Kumai to Singapore

We left Bali and headed North to the Island of Borneo in the Province of Kalimantan. The main reason for this visit is to go into the jungle to the orang-utan sanctuary but nothing had prepared us for the appalling condition we found the country in. The local farmers are hard pushed to make a living and many are turning to planting palm oil trees and are clearing the jungle with massive forest fires, and although it is illegal the government seems powerless to stop the burning. We crept up the Kumai River in thick drifting smoke, often unable to see the riverbanks and navigating by radar

The following day we took fast speedboats on up the river to the sanctuary. Travelling in convoy we felt like extras in a James Bond film as we shot up through the channels, which got narrower and narrower, till we were brushing the banks. Thankfully the sanctuary was relatively smoke free and we were able to see much better

At the sanctuary the orang-utans are nursed back to health and then released back into the jungle where they can fend for themselves, but twice a day food is provided on built up stages and the animals are free to come and go as they choose. They interbreed with the wild population and visitors sit quietly at a discreet distance watching what comes to feed. Here a female is given extra milk and the baby takes its chance when mum is looking the other way to get its share

The centre attracts other wildlife and there are some semi-tame gibbons that live there and are quite adorable, with tiny human faces and long arms and legs they are hard to resist!.

In the centre itself there are some orang-utans who are loath to leave and are almost over friendly. This family with mother, and two generations of her young took quite a shine to Frances as we sat on the steps in the sun being told about the work being done there.

Then we went back out to the feeding area to the real stars of the show, this time more males came in and were very entertaining

This older orang-utan has a nasty gash on his head and is rather bashful as he swung on a tree that could not carry his weight and fell ignominiously in a heap in front of us and he felt humiliated when we laughed at him. Their reactions are so human it is wonderful to see

Then we sailed on to Singapore, a fantastic, bustling city full of contrasts. A huge busy docks meeting with commerce and shopping in a huge mass of life.

There is heavy industry and tourism, all very exciting for first time visitors.

But havens of peace and tranquillity, here in the orchid house of the botanical gardens

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