)
- Thursday, August 31: Run and Recreational Walk | 3.12 miles and 2.0 miles | 26:00 mins (run) | Sandakan and Sepilok, Borneo
- Friday, September 1: Run | 3.15 miles | 25:06 mins | Sandakan, Borneo
- Saturday, September 2: Run and Cardio Strength | 5.0 miles and 2.09 miles | 41:44 mins (run) | Nusa Dua, Bali
- Sunday, September 3: Run | 4.08 miles | 24:27 mins | Nusa Dua, Bali
What was in the forefront was amazing animals, birds and reptiles. For 4 solid days, we saw a plethora of wildlife including the “big five” – Pygmy Elephant, Orangutan, Rhinoceros Hornbill, Proboscis Monkey and Crocodile.
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| Black and Yellow Barbet |
It was the birdlife that easily took the cake in Borneo. The hornbills took center-stage with their massive presence. They are loud, boisterous and strikingly beautiful. We also saw a few large birds like the Storm’s Stork (endangered), endemics like the Dusky Munia and gorgeous ones like boradbills, pittas, spiderhunters, sunbirds, beeeaters, barbets, flycatchers and lots of birds of prey. I really wanted to see the Bornean Bristlehead and we came close (we heard the call), but missed out from seeing it.
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| Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher |
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| Long Tailed Macaque |
Long tailed macaques were everywhere. One even attacked Naman (it was actually quite funny). Pig-tailed macaques were less abundant but still everywhere.
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| Malaysian Blue Flycatcher |
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| Orangutan Baby |
The cool ones of course were the orangutans and proboscis monkeys. As for orangutans, we saw a mom and baby frolicking in a tree gorging on fresh figs. I have some great video of it that I will mix into a montage and blog about soon. The baby was cuteness personified. As for the proboscis monkeys, their obscene noses and fat beer-bellies gave them a content appearance. The were actively jumping from tree to tree. We also saw the Silver Langur a few times.
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| Orangutan Mom gorging on figs |
Naman really wanted to see snakes and was rewarded richly. In 4 days, we saw six different snakes. Five times we saw the Bornean Keeled Pit Viper and we also saw a Paradise Tree Snake (aka flying snake although he was swimming and then climbed up a tree).
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| Paradise Tree Snake (aka flying snake) |
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| Pacific Swallow (female) |
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Storm’s Stork (endangered)
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| Probiscis Monkey |
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| Rhinoceros Hornbill (female) |
During a night hike, we saw a flying squirrel (I have video of that too), a Malayan Colugo (aka flying lemur), a Bornean Slow Loris, a Tarsier (similar to a bushbaby found in Australia) a few orangutans, frogs and even a leech! We unfortunately did not see any wild cats (e.g. clouded leopard).
On Saturday, we flew to Bali for Maithili and Rishi’s big fat India wedding. More on that next week…
