THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN peak between New Guinea and Burma, big rivers supporting large forests and indigenous communities, and some highly rated diving (so I hear), a trip to the north-east corner of Borneo is an adventure. The wildlife viewing can be first class, getting out there is often really out there, and throw in high ethnic diversity (and the food that brings) and Sabah makes for a memorable destination.

While our jungle camp was flooded out, our host took some of us to an island off the coast of Sandakan.

Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary provides a good chance to observe our relatives at close range. Orphans are rescued from forest clearings, poachers and houses.

Bamboo wind instruments, rolling home grown tobacco, carrying a rattan basket. Back when I was travelling through Asia in my younger days, many travellers knocked Malaysia for not being "really Asia", whatever that meant.

All dressed up with nowhere to go, villagers from the surrounding countryside at the Kota Belud tamu.

Seeing wildlife in the wild is one of life's great joys, and primates are up there with big cats for excitement. This fellow made a noisy path right through the trees above our jungle camp.

Uncle Tan was the pioneer of jungle camps on the Kinabatangan River. I spent over two weeks there, either side of an almighty flood.

Uncle's staff were knowledgable and friendly, as well as good cooks, and he had a great spot with well marked trails.

A typhoon swept throug the Philippines, bringing increased rain to Sabah. The horseshow bend in the river became a lake, which eventually found its way into my hut, when I was sleeping.

Climbing Mount Kinabalu isn't that hard, at 4101m, I'd rather not carry a gas cylinder up. But thank you! I wish I had taken more time to explore the forests on the route up.

Poring Hot Springs was established by occupying Japanese forces in WWII, and is part of Kinabalu National Park. There is some good forest trekking to be had.

Like most mountain top sunrise expeditions, the clouds are unlikely to co-operate. Waiting -in the cold- often pays rewards.

The Danum Valley Conservation Area contains some of Sabah's best forest, and wildlife habitat. Getting their and getting permission to visit is not easy.
A Swiss friend I was travelling with knew his stuff. At one stage he ran from tree to tree, sniffing the trunks, and confidently declared "clouded leopard."

The Sandakan Death Marches are one of the more horrific stories from WWI. The Japanese army forced 2440 Allied prisoners on ardous marches through the jungles of Sabah. Like the more famous prisoners of the Burma railway, they were used for forced labour.
Six survived.