Things I Will Miss Most About Sabah

Sunshine.

Hot, blazing, relentless. Causes rivers of sweat and a permanent perspiration moustache even when just sitting. But creates beautiful, uplifting mornings and warm, balmy and softly glowing evenings.

Bucket Showers.

The perfect compliment to the above. Cool, refreshing and taken numerous times a day. A pail and scoop of brown river water has never been so desired or appreciated!

The Bateh Puteh Community.

Always smiling. Amused by our garbled attempts at Malay but also encouraging and pleased that we tried. Continual waves, greetings and beeps from passers by. The friendly exclamation of ' Sama Sama!" meaning " You're Welcome!" Impressive jungle skills, whether it be knowledge of the wildlife, medicinal properties of plants and hidden supplies of water or effortlessly shimmying up trees to gather exotic fruits for us to taste. Children that are so unbelievably beautiful and friendly that you just have to pick them up and squeeze them. Men that have known each other all their lives softly singing together as they fish for prawns under the clear, starry sky. The touching of the heart after every handshake. The way that they say "Be careful, it is slipperies!" and the fact that it says "SLIPPERIES" on the signs at Eco Camp.

Sungai Kinabatangan.

Our long, meandering brown river. Daily boat rides, either speeding along with the wind whipping our faces on our way to work or cruising along slowly to inspect the monkeys, giant monitor lizards, boar, elephants and a host of other wildlife on the banks. Watching the silent lightning brighten up the night sky over the river behind the clouds. Spotting crocodile eyes gliding along soundlessly in the murky water.

Local Malaysian Food.

Sticky rice parcels wrapped in large dried leaves of grass. Never before seen vegetables so fresh and delicious. Sweet potato fritters. Pisangs, tiny sweet bananas. Garlic, chillies and subtle tasty spices. Noodles for breakfast. Tiny crumbly round cookies with a nut in the centre. Watermelon. Water spiked with limes picked that day from the garden.

Bornean Rainforest.

Hundred year old trees that have been strangled by vines and bent into shapes that resemble paintings from an old fashioned fairytale book. Elephant Grass. Fire ants with bites that burn. Crickets and grasshoppers chirping. Civet cats with glowing yellow eyes. The distinctive calls of rare exotic birds. Tiny geckos on every surface. Macaques scurrying in the trees above your head, picking at each other for bugs to eat and socializing on the banks of the river. Mosquitos. Elephant dung. Trees that provide drinking water. Parangs. Natural medicines. Tales of Ancient tribes. Orangutans. Tree frogs. Fireflies and their glowing bums. Fire Ants biting and burning. Leeches sniffing around on leaves and then magically appearing on random body parts.

Everything. Last evening in the village!! Sad Claire!

But My Pete and Jamie I love you! And all my lovely family and friends- I look forward to seeing you!

Will post from KK xxxx