One night only...

So it just happens to be the last night in Borneo, and the saddest part is, I finally have adjusted to the island life. I think finally the humidity doesn't bother me (at least too much), and I can actually sit on the beach without thinking of my potential to-do list when I return home.

Christine and I headed out to a Malaysian restaurant in town tonight, a place quite popular with the locals, Sri Melacha. Food was excellent, even though it was flavored quite heavily with fish sauce and dried shrimp paste. Usually, this would bother me, as I can't stand these types of pungent flavors in Filipino cooking, but for some reason the Malaysians are able to blend the strong flavors together more seamlessly. For the most part we blended it with the Malaysians there, without anyone batting an eye, until Christine asked for a dessert menu. Four Malaysian men sitting at a table adjacent to us whipped their heads around to stare. I guess they're not used to seeing people who look like themselves speaking American accented English.

Otherwise it was the same old thing - laying on the beach, swimming in the ocean, and watching the sun set over the South China Sea (although this time from our balcony, because I was eaten alive by mosquitoes last night). Tomorrow it's time for the nature adventure - a visit to an orangutan sanctuary an hour away from the city in the forests. Here's hoping that the anti-malarial drugs do their work. Then it's off to Hong Kong for a few days of urban recovery. But before that, still need to get in one more appointment at the very nice spa. Ah, vacation...

Ahhhh . . . pictures . . .

An Afternoon on the Manukan

This afternoon we spent some time lounging on the beaches of Manukan . . . a small island off the coast of Kota Kinabalu. We took a VERY small speed boat to the island, I believe our driver made the ride even more "exciting" to entertain Joe . . . I, on the other hand, was NOT amused by the bumpy ride. Manukan is one of several islands where locals and tourists gather to enjoy a day of fun in the sun. The weather was beautiful . . . the tropical sea life was plentiful and dozens of fish could be seen just by looking off the small dock . . . amazing. Unfortunately, what also could be seen were dozens of Italian cruise passengers, many of whom were elderly and robust (okay, FAT) wearing tiny two piece bathing suits or speedos! I'm sorry . . . no one needs to see that . . . more power to them for being proud of their physiques . . . but sometimes I feel "shame" is a good thing (lol). Despite having to avert my eyes, I enjoyed splashing around in the crystal clear waters . . . who knew one could get so tired just bobbing up and down in the water! Ahhhh, I think I've achieved my goal of getting as "tan" as possible . . . and yes, we were very careful . . . we applied and reapplied sunscreen throughout the afternoon, all those white folks kept looking at us like "those crazy brown people, why do they need sunscreen?"

--Christine


Joe Enjoying the Water



Me on the Dock of Manukan

This afternoon's forecast call for rain...

And rain it did, just like yesterday afternoon, and the afternoon before that, and probably the afternoon tomorrow. The schedule is actually rather predictable: the day starts sunny and very warm, and then around 2pm storm clouds roll in, with heavy rain commencing at about 3pm and finally letting up around 5pm. Today's rain was a bit heavier than usual, and it was very funny to see the number of adults standing on their balconies watching the rain come down, looking on as the torrents disrupt their sunny tropical holiday. But constant sunshine is not the domain of a tropical vacation - how else would it be so green in Borneo without all that rain?

Other than the rain, it has been a very relaxing day, other than the occasional jellyfish panic. There are warning signs posted on the beach warning of jellyfish, and Christine believes she keeps spotting them in the water. I have been swimming around in the ocean, and I as yet have to spot one, so I believe it is just pure paranoia. But then again Christine also thinks she saw bats flying around the pool at dinner...

We also took a trip into town today to get a glimpse of life in Malaysia. Our cab ride took us to CentrePoint Mall, I guess the locus of activity in Kota Kinabalu. And like any mall around the world, it attracts lots of teenagers, and with the dawn of the internet, there is definitely some convergent evolution occurring. The Malay kids look like any others you would see at a mall Stateside.

Leaving the mall for a bit, Christine and I ventured into the "Filipino Market", a collection of stalls where people sold various handicrafts. Nothing particular of note, just a variety of trinkets and junk to help tourists part from their hard earned money. I wasn't so sure what was so "Filipino" about it...

I guess that will be it for now. Hopefully I can upload some pictures to the hotel PC tomorrow, USB port connections be willing.

- Joe

Unwinding in Paradise

For the last couple of "vacations," we have found ourselves on the move almost constantly . . . there was always a site of ruins to re-discover or a museum to peruse, Gothic buildings to photograph or busy streets to meander. On this vacation, we decided it would do us good to just relax . . . really relax and sit still . . . so that's what we're trying to do. It's the first day and we are still acclimating to our new environs. The resort, the Shangri-La at Tanjung Aru in Northern Sabah, Borneo in Malaysia is absolutely beautiful. There are extensive grounds with manicured lawns, huge plumeria trees, butterflies the size of pigeons (no hyperbole!) and white sand beaches. All we have to do is unwind . . . and this has actually been harder to do than we thought. As folks who are constantly scheduled, and over scheduled, we are finding it difficult to do absolutely nothing . . . it just feels like there's something that has to be done!

As the day has worn on, however, this feeling is slowly dissipating . . . and I'm sure after my 4 o'clock Borneo Therapy Massage I'm going to be much more at peace with doing nothing.

--Christine

First stop: Chep Lap Kok!

Well, after nearly fifteen hours on a plane, Christine and I made it to Hong Kong International airport, or locally known as Chep Lap Kok. It sure has changed since the last time we were here on it's first day of operation back in 1998 (which, by the way was a total operational mishap, but I'll save that story for another day). I still think this is the best airport in the world though.

Christine has unfortunately been feeling under the weather with some type of stomach illness. She's been getting by on the plentiful selection of congee and porridge. It's touch and go right now, but to quote her at this moment,"Congee is my friend..."

Well time to make our way to the transit lounge. I had the foresight to rent a couple of napping rooms to kill some of the ten hour layover. That and typing this post on my iPod is giving me carpal tunnel...

Until I reach a real computer...

Joe

Testing a post from my iPod touch...

Well, folks, it's time for another trip, but more importantly it's time to test whether blogging on my iPod touch makes a heck of a lot of sense. So far typing has not been all that bad, but if I have to do it this way all my posts would be extremely short. Not to mention I think I'd go blind in the process!