On another Intrepid tour a little strange been told what to do again but nice for someone else to organise things for a change. Met everyone in Kota Kinabalu when for dinner and then a Karoke bar. It was very loud and much more than we could bare so we left after only one drink. The same chinese people got up over and over, all in a days work.

The next day we went to a local village at the base of Mount Kinabalu called Kiau Nulu. The locals had already started on the rice wine after a morning at church so they were all extremely happy to share there village life with us. After watching some traditional music and dance it was time to laugh at the westerners of which we gave them plenty of opportunity as between us we weren't very graceful. We spent the evening being made very welcome at a locals house he liked to encourage drinking games (I think he had a few bottles already). He was going to be our guide for the following day so we knew that the climb would be interesting. He had the most infectious laugh and a brilliant sense of humour. We were the last of our group to leave after drinking way too much wine but the locals are obviously more hardcore as they were still drinking heavily in the morning. We all declined another feeling the affects of the night before.

The next day we set off for the base of the moutain. We were given some amazing shallies after a mess up so deffinately in style we are not accustomed to. Huge rooms, private balcony, downstairs lounge with open fire, pity it was only for one night.

The start of the climb we had all opted for the longer trail and everyone was in good spirits when we set off. We told to walk at our own pace so soon lost Keeley the climb was steady until the last kilometer which killed. Neil and me arrived first followed by Keeley then Rob (AKA Doug Shovel) came next and all of us from Yorkshire.

The next we were up by 3 AM and walking half an hour later only Midge decided it was much better to stay in bed and declined the early climb. By the time we had got to the top in the fog clambering upon ropes freezing to death we were thinking maybe she had made the right decision. There was a definate sense of achievement reaching the top espicially for Keeley who started feeling altitude sickness just two hundred meters from the top. The climb down was revealing in seeing the sheer drops and the never ending ascent we had walked by in torch light hours before. The climb down was done quickly so we could enjoy a beer and some warm food at the bottom. Also as it turned out we got down before a downpour drenched the rest of the group. We had a rest and a fanatastic curry at pouring hot springs.

To bed early we were up early went to the springs for a well earned soak before breakfast. We went for a small walk to the first waterfall declining the longer walk Neil came back with eleven leaches I think we made the right decision. By far the best part of Pouring Hot Springs was Jackie the Orangutan she was gorgeous she lived in the jungle but came down to pouring for food and milk. We got so close too her. Every movement was fasinating I love Orangutans.