So I spent a little over half of June and all of July of this year in Borneo and Australia. I flew quite literally, around the world and it was absolutely incredible. I flew from RDU to JFK where I spent eight hours sitting around on the airport floor. Then I flew directly to Frankfurt, Germany, then to Singapore which has the most incredible airport ever btw. From there I flew to Kuala Lumpur and then to Kuching where I began my Borneo journey on my own. I spent my first 24 hours resting and trying to get over the jet lag seeing as I was exactly 12 hours off from what I normally experience. Day was now night and night was now day, a rather difficult thing to get used to. My second day in Kuching I took a bus to Bako National Park where I was hoping to take a quick day hike to see N. rafflesiana, N. gracilis, N. albomarginata, and if I was lucky my favorite species N. ampullaria. I made it up to the summit of the relatively short, but steep trail but man it was hot! I've experience the heat and humidity of the Gulf Coast and Eastern NC but I've never been so overheated, exhausted, and miserable in my life! I was out of water by the time I reached the top and there was no way for me to refill my water bottle. I sat down in a little bit of shade and rested for a little bit. I just couldn't seem to cool down so I stood back up, took a couple photos of the few plants around and then hiked back down to the park headquarters where I chugged water and ate a little food before getting back on the boat to the mainland. I decided a lot of rest was in order with my two days left in Kuching before I flew to Kota Kinabalu to meet up with the rest of the group to begin the Heart of Borneo Expedition.
The Singashanna lodge in Kuching where I stayed by mcmcnair, on Flickr
Boat Ride to Bako by mcmcnair, on Flickr
watch this in 1080p for best video quality
During the boat ride to Bako by mcmcnair, on Flickr
Beach at Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on Flickr
Cliffs at Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on Flickr
Cliffs at Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on Flickr
At Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on Flickr
At Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on Flickr
5V4B1102 by mcmcnair, on Flickr
N. rafflesiana, Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on Flickr
N. rafflesiana, Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on Flickr
N. gracilis, Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on Flickr
N. rafflesiana, Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on Flickr
N. albomarginata, Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on Flickr
N. albomarginata, Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on Flickr
I should have read this before I tried to hike to the summit... by mcmcnair, on Flickr
After resting for two days at the lodge I was at I was pretty severely dehydrated, hungry, and sick. I had a severely upset stomach having to visit the bathroom nearly every hour. Also with the world cup going on the lodge/bar/hostel I was staying in was anything but quiet. The day for me to fly to Kota Kinabalu arrived and I knew I needed to see a doctor to get whatever was wrong with me taken care of. So I flew to Kota Kinabalu and after picking up my luggage I took a taxi directly to the hospital where I received an IV of saline and some anti-biotics and I slept peacefully for the first time in days for around 4 hours. I then took a taxi to the Best Western Kinabalu Daya hotel where I met two of my group members, one of which happened to be a doctor and we went out to dinner where I had the first substantial meal I had in days. The next morning our group was supposed to leave for Gunung Kinabalu, but with my current condition I wasn't sure I could do it. When I woke up in the morning I felt 1000x better and decided I wasn't going to miss this chance to climb this incredible mountain. So I packed up my bags and we took the van to the base of Gunung Kinabalu where I got my first look at the mountain from the distance.
Gunung Kinabalu in the distance! by mcmcnair, on Flickr
View from Base Camp by mcmcnair, on Flickr
The building at base camp by mcmcnair, on Flickr
One of our guides explaining the trail we take by mcmcnair, on Flickr
Nice view as we begin the climb by mcmcnair, on Flickr
Beginning the climb by mcmcnair, on Flickr
The trail is really well maintained on Kinabalu by mcmcnair, on Flickr
The Climb by mcmcnair, on Flickr
The Climb by mcmcnair, on Flickr
The Climb by mcmcnair, on Flickr
A nice orchid by mcmcnair, on Flickr
A really cool little orchid by mcmcnair, on Flickr
Who doesn't love N. villosa by mcmcnair, on Flickr
During the climb by mcmcnair, on Flickr
A relative of N. rafflesia by mcmcnair, on Flickr
The climb by mcmcnair, on Flickr
Me with a nicely colored N. villosa by mcmcnair, on Flickr
N. villosa just hanging out alongside the trail by mcmcnair, on Flickr
Still Climbing... by mcmcnair, on Flickr
Still Climbing... by mcmcnair, on Flickr
Still Climbing... by mcmcnair, on Flickr
Still Climbing... by mcmcnair, on Flickr
Still Climbing... by mcmcnair, on Flickr
Almost there! by mcmcnair, on Flickr
View from the Summit Camp by mcmcnair, on Flickr
View from the Summit Camp by mcmcnair, on Flickr
View from the Summit Camp by mcmcnair, on Flickr
Oh I almost forgot the plants from the climb up
Sphagnum sp. Gunung Kinabalu by mcmcnair, on Flickr
N. tentaculata, Gunung Kinabalu by mcmcnair, on Flickr
N. tentaculata, Gunung Kinabalu by mcmcnair, on Flickr
N. tentaculata, Gunung Kinabalu by mcmcnair, on Flickr
5V4B1153 by mcmcnair, on Flickr
5V4B1155 by mcmcnair, on Flickr
N. tentaculata, Gunung Kinabalu by mcmcnair, on Flickr
Impatiens kinabaluensis? by mcmcnair, on Flickr
5V4B1168 by mcmcnair, on Flickr
5V4B1172 by mcmcnair, on Flickr
5V4B1174 by mcmcnair, on Flickr
N. tentaculata, Gunung Kinabalu by mcmcnair, on Flickr
5V4B1177 by mcmcnair, on Flickr
N. tentaculata, Gunung Kinabalu by mcmcnair, on Flickr
5V4B1181 by mcmcnair, on Flickr
N. tentaculata, Gunung Kinabalu by mcmcnair, on Flickr
More in the next post!
The Singashanna lodge in Kuching where I stayed by mcmcnair, on FlickrBoat Ride to Bako by mcmcnair, on FlickrDuring the boat ride to Bako by mcmcnair, on FlickrBeach at Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on FlickrCliffs at Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on FlickrCliffs at Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on FlickrAt Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on FlickrAt Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on Flickr5V4B1102 by mcmcnair, on FlickrN. rafflesiana, Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on FlickrN. rafflesiana, Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on FlickrN. gracilis, Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on FlickrN. rafflesiana, Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on FlickrN. albomarginata, Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on FlickrN. albomarginata, Bako National Park by mcmcnair, on FlickrI should have read this before I tried to hike to the summit... by mcmcnair, on FlickrAfter resting for two days at the lodge I was at I was pretty severely dehydrated, hungry, and sick. I had a severely upset stomach having to visit the bathroom nearly every hour. Also with the world cup going on the lodge/bar/hostel I was staying in was anything but quiet. The day for me to fly to Kota Kinabalu arrived and I knew I needed to see a doctor to get whatever was wrong with me taken care of. So I flew to Kota Kinabalu and after picking up my luggage I took a taxi directly to the hospital where I received an IV of saline and some anti-biotics and I slept peacefully for the first time in days for around 4 hours. I then took a taxi to the Best Western Kinabalu Daya hotel where I met two of my group members, one of which happened to be a doctor and we went out to dinner where I had the first substantial meal I had in days. The next morning our group was supposed to leave for Gunung Kinabalu, but with my current condition I wasn't sure I could do it. When I woke up in the morning I felt 1000x better and decided I wasn't going to miss this chance to climb this incredible mountain. So I packed up my bags and we took the van to the base of Gunung Kinabalu where I got my first look at the mountain from the distance.
Gunung Kinabalu in the distance! by mcmcnair, on FlickrView from Base Camp by mcmcnair, on FlickrThe building at base camp by mcmcnair, on FlickrOne of our guides explaining the trail we take by mcmcnair, on FlickrNice view as we begin the climb by mcmcnair, on FlickrBeginning the climb by mcmcnair, on FlickrThe trail is really well maintained on Kinabalu by mcmcnair, on FlickrThe Climb by mcmcnair, on FlickrThe Climb by mcmcnair, on FlickrThe Climb by mcmcnair, on FlickrA nice orchid by mcmcnair, on FlickrA really cool little orchid by mcmcnair, on FlickrWho doesn't love N. villosa by mcmcnair, on FlickrDuring the climb by mcmcnair, on FlickrA relative of N. rafflesia by mcmcnair, on FlickrThe climb by mcmcnair, on FlickrMe with a nicely colored N. villosa by mcmcnair, on FlickrN. villosa just hanging out alongside the trail by mcmcnair, on FlickrStill Climbing... by mcmcnair, on FlickrStill Climbing... by mcmcnair, on FlickrStill Climbing... by mcmcnair, on FlickrStill Climbing... by mcmcnair, on FlickrStill Climbing... by mcmcnair, on FlickrAlmost there! by mcmcnair, on FlickrView from the Summit Camp by mcmcnair, on FlickrView from the Summit Camp by mcmcnair, on FlickrView from the Summit Camp by mcmcnair, on FlickrOh I almost forgot the plants from the climb up
Sphagnum sp. Gunung Kinabalu by mcmcnair, on FlickrN. tentaculata, Gunung Kinabalu by mcmcnair, on FlickrN. tentaculata, Gunung Kinabalu by mcmcnair, on FlickrN. tentaculata, Gunung Kinabalu by mcmcnair, on Flickr5V4B1153 by mcmcnair, on Flickr5V4B1155 by mcmcnair, on FlickrN. tentaculata, Gunung Kinabalu by mcmcnair, on FlickrImpatiens kinabaluensis? by mcmcnair, on Flickr5V4B1168 by mcmcnair, on Flickr5V4B1172 by mcmcnair, on Flickr5V4B1174 by mcmcnair, on FlickrN. tentaculata, Gunung Kinabalu by mcmcnair, on Flickr5V4B1177 by mcmcnair, on FlickrN. tentaculata, Gunung Kinabalu by mcmcnair, on Flickr5V4B1181 by mcmcnair, on FlickrN. tentaculata, Gunung Kinabalu by mcmcnair, on FlickrMore in the next post!
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How lucky you must be to get a chance to go an a trip like this and see some of the most spectacular flora and fauna in the world.
