Day 13

Another 5.30 am wake up to be on a morning boat trip for two hours up the river on the lookout for a crocodile for Louise!

True to form of our guides we spotted two big ones - one in the water and one on the bank and two baby crocs. We also saw lots more monkeys playing in the wild, an Orangutang and heaps of different birds. We arrived back at the Lodge about 7.45 am and had a nice breakfast. After we checked out we jumped on the boat again for 5 minutes and then back on our bus.

We arrived at Gomantang Caves. This is massive caves filled with bats, birds, rats and millions of cockroaches!

It absolutely smells so rotten from all the bat poo. It is hard to breathe as you are walking through it. The special species of birds that live in it make their nests out of their own saliva. These nests are sought after in Hong Kong and China and are said to extend your life and provide longevity. Up to $5,000 USD is paid for them.  For this reason the cave is guarded and guards actually sleep over in this cave to ensure their is no thefts - how they can possibly stand it is beyond all of us !!!!

Three times a year climbers come in and climb up the cave walls to retrieve the eggs so they can be exported to Hong Kong and China.  Should the climbers fall, they land on huge mounds of bat poo and it breaks their fall and literally saves them.

For lunch we were taken to an English Tea House right on the top of a hill overlooking the water. We had some cocktails, English fish and chips and yummy scones with cream and jam. Such a beautiful spot.

Once leaving we were on our way to a tour of Sandakan. First stop was a beautiful Buddhist temple perched on top of a hill with the most sensational view.

Next stop was Sim Sim Water Village.  People build their homes in the water. All their rubbish including their sewerage goes straight into the water - the water is filthy and the kids swim in it.   Because the houses are built over water, babies are kept inside until they are about 3 and then taught to swim. 

Last stop was the local markets where a few more trinkets were purchased. We then returned for an afternoon cocktail at the English Tea House before we head to the airport to catch our flight back to Kota Kinabalu for our last night.

Hugs,

Donna