02/09/2026
This just in from our wonderful group of Intrepid travellers having the time of their life (by all appearances) in Borneo. Printed with their permission.
The Borneo Adventurers
Three fabulous weeks — what a trip it has been,
Through Borneo’s jungles, ridiculously green.
Seven brave travellers, adventurous and true,
And somehow they trusted their leader — Julie — too!
From KL’s bright bustle, its flavours and heat,
To Kuching and KK and far too much to eat.
Then Mulu and Sukau, where the wild things roam,
And Wi-Fi became but a memory of home.
By plane and by van, by speedboat we sped,
Longboats up rivers — “Are we there yet?” was said.
We trekked through the forest, climbed steps with pride,
And ventured through caves where enormous bats hide.
We sweated, we stumbled, we swatted and swore,
Then cheerfully asked, “So… what’s next? Give us more!”
For Travel2U promised adventure galore —
And clearly we hadn’t read the fine print before!
But Borneo delivered — how lucky we’ve been!
The fabulous Big Five, all actually seen.
Orangutans swinging with effortless flair,
While we stood underneath them — perhaps ill-advised there!
A male pygmy elephant wandered our way,
Quite casually making the absolute day.
Proboscis monkeys showed noses with pride —
Proof Mother Nature has a humorous side.
Crocodiles lurked with their sinister grin,
So nobody fancied a spontaneous swim.
And hornbills flew over, majestic and grand —
Another big tick for our Borneo band.
Then Selingan Island brought turtles at night,
With tiny new hatchlings — an incredible sight.
Add snakes, squirrels, monkeys and birdlife galore,
Our wildlife cups couldn’t possibly hold more!
And up the Kinabatangan we cruised with delight,
Scanning the riverbanks morning and night.
“Was that something moving?” “A monkey?” “A bird?”
Seven pairs of eyes — not one useful word!
But the best entertainment came after each day,
When dinner and debriefs got well underway.
The food was delicious, the stories grew tall,
And by dessert, accuracy mattered not at all.
There was friendly Sue, always ready to smile,
Keeping us cheerful for mile after mile.
And gutsy Ann, with attitude to spare —
You always knew perfectly well Ann was there!
Our caring Val, thoughtful, gentle and kind,
And curious Cath, with a question in mind.
Then elegant Eileen, maintaining her style,
Despite jungle humidity mile after mile.
How does one stay elegant, fresh and refined,
When the rest of us look like we’ve been pressure-cleaned?
There’s “on-the-go” Dave, who apparently believes
That resting is something one does when one leaves.
If there’s somewhere to walk, climb, paddle or view,
Dave’s already there — waiting patiently for you!
And educated Ian, our fountain of facts,
With knowledge aplenty to fill in the cracks.
While some of us wondered, “What creature was that?”
Ian likely supplied its full habitat!
And then there was Julie, attempting to lead
This spirited rabble at variable speed.
Counting us constantly — one through to seven —
And somehow returning with seven. Pure heaven!
So huge thanks to Travel2U for tempting us here,
For three unforgettable weeks of good cheer.
For jungles and rivers and creatures bizarre,
And discovering just how adventurous we are.
Our clothes may need washing, our bodies a rest,
But our hearts are quite certain: Borneo was the best.
We’ve laughed and explored, made new friendships too,
And collected great stories — some even are true!
So back home to New Zealand with memories galore,
Of caves, boats and jungles and wild river shores.
Our cups are overflowing, our friendship is too —
What an absolute privilege travelling with you.
So raise up your glasses, there’s one thing to do:
A toast to our travels and Travel2U.
To Sue, Ann, Val, Cath, Eileen, Ian and Dave…
The Borneo Adventurers —
exhausted, well-fed, slightly feral…
and remarkably brave!
