For me, Borneo has also brought one image to mind - hairy orangutans swinging through trees - so a trip to the Sepilok sanctuary was therefore high on the agenda! Seeing these placid animals in their natural habitat was a very exciting prospect and they did not disappoint.
However our visit to the sanctuary ended up being a little more eventful that we'd anticipated.
The 1st drama: As we wandered along the boardwalk, I spotted a pretty sizable snake which I casually pointed out to our guide (I've seen a fair few over the last 6 months so have become quite blase about them!).
Our guide on the other hand started pointing and shouting. In a matter of seconds a crowd of snap happy tourists gathered to photograph what turned out to be a Copper head snake - (AKA a very dangerous one!).
We continued to the feeding platform and I was in my element watching the orange mother and baby duos gracefully swinging from tree to tree.
The 2nd drama: This moment of being 'at one with nature' was quickly interrupted by an elderly Swedish woman who collapsed on the boardwalk. Dr Huntley sprang in to action as onlookers stared in the usual 'car accident on motorway' kind of way. 'Suzanne' was finally well enough to stand after a can of coke, a packet of mentos and an hour of Dr Huntley's undivided attention. He assisted her on to the tour bus where 47 other elderly Swedish women practically swooned at his feet.
We certainly got more than we bargained for but thankfully we were able to return to Sepilok in the afternoon to watch another feeding session...without any snakes or fainting Swedes!
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