Back to the apes

Yesterday began with a 5-hour ride on a bus with deteriorating seats and no AC. But I did make it to Sandekan and started the 3K trek with pack to the rest house. I was hoping the bus would come by. It never did. I managed to get a ride for the last 1/2K or so. Fortunately, they sky was filled with clouds so it was a little bit cooler than normal. Humidity near liquid, but it's always like that in Borneo.

The camera was still in town but after a quick trip to the courier's office I had my camera again, sans the batteries that Minolta acknowledged receiving but did not see fit to return. At least, that's what the paper trail included in the box indicated. There was also a mention that the tech noted water damage to the board, something Minolta never mentioned to me. Odd considering the camera had never been in the water or the rain but maybe just atmospheric humidity in Borneo in the wet season is enough.

This was my second trip to Sepilok orangutan rehabilitation center. The morning’s session was nothing I hadn't seen before but the place was overflowing with people. There must have been 50+ watching maybe 6 orangutans.

The afternoon session was much better. We sighted several orangutans in the trees while walking to the feeding platform. A large troop of pig tail macaques passed by on the handrail. One young mail orangutan gave a god show twirling around a branch.

At the feeding platform, there were probably 7 orangutans and 3 times that many macaques. I caught on film one tussle between an orangutan and the dominant male macaque. 2 species with teeth bared fighting over sugar cane. That's if it comes out. It is only one frame. I shot a full roll today. The last couple of frames being a wrestling match of a sort between two orangs.

Tomorrow, I will probably head off to Lahad Datu and from there to Danum Valley. However, Elephants have been seen on the lower Kinabatangan recently. If there is a good chance of seeing t hem, a return to Uncle Tan's may be in order.