"When Harry is not there Arusap is responsible for me, and he travels under oath not to allow me to use my own judgement...Through the impenetrable jungle we go. Advisedly I use the lurid word 'impenetrable.' I do not use it before the Accurate Mind, my husband. He would say, and reasonably so, that if men penetrate the jungle it cannot be impenetrable. But when I am alone I allow myself these travel-book extravagances." ~ Agnes Newton Keith, Land Below the Wind

After an easy two hours drive from Sandakan by car...

we arrive at the meandering Kinabatangan River...

for a quick journey to...

Proboscis Lodge...

where we made a quick drop-off...

at our simple but accomodating room...

and a enjoyed quick lunch.

Late afternoon, our first boat journey down the river...

took us alongside the homes...

of those that make their living on the river.

Winding through the rainforest...

the Kinabatangan River...

Oriental Pied Hornbill

 is the second longest river in Malaysia...

check out those feather eyelashes

Rhinoceros Hornbill

and provides a water path...

into the sleeping grounds...

of the neighborhood proboscis monkeys.

During the day they explore the deeps of the rainforest...

but return to the banks of the river...

each afternoon for happy hour until sunset.

This same level of activity is enjoyed around sunrise...

as the monkeys wake up for the day.

So we rise early to observe the morning sun seat selection...

and catch a glimpse of a family meeting before heading into the rainforest.

Fortunately, our guide...

is very adept at finding those hidden treasures...

 like this Stork-Billed Kingfisher.

What a beauty!

We did NOT get too close to this 13 foot crocodile...

but this very rare Storm Stork was quite interested.

Coffee was waiting when we returned
 and it was hard to believe 
we had discovered so many of God's creatures
 and it was only 8:00 a.m.

We left the lodge by 10:00 a.m.
with plenty of time to catch our flight back to KL.
A perfect weekend get-away.