Got back from Sipadan yesterday - was absolutelyamazing!!

We had our last day at the outdoor nurseery on tuesday which was good, we did our usual things & it was nice beeing with the orangs for the last time in our rotation. We were lucky to be involved in catching Mimi (mum)andRonny (baby) who are semi wild orangs. Ronny had a bit of string caught around his arm so it needed to be cutoff, but Mimi wouldnt let rangers near it as protective over baby. so we tempted her into the cage with bananas and anaethetiwsed her to then cut the string - exciting!!

Wednesday we left in the morning to go to Semporna, a 4 1/2 hour drive. on the way there we drove through palmoilplantations. It was shocking, so extensive as far as the eye could see there was palm tree afterpalm tree. we went past bits where the rainforest had recently been cut down, it was horrible. It rteminded us all that we're not here just to cuddle the orangs, but of the big problem here with deforestation and rescuing the orangs. when we finally arrived in Semporna we were meant to get a boat to Marbul Island where we were staying, however the boat could only go left or right and not straight! So we waited a few hours &eventually a replacement boat came - very small so got soaked!! after40min boat ride we arrived at the island & water village where we stayed, it was very basic but liveable, our little house on stilts in the sea!!!

on thursday morn it was windy and rained a little so we had to wait untilafternoon to snorkel as clalmer. we went to a nearby island called Kalapai to snorkel, wasreally good saw lots of different fish. In the evening we walked around the entire island (!) and all the local children said hello. Some of us played with them, they were so happy with how little they have, andloved being swung in the air!we were a bitworried we had nits after because they were scratching their heads! we went to a bar on the beach in the evening!

friday we went to Sipadan (no one can stay on the island as itsprotected) in the earlymorning. We snorkellled in Turtle Patch and it was awesome. Therewerelots of turtles, we justglided along with them! Loadsofcolourfulfish and baby sharks. After an hour or so we got droppedoff on the beach, white powder sand and turquoise water was beautiful! We saw a lizard the sizeof a sausage dog on there! We sunbathed and snorkelled - saw a massive turtle about1.5m long and lotsof schools of fish - reminded me of nemo - and yes we did find him!

Came back that afternoon to rest house, lotsofburnt bodies - somepeople have got blisters :S I havent got burnt, justgoingbrown :) hehe

Have done a jungle trek today - not too manyleeches!! (I nearly had one go into my knickers the other day - very traumatising!!! haha) but quite tiring.

Thanks for everyones messages and emails, keep them up love hearing fromyou all

lotsof love xxxx