Leaving Borneo, and sad for once

This has lasted short. I could have stayed weeks in Borneo, I just know they will be weeks to just hang around and my ambition to set foot in the Philippines won.

In this post I will hang some Bali pictures I had to share. And the Borneo impressions... Ahhh.

Kona Kinabalu got me to begin with. Such sunsets, such surroundings. Met a new travel buddy I painfully said goodbye today. As it happens, nothing lasts forever and you have to let go when you are starting getting attached... Or does it only happen to me... constantly?
On the first day we went to a nearby island, Sapi, where we got acquainted with the lizards, just hanging around there. The island was tiny and there was little to do, just a lazy day on the beach!




Trip up to the "selva" where we got to sleep in some basic cabins and where, at night we could hear the sound of the beasts and the crickets and the frogs. Like those CDs some people play in order to relax. It was our relaxing lullaby.

I used the good camera for the jungle pictures, from which I doubt I have a USB connection. Things at a time.
My highlight was to see a python in the wild, face to face. I love reptiles and it was just gorgeous! And we managed to spot a lonesome orangutan in his habitat, I think it was a she, actually...

The guys at the jungle camp were gold. At night we became entertainers. They'd grab a guitar we'll sing. I became the assigned singer, and I liked to entertain them and teach or share some songs. I also learned a beautiful song in Malay composed by one of them. Such a talented kid! I hold him close in my memory and really wish he grows to be the amazing person he is letting us see already. You should see his eyes, his eager to know, his passion for music.

I have returned from my first dives around Sipadan. Tomorrow is the big day and I get to see one of the most amazing underwater sights. If what I've seen so far is awesome I can't imagine what I will see.
I just got to spend one night in the Mabu island and really liked the environment. Divers would gather in the evening and let the night pass among stories and beers.
Weather is perfect, sites unique, food amazing and people don't hassle... Anybody would now understand my crush in Borneo and it hurts to go.

Below some post Bali pictures and some Borneo impressions, a few of many more to come.

Checking out to a live concert. A few weeks left and anticipating a sort of sadness, I just can't imagine to go back...



Transport in Gilli T



Any evening before sunset... How will I miss Bin Tang...



Another sunset on the Gilli beach.

Petons!

It keeps getting better

Lately I have lots of thoughts to share. It is this bit of earth, the Malaysian Borneo, which makes me want to.It is erally inspiring. Thanks Angel and Scott for giving me the greatest piece of advice prior to heading off to this side of the world.

After days of staying at fiends of friends this time, and unorganized with accomodation, I am flash backing to communal sleeping. Some other day to note how the generations have changed since I last checked in bunk beds.

I can't upload wonderful sunsets, fish and impressions of the last days in the Gilis, in Bali, not allowed in this hostel. Just one piece of advise to Bali goers: go straight to Gilis/Lombok or the south coast. I am going back to Bali (surely will go now and then) and that bit left me an impression to explore it with more time. North of the airport is sad and in a few years, the Gilis might be as well.

But well...

Love at first sight: Borneo - Kota Kinabalu. Sweet! Grinning since I stepped out of the aiport. Great weather, great food great people.

Spent a bit of the day with my new traveling buddies in Sapi, a near by island and I am heading off for some mountain trekking in the Kinabalu park, on the second highest mountain of South East Asia.

I would love to hang pictures, this is beautiful. I haven't seen much, but the impressions last in my mind like no other country.

En fin, ready to go. Hopefully will be able to show some fine shots.

PETONS!

They say images speak more than a thousand words. That would save me a few thousand...
Let's get it straight with the Bali-Feeling.

First, it is indeed a paradise, and to follow up, I am sleeping in a great house of an admirable survivor, in the middle of nowhere surrounded by rice fields and amazing, amazing people, so full of positive energy it is hard to imagine a better place or better moment.

BUT... What are we doing to the island? As soon as you get there you get a taken by the positive vibes of the place to see mediocre people are trying to turn it into a real state paradise for the ones who eat noodles all year and then want to pretend they are someone by having a jacuzzi. The rapid growth is making the small roads intransitable and soon enough the need of bigger infrastructures will be greater... And so we will move to change another paradise and make it ready to fit us, instead of us being ready to fit in it. In a way, I so very feel the island it somehow hurts me to see this.

At the moment I have found "the spot" and I am trying to get impregnated of its energy. The black sheep is called. A house for people who are not the same kind, a house owned by a Basque, I can surely relate and feel home.



View from the terrace.


We have been checking out the island and being on time for Yoga or a run on the beach.
At the moment I am just trying to set up the plan to become the ultimative surfing beyotch, but I have been too busy being too happy and loving the family-like feeling.




Above, death of a duck. There is a whole lot to explain in petit committee about this and in fact, I just did what had to be done. Pate!


Some picts more before closure and many hugs!
(I know my blogger account uploads in Facebook, to see the picts: )







Our big gorgeous gecko in da house!



And evil mokeys!

Epic, epic, epic

I have just topped up the best days in Singapore with a frozen soy latte. You have no idea what memories it evoqued me. So many I have decided already where I want to live. So I will do all possible to achieve my next life goal.

I came to Singapore from Vietnam to follow Amanda Palmer. The Halloween party and the two concerts were amazing and I achieved my mission: I kissed her, and had small talk with her, and she called me awesome. And I cried a lot and I got hugs from everywhere!





Not only the days were amazing, also the people I got to hang out with. Starting with the stranger who took me out for lunch and enlightened me. He was smart and made a point on things I was shocked to see we had so much in common. He is further, though, but I will get there.

The people I bumped into at the concert were also indescriptively inspiring. I can't hang pictures now as I am at the airport on the way to Bali, but I will try to re-edit this and add them.
We felt all close, and Amanda was so approachable she spread good vibes all over. I hope she has an idea on how she is making a difference in the music business. Music as art. Raw, personal. We pay, she works and delivers results. No divaing, no stupid distance. I can only admire her work and her independence.


Singapore is funny with all its control. Sometimes it made me think of 1984 or Huxley's "brave new world", all so scheduled, planned, controlled... I just met a film director who was explaining me that. The dreams of the youth shattered by the Singaporean "properness". If you get out of the path, you pay for it. Literally or with your life. But this great living standard shows a harsh dictatorship of capitalism. I didn't stay long enough to work out the theory, but this is my impression.

Moving on to Bali. Picts and stories will follow.

Much love!

why does it always train on me

Uf, coming closer to Singapore and all arrangements done for the 2 gigs. Only need shoes to go with my dress, my fantastic dress.

Once again, had a 14 hour train trip and slept like a baby. On hard sleeper. Which is like soft sleeper but more people. This time I shared with a bunch of guys and a woman.
I spent a lot of time Bali-dreaming, my next destination, AFPdreaming and (sorry) piesdemono-ing (for insiders).

When I woke up I had 3 people on my bed, imagine the surprise, and big slit eyes looking at me trying to find answers to my existence: age, marital status and children.
This time a guy served as an interpreter. A Vietnamese guy who spoke French. Told them about my many years, husbands and children. Asked a lot about Vietnam, got into social situation and the average Vietnamese conformity (and bit my tongue), when we got to religion I think I got them lost on my concept of believing in nature and the ancient sun worshiping cultures. From Siddharta's philosophy I got them into hippiesophy and due to the lack of following I left it there. Hippiesophy is a complicated subject.

But what was the surprise to see my bunk bed partner was studying Spanish... Showed me his books and he delivered proof to be on the right path.



Note a 12 hour sleep face...

I keep it short as well. Just back from Island-hopping in Nha Trang. No Mama Lihn's as I got too late for that and I am glad, as I could find a speed boat and enjoy very sweet company for lunch.

Also dann, I managed to loose the bottom of my bikini in a toilet and break again the fastening of the top, something is telling me it is time to buy a new bikini, nudism is not an option here, helaas...

Much love further, got me a room in Singapore right around the corner of the concert and I am going to try my best to deliver good reports!

pros and cons of single traveller-ettes

A certain person I spent a whole bunch of years with used to call me all the time "Einzelgaenger". I think I am quite far from it.
Traveling alone is just the consequence of not always finding available travel buddies, in my modest opinion.
I can adapt to anyone, but I tend to be the Einzelgaenger when traveling in groups. But just for moments a day, when I need to get lost for a bit. I carry that since childhood, ask my monitors in the Esplai or otherwise or my friends at university (Motto: wo ist Selva/die Katze).

Traveling in 2 has proven great as the margin of negotiation brings always 50% chance to reach consense.
I enjoy traveling. Chilled to enjoy moments, scenes or sights I consider enriching.

The pros of traveling alone have allowed me to change plans constantly and set off to an Amanda Palmer concert out of the blue and change my itinerary anti clockwise.

Writings on the train. I always like writing in motion. I shared compartment with Vietnamese. They opened up a newspaper wrap and shared a chicken. The woman with the child was like a talking machine, she started yapping with the controller and didn't stop to take a breath even when chewing.



The sound of her talking and her accent was very soothing and I felt asleep for 14 hours in a row. When she stopped talking I suddenly woke up and needed a cigarette break.
Longest-ever. I shared space with a Vietnamese guy. We exchange cigarettes unsaid. Then our conversation was driven by the power of math due to the language barrier. His packet cost 30.000, he was 50, was married for over 15 years and had 2 children. Then I left because he began to get touchy (as a friend calls it: the international language of love ???)

So far for a day's reflection. I am going on a crazy 3 day coast tour with Amanda in my thoughts.
Had a little tour in Hai Long. The light was amazing and could not capture it with the camera.





Hanoi was welcoming, but I see what I didn't miss. I think it was holding back for me to show me a one year stay wouldn't have been the best idea, although I would kinda yap Vietnamese nowadays... The city got me on jet lag and alcohol abuse. But I must admit the people who surrounded me these days were first class. No words left to express gratitude. They really made a difference, I tend to be really slow the first days and that was the little push needed to start off. I hope I can pay it back some day. It's a small world after all and it proves we keep seeing each other!

In Hanoi

day 2,
Aah, don't let time pass by...
I was looking for the cables of the camera to be able to upload at least a picture of Hong Kong, but I have to learn to organize my bags better (and start getting rid of stuff).
In any case Hong Kong was an amazingly strange and beautiful city at the same time. A metropole that felt laid back.
Or it was the company... Met a friend I hadn't seen in ages. Great to get to see people some times. Beer made its way and as I was jet lagging, everything start becoming dreamy and time passed by in a whiff.

Ha Noi is villagyif you have been to other Asian cities. As my friend put it: like a Chinese city but with a more tropical touch. Noise and organised chaos.

Being picked up from a fantastic human being at this moment who is going to help me establish a bit.
Party tonight and still no concrete plan to get out. Have to get organised. It is the downturn of travelling alone. I don't have a good freind to remind me of all the things I forget or leave behind.

Hope to be able to hang some impressions in the form of pictures.
Slept 12 hours straight, aah, feels great now and it's a beautiful day!