We braved the rain again.

4.3.16

John took our laundry to the little service place while I got ready this morning. His pale grey shorts were dark grey by the time he got back as it was raining very hard even though its pretty close by and the hotel doormen were laughing with him.

We got a taxi from opposite the hotel to Matang Wildlife Park. (20 rm entry)

Its along the same road as Kubah National Park where we trekked yesterday but a few km further along. About a  45 minute drive.
We had read that buses there and back are problematic but if you ask at the kiosk they may be able to ask the afternoon bus to come along for an extra fee, but the only bus is the one we got yesterday at 3.30 pm. He said we only need a couple of hours there and there’s no cafe or anything to kill the time until the bus.
He then said that if we like he will give us a lift at 1 pm, ( presumably his lunch break ) for the same price as a taxi.( 60 rm) Amazing!!

The centre is for rehabilitation and protection and is home to several orangutans, some with very sad stories and 33 year old Aman who had had life changing cataract surgery in 2007.

We saw a variety of different birds and animals through the rain.

John had the most amazing game of throw and catch with this gibbon, with some large leaves. What a character although he has to live alone because he’s very naughty.
He was also flicking water and throwing bits of plants and husks etc at John.

Then we reached the Orangutan enclosures.
Some were empty, that’s because they do training with them to teach them how  to feed independently, so sometimes they are free in the jungle.

This is Peter, a male orang utan, 26 years old.

In the next enclosure were 4 Orang utans of various ages, they were adorable. Could have watched them for hours.
From the viewing platform we could see Aman who didn’t seem impressed with the rain!

It was amazing to see 6 more of these incredible creatures.
There just haven’t been any tourists around, this is a fabulous place and hardly any of us there.
I’m assuming most tourists wait until quite a while after the rainy season before visiting this area.
Or maybe its the lack of public transport that’s the issue?
Whatever, it has been fab having these places almost to ourselves and getting great photos without peering at the back of peoples heads.

My favourite photo of the day was this little one, he made a beeline for us and stood looking to see if we had good.
He’s a Sunbear. And I’m in love.

We wandered back to the kiosk and got a lift back with the nicest man. We chatted about house prices, minimum wage, religions etc with me converting everything into £’s and ringets.
I think he was the most stunned at the cost of renting a room in a shared house in London. He was fascinated to know more about Turkey.
Passed some lovely little houses that he said were about 150,000 RM – thats  £17,000.
They’d have to pay me to live here, as stunning as it is, all this rain would do my head in.

He dropped us in town, showed us the Top Spot Fish restaurants on top of the car park that everyone’s telling us we should go to, which is actually very close to where we’re staying.

We changed into dry clothes and went for a stroll along the river.
The ground is dry and the sun is almost peeping through.
We had laksa by the river, went to the tourist office to ask about booking transport for our rain forest trip, (booking is at the foyer of our hotel! )  went to the bus station and got the times in case we go to Satok market tomorrow.

Then of course it was time for ‘one ice mocha, cholesterol problem – no cream and an ice chocolate everything’
Might have to kidnap the lady and get the recipe.

Off to collect the laundry then back for some chill time. Checked out the hotel pool, its lovely and clean but big black clouds looming so decided against it.

We went out later with the intention of finding new Chinatown for dinner but it was absolutely hammering down and John almost got run over by someone who jumped the red light, so ended up in Pizza Hut next to the mall next door.
Garlic bread with no garlic and a tiramisu chocolate drink that was so sweet that even the 2 of us with the sweetest teeth ever couldn’t drink it.

There was a group of children in KFC while we were trying to pluck up the courage to brave the rain that thought John was just hilarious and they were waving frantically at us. So cute!!

Back through the deluge to our hotel, where they even have special plastic bags on a stand for your wet umbrella and staff help you with them.
They really are the loveliest staff here, we always have a little chat with the guys at the front that greet the guests and the check in lady was so friendly and efficient adding on 3 extra nights this morning.
We even got a complimentary newspaper put in the little box by our door this morning.
Johns currently drying my trainers with the hairdryer.
That’s true love.

We’ve had an email back, finally, from the Kuching Hash House Harriers Group and they say they’re going to pick us up tomorrow.
Would be great to experience an Asian style hash and hoping they come back to us and confirm a time.

We’re planning to visit Satok Market early tomorrow morning just in case we go hashing which starts at 4.30 pm, as the market is only on for the weekend and Sunday is our last chance to visit Bako and hopefully the driest, well that’s why we’ve not braved it yet anyway.

Satok market is renowned for being one of the largest in Asia and is best visited on Saturday evenings apparently. Its 9 km out of town and the last bus back to Kuching is before 6 pm!
No wonder so many people have cars and the roads in town are so congested, apparently most households have 2 or 3 because there’s such good interest deals. You couldn’t possibly live here without a car. There’s not one bus coming back into Kuching after 6 pm!
Although one guide book I read said the buses have been cut greatly because so many people now have cars. Chicken and egg it would seem.

Anyway, that’s enough putting the world to rights, early start tomorrow.
Night night from the drowned Kuching rats.