Finding the Hidden Valley near the Pinnacles




In this part of the world it is important to get away early.  By early afternoon you are looking at rainstorms and thunder showers.  Today we are heading north to Brunei for our visit to the 7the Army Air Corp based at Medicini Lines.  The 7th AAC support the Gurkhas in Borneo.

Before we go though we want to fly over Mulu,  find it Hidden Valley and see the nearby Pinnacles.  The hidden valley was used as the back drop in one of the Jurassic Park movies and is a spectacular sight.  

The controllers in the tower are all on board with our plans and give us clearance towards the valley.  We will be returning to the airport as we are also taking photos for the airport manager.  The hidden valley is only a few kilometre on runway heading 03 on the right.  Climb to an altitude between 2,000 and 3,000 ft we fly through the valley on a trip of a lifetime.  At the end of the valley there is a ridge which drops you into another spectacular valley.  Turning left out of the valley and back towards the airport at 2,700ft we locate the pinnacles for a birds eye view.  It takes visitors usually three days to visit the pinnacles, it took us less than 20 minutes.  Back towards the airport we take photos of the Marriott Mulu as well as the airport for the manager as requested.   Job done we return his camera, request the boobs departure and fly north to Brunei.  The trip to Brunei is about 1 hour long.  From the air we spot the Sultan's and the Crown princes palaces, both quite magnificent buildings.  Brunei International and our handlers are efficient today and our,turn around is about 30 minutes.  We do not eaten leave the helicopter as they handled all the immigration for us.  

Our trip to the 7th takes 30 minutes and we fly directly to them mistakenly approaching from the east and over the nearby houses.  Captain Philip Wilkinson is there to great us as was a gentleman called Mick from Cobham.  Cobham actually own the 7th's three Bell 212s and the 7th lease them.  Cobham also carry out all the maintenance.  

Inside the base we meet various personnel one being Maj. Thomas Harbottle and another Cpt. Dan.  One of the staff sgts. Take us the garrisons officers mess where we are staying for two nights before picking us back up to have a few beers and some dinner at the base.  In Brunei beer is banned, but the army is allowed beer making it a very popular place for expats who have army buddies.  This is also popular spot for the shell helicopter pilots and we met a few of them tonight.  The officers mess and the base bar are two of only five places were beer is purchased legally.


When we return to the officers mess we team up with some Gurkha officers for a chat, beer and generally a good evening.  

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