borneo4x4.com

DRY SAFARI - Borneo Road Tour 2007

It was supposed to be a Dry Safari.. yes, we got some dry weather but more wet ones than dry. It is true that we stayed away from the mud but it was still wet nonetheless. 

KK has the best sunsets. Period.

Day 1, 26 May Saturday - LONG DRIVING DAY
At 0255 we rolled out from Octaviouss's home and was well on the way- two cars Lunsong and General. Laurence came on radio and with a large family, we was running late. He caught up at Peladang rest stop at Sri Aman. We arrived Medan Jaya, Bintulu. Belting on General was loose, result of full belting replacement two weeks ago. It took a while and RM15 to tighten it. We headed to Miri on the coastal highway. Got into Miri at 1600. The ladies hit the shops, Laurence's kids was with me in the pool.

Day 2, 27 May, Sunday - CHOPS
Rolled out from Miri rather late at about 1000, changed money and entered Brunei where we had our fill of top quality Brunei gasoline and diesel. Our cars ran more powerful and economical. So, scanned out from Miri and chop into Brunei, chop out of Brunei and scanned into Limbang where we bought 'duty free'. Then it was scanned again out from Limbang into chop into Brunei, Temburong. Chop out of Brunei and finally scanned into Lawas. At Merapok, we scanned our passports again... then we drove all the way via the coastal road into Kota Kinabalu. Wet weather welcomed us into KK.

Check into Marina Court and took it easy. As energy was not at its highest levels, we went across the road for a rather expensive local meal - RM 60 for two persons. The ladies were walking the shop. Oh yes, we did do the shops to get us some high quality imitation Mountain Hardware and Mammut shirts.

a stop for goodies at Borneo Lim's is a must- here Octaviouss gets 2" lift on his Prado

Day 3, 28 May, Monday - BORNEO 4WD
This was the only working day Borneo 4WD had as the company would close for a 5 day holiday trip to China. My Range Rover had caster correction bushes installed - to compensate with the 4inch lift. Octaviouss had his Prado's suspension lifted and Laurence installed a new set of Old Man Emu nitrocharger shocks.

At 1100 we headed to the airport to pick up Yu Seung and Rose who flew in from Singapore. I had the privilege to introduce them to 4X4 heaven - Sabah and did all my tour guide past could conjure up. Our Singapore friends are die hard motor cyclist and seeing the real world of 4X4 was something else.

Driving in the highlands of Mesilau

That night we had dinner at Salute - one of the best seafood restaurants, located on a marine aqua culture farm by the sea.

Day 4, 29 May, Tuesday - RIDE INTO THE CLOUDS
The weather was kind enough to clear for us to enjoy the drive out from KK to the Kinabalu mountain. We stocked up with all forms of food in KK and left a little late at 1100. General the Range Rover was clearly overloaded with camping equipment, bags, spare fuel and everything including a small BBQ pit...

Clouds...

We attempted to meet the Kinabalu 4X4 Club Jamboree that was meeting 2 hrs up the road from Tamparuli. When we had climbed over 200 meters, I decided that its best to eat noodles than to look for our motor head friends so we had lunch at the highly recommended mee shop in Tamparuli and off course a walk in the market for the ladies and tourists.

We continued on our climb up to the foothills of Kinabalu. Many drivers were thinking we were mad as the our front car would radio to inform of a clear road up ahead on overtaking in blind corners. I could go on and on about the beauty of V8 and how it can pass four cars in one sweep - but I'll just say that once.

Some of the steepest gradients here.

There was a stop at Nabalu where the clouds blew in and everything was misty. This is a nice shopping place with fresh raw honey comb and fruits and last chance to restock on beer. We paid our conservation fee at Kinabalu Park HQ and did our tourist round of pictures.

At Kundasang we took a left turn up into Mesilau and Octaviouss came back on radio. He had gone ahead on his own tour with his in-laws. We siad our good byes as he was heading into Brunei the following day. We had to stop all along the way at farms, at the hills and mountains. The air temperature was a cool 26'C in bright sunshine. We continued up to Mesilau Nature resort where we checked into our cabin adeptly named Ugly Sisters. This cabin sits right by a mountain stream where even the bravest would not dip their foot in.. it is just that cold.

At Kinabalu Park (L-R) Laurence, Anita, Tim, Andrew, Nathan (in front) Malcolm (back) Eunice, Rose and Yu Seung

That night we had BBQ and a family style feast.. a few of us had drinks in the veranda but had to go indoors at 2100 as the temperature had dipped close to 13'C! We also moved the BBQ pit indoors for heat and had the heaters going. It was the first time for me to sleep in my sleeping bag that night. At about 11 it started to rain and the temperature climbed slightly.

Meeting with the LR Guys from Sandakan

Day 5, 30 May, Wednesday - THE RAJAH
As we went to check out we bumped into a whole bunch of Land Rover fanatics who were on a tour of North Borneo. One of them recognised General and said that he had considered buying the car. We exchanged numbers and were invited to visit Sandakan where they were from.

Yes, that's the world's largest pitcher plant - Nepenthes Rajah (with Eunice)

At a scenic lunch at a lookout point, we went to visit the Nepenthes Garden to see the main attraction the RAJAH. Yes, our Sarawak Rajah Charles Brooke had supported the scientific research and person who founded this new species back then named it after the Rajah. The rajah grows at 2,000 meters elevation.

One of the many well prepared 4X4 in Sabah

Our plan was to camp that night in Poring and had already paid our camping fees when the skies opened again. After waiting around, we got a refund on the camping fees and looked for accommodation. This was an adventure. Laurence informed us by phone that he found accommodation in Nabalu- 2 rooms size 8'X10' just large enough for a queen size bed.. we had to do better. we inquired at a supermarket about accommodation and the 'Towkay' said that he had rooms. We went to check it out - 8X10 too. No can do! He brought us to the orange house and although it was dirty, it had a kitchen, shower and toilet and was fairly descent. We had another camping meal there.

The Orange House looking to Mt. Kinabalu - nice !

Day 6, 31 May, Thursday- CROCKER RANGE
We hooked up with Laurence and went on our drive through the Crocker Range (1600meters). This was not a long drive - about 150km but over some of the most stunning sceneries ever. It would not do justice to the scenery except to say that it is STUNNING (again). This was also a rather tedious and long day as we went through Brunei and had to wait at the ferries due to the holiday season. We arrived in Miri at 2100, had a quick dinner and passed out.

A descend on the Crocker Range

Day 7, 1 June, Friday - GAWAI
We were planning to leave Miri earlier but was apparently slow  in getting out. We made a detour to visit the Petroleum museum while waiting for Laurence. We made the mistake of using the inner older road that was is a very poor condition. We went all the way to Rumah Linggit and arrived at 2100 where the longhouse folks were waiting for us for dinner.

We were late for the big pot bless in the longhouse. On the right is the Chief

Rumah Linggit is named after the Linggit river which it sits on. The head of the longhouse is Mr. Wesley Ullok- father of one Laurence Baraw Ullok. This is my second visit here and know most of the faces.

It was such an honour and we felt so bad that these kind folks had to stay up to wait for us. Good thing we brought a dish of pork ribs to add to the pot luck party.

Day 7, 2 June, Saturday-HOME
Boy were the roads different today. Lots of traffic! It was hangover day yesterday and there was little traffic to content with.. We made our way back home to Kuching.

A traditional bamboo bridge in Bengoh, the heart of Bidayuh country

Day 8, 3 June - BAMBOO BRIDGES BENGOH
Today we took Yu Seung and Rose on a trek to Kampong Sapit in Bengoh. The highlight? Singletrack and long 80-90 meter bamboo bridges.

Day 9, 4 June - We had an easy day at home downloading photos and taking it easy and Yu Seung and Rose left by the evening flight to SIngapore.

People on the trip