Dear Diary,
I invaded Alan’s blog today. He insists a blog is not a diary although he writes his activities and thoughts in it almost every day. He’ll admit to “journaling” but just barely. When did one of the favorite activities of 10-year old girls and women in support groups get co-opted by techno dudes…?
Enough blog bashing…
After a couple days of shopping and snacking in Singapore (because that’s pretty much what one does in Singapore), we finally arrived in Malaysian Borneo. Lest you imagine a Heart of Darkness-like experience, let me just say, Kuching, the capital of Sarawak state, is a clean, modern city with paved roads and new cars and high-rise hotels. (Hilton, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, etc.)
We’re easing — very, slowly — into our typical travel mode. (i.e. I am not my usual, stingey self) by staying on the 12th floor of one of those high rise hotels for about $32/night. The Harbour View is Holiday Inn caliber. To balance out those outrageous expenses, we’re eating in little food stalls and restaurants, averaging about $2 a meal for the two of us. And we’re stuffed. And we continue to snack. (4 skewers of satay with fabulous peanut sauce for less than 10 cents a skewer, fried noodles with chicken and vegetables for about 65 cents, gigantic Indian buffet meals with drinks for $3 for the two of us…) We’re thinking about springing for one of the “expensive” restaurants tonight. Maybe we can rack up an $8 tab if Alan orders a few Diet Pepsis and we tip heavily.
We’re looking forward to seeing some more sights just outside of town, and then the big Sunday market (more snacks, more shopping) and then, at last, we take the plunge into the jungle. We’ve booked a couple days at Bako National Park and hope to get our first glance of orangutans and other critters. From there, it’s on to points east, probably a long-house or two, some caves, some wild looking peaks, perhaps a quick spin through Brunei (where we’ll give our regards to the Sultan and to Michael Jackson), and on to Mt. Kinabalu.
Alan just figured out how to hook up my camera so future posts should contain a few more photos.
Salamat jalan,
Harriet (and Alan)
Thrilled to be able to read about your travels. Thx to Marla that we are receiving your blogs and we are thrilled that you are able to take such fabulous and exotic trips. For those of us no longer able to do this kind of traveling, it is a real pleasure to be included in your mailings.
Thanks for joining us, Bob and Marian. I realize that BORNEO sounds wild and exotic (and believe me, we’ll play that impression up as much as we can) but the reality was much more like travelling to Hawaii than cutting through jungles with a machette. Hopefully our stories and pictures will give a much more accessible impression that the movie/fantasy images we originally had in OUR heads.
Your blog’s interesting reading. I’m seeing another side of the little corner of the world I call home. Sometimes a visitor can capture better impressions of a place. You’re doing very well…
Thanks.