Getting here and getting around

Joe and Carolyn picked me up at my house on Tuesday, Feb 11 at 4 am for our 5:45 am flight to Vancouver.  Amazingly, nothing went wrong,  Actually, the whole trip was mostly on time and uneventful.  But it was 30 hours so that seems like an event.  

Vancouver to Seoul was 12 hours.  I had upgraded to Premium Economy.  I think the seats are a bit bigger with more leg room.  Maybe the first meal was slightly fancier.  There was glassware and actual cutlery so that seems like an upgrade from the usual.  I had cod with sweet chili sauce and rice.  It was fine.  

Since that entire flight was during my normal waking hours, I didn't sleep.  I watched 12 hours of TV.  We arrived in Seoul which is where I lost complete track of time and days.  We had to kill a few hours in the airport. It was freezing in Seoul.  I hope it warms up a bit before our return flight because I do not have the proper winter wear for zero degree sight seeing.  

When I have a layover,  I find my gate, maybe visit a shop or two in the airport, and then never move, Joe likes to do stuff.  We found an Inchon Airport Museum with exhibits on wood furniture and calligraphy.  

Then we found a room that said 'free activity'.  I would not even have seen this, let alone gone in but Joe has a keen eye and a keen spirit.  So in we went.  He learned some martial arts from some cartoon characters.  I'm 99% certain this was for kids but since we were the only ones interested in this free activity, we took advantage.  Well, Joe did, I took pictures and laughed, he was so funny!  He 'passed' and received a virtual certificate of merit or something similar.  I have a photo on my phone.  

museum

We also ate there.  We found some 'food court' situation that had ZERO westerners eating there.  It was intimidating but we managed to figure out how to order and how to find our food and we even received what we ordered.  Success!!  And it was much better that crappy airport hamburgers.  

I had already discovered the first thing I know I forgot, my Tylenol/Neproxen combo so I can walk distances on my bum knee.  I have so much at home!  But all of the airport walking was already affecting my knee so I bit the bullet and bought some at an airport convenience store in Vancouver.  But I only bought enough Neproxen for a couple of days.  There was a pharmacy in the Seoul airport so I asked and it was cheaper so I bought two boxes, on the word of the pharmacist (?) that this random box with unfamiliar pills is indeed Neproxen.  When I got to the hotel with Wifi, I Google translated it and she did not lie.  Thanks Seoul pharmacy lady!  

I was not upgraded on the Seoul to Kota Kinabalu flight.  Cheap regional airlines do not have wide seats with lots of leg room, nor do they have little TV's or food service or even water.  I had not filled my water bottles in Seoul. I had had to drain them when we went through security.  So, I was getting dehydrated.  But I was so tired I just slept for most of the 5 hour flight.  Coincidentally, Joe was in the seat beside me.  He was wedged in the middle seat.  I don't know if he got any sleep.  

We arrived, shed a few winter layers, found a cab, arrived at the hotel around 2 am on Feb 13.  We got our rooms and that was that.  I crashed pretty fast.  

The next morning we had agreed to meet at the breakfast buffet at 9 but Joe texted me at 7:45.  He was already up and atom *simpsons reference*.  I do love an Asian buffet breakfast.  I had noodles and oyster tofu (and yogurt), Joe had curry and rice (and an omelet).

We decided to just kind of wander with a plan to find the water and the market on the water.  And then, find that ferry to that island park which I will remember the name of before I hit 'publish'.  

We found the water and where the fishing boats come in, with all of the associated colours and smells.  Oh, and kittens!!  Which I  did not pick up, or touch, but it was difficult when they all ran at me and surrounded my ankles.  I don't think I got any pictures of the 'herd of kittens', just a mom with one baby.

My very first Borneo photo.

Tourist market

local food market

These guys were making a rope by hand.

These hornets were very big

fish market

meat market

vegetable market

These markets were all strung in a line along the water.  Once we had exhausted all possible markets, we headed to the 'ferry' terminal.  Just a bunch of local operators with boats going to one or more of the four island that you can visit in the Tunka Abdul Rahman Park (see, I found it).  

We got there and found the 'ticket hall' which is a bunch of booths.  We (I) fell for the first person we talked to and their 'we're leaving right away' pitch.  We bought our tickets and sat on a bench for 20 minutes.  Good people watching though. We bought the ticket that allows us to go to two islands.  Apparently, they get to decide which two.  

First we stopped at a fishing village to pick up a passenger.  

First up, Manukan Island.  It is very touristy.  Lots of families snorkeling off the beach.  We could see some pretty colourful fish off the dock but not a decent photo to be had. 

 

I do not know what this giant reptile is.  It was 6 feet, I'm sure.

We had lunch at a touristy beach restaurant.  Joe is trying to find a place that serves Malaysian beer. So far, no luck. Japanese Sapporo seems to be the go to around here.  And that was that island.  

I did enjoy the pier with a bit sign saying no more that 30 people that could just been seen through the 100+ people packed onto the pier. 

Next up, Mamutik Island.  It very much like the previous island, lots of tourists and beach restaurants.  But this one had a trail.  So we found the trail.  And went UP it.  

I thought this meant it was a beach trail. Incorrect, it was a mountain trail.

It wasn't too difficult but the end bit was very muddy so I gave it a pass.  Joe went on through the mud to find what he thinks were huts for the workers so I feel like I made the right decision.  Loads of birds along the trail, none of them identifiable.  Joe say a ground bird of some sort (partridge?) but I did not see it so we shall not dwell :(.  

Back to the city where I insisted that we have a mango smoothie.  I had not really been annoyed by the 20 minute wait for the boat earlier.  But had I known it was not going to be 'right away', I wanted a mango smoothie.  So, I got it when we got back to the dock.  Worth the wait!!  

Then we walked back to the hotel taking a different route than the morning.  This is a nice little city.  Some nice gift shops, lots of restaurants etc.  We stopped at a paper and gift store and bought some fun postcards.  And they had stamps!  And those stamps were only 1 ringget for international!!! which is equivalent to about 30 cents Canadian.  Post Cards for everyone!  Well, not really, but it isn't the usual assault on the wallet. 

A probiscus monkey doing the 'dab' (dub?)

It's almost 6 now. I am fading. I also forgot to take sunscreen today so I have a nice burn on my arms and I am feeling the chill.  I could turn off the AC but that is ridiculous.  I'll put on a sweater. 

Joe and I are set to meet up at 7 to find dinner.  I can make it to the end of the day, yes, I am sure I can...  Did I mention that 16 hour time difference?  

That's it for now.