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Batu Puteh
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Location
Accommodation Style
Food & Drink
Communications
Culture
Overview
This community on the banks of the Kinabatangan River run their own home stay and mini tourism projects. The mainstay of their community led eco tourism project is a wildlife lodge built on the banks of an oxbow lake in the middle of a forest reserve.
Situated on the banks of the kinabatangan River, Batu Puteh is approximately 60 km from the nearest town of Lahad Datu which is on the east coast of Borneo. It is also approximately 2 hours drive south of the town of Sandakan which used to be the state capital up until the Second World war. The name Batu Puteh (which means white rock from the days when there used to be a rock in the river which the locals used for navigation) actually covers a number of communities spread out near the river.
You will stay in the eco lodge on the banks of the oxbow lake in the middle of a forest reserve. The lodge has been recently completed and was built, designed and now managed by the community itself. A lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into the construction and the village is quite rightly very proud of their work. The lodge itself is reached by a 15 minute boat ride from the main community and is approximately 400 metres walk through the jungle from the river on raised boardwalk. The lodge consists of a central communal area with reception and eating area. Here there are several raised decks which go out over the edge of the oxbow lake giving you the chance to sit and watch the wildlife. Your sleeping area is reached along more walkway and is a raised platform with a viewing area over the lake or into the jungle. Behind this is a covered area with your bed – it is a truly unique experience and you will really feel like you are sleeping wild in the jungle.
The staff at the eco lodge will provide you with three healthy, well balanced and tasty meals a day. There will be a mix of local menus and a sprinkling of western food, hopefully catering to all tastes and requirements. This will also include local cakes and goodies which the community are particularly good at making in great quantities. If you are out working on the project you may take a pack lunch with you depending on the location.
As in all our camps unlimited drinking water is supplied as standard: the water is purified through European standard filters and chemical purification, which reduces risk of waterborne diseases. Soft drinks can be provided at your expense.
There is reasonable mobile phone reception in and around the community and all key management carry mobile phones. If you have 'international roaming' activated on your phone you will be able to make and receive calls. We suggest you purchase a local SIM card if you intend to use your phone in order to avoid the horribly high roaming bills. However we also encourage you to minimise on phone use – you can catch up with everything back home when you get back – don’t let the phone interrupt your experience. In addition for your time in the jungle your phone may get damp and you should think twice about taking it with you into these conditions.
As part of your experience with the community of Batu Puteh they usually lay on a few extras for you. They love to play sport every evening so you can get involved with this – it is usually volleyball and although they may be slightly shorter than westerners, the community are extremely good players. They also may show you how to do Silat which is a cross between dance and karate – it is a traditional form of dance and exercise and is a dying art which is taught by the elders. The community will also lay on a farewell cultural performance for you which will involve dancing, dressing up in traditional costumes and plenty of participation from every one - a great way to end your stay with them.
