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Published: February 24th 2009
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The view
The view from the lookout point, cloud So I finished off with arriving in Kota Kinabalu, was staying at Akinabalu backpackers which was a cool little place with free internet and free hot chocolate (20r an nite) bargain. While I was in KK I took a trek out with a couple of guys i have been travelling with (Lex & Stu) to Kinabalu National park via minibus, sadly cudn get the accommodation to climb the mountain as it was full, so instead we went on a 6k trek around the park which was pretty good, had a walk along the river and we were the only people on the trail it seemed the whole day, was well worth the day excursion. When we went to leave the park, Mt Kinabalu the highest peak in SE Asia I believe emerged from behind its cloud cover and we got a perfect view of the peak and the summit, which made us more inclined to want to climb it, but it wasnt to be. Eventually hitched a ride home in a locals car which was about the size of Newsons old school metro and probably as old, which made for and exciting drive back down from the mountain range at
River view
River view on the trek through Kinabalu National park break neck speeds, (they really dont like using the break out here.)
The next day we booked up to go white water rafting down the Padas river it cost 190r but was really good fun as you get to go on a train through the jungle to the starting point, raft down about 10 good sized rapids and then have a motor boat ride for about 1hr to the end destination, so a good alday adventure especially if its the first time your gonna raft. The rapids were not as extremem compared to the sheer constant adrenalin rush of the Zambezi and Nile rivers, but still a very good place for your first experience.
While in KK also went to the night market which is pretty cool as they cook fresh fish infront of you, i had a plateful consisting of a tuna stake and stingray and it only cost 10r (2 quid) which is amazingly cheap, and stingray is possibly the nicest fish i have ever eaten as well.
So after KK and my amazing time in Borneo, I had a flight over to Angeles in Manilla where I met Taryn who was on the truck
in Africa, all I can say for the area is prostitutes everywer, we went for a drink at the hotel bar and had few girls almost instantly come over, its a sad place to be with alot of more white gentlemen of the older age bracket chatting up the girls over half there age.
So we go a bus the next day down to Manila which is an absolute manick city full of trikes (bikes with carriges on the side) and Jeepneys, (over dressed lengthend jeeps, full of art work shiney interiors and chrome where ever possible to attach it to), so really good fun, went for a walk about into the old town of Intramouse with sum beautiful old spanish style buildings and cathedral. Went to the bay near the Malate district where we are staying to watch the sunset, was pretty nice apart from the local kid taking a dump rite on the bit of shoreline you sit on to watch the sunset, and the rats scurrying about in the waste. Oh the hygiene of travelling.
So was staying at Friendlies guest house a pretty nice place, I even got to watch an episode of the simpsons on
Sunset
The sunset bouncing off the mountain there tv and even better it was an episode i have never seen.
Also got my visa extended which surprisingly took less than 15mins from gettin in the building to leaving, was shocked at the efficiency although cost me 3000pesos (40quid) but means i can stay here a few extra weeks which im definitely considering.
So after Manilla it was time to head down to Donsol after watching a few episodes of the Fresh Prince (still no the whole theme tune) so onto the local trains which are pretty good and more reliable than the underground back home, my only problem with Manilla so far is that they do not have one main bus terminal they have loads so its hard to get the rite place to go from, so if you are out here then definitely ask about which bus station you need. As its a lottery if you try to work it out for yourself.
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