Hello! Well since my last blog I have been very busy! On the first day of my tour of Sarawak, we went to an Orangutang rehabilitation centre. Here the Orangutangs live in the rainforest nature reserve, and a more or less wild except for the feeding times and when visitors arrive. They were amazing to see and very sweet! Although they can apparently be very dangerous is provoked! In the afteroon we had a chance to look around Kuching where we are based. The city is much like most cities around the world and is a bit disappointing apart from the water front and random cat statues! But we are not here to see Kuching really so never mind!

On the second day we headed to the jungle for 5 nights. We travlled to a national park called Batang Ai which is huge! We had to take a four hour coach ride, stoping along the way at a fascinating local market. We then had to take an hour long long boat ride through the jungle river to reach the long house we are were staying in. We were literally in the midle of nowhere. The facilities were quite basic, like camping really in big bunk bed dorms. You brushed your teeth over looking the river! During our four days there I did two treks through the jungle. It was really hard work, and you are constantly sweating and drinking water! There were lots of leeches around but luckily I only got them on my boots and trousers and managed to get them off before they bit. Others in my group were not so lucky and lots of screming followed!

Unfortunately we did not get to see any Orangutangs in the wild, but we saw quite alot of insects etc. We did see lots of Orangutang nests though, some old and some new. Whilst in the jungle we also visited a long house several times. The long house was just accross the river from where we were staying and you had to take a short long boat ride in order to reach it. We did two afternoons of weaving here, using reeds fom the jungle and I managed to make a mat and a basket! On the last night we also went to the longhouse to have or final meal there. We were encouraged to eat with our hands which is actually very hard! Whilst we were there we also drank quite alot of moonshine, a home brew a bit like vodka or tequila, locally known as fire water, its about 40% and so is very strong! The host of the long house family kept coming around with a shot glass! Whilst were were there we also tried rice wine which is also a home brew and very strong! Its a bit like cider,yummy!

We were all ready to return from the jungle as all our clothes were damp and we and everything smelled, yuck!

The next day we hedaded to Bako national park which is also rainforest. Although this is by the coast and so the weather was lovely and boiling! Although this did make the trekking harder! We had to go in a speed boat to reach the park which was great fun! A group of us did about an hours hike through the rainforest to reach a secluded beach which was beautiful, we then got picked up by a boat. Whilst at Bako I saw wild boars and McCaque Monkeys. which although cute can be naughty and steal your things so you have to be careful about leaving your room door open etc. I also saw a green viper snake, but didnt want to get too close!

I am now back in Kuching, we have a day off to have a wander around and relax! I have two more days left in Borneo, hopefully I am going to see some more wildlife at an animal sancutary, and then I head to Singapore on Monday.

I will update when I can.

Take care,

Love Fi.x