Briefly. . . .
Went to the rain forest for 7 days & nights, got wet frequently, got nobbled by leeches, got bitten by all sorts of bugs & crawling/flying things, had to sleep under a mosquito net & get all tangled up every time I needed the loo in the night, went in an Iban longhouse, saw a wild Orang utan, took loads of painkillers to help me trek up hill & down dale (latter with frequent help from Amggun), got a cool stick (from previously mentioned Amggun), planted a tree, made a carved sign with a pic of Blackpool Tower on it (to put next to previously mentioned tree), saw bear claw marks on a tree, saw a gi-normous spider (in previously mentioned loo), ate stuff from the forest (but missed out eating a bug as previously mentioned Amggun ate it all), and had a great time.
About to have a last drink with the other 6 volunteers, so going now.
Will blog more - with photos, once back home & I can do it in the Library for free.
Cheers - or Oooo Haaaaaaaaa, as the Iban say
OAO
Sunday, 31 January 2010
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Forest vs jungle
OK
Left KL for Kuching & was picked up & brought here on Thurs.
The hostel is lovely, &, as there are 7 of us, I'm on my own - as James & Sal are sharing a room.
Our Iban guide, Francis, came by Thurs pm & told us the schedule, & yesterday he and Acok, the driver, took us to Matang Wildlife Centre where we saw animals being rehabilitated, & some being trained for life in the wild.
We saw one huge male, Aman, who was the first recipient of a glaucoma op (done by a surgeon brought in from S Africa), & he can now see after being blind for about 10 yrs.
He also got into a can of glue years ago, & stuck his tongue up, so half of it had to be amputated. I think he can still call, though.
We had a long chat with Leo, the centre director, who's British, &, as well as seeing a lot of saved animals, we got roped in to help with a bit of upkeep.
I helped a girl called Roxanne chuck a load of river stones over a wall into the croc enclosure.
I knew my shot-putt training would come in handy eventually!
Incidentally, the enclosure was empty, so no crocs were in danger of braining by rock ;-P
Today we went to a nearer rehab centre & saw semi-wild orangs being fed. One had a young baby with her, & the other was her adolescent daughter. Not sure of names, will ask Francis & put them up with the photos - which is likely to be once I get home, though.
It was a very interesting morning, & it's good to think these Orangs are successfully making a go of it in the forest.
Afternoon saw me falling asleep in the sun, yes again! & mooching round shops, before I sat down for a drink & got chatting to an American research scientist, from DC, called Clifford.
We chatted for ages - usual stuff: life, the universe & Orang utans! May still have been chatting, but James walked by at some point & told me the group were meeting at 7 for dinner, so we said our goodbyes about 1/4 to.
Tomorrow we have a 4hr coach journey, then about 2hrs in a boat upriver, so I'll be out of touch until next Sunday (31st)
Incidentally - Francis told us the word jungle came from the sanskrit jonglar (spelling may be wrong?) & which was bastardised by the English on their return home after stints in India.
I get the inpression he'd like us to call it forest (as in rain forest - which it is, after all!)
We can leave most of our stuff here, as we'll be coming back for 1 night before our transfers to the airport, & we're only supposed to take the minimum of stuff upriver.
So, as I need to finish packing the little case to take, that's all tonight.
OAO
Left KL for Kuching & was picked up & brought here on Thurs.
The hostel is lovely, &, as there are 7 of us, I'm on my own - as James & Sal are sharing a room.
Our Iban guide, Francis, came by Thurs pm & told us the schedule, & yesterday he and Acok, the driver, took us to Matang Wildlife Centre where we saw animals being rehabilitated, & some being trained for life in the wild.
We saw one huge male, Aman, who was the first recipient of a glaucoma op (done by a surgeon brought in from S Africa), & he can now see after being blind for about 10 yrs.
He also got into a can of glue years ago, & stuck his tongue up, so half of it had to be amputated. I think he can still call, though.
We had a long chat with Leo, the centre director, who's British, &, as well as seeing a lot of saved animals, we got roped in to help with a bit of upkeep.
I helped a girl called Roxanne chuck a load of river stones over a wall into the croc enclosure.
I knew my shot-putt training would come in handy eventually!
Incidentally, the enclosure was empty, so no crocs were in danger of braining by rock ;-P
Today we went to a nearer rehab centre & saw semi-wild orangs being fed. One had a young baby with her, & the other was her adolescent daughter. Not sure of names, will ask Francis & put them up with the photos - which is likely to be once I get home, though.
It was a very interesting morning, & it's good to think these Orangs are successfully making a go of it in the forest.
Afternoon saw me falling asleep in the sun, yes again! & mooching round shops, before I sat down for a drink & got chatting to an American research scientist, from DC, called Clifford.
We chatted for ages - usual stuff: life, the universe & Orang utans! May still have been chatting, but James walked by at some point & told me the group were meeting at 7 for dinner, so we said our goodbyes about 1/4 to.
Tomorrow we have a 4hr coach journey, then about 2hrs in a boat upriver, so I'll be out of touch until next Sunday (31st)
Incidentally - Francis told us the word jungle came from the sanskrit jonglar (spelling may be wrong?) & which was bastardised by the English on their return home after stints in India.
I get the inpression he'd like us to call it forest (as in rain forest - which it is, after all!)
We can leave most of our stuff here, as we'll be coming back for 1 night before our transfers to the airport, & we're only supposed to take the minimum of stuff upriver.
So, as I need to finish packing the little case to take, that's all tonight.
OAO
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Off to the jungle
0930 here & just in checking E's & doing last blog in civilisation
Will be staying in a lodge where the main form of transportation is boat; it's the rainy season, so whatever gets wet, stays wet; & the generator is shut down at 10ish.
Flying from KL to Kuching at 1525 & from there to accom.
Tomorrow we visit the rehabilitation centre, but only for a short time.
After that it's the aforementioned jungle.
Not looking forward to leeches, trekking through jungle in the mud, & being continually damp, but I guess you have to take the rough with the smooth?
I just hope the experience exceeds expectations, as this one did!
ie - wrapped in an Orang, as Lesley put it :-))
I still have loads of pics, but doubt I'll be uploading more until I get back to Blighty - certainly not now, as I'm off to buy a brush for the Ape Centre - their's are pathetic & use way too much energy (& therefore sweat!) to clean properly.
Mazrul suggested it would be a good pressie, as my idea for a hose pressure thingummy was not a good idea, as it would not be used by the keepers - they prefer the old 'thumb on the end' apparently!
No accounting for taste, eh? ;-P
Anyway, gotta dash & get to Ace Hardware before my 1/2 hr walk back to the zoo, & final preps for next leg.
Have fun while I'm 'off line'
OAO
Will be staying in a lodge where the main form of transportation is boat; it's the rainy season, so whatever gets wet, stays wet; & the generator is shut down at 10ish.
Flying from KL to Kuching at 1525 & from there to accom.
Tomorrow we visit the rehabilitation centre, but only for a short time.
After that it's the aforementioned jungle.
Not looking forward to leeches, trekking through jungle in the mud, & being continually damp, but I guess you have to take the rough with the smooth?
I just hope the experience exceeds expectations, as this one did!
ie - wrapped in an Orang, as Lesley put it :-))
I still have loads of pics, but doubt I'll be uploading more until I get back to Blighty - certainly not now, as I'm off to buy a brush for the Ape Centre - their's are pathetic & use way too much energy (& therefore sweat!) to clean properly.
Mazrul suggested it would be a good pressie, as my idea for a hose pressure thingummy was not a good idea, as it would not be used by the keepers - they prefer the old 'thumb on the end' apparently!
No accounting for taste, eh? ;-P
Anyway, gotta dash & get to Ace Hardware before my 1/2 hr walk back to the zoo, & final preps for next leg.
Have fun while I'm 'off line'
OAO
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Today = wow, but 1st, the Langkawi pics
OK so I lied! The 1st 2 are me & Tsunami on Jan 9th. As usual, I haven't quite got the hang of how to upload in the right order, and put words on. I tried a different way, but it's even worse than before, AND I've been here nearly 3 hours. See below for next 4 & the 7th is also Jan 9th. Then it's an apricot pussy, a palm & nice flowers, Sunsets & Dawn, the Team, Cocktails, the view while I sunbathed, 2 pics from the Ferry, & a couple from Georgetown. Then...... The Tsunami Photos from earlier today. Sorry it's all such a mess. Will try harder ;-) manana OAO
The next 4 are when we made ice lollies for them.
Monday, 18 January 2010
Xmas day doings in colour!
I'd gone to try & get some location shots at Deer Park Heights, but couldn't, so had Tom Ka Gai at a Thai, which was open for lunch (I was the only customer) & this bird came for a look! (& some sugar I used to tempt him)
This was the starter to my Xmas Dinner
I'd actually gone on the SS Earnslaw by then, & texted loadsa folk Happy X, but still cocking up the upload order - oops
At the mo, I'm too cold & wet (air con + rainsoaked!) to bother messin' abart!
A view from SS Earnslaw @ 2.30 pm 25 12 9
That's Lake Wakatipu I'm on, in case you haven't been concentrating ;-)
This is Nomad's Dining room, taken from the kitchen on Christmas morning 09.
That's the free breakfast at the front!
Nomad's is the one with the sloping roofs & the light brick. Very new & clean, unlike Rowena's!
Taken from the balcony of The Boardwalk, where I'd had my expensive Xmas dinner.
Queenstown, the harbour, beach & sloop/racing yacht 'New Zealand'
This is SS Earnslaw, Lake Wakatipu & Mt Something or other!
So that's most of the tourist NZ uploaded. Most of the rest are LOR locations & stuff.
I had hoped to upload Langkawi, but I'm shivering & my fingers are blue, so I'm going outside for a warm (Bloody aircon!)
Will do Langkawi & more Orang stuff manana
OAO
More NZ touristy pics
These are from Nelson to Queenstown, but, as usual, they're ass-backwards ;-P
The one above is the beach at Queenstown. I arrived in Xmas eve
This is a view of Mt Cook/Aoraki across Lake Pukake
I told you it was an amazing blue, but I bet you didn't think it was this colour?
I swam in it, too. See below
Another as above, but zoomier!
Lupins ahoy! No prizes for guessing what mountain's in the background!
The front bit of blue is a canal. I got the salmon near here - see blog done at the time.
The canal runs to Lake Pukake - the other bit of blue, & then MC/A at the back
This is the colourful dinner - salmon etc., I spoke about in the blog at the time.
This is the colourful dinner - salmon etc., I spoke about in the blog at the time.
It's taken me this long to get round to uploading - largely due to expensive net time in NZ.
An arty photo of Mt Cook/Aoraki & Lake Pukake ;-)
I went for a swim to the rock on the left, & then dried off in the sun - smashing!
An arty photo of Mt Cook/Aoraki & Lake Pukake ;-)
I went for a swim to the rock on the left, & then dried off in the sun - smashing!
I think it was Dec 23rd
Christchurch main square & chaps playing uber-chess!
OK. This is back at Nelson & a pudding & pudding wine. Can't remember the date! Poss 18th Dec?
Christchurch main square & chaps playing uber-chess!
OK. This is back at Nelson & a pudding & pudding wine. Can't remember the date! Poss 18th Dec?
This is the view from my table where I had the pudding
This is another view, & it's either riesling or gewurtztraminer - it went with the fish I ate!
At least Gill can now see some of the things I ate & drank!
This is a Maori troupe at Nelson Sunday market.
I took some vid, too
More pics to come
OAO for now
Langkawi
OK
I'm back, but VERY wet
The heavens roared & then emptied the bath all over me on the way down here tonight, so I'm sitting here completely sodden.
Fortunately my bum bag kept the camera, phone & memory sticks dry. Phew!
So - there I am on the ferry north from Georgetown to Langkawi & I had chance to chat with the 'A Team' - as they call themselves. AKA Sal, James & sisters Sam & Virginia.
They're up at Taiping, which only has 3 Orangs, but they've had loads of 'hands-on' experiences apparently.
We docked about midday after a 3.5hr trip. The air-con below was freezing, so I left the others & went up on deck where it was warmer, if a little wet ;-)
James negotiated a taxi & the guy took us to a complex on the beach. Pics of the view from my room coming soon.
We had a bit of nosh & hit the beach/sea.
So now I've added the Andaman Sea to my list of seas/oceans I've swum in!
There were some jelly fish, but not nasty ones.
The chap selling time on the sunbeds, Joe, brought us a freebie can of Carling each. He also brought some Baileys (Eh up, Jen!), but I missed out due to catching up on the zzz's missed the night before.
He told us about a good bar for later, as well.
The sun set over the Andaman Sea & we got ready for dinner, which was great, & only just across the road.
Afterwards we tried to find Joe's bar, but couldn't so ended up in a yellow one. You can't tell in the dark, but it was!
The other 4 were getting into the cocktails, but I was a pooper & went to bed about 1130.
Next morning was sunny - what a surprise!, & I was on the beach soon after breakfast - @ 1030
I opted out of Joe's 10 ringit sunbeds on the soft white sand & lay on the hard stuff instead. It was still white, though. Photo coming!
After lunch the other 4 from Negara Zoo arrived & I went with them for cocktails - how decadent at 2 in the afternoon!
As I didn't want to get ratted, I had a look at some shops & went back to my spot on the hard stuff.
Eventually, I was way too hot, & had another dip in the sea & decided to do a hundred strokes out to sea, & see how many it took to swim back in.
Basically, this is because swimming is quite boring, & it gives me something to think about ;-P
On my way out a jellyfish stung my L butt!, but I survived without treatment.
James & Sal had gone back to Taiping after breakfast, & Virginia had got sunburnt, so it was just Sam who joined the rest of us for dinner.
This was Thai, & I had salad.
It was still hot enough to make my tongue tingle for hours: They like their chilli, the Thai's, don't they?
I'd located Joe's bar during my shopping dawdle, so I led everyone there.
At least, I was the only one who knew where we were going, but I still had the delightful view of Emma & Steph's backsides until we got there.
No change there then!?
I had 2 pina coladas & a house special before leaving to grab some shopping to take home. Langkawi's a duty free resort, so I got myself something, too, plus some fruit for our trip back to the zoo.
Next morning we 5 left by taxi for the ferry, & then took a shorter ferry to Kuala Perlis - more or less straight across east, rather tah south to Georgetown on Penang.
After that it was a coach all the way to KL.
We set off around 1215 & got to KL well after 8. Phew. Good job their coaches are comfier than National Express!
In KL Jon & Emma went to say Hi to some friends, & we 3 mooched for a while & then got a taxi back to the zoo.
Once again, the nice security guys took me back to the LHATZ on a moped.
I was glad to get home.
If I'd known we'd be spending so much time travelling on our days off, I'd've stayed behind & chilled.
While it was nice to see Langkawi, there are just as pretty places in Europe, & some places I saw in NZ knocks it for dead!
Anyway - this & the last post covered Tues to Fri, so I'm nearly up to date.
I'll post this, & upload some photos for you to look at.
OAO
I'm back, but VERY wet
The heavens roared & then emptied the bath all over me on the way down here tonight, so I'm sitting here completely sodden.
Fortunately my bum bag kept the camera, phone & memory sticks dry. Phew!
So - there I am on the ferry north from Georgetown to Langkawi & I had chance to chat with the 'A Team' - as they call themselves. AKA Sal, James & sisters Sam & Virginia.
They're up at Taiping, which only has 3 Orangs, but they've had loads of 'hands-on' experiences apparently.
We docked about midday after a 3.5hr trip. The air-con below was freezing, so I left the others & went up on deck where it was warmer, if a little wet ;-)
James negotiated a taxi & the guy took us to a complex on the beach. Pics of the view from my room coming soon.
We had a bit of nosh & hit the beach/sea.
So now I've added the Andaman Sea to my list of seas/oceans I've swum in!
There were some jelly fish, but not nasty ones.
The chap selling time on the sunbeds, Joe, brought us a freebie can of Carling each. He also brought some Baileys (Eh up, Jen!), but I missed out due to catching up on the zzz's missed the night before.
He told us about a good bar for later, as well.
The sun set over the Andaman Sea & we got ready for dinner, which was great, & only just across the road.
Afterwards we tried to find Joe's bar, but couldn't so ended up in a yellow one. You can't tell in the dark, but it was!
The other 4 were getting into the cocktails, but I was a pooper & went to bed about 1130.
Next morning was sunny - what a surprise!, & I was on the beach soon after breakfast - @ 1030
I opted out of Joe's 10 ringit sunbeds on the soft white sand & lay on the hard stuff instead. It was still white, though. Photo coming!
After lunch the other 4 from Negara Zoo arrived & I went with them for cocktails - how decadent at 2 in the afternoon!
As I didn't want to get ratted, I had a look at some shops & went back to my spot on the hard stuff.
Eventually, I was way too hot, & had another dip in the sea & decided to do a hundred strokes out to sea, & see how many it took to swim back in.
Basically, this is because swimming is quite boring, & it gives me something to think about ;-P
On my way out a jellyfish stung my L butt!, but I survived without treatment.
James & Sal had gone back to Taiping after breakfast, & Virginia had got sunburnt, so it was just Sam who joined the rest of us for dinner.
This was Thai, & I had salad.
It was still hot enough to make my tongue tingle for hours: They like their chilli, the Thai's, don't they?
I'd located Joe's bar during my shopping dawdle, so I led everyone there.
At least, I was the only one who knew where we were going, but I still had the delightful view of Emma & Steph's backsides until we got there.
No change there then!?
I had 2 pina coladas & a house special before leaving to grab some shopping to take home. Langkawi's a duty free resort, so I got myself something, too, plus some fruit for our trip back to the zoo.
Next morning we 5 left by taxi for the ferry, & then took a shorter ferry to Kuala Perlis - more or less straight across east, rather tah south to Georgetown on Penang.
After that it was a coach all the way to KL.
We set off around 1215 & got to KL well after 8. Phew. Good job their coaches are comfier than National Express!
In KL Jon & Emma went to say Hi to some friends, & we 3 mooched for a while & then got a taxi back to the zoo.
Once again, the nice security guys took me back to the LHATZ on a moped.
I was glad to get home.
If I'd known we'd be spending so much time travelling on our days off, I'd've stayed behind & chilled.
While it was nice to see Langkawi, there are just as pretty places in Europe, & some places I saw in NZ knocks it for dead!
Anyway - this & the last post covered Tues to Fri, so I'm nearly up to date.
I'll post this, & upload some photos for you to look at.
OAO
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