Baku National Park

We booked a trip to Bako National Park for our last day in Kuching. We had to travel by van for 40 minutes and then by boat for 30 minutes. Thankfully the sea was flat this day as it hadn't been for friends when they went across a few days earlier. The main reason for going there was to see the proboscis monkeys and the pitcher plants and we got to see them as well as the long-tailed macau and silver leaf monkeys.

Our guide could speak broken English and was a lovely guy. He had had his front teeth filed down and were like stubs for teeth left in his mouth. He was very good as he showed us four different types of pitcher plants and made sure we got to see all the monkeys and a wild pig. We walked for a couple of hours to a beach cliff top and the view down was awesome. We then walked back to the camp to see the proboscis monkeys and they are absolutely beautiful. We even got to hear them calling each other and the sound was like a loud snore. It really surprised us.
Waiting for the rain to stop so we can go for a walk in the park.








One of the four pitcher plants we saw.








On top of the cliff with the South China See in the background.
















The Silver Leaf monkey playing on the beach.





On the boat on our way back after a long trek through the park.




During our walk we were watching these things we thought were ants going walkabout...their trail was about 10 metres long and there seemed to be thousands of them. We spied them going across a seat and then realised they were termites.





















Just two of the proboscis monkeys we saw. they were stunning.

orangutans

On of the days we visited the orangutan rehabilitation centre, this is where the captured orangutans go to be free. One of them, Ritchie, was bought and given to the centre to free him from being a captive pet. We walked around the area and were lucky to see 5 of the 7 they have. The first two we saw were mother and baby. We then went to the feeding platform hoping to see the other but they didn't show. As we were walking back they said he was up in the tree looking for a lady one. We watched him for a bit and as it was such a hot day I sat on a bridge in the shade and had to make a quick exit as Ritchie quickly came down the tree and promptly sat where I was sitting. He then came up closer and ate from the fruit the keepers had put on the ground. It was absolutely amazing...we were lest than 3 metres from him. This the male one is enjoying the fruit after taking my seat. This is the mother watching her baby...up in the trees. We couldn't get over how hairy they were. The baby is standing beside its mother watching all the people watching it.
It was an absolutely amazing to see them in their natural surroundings and freedom.

Kuching

Kuching means cat in the local language. So there are many statues around of cats. We found three of them.



We took a boat across the river to go to Fort Margherita...it was an amazing building to see. The boat ride cost us 30 cents. We had to walk through a small village type area and then around some back lanes to get too it. It is now a museum but it was not open when we got there. While there I was out the front reading a plaque while waiting for Wayne who had gone around the back, when a young male came strolling down the path. I was not at all sure of him and he kept walking nonchalantly towards me. I tried to look away and look like I was not concerned. Wayne was still around the back so I purposely walked towards him...hoping that Wayne was going to suddenly appear. I had to walk up some steps as the guy was walking down and then miraculously Wayne appeared and Wayne tells me that the guy was down on the ground trying to look up my skirt...thankfully Wayne had appeared and that I had no idea he had done that. When I turned around he was pretending to to judo kicks...I think that's what they were. We quickly walked away from the area and that was the only time I did not feel safe at all.

Below is the view from our hotel room at night time...it was quite magical.


We stayed in the Hilton as this is probably the only time we would ever be able to afford one. We bought a Free and Easy tour...which means it has the accommodation and airfares all in one. It is a good way to go as you only pay a nominal fee to stay extra nights. The first room was a smoking one overlooking the river but the smoke smell was so strong we asked to swap rooms and they put us on the other side into a suite. We stayed two nights and then went to the Long House for two nights and came back to the Hilton and once again we had a suite which I am sure you could have fitted out whole apartment into. It did have a view of the river though.

Longhouse stay with the Iban

This is us on our way to our homestay in Iban country - they were the headhunters of Borneo...but we were very safe with them as it no longer happens.


Wayne had to take a snippet off each of the elderly women of the tribe for goodluck for them and him.

This guy is fishing for his supper...yes he really is...they were catching tiny fish and taking them home to cook for dinner.

Part of the tribes money comes from selling rubber and this elder is pressing the rubber through a wringer type of apparatus.
They put on a little cultural show for us.

Wayne is shaking hands with the chief of the long house...this long house had 21 families living in it.

This is the back view of the long house...we had to climb up a big clay bank before starting our jungle walk.


They cooked everything in bamboo for us too eat...it was absolutely amazing...we wanted to help but they wanted to do it all by themselves...we had rice, fish, chicken and vegetables.

our favourite barista!

We are lucky enough to have Leia working at Starbucks just next door but one to where we work...she has our order down pat and sometimes we don't even have to ask and its ready for us...we appreaciate and love you for it!!!!!

Tiger Brewery

On 18th we got up early to be in at Orchard Plaza by 9.30 am (on a Monday) to visit the Tiger Brewery as part of a Morris Allen social outing.

It was an interesting tour but I think the highlight for Wayne was the tasting of the beer at the end. My most fascinating place was watching the machines that were packaging the cans...It was amazing how many times that can of beer turned upside down and back up the right way. There were cans for as far as the eye could see on the conveyer belt.


This was the sign that greeted us when we got off our bus.

The interesting facts about beer made some interesting reading. I am sure beer drinkers all over would agree with these facts.


Wayne enjoying a Tiger Beer

In a deep conversation with Peter Scarrott.

Thaipusam

We were compelled to go to this festival as it is only held in two countries now. Here and Malaysia. Several hundred devotees spear their cheeks with long, shiny steel rods - often a metre long - and pierce their chests and backs with small, hook-like needles in penance. To many Thaipusam is the day of thanksgiving or atonement for wrongs.
Spectacular edifices or kavadis are often carried or pulled by the devotees with chains and ropes anchored in the skin of their backs or chests.

But kavadi carrying need not be so arduous. Just carrying a small pot of milk up the steps to be poured on the vel is enough. Most devotees do this.
Some parents carry newborn babies slung in a cloth-cradle hung on a pole shouldered at both ends by the mother and the father as thanks for a safe birth.
Some also carry kavadis made of wood or metal adorned with pictures or statues of Hindu deities, flowers and peacock plumes.
Others shave their heads bald as a symbol of humility and atonement.
It is not for the faint hearted...have a look at the following photos....