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Sorry this is a bit of a long one as I havent done one in over 2 weeks but:
From where I left off……..
On the evening of the 4th June after I wrote my blog we grabbed some reasonably nice and well priced food before a few games of pool and then the largest game of 's***head' (a card game for those of you who don't know - I'm not being rude!). There was 12 of us in a game involving three decks of cards and yes it did turn ugly when people had to pick up the pile but somehow it worked! Also had some very strange coversation as it was a very weird bunch of people indeed! (One man who was meant to be travelling for a month and 5 months later was still travelling with no health or travel insurance and no money, and only ended up there after picking up a ferry ticket from the floor and then two trainee doctors discussing how best to sneak him into Australia, which included throwing himself infront of a bus and hiding in a cello case - I wouldn't want to be treated by either of them!)
On the 5th we went for a second walk in the Cameron Highlands and covered about 12km reaching a high point of 2030m where the hill meets the highest road in Malaysia.
The ascent was once again quite tricky and muddy and involved a considerable amount of climbing up rocks and tree roots as well as walking! On the way down the road we got absolutely soaked as the heavens literally opened for about half an hour; but at least we were walking down through the massive tea plantations which looked pretty amazing! (and we'd dried out a little by the time we got back)
The next day we were on a bus for the majority of the day from the Cameron Highlands to Taman Negara (Jungle region). Between around 9am and 7pm we had some stops but not many but we were at least relatively comfortable in the bus for the majority of the long journey. Once we had arrived in Kuala Tahan we booked in to a dorm room (pretty basic!) and then got some food. Then realised there is nothing to do at night in this very small place so we played some cards, read and chatted to try and kill a little time at least!
On the 7th we ventured into the Jungle itself! We crossed the river on the river boat taxi and entered the National Park area. We walked along and up to the Canopy walkway and had to wait an hour before we could go on! Apparently it's the longest in the world and was pretty cool I guess. We then headed back for some lunch and it started raining as we ate and didn't stop for hours, so we decided not to go back across as we would have literally been soaked and we already had damp stuff from the Cameron Highlands a couple of days previously. In the evening we did however go out on a night safari, and although we didn't see that much (some wild boar, cats, frogs and small snakes) it was quite enjoyable and an experince riding literally on the roof of a pick-up truck down a main road and over bumpy ground!
On the morning of the 8th we went to a bat cave called 'Ear cave' which we literally had to climb into, through and out of. It was pretty cool though with lterally thousands of bats just above our heads - but no good if your afraid of small spaces that's for sure! On the way through we also passed a traditional village of the 'Orang Asli' (Origional people) which was kind of fascinating as theya re the only people allowed to live off the National Park area. We then left for Jerantut on the 2pm long-boat up the river which again was one of those things you have to do if you can. Once in Jerantut we booked in to a very cheap but reasonably comfortable hostel and grabbed some food from a weird little place where they gave us some free pancakes which were pretty damn tasty - I think the guy was just showing off really!
Unfortunately realised that my phone had bust after the rain in the Cameron Highlands though after leaving it to dry for a few days!
We travelled down to Kuala Lumpur (KL) the next day arriving in the early afternoon - so not tooo long at least! We then got a taxi up to Mrs Guah's house (Someone who's Phil's mum knows the sister of, who was kindly providing us with accomodation while we were there, and breakfast too!). We then headed into KL to use the internet to make some calls to arrange our time in KL, grabbed some food at Planet Hollywood (I wouldn't recommend the food unfortunately) and had a general walk around some of the numerous (and I mean they have loads) shopping malls.
The next morning we headed in again to central KL and walked around and tried to contact Phil's mates from school who we were going to meet - but we were struggling! In one of the malls we took up the opportunity of a free 'health check' - which told me my heart was beating and I wasn't that fat (thanks). Then the guy tried hitting on Phil as we tried the various massage machines in the shop - hilarious for me, not so much for him I think (it's happened before too!). We then booked our bus to Mellaca and decided to go and see 'Kung Fu Panda' at the cinema which the Malaysian's loved, before an indian and back to the house.
We were queueing at the Petronas towers by 8.30am on the 11th and met Ashley there (a friend from drama productions who was over for his Mum's Birthday). After we got our ticket and time slot for 2pm! He kindly showed us round a bit of KL, taking us over to the sentral market and even bought us lunch at a really nice Thai place! It was great to see a friendly face (not that Phil's isnt friendly but you know what I mean!). We then got a text shortly before 2pm from Phil's mates and arranged to meet them after our visit to the Sky Bridge that afternoon. The bridge between the two towers gave awsome views and is indeed very impressive architecturally (?) if you're into that! Once down after a little confusion, as it had taken longer than we imagined we met Phil's mates (Roger and Chris) at the bottom of the towers and then picked up John from the internet centre. We then proceeded to get ice cream before spending the afternoon at an indoor theme park which made us feel like we were 5 again! (Spent a lot of time on the dodgems!) We grabbed something to eat with Roger and Chris when they returned after taking John to the Hospital as he wasn't that well and he headed back to their hostel. We then headed back up to the house at about 9.15 as they wanted us in my 10pm understandably as they have a young family.
On the 12th we headed up to the Batu Caves which again is one of those tourist spots - 272 steps to the cave which then has a number of small shrines inside, along with a larger number of monkeys; one of which stole my bottle of 7up from my hand asI took a photo! (If you though the Artful dodger was good you should see these guys in action!)
Then headed back into KL with a very 'interesting' taxi driver who was telling us about his family, being a free tour guide in terms of Mellaca and attempting to pimp out some gilrs - a funny mix!). Then headed over to the national museum which we got into for about 30p but unfortunately ½ of it was shut! (We have all the luck!) It was relatively interesting but not riveting unfortunately. We then headed back to the centre, watch some of Euro 2008 in McDonalds of all places, bought Mrs Guah some flowers to say thank you and had a Nando's for dinner.
The next morning we left for Mellaca after giving Mrs Guah the flowers and getting some breakfast. It was once again a very nice bus for a very cheap price! Once in Mellaca we booked our onward bus to Johor Bahru and then went into town to find a hostel which had been mentioned to us at the bus station by the owner. It seemed ok and we agreed to stay there, in a massive dorm room of 16 single beds. We hit the internet to check up on emails and managed to book our Mount Kinabalu accomodation for our climb inafew day, before ging to see some of the centre of town. It's a very mixed up place because of all the influences (English, Dutch and Portugese as well as Malaysia) because of its location for trading in Colonial times. We then hit the night market and picked up some really cool stuff for presents and got some food too. We then passed a karaoke competition (or similar) on a massive stage in the centre of the town before proceeding to one of the bars for some beer and pool. In there we met some girls from the US, who were how do I put it……relatively un-interesting but at least it was conversation (of sorts); they were here onascholarship programme from their college to study economics and politics - luckily neither of which came up. Then back to watch Italy vs Romania at the hostel.
We got a late breakfast (more like brunch) before getting some bikes from the hostel to see a bit more of the town and discover the cultural background of the area from the maritime museum. Also tried in vain to find the coast and somehow ended up on the highway on our bikes at one point! Once again we walked along the weekend night-market and there was big fathers day celebrations going on, on the stage tonight. Then the same as last night pretty much - just without the girls from the US and this time it was Spain vs Sweden.
On the 15th we got the bus from Mellaca down to Johor Bahru and eventually over to a homestay mentioned in Phil's lonely planet guide book (no-one knew where it was!). We booked our taxi for the following morning so we knew that the guy would find it and we wouldn't miss our flight. We then took the 30minute walk into Johor Bahru to get some flight information off the computer and I phoned Daddy for fathers day like a good little boy. Then I got my hair cut, as you do in Malaysia, by someone called Elvis!!! Then as we had very little to do we went to the cinema to see 'The Incredible Hulk' before heading back. The room was pretty dusty and cramped but at least it was a bed for the night.
We got up early on the 16th to get to the airport for our 7.20am flight to Kota Kinabalu (KK) in Malaysian Borneo. Once there I managed to change my flight to fly with Phil back as otherwise I would have been spending another night in that homestay! Once in KK we booked into a B&B guesthouse and then checked our details for tomorrows climb and grabbed some lunch. In the afternoon it rained a lot so we stayed in the guesthouse, read and played with the two resident kittens! Somehow managed to get across in the dry toalocal restaurant for a longish meal before heading back to the hostel were the kittens fell asleep on my lap watching a film.
We got up relatively early to get the bus across to Mount Kinabalu (2nd Highest Mountain in SE Asia about 1/2 the size of Everest). There we checked in and left our rucksacks in the store and started walking around 12.20. Of course this was the exact point at which the rain decided to come down (as usual our luck was good again!). We waterproofed up as best we could - Phil in a poncho purchased at the place as well - and we set off. 3 hours and 15 mins later, drenched in water and sweat (impossible to tell where one ended and the other begun) and after excrutiating cramp with 1km to go we reached the hostel at laban Rata, our resting point for the night.
Once there we took off our wet stuff and hung it as best we could and grabbed some food. Then it was an early night at about 6.30 as we wold be up ealry the next morning.
At 2.30am the next morning (18th) we got up and by 3.15am we were walking again for the summit. It was tough as the air was thinner and the walking slightly harder on the steeper rocks but we made it in time for sun rise, arriving at the summit (4095m) at about 5.30am. After about 20minutes at the top we headed back down to Laban Rata for breakfast (after already completing nearly 6km of very hard walking!). We then had just over an hour to pack up our stuff and get something to eat before heading back down to the base. We decided for some peculiar reason to do this as fast as we comfortably could and 1hour 35minutes later we reached the bottom with our guide Ricci sweating! (He says it's the fastest he has ever done it! J). Once at the bottom we managed to shower and get some lunch and re-arrange our bags before getting a bus over to Sandakan. 4 and a half hours later we reached Sandakan and after a little trouble found somewhere to stay. (It's seems to be more expensive here for accomodation unfortunately) We then tried to find some internet but failed and instead cut our losses and got something to eat.
On the 19th we got up quite early and headed to the nearby bus station to grab a bus to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation centre. Eventually after about half an hour and being moved from our origional bus we left. We arrived a what we thought was the Orangutan sanctuary at just after 10am - knowing that feeding time (best time to see them) was at 10am - only to realise we had to walk 2.5km up the road to actually get there. By the time we did arrive feeding time was over and so we waited over 4 hours to get the 3pm feed instead. While we waited we read and got some lunch but it was pretty boring. However once we did get to see them it was kind of cool and one of them actually walked directly behind us, only for us to realise at it walked away! (Typical us again!)
Then we manged to get a taxi back for a pretty reasonable price with some team bartering before checking in again at the hostel. Then I came and found the internet and that as they say is that!
Hopefully I will get one last blog done while still in Asia whilst in Singapore but we will have to see.
Thanks if you have actually managed to get this far down!
Ruaridh x
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