Sandakan, Borneo

We land on the northeast coast of Borneo, passing the poor stilt over water villages as we dock. Our first destination is the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center; only one of three in the world. Devastated by the vast cutting of palm trees for palm oil export which have eliminated their habitat, many injured and orphaned orangutans are evacuated to this 650 acre virgin jungle site. They are prepared for a return to the jungle elsewhere. We walk on slat wood boardwalks over the jungle swamp floor to where the animals congregate for feeding. Perhaps a hundred or more, many clinging to babies, swing from vines and alight near us. Later, we continue a 45 minute drive passing palm plantations to seek out the proboscis monkey. The paved road becomes a dirt jungle road that leads us to Labuk Bay Sanctuary. Here these unusual large monkeys gather for a banana lunch. The males have hilarious large droopy noses, reddish flat top hair and pot bellies; while females have smaller upturned noses. Our ship leaves early as the entrance to port is over a sand bar. The high tide allows for a surprisingly minimal 2 foot clearance below the hull of the ship. Just enough to get us out to open waters. An end to a spectacular jungle experience in wild Borneo.