thirtyfifth....Borneo so so/Philipines ouch!

17.108.
9.30AM...ACHING...STILL SLEEPY...NU WANTS A CUPPA.
9.50AM...TWO CUPS OF COFFEE.
10.20AM...SHOWER.
10.45AM...TOAST.
11.30AM...ON THE NET...TRYING TO BOOK FLIGHT FOR SANDAKAN TOMORROW.
11.55AM...ITS GETING FRUSTRATING...DECIDE TO BOOK ACCOMADATION FIRST.
12.20PM...BOOKED FOUR NIGHTS IN SANDAKAN...18TH,19TH,20TH,21ST.
12.35PM...RETURN TO BOOKING A FLIGHT...FILL IN SCREEN FORM.
12.55PM...SCREEN SAYS ITS TO LATE TO BOOK AN EMAIL TICKET...NEED TO DO DO IT 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE...OUCH...IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF THIS INFORMATION HAD BEEN GIVEN ME AT THE BEGINNING!
1.15PM...NOW WE ARE IN A MESS...BOOKED ACCOMADATION...BUT CAN'T FLY TILL 19TH!
1.50PM...BOOKED FLIGHT...FLY NOON 19TH...ARRIVE 12.45PM.
2.20PM...PHONE ACCOMADATION PLACE IN SANDAKAN...EXPECTING THE WORSED...BUT TO MY SURPRISE THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM...AND THEY WANT CHARGE US FOR 18TH...WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS BEFORE LIKE THIS WHERE WE HAVE BEEN CHARGED...BUT THESE PEOPLE SEEM OK.
3.00PM...PORK AND RICE...YES I HAVE FOUND AN OUTLET SELLING PORK!...DOUSED IN SOME SPICY SAUCE.
4.00PM...READING...NEW BOOK...BIT SLOW.
5.00PM...BBC NEWS 24...WAITING FOR SPORTS NEWS...BUT WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT...SOME PLANE AS CRASHED AT HEATHROW...SO SPORTS BEEN DELAYED...SO INCONSIDERATE.
6.25PM...CHEESE/CUCUMBER/TOMATO SANDWICH...BEER.
7.20PM...WAFFLING WITH OTHER RESIDENTS...BIT BORED...ALL IN ALL ITS BEE A GLOOMY DAY.


18.1.08.
8.50AM...NOT TOO EAGER TO GET UP...NOT GOT ANYTHING PLANNED FOR TODAY.
9.20AM...COFFEE.
9.40AM...SHOWER.
10.15AM...COFFEE/TOAST.
11.20AM...WALKING TO JESSELTON POINT[PIER].
11.50AM...PHARMACY.
12.20PM...JESSELTON POINT[PIER]...LOOKING OUT OVER THE SOUTH CHINA SEA...WELL I THINK ITS THE SOUTH CHINA SEA!
2.00PM...SUPERMARKET...NEED CHEESE.
2.35PM...ITALIAN RESTAURANT...HAD PIZZA...WISH I HADN'T!
4.00PM...ANOTHER PHARMACY...TOLD TO GO TO DOCTORS...NU NEEDS A PERSCRIPTION.
4.40PM...DOCTORS...NU WEIGHED AND MEASURED...NU NOT OVER THE MOON ABOUT THAT!
5.10PM...ALLS WELL...NU AS HER PILLS.
5.20PM...WALKING BACK TO LODGE/HOTEL.
6.00PM...BBC NEWS 24...WELL NU GOT WHAT SHE NEEDED FROM DOC'S...SO TODAY NOT BEEN A TOTAL WASH OUT...PLUS SITTING ON THE END OF THE PIER...A SLIGHT BREEZE BLOWING...NU AND I SITTING HAPPILY...WAFFLING...ENJOYING EACH OTHERS COMPANY...THAT WAS SPECIAL...FLY SANDAKAN TOMORROW...SO NEW PLACE,NEW THOUGHTS,NEW PEOPLE...LIFES WELL OK...I GUESS I JUST LIKE TO MOAN SOMETIMES.


19.1.08.
8.00AM...ALARM.
8.25AM...CUPPA TEA.
8.55AM...SHAVE/SHOWER.
9.20AM...TOAST/CUPPA TEA/2 PARACETEMOL.
9.45AM...PACKING COMPLETED.
10.00AM...WAITING FOR TAXI.
10.05AM...TAXI HERE.
10.20AM...AIRPORT.
10.45AM...CHECK IN.
11.05AM...DEPARTURE LOUNGE...CHATTING WITH ENGLISH CHAP WHO BROKE A BONE IN HIS FOOT IN BANGKOK...HE'S MANAGING WELL...BRAVE CHAP...I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE NEXT PLANE HOME!
11.25AM...BOARDING.
11.40AM...WE ARE ABOUT TO TAKE OFF...IT'S ONLY 11.40AM...WE WERE DUE TO TAKE OFF AT 12.00 NOON...THESE ASIANS ARE A BIT KEEN!
11.50AM...IN THE AIR.
12.05PM...EATING CHEESE AND CUCUMBER SANDWICHES WE MADE EARLIER.
12.30PM...TOUCH DOWN.
12.40PM...BAGS COLLECTED...THEY ARE VERY SWIFT HERE.
12.50PM...IN TAXI HEADING FOR NEW ABODE.
1.20PM...NEW ABODE...IT LOOKS VERY MUSLIM...MAUVE PAINTED ROOM...ONLY COLD WATER...54 RINGETTS A NIGHT...OH WELL ITS ONLY FOR 3 NIGHTS...IT LOOKS CLEAN ENOUGH.
2.00PM...LOOKING FOR CAFE/BAR.
2.20PM...STILL LOOKING FOR CAFE/BAR.
3.30PM...WE HAVE WALKED THE WHOLE TOWN...IT COMPRISED OF 3 ROADS.
3.45PM...HAVING A CAN OF COKE.
4.00PM...KFC! ON CORNER...HOW LOW CAN I GO!
4.15PM...QUITE LOW!...ACTUALLY THE CHICKEN TASTES OK...THE CHIPS WERE THIN AND HARD.
5.00PM...SUPERMARKET...THEY HAVE BEER...EXPENSIVE THOUGH...OH WELL.
6.10PM...IN ROOM...READING...BOOKS IMPROVING.
7.20PM...CHICKEN NOODLE TAKEAWAY...1 FOR NU...1 FOR ME...4 RIGGETTS EACH!...EATS FROM THE STREET...WELL CHEAP...WELL TASTY/BEER.


20.1.08.
6.40AM...NU UP EARLY...LOOKING OUT FOR SEA EAGLES...WE ARE IN A ROOM OVER LOOKING THE HARBOUR...MANY BOATS.
7.00AM...BLINKING...BUT STILL SLEEPING...ITS TIME TO SHIFT.
7.20AM...SENT FOR HOT WATER...ONE THING THAT IS ALWAYS FREE IN THESE MUSLIM HOTELS...A FLASK OF HOT WATER...ANY TIME...NIGHT OR DAY.
7.30AM...COFFEE.
8.00AM...COLD SHOWER.
8.20AM...TOAST.
8.40AM...WAITING IN BUS STATION...ABOUT FIFTY YARDS FROM WHERE WE ARE STAYING.
8.50AM...TOLD BUS AS BROKEN DOWN THAT GOES TO THE ORANG ATAN CENTRE...NO BUS AT 9.00AM...NEXT ONE 10.00AM...OUCH!...GOTTA BE THERE ABOUT 9.30AM TO SEE THEM FEEDING!
9.00AM...TAXI...35 RIGGETTS...IT WAS ONLY GONNA BE 3 RIGGETTS ON THE BUS.
9.25PM...ORANG ATAN CENTRE.
9.50AM...WAITING FOR THE BEASTS TO APPEAR...MAYBE BECAUSE ITS SUNDAY THEY ARE ALLOWED A LIE IN...FEEDING TIME THIS MORNING IS 10.00A.M.
10.10AM..ORANGS...SHOWING OFF...EATING BANANA'S...VERY ATHELETIC...VERY ORANGI TANGY!
11.00AM...FILM ON ORANG ATANS...BLESS!
11.40AM...COFFEE/SOUVENIR SHOP.
12.05PM...IN TAXI BACK TO TOWN[YAWN].
12.40PM...IN TOWN...SEARCHING FOR TOUR SELLING PLACE.
1.00PM...FORGOT IT'S SUNDAY...ALL CLOSED...OUCH!
1.30PM...SUPERMARKET...BRANDY/COKE.
2.10PM...WALKING.
2.50PM...BACK IN ROOM.
3.10PM...NU WANTS NOODLES...I FANCY THEM TOO.
3.50PM...WONDERFUL YELLOW NOODLES/CHICKEN/MUSHROOM/ONION/PEPPERS ETC.
4.30PM...BRANDY AND COKE.
5.30PM...ATTEMPTING TO READ...NOT REALLY IN THE MOOD.
6.35PM...CHATTING WITH OTHER TRAVELLERS.


21.1.08.
8.30AM...NU FIRST TO RISE...LOOKING FOR EAGLES.
8.45AM...SENT FOR HOT WATER.
9.10AM...SHAVE/SHOWER.
9.50AM...TOAST/CUPPA TEA.
11.00AM...IN TOUR SHOP.
11.30AM...BOOKED TOUR TO TURTLE ISLAND...ONERNIGHT STAY IN WOODEN HUT...THEN WE ARE ON A BOAT UP SOME RIVER LOOKING FOR WILDLIFE...HAVE THEY HEARD OF BIRMINGHAM TOWN CENTRE?
12.40PM...FOUND POST OFFICE AT LAST...ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN...SILLY PLACE TO PUT IT...ITS THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN BUY STAMPS.
1.20PM...WALKING BACK TO OUR MAUVE ROOM...A MONITOR LIZARD...ABOUT AS LONG AS I AM TALL IS WADDLING ALONG THE PAVEMENT LOOKING FRIGHTENED...UGLY THING...SOME BOYS ARE CHASING IT...NU AND I KEPT OUT THE WAY...THE CHINESE EAT THEM...APPARENTLY THE CHINESE EAT ANYTHING!
2.05PM...SUPERMARKET...SUPPLIES FOR NEXT TWO DAYS...ALTHOUGH WE GET FED...WE LIKE TO TAKE OUR OWN DRINK!
2.55PM...BACK AT HOTEL[MAUVE ROOM]...NU NOT FEELING TO GOOD.
3.30PM...ON INTERNET...GOTTA BOOK A FLIGHT BACK TO KINABULU AND THEN A FLIGHT ONWARD TO MANILLA,PHILIPINES...ITS A NIGHTMARE!
5.10PM...SORTED...90 QUID FOR BOTH FOR TWO PLANE JOURNEYS.
6.00PM...PACKING...HAVING A GOOD SORT...WE WILL BE RETURNING TO THE MAUVE ROOM AFTER OUR EXPEDITION...BUT WE HAVE TO PUT OUR BAGS IN THE STORE ROOM.
7.30PM...SIGNATURE RESTAURANT...BIT UP MARKET...BUT WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THEY DO EXCELLENT FISH AND CHIPS.
9.00PM...WONDERFUL MEAL...FOLLOWED BY A WONDERFUL BANANA SPLIT.


22.1.08.
7.00AM...AWAKE.
7.20AM...SHOWER
7.50AM...CORNFLAKES/COFFEE/TOAST.
8.30AM...WAITING FOR PICK UP TO START OUR TRIP TO TURTLE ISLAND.
8.45AM...PICK UP MINIBUS ARRIVE.
9.15AM...JETTY.
9.30AM...IN BOAT HEADING FOR TURTLE ISLAND.
10.30AM...TURTLE ISLAND.
11.00AM...IN ROOM...VERY BASIC.
12.30PM...LUNCH...CHICKEN CURRY...INDIAN FLAVOUR...IN MALAYSIA THEY NEVER DEBONE THERE CHICKEN...SO NONE TO PLEASANT...RICE ALRIGHT...PINEAPPLE FOR DESSERT.
1.55PM...ON WHITE BEACH...NU SWIMMING...I'VE PLANTED MYSELF ON THE LIFE GUARDS PLATFORM.
3.00PM...BACK IN ROOM...TO HOT FOR ME...NU HAPPY ON BEACH...FELL ASLEEP.
5.00PM...NU BACK IN ROOM WITH ME...LOOKING A BIT TOMATOED!
6.00PM...GIUDE SHOWING US PICTURES AND SKELETONS OF TURTLES AND TALKING RAPID ENGLISH...HE WASN'T THE BEST...WATCHED A FILM TOO.
7.30PM...EVENING MEAL...BEEF CURRY...NO COMMENT...MORE FRUIT FOR DESSERT...LUCKERLY WE'D BOUGHT OUR DRINK FROM THE MAINLAND...DOUBLE THE PRICE HERE!
8.20PM...WAFFLING WITH FOUR DANISH LADS.
10.00PM...SITTING ON BENCH NEXT TO SANDS WAITING FOR MYRTLE THE TURTLE TO SHOW UP.
10.35PM...MYRT THE TURT IS DOING THE BUSINESS.
10.50PM...MYRT THE TURT...BIT OF A FLIRT...GIVING BIRTH!
11.15PM...ALL OVER.
11.30PM...MYRT WADDLING BACK TO SEA.
11.45PM...RANGER GATHERS EGGS TO REBURY IN SAFE PLACE.
12.10AM...TIME FOR BED.


23.1.08.
5.00AM...ALARM.
5.30AM...UP.
5.40AM...QUICK WASH.
6.10AM...IN BREAKFAST ROOM.
6.25AM...SCRAMBLED EGGS/COFFEE.
7.00AM...IN BOAT HEADING BACK TO MAINLAND.
7.20AM...BOAT STOPS...SOMETHING WRONG WITH ENGINE.
7.30AM...OFF WE GO AGAIN...WELL ROCKY SEA.
7.50AM...BOAT STOPS AGAIN.
8.00AM...OFF WE GO AGAIN.
8.15AM...AT JETTY AT LAST...DIDN'T THINK WE WERE GONNA MAKE IT...OWNER NEEDS TO GET THAT ENGINE SORTED.
8.35AM...BACK AT HOTEL...GIRL RECEPTIONIST TELLS US OUR FRIENDS FROM LANGKAWI HAVE TURNED UP.
9.00AM...IN SHOWER...GLORIOUS!
9.30AM...IN BREAKIE ROOM TALKING WITH MATT AND VICKI.
10.30AM...MINIBUS ARRIVES TO TAKE US TO SEPILOK FOR START OF TRIP UP RIVER.
11.00AM...SEPILOK...GOTTA WAIT HERE FOR NEXT PICK UP AT 12.454PM FOR KINABATTENGEN RIVER CRUISE.
11.15AM...RESTAURANT...SWEET/SOUR CHICKEN....SAUCE WELL WEAK.
12.30PM...INTO ANOTHER MINIBUS FOR 2 HOUR DRIVE TO RIVER.
12.50PM...FELL ASLEEP.
2.45PM...ON SOME BUMPY TRACK...I BLINK BACK TO LIFE AGAIN.
3.05PM...ARRIVE AT RIVER...ALTHOUGH ITS WARM...RAIN LASHING DOWN...WE WAIT UNDER A WOODEN SHELTER.
3.40PM...ITS STILL RAINING...BUT NOT SO HEAVILY...WE CLAMBER INTO A LONG CANOE TO GO TO ISLAND IN CENTRE OF LAKE.
3.55PM...ON CENTRAL ISLAND...BUM WELL WET.
4.15PM...I DECIDE I WOULD RATHER STAY UNDER SHELTER THAN ROAM UP AND DOWN A RIVER IN THE THE HOPE OF SEEING SOME WILD ANIMALS...RAIN STILL POURING...NU SETS OUT WITH OTHERS.
6.30PM...NU RETURNS...FULL OF THE JOYS...SHE AS SEEN WHAT SHE WANTED TO SEE...NU HAPPY...I'M HAPPY!
7.00PM...BACK IN BOAT TO MAINLAND.
7.20PM...BACK IN MINIBUS.
9.15PM...BACK IN MAUVE ROOM.
9.40PM...TUNA/TOMATO SANDWICH/BEER...CHATTING WITH FRIENDS.


24.1.08.
5.30AM...ALARM.
5.50AM...SHOWER.
6.05AM...PACKING.
6.40AM...CORNFLAKES/COFFEE.
7.05AM...TAXI.
7.30AM...AIRPORT.
7.45AM...CHECK IN.
8.10AM...DEPARTURE LOUNGE/COFFEE.
8.50AM...FLYING.
9.45AM...KOTA KINABULA AIRPORT...TERMINAL 1...NEED TERMINAL2...7K AWAY!
10.15AM...TAXI.
10.35AM...TERMINAL 2.
11.00AM...CHECK IN NOT TILL 12.30PM.
11.45AM...SWEET/SOUR CHICKEN...CAPPUCINO.
12.45PM...CHECK IN...THEY ARE GETTING ON MY NERVE'S...BAG CHECK...THEY'VE TAKEN OUR CAN OPENER OF US!
1.15PM...DEPARTURE LOUNGE...BORED.
2.15PM...OM PLANE HEADING FOR MANILLA?
4.15PM...LAND AT CLARK,MANILLA?
4.25PM...PASSPORT CONTROL.
4.40PM...NEED SOME PESO...ATM...NOT WORKING...THIS IS AN AIRPORT!...ITS GOT ONE CASH POINT AND THAT DOESN'T WORK!
5.00PM...TAXI...EXPLAIN WE NEED ATM...OK.
5.05PM...TAXI DRIVER TELLS US WE ARE NOT IN MANILLA...WHAT?!...WE ARE IN ANGELES...WHERE?!
5.10PM...WE ASK HIM TO TAKE US TO A TICKET OFFICE...WE NEED THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLIGHT TO CEBU...GOD KNOWS HOW WE ENDED UP HERE...PHILIPINE TICKETS NOT VERY CLEAR/CONFUSING...NU AND ME NOT HAPPY.
5.35PM...IN TICKET OFFICE...WE ARE INTRODUCED TO A WOMAN...WE HAVE TO FOLLOW HER TO ANOTHER OFFICE...BACK IN TAXI FOLLOWING HER.
5.55PM...AT HER OFFICE?...SHE QUOTES US 18,400 PESO[255 QUID]...WHAT!...NO WAY...NU GETTING WELL FRUSTRATED.
6.15PM...WALK OUT OF OFFICE.
6.25PM...ASK A WESTERN LOOKING GUY DIRECTIONS...IT JUST HAPPENS THAT HE OWNS AN HOTEL.
6.40PM...AT THE ANCHORAGE INN...1,000 PESO A NIGHT...ITS OK...ITS CLEAN...BUT THE AREA IS FULL[AND I MEAN FULL] OF GIRLIE BARS!...ITS PORNO STREET!
7.15PM...PORK/MASH SPUD/MIXED VEG...I'M IN HEAVEN!
8.30PM...IN OUR 'MIRRORED ROOM'.
9.00PM...NU DECIDED TO STAY IN AND WATCH TELE...I THOUGHT I'D TAKE A STROLL...LOOSEN THE ACHING JOINTS.
9.15PM...SHONA'S BAR...THEY'VE GOT A POOL TABLE...FULL OF SCANTILY CLAD GIRLS...HAD ONE BEER AND LEFT...HONEST!
10.05PM...BACK WITH NU...YOU SAID YOU WOULD ONLY BE HALF AN HOUR!...GOT A LITTLE LOST MY HONEY BUNCH.
10.15PM...WENT TO HOTEL BAR...NU FANCIED A BEER...I HAD A JACK D...CHATTING WITH CHAP WHO SEEMS TO KNOW HIS STUFF...THERES A FLIGHT TOMORROW...25 QUID EACH... AT 12.05PM...HE TELLS US WHERE TO GO...ALSO HE'S VERY KNOWLEDGABLE ON THE ISLANDS...NU'S IMPRESSED.
11.20PM...BED.


FUNNY OLD DAYS.

BYE FOR NOWZ.