Boots and Bikini in Borneo: Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Sabah, Borneo

 I am available for Vogue photoshoots, btw.

When staying at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Sabah, we did a lot of walking and eating and walking and eating. First breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, and lunch, all interspersed with treks. It was a very balanced lifestyle, actually. You really felt you deserved your food, which is always nice. Practicality being paramount, trekking to the mud volcano through the jungle required wellington boots, but so did wading in the river on the way to the Lipad Waterfall for a bit of a dip, due to some sharp stones on the riverbed. So, we come to my stylish riparian getup of bikini and boots. I wasn’t the only one, I hasten to add. What did I learn from this experience, other than it was rather fun? Well, the main lesson was 'Don’t venture into deep water wearing wellies' – doesn’t work; not a good idea. I’m sure you probably already realised that. Worry not; I realised pretty quickly when my boots needed to be left at the water’s edge, since my brain was just about switched on (I’d had an early start, you know). Notwithstanding momentary personal idiocy and an unfortunate outfit, I would thoroughly recommend the Tabin trekking experience, and the beautiful natural aesthetic of the surroundings more than makes up for my fashion faux pas.

above: Messing about in the water at Lipad Waterfall.

above and below: View from my chalet at Tabin Wildlife Resort.

above and below: The mud volcano.

above: Getting my Mud Certificate after walking to the volcano site and waterfall. Certified with a lovely muddy handprint!

Website: Tabin Wildlife Resort – Borneo Safari Experience