Hmm this is more like it

Kuching, if you are interested is the Malay word for Cat and this city, the largest in Borneo state of Sarawak, has so much that is linked to cats, from statues to the real life cats that stay close to the food areas hoping for a tidbit.

There is also a cat museum, which houses the best dressed cat of 1995, what I am less sure of, is if the prize for winning the competition was being immortalized for ever (pickled no less) or whether this occurred once the cat passed away, maybe had I actually gone to the Museum I would know, but it wasn't to be for this trip (got to leave things to see for the next time I visit...).

But the town is a great place to see a town without lots of mass based malls, not that it doesn't have some, but the small shops and the weekend market bear testament to the old city ways, lets face it, where else can you buy loose dried chilli's, dried fish and all the spices you want by the kilo from open bags; its a fascinating walk among the local traders to see and smell the variety of things to buy.

I think the best things about the city, is that is easy to go see the national parks, using it as a base for the trips, but after using the local buses for a few trips to get to places, I can almost see the attraction of being taken in a tour group, because boy do those windows rattle, and rattle and rattle!

It isn't helped by the local roads, but if you didn't have a headache to start with, there is a good chance that you will end up with one at the end of the day!

But then it's good to take the local transport, it gives you a real sense of the place, no honestly, it does... you should all try it now and again, having said that, the buses here may be old, but they could teach some of the British Transport system a few things about being on time, even allowing for the drivers quick shopping trips.

The national parks are amazing, so much wildlife to be seen if you are quiet enough and early enough, trekking through the jungles is really an experience not to be missed, although the "well marked trail" isn't always well marked and because it is jungle terrain you are going through sometimes you find a plant or two in your way, but this just gives you a stronger view of the changing beauty that you are travelling through.

Of course the best bit, is the shoes off walk from the boat to the start of the national park, there is a jetty but that is only for the exit as it ensures you go via the park headquarters.

Walking along the river bed is an experience all in itself, not least because as you put your foot down you feel this very soft silty mud that really does seep between your toes, then when your weight goes onto the it, you break through this smooth crust to more mud below that doesn't have the same smooth feeling to it.

I almost, only almost wanted to see what it was that I was walking through, but you have to wonder at the fact that technically, if they had built the house that serves as the park entrance closer to the jetty, you wouldn't need to experience that sinking feeling - a design flaw or sense of humour you choose, but I believe the latter ;-)

What is there to see in these parks, well apart from the amazing views of trees (well you are hiking through a rainforest...) there are the animals and the ground based plants, the world really is alive all around you.

The monkeys above you, the enormous ants (and boy were they big) below you and then, just as you apply a non deet based insect repellent, the over large biting fly things that come down and bite you.

It was really quite comical, a few minutes after applying the citronella based insect repellent waiting for it to fry so I could apply the sun screen this fly came down and bit me, it was, of course the moment I broke the park rules "do not harm/capture or kill any animal" because I made sure that it was the last bite that thing took!

And talking of bites, I can safely say, if you are coming to Malaysia, go for Deet based repellent, forget that it is nasty stuff, these bugs laugh at citronella based repellant; or maybe it is my left elbow that over-rides it since that one part of the body has had over 60% of the bites, the rest are spread over the remaining limbs.

Anyway, bites aside, the parks are fantastic to visit and the people exceptionally friendly, glad I came but even more pleased that I was given more than a 1 month visa as my planned travel here is extending the more that I initially expected it to.

As usual, pictures are found here..