Hello,

Well I am now in Sydney! I got here at about five this morning and I am exhausted as I find it hard to slepp on planes! Luckily my bed was ready and so they let me have a very early check in. I went straight to bed untill well after lunchtime! I then went jumper/scarf shopping, as I think I seriously misunderstood just how cold it can get here in the winter! Its freezing, I could do with a coat but I dont want to buy one for just two weeks!

Anyway since my last blog, I had two more days left in Borneo. On the saturday we went to a wildlife rehab centre, and were were given a tour of the centre, there were some really interesting animals, including crocs. There was a giant croc that had just been brought in for its own safety, as it had just eaten a human, and the keepers had to bascially pump its stomach to get all the remains out! The crocs are brought to the centre as when they eat humans, obviously our natural reaction is to probably kill it. Consequently the centre now has too many crocs as they can nver be re-relased into the wild and the croc enclosure is far too small, but as out guide explained the money and funding is just to small to enlargen all the enclosures. We also go to see various other animals and more orangs! Unforunately the centre us based in the rainforrest and having been out the night before drinking with the tour group I was suffering in the heat and humidity, especially when he had to walk uphills! That night we stayed in the park chalet and had a bbq etc. I had an early night as we had to be up early to start our day of volunteering.

I helped to clean several of the orang enclosures! Its hard work and also very smelly! every has to be scrubbed down and disienfected. We then got to help with putting the food around the enclosures which meant we got to climnb all the orangs climbing appartaus which was quite fun! Some of it I couldnt climb though which just goes to show how good climbers they are! The male orangs are huge! We also helped to paint a large section of the organgs cages/enclosures so they didnt rust. We didnt stop till about three and we started at 8! It was a long day but worth it! We didnt get any 1:1 contact with the orangs as its just to choose dangerous and even the keepers wont go in with the dominant males like Aman or George. The orangs are very playful and clever. Caroline and I were cleaning Amans enclosure and he kept throwing bits of rock at us and trying to poke us with a stick (he was in the outside enclosure, we were in the inside enclosure!) He also tried hard to break back into the enclosure which was quite scary!

They have qutie a few animals in quarantine, which basically means endangered animals on the protected list that the authorities have confiscated. They then have to remain at the centre until all the formalities are completed which can take years! There is a talking bird there which has been taught chinese, and amazingly after my time teaching and chatting to the students I was able to understand what he was saying!

It was really sad to say bye to everyone on sunday/mon as we had all got in so well.

On the monday I flew to Singapore. Singapore by the way was boiling, a stark contrast to Sydney! The hostel I stayed at was amazing! it is called sleepy sams and was just really good value for money. It was also my first time in a dorm and I was a bit aprehensive but it was fine! I got a bottom bunk in quite a large dorm of 12 but it wasnt too noisy!

On my second night there a group of us from the hostel went to Raffles for a Singapore Sling. The cocktail was nice but at $25 dollars (10 pounds) its alot of money! The bar at raffles is also quite bizarre as there are peanut shells all over the floor!

On the third night we went to the Night Safari at Singapore Zoo which was such good fun! Its hard to explain buts is a purpose built zoo a but like woburn (but more enclosed) and you go around on trams to see the animals at night. I also went to the day zoo the next day which was cool.

On my last full day four of us went to Sentosa Island, which is a holiday resort just seperated from mainland Sinagpore. The resort itself is quite cheesy with piped music and perfectly manicured lawns but it made a fun day out@ We took the cable car and had great views of the Singapore Straits, the busiest shipping chanel in the world I think! We had a wander around the resort and we decided to go the fish spa (I did it in KL, but the fish here are bigger!) and it was more fun in a group. We also got a foot massage which was great after Borneo! On the way out, you could choose to hold a Python, I was so scared but we all did it! The snake feels weird and I didnt like it when the head turns towards you! Also the snake shed bits of its skin onto me!

So now I am in Sydney, a direct flight from Singapore. The plane was lovely, it was one of the new double decker planes with stairs, but unfortunately that was for business class only! I will finish my blog for now I am exhausted and I am going to get an eary night.

My hostel is partly in Sydney Central train Station, my dorm is actually a re-furbished railway carriage, and there is a working train track literally on the other side! Quite unusual!

I will finish my blog for now I am exhausted and I am going to get an eary night.

Take care,

Love Fi.x