Kota Kinabula

Apa Khabar,

In Borneo's remote Sabah province, a state in Malaysia we found tropical rainforests filled with exotic plants, miles of sandy beaches and warm clear waters. The bustling town of Kota Kinabula, the capital of Sabah was filled with warm friendly people eager to greet us. What fun in this remote place....Kota means town and Kinabula means resting place of spirit.

We started the 92 degree day by going to the "Sunday market"....vendor after vendor selling their wares. It is a very poor city but they are survivors and family orientated. The streets were lined with all kinds of merchandise from carved coconuts to clothes, nuts to necklaces, and turnips to t-shirts....and yes...bargain for anything you would like!!!

In the afternoon we took a shore excursion on a shortride in a local bamboo thatched roof raft on a mangrove river and learned the art of batik painting. It was an unique way to become acquainted with the local life and explore the different aspects of Borneo. We threw out crab traps and caught a crab and a fish!!! Unfortunately, we did not have enough time there as there were hammocks to relax in, and the water of the Southern China Sea, although I think Ken felt we spent too much time. After batik painting, a quick rest in the hammock and checking out the water we had "Roti Canai", a Malaysian bread, similar to a pizza and Teh Tarek, literally translated to "pulled tea", a popular drink among the locals. On the way back we stopped at a pottery factory toured the facilities where we could purchase, of course, all kinds of pottery!!!

We learned that mangroves are very plentiful due to being surrounded by three different bodies of water. Mangrove trees saved lives during the tsunami due to their vast root system...similar to how the sea oats and their root system protect Destin from hurricanes. Thirty percent of the rainforest is gone so their are restrictions in cutting down trees in a reforestation program. It takes 27 trucks to take away one tree!!

The Borneo Rainforest houses two very unique animals that are endemic to the area, namely the Orang Utan and the Proboscis Monkey. The orang Utan is man's closest relative sharing up to 96.4% of the human genetic makeup. The Proboscis Monkey, known for their big pendulous nose and distinctive pot bellies are found only on this island, in the mangrove swamps.

The trip was great and I got alot of great...Kodak moment, award winning shots, but I loaded them all on my computer, deleted them from my camera and lost them in cyberspace...what a disappointment!!! Oh well, they are memories in my mind. Ken had some camera screw up also...he dropped his twice!!! The second fall didn't survive and he is out one less camera. Strange though, he really wanted to buy a new camera...could that have been a subliminal fall?

Two more glorious days at sea and then Hong Kong...I'll tell you about that fabulous city in the next blog...until then...as they say in KK...


Jumpalagi!!!

janet and Ken

p.s. Ken wanted me to add that we just missed the photo moment in Sydney where 5200 people disrobed for picture on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.


qv@cunard.co.uk#4152