Lavish lays in Malaysia – Part 3
Most of us have a bucket list and it often includes seeing orangutans in the wild.
Living on opposite sides of the world, my mother and I choose to go on a holiday together every year. Little did we expect that 3 days out from her flight from Heathrow to Borneo she would fall over and break her hip – NOT ideal!
So here I am walking along the trail and within minutes I will be coming face to face with the ‘men of the forest’.
Sabah has grown its international reputation as the place to spot orangutans. While some people choose to make the trek to Sepilok, Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa collaborates with the state wildlife department to protect a 64 acre ecological reserve where they have rehabilitation programs for endangered species.
After a frustrating 2 hour drive from the airport (note to self, never arrive in rush hour), I arrive at Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa and all I can think is “WOAH!”. This place is on a jurassic scale; it’s only a five minute drive from entering the resort gates to reach the newly launched ocean wing (the grown up’s wing!).
Reservation advice should include ‘bring comfy footwear’ as the walk to my room 2830 is a long one but totally worth it when i open the doors.
Imagine a king-size bed with newly made love heart petals and a jaw dropping sea view.
The balcony is something of a wow feature with circular day beds and a double spa bath complete with electric blinds to keep alfresco bathing a private affair.
Staying at the Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa is an adventure; I find myself horse-riding where my horse really would rather be munching grass than walking across the sand, I join night time nature walks, chill out at the spa and keep my diet in check by swimming a some laps.
I indulge with an elegant Italian lunch at Oceano where I delve into succulent calamari and linguine with giant river scampi.
Later I opt for the award winning naan restaurant which is a knock out thanks to a chef degustation of malabar prawns and seabass with cashew nut gravy.
The main event of this trip however, is to see the men of the forest! After a quick briefing in the nature reserve, we gather our things and start the walk into the forest. The excitement is palpable as we start to share our stories for why we are here, many have waited for this moment all their lives.
It’s not 70 people walking towards the reserve but 70 souls united in a love for orangutans.
The heat and humidity is grueling but on the platform I can hear rustling and catch movement in the canopy above as these beautiful animals descend for their breakfast.
A careful program of rehabilitation means their food gradually gets restricted as the forest becomes their dining table. Amusingly they drop from the trees as our cameras click in a way which will never capture this moment, no matter how many megapixels on offer.
The young orangutans eat with their backs to us (let’s face it who wants to be stared at while you eat?) then tumble and play on the rope-ways, but soon enough they are gone.
One of the keepers calls out to them – he has a mango, their favourite treat (let’s call it a bribe to return!). These gorgeous personalities are having too much fun in the forest to return for the mango; they are only weeks away from going to Sepilok, to be returned to the wild, as it should be.
One thing is for sure, is it’s a privilege to be part of their even if for just a short while.
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