Hey Kirsty
I'm in KL now, bumped into Madeline here twice in fact, she's here for a week. I love this place, the food is too much! There are guys selling those pancakes like you get at KK's Sunday Market, except they are there all day everyday...it's too tempting I'm absolutely gorging myself. I deserve it though after I conquered that mountain. If I can do it anyone can do it! The day I had to leave KK to get the bus there, I was soo tempted to say just f*** it stay in bed, I don't wanna get up and I defintely don't wanna climb. But I dragged myself out, I knew I'd regret it if I didn't. Met a nice Finnish guy on the bus there, so we arranged to share a guide, along with another Portugese dude and a (sexy but not single) very tall Polish guy. The four of us had such a laugh, which you need to keep spirits up going up Kinabalu. We were very lucky in that the weather was great and there was no rain. Out of the 4 of us, only 2 had a torch, so the next morning at 3am when we set off for the peak it was hard going without much light...luckily the (useless and usually nowhere to be found) guide had a spare. We saw a beautiful sunrise (although you have to fight for space with about 100 other people on the summit - very limited for space) so it was all worth it. Going down wasn't as bad as everyone says, I legged it cause I was dying to get off the bloody mountain, and ended up regretting that the next couple of days. Still, wasn't too bad. When I got back to KK I met the Irish woman I got lost on the mountain with in the Philippines (wasn't really a surprise as I knew she was going to KK and told her to stay at NBC). She told me when she climbed the mountain it was pissing from the Heavens and they didn't even let most people past the gate to get to the summit, as it was too dangerous. She made it but was wet and miserable. Therefore, I feel very blessed that we had it so good! I checked my email at NBC and had one from Rupert saying, ''hey where are you?''. I had to laugh, as I was in the exact same place I was when I met him more than a month before. I didn't get time to reply, but I'm sure he won't believe that I hadn't moved very far in such a long period of time (well actually I did...sort of). I'm off to Thailand tomorrow night on the overnight bus, then I'll hit the Full Moon Party. I'll keep in touch and let you know what it's like. Say hi to Aman, Georgie and all the others for me. Take care and hope you enjoyed your week gallavanting around Sarawak! Love Sarah x

Another busy day! Went to a national park called Bacco. Transportation, minibus to fishing village then very small boat with an outboard - you know how Granny loves small boats! Safely reached the Park, guide takes us off on a jungle trek to see the probuscious monkeys (big noses). Sweating buckets before we even set off, trek accross the mangroves on wooden walkways, a doddle, then hit the jungle trail, precipitous narrow track, rough ground with tree roots and rocks, no joke for Granny's knees! Granny, as you know is a tough cookie so we successfully traverse the jungle route uphill and down dale and do indeed see the monkeys with the big noses. Now knackered, granny and her knees have taken anti-inflamatorys and gone to bed. Kirsty and I have just had a stroll along the riverbank and found a batik seller, more shopping!!!! Heading for bed, it's Sunday markets first thing in the morning.

Hi ya.
thanks for the phone call, I never expected that.
How did the shopping trip go. Sony or Cannon?
I hope you have not spent all your grans money.
You might like to know the Pentland hills are white as I write. the days are cold again.
Looking forward to seeing all the new pictures.

Enjoy the rest of your trip. say Hi to your mum and Nancy ( still no windows yet )

Ta ra, ra noo Colin.Gwen Louise & Hazel.

Busy day, cultural village, arts and crafts bazzar, new shoes for Kirsty (old ones really smelly!!) out for dinner, walked back to hotel along the river watching little "junks" sail by, all knackered and off to bed, nite nite!

Got a new camera at last-woo!!! Bout bloomin time!! xx

Nancy: Why have you not hit the mini-bar??
Hope all is well to-day. Looking forward to the next installment.

Re: Our 1st night here- O.K. so perhaps it was a little rash to say to Kirsty "go out and have fun with your pals-we'll be fine". Having just had a quick tour of the salubrious parts of town she was now cruising with her buddies is it any surprise that we lay awake wondering ....... Out of sight is definately out of mind and it's much easier to be "chilled out" about her very busy social life when we're thousands of miles away.
After a few days to acclimatise to the very different way of life here I can see why Kirsty is having such an "awsome" time. We have met an ecclectic and colourful mix of Kirsty's aquaintences who, without exception, have been delightful, especially th gay boys. Granny also wants to make it quite clear that at no time has she "hit the mini-bar", although we still have time!

I've not got the chalet info on me just now but I'll send u an email. Def better me booking it from this end. Tis about RM200 for a chalet for 2 people with astro (malaysias equivalent of sky). But you won't be wanting that with a gorgeous deserted beach on your doorstep. I'm in a bit of a rush just now so will try to get the details together for you asap. Shouldn't have a prob booking it in the next couple of weeks. Glad Bulgaria was fuun. Better dash! xx

Hey Mum and Gran. Kirsty already probably told you but me and Dave got back safe and sound from Bulgaria. We had a great time - apart from the food in the hotel ( I got a free maggot in my meal one evening) - and have lot of good photos. Do you know the name or location of those cabins you mentioned? I think we would have to book pretty soon if we wanted to go, it's less that 6 weeks until we go now! Hope you guys are having a good time. Rosie.

Fiona and Nancy: So glad that you both got there. A night in Heathrow must have been awful. Sounds like you're having a great time now. Still cold here and more snow forecast in the north.

Sunday morning slept in and missed breakfast, out too late clubbing with Kirsty D. Took in the KK nightspots last night, dinner at Little Italy with ten of Kirsty's global pals, then back to the North Borneo Cabin to meet the staff, see the accommodation and generally hang out. Cocktails at QBar (Gay Bar) where again introduced to the staff who all seem to know Kirsty and her discounted rates! Granny and Mum escorted home to the hotel and Kirsty and her crew left for their usual partying in KK not to be seen again until 4am. This morning we visited the Sunday street market before stoping off at the Snack Bar which is also the local DHL Parcel Distribution Office to enquire about shipping home Kirsty's excess baggage. Met all the staff, pals of Kirsty's, and had a coffe and read the local papers. Stopped off at the hotel briefly before taking a small boat out to one of the nearby islands. A beautiful afternoon passed sitting on the edge of the South China Sea and swimming with the multicoloured fishes, also checked out some fab cabins by the sea Dave and Rosie might like to stay in when they visit, looks very romantic. We are now heading back to the hotel after dinner for an early night, Kirsty has to be up at 6am to get back to school in the morning. Granny and I are going sightseeing tomorrow before we catch up with her at the school.

Hi Everyone, We've finally arrived in KK after one or two of our own adventures! A delayed first flight has played havoc with our travel plans, we missed our KL connection and had to stay overnight at Heathrow before taking the next flight out. I have to confess we were exhausted by the time we reached KL and really spent the first day recovering. Day 2 we went sightseeing - a fabulous bird park, mega hot! then we spnt some time in the Petonas Tower Shoppng Mall which was lovely and airconditioned,then in the evening we took a tour of the city, visited china town and took in a fairly dire "cultural show". Friday we set off for KL airport early for our flight to KK, only to discover we had vanished from the airlines computer system and had to rebook all our flights, glad to say we had loads of time and the airline lady was really helpful, the problem was due to us missing our first connection and it led to the knock-on effects. KL airport is the most beautiful airport building we've visited, maybe the Scottish parliament could have used the same one! Finally reached KK found our hotel (fabulous) and met up with Kirsty at last!