Position 05.19S 113.15E

JENNY
Alan Franklin/ Lynne Gane
Tue 28 Oct 2008 02:52
Hello Everybody
 
We are now just 24hrs away from a village called Kumai in Southern Borneo where we are trekking off into the jungle in search of Orang-u-tangs.Sounds really adventurous doesn't it.
 
At Kumai we have arranged to meet up with some guides who will take us on to hopefully see the orang-u-tangs the first part of our trip is by boat for 24hrs up into the jungle some of our fellow travellers have opted to stay on the boats sleeping under the stars and being bitten to death by the mosquitoes, we have opted to sleep ashore in air conditioned accommodation ( I am not convinced that this will be so ) given the very primitive nature of the environment but we will see.
 
Our stay in Bali was quite different from Kupang and the other areas that we had visited on our way there.Bali is considered the Australian Ibiza but that is only one small part the rest of the island is fascinating with temples of all shapes and sizes some built for the communities, others family owned, but all very ornate.Generally the way of life is religion and survival with unemployment at 40% life can be tough but the people are very happy and smile a lot.The cost of a meal for us can be £1 that's in a restaurant the most expensive being £10 i/c the wine which was the expensive part.
 
The interior of Bali with its 3142m mountain range is beautifully sculptured in a patchwork of temples and terraces with paddy fields (do you know that rice is found on the plant like Barley its not in the root) and lush,when it rains it can be 4" in an hour it is also very volcanic,we went to the largest active volcano on the island which was very impressive but not as active as the one on Tanna in Vanuatu which was erupting as we stood there.Everywhere on the is land there are statues and idols to their gods in stone, plaster, wood and a vast industry has been created employing people to make and create these images,it seems like every other day there is a festival of some sort with bands processions flags and offerings.
 
When visiting the sacred sites both men and women had to cover up so they would provide sarongs for both sexes very fetching at times.
 
After the expense of Australia it was a pleasant change
 
Well on to our next challenge now