Final Days before my Return to Oz

I have had an enjoyable 2 and a half days in Singapore.

The first afternoon I spent walking along lower Orchard Road and then going off to Raffles Hotel (not to have high tea though, not dressed formally enough for that) to mooch around the courtyards and then down past Singapore’s Parliament House and along the waterfront. Too late in the day for it to be worthwhile popping into the Museum of Asian Civilisations but stood for a little while looking at some performers out the front, near the place where Raffles first landed in Singapore and then past the very grand and pompous looking Fullerton Hotel and along a line of restaurants and shops that looked of a much earlier era than the shiny skyscrapers behind them.

The next day was spent not doing terribly much, but it was great fun meeting metarudogu and bent her ear off chatting ten to the dozen. Interesting breakfast experience! *g*

Speaking of,metarudogu shame on you for saying that the Singapore Botanical Gardens were not that great! They are absolutely beautiful, especially the Orchid section. I now have at least a hundred photos of some of the absolutely gorgeous orchids blooming there. I spent almost three hours wandering around the gardens. I then went (under the influence of Maturin probably) to the Jurong Bird Park. A massive thunderstorm half way around but like the gardens it was very well done and again have lots of pics of birds.

Just came back to the hotel after a quick bite to eat and am incredibly footsore. Must be up early in the morning for my flight back home. So my holiday comes to an end and I shall have to wait another four or five years before I can take off again. Unless I win the lottery.

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Final Days before my Return to Oz

I have had an enjoyable 2 and a half days in Singapore.

The first afternoon I spent walking along lower Orchard Road and then going off to Raffles Hotel (not to have high tea though, not dressed formally enough for that) to mooch around the courtyards and then down past Singapore’s Parliament House and along the waterfront. Too late in the day for it to be worthwhile popping into the Museum of Asian Civilisations but stood for a little while looking at some performers out the front, near the place where Raffles first landed in Singapore and then past the very grand and pompous looking Fullerton Hotel and along a line of restaurants and shops that looked of a much earlier era than the shiny skyscrapers behind them.

The next day was spent not doing terribly much, but it was great fun meeting and bent her ear off chatting ten to the dozen. Interesting breakfast experience! *g*

Speaking of, shame on you for saying that the Singapore Botanical Gardens were not that great! They are absolutely beautiful, especially the Orchid section. I now have at least a hundred photos of some of the absolutely gorgeous orchids blooming there. I spent almost three hours wandering around the gardens. I then went (under the influence of Maturin probably) to the Jurong Bird Park. A massive thunderstorm half way around but like the gardens it was very well done and again have lots of pics of birds.

Just came back to the hotel after a quick bite to eat and am incredibly footsore. Must be up early in the morning for my flight back home. So my holiday comes to an end and I shall have to wait another four or five years before I can take off again. Unless I win the lottery.

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Steamy Borneo

Do not, I repeat, do not book a walking tour in any National Park in Sabah or Sarawak (other than to climb Mt Kinabalu) unless you like being covered in sweat from head to toe. Sweating happens just standing still here let alone when exerting yourself.

The trip to Poring Springs in Sabah was similarly sweaty with the added joy of being bitten by some creature through my shirt and then unawares bleeding copiously from the wound inflicted. When I took my shirt off at the end of the day half the back was covered in blood. I had thought it was just sweat and the dark blue colour masked the colour I suppose as no one else commented or noticed. Whatever anticoagulant the little monster injected was efficient, I was still bleeding six hours later! On to more pleasant things the coolness and freshness of the air around the base of Mt Kinabalu was such a blessed relief in comparison to the stifling humidity of the coast. Had a pleasant walk around the botanical gardens there, even if it wasn’t orchid season. The previous day I had gone on the North Sabah Steam Train and was thoroughly smoked. I forgot my camera so I have no picture of the steam locomotive. I shall just not mention my train trip to my manager as he is a train buff and would never forgive me for not taking a photo.

In Sarawak I went to the cultural village which displays in one area the various types of longhouses and lifestyles of the various tribes of Sarawak and saw a show which featured the dances of the various tribal groupings. Yesterday I went to Baku National Park on what is supposed to have been an easy nature walk to try and see the proboscis monkeys and other wildlife. It was supposedly the easiest walk but I didn’t find it so. It involved climbing up and down rocks, climbing up steep inclines and tripping over innumerable tree roots and sweating from every pore. I swear there was hardly any moisture left in me, considering the thorough soaking of my clothes. I eventually called a stop and we went back down climbing down some damned cliff and then crawling through a cave to get back to the mud flats and guess what for all that effort I hadn’t seen one bit of wildlife as my attention had been rigidly set on my feet. But as soon as we got on to the mudflats a troupe of probiscus monkeys walked across the flats straight in front of us and swung up into the trees. The poor people who were in front of me and who slogged it out to the end of the track missed seeing them entirely. Later in the afternoon when walking around near the National Park Centre a troupe of macaques sat down in front of us to have a confab and I also saw a wild boar and a green snake. We then had to wade out to the boat to take us back to civilisation. There are no roads to his park, only boat access. God the water temperature was that of warm soup, not particularly refreshing.

I spent the morning at the Sarawak museum and along the river front. I’ll be going on a river cruise close to sunset but as it has been overcast today, not much of a sunset I expect. Off to sultry Singapore tomorrow.

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Steamy Borneo

Do not, I repeat, do not book a walking tour in any National Park in Sabah or Sarawak (other than to climb Mt Kinabalu) unless you like being covered in sweat from head to toe. Sweating happens just standing still here let alone when exerting yourself.

The trip to Poring Springs in Sabah was similarly sweaty with the added joy of being bitten by some creature through my shirt and then unawares bleeding copiously from the wound inflicted. When I took my shirt off at the end of the day half the back was covered in blood. I had thought it was just sweat and the dark blue colour masked the colour I suppose as no one else commented or noticed. Whatever anticoagulant the little monster injected was efficient, I was still bleeding six hours later! On to more pleasant things the coolness and freshness of the air around the base of Mt Kinabalu was such a blessed relief in comparison to the stifling humidity of the coast. Had a pleasant walk around the botanical gardens there, even if it wasn’t orchid season. The previous day I had gone on the North Sabah Steam Train and was thoroughly smoked. I forgot my camera so I have no picture of the steam locomotive. I shall just not mention my train trip to my manager as he is a train buff and would never forgive me for not taking a photo.

In Sarawak I went to the cultural village which displays in one area the various types of longhouses and lifestyles of the various tribes of Sarawak and saw a show which featured the dances of the various tribal groupings. Yesterday I went to Baku National Park on what is supposed to have been an easy nature walk to try and see the proboscis monkeys and other wildlife. It was supposedly the easiest walk but I didn’t find it so. It involved climbing up and down rocks, climbing up steep inclines and tripping over innumerable tree roots and sweating from every pore. I swear there was hardly any moisture left in me, considering the thorough soaking of my clothes. I eventually called a stop and we went back down climbing down some damned cliff and then crawling through a cave to get back to the mud flats and guess what for all that effort I hadn’t seen one bit of wildlife as my attention had been rigidly set on my feet. But as soon as we got on to the mudflats a troupe of probiscus monkeys walked across the flats straight in front of us and swung up into the trees. The poor people who were in front of me and who slogged it out to the end of the track missed seeing them entirely. Later in the afternoon when walking around near the National Park Centre a troupe of macaques sat down in front of us to have a confab and I also saw a wild boar and a green snake. We then had to wade out to the boat to take us back to civilisation. There are no roads to his park, only boat access. God the water temperature was that of warm soup, not particularly refreshing.

I spent the morning at the Sarawak museum and along the river front. I’ll be going on a river cruise close to sunset but as it has been overcast today, not much of a sunset I expect. Off to sultry Singapore tomorrow.

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Sabah Day 2

Yesterday I did not exert myself that much. Just went to Monsopiad village to see a re-creation of the dress, lifestyle, dances and culture of the head-hunters of Borneo. Walking around here is like living in a sauna when you leave air conditioned buildings, so I’m not inclined to do much, though tomorrow which is a free day for me I’ll probably walk around the centre of the town and just generally mooch, coming back in the afternoon to recover from the heat and humidity.

Today of course I went to Sepilok, having to get up at 4:30 AM to get a flight to Sandakan which is closer to Orangutan Wildlife Centre which rehabilitates orphaned orangutans, so that they can survive in the wild again. First off we saw a video about the orangutans and the work of the centre and after tromping along the wooden boardwalk we got to the feeding platform and had to squeeze behind all these tall individuals to try to get a glimpse of the orangutans, let alone take photos. I did get some photos but as I had to take the pictures one-handed and on tiptoe, the sweat running down my arms I’m not sure how clear the images will be. The orangutans I saw were mainly young orangutans and the smallest one looked extremely sad indeed. There were also some cheeky monkeys, little pirates who came to get a free feed and kept stealing the food from the slower orangutans.

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Sabah Day 2

Yesterday I did not exert myself that much. Just went to Monsopiad village to see a re-creation of the dress, lifestyle, dances and culture of the head-hunters of Borneo. Walking around here is like living in a sauna when you leave air conditioned buildings, so I’m not inclined to do much, though tomorrow which is a free day for me I’ll probably walk around the centre of the town and just generally mooch, coming back in the afternoon to recover from the heat and humidity.

Today of course I went to Sepilok, having to get up at 4:30 AM to get a flight to Sandakan which is closer to Orangutan Wildlife Centre which rehabilitates orphaned orangutans, so that they can survive in the wild again. First off we saw a video about the orangutans and the work of the centre and after tromping along the wooden boardwalk we got to the feeding platform and had to squeeze behind all these tall individuals to try to get a glimpse of the orangutans, let alone take photos. I did get some photos but as I had to take the pictures one-handed and on tiptoe, the sweat running down my arms I’m not sure how clear the images will be. The orangutans I saw were mainly young orangutans and the smallest one looked extremely sad indeed. There were also some cheeky monkeys, little pirates who came to get a free feed and kept stealing the food from the slower orangutans.

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From Kota Kinabalu

Just got here this evening after a mind and body-discombobulating few days. My last morning in Capetown was spent at the aquarium. I now realise why dentists have fish tanks in their waiting rooms, they have an incredibly calming effect, but multiply this a hundred fold when you talk about the kelp bed tank, it is absolutely huge with giant fronds of kelp waving in the water as huge fish swim and around them through the shafts of light. Well worth the entry fee.

The next day I flew from Capetown to Johannesburg and then Hong Kong, arriving at 8:00 AM Hong Kong time which made it difficult to get a room that early, say waited in the foyer trying to stay awake till noon when a room was ready. Dumped my stuff after a quick shower and had a lightening spin around HK. A quick browse through the acres of shopping malls, ending up at the Ocean Terminal and wandered out from there past the Star Ferry Terminal along this promenade that goes quite a way round the bay and includes a Hong Kong Film Stars walk with the foot prints and hand prints of Hong Kong film stars. At the end of that walk caught the ferry across to the island and my god reeled at the pollution generated by the cars. The place smelt of sulphur. Wandered around some more but didn’t bother going up to the peak because it was so foggy or was it smog? Then caught the ferry back to the Star Ferry Terminal and wandered back to my hotel to collapse before my 6 AM departure this morning. Thence to KL in Malaysia and here arriving at the hotel at about 6 PM, totally rung out. God its humid and hot here. But I do have a wonderful view from my room over the harbour and out to sea. Now to go collapse and sleep the clock around, I hope.

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From Kota Kinabalu

Just got here this evening after a mind and body-discombobulating few days. My last morning in Capetown was spent at the aquarium. I now realise why dentists have fish tanks in their waiting rooms, they have an incredibly calming effect, but multiply this a hundred fold when you talk about the kelp bed tank, it is absolutely huge with giant fronds of kelp waving in the water as huge fish swim and around them through the shafts of light. Well worth the entry fee.

The next day I flew from Capetown to Johannesburg and then Hong Kong, arriving at 8:00 AM Hong Kong time which made it difficult to get a room that early, say waited in the foyer trying to stay awake till noon when a room was ready. Dumped my stuff after a quick shower and had a lightening spin around HK. A quick browse through the acres of shopping malls, ending up at the Ocean Terminal and wandered out from there past the Star Ferry Terminal along this promenade that goes quite a way round the bay and includes a Hong Kong Film Stars walk with the foot prints and hand prints of Hong Kong film stars. At the end of that walk caught the ferry across to the island and my god reeled at the pollution generated by the cars. The place smelt of sulphur. Wandered around some more but didn’t bother going up to the peak because it was so foggy or was it smog? Then caught the ferry back to the Star Ferry Terminal and wandered back to my hotel to collapse before my 6 AM departure this morning. Thence to KL in Malaysia and here arriving at the hotel at about 6 PM, totally rung out. God its humid and hot here. But I do have a wonderful view from my room over the harbour and out to sea. Now to go collapse and sleep the clock around, I hope.

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My days in Capetown are drawing to an end fast and so is my holiday. Soon back to the daily grind. Part of me wants to go back to regular life but another is already kicking and screaming saying, no,no,no. But I have to pay for the jaunt unfortunately. Back to buying lottery tickets on my return.

Got to see the whales at Hermanus and little hyraxes or dassies as they are called here. Went on a wine tasting tour today, not much wine tasting on my part but a pleasant jaunt into the country side on a beautiful spring day. Still have not gone up Table Mountain. I should have done it yesterday morning but as the wind had stopped blowing and the sea was relatively calm I decided to go over to Robben Island instead to visit the old gaol there where Nelson Mandela was held all those years. Rather depressing as all places are where cruelties have been perpetrated. Didn’t take too many pictures, just wanted to get outside of those grey, grey walls. By the time I’d got back to Cape Town the clouds had rolled in over the mountain.

I’ve still got tomorrow but it’s supposed to rain.

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1595

My days in Capetown are drawing to an end fast and so is my holiday. Soon back to the daily grind. Part of me wants to go back to regular life but another is already kicking and screaming saying, no,no,no. But I have to pay for the jaunt unfortunately. Back to buying lottery tickets on my return.

Got to see the whales at Hermanus and little hyraxes or dassies as they are called here. Went on a wine tasting tour today, not much wine tasting on my part but a pleasant jaunt into the country side on a beautiful spring day. Still have not gone up Table Mountain. I should have done it yesterday morning but as the wind had stopped blowing and the sea was relatively calm I decided to go over to Robben Island instead to visit the old gaol there where Nelson Mandela was held all those years. Rather depressing as all places are where cruelties have been perpetrated. Didn’t take too many pictures, just wanted to get outside of those grey, grey walls. By the time I’d got back to Cape Town the clouds had rolled in over the mountain.

I’ve still got tomorrow but it’s supposed to rain.

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