Leaving the Philippines for
Sabah, Malaysia

This lizard and about ten of his buds like to hang out at the entrance area of the subterranean canoe tour we took (still in the Philippinnes at this point).

This is Sarah and the rest of us emerging from the cave. This was a lot like other caves I've been to with the difference being that you canoe in...

actually, Jun Jun rows you in. He invites you to visit the park. It is an UNESCO World Heritage site. It's pretty amazing. Really, Jun Jun thinks you should visit.

Nice bananas, huh? The red ones were good. These yellow bananas were the best bananas I've ever had in my life. Anyway, ready for the night sail to Malaysia?

I'm not. I'm totally useless a lot of the time. Here I am stretching?

Nothin' to say... burp. Totally useless.

ooooh...

Waking up in Malaysia

Looking up trivia about the flags of the world, preparing to hoist the Malaysian courtesy flag.

I liked these waves and their colors.

Pretty!

Bruce and Lindsey takin' it in stride

This was a little hotel by the marina in Kudat, Malaysia. This storm blew through town in a matter of minutes, but it left enough rain to almost fill our boat's 500 litre water tank.

This wild temple was matte finished and gaudy like a junior high shop project.

Behind that temple was the curry house, our favorite restaurant in Kudat. We went there 3 times in 2 days. Premium roti. The chef was trained and worked in five-star hotels all over the world and eventually settled in Kudat so he could run his own little curry shop near his brother in this quaint and clean town. Yum.

Sunrise on Sarah's birthday sailing into Kota Kinabalu

The whole sky, every last corner was full of some spectacular cloud and sunrise action. I can't explain this stripe in the sky, but it was there in real life; it's not a photo quirk. That mountain is Kinabalu, the highest in Southeast Asia.

Sarah's Malaysian family! Introducing Myrelle (it sounds like meh'-roo from what I can tell). Sarah's going to write a ton about her family in our next email, so I leave that to her, but enjoy these pictures of some of the nicest people I've ever met anywhere.

Albi, with the help of a few of his brothers, built this house. He's getting married in May. Congratulations, Albi! He drove us all around Sabah for hours and hours. We played cards (Sarah taught the family B.S. -- He's a terrible liar). Good times!

This is Loris (Myrelle's mom) and her mom. Loris was the center of our activity in Sabah. She arranged trips to fun places in the country side, introduced us to fun people, welcomed us everywhere, fed us well, let us stay at her place. The list goes on. She'll be in the running for our trips' most generous host award. All this and I haven't even mentioned how much fun she is.

We got to drive around in the mountains near Mt. Kinabalu. Every turn was another stunning vista.

We shopped at a little vegetable and souvenir market here then climbed a little tourist tower for this killer view.

Loris and family took us to the Puring Hot Springs in Mt. Kinabalu National Park. This is Sarah's favorite flower. It grows in abundance here.

Banana Tree Flower

A Colorful Bush

There's a fruit here called durian that staff aren't allowed to eat at hotels because many people say it smells like human poop. This particular specimen didn't offend too terribly. Sarah made short work of it. I tried it too. It's very milky and soft and tastes nothing like poop.

Here's the pool party posse! Bibi, Shanta Tera, Albi, Aaron, Sarah, Biya, Loris and little Myrelle. Sorry if we got any names wrong.

This is one of about 6 big trees that hold up the whole canopy walk at Kinabalu Mountain National Park. We're about 200 feet up already taking this picture.

Don't look down.

Jungle Fun

Sarah wouldn't leave the Canopy walk so we backtracked, ran into a Japanese package tour and had to high tail it from one of the guards checking peoples' camera permits.

Picnic at the Hot Springs

This was one of any hundred merchants we've met on our trip so far who has picked up a little English. What's special about him? He's been to America. Where in America you might ask? One place, for three weeks: Wheeling, IL, the suburb I grew up in -- not Chicago, not Northwest suburbs, but Wheeling. I told him I was from Chicago and he said, "I've spent three weeks in America, in Illinois. Wheeling." His nickname is Buffalo Dundee. Dundee is Wheeling's main street. I couldn't believe it so I bought beans from him and took a picture.

Our last day with Sarah's family was fun. It was so sad to see them off from the resort. We miss you guys!

Here's Filma enjoying the spacious accomodations aboard the Willow with Lindsey working on a Herculean provisioning.

That's us, Myrelle, Xiao Ti Qin (the panda) and Loris aboard the Willow. Peace out, Myrelle!