Friday, May 20, 2016

Salud!: Bako National Park – Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo


It’s jellyfish season in Sarawak and as we hurtle down the river we slow as we pass numerous small fishing boats filled to the brim with jellyfish.

“It’s a good time of year for the fisherman who live here”, says Sulli, our guide.

Jellyfish are only here at this time of year so it is possible for them to sell them for much more than the fish.

I ask how much they can expect from a boat load. “Maybe 200 Ringgit”. (Approx. USD50).

We are heading out to Bako National Park, one of the first national parks in Borneo and a popular destination in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo.

You need to take a boat to get to this protected area of the jungle.

As the tide is low, we hop out some way into the bay into ankle deep water and walk across the sand to register our arrival.

There are many marked jungle trails on the peninsula and it’s possible to walk these on your own but we have opted for a guide.

At 120 Malaysian Ringgit (Approx. USD30) for a private guide for the two of us for the whole day it’s seems like a bargain.

And it does turn out to be as Sulli is a mine of information.

We take a “path” which leads through the jungle and around a hilly peninsula to another bay.

As we step over roots and clamber up hills Sulli points out plants and viewpoints and gives us a general rundown on life in these parts.

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