Because we liked Sepilok so much the first time, we have decided to come back for the weekend before going back to Kota Kinabalu (Or maybe we just wanted to postpone the horrid 6 hour journey by bus). We booked to stay in another hostel called Paganakan Dii as it had amazing reviews from the Lonely Planet. On the way there, we passed a beautiful lake. By the gate there was a deer park with the deer five metres away just staring at you, assessing whether you are a threat to them. I wonder if they could sense that I once again thought how tasty they would be as venison steak (there is something fundamentally wrong me). Dinner is served... Beautiful lake When we entered the grounds, we were absolutely speechless. I mean if you pay 5 Pounds a night to sleep somewhere, you sort of expect it to be a bit well... shit. But this was, I am not being funny, better than Hilton! We found out from the guys that work there, that they don't call it a hostel but a retreat. And it fell like it too, all the people that were there sitting at the restaurant were so calm and generally looked like they took rohypnol with a happy pill. Everyone was quiet and I thought, OK I could actually meditate here for the week, even though I don't meditate.The main building had a restaurant downstairs and a chill out room with bean bags upstairs. The chill out area The restaurant There is a jungle out there! The grounds were full of little places for relaxation, there were hammocks and wooden sun beds everywhere. The place was just breathing tranquility on you. But not in the way that is forced and man made but in a way that is inspiring and contagious. I mean I have this set of yoga exercises which I do sometimes (when I can be arsed, which is almost never) and I got out of bed in the morning to do them on the balcony, but it wasn't forced at all, it fell like I naturally want to do them. Afternoon nap anyone? Chillin on the sunbeds overlooking the jungle Tasting some snake fruit Ok, I might just be posing for the camera on this one... And then there were the sinks... I mean anyone that recycles woks and turns them into sinks is ''the dog in my eyes''.I think that's what I loved about it the most, there were so many little things that were reused and recycled, and that was where it differed from a Hilton retreat. A posh hotel would never do that, but then again a posh hotel lacks imagination and the feel of the place can't be bought with money. Old woks used as sinks Giant Cable rolls used as table tops We were meant to stay in a dorm of 20 and I was dreading it before hand but the dorm was absolutely beautiful, we stayed in a wooden hut with all wooden beds with real bed sheets. Just behind the bed there was a window leading to a balcony overlooking the jungle. You can hire a private room, which is basically your own wooden hut for 25 quid a night overlooking the jungle valley. There was no telly, no pool, no crap but I wasn't bored at all. We were reading, sleeping on the bean bags, running and working out, eating and drinking free tea and coffee all day and we were so chilled. How does this place only costs a fiver?!? The dorm We stayed for 2 nights as we had to get back to KK (Kota Kinabalu) but I could have definitely stayed for a week. I fell so good and so chilled afterwards. This is indeed a special place, I would recommend anyone to go and If we have a chance we will definitely come again. No word of a lie... ...As by the time we left we were two happy Larries!!! ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Information for travellers How to get there: To get to Paganakan from KK you have take the bus to Sandakan from Inannam bus station in KK which you can access by bus from the main bus station Wawasan or you can take the taxi there which costs about 20 ringitts. One you get on the bus, it takes about 6 hours. Ask the driver to drop you of at the Sepilok junction which is basically a cross road. From there the hostel can pick you up for free or you can walk as it is only 2km and it is clearly marked. The hostel runs a daily shuttle to the Orangutang rehabilitation center and The Rainforesst discovery centre. If you are trying to get to Paganakan from Sandakan, you can just take the local bus which is about 5 ringitts or you can always take the bus which goes to KK and asked them to drop you off at Sepilok Junction again but I haven't tried it so I don't know the price. What to do: You can visit the Orangutang Rehabilitation centre and the Rainforest Discovery centre as well as the Proboscis monkey sanctuary. Otherwise you won't get bored in the retreat, and don't worry about food, they serve breakfast which consist of sausage, egg, toast with jam and butter and they serve free tea and coffe all day. You can also get free drinking water. They serve food like burgers and chips but we have tried few meals and found that the best thing that they cooked was just mee goreng ayam- chicken fried noodles. They also serve beer, small Tiger was 8 ringitts. They don't accept the money for the food until you leave, they just bill you for everything at the end so don't get too carried away! There is also a small cafe just down the road from it (just before the lake) but they stop serving food at 6pm but I haven't been there so I don't know whether it's any good but it could be an option if you want a change from Paganakan's food. The number is in The Lonely Planet, but either way here is the link to the hostel.