We have loved our time in Malaysia. Borneo is our favourite place so far and in particular we loved Kuching in Sarawak. I think because it was a small town with lots to see and we met a good bunch of people there. We visited the jungle on two occasions and i was really nervous each time because of the creepy crawly sucky things that you have to deal with in the jungle in order to see it in all it's glory. Once there the worst thing i got was a few mosquito bites and a narrow miss from touching a huge centipede with bright orange legs! But on the up side we got to see some amazing creatures and plants and scenery. To see a wild orang utan was fab, he was a bit hidden by trees but it was really cool. I hoped to see elephants but the river was really high at the time so the water edge was in the forest. Unfortunately the camera stopped working and so the pictures aren't as good as i hoped or as many!

After being bitten on the first night in Malaysia and looking horrendousi had to visit a doctor in KL but that went away within a couple of days. It kind of ruined our time there though and we didn't see any of the city up close but our hotal had a view of the petronas towers which are an impressive sight.

We also randomly met a guy from Northallerton in Sabah who was beginning a volunteer program at the orang utan sanctuary. At the sacntuary we saw orang utans for the second time and were less impressed as we saw a very varied group in Sarawak but you can get much closer at Sepilok and one walked right through the viewing platform between all the spectators. We sat at the end and waited for the crowds and tour groupd sto leave whilst watching the last couple of orang utans picking at the left overs and fighting with the macaques. Then they started coming back and there only a handful of us there so it was really special as about 8 apes came back to see what was left. WHuilst walking back to the centre along the boardwalk we came across another 5yr old ape walking along the hand rail. We all follwed him quietly and he kept turning around and looking at us all, not bothered just looking. Then he found a seating area and lied down and just regurgitated a heap of mushy banana, then ate it again. This is what they normally do apparently. He did this for a while then walked on a bit further and reached up and pulled a branch off a tree and held it over his head like an umbrella even though it wasn't raining. He then climed a tree and went off to bulid his nest. It was amazing being as close up as we were, less than a metre, and seeing a bit more than them feeding. They are so mesmerizing to watch.

What else....Langkawi was awful at first but after4 days we liked it and one day we hired a scooter and it is a beautiful island. Our accomodation was ok but there are some amazing resorts. It was raining and grey when we arrived and seemed to lack any atmosphere but the next day it was bright and seemed busier so it grew on us. Our room smelled a bit and on the first night there was a HUGE cockroach in the corner of the room so i was beside myself but Ian the hero came to the rescue and i left him inside with a big plank of wood. We got a can of spray and didn't have any problems after that. After we left however he informed me there had been a gecko in the room but he didn't tell me at the time...probably for the best (Jude, you know all about that)!

We are now in Cairns and are looking forward to hitting the long road to Perth on Monday. We'll be careful, lots of water and fuel, no leaving the tarmac roads etc. Ian wants to go to Wolf Creek...well you can imagine my response to that!

Good Luck Sarah on the birth. Keep us informed. Kieron, Ian's "work in progress" drives me mad too!

Missing you all Love Lins and Ian. x x x x