Borneo - Trip 13

Once upon the time there was an Indian, two Japanese, a Chinese Indonesian and a female Australian......no it's not the start of a joke. But I just completed another succesful trip to central Kalimantan. Only two nights away from the kids this time as we managed to get a flight instead of drive 10 hours each way. Excellent company as well - so really great time away (flying instead of driving makes the whole experience that much easier).

The food wasn't too bad. Yes they are oranges on the left - so gives you an idea of how big the prawns are.

See those little rectangles on the side of the river - they are toilets. That's right, the prawns are from THIS river. Yum - anyone hungry? Seriously - they taste delicious and who knows what's in ones that you get from other places.

The views on the river are spectacular at sunset/sunrise. It hasn't rained up there for 2 weeks and it is blisteringly hot - Dec and Jan had record rainfall, so it's not a drought. Where we went straddles the equator - this is the first trip I have made where there was no rain for the whole time we were up there. It is a stunning place when there is rain.

Definitely the best part about flying and the mandatory 4+ hour waits in airports, I finished the Millenium Trilogy - OMG, they are fantastic books. I'm not going to be able to pick up another book for at least a few days as I need to savour the ending.

Borneo - 2009 - again.

Well I survived another trip.....actually it wasn't all that bad.

We flew from Banjarmarsin to Maura Tewah, which saved us 10 hours in a car. So - leaving home at 4:30 we were at the minesite at 1pm. Not bad going, since it usually takes us to 10am on the following day.

From a previous trip - but you get the idea of the trip down the river.

The food on site was terrible. Our normal cook was away and so we had what everyone else eats (yes, I stay in VIP with cable television (and now hot water), so I have come to expect different food (like when I was sick I got steak, chips and normal veggies- no kidding (not sure what sort of steak it was though). We had deep fried mashed potato balls, white rice (which I refuse to eat), chicken pieces (which are yum the first 3 times) and green beans with tofu. Same meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner for 6 meals straight.

(This is a floating home, note the dishes being washed)

(this is the boat we went on - it seats 8 comfortably)

Yesterday we had a novel trip, a 7 hour boat ride from the minesite to a secondary area. Previously we have done 2 hours boat, 5 hours car, 1 1/2 hour boat. But this time we went for a change. We had a mini meeting at the secondary area, had a massive lunch (that was also dinner) of super sized prawns and home made coconut cream ice cream (and I was either starving or this may have been the best ice cream I have ever had in my entire life.

Another example of fine plumbing on the river (at least there is no drop into water - trust me, a toilet where it drops a meter before hitting the water is a lot more embarrasing).

(one of the better toilets (I refuse to use one without a roof). This is on floating platform on river)

You may wonder what the obsession is with toilets - well I have never been camping. But I don't think I need to in order to experience the great outdoors - I can do it while I am at work.

NOTE : I forgot to mention the most exciting - I love living in Indonesia moment. During the 6 hour drive (after the 8 hours in the boat) our car kept breaking down. It eventually got to every 5 minutes we were stopping for 5 minutes to clean out the fuel injectors. Our driver was on the phone for a bit (which he normally never does during the normal 10 hour drives).

After not long at all, we were told to grab all our stuff. We were changing cars. Our driver had a friend (in the middle of nowhere) who lent us his car. The friend drove our car back (he hadn't made it when we left at 5am this morning) while our driver and us took his car. It had no seatbelts or back seat windows. We got back without incident.

Where else would someone give you their car while they took yours (yes - cash was exchanged - but still). Where I ask?

Today, in the official Pushing in line to get on the plane, the people in the proper line were all smiles at us......we were pushing in (with about 20 other people), but they didn't care - that's how it works.

I love this place (think I must be deliriously tired). No really - even tomorrow, I'm going to still love it.

Back from Borneo

I made it back alive and still awake (just).

We drove from 5:30pm - 3am last night. Mercifully we took the 9:20am flight this morning so we had some sleep in Banjamarsin.

But I now know how the kids feel. When we stopped for a toilet stop (photos will follow - beyond imagination) I kept having local people ask for a photo with me. Very funny - especially the part about "so beautiful", yeah right.....in all my fatigued glory. Hot shower, how I miss you so.

Photos and summary of my environmental mission will follow. But I really loved this trip. Although it was my 7- 8th trip (I think), it was the ice breaker for my two bosses and myself. At the minesite, we don't have hot water (I ask for a bucket of water to be boiled because I am a weakling and have no need to look mucho), I have an airconditioner, but most people there don't. BUT, we have Chivas and we have pay tv with the movies channel - go VIP (but I wish there was a shower).

So on Tuesday night, we watched Step Up and I felt horrible for making these 30+ year old men watch a chick flick. But, I hadn't seen it, I had the remote and they were chain smoking, it's only fair that I get something that I want. When I went to bed, I switched it over to the Texas Chainsaw massacre. Half hour later I heard it on......guess what.....TITANIC.

At 1am I awoke to "My heart will go on......" Are you kidding. I got up, all 3 (there was a ringin) were sitting there CRYING. I had to say - come on girls - it's time for bed. When I meet your wives I am going to tell them that you happily watched Titanic - and CRIED.

From that point on, the ice was broken completely. It was actually a really great trip. Or maybe I am still so sleep deprived that I am delirious.

I have seen the kids, they are all fine. I have done two jigsaw puzzles and played a card game with Munchkin and Bear and C girl disappeared within 10 minutes of setting foot in the house to play soccer instead. All is right with the world.