10days in Kinabalu NP

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Catching the minibus to Kinabablu NP was surprisingly easy, i made the bus full so there was no hanging around and we headed straight off to the National Park. Having told the driver where i wanted dropping off i thought it would be simple, but i forgot i'm in Borneo and nothing to do with public transport is ever simple! The driver missed the drop off point for Kinabalu Mountain Lodge and arrived at the park where he thought i would happily walk the 1km back to where he should have dropped me off then the 1km up the drive way to the lodge. He turned around and took me back.
Kinabalu Mountain lodge is in a perfect setting, views over the mountains and into the valley below, vegie garden and its much cooler than the city. And i was spending 10days here working for food and accommodation so i best enjoy it. After arriving at 12 i checked in to my own and was told to rest for an hour as i would be starting work at 1, nothing like the present!
However it was an easy 10days really, we did a few hours housekeeping in the morning followed by lunch and then a bit of gardening in the afternoon. Some weeding, cutting grass, painting and re-painting, moving furniture around, cutting the hedges and the likes. In the morning we would make sure all of the un-occupied rooms were cleaned, clean the kitchen and communal area and make up any rooms that had checked out. For three of the days Phylis (the manager) went on a trip in which time Francesca wasn't fussed about doing much other than the essentials and for 2days we had a group of 73/96 staying with us in a hostel made for 50-56 (23pax were staying at another hostel at night and with us during the day) so after bringing in loads of extra mattresses and pushing double beds together for 5pax we made room for them all. They were from a nearby hospo training school and they did all the cleaning, cooking and tiding so we didn't have to do much, although watching them was just as exhausting! And when they left we had a busy day doing all of the rooms but that was my last day and after reading four books in ten days i couldn't complain about doing a bit of work.
While staying there i managed to sell my climbing ticket which i was happy about and can now spend the money diving in Sipidan. I walked down to the park a few times bought some much needed chocolate and wrote some postcards, and the day Phylis came with me to the restaurant for dinner after the large group checked in she laughed when the staff were asking me things that i told her all the guys over here ask the western girls! But mostly i read and planned Indonesia more than i have ever planned a trip. I spent some time developing a website for the Lodge but without internet it was a pen and paper job. I considered going to the Poring Hot Springs but hadn't heard good reviews about it and considering it would cost me 200rm i wanted some good reviews before i spend the money on taxi's.
Today i arrived at Uncle Tans ops base near Sepilok, going into the camp tomorrow. Again public transport doesnt make anything easy! You cant book on a bus and all of the buses come from KK where they surprisingly usually leave full, so after the first two buses passed me, full, the third going to Sempona i was beginning to worry but worry not the fourth had one spare seat on it. The back row of the double decker bus surrounded by kids on a very bumpy, winding road though the mountains and the palm tree plantations for as far as the eye can see mile after mile. But the driver did remember where i wanted dropping off : )

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