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