Gee Charles, your response to my 'leeches in Sabah' posting was just dripping with sarcasm. What have I ever done to deserve such cavalier treatment ? Think about it for a moment .... my posting was totally consistent with my well-known conservationist stance. After all, the fewer humans who go trampling over the Paphiopedilum habitat, the more habitat there is for Paphios, and the less likely they are to end up in a suitcase on an airplane. Scaring-off would-be visitors with a few home truths about the native wildlife is a relatively benign (and truthful) way of contributing to conservation. :)
To Didier 'Dee' Maujean, I never said anything about standing in fresh water. In Sabah the common brown leeches and Tiger leeches are terrestrial species, not aquatic. If I'd told you what the aquatic species are like you'd never get out of your bed in the morning. OK, so it appears that I was slightly insensitive in my "leeches" posting. In the past I've been well known for my sensitivity, but I've been trying to turn over a new leaf, so allow me re-state part of that posting. I'm going to utilise the fact that leeches have become popular in alternative medicine: Dear Kim (and anyone else who is contemplating visiting Sabah during the rainy season). If you have high blood pressure, hypertension, suffer from headaches, migranes, hot flushes, acne, male disorders, or a range of other ailments, then you could really benefit from a trip to Sabah's lowland rainforests when it is lush, green and wet. You'll be delighted to discover that each of our tour packages has a range of addition benefits included. At major resorts you would be charged several hundred dollar for these, but because we value your custom we'll make NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE !!!! The tour package includes FREE full-body mud-packs, and you'll get to see and sample Tongkat Ali, the alternative-medicine wonder-cure, in its natural environment. As an EXTRA ADDITIONAL BONUS we'll throw in, COMPLETELY FREE, a chance to sample a world-famous 100%-organic traditional-medicine remedy ... no limit imposed .... you can have as much as you can take. OK ? Is that better ? Peter O'Byrne (on behalf of the Sabah Alternative-Tour Agency), Singapore BTW Kim ... trust the guides every time. Also in Sabah; Tenom Orchid Research Centre (you may need a permit to visit). Danum Valley (Lahad Datu district) has a very nice (and expensive) hotel in the middle of the forest, surrounded by kilometers of maintained footpaths.... local guides can be hired to accompany you for multi-day forest treks, showing you how to live off (and in) the forest. There are some very nice dive spots on the north and east coasts. Climb to the top of Mount Kinabalu for sunrise .... this will need planning 'cos it is over 4000 metres high (altitude-sickness alert) and despite being in the tropics it is REALLY REALLY cold at the top. Wear waterproofs on the way up 'cos it will rain and you don't want to be wet when you get cold at the top. You're going to get very wet in Borneo ... it will rain heavily almost every day. If you're below 1000 metres don't bother with waterproofs 'cos you'll get wetter from sweat than from the rain ... also, you'll dry off pretty quickly once the rain stops, especially if you're wearing wicking clothing. Other things to do ... try popping over to Palawan Island (Philippines) for a totally different Asian experience ... very few tourists get here, yet it has some marvellous locations, and the people are so friendly. Brunei (no alcohol tolerated): take a boat up-river as far as you can go. Excellent jungle, hardly touched by humans, orchids everywhere. The further you go the better it gets, but transport can be a problem if the rivers are low or if people are busy. Also in Brunei: visit the Sultan's funfair. Yes, truly. Michael Jackson's playground has nothing on the Sultan's, and all the rides are free. Hire a car and drive over the border to Limbang.... it is an armpit of a town, but it is worth visiting the timberyards along the river to start to appreciate the extent of the deforestation in Sarawak. Sarawak: the Pinnacles Reserve (worth a helicopter trip if you've got the money). The caves at Mulu. Visit a Long-House. Go to the museum in Kuching to view some of the most bizarre body-adornments ever worn by men. Also in Kuching: go talk to Au Yong & view his orchid-collection (ask to see his back-lot)(be polite)(don't tell him I recommended him)(and for heaven's sake, DON'T ask him about his tattoos). We already have leeches in Singapore .... I can show you some good spots, if you like. Peter O'Byrne Singapore _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids
