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At seven the alarm goes off and 15 minutes later so does the next one. Shower, dress and down for breakfast (more free toast. Leave the GH a little after eight and catch a taxi to the airport.

The airport layout is a little weird, you have to get your bag checked before you can check-in. And back out past the security gates to get to the terminal. The security on the terminal isn't as tough as some countries, I leave my laptop and a bottle of water in my bag when it's scanned. I don't empty my pockets and still don't set off the metal detector.

There's only one waiting area and only one door out to the gates you have to walk from the terminal to the aircraft across the runway. It's a twin prop plane and it's maybe a quarter full.

The safety brief tells people love their phones very, very, very, very much to stay off them and that woman with expensive shoes should be willing to leave them behind in case of emergency.

It's a quick flight, just enough time after we level out to give out a cartoon of Milo to each passenger before we start the decent. The airport's a little basic.

The bus to the town(?) is full of Brits, 4 sisters, and another Canadian. There's no beds free in the park and the first GH we look at has dorm beds for RM25 a night. The 'home stay' next door is RM15 a night. The rooms are very basic and there's only electricity six till nine at night.

Into the park and book our tours. Starting with a cave tour this afternoon. First time I've worn shoes since... forever. My feet hurt.

Some time to kill so we trek to Paku waterfall for a swim. We make it back the HQ in time to see our tour group leave. When we catch-up with them it's the people from the bus earlier.
 • Giant ballie beatles
 • Mushroom log
 • Tiny squirrel
 • Quimby
 • Climbing falling water

The caves have concrete paths and handrails. There's lights in strategic places. Lang Cave is small and nothing special. Dear Cave is the biggest cave in the world. It's the home to ~3 million bats. And after seeing the cave we head outside to watch the bats leave for the night.

There's only so many bats you can watch before you get bored. And we're hungry. Back to the HQ (my feet really hurt) and out of the park for dinner. Back to the GH for a shower and crash.

We sit around and talk in the dorm until they turn the power off at half nine. The first cockerel crows at 04h30.

Mulu Homestay

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