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I am finding it difficult to put into words what the last few days have been like, the experience I have just gone through is only supposed to happen in the movies and will stay with me forever, hitherto my journey has been spent in mainly tourists places where you see fellow travellers but this weekend was spent in a place where very few foreigners venture.
The genuine hospitality and welcome I received from the family I stayed with was overwhelming. Even now I don't really know why or how it happened, as I mentioned previously I had met Angela in the tourist office where she worked and we got chatting and it all started from there. I was the first stranger to stay at her parents house, as they normally only invite people who she knows
The house is deep into the rainforest of Borneo and about 10 miles from the nearest small town of Saratok which is home to about 40,000 people. The setting is breathtaking with just miles and miles on rainforests, it is on a hill with the most stunning views of which photos don't really do it justice. They have no direct electricity supply and use on a generator for their electricity for about 4 hours each night.
We had arrived in Saratok in the early hours of Saturday morning after Angela had drove 5 hours from Kuching in the pouring rain, I stayed overnight at a local hotel while Angela stayed at her parents cafe which they run in the town. Spent Saturday morning visiting the local market to do some shopping for food rations for the weekend, had breakfast at the cafe then her father took me for a game of snooker at a local joint, somehow walking into the hall and playing a game of snooker in a smoke filled hall seemed the most normal thing in the world to do, the locals rarely see a White person but seemed to warm to me.
When we arrived back to the house there was a sense of utter relaxation amongst us all, Angela only comes home about once a month and was obviously delighted to be with her daughter for the weekend, it was the overall sensation for what I call a "nice tiredness" where your body is tired but your mind is relaxed as subconsciously you know you have a few days to replenish those tired limbs.
Dinner was truly superb, fresh sardines cooked on the barbie, green beans, cabbage, rice and lots of splendid local delights.
We spent the evening just chatting as if we were old friends, they speak fluent English and have a true sense of humour, it reminded me once again of my holidays in Ireland where the outside world doesnt exist, you appreciate the simple things and your mind is at rest.
Woke up Sunday morning and again had the a mavelous breakfast with included fresh eggs laid by their own hens and tapioca which is basically a potato, I didn't have a clue what tapioca was until now but its a root veg that they have growing in their garden.
Angela's father then showed me their garden, when I say garden I mean the biggest one you could ever imagine as it leads to the rainforest with every kind of tree growing all sorts of fruit from pineapple to mango, herbs and root veg.
We then visited the longhouse opposite the house which is effectively a row of houses in which the local community live. The Iban people live in these houses usually about 20 homes attached with a communal porch, the equivalent to a small street in the UK I guess, but all the people are related. Angela was brought up in this community and her parents lived there until they built their retirement house on the hill.
I met the people who lived there and again they are self sufficient and go about their everyday lives in such a relaxed manner.
The evening followed with another glorious food fest.
Well in summary that was my last few days and I could say more and write a book about it.
When I left and got on the bus to leave to wave goodbye I have to say a few tears where shed.
- comments
Caroline Teresa Regan Well you kept your head and lived to tell a lovely tale of you and the not so wild woman of borneo! Getting more chilly here now. Still got a dodgy boiler. Sometimes it works...and other times...well it doesn't. Plumber seems to have gone underground after charging £50 last Friday. Must find another one. Hey Ho. Bet you are toasty warm. Enjoy the caves. Love from us all x x X X