Naomi's first week in Borneo

   

The view from our chalet

     So we arrived like good parents on time thinking we would be there waiting for Naomi coming through the gate like all those scenes in films but she had arrived early and was waiting for us instead. Not to worry, she was fine - tired. pale but pleased to be in Sabah. We spent our first night in KK and then in the morning headed up towards Ranau with a surprise stop for Naomi on the way. We had booked to see the feeding time of four young orphan orang utans who are part of the rehabilitation programme in Sepliok but are based in Rasa Ria a VERY expensive hotel along the coast. Of course it was touristy and can't compare to seeing them in the wild but they were so cute especially the two year old who was showing off all his tricks just like any toddler would do and after a while got rather tired and wanted a hug from his human daddy. Another drive up the mountain and we were back in Ranau. The first night Naomi crept into my room to say there was a very large green cicada in her bedroom making a lot of noise and it was! We managed to catch it with a sieve and get it outside but poor Naomi thought that was "normal" life in Borneo and had listened to the deafening noise for ages.

Naomi and Andrew

Andrew and me

   Anyway the next day I decided to have a small party for family and friends as a belated birthday celebration. I had asked Lungkiam from the homestay to do the cooking as last year when I had done simple egg sandwiches etc... there was a problem for my muslim friends as it wasn't halaal and I had touched the food. So everyone was happy this year and we had lots of delicious food and many of the teachers brought their families too. Andrew and Naomi were able to meet some of my  teachers and have an idea who on earth I'm going on about. On Friday we headed down the mountain again on our way to Manana which is a place I have talked about many times before. We had a lovely relaxing weekend swimming, reading, chatting etc. and sadly Sunday afternoon came far too quickly when Andrew had to leave. He will have a week in Kuala Lumpur and then a day in Bangkok before he flies back to France - the end of the nearly three month trip being over.

ps. I seemed to have 'lost' my other photos of orang utans and birthday party for now!