Reminiscent of our hardcore camping trip in Corsica last summer, we just returned from Borneo last night. A highlight was staying in the rainforest for two nights at Uncle Tan's camp. www.uncletan.com
Uncle Tan provides quite primitive cabins with no doors and no showers unless you call the big, blue plastic vats full of brown, muddy river water a douche. We had such a good time and mainly because our spirits were high as we edged along the Kinabatagan river looking for proboscis monkeys, orangutan and other creatures and were not disappointed! Because it was unusually rainy and the river therefore was unusually high and fast moving, we did not see the crocodile which prefer calmer waters. Well, we just have to go back and that is what Pit wants to do anyway but this time with Frunty and Papa too.
Andy's highlight of the trip was seeing the monitor lizard on Mamutik beach off of the coast of west Sabah near KK. Perdie enjoyed the serenading camp leaders at Uncle Tan's as they sang to us at dinner and gave us a great send off the morning we left the camp. Leo loved seeing the proboscis monkeys jumping from tree to tree "in the wild", and Pit thought it was hilarious that he fell bum first off a board walk into the mud! He also really liked the rainforest hike and was so proud of himself for doing it and getting all muddy. Mud seemed to be his thing along with the monkeys of course and he could not stop talking about the common brown civet we saw eating fruit in a tree one late afternoon. Magic.
My highlight? I loved watching the kids discover nature. Being out of the "concrete jungle", surrounded by green really renewed my soul and probably theirs too. My favourite monkey now is defnitely the proboscis monkey with its big floppy nose and padded belly. My dream was to go to Borneo and see the orangutan and support their cause and have left loving the proboscis moneky too and looking forward to going back soon!
If you have not yet been to Borneo, get cracking! It is being developed quickly but hopefully its charms will remain protected.
Friday, 23 July 2010
Monday, 19 July 2010
Borneo: Sabah
Last night, the Simpsons, Pit and I flew from Singapore to Kota Kinabalu in quite a thunderous rain storm. The lightning was impressive and while Pit slept on the flight, I tried to engross myself in the movie on my pc...thank goodness...the turbulence was something. We got to KK, luckily, and went out for dinner. Our hotel, The Sarangnova, is quite lovely and brand new. Each room has a bird theme. We are in the Blue Headed Pitta room. This is a "rufour-backed bird with a conspicuous black bar and black wings...and a crimson-maroon back...shining blue crown."
If you are ever in KK, The Sarangnova is at 98-100 Gaya Street, 88000.
This morning the five us took a little boat out to the island of Mamutik for snorkelling. The beach was powdery soft and the water warm. Andy got a chance to do a dive. The kids and I enjoyed snorkelling and saw a puffer fish among other wonderful, colourful specimens. I had fun holding a piece of bread and being swarmed by hungry fish.
During lunch, the dark, grey ominous clouds we could see in the distance made their way to our beach and it poured for the rest of the afternoon. That did not stop us from doing an island hike around the beach, following iguanas and snorkelling even in the rain. We got back to KK utterly soaked but now as I write this, Pit has had a nice, hot shower and is practising his Kumon rhyming exercises and I will sign off now to warm up before skyping Frunty and Papa. Borneo is truly delightful and I think it is just wonderful to be surrounded by nature. The wind was refreshingly cold on the boat but no one complained. When I asked Pit if he had a nice day he said, "It was AWESOME" with such glee!
Tomorrow morning we head out very early for a flight (hopefully less bumpy) to the jungles of Borneo to a rain forest cabin. Stay tuned for more Borneo adventures!
If you are ever in KK, The Sarangnova is at 98-100 Gaya Street, 88000.
This morning the five us took a little boat out to the island of Mamutik for snorkelling. The beach was powdery soft and the water warm. Andy got a chance to do a dive. The kids and I enjoyed snorkelling and saw a puffer fish among other wonderful, colourful specimens. I had fun holding a piece of bread and being swarmed by hungry fish.
During lunch, the dark, grey ominous clouds we could see in the distance made their way to our beach and it poured for the rest of the afternoon. That did not stop us from doing an island hike around the beach, following iguanas and snorkelling even in the rain. We got back to KK utterly soaked but now as I write this, Pit has had a nice, hot shower and is practising his Kumon rhyming exercises and I will sign off now to warm up before skyping Frunty and Papa. Borneo is truly delightful and I think it is just wonderful to be surrounded by nature. The wind was refreshingly cold on the boat but no one complained. When I asked Pit if he had a nice day he said, "It was AWESOME" with such glee!
Tomorrow morning we head out very early for a flight (hopefully less bumpy) to the jungles of Borneo to a rain forest cabin. Stay tuned for more Borneo adventures!
Monday, 12 July 2010
Oriental Flings
Last night, Amy babysat the "gremlins" while the four of us went out for a night on the town. We started at the Intercontinental for Oriental Flings, followed by dinner at the Hogsbreath Pub...not great for dinner but good for snacks. We finished up at Raffles' long bar for the live band which was very good. This was after a day of lounging by the pool...life is rough in Singapore!
What else can you do in the heat? Luckily there was a huge rainstorm which cooled things down.
What else can you do in the heat? Luckily there was a huge rainstorm which cooled things down.
Sunday, 11 July 2010
Simpsons Arrive!
Laughing too hard to write, but will briefly say that I had an excellent trip to Cambodia, the kids did well with Papa and Amy, and I got home just in time to greet our British friends, the Simpsons, from Belgium.
We went to the Macritchie Reservois and saw adorable monkeys after a delicious Indian meal at Sitara in Little India but not until we spent the swimming! Lots of love with our dear old friends and so grateful they came to visit!! Their two week visit will hopefully go slowly!
We went to the Macritchie Reservois and saw adorable monkeys after a delicious Indian meal at Sitara in Little India but not until we spent the swimming! Lots of love with our dear old friends and so grateful they came to visit!! Their two week visit will hopefully go slowly!
Saturday, 3 July 2010
Cambodia
I am at the airport, waiting to board my flight to Siem Reap with SilkAir. Hard to say "bye" to my darling guys. However, Papa encouraged me to meet Bianca up north for a reckie. I'll be back by Friday and the following day, the Simpsons will arrive from Belgium!!
I will be in Siem Reap until Wednesday and then head over to Phomn Penh by bus.
Must go but stay tuned for more notes from the road! Cheerio!
I will be in Siem Reap until Wednesday and then head over to Phomn Penh by bus.
Must go but stay tuned for more notes from the road! Cheerio!
Friday, 2 July 2010
Perfect Location
Singapore is the perfect location for discovering what Asia has to offer and we are making the most of our time here...so far! We enjoyed the school holidays by studying and visiting Borneo and then the highlight, our family trip to celebrate our birthdays on the Gili Islands between Bali and Lombok. Our photos look like post cards. We loved these no-car islands with fun snorkelling and scuba experiences, little beach side huts on stilts on white sand, enjoying happy hours together! What fun!
Tomorrow I am leaving for 5 days on a trip to Cambodia with Bianca. We met Bianca and Maeve at the airport in Kuching and they stayed with us. Now I am going to meet Bianca in Siem Reap and then take a bus to Phonm Penh to check it out with her. She has just travelled overland from Singapore up through Malaysia so I am sure to get some great travel ideas from her. Better get back to packing.
In the meantime, the boys are making pizzas for lunch! Tomorrow Papa and Frunty will run a race together organized by Papa's work. Always so much fun to be had.
We are fortunate to have some rainy, cool days now during the "dry" season. I am sure the weather will be great for the Simpsons arrival on Friday. Our long-time, British friends in Belgium are visiting for two weeks. We are really looking forward to their visit, which includes time in Borneo again!
Since this feels like a very newsy entry I will quickly add that we all enjoyed our Canada Day, hope you got our email with family photo and best of all, Rob and Viki have welcomed their baby daughter, Katherine, born on July 2nd. Congratulations!!!!!
Tomorrow I am leaving for 5 days on a trip to Cambodia with Bianca. We met Bianca and Maeve at the airport in Kuching and they stayed with us. Now I am going to meet Bianca in Siem Reap and then take a bus to Phonm Penh to check it out with her. She has just travelled overland from Singapore up through Malaysia so I am sure to get some great travel ideas from her. Better get back to packing.
In the meantime, the boys are making pizzas for lunch! Tomorrow Papa and Frunty will run a race together organized by Papa's work. Always so much fun to be had.
We are fortunate to have some rainy, cool days now during the "dry" season. I am sure the weather will be great for the Simpsons arrival on Friday. Our long-time, British friends in Belgium are visiting for two weeks. We are really looking forward to their visit, which includes time in Borneo again!
Since this feels like a very newsy entry I will quickly add that we all enjoyed our Canada Day, hope you got our email with family photo and best of all, Rob and Viki have welcomed their baby daughter, Katherine, born on July 2nd. Congratulations!!!!!
