Our guide said it hadn’t caught on yet, but by the same time next year it would be full every weekend.

They are some of the friendliest creatures I have ever seen.

If you visit Sepilok, you actually get to hold them, and stuff like that, which we didn’t get to do in the Zoo.

On the other hand, that requires a flight to Sepilok Island, and the Zoo is just a taxi ride away.

Here the Orang Utan uses a carefully selected sharp piece of rock, to break open this piece of bamboo.

After I returned from the day out, I spent a couple of days relaxing around the town, getting sunburned, sitting by the ocean etc.

I had a quick go that morning, and reconfirmed, that I really don’t enjoy climbing at all, and that it does nothing for me.

There was a superb waterfall nearby.

Gill was virtually never at the hotel, and spent every available moment, either in the jungle, or doing some other activity.

She worked as a chemist, and joked that when she went to see the Dr, she was always able to tell him what medication she needed, rather than what was wrong with here 🙂

Considering that not every outdoor pursuit is for me (I don’t like Skiing for example) I had always wondered if I would have enjoyed the dive, given a little more time.

I met up with Richard from down bellow divers. He gave me a 40 minute brief on theory, we had lunch and then I got suited up.

Intro dives, are a bit more expensive in Borneo, than they are in say Wales, but I think the background of this pictures, shows you why.

We got into the water, and I had a go at holding my breath under the water and breathing.

Unfortunately, after 40 minutes, it was obvious, that I wasn’t going to be able to do it.

Each time, I could hold my head under, until my breath ran out, I couldn’t get used to breathing, and ended up panicking each time.

I was slightly disappointed, but as Richard reasonably pointed out, you came here to find out if you could do it, and now you know.

Diving isn’t for everyone. Its definitely not for me.

Their Irish Lamb Stew (which combines the traditional Irish meal, with Malaysian sauces) is one of their signature dishes and has won several awards internationally.

Without realising it, I was sat in front of a picture of the same meal I was eating !.

The following day, Richard and I, along with Dan and JK, headed of to the Salt Route.

The following morning, I decided not to go White water rafting as I had planned, and instead spend the day relaxing on my own.

I was spending 2 days in Kuala Lumpur on the way home, and Its important to make time for yourself when travelling.

I’ve found if you don’t, you can burn yourself out and end up going home more exhausted than when you set off.

As I wandered around the shopping centre, I saw some unusual sights.

A cash machine was being re-filled, and a shotgun armed security officer stood guarding it.

Also, this extremely “cheesy” Kenny Rogers Roasters restaurant chain, are a rave industry in Borneo.

I suppose to some of the chattering classes, this would seem like propaganda and brain washing.

If any of them are reading this, I’d like to ask a question ?. Isn’t life without vandalism pleasant, or do you think it isn’t ?.

The evening before that, I decided to collect up some volunteers and have dinner at the Atmosphere, revolving restaurant at the top.

The service and food were superb (they even did mashed potatoes).

One memory of the evening that will stay with me, is the floor.

Although the outer floor moves, the inner floor doesn’t.

After only a few minutes, the bar we were sat next to started to drift away, and it was 20 minutes before we were re-united with it.

Equally, a visit to the bathroom involved deciding which way round was quickest, at that moment in time 1.

Mr Micky and his gang, our guide on Kota Kinabalu Johan, and the excellent JK for putting it all together.

Of special mention, are Ms Jumaina (pictured) and all the staff at our hotel.

Kota Kinabalu had originally been called Jesselton after Sir Charles Jessel, Vice Chairman of the British North Borneo Company.

His mother Mary Edith Atkinson sent money to Jesselton for the construction of this clock, dedicated to his memory.

It stands proudly next to Signal Hill Road, near the Police Station.

After a quick chat with a member of the hotels excellent staff, we booked transportation and a guide, to see a few more things the following day.

Some of the artefacts were a little more eccentric, and here, a selection of old cars is on display.

As you can see from this side view, an entire village can live in just one of these things.

The poles above were used for hanging out clothes to dry, if it was raining outside.

They were kind enough to allow me to photograph them.

Its said that they would pay head hunters for each ear they brought back. I wasn’t so interested in that, but I wanted to see how these people would have lived in the jungle.

The centre is both a museum, and a working example of a traditional Kadazan village.

The first stop on our tour, was music and dance. Not really our sort of thing, so we progressed on.

He was extremely professional, and his English was better than mine.

Made of Ironwood, they really were superb, and I was most impressed with their accuracy.

The basic idea, is that when 2 tribes were heading towards war, the Kadazan would organise a simple dual to the death.

That would mean that only one person would die, instead of several hundred. Our guide stated proudly, that his tribe very seldom lost.

Once the head was brought back to the head room, it was prepared over the following 7 days and nights, during which time, the chief of the tribe would not sleep or eat.

In effect, the ceremony, praised the head, as the dead man, had effectively given his life for the peace of both tribes.

The flight out was 12 hours. The selection of available films was limited. The good news was that the flight wasn’t full, so we stretched out in the empty seats.

JK and I enjoyed a game of Who wants to be a millionaire. We actually won 3 times (although we had to play nearly 1000 games to achieve this !).

Slightly annoying, was the confusion over my flight from Kuala Lumpur to Borneo. I ended up flying 2 hours later, on a different plane from the people in my group.

Here in Kota Kinabalu, things were much the same. On the right of this picture, a small rainforest was constructing itself, complete with plants, insects and fish.

It was pretty cool.

Initially, it “put-put’s” out to water, but once clear of the Marina, it flew across the bay.