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    Fort Margherita

    29. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    After another early night and no alcohol my plan is to explore a little more of this wonderful city. After speaking with Peggy at the longhouse yesterday she was so informative of the history and has advised me to go to the fort. I leave the hotel and its only 3.5 km so have decided to walk. As I cross the bridge the whole place is a building site with them replacing all the slabs but somehow manage to manoeuvre myself through the gravel and cement. The rest of the walk takes me around the edge of the botanical gardens but I will return here tomorrow armed with mosquito spray. I arrive at the fort which is a museum of the history of Sarawak. It tells how a young English adventurer called James Brooke arrived into Sarawak in late 1838. At the time the country was ruled by the Sultan of Brunei.With intervention from James Brooke and his armed boats a treaty was written in 1841 ceding all political power to him and he became the first white Rajah of Sarawak and ruled until his death in 1868 when his nephew Charles took over as the second white Rajah. During his reign James Brooke encountered many invasions from head hunting tribes and only due to his strategies and arms was able to protect Sarawak. Charles Brooke also instigated trade deals and started putting Sarawak ont the map by exporting pepper and antinomy used in the production of metal alloys. The decent of the Rajah was through the male line but some of the women had interesting aspects as well.Lady Sylvia Brooke was the last Ranee of Sarawak and the consort of Rajah Vyner Brooke who ceded Sarawak to the British Crown in 1946. She associated with many actors like Errol Flynn and in her 80s wrote a book which was a big seller in the UK. The museum then brings you to the top of the fort giving you a bird's eye view of the river. After the Fort I take the walk back to the hostel having a quick dip in the pool to refresh. In the afternoon I have dinner in Indah and do a book swap for the Indonesian lonely planet which I think is a great find although when I get it home am slightly concerned by the message inside. Hopefully it wasn't written for me. I get an early night as I'm flying to Langkawi tomorrow and want to be fresh.Lue lisää

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    Benogh dam

    28. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    I wake early this morning as I'm going on a little trip to Benogh dam with Cynthia's mum Margaret. I'm so blessed how these lovely people that I've met along my journey keep popping back up and enable me to experience wonderful adventures that I otherwise wouldn't experience. It's also crazy that most of the people that are creating these local experiences are due to my passion as an LFC supporter, but as we say YNWA. Margaret picks me up in the morning and drives me to her village and takes me to her home. I get to meet her son and his beautiful family and as I'm talking with her granddaughter I kneel down and to the left of me is a scorpion and when I point it out Donni's wife casually picks up the umbrella and kills it. Donni has kindly offered to drive us to the dam and from the village is only a 35 minutes drive. When we arrive at the dam all the boats have departed so we change our plans and drive to the longhouse village. It's really special when we get here. On arrival we are greeted with a complimentary tuak before making our way up to the longhouse. The places surrounding kuching are very geared towards tourism and the longhouse is deprecated into multiple homestays equipped with television although if you venture further into the jungle there are still traditional longhouses but COVID has had a huge impact on this because they rely on traditional medicine they are more reluctant to let foreigners in. The entire architecture is designed and built as a standing tree with branches to the right and left with the front part facing the sunrise while the back faces the sunset. The longhouse building acts as the normal accommodation and a house of worship for religious activities. The entry could double as a canoe dock. Cooling air could circulate underneath the raised floor of the dwelling, and the elevated living areas were more likely to catch above-ground breezes. Livestock could shelter underneath the longhouses for greater protection from predators and the elements. In fact, chickens coops were hung from the main room structure for easy feeding. This particular longhouse is set up for the tourism with the dwellers selling their handmade goods and homemade Tuak (in whisky bottles) to the people who pass through. There is even a bank here. An added bonus is one of the ladies that runs a shop here went to school with Margaret so we get lots of information about the place and the things being sold. A little later she spots a lady who she thinks was her teacher but it's actually her sister Peggy who is a wonderful soul and served as a midwife for over 40 years. We speak with her for over an hour as she explains the history of Sarawak and Mr Brooke. Further along the road we eat at Margarets cousins cafe before making our final stop at the crocodile farm. I'm quite saddened to see these amazing creatures kept in such a small habitat, but they've generally been caught due to being a danger to the locals. I'm so thankful to Mags and Donny for taking me around and showing me the attractions but the weather is really bad so I tell them I'm happy to get a grab back. They won't hear of it and on the way back we witness a tree that's been uprooted and is impeding the traffic. In the evening I take myself for some essentials shopping , new underwear etc and manage to bag myself a few bargains before heading back homeLue lisää

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    Living in hope

    27. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    I wake early and head straight to the tour agency to see if I can occupy myself for a few days. She arranges to get back to me via watts app and after dropping my washing off I make my way to black bean coffee. As I'm walking along the street a Malaysian girl in one of the shops shouts Fifi and when I turn round she ask "do you not remember me?" I recognise her face and when she says Penang I realise it's Hermine who I shared a hostel room with in Georgetown. After a brief chat we arrange to meet for dinner this evening and my heart is a lot lighter at the fact I won't be alone again tonight. I make my way to the coffee bar and get chatting to a lady Jacquie and a guy called Greg. It's so nice speaking with people of my own age. We share a few coffees before they set off to explore the city.When I arrive back there's a glimmer of hope, my cash card has been received at customs at Kuala Lumpur so hopefully should be here by the end of the week if not before. I get a message this afternoon from a beautiful lady Cynthia I met in Singapore but is originally from Kuching. She puts me in touch with her mum who offers to take me to Benogh dam tomorrow. Things are starting to look up and when I receive the message back from the tour agency to say they can't do it I'm relieved I've made other plans. I give Margaret a call and after a brief chat make our plans for the next morning. An early night is had in preparation.Lue lisää

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    Another day to chill

    26. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    I'm woken this morning at 2 am by a call from Amber and she is crying, I panic and turn on my light and she tells me she's engaged. I'm over the moon but mixed feelings of happiness and sadness that I'm not there to give her a huge hug. I struggle to get back to sleep and eventually at 8am get out of bed and shower. I planned on trying to book a couple of Day trips today but nothing is open, you kind of forget what day it is when you're traveling. After breakfast at indah ( I like it here because I can just have toast and lemon curd or peanut butter) I make my way back to the hotel pool to do some more homework for the onward journey. Ideally I'd like to go back to Langkawi for a few days and the flights are really cheap from Kuching but if my card arrives in time I will venture to mulu to do a few days trekking with a stay in a longhouse so we will have to see what happens. The homesickness hits me like a brick this afternoon and I think it's due to the fact that I've stopped and have time to think and the fact I'm missing my family and for the first time in a while I'm on my own. I go onto the landing and for one of the first times go to iron a top one of my favourite tops and the iron burns a big hole in it. It certainly isn't my day today. I treat myself to steak and chips and a gin and tonic and try and be proactive by booking a trip but once again the fact I'm on my own becomes difficult because everything has a subsidy for solo travel. I manage to make contact with a guy who is really helpful and I advises me on different options I have. I go to bed exhaustedLue lisää

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    Pool day

    25. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

    I wake early this morning even though I haven't had much sleep, and my alarm clock is the sound of local music and when I look out the window I see a bunch of men in suits so give Paddy a quick shout and make my way downstairs for a quick nosey. It's a wedding and as the bride's posing for her photos I try and make myself inconspicuous in the background. Before every Malay wedding ceremony, the couple will have to go through the stages of merisik, meminang dan bertunang, akad nikah, and bersanding. Merisik is where the groom's family meet the brides family and check the bride is not engaged to anyone else. Meminang is the proposal but unlike a lot of cultures it's actually a senior woman from the male side of the family that presents the engagement ring.Akad Nikah (Solemnisation) is a ceremony to hand the bride away. It is headed by a Wali, who is customarily the father of the bride. This is where the contracts are signed and takes place a day before the actual wedding day. During this special Malay wedding ceremony, a beautifully-decorated couch can be seen on top of an elevated platform. This is called the Pelamin, which is the centre piece of the ceremony.
    The bride will be waiting on the Pelamin with her face hidden by a hand fan, held by her Mak Andam, a close female relative. The groom will have to complete a series of light-hearted and charming challenges prepared by the bride’s relatives and friends in order to reach his bride. A band of male musicians will escort the groom while singing various verses from the Qur’an. This is the Islamic way of seeking blessings for newlyweds. Once the groom reaches her bride, the guests will be invited to express their well-wishes. Before we head for breakfast we say our first goodbyes to Paddy and Charlie or as I like to call him George. They are heading to Bali so I have a feeling I'll be seeing them again. We have breakfast and then it's time to say goodbye to Will Dan and Liam.,they've hired a car for a few days and shortly after are heading home. Anouk Bente and Dominic are going to have a few hours at the museum and I've decided to chill by the pool. At lunchtime I just eat at a local bistro before it's time to say goodbye to the last 3. We've only known each other for such a short time but they've been a wonderful group of people to spend time with and I feel very honoured to have enjoyed the time. I stay by the pool for the rest of the afternoon and get speaking with a group of girls from Kuching who have just finished they're last day of college. They invite me out tonight but I think a stroll along the river and a bite to eat is more up my street. I take a short stroll along the river and call into the the shopping centre to pick up a few essentials. I've really struggled to find nail polish here as most people use henna but tonight is my lucky night. When I go outside it's starting to rain so I head back and have a pamper night.    Lue lisää

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    Island life

    24. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    We get breakfast early and have booked a boat to take us to a small island where we can swim. The boat driver picks us up at just after 9 and the 11 of us board onto the little boat. When we arrive to the island there are a couple of little houses and we all bombard the beach like an invasion. I set up my towel and a few of the guys get in the water but when they're in there they say something is biting them so I make the decision not to go in. We spend an hour on the beach before taking the trek up to the mausoleum. It's a legendary monument on Lakei island for more than 300 years. The tombstone made of hard wood still stands today and is dedicated to the late Datuk Haji Ibrahim, a devoted Muslim who was a renowned strongma able to carry his longboat from the top of the hill single handedly. We walk a little further to Salumun pond called the "mother" pond, is one of 7 and has writing in the bottom said to be written by Datuk with his bare hands. It's said to be Arabic but looks more like Roman numerals and we all have a giggle trying to decipher it. Back up the steps we take a walk to the viewpoint giving us a full view of the mountain range but the fire ants are the size of beetles and We're all slapping ourselves like We're playing snap. The mountain in front of us is once again governed by a myth and another guessing game pursues before Vanessa tells us the story of the warring princesses. Back on the beach we enjoy our last hour of paradise before being taken back to HQ where is another lunch of noodles or rice. The boat picks us up at 2 pm and a short walk boards us on the bus back to Kuching. In the evening I take the guys for Indian before we take a stroll along the river an we thoroughly enjoy the entertainment from a guy playing the Sape to little kids dressed as transformers. I also take them to the hidden door bar and we finally end up in the junk which is a huge nightclub with a pool table at the back. It is absolutely packed and with more people coming in all the time it's pretty impossible to move let alone dance or get a drink. I head outside for a cigarette and get chatting to 2 girls and one of them is called Amber. I have another attempt at going back into the club but i quickly decide that's a bad idea and I'm shortly joined by the rest of the guys and girls. We attempt to get some beers but end up coming back with nothing more than scooby snacks a wonderful day and evening.Lue lisää

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    Bako national park

    23. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    I wake this morning at 630 as I need to check out before heading to Bako national park. I pop round to the 7/11 and by snacks and water ready for leaving at 8 am. It takes just over 40 minutes to arrive to the Jetty and I've managed to share a grab with a couple from Holland but they won't let me share the price of the grab. We arrive at the Jetty and there's a bit of a stress because you have to pay for the boat there and back but because they don't know what time they are coming back they don't want to share a boat but don't tell me till after we've left. The next window is checking in for the national park. I show my entry pass and overnight stay and I'm issued with my pass. We don't have to wait long for our bus and within 20 minutes arrive at the Jetty for the national park. It's been a National park since 1957 and within the park contains a wide range of vegetation – swamp forest, scrub-like padang vegetation, mangrove forest, dipterocarp forest, and delicate cliff vegetation. I'm able to check into my hostel. Im quite impressed when I arrive as I have 4 beds and no-one else is in there. I lighten my rucksack before making my way out on my first trek but as I leave my room I'm greeted by the biggest bearded pig. After a little sidestepping I finally make my way around him As I approach the jetty I realise I haven't signed out at the HQ and with trekking on my own decide it's a wise decision to head back and do so, especially with my luck these past few weeks. I'm heading for trails six five and 3. The first part of the trail is quite intense as I climb up through rocks and tree branches, along the way there are wooden steps to help and the trees are colour coded so you know your following the right path the path takes us through many landscapes and when I reach the clearing at the top there's a sign saying no smoking past this point due to wild fires. Once at the top the path is pretty flat with almost boulder appearance and the walkways lead me to the junction for Telok pandan besar. I walk the 10 mins and reach a clifftop viewpoint that is quite obstructed by trees but still beautiful. I retrace my steps and head down to Telok pandan Kecil. I meet up with the Dutch couple again and we agree to share a boat to the other island to trek back but to my disappointment the boat takes us back to HQ. I pay for the boat as they got the grab and walk back to the restaurant where I meet back up with the crew. I enjoy a good chat then head back to my room to chill for an hour before sunset. The sunset is breathtaking and is made even better by the random boar walking along the beach. We eat dinner in the restaurant and at 8pm all go on the night trek. We see various things from a Borneo black tarantula,catfish and a flying lemur, and even fireflies on the mangroves at the end Borneo never fails in the nature department and exhausted I make my way to bed.uLue lisää

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    Cat museum

    22. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    I wake in the morning and head down to reception to sort out my booking. I've decided to commit to staying In this place till Monday to wait for my card but when I booked it last night I didn't receive an email notification so I'm worried it didn't go through. They've received my booking for Friday but not for tonight. It's my error, I've booked for Thursday instead of tonight and the confirmation is in my junk folder. Once that's sorted we have breakfast then take a grab to the cat museum. Kuching I'd the Malay word for cat, so it would seem quite apt that the world's first cat museum was opened here. The museum is housed on the ground on the City Hall building, spread over four galleries.There are four galleries containing over 4,000 artefacts including paintings and memorials related to cats. Exhibits include a mummified cat from ancient Egypt, a gallery of feline-related advertising, and the five species of wild cats found in Borneo. The museum is one of the strangest I've been to and literally if it's feline related it's in here , even if something has cat in the name. Some of the stuff is really interesting but one cabinet has a display with various cat foods in it. As we leave we take a walk around the outside and the views are amazing with silver leaf monkeys living in the surrounding trees. We get a grab back to the city and enjoy dinner in the Indian restaurant which is delicious. I'd eat more but have been invited to bronnie and Mag's home tonight so don't want to arrive in a food coma. After dinner it's time to say goodbye to Mauri and Drew they are heading to Penang we've had a ball at the festival and I'm sad to say farewell. I grab a shower and I'm picked up at 7pm by Mags. They have invited a few friends over one of them is also called Fiona, and Bronnie has cooked the most delicious food. We spend the evening talking drinking eating and dancing and learning a lot of Malay swear words and at the end of the evening I'm presented with a Kuching reds Liverpool scarf which I will treasure for the rest of my days. Honestly I know I've said it numerous times but the people of Malaysia are one in a million. Jeffrey kindly drops me back and as it's after 1am I get straight to sleep as I'm heading to Bako early in the morning.Lue lisää

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    The day after the 3 days before

    21. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    So after a full on day of stress yesterday, I'm ready to do some exploring and me and the crew have decided to explore The Cultural Museum. The Borneo Cultures Museum is a modern five-storey building with a distinctive architectural design that reflects Sarawak’s unique traditional crafts and rich cultural heritage. It Opened on 9 March 2022 and has free entry for the first 3 months. It is spread out over five floors: the first houses an ephemeral exhibition gallery, while the second has a children’s gallery, a Love our Rivers and Arts & Crafts sections. Levels 3, 4, and 5 cover the permanent thematic galleries “In Harmony with Nature” (which exhibits sights from the coasts, rainforests, and highlands of Borneo), “Time Changes” (which showcases cave discoveries and the making of Sarawak), and “Objects of Desire” (which houses relics on trade and craftsmanship, along with spiritual designs of the cultures). I really like the way it's set up and the information is minimal so it doesn't get boring. The only thing I would of liked was the dates of some of the artifacts. We leave the museum and treat ourselves to coffee and cake at the commons before heading back for a swim. It's the first time I've had a pool in forever so I definitely want to make the most of it. In the evening we go to a local restaurant Lepau with Kim and Alex a couple who've lived in Kuching for 8 years. They order really traditional food with ingredients that are picked from the jungle including fish umai, nasi bario and purple rice. We order lots of small plates and all share it's absolutely delicious. Afterwards we head to the secret bar and Drew and Mauri try to trick me but when I see them standing back and filming me I think we're going into a strip bar but the jokes on them as drew gives in and opens the door to the side that looks like a wall. The live music is great and Drew even gets up for a bit of wondewall karaoke before we make our way home to bed.Lue lisää

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    Dilemma

    20. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ 🌧 24 °C

    So I wake this morning and not only do I have a hangover from hell but I have to sort the hassle of losing my purse last night. James comes with me as I retrace my steps back to the restaurant then the road we walked back from the bus but no sign of it. We make our way back to the hostel and check out as we want to upgrade a little and now the festival is over there are a few more opportunities. We go to our favourite little cafe and with Mauri and Drew book a really nice room for the next couple of nights. After we've checked in and chilled for an hour I make my way to the police station to see if maybe my purse has been handed in here. What a rigmerole they were so rude in here, obviously having a gun strapped to his hip gave him the right to abuse me. I feel like I've committed a crime. I understand I'm in a foreign country but the guy says I should speak Malay and if he came to my country he'd need to speak English but when you go to a police station you would expect a little empathy. After writing the report with Google translate they give it me to sign. I have very little hope I will hear of them again. We grab a bite to eat and on the way home call into the last bar I was in last night. It's my last hope but sadly it's not there and we make our way back to the hotel to take a swim. I chill out for a few hours and at 7pm make our way down for a bite to eat. The boys carry on out but I'm a write off so Mauri and I take full advantage of our lovely beds by getting an early night.Lue lisää

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    Festival day 3

    19. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Well I wake this morning with a cut leg and don't remember doing it always a sign of a good night. I have breakfast with James in the Indah cafe and when we get back to the hostel Erica Drew and Mauri are heading up to spend some time at Jins place. Her and Tim have a place close to the festival. James and I stay back as we want to head to the festival a little earlier today. We catch the 2pm bus and because we're a little earlier there's no traffic. We spend the first few hours exploring the site. Having a go at spinning tops and a wander around the craft fair. The first workshop is a drum workshop where all the different drums are explained and played for us but the highlight for me is the guy playing the pandeiro which is actually from Brazil. It's a lot quieter today which is nice because yesterday was a bit crazy. The music once again starts off a bit low key but as the night progresses the tempo steps up and once again I make it to the mosh pit. At the bar I meet a girl from old swan in Liverpool and she's so excited to meet someone from home. I enjoy the night singing and dancing away and as we're leaving bump into a group of Liverpool fans. Once again I'm quite drunk and we all stand there singing Liverpool songs. It's hilarious. Back on the bus we arrive back in town and finish the night in a bar with a pool table. I arrive back to my hostel and realise I've not got my purse with my bank card and driving licence. What a really rubbish end to a wonderful dayLue lisää

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    Festival day 2

    19. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    We start the day with breakfast in the Indah cafe and they have homemade lemon curd and homemade peanut butter which I have on toast that's also homemade and contains no sugar. I've always been one for a sweet tooth and pretty much all the bread here is sweet so I really enjoy it. After breakfast the girls and Drew are heading to the festival early because they want to do the Bollywood dancing but James is arriving today at 2pm so I stay back to wait for him. It's so good to see him again and after dumping his bags we make our way to catch the bus. When we get on the bus we ask about paying but the driver tells us to just sit down but when the man comes round he tells us we need tickets. James gets of the bus and comes back with 2 tickets but then the guy tells us that's a return ticket so we have to get off and buy another one. Eventually were on our way. There is a lot more traffic today and it takes us an hour to get there. We have a quick look around before making our way to the food court and meeting the girls. I've got a habit of literally talking to anyone and strike up a conversation with a lady and gentlemen next to me. She's got a stall here and is from Indonesia where she works with indigenous people.The festival is much busier today and already there's nowhere to sit. I'm actually a little disappointed in the music I was expecting to be up dancing constantly but that's not possible. Throughout the evening I have quite a few beers and because it's cheaper to buy 5 that's what we do, the downside to this is there's only 2 of us and you drink faster because they get very warm quickly and there's nothing worse than warm beer. The other mistake is we top them up with grape soju.The next time I'm at the toilet a table of locals invite me to try "holy water" I don't know what it is but it's lethal. The next thing I know I'm in a drinking competition and after numerous shots and lots of free beers I make my way back to the group. I have little memory of the rest of the night but have made a note to myself to never drink holy water again.Lue lisää

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    Festival day 1

    17. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

    I wake early and as I'm sitting with my morning brew and chain smokinog a get chatting to a guy called Drew. We have a good chat and after a good hour the girls rise and shine and we make our way out for breakfast after half an hour's following Google maps and finding places closed we eventually find a really nice place for a good coffee but when we try to order food they only have cake available and we're all undecided so we each take a different cake and share. We o a grab to the festival and have the nicest of drivers and after a 45 min journey and a little sing along in the car we arrive. As per any festival in the UK it's raining, well I guess we are in the rain forest but it doesn't dampen my spirit. We spend a little time taking the obligutary photos and doing a little window shopping. We enter into the festival and as usual the festival weather rules. It's raining cats and dogs and at this point I wish I'd brought my water proof jacket the rain forest is proving true to its name. We enter the theatre where the show starts at,4pm. The theatre is pretty impressive and just after we sit down the show starts, it's a video of a group from Quebec and they're singing a technoish song in French . After a couple of songs I suggest we should head over to the other stage and enjoy something a bit more traditional. We make our way through the pouring rain and arrive at the the other site where the atmosphere is in full swing we join in with the dancing circle and I'm literally smiling from cheek to cheek.The Rainforest World Music Festival is an annual three-day music festival celebrating the diversity of world music, held in the Sarawak cultural village, Malaysia, with daytime music workshops, cultural displays, craft displays, food stalls, and main-stage evening concerts. This year is the 25th anniversary and it's impressive to see such a we'll set up festival even if the rain is causing a few issues. There are 6 main areas but with the rain persisting The first group due to appear on the main stage have to move over to the place where we already are so we stay put and enjoy watching the show. At 6pm we move to the steps opposite the main stage and dance our little sock off. A little later I decide to make my way to the front which by now is a mud bath so I leave my shoes behind and head in barefooted We spend the rest of the evening dancing the night away. It's amazing to think I'm in the middle of the Borneo rainforest at a full on music festival. Throughout the night I bump into several people I've met along the journey, it's a small world. We get a grab back where Drew is very drunk and I really feel sorry for the poor grab driver but arrive back safe and sound finishing in the early hours eating onion fritters in a cafe around the corner from the hostel.Lue lisää

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    Back in Kota Kinabalu

    16. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ 🌧 29 °C

    So arriving at 4.45am means I have nothing to do but hang around for a few hours. I'm heading over to see Michael and Ronaldo this morning but there's no chance they'll be up at this hour so I'm relieved to see the bus station cafe is open and join Marcus where I treat myself to a three layer tea and push myself to eat something even if it is only a roti. I've eaten nothing for the past few days but need to eat as I feel quite weak, and with no sleep I won't be making the festival. Marcus is heading to meet his friends as he isn't flying till tomorrow so we bid our farewells and agree to catch up at some point over the next few days and as I come to pay he's already got the bill. I get a grab and he's still waiting for his so I'm grateful I got to thank him for breakfast. On the way to the hostel I get the most amazing view of the Masjid Bandaraya with the sun rising behind it. There's one thing for sure you'd go a long way to find sunrises and sunsets like here. I arrive at the hostel and just sit outside thinking no one will be up and CK opens the door invites me in tells me to take a bed and make myself at home. I'm not really tired and shortly after Ronaldo wakes up so I have a chat with him and put a load of washing on. I'm more tired than I think and fall asleep in reception and one of the girls puts a pillow under my head and cover's me with a blanket. I only sleep for an hour or so and take my washing down to the launderette to dry it. Me Michael and Ronaldo head to the biggest shopping centre here and for the first time this trip I buy an outfit. Nothing special just a pair of long trousers and a t shirt as some of my clothes now have holes in and my white t shirts are looking pretty grubby. We have a vegetarian lunch and head back to the hostel where once again I repack my rucksack. We chill for a few hours before I say my goodbyes and make an early departure to the airport. I really am going to miss these guys but hopefully it's till I see you again.The traffic is quite bad so it's a good decision. I arrive to the airport well on time and have checked in online but when I try and print my luggage ticket it doesn't work. Once again I get the third degree about my travel plans and asked about an outbound ticket. This is so difficult because I don't know what I'm doing tomorrow let alone when I'm leaving the country. So to save the hassle I book a fake ticket at least it will save me any hassle when I arrive in Kuching. I breeze through immigration and have an hour in the departure lounge before boarding my flight. I meet Marjorie in the departure lounge and Mauri has text to say a lady she knows called Erica is on the same flight so she introduces us on Watts app and after a brief introduction we board the plane. We arrive in 1.45mins and all meet up outside the airport where we get a grab to the hostel. It's one of the worst places I've stayed but I'm so tired I could sleep on a washing line tonight and after getting a pillow case for my stained pillow I spray it with perfume and eventually fall asleep.Lue lisää

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    Child poverty

    15. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    I still feel a little perky today but just after 11 actually feel able to leave the hostel. I walk a few minutes round the corner and as I sit in a little coffee shop with my posh Caramel Machiatto and my pastry breakfast I feel a massive overwhelming of guilt. Literally outside the window I witness true life angels. A family have pulled up in a car and are handing food parcels out to the street kids. At first there are just a few but within minutes the car is surrounded it actually brings tears to my eyes. Pretty soon the car is overwhelmed with women too. These kids with no opportunity to ever change their lives breaks my heart. How can they ever expect to change things. I realise that maybe I've ventured out a little early and with the 12hr bus journey ahead make a prompt return back to the hostel. I have an easy afternoon watching Netflix and catching up with family on Watts app. Zane in the hostel has let me keep my bed for the day at no extra cost which I'm most grateful for and as I'm due to leave his son Ivan presents me with a beautiful key ring. In the evening I once again pack my rucksack and get ready for leaving. I get a photo with the family and bid my goodbyes. It's pouring outside so not looking forward to getting on the bus in damp clothes but the weather is something I can't control. I just hope I can get a few hours sleep. I get to my bus and the guy looks a bit confused when I show him my online ticket as my name isn't on the list but let's me on the bus but a few minutes later a lady comes on the bus and asks to see it again. Then another guy asks me to get of the bus and go to the portacabin the lady makes a phone call and I explain I have a plane to catch tomorrow. After a tense 10 minutes I'm back on the bus. There are a couple of guys on the bus Marcus from Germany Paddy from Cornwall and his friend from the Netherlands. They are all going to the music festival and we exchange Watts app numbers. 20 minutes into the journey we are stopped by the police, armed with machine guns they check everyone's id before letting us on our way. The journey is very bumpy and the fog is quite bad and as we proceed witness a jackknifed hgv on the opposite side of the road. Further along the road is another police road check where once again they get on and check everyone's id. At midnight we stop at a roadside cafe and there's no chance I'm getting any sleep on this journey. The driver continues the journey like he's driving in wacky races and we arrive well ahead of schedule at 4.45am .Lue lisää

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    Sick day

    14. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    I wake this morning and I'm due to revisit the islands I went to the other day as I really loved them and lost all my photos due to getting my phone wet but I'm really not well Ive been up half the night with an upset stomach and terrible headache and literally can't move more than 5m from the bathroom. To be fair it's the first time I've been sick and because we all shared plates of food last night I'm pretty sure it's a touch of sun stroke. I go back to bed and stay there most of the day just drinking water. In my blog today I want to write about the other side of Semporna/sipidan because it really is a place of two halves. The islands here are known as one of the top 3 places to dive in the world but when you arrive into Semporna you would think you'd come to the wrong place. On my arrival here I was uneasy walking on my own for one of the first times in my 6 months of travel.It's a place where kids beg in the street, and the rats roam free and I struggle to understand how it's like this when the revenue that's charged for diving here is so high. It's pretty obvious that the money taken here doesn't stay here and is filtered back to mainland Malaysia or China where the fat cats prosper When I went for dinner with Dan the other night a group had been eating at a table and when they left three young kids came to the table and took the half drunk cans of pop and the fish bone then sat on the steps having their supper. I spoke to a local guy about this and he explained that they are children of the sea gypsies who literally have to fend for themselves and sleep on the streets from the age of 5/6 being looked out for by there older siblings. Generally they will have 10-15 kids (contraception not an option) and generally have no responsibility for them the just have to fend for themselves, the survival of the fittest. The other thing here is the plastic. Everything comes in plastic an it's very apparent they haven't been educated how to dispose of it. The waters are littered and as this town that sees no benefit from the diving why should they care if that is affected? The problem is if something isn't done in the very near future the water life will be affected and Similan will no longer be in the top 3 places to dive. I spend most of my day in bed and although I planned to get the overnight bus with the guys tonight I'm really not up to it so at 7pm I say goodbye to the crew and get a shower before putting myself back to bed.Lue lisää

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    Back to the islands

    13. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Another early morning start as I'm doing another 3 of the islands here. Chloe, Nathir and Alexanddro are also coming. We get picked up at 815 sharp and make our way to the jetty. It doesn't seem as chaotic as the other day and we are only joined by another couple so much better than th tour we did the other day. As we make our way through the waters they become really shallow and the outboard motor actually hits the coral at one point. They are more bothered about the motor than hitting the coral. We arrive to Timba Timba island and once again it's like paradise a whole length of beach with psalm trees nestled on the end. The water is so clear with coral nestled on the bottom although this coral is bleached the sheer amount is breathtaking. Next stop is for snorkeling and we see the biggest turtle I've ever seen in my life. This is the moment when I really wish I had my GoPro but one of the guys has one and we manage to get a wonderful video, although I'm a little disturbed when multiple people come towards the turtle and each way he turns there's no form of escape. Next stop is Mataking island where we have a wonderful lunch and a dip in the sea where we spot starfish. We take a small walk through the Island to the opposite side but to be honest it's much more beautiful where we came from. As we walk back Mario gets his drone out but the guys on the boat tell him to put it away but he manages to get a quick bit of footage. I take a walk along the beach and the true reality hits home. The beach is full of plastic bottles and there is no chance of them being collected they will just wash out to sea. Back on the boat we stop at another dive site where the coral rolls right the way up to the beach and I literally have to swim through hundreds of fish it's like something out of a film. As the coral finishes there's a huge drop into an abyss and I dread to think what's hiding down there I already been nibbled a couple of times and just at the end is a huge turtle again. I'm so blessed I've managed to have this experience and see nature in the way I have here I really hope something comes into focus and education for the people here how precious it is and how important it is to protect it. Last stop is Pom Pom island which were not actually allowed to go on but of the side of the boat I watch the array of different fish just encircle us and choose not to go snorkeling again but to admire from afar. It takes us an hour to get back to land. We chill in the hostel for a few hours and the plan is to go to skull hill for sunset but when I check it's closed. We head to the seafront and meet with Mario and Berea. They are catching the bus tonight and after dinner we say our goodbyes. As I say one goodbye Agathe one of the girls I met in Sepilok passes by with a lady called Sarah and they join the group. I get chatting with the guy serving us at the restaurant and we discuss the plastic situation and he tells us how things have changed in the past 20 years when he was a diving instructor. We all share a few plates and the food is delicious before making our way to the "local" I'm exhausted and bid my goodbyes before making my way back to bed.Lue lisää

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    Phone misery

    12. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    So after getting my phone wet yesterday and placing it in a box of rice overnight the worst case scenario has become real life. my phone has died. I can't believe how I used to travel without one and have become so dependant on it for booking things, finding places and even writing my blog. The other downside is there are no longer internet cafes. There are far worse things that can happen and I bite the bullet and head out to buy a new one. I always say that behind every negative is a positive and there are plenty I can take from this, the first one being the phones are so cheap here and after shopping around I managed to find a phone with pretty much the same spec as my Samsung even a little better for £200 and I'm also thankful for the fact pretty much everything is backed up on Google. I spend the whole morning installing apps and trying to remember passwords although accessing Google was pretty difficult and online banking was pretty impossible with a lot of perseverance I eventually got there and I'm back up and running. The other downside was all the time I'd spent writing my blog in the jungle, because I was unable to upload it was totally lost but it was such a memorable experience I will catch up on that part of my adventures at a later date.. A little later in the afternoon a new crew of people arrive, Alessandro from Italy, Chloe from Germany and. . They kindly invite me to join them this afternoon as they are heading to swim at the Tampi Tampi resort which when we arrive realise it's where the sea gypsies (Bajau Laut live. They built there homes on stilted huts above the coral bays .The sea gypsies are exceptional free divers. Many have mastered the art of free diving to depths of well over 20m while holding their breath for several minutes. All this as they hunt for fish, lobsters, sea cucumbers ) and other marine life Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, they earn their living solely based on the ocean’s resources, the sad part being is that Most are not afforded citizenship status by either Malaysia, Philippines or Indonesia, as they have been deemed to reside in the waters of the Sulu and Celebes Sea, and not strictly on land owned by any of the countries.As a result, most of their children do not have access to a formal education system, as it is a requirement for students to have birth certificates and for both their parents to possess national identity cards. As we walk around these stilted areas I'm shocked to the core as a lady is sweeping out her house and literally brushed all the rubbish including plastic bottles into the sea. We take a seat at a small restaurant away from the crowds of locals that are swimming in little netted areas that aren't occupied by the "catch of the day' and enjoy watching as the use the stilted areas as diving platform but choose not to join them. The area is also used by other local people and as we leave the kids can't stop staring and waving. They use a lot of flat back jeeps as they can cram a lot of people in the back from Grandmas to baby's. We take the grab straight to the street market which is very similar to the one I went to in Kota Kinabalu but has a slightly more organized set up and a stage in the middle for the entertainment. We don't stay around long enough for this but we're heading to the waterfront to see some music there. It's crazy how as we're leaving this area how nice it seems compared to downtown. As we arrive to the waterfront I ask the guy from the restaurant where we can get a beer and he tells us a bar at the end. As we are walking towards the bar we bumb into Luiz the guy I met in Sepilok. We share a few beers in the bar with a band who are really good before making our way back to the hostel.Lue lisää

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    Island hopping

    11. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    When I go to the steps for my morning cigarette I'm shocked but a little relieved to see that the big duck thing I was describing on the phone is actually stood on the steps and with the help of Google lens I identify it as a night heron I get picked up at 8.15 am this morning and although a little exhausted I'm also excited. When I arrive to the Jetty it's bedlam but I'm relieved when I get put onto a boat and there is just another couple on there but my relief is short lived as 10 mins later the boat is full of a group of Chinese people all wearing the same crazy outfits and big hats and take over the whole boat. We arrive at the first island Bohey Dulang where there Is a 700m climb to the top I haven't brought my training shoes so have to borrow a pair of wet shoes they have for rent. The climb is pretty easy going but the view is amazing and you can see for a 180 degree view. I meet a lovely lady there who's 65 and has done the 1hr up and 1hr down. Back on the boat we go to our first snorkeling site. Which I have to say was breathtaking. I see more fish than I've ever seen in an aquarium back home. I just float there in awe watching as they dip in and out of the coral. I'm even lucky enough to spot a mandarin fish one of the most beautiful fish I've ever seen. It's like a kids been given a coloring book with different fish and just used every colour in the pencil case. There's striped ones neon ones and ones I'm already familiar with like angel fish and blowfish but some I've never seen in my life. I'm quite shocked as most of the rest of the boat don't even get in the water and the ones that do are pulled along in life jackets with life buoys. Back on the boat again the next island is Mantabuan where we take lunch and once again I buump into the guys from Mount Kinabalu. We head straight for Sibuan island where the first thing we're greeted by is a watch tower with armed guards handling automatic machine guns this is for the pirates situation they have here,that you kind of forget about till you see this Another snorkeling spot results in my phone case leaking and I'm horrified but there's not a lot I can do about it in the middle of the ocean. The journey back is stressful with me trying to rinse my phone as it heats up to a ridiculous temperature. Samsung are slightly waterproof but they're not salt water proof as the boat comes into harbour I then also realise I've left my flip flops on the beach. When I reach the hostel a lovely young guy called Dan agrees to join me for lunch and the guys at the hostel have given me a box of rice to put my phone in. Dan and I enjoy the seafood and while he pushes the boat out with Lobster I opt for the prawns. The seafood here is so fresh. We're both pretty exhausted so head back via Starbucks on the way home. Im sad as Dan leaves tomorrow for Mabul but it's been nice sharing dinner as walking round town at night on my own I don't feel comfortable with. On the way back we're stopped by a local family and asked if we'll take a picture with them. This is very common here but we oblige and after numerous shots are back on our way.I check my phone when I get back but it still has moisture in so can't really make any plans for the day tomorrow until I know what's happening with that. There's only one thing for it an early night.Lue lisää

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    In the jungle

    9. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    We're woken at 5.45 and I'm surprised ho well I've slept although I woke at 3am needing the toilet and quietly climbed out of bed. The whole of the milky way was in the sky but as I ventured down the wooden gangway I was quite concerned as to what else was out there. So half way along hung over the side and just hoped and prayed the most lethal thing to bite me was a mosquito.Lue lisää

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    Leaving Sepilok

    8. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    After sharing breakfast with the girls and Nick I head back to the dorm to pack for the jungle. My guide Lan picks me up slightly early and we drive down to the Orangutans sanctuary to pick up another couple. I'm pleased that there will only be 3 of us as it just gives us more ability to ask questions etc. Marjan is from Iran and John from France but they both speak better English than me. They are well traveled and also have a similar travel ethic to me, wanting to get of the beaten path a bit more and off the typical tourist trail, probably why we've ended up staying at Uncle Tans. The drive takes 1 1/2 hours and we are able to stop for a few essentials on route including cigarettes and snacks and eventually reaching Jeti Pengkalan Bukit Garam at 3pm. We board the boat and take the 1+hours journey down the Kinabatagan River. The river is 560km in length and flows into the Sulu sea and as we board the little boat it's red hot and I'm glad I've packed my hat and sun cream with easy accessibility.Lue lisää

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    Night trek

    7. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    In the early afternoon I go to the Rainforest Discovery Center to book for tonights night walk and as I arrive I can hear music being played inside the grounds. I ask the lady what it is and if it can go and have a look and she says yes for a few minutes otherwise she'll have to charge me. As I enter there is a group of young guys and as I approach they welcome me in. They are playing Gamelan instruments and are practicing for a competition that will be held at the weekend. Alex the main guy speaks amazing English and asks if I'd like to try, how could I say no. They show me where and how to hit the gong and I get the easy part of playing just 121212 and as I do this they all join in. Maybe I'll stay here and join a rock band. As I say my goodbyes and thank yous I wish them luck in the upcoming competition. In the evening I've invited two girls who are staying in my room Adate and Mauri and even though they've just arrived are keen to join me. When we arrive there are two guides waiting for us and a few other people have joined the tour. We start just after six and walk to a skybridge where we stand and watch as the flying squirrels wake up and poke their heads out of there nesting boxes. As the sun sets the sound of the jungle grows louder and louder and they use this as an alarm call. Flying squirrels are not capable of flight like birds or bats; instead, they glide between trees. They are capable of obtaining lift within the course of these flights, with flights recorded to 90 metres. Further along the trail we encounter a slow loris. They are one of the only poisonous primates and lick there armpits to produce the poison. They are pregnant for six months and will lick their babies with the poison so it deters predators. The next spot is a scorpion and it amazes me how our guides actually spot these things. We are walking through a forest in the dark with nothing but a head torch and they spot things no bigger than 2 inches long. Amazing. We also see a green pit viper, casually wrapped around a tree branch and there's no way I would have spotted it as a snake. Their camouflage is amazing and when I learn they're venomous I'm keen to get out of there. Further into the jungle we have another spot of something I've never seen before. The crazy thing is very little is known about them and even when I Google it there is no information. Our final spot is a lantern fly a beautiful multicoloured insect with a turned up snout they use this to drill into trees where they feed on the sap and then squirt the excess sugar out of their abdomen. One of the prettiest insects I've seen. We leave the jungle and get a group photo before heading back to the lodge to eat. Nick one of the guys on the tour is staying there and joins us for dinner. I bid everyone good night and we arrange to share breakfast tomorrow before I leave for the Kintabagaten river.Lue lisää

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    Proboscis monkeys

    7. kesäkuuta 2022, Celebes Sea ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    This morning I'm of to see the Proboscis monkeys. After a good breakfast Luiz and I have agreed to take a shared private cab. It's about a 30 minutes drive but most of it is down a dirt track so in reality takes about 40 minutes. We arrive at 9am and walk down a boardwalk for 200m and in the distance I hear a strange sound. Having never heard a Proboscis monkey before I don't know whether it's one of them but as we reach a pavilion I can see it's the guy who runs the place who is calling the monkeys to feed.Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary is located within an oil palm estate. In the mid-1990s this 400 acre site was going to be cleared for the development of oil palm when the owner discovered that proboscis monkeys were living in the mangrove forest. He decided to retain this relatively small pocket of forest as a sanctuary for the monkeys. Today Labuk Bay is home to around 150 free ranging proboscis monkeys. Luiz and I are the first people her and shortly after another small group of people approach and they shout Fiona I realise it's the Malaysian group that I met at Mount Kinabalu. We wait as the feeder throws out food and then listen as the trees start to shake. Initially it's the female monkeys that approach and are followed shortly after by the Alpha male. Proboscis monkeys have 2 groups , the Alpha male and his harem of women( usually between 8-10) and the bachelor party. These are made up of all male Proboscis monkeys that are either too young to be the Alpha male but too old to stay with their mothers or Alphas that have been replaced by another Alpha stealing they're women. The males are the ones with the huge long noses and the females nose is more of a 90degree angle with its face. They have webbed feet to enable them to swim in the rivers from predators and are endemic to Borneo living mainly along the waters edges of Borneos rivers and mangroves. Size really does matter here as well as the bigger the nose the louder the noise and the more attractive they are to the female species. It's amazing to get so up close and personal with them although the Alpha male has the size and weight of an average six foot man and the size of the thighs on him I wouldn't want to outrun him. We move on to platform b a site a little further along the dirt road. The monkeys don't seem so interested here and there are a lot more people but we manage to get a glimpse of a couple of males and females and a few younger ones but within minutes they have made they're way back to the mangroves and we head back.Lue lisää

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    Orangutan Sanctuary

    6. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    I wake early this morning and im so excited I'm hopefully going to get to see Orangutan in there natural environment. Here in Sepilok they have a sanctuary to rehabilitate Orangutan back into the jungle through a program that encourages them back into the jungle and feed themselves naturally its crazy because if I don't get to see one the program is really working. T I'm over the moon with the hostel I'm staying in and even though I'm in a dorm on my own there are multiple dorms and there are people staying in them so I'm still getting to meet some Europeans and get hints and tips. The showers here are also luxurious hot and strong and even though restricted to certain hours the hours suit me. Breakfast is also excellent and included in the price of the stay and this morning I had a full English as I knew I was going to be out most of the day. Its about a 1.5 km walk to the sanctuary and I arrive nice and early and although there are quite a few tour groups I imagine back before covid this place would be rammed. I cleverly follow a couple who are with a guide .43 sq km of protected land at the edge of Kabili Sepilok Forest Reserve was turned into a rehabilitation site for orangutans and this is where Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is located.The founder was actually an English lady called Barbara Harrison and Today around 60 to 80 orangutans are living independently in the reserve and approximately 25 orphaned orangutans are housed in the nurseries. Babies usually stay with their mothers for 6 yrs to learn the life skills they need to survive but here they use a buddy system pairing the babies with older monkeys also at the sanctuary. My first stop is the outdoor nursery where food is put out to bring the monkeys in and I watch behind a huge glass window as they swing from platform to platform eating the fruit left for them. As I walk round to the next stop of the outdoor feeding area I get chatting to one of the park rangers. He's worked here for 33 years and from nowhere a huge male Orangutan comes up behind us and poses on the fence. I'm so blessed because there isn't a soul in site and then he starts walking towards us. The ranger tells me to stand behind and as I do I can't help but video this beautiful beast strutting his stuff. I watch as he then makes his way towards the crowd waiting at the feeding area buts its quite funny as when i get there hes found a female companion anx they spend the whole feeding time mating instead of eating whole the Macau monkeys have a field day but feel I've enjoyed a very special moment so much so I go back for the afternoon feed and get to witness a mother and her playful baby but this time with the crowds but nothing could beat this morning.Lue lisää

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    Sepilok bound

    5. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    I wake at 6 am to get to the bus station for the 8am bus to Sepilok. I packed last night so its just a case of a quick shower and packing my last minute bits and bobs. I book a grab but he struggles to find me and 30 minutes later after sending photos I eventually get my cab. It means I arrive late to the bus station and the 8am bus is fully booked. Thankfully there is a bus at 1030 so I buy my ticket and sit in the cafe across the road. The lady serving is called Atik and asks if she can get a selfie. Of course I obliged and make my way back to the station. As I board the bus I notice my rucksack keeps getting put on and taken off as I'm getting off at Sepilok its the stop before the main stop at Sandakan so needs to be easily accessible as once again I'll be dropped off at the side of the road. The views on the journey are outstanding floating between jungles and rows of psalm trees. Its absolutely beautiful although the road leaves a lot to be desired. It is more like a track than a road and seeing as its the only road that connects the East to the West its a nightmare. Along the route we pass through a couple of towns. One called Kundasang and one called Ranau, the home of Sabah tea. As we drive along the road there is a lorry with a bunch of young boys in the back all dressed in the same outfits and they look like they are are off to perform somewhere but the journey is bad enough on a bus let alone in the back of a lorry in this heat. The journey takes nearly 8 hours as half way along the route they are doing major roadworks which are highly need. At the same time it's really strange to see these huge diggers in the middle of the Borneo jungle.. Also along the way I see massive clearings of trees as they dig to reinforce embankments. 5 hours into the journey we stop at a roadside restaurant which is pretty big but when I go to use the toilet I'm gobsmacked as the isn't even a hole in the ground. You literally pee on the floor and there's a drainage hole in the back wall. It absolutely stinks. And so do my flip-flops I pour water over the and I'm just glad I didn't need a number 2. Back on the bus I brace myself for the rest of the bumpy journey. As predicted I get dropped by the side of the road and just by chance try and get a grab. To my absolute joy I get one in 5 minutes and it's a massive shock as I didn't think they'd have them this far out. I get another wonderful surprise when I arrive to the hostel. Its absolutely beautiful and I think I've been dropped to the wrong place but apparently not. The only downside is I'm in the dorm on my own but after the crowdidness of my last one I'm going to make the most of it. Its a great place here and the hot strong shower is well appreciated after the journey. Its strange the things your grateful for when you travel. I take a little walk out and there is literally nothing apart from the sanctuaries here so i make my way back before going to the restaurant. I'm surprised at how cheap it is because its the only place open. I have dinner on my own then head back to my room for an early night.Lue lisää

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    Snorkeling

    4. kesäkuuta 2022, Malesia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    I wake early as today Michael and I are heading out to one of the islands just of Kota kinabalu. I amazed at the beauty that Malaysia can bring you from Rainforest to beautiful beaches within 30 minutes. We walk to Jesselton Jetty where within minutes of buying a ticket £35 £7 we are boarding a speedboat to Manukan island. Michael's kindly lent me one of his snorkeling kits so there's no need to hire one and when we arrive a 20rm £4 visitors tax is charged. We find a shaded spot on the quieter side of the beach before heading into the water to do some snorkeling. The water is the clearest I've seen in Malaysia so far and there's lots of different fish although they are all like a transparent colour even in they're different shapes and sizes. After 45 minutes in the water I feel like I've been stung on my back and after getting out there's commotion in the water with people shouting Jellyfish. A guy in a rescue canoe comes paddling along trying to catch it but to no avail. After 10 minutes everyone returns to the water but Michael suggests we should wait a while to see if they come out again and when they don't we go for another snorkel. We cross to the other side of the beach to grab lunch and then head into the water here as its much quieter now. There are optional of doing 1,2,3or 4 islands so people are leaving and arriving all through the day. Once again we have a snorkel and as my go pro is broken I've bought one of the little plastic bags to put my phone in but what I don't realise is the whole time I'm filming the camera has turned around and I'm filming myself rather than the fish. Even still I love it. At 3pm we board the boat back to kk and grab a coffee at the ferry side restaurant where its full of young footballers . There is a 5 aside pitch inside and and after watching for 10 mins book a grab to our next adventure........Lue lisää

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