Diwali weekend in Kuching

I had been to Penang, HK, Toronto, Penang and the Philippines. I think. Probably Penang again. Amanda was back from London, HK and Sydney. And London again? Maybe that's next week when she is back from Tokyo and I am in Manila again. It was good to catch up anyway. I noticed some slight but important changes.

 

We stayed on a small farm where a car was provided with the room. Despite the location, the holiday reminded me of childhood trips, driving the country with mum and dad, The Beatles on the radio, rain on a tin roof back at the accommodation. Perhaps there were too many mosquitoes for Amanda but I had a great time. Otters, archer fish and crocodiles in the river, chickens and goats on the farm, afternoon naps in the bed. Happy happy Diwali.

With the help of a guide, we were lucky enough to find two blooming Rafflesia flowers in the Gunung Gading National Park and a stream to cool off in after what should have been an easy walk. The still, humid air trapped under the forest canopy made a mockery of that. With my volunteer position at Singapore Zoo's Fragile Forest I felt very informed and official. Amanda felt very bored and annoyed with my information and officialdom. Leave it at the office Paul, leave it at the office.

 

 

The rehabilitation of orangutans at Semenggoh appears to be pretty successful with little need for them to return from the forest to station-based feeding. Or maybe it was from tourists being unable to stay quiet as advised by park rangers. Why am I still surprised by the inability of people to recognise appropriate behaviour? The forest is very close to Kuching and I wonder how long until their habitat is encroached upon. With 27 animals, the park must be very close to maximum capacity.

After an hour wait and after a good amount of tourists had left, we were lucky enough to see three orangutans feeding and playing a few hundred metres away. The two adolescents' pushing and shoving reminded me of Ben and Jack. Minus the hair and long arms. They had the same eating habits though.

 

There was a  lot to talk about on this trip, having been apart for so long. Lots of planning, speculating, wondering, reflection and some disagreements. The first of many I am sure, but fun to be having them anyway, no matter if it is premature.