Sepilok - Landed in Borneo

Sepilok is a town in Sabah, Malaysia near the Sandakan airport which serves that region of Malaysian Borneo. We arrived there  from Bali via Kuala Lumpur. A short stay in Sepilok was intended as a gateway to our Borneo adventure. Unfortunately, Teresa wasn’t feeling well when we arrived and discovered after the first night that she had food poisoning. That confined her to bed for a couple days while it ran its course. We had a reference to a clinic in Sandakan in case other symptoms emerged but she seemed pretty confidant it was due to our last dinner in Denpasar before leaving Bali. It was not fun. It was one of those times, especially on a long trip, where you feel “I want to go home”.  She began watching The Music Man for comfort and treatment. It starts in her hometown, Brighton, Illinois, where one of the characters is being run out of town.

Sepilok sits on the edge of the rainforest and from the abundant sounds of frogs and other night critters on the long walk to our room, it was apparent on arrival that we were no longer in Bali. A new place, a new adventure. Sepilok is also the location of the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and The Sun Bear Conservation Centre. They each welcome visitors and offer a chance to see these beautiful animals and explore the rainforest environment. They treat and nurse young animals to physical and mental health and acclimate them to living with others and on their own in the jungle. The Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre especially has a large patch of rainforest with raised trails that visitors can use to explore the area. I was especially taken with the trees in this forest and actually got the best recording of a hornbill while visiting there, though later would be in wilder locations. With our extended stay there until Teresa felt well enough to make the journey on, she was able to visit the Centre as well and in the process regain some confidence in her improving health and strength to travel.

The photos and video below are all from these facilities in Sepilok. These are from the first week in October.

And I really love the trees.