Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary: Photo courtesy of Lee Teck Seng

What an amazing sunset! After having enjoyed a river cruise and witnessing wildlife in their natural habitat...you end your site seeing with such spectacular display of colors. Isn't that a perfect day?...Well, I don't think so. As the sun sets in, it's now the turn of the night creatures to work their shift! And this too, is an experience not to be missed!

I don't even know where to start. You can hit the shower first after you're back at the lodge...but 'm not quite sure if that's a good idea. You might wanna check out around your lodge area. Don't ask me for what, coz the sounds of night fall here is something that you never heard of your whole life! Don't even try to think that it's silent here in the wilderness. It's full of life! and it's up to you to find out what they are...Must warn you tho', don't forget your camera and your insects repellent.

I miss Kinabatangan and wish I'll be going there soon. I promised myself that on my next visit there I'll be better equiped & IS lens is mounted on my camera...I wonder when will that be...Seng, thanks for the lovely pic! it's like down in memory lane!

Big Boys with Big Toys : Pics courtesy of Gary Albert (Nikon D80)

After a long back breaking journey by land (but cooled off by a chilled Tiger beers) ...we were excited to go to the final destination by boat (Kinabatangan Jungle Camp)...We had a little bit of laugh when Ron & Gary leaped off to another empty boat hoping to get a faster ride but needless to say...the boatman had different idea!

Without even a rest upon arrival to KJC, everybody switched on their cameras and got ready for action. Ah Seng was the most excited ones & eager to test his new D70s...Bravo! welcome to the addictive world of DSLR's photography!

The next morning, after an awesome river cruise experince at Menanggol, we stop by at Sukau for refreshments(No beer this time around...coz we had plenty during the night! not mentioning rounds of poker & countless glasses of an old friend's special..Mr. Jack Daniels! As ever, Where there's Ron there's good food!

Ah Seng, Chai & me during a cruise...Looking rather confident despite feeling nervous inside. Shooting on a boat is not an easy task!! but that didn't stop us...

After a few shots..Just look at us! We could turn pro anytime! National Geographic...Come check us out!

Now...finally a pic of the rest of the other photographers(Please excuse the person in WWF's white Tshirt...he's the ever reliable boatman Mr. Khai)..Ron with the blue hat & Gary in Camo. Look at Ah Seng...a thumbs up( Sign of good outing Sir?)

Within minutes after landing...Every body started uploading & showing off their catch!!! What a sight! These are a bunch of Pro's man (wanna be's)..They were five of us...5 cameras and 5 laptops. Gary and Ah Seng with their Nikons (D80 & D70s), Ron with a Sony H5 whilst Chai & me with our Canon 400D. The laptops were 2 Apples( Ron & Gary), Chai with his Compaq & Ah Seng & me with an Acer!

Gary had to scream at us to take this group photo!!! Well, you know how it is when boys are busy playing with their toys! Not even one of us bother to set up a tripod & include him in the pic...However, thank you Gary for these nice moments captured on camera! Ron...get yourself a decent DSLR camera,..Techniques can be taught...not talents.

Wildlife shots turned wild shots!

,

Don't rub your eyes or move close to your computer screen! these are shots of wildlife gone terribly wrong...It's a poor shot-BIG TIME! Well, just wanna share the perfect moments and all the frustrations that comes with it! Hahaha...What a miss...where did I go wrong! $#!+...I'll nail it next time...I hope there's a next time.

Kinabatangan Jungle Camp (KJC) 3D2N: Wild Boar

They don't normally behave this way..I mean they are shy animals and normally vanish in a split second once in contact with human..but I guess we had some exception. There were six of us on the boat...and believe it or not, four of us were born in the year of the pig...Majority wins! and we had ourselves a good family pictures for home coming!

Kinabatangan Jungle Camp (KJC) 3D2N: Basking Freshwater Crocks

...We were on the way back to the lodge when we stumbled upon this fully grown freshwater crocodile basking in a hot morning sun... As our sharp eyed boatman Mr. Khai, revs down the throttle and shut down the engine...slowly moving closer towards this dinosaur...It realized it was being stalked...got weary and quickly ran into his area of dominance...water!..came to think of it...I wonder if it saw us as a threat or just lunch...guess I'll never know coz Khai fired up the engine immediately afterwards and headed for home...

Kinabatangan Jungle Camp (KJC) 3D2N: The Oriental Darter

We were slowly cruizing when I saw this magnificient bird partially submerged... with only it's head out of the water...excited (and rather unselfishly), I then called on my buddies and pointed at it for everybody to get a shot...Eventually, I missed the most memorable moments but nevertheless nailed some good action shots at the end. I have to tell you guys...That was SWEET! Afterwards, the same great bird was drying its body in the sun and darting off as soon it realized that our boat is moving towards its way...

Kinabatangan Jungle Camp (KJC) 3D2N: Kinabatangan Jetties

I don't know how to describe how I felt when I saw few of the remarkable jetties erected on the riverbank of Kinabatangan...It's good that the area is being developed, but I do have my worries. I just hope that the development is closely monitored by the authority and the area will not be too commercialized...afterall, by the look of things, I am sure that these types of jetties are owned by the companies running the lodges here. However, currently it's safe to say that any visitors can still enjoy and experience the true wilderness of Kinabatangan...

Kinabatangan Jungle Camp (KJC) 3D2N: Fresh Water Crocodile

Well...I've seen crocodiles dozens of times. From the smallest to the monsterous ones. The experience however isn't quite the same as this encounter. I had mixed feelings when I came face-to-face with this particular beast. Eventho it's relatively small and was floating calmly not more that three meters from the boat..but nevertheless I felt some discomfort... It was watching us with that mysterious look...I have heard before from my grandfather that the tail of this creature is as dangerous as the jaw... Instead of using their razor sharp teeth, they can actually use their strong tail to bring down other huge animal such as cows. I have watched some documentaries on TV, and frankly speeking have never seen such attacking mode by a crock. I have to admit that that doesn't mean I don't believe my late granpa...for he was not only greatlookin' guy..but he was also a wiseman!! ...maybe the wild environment added the excitement and anxiety!..afterall, mind you that there wasn't any steel fence between us and nature that time...

Kinabatangan Jungle Camp (KJC) 3D2N: Buzzing Bug

After an exciting morning cruise in the Kinabatangan river...and can be described as a successful and fruitful photography session...I saw this thumbsize buzzing bug and quickly got ready for a shot or two... To my own surprise and amazement, I came out with this shot...It is a bit off center and not perfect...but considering the hardship and effort for such captures...I am kinda proud of this shot. Beauty...I know is in the eye of the beholder...but behold my friends....It's a beauty! and a personal favorite of mine...

Kinabatangan Jungle Camp (KJC) 3D2N: Oriental Pied Hornbill

...The boat we were in almost overturned during this shot! It was rocking wild and I really mean rocking guys!!! Everybody forgot about everything else except making sure they get the coolest shot of this hornbill! It was gliding fast and low and it is easy to understand why nature photographers (be it amatures and professionals) just love to take their pictures...They are simply magnificient creatures...Because of this bird, I don't think that my next visit to Kinabatangan I'll be armed with basic lens...No way...Have to power up! Believe me guys, 300mm might do the job...but image stabilization is a must!..You'll want to bang your head..or worst still, throw your lens into the kinabatangan river! Don't say that i didn't warn you...this time round...the agony of defeat does not even come close...triumph is in the air...

Storm's Stork: Captured in the wilderness of Kinabatangan

…the wife said…what does not appeal to the eyes, does not mean it does not deserve to be captured on camera…this rare stork is no beautiful swan…just like an ugly duckling…an ugly duckling that has graciously permit us to take his picture…he stayed long enough…long enough for us to get good snapshots…but not long enough for us to savour his rare presence…

Oriental Darter

…they were perching up high…up high on the tree top…putting my EOS400D to the test…putting my EOS400D to the limit…I am glad with the result…glad it passed the test…until I accessorized it further…this will have to do…for the time being…

Ron's lens

…ladies and gentlemen…presenting…the 2007 line up of the Manhunt of Sukau…a selection of the many faces of the contestants…naive looking…confident looking…cool looking…happy looking…take your pick...adrenalin pumping…everybody was ready to roll…everybody was ready to face the challenges up ahead…thank you to the camera man (well somebody has got to take the shot)…yours truly…Mr Macho Man himself...Sir Ron...

Gary's VR in action

…time is of the essence…we could not help ourselves…exhaustion aside…we went hunting for night crawlers…Gary snapped a shot of the hunters...it was just our tough luck…no night crawlers in sight…the torch’s battery acting up…tension arises…every man for himself…a fruitless night save for one man…the man with the sharper vision…the man who managed to snap a frog…the lucky man…Ah Seng…EXIF can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/gokibury/1425773945/

River cruise

…as the saying goes…early birds get the worms…we embarked on the river cruise as early as 6.15am…hopes are high…hopes of a fruitful cruise…what awaits us…is everybody’s guess…all geared up…we are ready to ambush the wild…we are ready to do some serious hitting…shutter button of course…thanks to the person who is absent in this shot…the courteous Ah Seng…this shot is made possible...

Mr. D80 Gary

…`don’t trust your eyes, trust your camera’…words right out from Gary’s mouth…words that linger in the mind on every photo hunt…Gary looked so intent checking his snapshots…Gary was not instantly recognizable…by my dear wife that is…she mistook him for someone else…it might be caused by the special effect…or simply her blurry vision…oh ya ka, thought it was alphon, she said…squinting her eyes from afar…eyes that were denied the use of the glasses…eyes that I said were beautiful…to which she chided…buduh…she said lovingly to my eyes…

Exhausted Ron

…fatigue seeped in…to those who are not used to…to those who are not on familiar ground…long journey…lengthy travel…Ron and I that is…we took a much needed breather…short breather to rejuvenate our energy…the energy that will be conserve later…the energy that will be in full force for tomorrow’s voyage…my virgin voyage to the open wild…in the meantime…fatigue or not…exhausted or not…worn out or not… as portrayed by Ron…must be maintained at all cost…maintain macho...what else...

Abode at Kinabatangan Jungle Camp

…for 3D2N…the ‘Budak Penjahats” bonded at the jungle hideaway…bonding among friends…an endeavor that is easy for solo men...an endeavor that requires spousal approval for the spoken ones…a first 3D2N for me..a first 3D2N out in the open…to be one with nature…to be one with the wild animals…for you animals out there…permit me to enter your domain…for I am a first timer..a first timer to grace your territory…be gentle with me…

Super ChieRong

…like a scene from Kung Fu Hustle…commented the wife…the hero Chai summoning his inner strength…a rather soft stance I would say…or the villain Chai mocking his foes…you want some…come get some…oops…got my line confused…that’s John Cena’s line..a meaner fist will do the trick better Chai… another result…another upshot…thanks to the froggies…thanks to the ribbity…you slimy guys absence made our night…you slippery fellas absence did good…did good for our last nite…for us to get more aquainted with our cams...for us to get more in tune with our cams...for now that is…

Spermy Ah Seng

...survival of the fittest…remember the Look Who’s Talking movie…those talking sperms swimming for dear life to reach the so called lights…a photography effect created out of boredom…a photography effect that caught the wife’s attention (don’t forget to post that, she kept reminding me)…a photography effect as a result of…would you believe it…cause there were not many frogs that nite…yes, you did not get it wrong…the froggies…those slimy ribbity amphibians…those slimy croaking creatures did not grant us an audience…can’t let the boredom ruin our last nite out there…I decided to turn tutor for the night…taught the guys the photography trick…pointed my cam at Ah Seng…Ah Seng who was engrossed with his new toy…Ah Seng who got himself a new toy…a toy in the form of a Nikon D70S cam…the last nite was not wasted after all…I must admit…