Lahad Datu - Day 2 (Lahad Datu Town

We checked out of My Inn Hotel at 8.20am and waited in the lobby for our 8.30am pickup to Danum Valley. Our driver, Aqmal, arrived on time in a 4WD truck. The four of us loaded our luggage into the vehicle, and just as we were getting settled, a homeless child came up asking for money. Aqmal advised us not to give anything, as he had done so before and the child returned with a group of friends to ask for more.

Aqmal then drove us to the Borneo Nature Tour office near the airport, the same place where the Grab driver had dropped us the day before due to a car breakdown. We were offered coffee and tea, along with some bananas. Each of us received a complimentary aluminum water bottle. After a short briefing, the staff ended with a light-hearted message, wishing us good luck with the leeches. Since December falls within the wet season, the forest trails are damp, and leeches are more active. She also mentioned that there would be two toilet breaks along the way, one after about a 40-minute drive and another after an hour.

We left at 9.07am. The road into Danum Valley started with winding S-shaped curves. We reached the Danum Valley Conservation Area checkpoint at 9.40am, where Aqmal stopped to register the four of us and obtain the necessary entry permits. From there, the road turned into a long stretch of gravel leading deeper into the forest.

Our first toilet break was at 9.50am, but a car behind us (also heading to Danum Valley) blocked the path. The vehicle had a problem with its sliding door, which wouldn't close properly. Aqmal kindly helped them fix it, and we ended up waiting for almost 30 minutes before we could continue our journey. Halfway along the bumpy gravel road, Aqmal stopped and asked the car behind us to drive ahead. He then pointed out a group of orangutans high up in the trees. There were four in total, though I could only spot one with a baby clinging to her. It was an incredible sight.

The journey was scenic, with lush greenery on both sides, though the gravel made the ride a bit bumpy. Along the way, we spotted wildlife, including short-tailed and long-tailed monkeys, eagles, and a monitor lizard. There was no phone signal along the gravel road, making the forest feel even more remote and untouched. As we ventured deeper, the trees grew taller, their trunks standing out in a striking white.

We made our second stop at 11.15am, and finally reached the Borneo Rainforest Lodge at 12pm. Upon arrival, Debby gave us a warm welcome with a refreshing lemongrass drink and cold towels. She also provided the internet details so we could get online. So far, the lodge Wi-Fi works well, while U Mobile has 4G coverage here. Then our guide, Yohanas, gave a short briefing. I asked him about where leeches usually bite, and he explained that they typically take about 15 minutes to latch on, with the most unexpected spots being the belly button and behind the ears. Wearing leech socks is highly recommended if you're worried about leeches, and it's also important to tuck in your clothes. He also reminded us that drones are not allowed in Danum Valley.

After the briefing, we had our lunch around 12.30pm. The food was generally pleasant. The fish cooked in coconut milk was flavourful and fresh. The mango, dragon fruit, and pomelo were sweet. Besides that, the sago kuih was enjoyable, but the cakes didn't taste very good. We even joked that the chef wasn't very good at baking. The curry laksa lacked punch, and the rest of the dishes were average. We were able to check into our room at 1.30pm, and our luggage had already been delivered, which made the process very convenient.

We rested for about two hours before heading back to the main lobby at 3.30pm to watch the introductory video. Our guide, Yohanas, hosted a 15-minute video session in the Seraya Room. Only four of us attended, along with a couple from Germany who had visited the Mulu Caves the day before. Yohanas mentioned that only two sections of the canopy walk were open, as the rest were closed for maintenance. He tried his best to convince me to join the introductory walk, but I was too worried about leeches and decided not to go. After the video, they went on a 1.5-hour introductory walk, while I strolled around the lodge and noticed the swimming pool, which wasn't very clean, before returning to our room. I was glad that our chalet was so close to the lodge, so I didn't have to walk too far.

The group returned at around 5.45pm. Everyone was safe from leech bites except for Yohanas, who had been bitten on his body. After my partner refreshed from the walk, we headed out for dinner at 6.30pm. The food was ready, and we began eating before 6.45pm. Dinner was served from 6.45pm to 9pm. Overall, the meal was average. The grilled chicken lacked flavour, and the dessert was the same as what was served at lunchtime. However, the fruits were good, especially the mango and honeydew. There was also a dance performance during dinner, and we had the chance to take photos with the dancers.

The night safari began at 8.15pm. Both of us sat at the front of a two-seater, four-row open-air buggy, while our friend took another buggy as ours was already full. It was pitch black, and the ranger used a torchlight to look for wildlife. The first animal spotted was a mouse deer, but it quickly vanished into the bushes before we could get a good look. Along the way, I saw fireflies glowing brightly like stars. The night sky was clear, and we could see a nebula among countless stars.

About 4km into the safari, the buggy turned back. On the return journey, we spotted a sleeping black-crowned pitta, also known as burung pacat, followed by a red giant flying squirrel. Its eyes glowed when the ranger shone the torch on it. We also saw another sleeping bird and a Wallace's flying frog. We arrived back to the lodge lobby around 9.30pm, returned to our room, and went to bed at 11pm because we had to wake up at 6am for the morning jungle trek.