Dave Scores Big in Borneo

This was my first time on a bamboo raft and, needless to say, I was pretty excited. It turned out to be an amazing experience, taking us properly off the beaten track and into the middle of nature. And to top it all off, we had one of the best BBQs ever, with everything cooked in bamboo. All in all, it was easily one of the best eight hours I’ve spent!

This day tour takes you into the heartlands of the Bidayuh people, who have a long-standing connection with bamboo. It has traditionally been a bit of a lifeline here, used for everything from building and irrigation to cooking and, historically, getting around. The humble bamboo raft was once a practical way to navigate the smaller rivers around the Padawan region.

Today, you can experience this traditional way of travelling for yourself, drifting through rainforest and bamboo groves, passing farmland and Bidayuh villages along the way. You’ll leave a spare set of clothes at one of the villages before setting off, and it’s a good idea to bring a waterproof bag for your essentials. Water splashes through the gaps in the raft, so you’ll almost certainly get wet, especially if a tropical downpour decides to join you! Keep your passport, money, phone and other important bits safely tucked away.

What can I say, I love football! But this was something else. Always welcoming, accommodating and hospitable, connecting with the locals through something which is a genuine passion of mine, and clearly theirs, was just incredible. I was watching them having a kick-about on the beach at Permai Rainforest Resort and didn’t even have to ask if I could join in – no more than a few minutes later they were insisting I made up their numbers. I don’t like to blow my own trumpet but they nicknamed me Messi, what can I say? Scored 1, assisted 1 and hit the post!

No ordinary turf here, this was all surf! The stunning Permai Rainforest was our backdrop, where I was staying for the night in a treehouse. Playing footie on the beach with the local lads was such a fun experience, and it’s one of those travel memories that still makes me smile.

… Among other wildlife! Bako National Park was fantastic and it was almost impossible to contain my excitement. Literally buzzing, we met the guide after getting the boat from Kuching to the port (half an hour) then the little longboat to Bako (40 minutes) and then hiked for the afternoon in the rainforest. We found bearded pigs (I’m pretty sure the females had the biggest ones!) and they dig little trenches in the ground as they’re searching for food which is very funny, and makes them easy to track. Our guide pointed out a poisonous snake which I wouldn’t have spotted as it was almost completely camouflaged. He then pointed out that if one bites you, you have around three hours to get to a hospital – so basically do not touch a tree!

Really though, the wildlife is just amazing. We also saw orangutans, stick insects, a flying lizard, silverback monkeys, long-tail monkeys, crocodiles and loads of bird life. Staying the night in the rainforest was just magical, and the accompanying soundtrack awesome. The best part of this is that you do a night walk, not for the faint-hearted as there are a lot of bugs! In the morning you’re simply surrounded by it all so you’re free to explore solo – this cheeky proboscis monkey walked right past me while I was chilling at the water’s edge!

These are just a few of the highlights from my trip, please feel free to ask me more about it and if you have the time I’ll give you all the details!