Last Day in Danum

Golden Orb Spider

Mass flowering of Dipteracarp trees in the Danum Valley

Lee who has been our friend and guide throughout the expedition

Strangler fig roots

Paradise or Flying Tree Snake

Our Malaysian team members after recording "Voices of Sabah" for the BBC

The team high on humidity before we leave the jungle for the last time

Day 11 Diary by Alex, Dugall, Sholto & Rupert

We woke up to hear of stories of bathing with the Malays in the hot tub by some of the older students and ventured to breakfast- pancakes, coco crunch, fruit, porridge, and maple syrup.

At 8.15 we departed to climb through the rainforest to the observation point overlooking the canopy. Little did we realise that this was to be the sweatiest day of our life. As Alex put it ‘the walk was hot, sweaty, endless, and painful but worth it as the view at the top was magnificent and breathtaking.’ A memory we will all take away with us to remind us of the rainforest. On the way we were lucky to see Gibbons. A mother holding child and a father were swinging through the trees. Further up the track some of the group also saw four more Gibbons who were larger as they swung through the trees. We also visited the ancient burial site where the tribe of head-hunters who used to inhabit this forest lived. The burial chamber has been excavated and we saw some coffins and we had explained what the rituals were for this tribe. The Coffins have been carbon dated and they are about 350 years old. Tribes lived in this forest until the 1930’s.

Our return trip down through the forest was at a good pace as we knew from PABS that we were to be allowed to swim in the waterfall’s plunge pool we had passed on the way up. We reached the pool and all dived in after paddling to experience the fish nibbling our toes. We spent 20 minutes swimming, put on our sweaty clothes and returned to the centre to shower and eat another fantastic lunch. Lunch became the Rainforest burger competition which Dughall won consuming 5 beef and chicken burgers. The total burgers consumed by the students I am told was 32. The walk had certainly made them hungry!

We then were given free time until 3pm when we met to put together all the information for the final blog. Some of us were late as a tremendous storm started at 2.45pm. But the chivalrous Sam Bowers arrived with umbrellas. The river after the meeting showed its effect as a raging torrent was outside the lodge.

At the meeting we carried out a recorded interview with 5 of the English students and 5 of the Malay students for the Voices of Sabah Project which took about 3 hours this afternoon. We also got a few sentences from all the students which hopefully will be used in the Sabah Diary we are publishing.  After Supper we had a final gathering in the bar to round off our expedition.

Ali Omel – one of the staff on the expedition reflects below.

The Rainforest

‘I barely notice the trickles of sweat rolling down my back as the heat and humidity come at me like waves. I stand in absolute awe of this magnificent place, the hues and shapes wrap themselves around me like a cloak, immersing me into the extraordinary energy of this beautiful place.’

2. It doesn’t rain here, it pours, everything grows vigorously and extensively, it is a fertile radiating landscape that pulses with life and vibrancy.

Palm Oil v Rainforest

Sustainability seems key to the future of protecting Sabah’s rainforest. Palm Oil production has been a powerful contributor to the economy, bringing new infrastructure, housing, and education to the region. It is not a question of palm oil versus Rainforests; it is a compromise in trying to find a balance between the two.

Experience

I think we are becoming increasingly disconnected with the natural environment around us and because of this it is hard to fully understand how critical it is to respond actively to its destruction. Being within the depths of the primary rainforest is a powerful experience and seeing the land robbed of this beauty is heartbreaking.

One final quote from a Student

‘Sabah – what a place full of amazing species and wonderful people’

As Sholto reminded us in his final thoughts – The Rainforest Lodge Guides say-

‘Hope for everything, expect nothing ‘

We have had an amazing time in Sabah and we come home tomorrow ready to share all our information with parents, friends and through our publications with the wider public. PABS

Species observed throughout the expedition