Straight after Bali, I arrived in Borneo. I could not hike Mount Kinabalu due to my injury, so I found a tour with a lower level of activity.
I was apprehensive about joining another tour because I doubted that the group could be as great as the one I had just experienced in Bali. But my anxiety couldn’t have been more wrong about the group in Borneo. Although it was not as ‘lively’, everyone was so friendly and we all shared the dream to see as many animals as possible. There were also a few Brits in the group, which made me feel more settled. I got on very well with an empathetic woman who was interested in my hidden disability campaigning. She seemed determined to find orangutans for me, after I mentioned how wildlife sightings would make up for missing out on Kinabalu.

We visited many coffee plantations, local markets for lunch, and charity projects including a museum helping women recover from trauma. We saw Mount Kinabalu on a few occasions, which I found upsetting at first, as I longed to climb her, but I was ok and grateful for the experiences I was having.
The highlight of the trip was seeing the Boneo big five: Orangutan, Proboscis Monkey, Pygmy Elephant, Rhinoceros Hornbill and Estuarine Crocodile. I lost track of the birds we saw, as well as flying squirrels and beautiful invertebrates. We all loved animals and found ourselves working as a team to search for them. The others became used to my swearing habit knew when they heard “f***!” that I’d seen something! when they heard that. After 3 days, we found an orangutan. When someone spotted one and called me over, I was so happy I cried.

On a day off, a lot of people in the group were interested in getting tattoos. I had always wanted one, so I decided to join them and we all went together to a shop recommended by the tour guide. I decided to get a mountain tattoo on my arm! We all supported each other through the painful bit. A friendly British woman held my hand and chatted with me about the wildlife we had seen while I was getting inked. I couldn’t have been happier with the result. Mountains are part of my soul and they represent freedom to me.
It was very sad saying goodbye at the end and I didn’t want to leave. I enjoyed my 2 days alone in Kuala Lumpar, but missed the group.
Both tours in Bali and Borneo helped me overcome my anxiety about tour travel. It proves that one bad experience doesn't ruin another and I feel safe on tours again. This adventure in South East Asia will definitely be put in my list of ‘best trips ever’!
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