Borneo (Sarawak) in August

We journeyed to Kuching, Sarawak on August 10th. It was a great trip, and we did some very tourist things and some off the beaten path...

We saw orangutans, the Fairy Cave (at Clarissa's insistence, she was right and it was amazing!), and we journeyed to western Sarawak to do a homestay program and visit Tanjing Datu National Park. In the centre of the pictures is the home we stayed in (electricity only in the evening, foam mattresses on the cement floor, very basic living, but a wonderful view). The park was lovely, but the day very hazy from smoke. The picture on the bottom right is the family checking out the turtle hatching area (3 clutchs of approx. 70 eggs each). We did some snorkelling and then stopped to get fresh crabs for lunch. We were happy to check into the luxury of the hotel again and shower and turn on lights and use a western toliet!

 

Diving in July

We were back in Tiomon in July, to dive, visit, party and relax. Sheila and Andy and their children were there, Michael traveled with us and Julian was over for the weekend as well (pictured making margaritas with Doug!).

I haven't written about Doug's horrific diving accident that actually occurred while we were in Edmonton: He neglected to trim his beard and tried to dive that way, but due to extensive mask leakage was forced to ask for help from the boat. They handed him a pair of scissors, so now he has had his eyes fixed with the laser surgery and is clean shaven and growing his hair longer... You may not recognize him on the street, but he bears a striking resemblence to the man I married!
We did have a genuine accident, where Sheila sacraficed her body to cavort on the rocks with our collective children... Miranda showed great presence of mind and got everyone back to first aid (then had a quiet few moments of hysteria).

 

Home for a rest?

We journeyed home on May 15th and we were very glad to be back! There was much visiting with family and friends, eating of favorite foods, drinking of iced tea and Strongbow, and Clarissa turned 9!

My neice (Sophia, in Miranda's arms) is growing like a weed, as our the cousins Keith and Kristen. We had a lovely but short visit with Doug's dad (bottom right), and a fun time at my brother David's (background and middle). Let me tell you, the water of the Cowichan River is much colder than anything in Malaysia - I thought I might never breathe again! We had a long trip home, but enjoyed the heat, humidity, and breakfast in Hong Kong (noodles for breakfast - we love Asia!). It was good to be back with Doug, and after considerable rearranging and undecorating of our apartment we are feeling settled.