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I finished my last update on "Orang-utans" so I shall continue from there.
We flew to Sepilok, Sandakan on Thursday 27th October, just the familiarity of the little airport was exciting for me, small things!! We got a taxi to the Jungle resort which is where we had booked to stay for the following 3nights. The accommodation near the rehabilitation centre is limited with only about 4 places to choose from. Our lonely planet book had advised against our choice but after their poor advice with regards to our KK accommodation we took the risk and were very pleasantly surprised. Our digs was like a little log cabin room, the decor was dated and of unusual taste, for example they had a garage and road map rug which I only previously seen in a 6year old boys room. I quite liked it though, wish I had remembered my cars!
The morning of the 27th I was like a little girl at Christmas, really excited I jumped out of bed and dragged Dan out. We went to see the morning feeding, we saw 2 orangs, Britt and ............ I knew them both from my previous year only this time they both had babies!! They were really cute, lovely to see the program is working! The feeding was invaded by a million macaques, that maybe a slight exaguration but only slight! There were bloody loads of them. To be honest they just freak me out, they are evil little monkeys and could pounce at any time!!lol! Dan liked them and found them more entertaining than the orangs!!
I met with some of the rangers I had met last year and it was really nice that they remembered me. I also managed to see Sylvia, the lady who runs Sepilok, she arranged with me and Dan for us to return in the afternoon to go and see the babies! I was very excited and yes did cry a little bit, big girl!! We returned in the afternoon and waited ages, luckily enough as we were waiting we were entertained by a couple of orangs playing around by the restaurant area, this gave us a great opportunity for photos. Eventually we met Sylvia and she walked us up to where the babies were being trained. There were four very cute orange babies, swinging on ropes, hair blowing in the wind!! It was lovely to see the little ones and we were really lucky to have the opportunity.
We arrived at Sepilok the same day as 12 fresh faced, keen volunteers. This meant everyone was very busy. I really enjoyed my time visiting Sepilok but one day was enough, it was weird being a tourist and not being involved in the workings of the centre. I had my time there last year and this was the turn of 12 more individuals with a fabulous time ahead of them so the next day we sat by the pool and soaked up some rays!!
We stayed 3 nights in total then at 6.30am 0n 30th October we caught a 5 ½ hour coach ride to Semporna where our next adventure would begin.
The coach journeys are always a funny thing, the seats are pretty good, not to cramped, nice recline and on the way down you get a free cake and a bottle of water. Sounds ok which it is other than the fact you can hear people being sick all the way, they even hand out plastic bags! The other downfall is that half way through the trip you stop and some street sellers come on with dried fruit/nuts etc . This is where I was had by a little girl who was probably about 6!! I said no when she came with her offerings but she put a bag of nuts on my lap and walked off saying "its ok" I thought ahh what lovely little girl. Then she returned asking for money, I decided it was gonna be easier to give her a couple of ringets than fight this so thats what I did, she then with a massive smile on her face asked for 4ringets!! Thats just short of a pound and well over the odds for a packet of nuts!! She had fully done me! Sucker!!
So we arrived in Semporna and checked into Scuba Junkies which is where we were to spend the next week. Scuba Junkies is a dive centre, they also have accommodation and a restaurant/bar.
We had already decided what our plans were, Dan was to start his PADI the next day and I was going to do a refresher, as I haven't dived in a year, and 2 fun dives then start my advanced open water the next day.
This is what we did, we both completed our dive courses and loved very second.I had to pick 5areas to study for my advanced. I chose Navigation, Deep Dive (30mtrs), photography, peak performance buoyancy and fish identification.
I really enjoyed all my dives especially photography and deep. I was blessed with a great instructor called Apek who gave me top tips and a lot of laughs along the way. We have taken loads of fab photos, which I hope I get to post real soon so you can have a look! The fav spots have got to be the turtles, banded sea snake, eagle ray, puffer fish ohh actually there was a lot of favourites so I will not list I will get some photos on line!!
It was lovely to spend the week there, we met a lot of great people. Its like one big family or a local pub there, really nice to be part of for a little while. On our last night the malay band played and we all had a few beers, well actually I was drinking chilled red wine. It was surprisingly nice!
So on the rainy morning of the 6th November 2011 we packed our bags and checked out of Semporna. I am writing this whilst sitting in Kuala Lumpur Airport waiting for our second flight of the day. That flight is taking us to BALI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I must be honest that, despite the exclamation marks, does actually feel quite normal. Obviously we are both excited but when you are leaving one amazing place to go to another its a strange feeling. The trip so far is fabulous, Everything I hoped it would be, we have had some brilliant time already and have no doubt lots more to come.
We are thinking of you all, hope life is treating you well.
It's always lovely to hear from you and really sweet to see you following our travels.
Big Love and hugs
Jen and Dan
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