Laos and Sabah

[Cossie]

OK, a few more random shots of daily life and finally some more old runway being put to good use.

 

[Cossie]

Some more random shots then it's off to Malaysia.

 

[Cossie]

Few more cats and can you guess what we didn't have from that menu?






Last year we continued on down to Pakse, (to do that TR would require much time than I have at the moment) and took a river cruise that RooFlyer put us on to, a trip he did a few years ago. Well worth reading his TR and I still owe you a beer!

Cruise on the Mekong River, Laos


Vat Phou Cruises - Laos & Mekong Cruises

 

[VPS]

great photos thanks

 

[craven morehead]

N

A few more....
and a couple of chooks.................
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Nice to see the Monk has matching orange scuffs

 

[Cossie]

Air Asia, Luang Prabang to Kuala Lumpar, newish A320, meal was ok, nothing special, no IFE unless you bring your own, but that's no problem for me. Plane was fairly full, we were a little late into KL after being told we would be 20 minutes early, it was quite damp around the airport with lot's of standing water, guess a big storm had just gone through.

No complaints about the boarding process, immigration was quick, a little wait for our bags. This was at KLIA2, the LCC terminal, and as we were leaving from KLIA1 the next morning, I had booked the Sama Sama Hotel. We just missed a train, so a 20 minute wait, next time we'll get the bus transfer. There is also a new Sama Sama Express Hotel at KLIA2, I would seriously consider staying there next time.

Hotel was good, but really it was just an overnight pitstop. No breakfast as we were flying Malaysian Airlines the next morning and went to the lounge.

KL to Kota Kinabalu in J, good SC's and not very expensive for a 3+ hour flight. MH seems to get some bad raps for their food, but the breakfast was a choice of scamlbed eggs and the like, or a Malaysian style meal. Went for the egs and they were fine. Plane was a 737-800, getting a bit old, but the IFE worked, arrived into KK on time and we had to go through immigration again.
Seems if you fly between the Malaysian states(?) you must go through immigration and customs each state, flying within each state, you don't have to.

That night was at the Mecure, I had requested an upper floor room with harbour views, we were upgraded to a 'priviledge' room on the 5th floor with a view of a main road.
A quick wash and off exploring. The main downtown part is fairly compact, but the city is really growing to the north.

I didn't realise that Lubuan was a federal state and has gambling and is duty free, it's quite close to Brunei as well, it has it's own airport and also these fast boats, a lot of the market is for the Chinese visiting casinos, apparently. I'm sure they get a lot of visitors from Brunei as well.



Wandering along the water front you can see across the the offshore islands a popular day trip for locals and tourists. You can also stay over there as there are quite a few resorts. Typical Malaysian over the water village over on the island.



Fish market and assorted boats, again I would love to have been able to have the opportunity to cook my own... sigh.




Some of the produce.

 

[Cossie]

At the hotel, in fact all the places we stayed at on Sabah and the rental car we picked up in Sandakan, we had to sign a form that if we brought any Durian, Rambutan or other smelly fruit into the hotel room or carried it in the car we would be liable for a hefty cleaning charge.



The plastic waste is everywhere, I guess you grow up with it and think it of being normal.



I'm sure the name of this place means something else!



More produce and boats.



What do we have here? This one appeared to be in quite good condition and seemed to be looked after by the young ladies at the massage/spa place nearby.



Waterfront bars, and more boats.

 

[drron]

Rambutan a smelly fruit?
If the classified the mankut as smelly we would be checking out.

 

[Cossie]

I'm sure it was on the list, there was more than just Durian, anyway we didn't push our luck!

 

[OZDUCK]

We had the same "Internal Immigration" check flying from Johor Bahru to Kuching (Sarawak). I was told by my wives relatives (Kuching locals) that it was part of the agreement when Sarawak joined the Malaysian Federation and was designed to stop the local population, especially the Iban, from being overwhelmed by people from Peninsular Malaysia. I imagine something similar was done for Sabah.

It did have an unusual side effect in that some of her family, Eurasians, used to travel on old style British Colonial Passports which didn't give them access to mainland Malaysia after Federation.

 

[Cossie]

Just arrived at the Yarra Valley Lodge, so I probably won't be able to update this for a while.

Thanks Ozduck for the information, it sounds like a good idea, but must be a pain for frequent Malaysian travelers!

 

[Cossie]

Short flight the next day with Air Asia, again a newish A320 meal included which was the same as the flight down from LP to KK, typical airline pasta, edible, but not gourmet!

Very impressed with Malaysian airports, Sandakan was no exception, out quickly from both ends of the plane, I guess they save money by not using an airbridge and faster turn around time.

Picked up our rental, neglected to bring a decent map or GPS with me, so leaving the airport was a bit hit and miss, we missed and ended up north of Sandakan at one of the over water villages, interesting to see, but, I'm glad I don't live in one.

Hire car was an oldish Honda City with 120,000+ kms on the clock and scratches/marks on every panel, but it was clean, again no issues with that.

Finally found Sepilok where we had booked 2 nights at the Sepilok Forest Edge Resort, we had a cabin/chalet with forest views, only issue was wifi only availabe in the restaurant.



Hard life for some!

 

[Cossie]

Next morning we went to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, (Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre | Orangutan Appeal).
A day ticket allows you to visit in the morning and return in the afternoon, the viewing area for the youngsters/orphans is behind glass, so it makes for difficult photos, their antics were fun to watch, there is also a feeding platform nearby, but it can't be guaranteed that you will see any "wild" Orangutans.

The viewing area fills up quickly, another good reason to have your own transport. You must leave bags in a locker, walk though a shoe 'bath' and obviously no eating.



Then off to a feeding platform, artificial I know, but in a just world there wouldn't be the need for these sorts of places.

 

[Cossie]

More from the platform,



As we were leaving, this viper was pointed out to us, it was very difficuld to see, but once you did see it, it was quite obvious! Was told extremely venomous, it causes death within 15-20 minutes.... Normally they are only seen at night, this one had been in the same position for a few days.

 

[Cossie]

Then across the road to the Sun Bear Sanctuary (Home)

I'm sure the guide said the marks were from a wire trap, I'll have to check with the brain trust later.

 

[Cossie]

Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary is on a private palm oil plantation, on the way in we passed a group of monkeys, Labuk Bay Nature Tour - Sabah Malaysia



Water Buffalo are still used for some tasks, this one was pulling a sled full of these, guess they can go where tractors can't.



Fortunately we were there a little early so it was pleasant without the crowds. There were a couple of proboscis monkeys lounging around as well.



Then this Hornbill turned up.

 

[Cossie]

It was fun and it was also harder to photograph them than I thought it would be!

 

[Cossie]

Just as well I don't have to make a living from my photography!



Then it seemed they had had enough and were back off into the mangroves and forest.



After the buses left, some people with a drone arrived to take some video footage for future advertising purposes.

 

[Cossie]

We went back for the afternoon feeding, glad we did, it was a different troop and there was a mother with a young baby. As you can see, some of them have no fear, which maybe isn't such a good thing.

 

[Cossie]

A few more of the mother and baby, then time to go to Sandakan, been on my bucket list for years, but it was a disappointment. Totally different feel to KK, the Sheraton Four Points was ok, nice view. It isn't that old but some features are getting tired.
There was a political party meeting happening, hence place was crawling with armed military and police.



The "Japanese" place in front of the hotel (and not connected the Sheraton), was very disappointing, one of the few "so so" meals we had.