tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227364769501849222024-02-19T08:05:40.747-08:00The Escapades of Jam and LamAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180831334700731895noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-22503860513377802402016-01-27T09:21:00.000-08:002016-01-27T09:21:04.043-08:00A New Year, A New Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40ty6iBPvgHZ8Fx8U9yvfu5-cd_yTeUiWJWkVJFyVUR2CQc30A3Yz9O9Z55TvQK-Iuxab7Nr8iK1ATUIqMhzicbvD8HXOtdXURsrDDdvCwYTlPSBERW2M4ffz31kdyFThpBmdaRATMlhd/s1600/IMG_0313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40ty6iBPvgHZ8Fx8U9yvfu5-cd_yTeUiWJWkVJFyVUR2CQc30A3Yz9O9Z55TvQK-Iuxab7Nr8iK1ATUIqMhzicbvD8HXOtdXURsrDDdvCwYTlPSBERW2M4ffz31kdyFThpBmdaRATMlhd/s640/IMG_0313.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
What would a new year be without some sort of crazy plan?! This year we're going to be making good on our plans of "Someday, we'll move back to Canada." That someday is coming really soon in fact! We'll be moving to Waterloo, Ontario at the end of February. Jerome will be transferring his job to the office there. It'll be another adventure, moving to a new city and looking for a house, all with little Lily in tow this time! Seems like a good tame adventure to start her with, so that she can work up to scuba diving and deserted islands!<br />
<br />
We've really loved living in California with all the amazing things and weather it has to offer, but we're also really looking forward to being a lot closer to family.To the friends we'll be leaving behind - we'll miss you very much! And to those that we'll be closer to - we look forward to getting to see you a lot more! It's a bit hectic getting everything sorted out for the big move, especially with a little one to play with all the time, but she seems to be having lots of fun and is growing up so fast already and it feels like she's changing everyday!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGLYNRd_Vf6XHfnjMd2h1mVd5RZoYKh3oiM7KyJNQ59lRfDyrKIFDyrh5jymz9qT6IJNNs9DPcaW4Tiew-HM_7cP2ktV3c5lqbxNVqiTf6uywzSPTBdPbBuQgJcscs5Im9DBrpesNSNo5/s1600/IMG_0284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGLYNRd_Vf6XHfnjMd2h1mVd5RZoYKh3oiM7KyJNQ59lRfDyrKIFDyrh5jymz9qT6IJNNs9DPcaW4Tiew-HM_7cP2ktV3c5lqbxNVqiTf6uywzSPTBdPbBuQgJcscs5Im9DBrpesNSNo5/s640/IMG_0284.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180831334700731895noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-86253608119533678492015-10-10T21:43:00.003-07:002015-10-10T21:43:59.103-07:00Lily's First 2 Months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPApkcH5Vw65B0rLPisZd3kSZl3mKx2RofEl6TtZvnn0WIT0gwWfXZtVuHyjJWqpK2gB470aUA20jTBZGvq95vjzc0AGLkF5T9lO59m9CXgLBU7JhpTvplMJW_1VW3ZLtZ4hrsaY79Ne86/s1600/IMG_0936-ANIMATION.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPApkcH5Vw65B0rLPisZd3kSZl3mKx2RofEl6TtZvnn0WIT0gwWfXZtVuHyjJWqpK2gB470aUA20jTBZGvq95vjzc0AGLkF5T9lO59m9CXgLBU7JhpTvplMJW_1VW3ZLtZ4hrsaY79Ne86/s640/IMG_0936-ANIMATION.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Time is flying by, and Lily is now over 2 months old!! It's been challenging and wonderful, and really fun getting to know her. She's already grown and changed a lot! She's more than doubled her birth weight, and is much more alert and active now. Here are the link to the albums of her first two months. Apologies again, if you've seen them already.<br />
<br />
Lily's 1st Month<br />
<a href="https://goo.gl/photos/nXyoC9P6HP5GL4YGA" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank">https://goo.gl/photos/<wbr></wbr>nXyoC9P6HP5GL4YGA</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><br />
<br />
Lily's 2nd Month<br />
<span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><u>https://goo.gl/photos/qu38UgRGDKdXEHW57</u></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zK7VIVXGMes_cWE64yL2G6Cy1aQqO7EfO-Xi4VhZ7Q52fuCTfuER0dYuE3JWwEveDIln0ZjJEfTPz5KVPPi2HWxsUeo95uVX05EJpFHTBPVxv7Cf5a7oF_kHIUNom7Azc3GM5dgEhht9/s1600/IMG_1596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zK7VIVXGMes_cWE64yL2G6Cy1aQqO7EfO-Xi4VhZ7Q52fuCTfuER0dYuE3JWwEveDIln0ZjJEfTPz5KVPPi2HWxsUeo95uVX05EJpFHTBPVxv7Cf5a7oF_kHIUNom7Azc3GM5dgEhht9/s640/IMG_1596.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180831334700731895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-69799092994825321512015-08-04T14:05:00.001-07:002015-08-04T14:05:38.032-07:00Pictures from Lily's first 10 days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtJJz3aw37DW3i1dOyXcCzaK-cGWWGejGJshpEe-hG9n0H1twURAXJRw_qE4bBV5wZVrRZbZNZiZcKPkGvDN8gwLHPEIU8lCpLkTxHaYKN4XrQpvfUi_Hzgv5HNGjPqgvSWAXHyrm6zg/s1600/IMG_0537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtJJz3aw37DW3i1dOyXcCzaK-cGWWGejGJshpEe-hG9n0H1twURAXJRw_qE4bBV5wZVrRZbZNZiZcKPkGvDN8gwLHPEIU8lCpLkTxHaYKN4XrQpvfUi_Hzgv5HNGjPqgvSWAXHyrm6zg/s640/IMG_0537.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We've been out of hospital for just over a week now. Everyone's healthy and doing well, but we're still adjusting the new round-the-clock breastfeeding schedule. We've had some ups and downs with Lily gaining a ton of weight the first few days, and then plateauing, but the newborn care centre here is really amazing and helpful and have helped us tweak our plan to hopefully improve her weight gain again.<br />
<br />
We're enjoying our time getting to know our cute little one, and seeing all the funny faces she makes.<br />
<br />
Here's <a href="https://goo.gl/photos/M2xN4QGw8R14CzzSA" target="_blank">an album of pictures</a> of Lily's first 10 days. Apologies to those of you who might have already seen some of these pictures on Facebook.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-68120556661199330022015-07-23T18:59:00.000-07:002015-07-23T18:59:31.529-07:00She's here! We want to welcome Lily Amelia Mourits to the world! She was born July 23rd at 6:46am at 6lbs 1oz. Everyone is very tired, but doing well. We will have more pictures later once we are home and get some rest.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSJvlPVCQJQKDYZ5snH7B_HK9hrzbR4m5t0x3zMmipio8Qc8kZ81fcCyGPvpRYOW2ELApsvC_Iie_r5W2TB6oABiFsT9voW242maGiX5lIDfPuWkVd8_H7uCBJ450ROcuFAB3cQgP-mZg/s1600/IMG_20150723_174304825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSJvlPVCQJQKDYZ5snH7B_HK9hrzbR4m5t0x3zMmipio8Qc8kZ81fcCyGPvpRYOW2ELApsvC_Iie_r5W2TB6oABiFsT9voW242maGiX5lIDfPuWkVd8_H7uCBJ450ROcuFAB3cQgP-mZg/s640/IMG_20150723_174304825.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOXNvXt3uy8dvorX8aVWLVLy38xk60bmSVrkdj-UhauebDZJSRhrCyH2lYmAseDc6li4oTmJRHVPOg5gaUSqBDK8DN52-BPRObhFhgEFDmkx3fxpaLHRZVu8WfxDJ5tKEBzoVIf0LPZKn/s1600/IMG_20150723_111608574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOXNvXt3uy8dvorX8aVWLVLy38xk60bmSVrkdj-UhauebDZJSRhrCyH2lYmAseDc6li4oTmJRHVPOg5gaUSqBDK8DN52-BPRObhFhgEFDmkx3fxpaLHRZVu8WfxDJ5tKEBzoVIf0LPZKn/s400/IMG_20150723_111608574.jpg" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYrGgZ2ZBQVzAqpH4F0m77W5BHKxwZBCAT7jfXXIHfVkzR0amcTpvQXZOAIb26cP0kE3Z0xYHWrn-AaUqQ8oDwzCVhHnhAn-fr3QqPivGeKs_ybhJTnyPjltjUPVaTnWTNQv8YwjzoWCo/s1600/IMG_20150723_142701434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYrGgZ2ZBQVzAqpH4F0m77W5BHKxwZBCAT7jfXXIHfVkzR0amcTpvQXZOAIb26cP0kE3Z0xYHWrn-AaUqQ8oDwzCVhHnhAn-fr3QqPivGeKs_ybhJTnyPjltjUPVaTnWTNQv8YwjzoWCo/s400/IMG_20150723_142701434.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180831334700731895noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-17083177473015887512015-03-30T22:11:00.000-07:002015-03-30T22:11:36.589-07:00Asia Trip - Final Post - Yogyakarta, Singapore, Cambodia, Hong Kong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A year ago today, Jerome and I left on our big Asia Adventure, and I've been thinking about all the crazy things we did and that happened recently, and I realized that I had never completed the last few posts. So I'm going to write up an abbreviated account of our last few weeks to complete the record, and for you to enjoy hopefully. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/101549888858570479578/albums/6132149373246288129" target="_blank">Album of photos from this section of our trip </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvD9BzNZ0sdmTlYMan2V0RlBkwesFdOweV5tzSSzXS16A9MJ8lU5LwBXJoZYcqUbVzwOT4dcOiyJBh8VHjvJCXycMyCJzm5v8KnDnGn50_ZR9mtEwulzr08b3Q-9ej8uWLSDiTPd_r2OM/s1600/IMG_1551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvD9BzNZ0sdmTlYMan2V0RlBkwesFdOweV5tzSSzXS16A9MJ8lU5LwBXJoZYcqUbVzwOT4dcOiyJBh8VHjvJCXycMyCJzm5v8KnDnGn50_ZR9mtEwulzr08b3Q-9ej8uWLSDiTPd_r2OM/s1600/IMG_1551.jpg" height="500" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-align: start;">Borobudur, Yogyakarta, Indonesia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our last post left us in <a href="http://www.jeromeandlaura.com/2014/07/beautiful-bali.html" target="_blank">Bali</a>, being trapped by the volcano ash cloud for several extra days. This meant our stay in Yogyakarta on the island of Java was cut from four days to only one! Luckily, this was just enough time to take short visits to the two temples we wanted to see there. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borobudur" target="_blank">Borobudur</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prambanan" target="_blank">Prambanan.</a> Both are Unesco World Heritage Sites. Borobudur is a 9th Century Buddhist temple. It had very interesting bell shaped formations on the roof that each held a Buddha.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLpmUZRfklqkbIjdbLwcNuvV1ylWjsDzq4KbTDq-776iYIl97gd44ei0Swk-uO_-IS4GtIBDNNJMXetzWG7eMYqQKNRaIth1gl2bpQRhO0C5RsvWBhu4HOhWIm2Td2rDK_xBtG6m7fr2Q/s1600/IMG_1573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLpmUZRfklqkbIjdbLwcNuvV1ylWjsDzq4KbTDq-776iYIl97gd44ei0Swk-uO_-IS4GtIBDNNJMXetzWG7eMYqQKNRaIth1gl2bpQRhO0C5RsvWBhu4HOhWIm2Td2rDK_xBtG6m7fr2Q/s1600/IMG_1573.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-align: start;">Prambanan, Yogyakarta, Indonesia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Prambanan is a 9th Century Hindu temple. It has a very different construction, shape and layout. It was really interesting getting to see the two temples, made during the same time period, but be so vastly different.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOq4lzHyE-QjEmuqMzP-5OaQCTO0-uKURTOqnrAiJLfLFMsIy7wSvUmQqwrZH2S6kTAHTF67FmFfXGS5hw1EBKmk3G4HJkEKrHV31lxhiPJcdY9ykjZ64zYNe_xemSf3kFSs_flkxoUL-s/s1600/IMG_1666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOq4lzHyE-QjEmuqMzP-5OaQCTO0-uKURTOqnrAiJLfLFMsIy7wSvUmQqwrZH2S6kTAHTF67FmFfXGS5hw1EBKmk3G4HJkEKrHV31lxhiPJcdY9ykjZ64zYNe_xemSf3kFSs_flkxoUL-s/s1600/IMG_1666.jpg" height="382" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-align: start;">Javanese Wayang Shadow Puppet Show</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We had just enough energy that night to go to a traditional Javanese Shadow Puppet Show, called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayang" target="_blank">Wayang</a>. This art form is also designated by Unesco as an important cultural heritage. The puppets are hand cut from raw-hide, and intricately painted. The show was a traditional story, with a single puppeteer and a group of Gamelan musicians accompanying him on traditional percussion instruments. The show was very interesting, there were chairs on both sides of the screen, and you were free to move between the side where you see the shadows, and the side where you can see the puppeteer and musicians at work. </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13jgfYNr-gUZ3ofv-fz8XWH38ECQACpCDH0GapYmNUM2s6iQx7F9pYxFrN_la3y_EcpGVYMrlcwnSQU51855FIryBRImXX8tJKVQaji3cBdTCsI7PY4yxm3vsSkHArAIaH56HipQEAUEa/s1600/IMG_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13jgfYNr-gUZ3ofv-fz8XWH38ECQACpCDH0GapYmNUM2s6iQx7F9pYxFrN_la3y_EcpGVYMrlcwnSQU51855FIryBRImXX8tJKVQaji3cBdTCsI7PY4yxm3vsSkHArAIaH56HipQEAUEa/s1600/IMG_0032.jpg" height="352" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the famous Singapore Harbour</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After our crazy full day in Yogyakarta, we headed to Singapore. We cut our time here a bit short in order to do our Maldives Liveaboard, but still had plenty of time to explore and eat all the food on our list! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hmH4ieu_3ZG0XcNcEti0S_bWnFl7avijSbaoitdBhR5RUlsRG1xQEXtzuw9hp0xe_bH2QIEk9gSFTaSAMJznzE5sUcx-yXGaQk42M5jBcjZJUiEipaPrYqQmIz-tWj2_2bMQZSrZHsq2/s1600/IMG_0041.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hmH4ieu_3ZG0XcNcEti0S_bWnFl7avijSbaoitdBhR5RUlsRG1xQEXtzuw9hp0xe_bH2QIEk9gSFTaSAMJznzE5sUcx-yXGaQk42M5jBcjZJUiEipaPrYqQmIz-tWj2_2bMQZSrZHsq2/s1600/IMG_0041.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBM8egbqEVUGlZN79sF2wlcc992T-Z63a84uZLTrxasi2xy7DkP84OzsB9fqQvYHAZhqhqXbJNVifLV-7XEGhmKJ9hkre_Ee5LpQnESBbfO0DcyQck62WHY3YCGOc1hL28PfTcpaxTYIZk/s1600/IMG_0042.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBM8egbqEVUGlZN79sF2wlcc992T-Z63a84uZLTrxasi2xy7DkP84OzsB9fqQvYHAZhqhqXbJNVifLV-7XEGhmKJ9hkre_Ee5LpQnESBbfO0DcyQck62WHY3YCGOc1hL28PfTcpaxTYIZk/s1600/IMG_0042.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I won't bore you with all the food pictures and items we ate, just a few. We started by heading to the famous Maxwell Food Centre which is a well known "Hawker" Centre where there are over 50 food stalls each specializing in different and amazing food for pretty cheap. We at the famous duck rice, which was amazing, and several other tasty dishes. Even sharing we got too full to try all the items we wanted to! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOjqtwVKsZV39O0u_HKJk9NwKM4OvMw_8zsnyfUDV1HrIDbxIo-zMEi02UK4X4xf_c8FZ-AxV7mIMNLwU0IaX3ePPijrnQ1805ZWYAkeTzxgtn4N2wJsuBwvtff6zej_899XnmkNwSYWf/s1600/IMG_0066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOjqtwVKsZV39O0u_HKJk9NwKM4OvMw_8zsnyfUDV1HrIDbxIo-zMEi02UK4X4xf_c8FZ-AxV7mIMNLwU0IaX3ePPijrnQ1805ZWYAkeTzxgtn4N2wJsuBwvtff6zej_899XnmkNwSYWf/s1600/IMG_0066.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6sr5Q8DJwTM2u1WKMgOjgh1S5hkfJTosT6X1nKsor4y39WJl5TKuN1PemAgCukksCax38NnwruqChbSs65ifD0Py0D61JzEj8yftLIksak8Tl6XG-KjqqU-AHkL7Kiynt835Y8xAAtaT/s1600/IMG_0065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6sr5Q8DJwTM2u1WKMgOjgh1S5hkfJTosT6X1nKsor4y39WJl5TKuN1PemAgCukksCax38NnwruqChbSs65ifD0Py0D61JzEj8yftLIksak8Tl6XG-KjqqU-AHkL7Kiynt835Y8xAAtaT/s1600/IMG_0065.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another food highlight was the Pepper and chili Crab we had at Momma Kongs. Which boasts having "The island's best chili crab!" It was delicious!! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTYt-T1qSxlaZmGZ_8vRTiEVp9874B4yy2bO_-O63VwPoBCASgoZmSqIkWtrvQeb1B3nYPiG1L0MMpYOJOaRZl6G631tudSgUr_zfsrojyJwuPu7-ibjfbKNqzcbh-gMuN-HBzjKkkz9Z/s1600/IMG_0053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTYt-T1qSxlaZmGZ_8vRTiEVp9874B4yy2bO_-O63VwPoBCASgoZmSqIkWtrvQeb1B3nYPiG1L0MMpYOJOaRZl6G631tudSgUr_zfsrojyJwuPu7-ibjfbKNqzcbh-gMuN-HBzjKkkz9Z/s1600/IMG_0053.jpg" height="462" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Most of our time in Singapore was spent walking around the city, and stopping here and there to eat. We also bought a new camera to replace the one that Jerome drowned in the ocean. We went to all the different areas like Bugis Street which is a giant store, the electronics mall area, and the neighbourhood where Jerome's Grandparents lived and he remembered visiting when he was small. One afternoon for a break we stopped by an interesting tea shop and had traditional Chinese afternoon tea. It turns out the Queen has had tea there, so we felt in good company! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Between Singapore and Cambodia is when we went on the Maldives Liveaboard, which you can <a href="http://www.jeromeandlaura.com/2014/06/scuba-diving-maldives.html" target="_blank">read about here</a>.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO__RnIkPgfKsndjUqIY4yMHtiJmIT4ro8Ef2Dl4k2_H6zmJJdJm5Pu-bKg6Z3OpgpD1DC6v_-1HLuIbhU5JrguCc03TZk5__EdVL0Rph1m6qLXpLVmquor7IefpW9CXLllLNEb4LPp3Ni/s1600/IMG_1749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO__RnIkPgfKsndjUqIY4yMHtiJmIT4ro8Ef2Dl4k2_H6zmJJdJm5Pu-bKg6Z3OpgpD1DC6v_-1HLuIbhU5JrguCc03TZk5__EdVL0Rph1m6qLXpLVmquor7IefpW9CXLllLNEb4LPp3Ni/s1600/IMG_1749.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-align: start;">Cheoung Ek, (Killing Fields Memorial) Phnom Penh, Cambodia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our next stop was a few days in Phnom Penh. We don't have a ton of photos as most of our time was spent visiting and learning about the sites of the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge, where it didn't seem right to take photos. It was very sad and disturbing, but worth learning about, since neither of us had heard or knew a lot about what went on in Cambodia during that time before. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYC72x96lxG5_AtVOX7VNL6y47sSsKfWWp2HDrIHtsQ4mNEY8T2PZyDGiLcdskSmwmjG9smyA_aqomX7016Wt4r1Ew3z4uc4IqU-5LPVUdRj5HV2GE1KT7a2Qq5hT9aXV07fq96fgp_Eun/s1600/IMG_1800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYC72x96lxG5_AtVOX7VNL6y47sSsKfWWp2HDrIHtsQ4mNEY8T2PZyDGiLcdskSmwmjG9smyA_aqomX7016Wt4r1Ew3z4uc4IqU-5LPVUdRj5HV2GE1KT7a2Qq5hT9aXV07fq96fgp_Eun/s1600/IMG_1800.jpg" height="634" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Tree Ants with Beef and Basil</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We went to a traditional Cambodia restaurant called Romdang which helps street youth learn to cook and be servers to get off the streets. They have lots of traditional fare there. We were a bit adventurous and tried the Red Tree Ants with Beef and Basil. If you look closely, you can see a few in the photo. You mostly didn't notice - unless you got the big winged ones, and they had an interesting sour flavour to them. We weren't brave enough to try the deep fried tarantulas like the people at the table next to us though! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRc1tTYKnidcSBz8vxfb34HqEwBj_8SWfsOk2VpuKRI_cdJRRi0fmOBpLl2IRwh93-0c-oSs7AHGGCS0hmgYzUMECIkXuqZNb449F7eOsLN6MbX9TKUyYmzbbX6I59sM4siQuoASPYl7iN/s1600/IMG_1999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRc1tTYKnidcSBz8vxfb34HqEwBj_8SWfsOk2VpuKRI_cdJRRi0fmOBpLl2IRwh93-0c-oSs7AHGGCS0hmgYzUMECIkXuqZNb449F7eOsLN6MbX9TKUyYmzbbX6I59sM4siQuoASPYl7iN/s1600/IMG_1999.jpg" height="336" width="640" /></a></div>
From Phnom Penh we headed south to the coast to Sihanoukville. There we spent a night on a Liveaboard and did about 5 dives. The boat was quite basic after our Maldives experience, but fun except for the big rainstorm during the night! The water was a lot less clear here than the other places we dove, but there was some really neat colourful coral that we'd never seen before and lots of neat fish, like this beautiful and bizarre cuttlefish who hung out with us for a while. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltTXo62D6aVmxexzgdZE83iYL0qeu2FksNApBgygUGjzCRHnRPiSd_qK-U8871_E48g-iS_VD6-gEYlUgHsiVJ0R1olDMYwmPgJRnq-q_U9ZZ4jCylp05sRO3d9AMv9ip-_Pp_om_3xrz/s1600/IMG_2001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltTXo62D6aVmxexzgdZE83iYL0qeu2FksNApBgygUGjzCRHnRPiSd_qK-U8871_E48g-iS_VD6-gEYlUgHsiVJ0R1olDMYwmPgJRnq-q_U9ZZ4jCylp05sRO3d9AMv9ip-_Pp_om_3xrz/s1600/IMG_2001.jpg" height="528" width="640" /></a></div>
We were also supposed to go stay on a remote island nearby for a few nights, but a giant rain storm moved in, and after our last remote island experience with the cockroaches, we decided to stay dry and bug free, so we extended our stay in town, and just relaxed and read and watched movies for a few days. We tried to do another dive, but the boats weren't even going out, so we knew we'd made the right call by not heading to the island.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib992aLgqMiiOUVPqt5LSt-0Ifbe4ilvsjdcUd90B6rhVk3Dall0YNqm7wmGV6JLwUbiS3n5XIKLxEQtdO7TRHn8UPLV8r9ya1GqMVsUfxOU_sIWY0v7Z24NOIy4GHy6aRAJm4j8DlNZYo/s1600/IMG_2121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib992aLgqMiiOUVPqt5LSt-0Ifbe4ilvsjdcUd90B6rhVk3Dall0YNqm7wmGV6JLwUbiS3n5XIKLxEQtdO7TRHn8UPLV8r9ya1GqMVsUfxOU_sIWY0v7Z24NOIy4GHy6aRAJm4j8DlNZYo/s1600/IMG_2121.jpg" height="576" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bayon Temple, Siem Reap</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
From Sihanoukville we flew to Siem Reap, which was an adventure with the rain causing delays, us being diverted back to Phnom Penh, and eventually getting there 6 hours later (it should've only been an hour!). We had a week booked in Siem Reap to visit the city and all the temples. We alternated days of visiting the temples and relaxing at the hotel and in the pool. It was insanely hot and humid, and walking around the temples wore us out pretty quickly in the heat. Plus we found if we tried to do too many in one day, they blurred together. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KmZsESoUMMQRULuZ4qWta8QhpBzJBgaePAVRtkb6EulRm6OOSusjt62JlD1WR_QsJOdzLGHEwB641oPc9wNa0Ht-2CpjXCjVh4Ez-ip30eKNhVVhyphenhyphenjiwZS7AUOH2NyY0SPb2JCRKZK9q/s1600/IMG_2269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KmZsESoUMMQRULuZ4qWta8QhpBzJBgaePAVRtkb6EulRm6OOSusjt62JlD1WR_QsJOdzLGHEwB641oPc9wNa0Ht-2CpjXCjVh4Ez-ip30eKNhVVhyphenhyphenjiwZS7AUOH2NyY0SPb2JCRKZK9q/s1600/IMG_2269.jpg" height="498" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jerome's that little green person in the doorway!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It was quite interesting seeing all the different styles of temples and learning what they were all built and used for. Quite amazing thinking about how long ago they were all built! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSsSXg6XoZ3I91-jFarcA05_aX2zRTHPzscPZhaz34pKIpL_ozF0JlrnrR-c32tqgITuTANrFG84lYltJ2T0H-hKR8JR_UhBekaNvpjldyMcAgmJi_m8N7tFq_f9nHo8T0J_l-oGGDjPt/s1600/IMG_0242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSsSXg6XoZ3I91-jFarcA05_aX2zRTHPzscPZhaz34pKIpL_ozF0JlrnrR-c32tqgITuTANrFG84lYltJ2T0H-hKR8JR_UhBekaNvpjldyMcAgmJi_m8N7tFq_f9nHo8T0J_l-oGGDjPt/s1600/IMG_0242.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It was also interesting imagining what they all must have been like at their peak glory full of people. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJp3iIAElCLpDA7Zr7vAa_RiFnIqlTP3hd3LqLbgeV1dYVdMljzDZwEKlLp-1qCxYUrFK0wB8O75wmWvWAPTu9zZn3oRWX2PU09E12rjAsHtRKQtXaB8uej1WsFSc1_U9VGfCXma3UlZ9F/s1600/IMG_2254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJp3iIAElCLpDA7Zr7vAa_RiFnIqlTP3hd3LqLbgeV1dYVdMljzDZwEKlLp-1qCxYUrFK0wB8O75wmWvWAPTu9zZn3oRWX2PU09E12rjAsHtRKQtXaB8uej1WsFSc1_U9VGfCXma3UlZ9F/s1600/IMG_2254.jpg" height="640" width="554" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This was Ta Phrom - now known as the Tomb Raider temple from the scenes in the movie. They've fenced off all the areas that were shown as everyone wants to take their pictures there. It was a pretty cool temple in general with the giant trees growing right through the walls and roof. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6Ufm9D8Z4u-MnECYkvjxcoTXINFx_U8-haIbLnSf-AIIRs0y9NYIIMazvhObO3YtGrS9p3drb3vrX324uBStTk4E6jzguEB7F0ZEKcxZpS-ei33BEpQu8urVDRmBcz2MjNdhQeRIPeJg/s1600/IMG_2357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6Ufm9D8Z4u-MnECYkvjxcoTXINFx_U8-haIbLnSf-AIIRs0y9NYIIMazvhObO3YtGrS9p3drb3vrX324uBStTk4E6jzguEB7F0ZEKcxZpS-ei33BEpQu8urVDRmBcz2MjNdhQeRIPeJg/s1600/IMG_2357.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ps8_4ZjcM4WbzVcB8DdEJ7uK0DVqr5SoAJVmfX3Xf8zj42Dsqu0WpxUTlMB6MXdrD6XyKvI0qBhlv0hkUfIYT7tKfuosmUPCmL2O9kThZ3PP8Eck7pNfWiJhU68zRqRa6MFcTMZW4IKq/s1600/IMG_2359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ps8_4ZjcM4WbzVcB8DdEJ7uK0DVqr5SoAJVmfX3Xf8zj42Dsqu0WpxUTlMB6MXdrD6XyKvI0qBhlv0hkUfIYT7tKfuosmUPCmL2O9kThZ3PP8Eck7pNfWiJhU68zRqRa6MFcTMZW4IKq/s1600/IMG_2359.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
One afternoon for a break we went to play mini golf. It was a lot of fun. I got 3 holes in one! And won a beer for each! Jerome got the lowest score total, but I think we all know who really won! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNffSH3VGA9IBaM4Isr9_iHsIFDJHritJ8IWEyDZomHqYrftSznKJGhQjA1_4gJhyphenhyphennWdiQkzVYyVxWFoLekzhXMEfTuA42ZBeVCo3zTF7Y-KFe_A9AbCIY4G774-iYT96OVPtTt8I3ID6f/s1600/IMG_2519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNffSH3VGA9IBaM4Isr9_iHsIFDJHritJ8IWEyDZomHqYrftSznKJGhQjA1_4gJhyphenhyphennWdiQkzVYyVxWFoLekzhXMEfTuA42ZBeVCo3zTF7Y-KFe_A9AbCIY4G774-iYT96OVPtTt8I3ID6f/s1600/IMG_2519.jpg" height="284" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We left Cambodia and headed to Hong Kong for a day before our flight home. We explored the beautiful waterfront at night, went to the top of Victoria Peak and admired the amazing views, went to a mall in the shape of a boat, had Michelin Star Dim sum, walked through the goldfish market where we saw a fish bite holes in it's plastic bag, and a turtle escape it's bucket and make a run down the sidewalk! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8B4GRDx-rgmhdApdtInxtNis3PEkucJ1FVAHnI0yyx5UejzsXH1yDVM_B-K-964_e9vVpF6hpB0fzwsQzIYk2nnEWdvi75DNRmN5DAM9g6hGwtrJn7m5Q3K8Lk3EdK8Kjr0TC42kGUyo/s1600/IMG_2618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8B4GRDx-rgmhdApdtInxtNis3PEkucJ1FVAHnI0yyx5UejzsXH1yDVM_B-K-964_e9vVpF6hpB0fzwsQzIYk2nnEWdvi75DNRmN5DAM9g6hGwtrJn7m5Q3K8Lk3EdK8Kjr0TC42kGUyo/s1600/IMG_2618.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
On our last day, we packed everything up and went for some Szechuan food for lunch. We bought some treats to bring back for our friends and then headed to this tea shop Jerome had found. We spent a few hours trying and learning about various teas. Had a quick dinner, and headed to the airport for our long flight home. Overall it was a truly amazing adventure, which I'm so grateful we were lucky enough to get the chance to do. There were some ups and downs, but it was truly memorable, and I think of the things we did often. Jerome and I both agreed that we enjoyed this trip a bit more than our Europe trip. Mostly because of the greater variety of activities we did, instead of mainly just visiting cities and site-seeing. I mean we climbed a mountain, explored the jungle, did over 60 dives, were stranded on a deserted island, trekked through rice fields, and of course ate lots of great food! It'll likely be quite a while before we do any more big travels, but are so glad we did these ones! Thanks for coming along for the ride with us!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/101549888858570479578/albums/6132149373246288129" target="_blank">Album of photos from this section of our trip </a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180831334700731895noreply@blogger.com0Siem Reap, Cambodia13.6915377 104.1001326000000511.715456699999999 101.51834560000005 15.6676187 106.68191960000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-1221203071516627222015-02-26T13:55:00.000-08:002015-02-26T13:55:18.060-08:00Our Newest Adventure!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zNaCufe5zT4tx3F9IEmisYI3NKu4-6Z-iPiJ3LseDVYryRRolCf0sDKyF-UdYFE5HMcqpduttku63ZhSAp25b_QTGlSJCUPPqm9PnBtMm7DKZFsoankm3zKRphUphTkCczDHjCqvEHMg/s1600/Jerome+and+Lauras+Lego+Baby+Announcement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zNaCufe5zT4tx3F9IEmisYI3NKu4-6Z-iPiJ3LseDVYryRRolCf0sDKyF-UdYFE5HMcqpduttku63ZhSAp25b_QTGlSJCUPPqm9PnBtMm7DKZFsoankm3zKRphUphTkCczDHjCqvEHMg/s1600/Jerome+and+Lauras+Lego+Baby+Announcement.jpg" height="460" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Jerome and I have some exciting news to share as you may have deduced from the photo! We're happy to say that we're expecting a new addition to our family in August! Everything has been going really well so far, I've been very lucky to have had hardly any morning sickness or anything, aside from being a bit more tired than usual. We're looking forward to starting this new phase of our adventures which will have its share of rewards and challenges. Jerome keeps assuring me when I get nervous, that if we can survive being marooned on an island, we should be able to handle a little person! While I'm not sure quite how the two relate, I'm confident that together we'll be able to rise to the challenge and enjoy the ride! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180831334700731895noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-42148601392696725342015-02-13T15:52:00.002-08:002015-02-13T15:52:52.036-08:00Relaxing in Sweden <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We just got back from visiting our good friends Kim and Aaron in Sweden for two weeks. We found great deals on flights in the fall, and thought it'd be a great chance to spend some time with them. We didn't have much planned ahead of time, but found some very fun things to do, as well as just relaxing and spending quality time together. And of course enjoying great food, as they are both great cooks! I can't be held responsible if all the food photos make you hungry though!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZDwkopSG7-RH2M4IT44BgU1Fwe8ZyL_hDOeIUuNKnvBsxA4DRbZvKrvBv-29U7UsNIzHCkVENtxEX4mx4cJcK97FTdGXnjIdokNyT5blJlohQDZ5A7YGqMzSPr7AZN6oeknak88qIh4o/s1600/IMG_20150203_122634464_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZDwkopSG7-RH2M4IT44BgU1Fwe8ZyL_hDOeIUuNKnvBsxA4DRbZvKrvBv-29U7UsNIzHCkVENtxEX4mx4cJcK97FTdGXnjIdokNyT5blJlohQDZ5A7YGqMzSPr7AZN6oeknak88qIh4o/s1600/IMG_20150203_122634464_HDR.jpg" height="640" width="508" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The first day I went with Kim to her friends house for a crafty afternoon. We worked together to make a pillow cover for Kim! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJFZoscg4Q5p_fOYaHsH0KEbyp9qG8R05AHMwV74wAMYnqQmvjjv5FwFjweF3JG-l9PisDFbVFPDpEKhRPcbS4e7RZy8g9zobd-kRymCi05EwqbOdiTYVaLNXgwxaFK6w_On1mOwOfHzA/s1600/DSC_0093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJFZoscg4Q5p_fOYaHsH0KEbyp9qG8R05AHMwV74wAMYnqQmvjjv5FwFjweF3JG-l9PisDFbVFPDpEKhRPcbS4e7RZy8g9zobd-kRymCi05EwqbOdiTYVaLNXgwxaFK6w_On1mOwOfHzA/s1600/DSC_0093.jpg" height="490" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
While we were crafting, the boys made dinner - Spatchcocked chicken with mushroom and cheese topped polenta and salad. Simply delicious! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpOtBC_CE-NmOxKzDl1mHVhU_32Zftaqp8SgncxuxSBsgLKtK0PemtXV8qfb14dIh4aUWTnJxh0Mej0eDld-TygEA5aJKJhtNuMqnwbplWqi6g8Wpwljk-t78W_35r6U9N1olkOvTWot2/s1600/IMG_20150127_101338969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpOtBC_CE-NmOxKzDl1mHVhU_32Zftaqp8SgncxuxSBsgLKtK0PemtXV8qfb14dIh4aUWTnJxh0Mej0eDld-TygEA5aJKJhtNuMqnwbplWqi6g8Wpwljk-t78W_35r6U9N1olkOvTWot2/s1600/IMG_20150127_101338969.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hvQEDHsTSvRROCCw6iRAZ82051PLv6Q6RwyOKfJW8gprcDJFQ5s3gPjlVoHwfUN_WbpyHy3DiF_zbaoXQ-P1D-JfPDOr8sy2pLzsr28AY5YaAVWyyPzXXXRVfppFH1NqIqhqCC63UmLt/s1600/IMG_20150127_111515240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hvQEDHsTSvRROCCw6iRAZ82051PLv6Q6RwyOKfJW8gprcDJFQ5s3gPjlVoHwfUN_WbpyHy3DiF_zbaoXQ-P1D-JfPDOr8sy2pLzsr28AY5YaAVWyyPzXXXRVfppFH1NqIqhqCC63UmLt/s1600/IMG_20150127_111515240.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And a trip to Sweden wouldn't be complete without going to Ikea! Their decorations were pretty cute! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2jsfj6X_DD1rX4fqjDh_X-DTCrPfpyDhxmsZSTGxkcEc6kp4YIju-Fq_9ygtHnrS-LI6V1ZIFmt8H-UHl3fAWxF-NhfE0OikzGPCEsoLiGXPjI9fGjz3kRd7YkEWmKpqwn6n5jrZbdU7/s1600/P1271929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2jsfj6X_DD1rX4fqjDh_X-DTCrPfpyDhxmsZSTGxkcEc6kp4YIju-Fq_9ygtHnrS-LI6V1ZIFmt8H-UHl3fAWxF-NhfE0OikzGPCEsoLiGXPjI9fGjz3kRd7YkEWmKpqwn6n5jrZbdU7/s1600/P1271929.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So we stopped by for a buffet breakfast! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlTOCzh-7X3ImcQz9enr3yMGXGgfpzSinNmrTu6FrBMdxMultRyI8XdyBDpfmE4Rlsv0iJTKQbDXH1GjjuTwOoC-7lYTgUCbbYHTYlxUpBTSWXMRluhqqpvM-3f93qR9w37o4WL47BMwR/s1600/P1291932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlTOCzh-7X3ImcQz9enr3yMGXGgfpzSinNmrTu6FrBMdxMultRyI8XdyBDpfmE4Rlsv0iJTKQbDXH1GjjuTwOoC-7lYTgUCbbYHTYlxUpBTSWXMRluhqqpvM-3f93qR9w37o4WL47BMwR/s1600/P1291932.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA26u4fk4wef86yW-bAzM49x1odgjBrRImE6cPiFxL_mkby_KS45wQaq3ATAjAZhrTN2NG2jaQynsXnbAjXhv5ZbX9LwzeMB-KeCkzQSl7L5pjcMBoPGLqHgR-2rrJDne2c6_TGs47FcuJ/s1600/P1291941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA26u4fk4wef86yW-bAzM49x1odgjBrRImE6cPiFxL_mkby_KS45wQaq3ATAjAZhrTN2NG2jaQynsXnbAjXhv5ZbX9LwzeMB-KeCkzQSl7L5pjcMBoPGLqHgR-2rrJDne2c6_TGs47FcuJ/s1600/P1291941.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We went to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandy" target="_blank">Bandy</a> game, which is like a combination of hockey and soccer with a few field hockey elements thrown in, played on a big outdoor skating rink. It was quite entertaining!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYFZhRKhTBfnbSsfc7HDeV3khCw5gmKUHr-qjC4iXX28FJ4ydPb-snRVhJsGVcWJ-2Mixi2GTweEojibdFRhNmM4HUT9o2So0UOq4knHoi5363MrVh5XftsaCPljMTe69fgMSjIGZ8M5i/s1600/IMG_8528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYFZhRKhTBfnbSsfc7HDeV3khCw5gmKUHr-qjC4iXX28FJ4ydPb-snRVhJsGVcWJ-2Mixi2GTweEojibdFRhNmM4HUT9o2So0UOq4knHoi5363MrVh5XftsaCPljMTe69fgMSjIGZ8M5i/s1600/IMG_8528.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We ventured into Stockholm. Jerome led us to this cool Saluhall. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhIN7qmaRBvbqxxM2nbpJlEPFBLGEDqT5Ag_Ve_rLJJlB2Elv32emD9KXkuHxuTB559dXdmN3GTT8EVLk4hN4s47OP1x-6_MqG7BwjWNmiMmt8m5_RG3w2WMLlhVzivcEEKZcrn7qK6gX/s1600/IMG_8527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhIN7qmaRBvbqxxM2nbpJlEPFBLGEDqT5Ag_Ve_rLJJlB2Elv32emD9KXkuHxuTB559dXdmN3GTT8EVLk4hN4s47OP1x-6_MqG7BwjWNmiMmt8m5_RG3w2WMLlhVzivcEEKZcrn7qK6gX/s1600/IMG_8527.jpg" height="576" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Inside they have all sorts of fancy food stalls with seafood, cheeses, charcuteries, etc. We just admired and didn't sample anything.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGLdYXx_I2HFZBdhjpInTuDKAUwbTsHkN2NkvjPJMhSKvyPrOQXwav4wCkuXxAJ8ZO-vlFtQ8AONhEnqQnT_3XHlvVk_wRQOXerCca8rC3nXwj3TBjgkSlAvl_EdIQbC6E7NtV0VuNEhw/s1600/IMG_3479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGLdYXx_I2HFZBdhjpInTuDKAUwbTsHkN2NkvjPJMhSKvyPrOQXwav4wCkuXxAJ8ZO-vlFtQ8AONhEnqQnT_3XHlvVk_wRQOXerCca8rC3nXwj3TBjgkSlAvl_EdIQbC6E7NtV0VuNEhw/s1600/IMG_3479.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Next we played this really cool game called <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g189852-d7149393-Reviews-Roomescape_Stockholm-Stockholm.html" target="_blank">Room Escape</a> which is a puzzle game with a story where you are in a room and have to use all the clues and objects around you in clever ways to solve the riddle and win the game. We managed to finished with just a few minutes to spare! It was a ton of fun, and if you're in a city that has a Room Escape game, I'd highly recommend it! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbp_wNaCIyCYHExoglfUkTOrOuDCGlkDx0BTq9hyD0AUshZ2SSJN-o0Fwy02dsZLdkG6oQrdbON9lGzbgdt7B-KYycnWheBVXw8vPz9N6fxicuylPJEiO_nUWWJxQ6Ysx6bfIfDQ2V4l2/s1600/P1301944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbp_wNaCIyCYHExoglfUkTOrOuDCGlkDx0BTq9hyD0AUshZ2SSJN-o0Fwy02dsZLdkG6oQrdbON9lGzbgdt7B-KYycnWheBVXw8vPz9N6fxicuylPJEiO_nUWWJxQ6Ysx6bfIfDQ2V4l2/s1600/P1301944.jpg" height="538" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We met up with Aaron who had to work late, and then went for dinner with their friends Patrick and Natalie, along with two of their houseguests. We had a tasty dinner of savoury crepes, where we were all to hungry to take photos. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpCKGv3DJo3OZYh8qbZ66ovhfVj7sYodzfJ5AR3p6pjIrDnFHGJzhRpBxsmXggdcrBYu_3PX-u4wkBWEhlNHKZwY_IVlmEg94BMPWm7tku6-5nFNAmmopjzQ-HjaHC1kSi_9F-dx6p641/s1600/P1301943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpCKGv3DJo3OZYh8qbZ66ovhfVj7sYodzfJ5AR3p6pjIrDnFHGJzhRpBxsmXggdcrBYu_3PX-u4wkBWEhlNHKZwY_IVlmEg94BMPWm7tku6-5nFNAmmopjzQ-HjaHC1kSi_9F-dx6p641/s1600/P1301943.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And then we went to this basement bar that is basically also a giant arcade, with foosball, airhockey, darts, pinball machines, shuffleboard courts and a bunch of other games! We all had a great time! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAVKFKtGgFKja2b_G82Uu5xfuTRVN9hedPWAsOzJO_AA4WVqGuk_BwpvUwKKWKs7fhWTSGzMM5yr9G2TGssnj31IILSy4IEngvUpjv9WAvH4LSgnk5usn9ca0qqodbqieyI1GpTJy7r37/s1600/IMG_8531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAVKFKtGgFKja2b_G82Uu5xfuTRVN9hedPWAsOzJO_AA4WVqGuk_BwpvUwKKWKs7fhWTSGzMM5yr9G2TGssnj31IILSy4IEngvUpjv9WAvH4LSgnk5usn9ca0qqodbqieyI1GpTJy7r37/s1600/IMG_8531.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For the weekend, we voted to drive 3-4 hours north of Uppsala and rent a small cabin to hangout for the weekend. It was really beautiful and snowy. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq9FDZd_a47-DbHBhMzX5BxNJBMnVbARW322NNuvNn7agEDqUVTgeWGU-Eaffgh1hURcgHAXR27fEuMw6KAz5DlSSIso7-3OvN6mo-CWHtAau6Kp6TZDuG-zxuf0-D3BzKNy4xP7ArraW/s1600/DSC_0108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq9FDZd_a47-DbHBhMzX5BxNJBMnVbARW322NNuvNn7agEDqUVTgeWGU-Eaffgh1hURcgHAXR27fEuMw6KAz5DlSSIso7-3OvN6mo-CWHtAau6Kp6TZDuG-zxuf0-D3BzKNy4xP7ArraW/s1600/DSC_0108.jpg" height="434" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We spent our time between cooking, walking outside and playing games. Kim and Aaron made our first delicious meal. Coconut poached salmon, pea and potato cakes with coconut milk sauce and a cucumber salad</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEwifK4Dbnxi8WeFDeZc4f9vyC9eifUAVVt1_uDSlXQU72z1j72tGR55bt_J3HR1W4BaUZ5zE17yUHtNhgCTtlY9Ye59QonfyncTsAjgDwrKjMI7cD6FY92ieFMUww5eXOptvOR4fuBnp/s1600/DSC_0099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEwifK4Dbnxi8WeFDeZc4f9vyC9eifUAVVt1_uDSlXQU72z1j72tGR55bt_J3HR1W4BaUZ5zE17yUHtNhgCTtlY9Ye59QonfyncTsAjgDwrKjMI7cD6FY92ieFMUww5eXOptvOR4fuBnp/s1600/DSC_0099.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We made sure we had enough candy to last us the whole weekend - about 1.25kg worth!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruZCNFDC8XoFZzLvfX8wHok-sKsHuF4B-XLFx4E-Au_B6H4hVebruV3CiWpBIeMixnGhuVRDKnLz5woJ6ALRnOVTT9OOQEmgMnyLkoQcT45tyv6AL6KRackDoZcbIZ0Hfltjxk2Az9miZ/s1600/DSC_0114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruZCNFDC8XoFZzLvfX8wHok-sKsHuF4B-XLFx4E-Au_B6H4hVebruV3CiWpBIeMixnGhuVRDKnLz5woJ6ALRnOVTT9OOQEmgMnyLkoQcT45tyv6AL6KRackDoZcbIZ0Hfltjxk2Az9miZ/s1600/DSC_0114.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqn2qNByGgcpNABWaht91M9GynTs8W73oSKdtRm79w9W_smMAbdMyQpsuGME5B6hXUznIg5yFtqOh1T9zyIr0NnFetuQLJtPGHkj_tRyQf75zt54TwSfGjXuVgUAVbBEH8XQXPIPqnRAky/s1600/IMG_8541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqn2qNByGgcpNABWaht91M9GynTs8W73oSKdtRm79w9W_smMAbdMyQpsuGME5B6hXUznIg5yFtqOh1T9zyIr0NnFetuQLJtPGHkj_tRyQf75zt54TwSfGjXuVgUAVbBEH8XQXPIPqnRAky/s1600/IMG_8541.jpg" height="315" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Aaron kept the wood stove stoked and roaring all weekend keeping us warm and cozy. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxCbzQOBqaSE7smzXbDhIggwlbcDXsWshsjHA54ucT74qzgPEqCBCrkvAvb0_6gWzv5wbkvFYTJI9VOjF2fZu837St_RhC0Mtm_tPtjSPQHlQ-1938aHRbUVcA9O2EkWbGiqRRaxaQ5Ut/s1600/P1311955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxCbzQOBqaSE7smzXbDhIggwlbcDXsWshsjHA54ucT74qzgPEqCBCrkvAvb0_6gWzv5wbkvFYTJI9VOjF2fZu837St_RhC0Mtm_tPtjSPQHlQ-1938aHRbUVcA9O2EkWbGiqRRaxaQ5Ut/s1600/P1311955.jpg" height="521" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We especially appreciated the fire after our long snowy walks to the lake! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMHkxkq62UohVo_IDspXrTENxs6W8vlcmuI-rlGZ39e6HLSn3e0eljMZL-NXsGoiHRAODwa7zCUNpHcgG3u2D3yc0uRgZT6iVJ3Gf6cLWcCwcfFHRcJzdgR5tGIChher8tUQM8i4UT_kV/s1600/DSC_0109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMHkxkq62UohVo_IDspXrTENxs6W8vlcmuI-rlGZ39e6HLSn3e0eljMZL-NXsGoiHRAODwa7zCUNpHcgG3u2D3yc0uRgZT6iVJ3Gf6cLWcCwcfFHRcJzdgR5tGIChher8tUQM8i4UT_kV/s1600/DSC_0109.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLK3VaBoLUgaCznZ8PF61c6HAdC95HazAGVUno9xAsfwsSEIl7Z6i7MeJhVX0a6PfVL-yuu1xxlosN0eCridYw06i9Ee7HvZyOOvQAqnNy4CsorsXoGHw5xHWwkN7d6wtaFkiVxjDLhIS/s1600/DSC_0110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLK3VaBoLUgaCznZ8PF61c6HAdC95HazAGVUno9xAsfwsSEIl7Z6i7MeJhVX0a6PfVL-yuu1xxlosN0eCridYw06i9Ee7HvZyOOvQAqnNy4CsorsXoGHw5xHWwkN7d6wtaFkiVxjDLhIS/s1600/DSC_0110.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was in charge of lunch on Saturday, so I made sweet potato chipotle soup with jalepeno cheese scones. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcekVpYteu5h9o8n8Ljn-LOQhlCCGSX6-pLQUhXkmEvpuGxN9Od7bIiM6pasbRPsSvGIk50k5b7XGXdmCwjUJS-RqtyDrNiQ6xdtxpnJw7kPzNWOCRDnS-T_2klwe2C-NXb3dSDYjDqn-s/s1600/P1311978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcekVpYteu5h9o8n8Ljn-LOQhlCCGSX6-pLQUhXkmEvpuGxN9Od7bIiM6pasbRPsSvGIk50k5b7XGXdmCwjUJS-RqtyDrNiQ6xdtxpnJw7kPzNWOCRDnS-T_2klwe2C-NXb3dSDYjDqn-s/s1600/P1311978.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We walked to the little town nearby. To get there we crossed a big lake on a bridge and saw quite a few people out ice fishing for the afternoon. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfw0AUPqBr-UogNAyh7iG1oS6vTmXRi8-Zoj80-HbEdor_GpureWbf7wXZxGXx6ifuVCvq_6hIPQAJN4J3oWT2x7RLfx_MSXmlQBOKAruWYY_-PXWud9RGMl-1rQHOP3YXzTSSCqeSnUny/s1600/DSC_0115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfw0AUPqBr-UogNAyh7iG1oS6vTmXRi8-Zoj80-HbEdor_GpureWbf7wXZxGXx6ifuVCvq_6hIPQAJN4J3oWT2x7RLfx_MSXmlQBOKAruWYY_-PXWud9RGMl-1rQHOP3YXzTSSCqeSnUny/s1600/DSC_0115.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For dinner Jerome and I worked together to make our signature fajitas.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnyOD09sYVQFvFGqRfOzIvbIQ4O0szwQE8upP8HRoIrhc35-78SywvcaVWK2ad-Aon_-DgZS-lRYKkH8a8VzbxOg6KJEIru0knxOgd_5YmNw7GlIIEEChttBqRu9A2IZk9zHj9zjm14B6/s1600/IMG_8542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnyOD09sYVQFvFGqRfOzIvbIQ4O0szwQE8upP8HRoIrhc35-78SywvcaVWK2ad-Aon_-DgZS-lRYKkH8a8VzbxOg6KJEIru0knxOgd_5YmNw7GlIIEEChttBqRu9A2IZk9zHj9zjm14B6/s1600/IMG_8542.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And we played lots and lots of games. We had brought 5 games with us, and had a tournament. Looks like Jerome must have just won this one! Kim and Aaron tied for the tournament winners. But overall in the trip Kim and I were victorious in our <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tichu" target="_blank">Tichu</a> tournament! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-A231E5-ALIs_D13kadku1cNQ6ZwyvN9o_q0Yh01oWfs85K7ioTylLZ-g9fcTShDEj8a1bTNK_FcyyflcsDIBQzNUgUE37VpY04TdSwXiaFh_wmCc2hv-PoofhUBrVWEitKquhQbfb5Gc/s1600/P2011983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-A231E5-ALIs_D13kadku1cNQ6ZwyvN9o_q0Yh01oWfs85K7ioTylLZ-g9fcTShDEj8a1bTNK_FcyyflcsDIBQzNUgUE37VpY04TdSwXiaFh_wmCc2hv-PoofhUBrVWEitKquhQbfb5Gc/s1600/P2011983.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Jerome spent Sunday morning making us <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2012/03/potato-knish-two-ways/" target="_blank">Knishes</a>! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqO7pxg6WOmgDClrdGWmhyaMIepgoXHKF43gWA6-bmCqXnv1kfirqRx9KvprhrBvDM509GBTal-RuuO4gVH5P6zg5jJinOuM4CpU_rrDe8a2YqG5qN18ER_YAKCkVPkcMd8O6uuusxxDc9/s1600/P2011993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqO7pxg6WOmgDClrdGWmhyaMIepgoXHKF43gWA6-bmCqXnv1kfirqRx9KvprhrBvDM509GBTal-RuuO4gVH5P6zg5jJinOuM4CpU_rrDe8a2YqG5qN18ER_YAKCkVPkcMd8O6uuusxxDc9/s1600/P2011993.jpg" height="400" width="232" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrCz2igy3mO1pV99LeXLQlmY2Bqce-U0H7xuimP2x6Raxg7Vjxytbe5ouYtF9A_4YNvL3crqiWEb7ozg9vrRiWH-2Xu_eP7yZu-dfZdci9dtHvh5SAsiAmQZAfLNGVd3cT-a0Dtb_exWBa/s1600/P2012004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrCz2igy3mO1pV99LeXLQlmY2Bqce-U0H7xuimP2x6Raxg7Vjxytbe5ouYtF9A_4YNvL3crqiWEb7ozg9vrRiWH-2Xu_eP7yZu-dfZdci9dtHvh5SAsiAmQZAfLNGVd3cT-a0Dtb_exWBa/s1600/P2012004.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
They turned out really well, and were super tasty! I'm hoping he'll make them again sometime!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXPaYfzBUJqNW-vj4WGgl7DrFjIJMoJQKHd6lqtnKs-WQWGiMgalwzzHgeE8oxeR7GOrD_2p7XNoBq52XcLwtmDtkAIXtvOVdzmQwTsbKFNSgNy4ZBcx_Whq-sZ49dMHiua3egpxskdXB/s1600/P2012018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXPaYfzBUJqNW-vj4WGgl7DrFjIJMoJQKHd6lqtnKs-WQWGiMgalwzzHgeE8oxeR7GOrD_2p7XNoBq52XcLwtmDtkAIXtvOVdzmQwTsbKFNSgNy4ZBcx_Whq-sZ49dMHiua3egpxskdXB/s1600/P2012018.jpg" height="330" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwrS1i8HagCq5ai-r1eO4UGrg0PnjqnkmaENpiE6bpGWJoVfBOwYDMRhoLxcCXhY1jh4K-Kd1y1MrjIJa6Q8goAO6m7p3SgdoHXt0QnmDPMDZlm_Ob1YLD4QBs2D26PbX3gApoz55_9XX/s1600/P2012022-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwrS1i8HagCq5ai-r1eO4UGrg0PnjqnkmaENpiE6bpGWJoVfBOwYDMRhoLxcCXhY1jh4K-Kd1y1MrjIJa6Q8goAO6m7p3SgdoHXt0QnmDPMDZlm_Ob1YLD4QBs2D26PbX3gApoz55_9XX/s1600/P2012022-2.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The big attraction near to us was <a href="http://www.tomteland.se/home__675" target="_blank">Tomteland</a> - or Santaland. It wasn't really what we were looking for on our weekend getaway, but we drove by to see it anyways. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipp0oxLvzGIeLrL7Vt0RklvK-IHdiymY9HW8wGtmOKWSo7eo4xFXciBXDpsNy-WVbaDyGPCT25QVTpQ9GFMRMQhp1xvdpeVHv-MDIrrqEmIYugN3CYT7qcmKzCbzlU-Krfkehx6SiHiPQL/s1600/IMG_8548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipp0oxLvzGIeLrL7Vt0RklvK-IHdiymY9HW8wGtmOKWSo7eo4xFXciBXDpsNy-WVbaDyGPCT25QVTpQ9GFMRMQhp1xvdpeVHv-MDIrrqEmIYugN3CYT7qcmKzCbzlU-Krfkehx6SiHiPQL/s1600/IMG_8548.jpg" height="640" width="502" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We were all pretty full of all the good food, so we had a simple salad and garlic bread for dinner. But we were treated to Kim's homemade Banana cream pie for dessert! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61TNskMfCyfyDD7ga5QDy4zl6vAEFW-z6OSxVH7FMRg069sfN_-1ybBBpjfRjM2pRGnPTtDF1VbxyJ5J8zVF-WDWiY2SPHd7mGs-Pkb6D_hWL8qjbwIU4TsNeiuLhkb5lTFbQzt4-8RA1/s1600/P2022034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61TNskMfCyfyDD7ga5QDy4zl6vAEFW-z6OSxVH7FMRg069sfN_-1ybBBpjfRjM2pRGnPTtDF1VbxyJ5J8zVF-WDWiY2SPHd7mGs-Pkb6D_hWL8qjbwIU4TsNeiuLhkb5lTFbQzt4-8RA1/s1600/P2022034.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Monday morning we reluctantly left our cozy cabin and drove back so that Kim and Aaron could get back to work. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeNS0PMRbJoZYrf8tPp-W3IoP0Nq8zSlvhomgE4e3gRBi35EUOwbrrT9WyPbjazJ7mkCgVtxyz-zPBotqNmpFrv-tev8uKI_Tkr3Z3RaY9lFLy5STN7OcnmkdkCaAEVuPqwXtk72GYqfj/s1600/IMG_8553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeNS0PMRbJoZYrf8tPp-W3IoP0Nq8zSlvhomgE4e3gRBi35EUOwbrrT9WyPbjazJ7mkCgVtxyz-zPBotqNmpFrv-tev8uKI_Tkr3Z3RaY9lFLy5STN7OcnmkdkCaAEVuPqwXtk72GYqfj/s1600/IMG_8553.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We spent the next day walking around Uppsala and checking out all the cute little shops around. Kim and Aaron made a great lamb sausage stew, served in a bowl surrounded with homemade hummus and homemade naan! It was really impressive and tasty! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTl06HCHH9ZWmg3hBchDXDypFkfuriI1IqLxC46thu-4boVTUZlMEHmS49dYf6NDsTBDK5qzxWMScNGNd88YF2gi546a5s4F3uHW2vZE3s5eQGhRSY_ilDnY1NysIUB-VVwp1RkuyrnGf/s1600/IMG_8554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTl06HCHH9ZWmg3hBchDXDypFkfuriI1IqLxC46thu-4boVTUZlMEHmS49dYf6NDsTBDK5qzxWMScNGNd88YF2gi546a5s4F3uHW2vZE3s5eQGhRSY_ilDnY1NysIUB-VVwp1RkuyrnGf/s1600/IMG_8554.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ38E-6ZNs7BNQTB5fO0Gndq9jU13lkUsYzhqnnrAyz2rSxG-VSPcZfG-rW1jx0w0vXz2RsyvGEgVdkqL_G-3RtZMgmLcTOW4c8s1k4-QP6e__9cZaKr2FAugXPWi2Yiv-zPctXmzse5ZQ/s1600/IMG_8557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ38E-6ZNs7BNQTB5fO0Gndq9jU13lkUsYzhqnnrAyz2rSxG-VSPcZfG-rW1jx0w0vXz2RsyvGEgVdkqL_G-3RtZMgmLcTOW4c8s1k4-QP6e__9cZaKr2FAugXPWi2Yiv-zPctXmzse5ZQ/s1600/IMG_8557.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Jerome and I went back to Stockholm to stay over and explore some more. We stayed in the <a href="http://oldtownlodge.se/en/our-rooms/vault/" target="_blank">Old Town Lodge</a> in their cubicle dormitory. Which was quite a fun experience. You're in a tiny cubicle with curtained walls that don't go to the ceiling. We were a worried it would be quite loud, but it was actually pretty quiet - except our neighbour who ate a Pringle impressively loudly every few minutes for a while! We enjoyed the location right in the middle of the old town which is really pretty and has lots of small shops, and the Royal Palace. We even saw the changing of the guard and visited the armory. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4_HgKBMqaxIc1ejaeAPwhsN682S7hPThh9agf44mCq0qcPwOcG7Qzd7zDtQXZBgXznx5e7JIEX-c0Q9oAbbAEpCPQyudhRYsME_ap493R0XJ0Zi5HJdglj_J3VqdW5Rd74tQnEcPq7FN/s1600/IMG_8565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4_HgKBMqaxIc1ejaeAPwhsN682S7hPThh9agf44mCq0qcPwOcG7Qzd7zDtQXZBgXznx5e7JIEX-c0Q9oAbbAEpCPQyudhRYsME_ap493R0XJ0Zi5HJdglj_J3VqdW5Rd74tQnEcPq7FN/s1600/IMG_8565.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Aside from the little shops around town we also stopped in the Stockhom Cathedral that had this amazing sculpture! We forgot to take pictures, but we got our fill of traditional Swedish meatballs at a neat place called<a href="http://meatball.se/" target="_blank"> Meatballs for the People</a>. And had a fun dinner at the <a href="http://www.hairypigdeli.se/" target="_blank">Hairy Pig</a> deli just around the corner from our hostel. They make all their own sausages. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhrrYLoMJoRNV5mVV-EO8H6XoUBL1258ITQXtnA4VDOGtoS5gcT4onwNQEEgcJn4gTX1x9qRUwgS3n5zK3XxuACMY8wtyqUdD8M_unfxyBSW8g_8L_HbOnumtfbiX_wZUJd02CR8tNf_s/s1600/DSC_0078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhrrYLoMJoRNV5mVV-EO8H6XoUBL1258ITQXtnA4VDOGtoS5gcT4onwNQEEgcJn4gTX1x9qRUwgS3n5zK3XxuACMY8wtyqUdD8M_unfxyBSW8g_8L_HbOnumtfbiX_wZUJd02CR8tNf_s/s1600/DSC_0078.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We were back at Kim's in time to have one last dinner together. She and Aaron made us potato "nachos" we were a bit skeptical when they told is it involved neither cheese, nor salsa, but we were happily surprised at the tasty pile of deliciousness! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy62TSs7qPailW8RECht6-Fu6s0K2NmGfuFKYs8SO4rnwpUD4S5YJPPsBhVwTI7_ixmadzKpvFYwpso2WgAHb38b6b9cJAnI9mATUhSp-iu1QlGZr4ToLEJJBcKSyoeelwg4LjbFz_s_KJ/s1600/DSC_0096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy62TSs7qPailW8RECht6-Fu6s0K2NmGfuFKYs8SO4rnwpUD4S5YJPPsBhVwTI7_ixmadzKpvFYwpso2WgAHb38b6b9cJAnI9mATUhSp-iu1QlGZr4ToLEJJBcKSyoeelwg4LjbFz_s_KJ/s1600/DSC_0096.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And thus with sadness, our two weeks of food, friends and fun was over. But hopefully it won't be too long before we'll be able to get together and do it all over again! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180831334700731895noreply@blogger.com0Uppsala, Sweden59.858563800000013 17.63892669999995659.73089430000001 17.316203199999958 59.986233300000016 17.961650199999955tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-14611964051703121742014-10-28T22:21:00.000-07:002014-10-28T22:23:09.008-07:00The Ups and Downs of the Komodo Islands<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Sorry for the long delay for this post, I've been having quite a hard time writing this one. Our visit to Komodo was very up and down, with some really amazing things, and some really unpleasant things. So it's been a harder one to write up. We also don't have that many pictures from this time due to a camera mishap which you'll read about soon. <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/101549888858570479578/albums/6075471618521855889?authkey=CML7quGljInfOw" target="_blank">But to see the ones we did take, click here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJQlJAbfM4eQQaIm7BcZ7kd_-WBOmyv4iOfe37X7UKFMKdmXJ8SYKWN-vXXryxRfEOxLq_oFmHhZ6f8-f-lyKLGCyVhPgQILXiiW2FEslwLshyRyZ7kAYS6LdM9AuMsAWFLD5OX_q4P4S/s1600/IMG_3867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJQlJAbfM4eQQaIm7BcZ7kd_-WBOmyv4iOfe37X7UKFMKdmXJ8SYKWN-vXXryxRfEOxLq_oFmHhZ6f8-f-lyKLGCyVhPgQILXiiW2FEslwLshyRyZ7kAYS6LdM9AuMsAWFLD5OX_q4P4S/s1600/IMG_3867.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Kanawa Island</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">After leaving Bali, we flew to Labjuan Bajo which is a small Indonesian island to the east. We stayed there for one very rainy night, before taking a 2 hour boat ride to <a href="http://www.kanawaislandresort.com/" target="_blank">Kanawa Island</a>. We had great hopes for this island. It was very small, comprised of accommodations, a small restaurant and a dive shop. It seemed perfect, and it was beautiful. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKjCjn4RQlyZ1tzIqOUvn8IrWgIdEFqBXkqLhaYwwFr3Cl80_wQ2sLf8PsVfi4oURopUBT0x6i9wC_8M_MFWHd_w8qGPm3MtEe5m47uo45Vdae0Lh5H-K-jpmnbB2ARbfkvJRUNwlrsw6/s1600/GOPR1945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKjCjn4RQlyZ1tzIqOUvn8IrWgIdEFqBXkqLhaYwwFr3Cl80_wQ2sLf8PsVfi4oURopUBT0x6i9wC_8M_MFWHd_w8qGPm3MtEe5m47uo45Vdae0Lh5H-K-jpmnbB2ARbfkvJRUNwlrsw6/s1600/GOPR1945.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Diving the House Reef</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">We had a bit of trouble getting the dive shop to arrange for us to dive. Turns out they were closing in a few days, and so all the staff didn't have much incentive to provide service, and were more focused on doing some last dives themselves. That being said, we had one day diving out around the islands, which was pretty fun. The currents all around are very very strong, so I was quite nervous, but we followed all the safety briefing instructions and were fine. Another day when we couldn't get a boat dive arranged, we did a guided dive of the house reef, which allowed us to rent equipment and then later in the day do out first solo dive. It was pretty interesting and fun. We were both very focused on navigating and checking each other and doing all the things to keep us safe, that we didn't find any fish! But it was a really great learning experience and we were very happy to have done it. It helped us become more confident, and was great to have under our belts when we got to the Maldives. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMS4W3LF7TeEWY_y2yepvFlQVNdz5Ulv9KjTsYJVNPJmC3yuTpiuCnF1Cj1n1F5se4CgRVlsYKrb7TntS_hrgtcxIkbBfaD3rdITdJ_rXaPvIhREDNPoQw6RqXW9RSDLo4beg2T2RhS2oQ/s1600/IMG_3923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMS4W3LF7TeEWY_y2yepvFlQVNdz5Ulv9KjTsYJVNPJmC3yuTpiuCnF1Cj1n1F5se4CgRVlsYKrb7TntS_hrgtcxIkbBfaD3rdITdJ_rXaPvIhREDNPoQw6RqXW9RSDLo4beg2T2RhS2oQ/s1600/IMG_3923.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Rinca Island</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Another day we went on a boat trip to see the Komodo dragons, which was a big part of why we ventured to the area. We were on a boat with 8 others, and were heading to Rinca, which is the only island other than Komodo itself that has the dragons. It's supposed to be a more picturesque island. The set up is kind of funny, they have this big gate with statues near the dock, but then you walk a long ways across a field before you get to the ranger station. We payed all the fees, and headed out on our guided trek. You go with two guides - one in front of the group and one behind, both with big sticks, in case any dragons come around. The first dragons we saw were a bit disappointing, they were lounging asleep under the kitchen hut. We'd read that this often happened because their sense of smell is so heightened, that even though the rangers don't feed them, they know where the food is. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6lO0kngI1tDeVT1m1d63658R3XWOmDq3ZZWN9Umvn0wY3oKVT1KE4Gysd0pkkyvd2kpTsUV0p2lyd5WatGE2-cGH4II1qYIm3H4_HkhGQsVugh9A1gIaLs0W3vTBSzdiE5PCNh-tRjl3/s1600/IMG_3930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6lO0kngI1tDeVT1m1d63658R3XWOmDq3ZZWN9Umvn0wY3oKVT1KE4Gysd0pkkyvd2kpTsUV0p2lyd5WatGE2-cGH4II1qYIm3H4_HkhGQsVugh9A1gIaLs0W3vTBSzdiE5PCNh-tRjl3/s1600/IMG_3930.jpg" height="308" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Komodo Dragon under the Ranger hut</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5nvwiorG7HB0_lckd0prJX4yBQrnY5wtF6Y6wNNUCoNRwSzGezN9nsc_avOZuU4oXWX06O7Aw359roQYmY2RERSFyxPZd6Dhg9cqDUL-xQJ_cpeJUun3KAWdZe_QsB9wAMTzoGbTpz8Q/s1600/IMG_3938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5nvwiorG7HB0_lckd0prJX4yBQrnY5wtF6Y6wNNUCoNRwSzGezN9nsc_avOZuU4oXWX06O7Aw359roQYmY2RERSFyxPZd6Dhg9cqDUL-xQJ_cpeJUun3KAWdZe_QsB9wAMTzoGbTpz8Q/s1600/IMG_3938.jpg" height="265" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Small Male Komodo Dragon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">We then saw a baby male dragon - about 1.5 metres long, running along through the woods near us. It was cool to see how he moved, and such, but he was a bit small. After many pictures, we kept going. We saw some wild water buffalos, one wading in the water and one blocking the trail we were supposed to take - needless to say we took a detour. Which ended up being great, as a large female Komodo dragon ended up coming up the path towards us, before veering off and stopping in the woods just near us, so we could take some pictures, before carrying on. They're very impressive creatures, but you have to stay so far away because they're so dangerous, it's hard to get their full effect. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXADpq3f0O8JApamUlKTKzLxy13MLYJH6I_8_xshyRRvNVeayrM_G3i0NJj2zSElEBn9JRqqbO63bBzczBQmx3QkBic-080tttM0QExqcF0x1ikG_5eRYQbx2QpOvLgDsOx3uhARWKuUV/s1600/IMG_3967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXADpq3f0O8JApamUlKTKzLxy13MLYJH6I_8_xshyRRvNVeayrM_G3i0NJj2zSElEBn9JRqqbO63bBzczBQmx3QkBic-080tttM0QExqcF0x1ikG_5eRYQbx2QpOvLgDsOx3uhARWKuUV/s1600/IMG_3967.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Large Female Komodo Dragon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">After the trip, everyone was extremely hot, from the high temperatures and the long walk. So we asked the boat guide to take us to a snorkeling spot before lunch. We arrived, and all jumped in, Jerome did a small dive down to see a turtle, came up and gave me a panicked look. He reached into the pocket of his swimsuit, and pulled out our soaking wet camera.... Disaster! He went back to the boat, took out the card and battery and hung it all to dry, hoping for the best. We weren't very optimistic about the camera, but were crossing our fingers about the memory card. We rinsed everything in fresh water and put it in a ziploc bag with lots of silica packets and left it. We had computer access in the Maldives but it looked like all our files were corrupt, so we were very sad, but luckily when we got home, Jerome managed to salvage them all on his computer, so we can share all these neat pictures. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsO7dlcluItDhI-uCQ8wGOmd1OEqj_a3cYIMRcvflGc7JuaWNzNJc6C3U4wPKLyfZtvPHjjOBtPPMCQd6k_JN_-jmeZBUINrVC-fW8laeL3Tv-oQY8g0YgMYbSNA9KfhXDc6idZ5WvDnSe/s1600/IMG_3879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsO7dlcluItDhI-uCQ8wGOmd1OEqj_a3cYIMRcvflGc7JuaWNzNJc6C3U4wPKLyfZtvPHjjOBtPPMCQd6k_JN_-jmeZBUINrVC-fW8laeL3Tv-oQY8g0YgMYbSNA9KfhXDc6idZ5WvDnSe/s1600/IMG_3879.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Our Accomodation</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Our accommodation on the island was a small hut with a mattress and a mosquito net, and sort of blinds you could raise up or down. Our view was of the beach which was really great. It was very warm in the day and at night, so we would raise them up to try and get a breeze. We were fine the first two nights, but on the third, just as we were getting into the bed, I saw something scurry across it... we moved the sheet, and it was a cockroach... Gross! We got it out, and tried to assure ourselves it was a one time thing, since we hadn't seen any the first two nights. It took us about 1/2 an hour to get all settled and sleepy again, when something ran up my shoulder. Needless to say, I freaked out a bit, and sure enough, it was another one... So we sat with the light on again for another half hour on the lookout, but didn't see anything. So we tried going to sleep again, and again, something climbed up my other shoulder. Another cockroach! At this point, I'd had quite enough, and got out of our hut. We poked around and couldn't see any more, but I wasn't getting back in there. We took our flashlights and explored the island a bit - there were a few hammocks around that we were hoping we could use to sleep, but they were all already full of other sleepers who were too warm in their huts or cabins. We eventually found a massage bed under a hut, and wedged ourselves on it, for a few short hours of uneasy sleep. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDqP-mrCxPbREe6z9mmZuVYfNfQeY2n6pW6pD5gycHx-bTlYVvQjfh4ZJd0USahWUnUbhutxwjBCw8UpfuChV82dwVvoSonWo0gUEFPjnpCMIzX2SN_H2a9C6cpaPbbMoLCzQIj1i0LNv/s1600/IMG_20140529_083500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDqP-mrCxPbREe6z9mmZuVYfNfQeY2n6pW6pD5gycHx-bTlYVvQjfh4ZJd0USahWUnUbhutxwjBCw8UpfuChV82dwVvoSonWo0gUEFPjnpCMIzX2SN_H2a9C6cpaPbbMoLCzQIj1i0LNv/s1600/IMG_20140529_083500.jpg" height="320" width="275" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMsnL_4I_W6T4Iel5e4XNO5k33P2k1T0j3FHRQPSG0zhJuiJSol_bwfFM4e-t6KlY0WFq3kgO3Vt5alQ79BVw_qaDeC7FD50VpmZWoVkQPpxPHiRCdO3JGlKrmh6Iqu_k8-85ZcNOrzcb/s1600/IMG_20140529_083656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMsnL_4I_W6T4Iel5e4XNO5k33P2k1T0j3FHRQPSG0zhJuiJSol_bwfFM4e-t6KlY0WFq3kgO3Vt5alQ79BVw_qaDeC7FD50VpmZWoVkQPpxPHiRCdO3JGlKrmh6Iqu_k8-85ZcNOrzcb/s1600/IMG_20140529_083656.jpg" height="320" width="291" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This big guy decided to try and hitchhike on our pack... we weren't amused,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">In the morning, we decided that with both the cockroaches and the inability to do the diving that we wanted, that we'd be better off leaving the island, as we couldn't see spending another 2 days there. We spoke to the reception, and they assured us, they'd spray the hut with pesticide and we wouldn't see any more. But we decided that enough was enough. We talked to some others who were also leaving, who had the exact same thing happen to them! Also on their third night. So our deduction is that they spray pesticide when they change the sheets, and it lasts for about 48 hours, so that on your third night, they come back. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLLqaFMDhZxMPZb28KTWpTfzfW7SeLsLQ4Z-zrWoE58nFMvjzKmws1Mw-2PT8TCQMmbpVMsNXeMLMewR8W2ORzY7RtGUf1QOu5vEmOzvBUeaRHUJ2vM-VWcKDkbUHfP20o3VbkLv-Kqw5/s1600/IMG_3884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLLqaFMDhZxMPZb28KTWpTfzfW7SeLsLQ4Z-zrWoE58nFMvjzKmws1Mw-2PT8TCQMmbpVMsNXeMLMewR8W2ORzY7RtGUf1QOu5vEmOzvBUeaRHUJ2vM-VWcKDkbUHfP20o3VbkLv-Kqw5/s1600/IMG_3884.jpg" height="316" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">You have to admit, even with the bugs, it was a beautiful place</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">So we left Kanawa and took the boat back to Labjuan Bajo, I was a bit worried that we didn't have a place to stay lined up, but we had seen a cool dive shop called <a href="http://bluemarlinkomodo.com/" target="_blank">Blue Marlin Diving</a> that had a cafe in it when we were in town earlier. So we headed there, got a nice cold drink, and used their internet to book a room, and then we arranged with them to dive the next day. They were super helpful! So we ate some dinner, and then headed to the hotel. It had a real bed, and no bugs in it, it was lovely! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaSNLtwWSsPOj_OchH9gYnPoAr0p4a6uZHdl2GCcGwbE2sIEPdmuJhPPtoAhS1EPfE1TJMQqomGy2f96ZuKrzMkCM_dFbPTXm8DwelO_r4EQd04PPOtUysZkL2EMEbC2CGFBko_NLJ5Vx/s1600/PANO_20140531_180649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaSNLtwWSsPOj_OchH9gYnPoAr0p4a6uZHdl2GCcGwbE2sIEPdmuJhPPtoAhS1EPfE1TJMQqomGy2f96ZuKrzMkCM_dFbPTXm8DwelO_r4EQd04PPOtUysZkL2EMEbC2CGFBko_NLJ5Vx/s1600/PANO_20140531_180649.jpg" height="186" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Eerie sky from the volcano</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Next day we went diving with Blue Marlin, we saw some pretty cool things, beautiful islands, and had a great time. So we booked again for the next day. <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2644253/Incredible-moment-huge-volcano-erupts-Indonesia-sending-ash-spewing-thousands-feet-sky.html" target="_blank">That night unbeknownst to us, a nearby volcano erupted.</a> When we got up to eat breakfast at the hotel, we noticed they kept brushing dust of the plates, and had the food set up inside instead of outside and the sky was a really weird gray colour. We found out about the volcano and that we were basically underneath the ash cloud, which was slowly falling all around. Everyone in the streets had dust masks, it was quite surreal. We headed to the dive shop, and they said we'd go anyways to check it out and find some good spots. The first place we went was crazy! The falling ash was all suspended in the water, making the visibility quite poor. But the bottom of the ocean was also covered, so all the colourful coral of the day before had a thick layer of gray ash over it all. It was very apocalyptic looking! We saw a poor flat flounder fish trying to camouflage on the sea floor, but who was leaving a perfect trail through the ash, so you could see exactly where he was! The dive company called around, and found out that the island we'd dove at the day before was actually outside of the ash cloud, so we headed back there and had another good dive. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUor_5RF9aFgtToeMn3aaa3SXxpaV6JCPp5fVY7lrA0Qhs64TNK_tJRhoXy08Y6jBHafnvGGSGx20qjFdeJ_Luj7tmULUmW8unxLbKUyvU2Onj7cq96G01x5paVKFE-spUBsduNxNKEOfw/s1600/IMG_20140531_071526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUor_5RF9aFgtToeMn3aaa3SXxpaV6JCPp5fVY7lrA0Qhs64TNK_tJRhoXy08Y6jBHafnvGGSGx20qjFdeJ_Luj7tmULUmW8unxLbKUyvU2Onj7cq96G01x5paVKFE-spUBsduNxNKEOfw/s1600/IMG_20140531_071526.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BtcTbo3KINM67XNAEjLRuaDdF_Q0O_CU1GWy5BVikaiTzBZZup5jM9rTKCEH1-ii4B0FkQnpfbzQ3iakHY4jhAi3KFt7YKrRQkrjb4mTpmUQe82apcMd8kQymPxzLA2OB4uljf9dy_RJ/s1600/IMG_20140531_071517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BtcTbo3KINM67XNAEjLRuaDdF_Q0O_CU1GWy5BVikaiTzBZZup5jM9rTKCEH1-ii4B0FkQnpfbzQ3iakHY4jhAi3KFt7YKrRQkrjb4mTpmUQe82apcMd8kQymPxzLA2OB4uljf9dy_RJ/s1600/IMG_20140531_071517.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Ash cloud made it very dark all day, and covered everything in ash</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Both us and </span><span id="goog_1477362684" style="color: #222222;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">another couple </span><span id="goog_1477362685" style="color: #222222;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">had flights booked the next day, and so we sat out the third dive and got to talking. It turns out that we'd both just booked the same last minute liveaboard to the Maldives the night before! What are the chances of that! We had a lot of fun talking with them and had a lot in common, so were very anxious to get to spend a week with Mimi and Chris in the future! They also write a </span><a href="http://macontour.net/" target="_blank">cool blog</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> about their trip which is super epic - a whole year long trip! </span><a href="http://macontour.net/" target="_blank">Check it out</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> if you have a chance, you might even find us in a few of their posts! </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRcI5CS9dxPEKIqLW-1eWFLK90EDfp-vuXFTeZiklich3YL5-aBjBgZv1C-sb8OB_z-dkv5QWzMUsYY-2goa2gmscOm4mCevQSIQqbYPlGBnE18FbP_qfeoI152c67aP23nR-yBPj39i2/s1600/IMG_20140602_173721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRcI5CS9dxPEKIqLW-1eWFLK90EDfp-vuXFTeZiklich3YL5-aBjBgZv1C-sb8OB_z-dkv5QWzMUsYY-2goa2gmscOm4mCevQSIQqbYPlGBnE18FbP_qfeoI152c67aP23nR-yBPj39i2/s1600/IMG_20140602_173721.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Traditional Dance the hotel put on.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">While we were at dinner that night we heard about the airport having been closed all day, and that they didn't know if flights would go out the next day. The airport there is pretty tiny, and not very high tech, so we couldn't find a way to confirm. So next day we packed up and headed to the airport. All flights were still cancelled, and the person we spoke to said he'd call us when we got re-booked. No real timeline or anything. So, we went back to the hotel and got our room back, and spent the day catching up on blogs, our travel log, and reading. The next day we went back to the airport again, and they said we'd maybe go tomorrow, but not to worry, they'd call us. This was getting a bit old, as we had to keep packing up etc. and we couldn't dive as you can't dive within 24 hours of flying, but we didn't know when we'd end up flying! This time they said they'd pay for our hotel room, since they just couldn't get any extra flights in. We didn't want to have another wasted day, so we went back to Wicked Diving and decided to get certified for Nitrox which is a different blend of gas, that allows you to stay down longer and more safely as long as you follow certain guidelines. We also got to see a traditional dance at the hotel, which was really interesting. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gHHimVSzf5P91HQgdX7HFo9E2UAfCNWrXQKLimRMm2epjUlgpNOyzwsm2aOqkYZ61ITXIf7uoRv9mRfV5_QtDSktfiUIM4EzrGqo1Ma-phIOAqUKqmvczrLFzV4qSoM-oKRCZu1p4wGC/s1600/IMG_20140603_133247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gHHimVSzf5P91HQgdX7HFo9E2UAfCNWrXQKLimRMm2epjUlgpNOyzwsm2aOqkYZ61ITXIf7uoRv9mRfV5_QtDSktfiUIM4EzrGqo1Ma-phIOAqUKqmvczrLFzV4qSoM-oKRCZu1p4wGC/s1600/IMG_20140603_133247.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The volcano from our flight!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">That night we got a call saying that we were scheduled on a flight the next day. We asked about our connecting flight, and they told us they'd deal with it later. So after another dinner and night at the hotel we headed once again to the airport. Got all checked in, and tried to find out again about our connecting flight. They assured us that they'd sort it out at the next airport, as the system was down here. We flew out, and almost right over the volcano that had erupted, a bit freaky, but all went well. After waiting in many lines and talking to many people we finally managed to get on a connecting flight to Yogyakarta. We were supposed to have had 4 days there, but we were only going to have 1 now. We spent the flight figuring out how to see what we wanted in such a short time. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgh3hxLKPvt5SaWyet2H2ff33YWEy7Yx-8WfkMcEoAhBbH4cbZsqUsOW5y6FkDEG0yQbt01xmv2IRcSGm2oityQiaHzU6_MmNIjhbTHMkYtog9aSo-EB7jbJhtXjOSeRo1VpXR-v_lAKp4/s1600/IMG_20140525_141308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgh3hxLKPvt5SaWyet2H2ff33YWEy7Yx-8WfkMcEoAhBbH4cbZsqUsOW5y6FkDEG0yQbt01xmv2IRcSGm2oityQiaHzU6_MmNIjhbTHMkYtog9aSo-EB7jbJhtXjOSeRo1VpXR-v_lAKp4/s1600/IMG_20140525_141308.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">Overall, the Komodo island experience was very up and down, we saw some really cool stuff, and met some great people, but then there was the cockroaches, the drowned camera and the long volcano delay. All in all it was definitely a memorable experience! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/101549888858570479578/albums/6075471618521855889?authkey=CML7quGljInfOw" target="_blank">Click here to see our complete album from Komodo</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180831334700731895noreply@blogger.com2Komodo, Komodo, Komodo, West Manggarai, Indonesia-8.582571 119.489866-34.1046055 78.181272 16.939463500000002 160.79846tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-78906582282003197332014-08-12T23:33:00.000-07:002014-08-12T23:33:45.154-07:00How we edit and organize our picturesWe've been using <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html" target="_blank">Adobe Lightroom</a> to organize and edit our pictures. We've been trying to take most of our pictures as RAWs. This means that your pictures take up considerably more space (~15 MB) than a normal JPEG (1-3 MB), but edits on RAWs tend to look a lot better then if you were editing the JPEG directly. For a more in-depth discussion of the tradeoffs, SLR Lounge has a <a href="http://www.slrlounge.com/school/raw-vs-jpeg-jpg-the-ultimate-visual-guide/" target="_blank">pretty good article on the differences between the two formats</a>.<br />
<br />
Editing makes a pretty big difference to some pictures - particularly underwater photos, and photos that were over or underexposed.<br />
<br />
Here's an example of one of our pictures from the <a href="http://www.jeromeandlaura.com/2014/05/climbing-mount-kinabalu.html" target="_blank">summit of Mount Kinabalu </a>(you can click to enlarge). On the left is the original, unedited picture. The center panel shows the result of increasing the brightness on the JPEG vs increasing the brightness on the RAW in the final panel. All that I did to this picture was increase the exposure.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFE4zzW_GOfdWI5Fv9BTC-bPOzyQ65EYO4z0ywePBikDOePAPRq0g6qFwxzQ9tn6VPC1ltHLX1xtB01c_s0-teX7zmj_KOYcWcMMUXulZ2E3V7cuBhIvvCiJ4YL-sQOiXwjX_bCDcM4Y/s1600/Mount+KK+-+Adjustments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFE4zzW_GOfdWI5Fv9BTC-bPOzyQ65EYO4z0ywePBikDOePAPRq0g6qFwxzQ9tn6VPC1ltHLX1xtB01c_s0-teX7zmj_KOYcWcMMUXulZ2E3V7cuBhIvvCiJ4YL-sQOiXwjX_bCDcM4Y/s1600/Mount+KK+-+Adjustments.jpg" height="160" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original, edited JPEG, edit RAW</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here's an example of one of my jellyfish pictures from our <a href="http://www.jeromeandlaura.com/2014/08/diving-at-point-lobos.html" target="_blank">dive at Point Lobos</a>. I took a lot more artistic liberty with this photo. Red light penetrates water the least, so underwater pictures tend to have a bit of a bias towards green. I made it a lot bluer - probably bluer than the water actually was. I also played around a bit with the exposure, whites, blacks, shadows and highlights - basically to try to get the jellyfish to standout a bit more.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA57vZkiAGl1LKCpxc-Igggi-XI1XTMT6-V2gVNNOAn8z6yEsMhlZ_XMKnjUVlm7ZCDTO1kn-I7TYWkgJSq1tk0nuLQjBJOsB9zrNSEziEjammejlKUjkssRJa0l9WNyNmTLd8Jmnmyg/s1600/Jellyfish+-+before+and+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA57vZkiAGl1LKCpxc-Igggi-XI1XTMT6-V2gVNNOAn8z6yEsMhlZ_XMKnjUVlm7ZCDTO1kn-I7TYWkgJSq1tk0nuLQjBJOsB9zrNSEziEjammejlKUjkssRJa0l9WNyNmTLd8Jmnmyg/s1600/Jellyfish+-+before+and+after.jpg" height="240" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original (left) and edited (right) version picture of a jellyfish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here's what lightroom looks like. This is in "develop" mode - most of what I'm doing just involves moving the sliders around and seeing what I like best.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UDhVohWQu58AQAhyJed50hsE57_hYLNA6aoHarm33lqCwsbkFsECE-KYAfqo4MW5gwST0SSWUNh4EpTzb3IDiaSi_FBY219TToIWlRoLdVwYHJFUKzWjrsKSCqspJNjOm2J3cOVo1-8/s1600/Lightroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UDhVohWQu58AQAhyJed50hsE57_hYLNA6aoHarm33lqCwsbkFsECE-KYAfqo4MW5gwST0SSWUNh4EpTzb3IDiaSi_FBY219TToIWlRoLdVwYHJFUKzWjrsKSCqspJNjOm2J3cOVo1-8/s1600/Lightroom.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Laura's has a copy of Adobe Photoshop as well. Photoshop is a lot more sophisticated and works on a per-photo basis; it doesn't have any of the album management features that Lightroom provides. If you do decide to start shooting in RAW and you're looking for an easy way to organize and edit your photos give Lightroom a try (Adobe offers a <a href="https://creative.adobe.com/products/download/lightroom" target="_blank">free 30-day trial</a>)!<br />
<br />
PS. Thanks to Marta and Kim for suggesting Lightroom to us (and convincing us that shooting in RAW is worthwhile).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Sunnyvale, CA, USA37.36883 -122.036349637.1669745 -122.35907309999999 37.5706855 -121.7136261tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-13649718305723265082014-08-10T22:23:00.001-07:002014-08-10T22:23:27.907-07:00Diving at Point Lobos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FwQGvibahuCYR4WrK8Fk6mr9Yo-Z-I3xaSDYkOo8FjLghUqFdb8vAcA1jZOhDWcDKhrxaIq2L5hEy62AffAQSovQKSGH6YI4RNpwxOAap2hK4NkLTkd6ueYpEFe-5s0-Ai19exnnjy0/s1600/IMG_2820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FwQGvibahuCYR4WrK8Fk6mr9Yo-Z-I3xaSDYkOo8FjLghUqFdb8vAcA1jZOhDWcDKhrxaIq2L5hEy62AffAQSovQKSGH6YI4RNpwxOAap2hK4NkLTkd6ueYpEFe-5s0-Ai19exnnjy0/s1600/IMG_2820.jpg" height="556" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Jerome -- The only time that Laura and I dived in Northern California was in February when we were getting our Open Water Certification. Those dives spent the majority of the time doing the dive training exercises. So this was our first "real" fun diving back at home.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/107778524531915524037/albums/6046158918175434673" target="_blank">Full photo album</a></div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
Laura opted to go with a full drysuit. It creates a watertight seal around your neck and wrists and in theory keeps you a lot warmer in cold water. The downside is that a dry-suit is more complicated, more expensive, harder to maintain buoyancy (at least for a drysuit beginner) requires you to wear a lot more weights (to offset the air in the suit. I really disliked the choking feeling from the neck seal, so I opted to wear a wetsuit (varying in thickness from 8mm - 5mm). Water on the surface wasn't too bad - even when we hung out on the surface for 30 minutes waiting for everyone to get properly weighted etc, the cold wasn't too bad. But at the bottom it was cold - only 11°C!! Both Laura and I noticed that we moved and functioned considerably slower in the cold water.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1YmICbru4uStFxPRHOnwWvQN6QLFzDuGsoao7siV26bJQh_BK53JeJAdXuPwTBjp-f_LPvNohlg_kDi2Gb9kYZPyErFwgXZLQKR3PSQLzeg5nbIhpx4EZhyphenhyphen2gJ9Ze0rq8n9F0r9YgB0/s1600/IMG_2735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1YmICbru4uStFxPRHOnwWvQN6QLFzDuGsoao7siV26bJQh_BK53JeJAdXuPwTBjp-f_LPvNohlg_kDi2Gb9kYZPyErFwgXZLQKR3PSQLzeg5nbIhpx4EZhyphenhyphen2gJ9Ze0rq8n9F0r9YgB0/s1600/IMG_2735.jpg" height="332" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What did we get to see? On the surface, we saw an otter, a sea lion, and pelican. Down below, there were lots of pretty big jelly fish, nice anemones, fish, lots of kelp -- an a friendly seal that came by to check us out! Visibility wasn't great -- I'd guess about 3m or so. And because it was so cold, our dives weren't too long - around 30 minutes rather than the hour we'd generally do in warm water. On the surface, the rocking of the waves on the little zodiacs was pretty unpleasant -- I think most of the people on the boat were feeling some degree of seasickness.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gL5zZGxgpdQ/U-hH53F_1NI/AAAAAAAAV3M/CvjRhfbs09s/s1600/MVI_2799.mp4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gL5zZGxgpdQ/U-hH53F_1NI/AAAAAAAAV3M/CvjRhfbs09s/s1600/MVI_2799.mp4" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Not sure how often we'll be braving the cold to scuba dive out here in the future. It's a very unique marine environment, but its a lot of time and effort for the fairly short dives and the cold a low visibility make it a bit less rewarding.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdbmICdP8oLzWCyqmtKBQ-quGE7cCqzaCcuS0o1_Hbl-opo3oQJqbSiQ3eLeOF1WwDsbddtGO1-w_0TfcV_0YeXQuvt8h0LbIXc1IlkALCiwBcaE8XFrGpKkI1pQaEZDf9U66gZA6X0s/s1600/IMG_2743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdbmICdP8oLzWCyqmtKBQ-quGE7cCqzaCcuS0o1_Hbl-opo3oQJqbSiQ3eLeOF1WwDsbddtGO1-w_0TfcV_0YeXQuvt8h0LbIXc1IlkALCiwBcaE8XFrGpKkI1pQaEZDf9U66gZA6X0s/s1600/IMG_2743.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNVdvCZeLlf8_4vGs811paD_RSPKNNaOzLi24IYZB9gItS7pdevgLWMBZhQLM80EAxFN5uqeUTqbJIkaiL2hyphenhyphenl6hw_2f83yZ77dAbfKbVEolUOP17MMqlu-ItXci7n71nW6uIa56SyI4/s1600/IMG_2753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNVdvCZeLlf8_4vGs811paD_RSPKNNaOzLi24IYZB9gItS7pdevgLWMBZhQLM80EAxFN5uqeUTqbJIkaiL2hyphenhyphenl6hw_2f83yZ77dAbfKbVEolUOP17MMqlu-ItXci7n71nW6uIa56SyI4/s1600/IMG_2753.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZBCbL2GcSzGRAeBMysrxofFT2eNQfUz-vPudRovGofmOM7u_JCTALLcNjGeqHYGyONWHsMx8L12nnaE_CyVd-f9Zl5voGbt9_N0nNlKKCcQqBApDrCfNEeHkbXBdQshGFb68Ua-yMxw/s1600/IMG_2763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZBCbL2GcSzGRAeBMysrxofFT2eNQfUz-vPudRovGofmOM7u_JCTALLcNjGeqHYGyONWHsMx8L12nnaE_CyVd-f9Zl5voGbt9_N0nNlKKCcQqBApDrCfNEeHkbXBdQshGFb68Ua-yMxw/s1600/IMG_2763.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORiQV_s23cLwLu8tmdZpUKD8o-f6mdv65KrjTQNim70BLK243oid6s5rc1t7WmcVTWkzMId5NZd3keTTRMdH1fmqLQupPFDSfYpil_UHFFqB2onPDx9YD6eoJ8JfGjnF0PSLsN1jedAg/s1600/IMG_2775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORiQV_s23cLwLu8tmdZpUKD8o-f6mdv65KrjTQNim70BLK243oid6s5rc1t7WmcVTWkzMId5NZd3keTTRMdH1fmqLQupPFDSfYpil_UHFFqB2onPDx9YD6eoJ8JfGjnF0PSLsN1jedAg/s1600/IMG_2775.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0aaHlznXptwArXmiJfau7-87VVWQCnFmeqYJ6z5iRSzcvExJbfipLde-Ia-v4yH9H9IzJZWxeHYUml1jMCMiG5iy6lWvKV2uQ1JIJ8dSVzwtP03UdQufjdsu6zkzfkPw6XEcbnT4iic/s1600/IMG_2780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0aaHlznXptwArXmiJfau7-87VVWQCnFmeqYJ6z5iRSzcvExJbfipLde-Ia-v4yH9H9IzJZWxeHYUml1jMCMiG5iy6lWvKV2uQ1JIJ8dSVzwtP03UdQufjdsu6zkzfkPw6XEcbnT4iic/s1600/IMG_2780.jpg" height="612" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_8c60DslTf0il4dGM5Pn3JjvW_uEXjD6DyTz7ENjo4izydqa7JOzi-5kJf_Zdj0y1omqjEXKj6WdAoeRSg6-yYoIilzsg-t3d2G92IIUEt9YBIA-j0i0RyPm-ZePojiXlnKhOG2q3BY/s1600/IMG_2782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_8c60DslTf0il4dGM5Pn3JjvW_uEXjD6DyTz7ENjo4izydqa7JOzi-5kJf_Zdj0y1omqjEXKj6WdAoeRSg6-yYoIilzsg-t3d2G92IIUEt9YBIA-j0i0RyPm-ZePojiXlnKhOG2q3BY/s1600/IMG_2782.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyC56ihJ97u18CWkQkG2MPd_eAEmQnfe-c6CjM4lasQyfi12GVBU-oI9b3lA77oz9WcmYcHkSpnqg_EfyPp7jrHOLs2Oh2B1hFkSUec8kjmoXAogQSqWdvSSeY-syaI7BuYxG4a9OAYwM/s1600/IMG_2789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyC56ihJ97u18CWkQkG2MPd_eAEmQnfe-c6CjM4lasQyfi12GVBU-oI9b3lA77oz9WcmYcHkSpnqg_EfyPp7jrHOLs2Oh2B1hFkSUec8kjmoXAogQSqWdvSSeY-syaI7BuYxG4a9OAYwM/s1600/IMG_2789.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wucd4aFlOsXid-1eIXj8B-LvQTgQ8SalTqXJEZT287Q0Wtuwl8cs07tU8FM0HYpeU8xzpl_WdjtIqGtKxJG0z9vdviX5scMEmmhlz0zzYzDK6ARbw6FPY1GDDc40cfmer9i73lx_5fY/s1600/IMG_2790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wucd4aFlOsXid-1eIXj8B-LvQTgQ8SalTqXJEZT287Q0Wtuwl8cs07tU8FM0HYpeU8xzpl_WdjtIqGtKxJG0z9vdviX5scMEmmhlz0zzYzDK6ARbw6FPY1GDDc40cfmer9i73lx_5fY/s1600/IMG_2790.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdcy9zMfFwvlPJ9nVJ0qk10aJ2TazPiyVK8jhk5zCHqgAZeoU4oGX2F2NsncHMIfDRvmAGh65GnJT98CGqM4pmqyIet5Q37sKN_qOASesczHeq2wYjjcH1vcrIGy_-dF1CTYmLbFijfI/s1600/IMG_2803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdcy9zMfFwvlPJ9nVJ0qk10aJ2TazPiyVK8jhk5zCHqgAZeoU4oGX2F2NsncHMIfDRvmAGh65GnJT98CGqM4pmqyIet5Q37sKN_qOASesczHeq2wYjjcH1vcrIGy_-dF1CTYmLbFijfI/s1600/IMG_2803.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVziZZUksJeaeCRR5XKqh-wve2UTfQgvZP11SCJPM0AAOjWdOxzE9W6KN7gwZ1KQRU9KurnbRiQdsGacmnjxez1Nd9dafDDmgmUm97bDdHjiTbTrnRp5etB3hy9UIMyeu0PYZldaQ8FM/s1600/IMG_2819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVziZZUksJeaeCRR5XKqh-wve2UTfQgvZP11SCJPM0AAOjWdOxzE9W6KN7gwZ1KQRU9KurnbRiQdsGacmnjxez1Nd9dafDDmgmUm97bDdHjiTbTrnRp5etB3hy9UIMyeu0PYZldaQ8FM/s1600/IMG_2819.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80LbJIy87HQ_VvLHXLK2Z7IZyk5h2fh9MoH5Ppt149souYVGPHqALBsZBpS9APkhfgvMLYnFaWfDi38bJmEFZiXXOdJtiCfbStb9hWwpSPBk_k4CS1mgcIxnJ-QqCgW2BaI-ClOUvJR8/s1600/IMG_2821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80LbJIy87HQ_VvLHXLK2Z7IZyk5h2fh9MoH5Ppt149souYVGPHqALBsZBpS9APkhfgvMLYnFaWfDi38bJmEFZiXXOdJtiCfbStb9hWwpSPBk_k4CS1mgcIxnJ-QqCgW2BaI-ClOUvJR8/s1600/IMG_2821.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-c_WVG6Q4rl8cHxCu6AdZSsKQL3twcGkY20h3RrQzMeB2c5tP7nrLRMr_zGkjiZ4EaxJPayzWzcjikQChBQ_t3e2Ghb3USE0wHUGbwOSskpd3TFfb6tgnUMcWockhQVkxDIDkVZTAjg/s1600/IMG_2832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-c_WVG6Q4rl8cHxCu6AdZSsKQL3twcGkY20h3RrQzMeB2c5tP7nrLRMr_zGkjiZ4EaxJPayzWzcjikQChBQ_t3e2Ghb3USE0wHUGbwOSskpd3TFfb6tgnUMcWockhQVkxDIDkVZTAjg/s1600/IMG_2832.jpg" height="418" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<div>
<a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/107778524531915524037/albums/6046158918175434673" target="_blank">Full photo album</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3Whalers Cove, California 93923, USA36.5198582 -121.9384226999999936.516668200000005 -121.94346519999999 36.5230482 -121.93338019999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-1777101477513832842014-07-20T23:20:00.000-07:002014-07-20T23:20:01.538-07:00Beautiful Bali<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStCOqtGwq90ziGE45cSqeoZGEquTSSQzYxzGJ2eCpRprUzTVJfSBwarWYyOzl6nH6IbCrkvqyFshLm6s7TcCamdXLAJ5f_Hrc-OEMS373glZ3eNMAZPkO7idUWQM6o9N2C5ApYLNKnos/s1600/GOPR1390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStCOqtGwq90ziGE45cSqeoZGEquTSSQzYxzGJ2eCpRprUzTVJfSBwarWYyOzl6nH6IbCrkvqyFshLm6s7TcCamdXLAJ5f_Hrc-OEMS373glZ3eNMAZPkO7idUWQM6o9N2C5ApYLNKnos/s1600/GOPR1390.jpg" height="246" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">View of Mount Kinabalu in the distance from our dive boat in Kota Kinabalu</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
(This is a post that Laura wrote up after we visited Bali, but we didn't end up posting it because I went snorkeling with our non-waterproof-camera in my pocket. After several tries, I was luckily able to recover all of our pictures!)<br />
<br />
<u><a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/+JeromeMourits/albums/6037672898186658209" target="_blank">Album of all bali photos</a></u><br />
<br />
Laura -- After leaving the jungle, we headed back to Kota Kinabalu for 3 fun days of diving. We'll post more about the diving once we get home and can easily see the videos and photos.<br />
<br />
We caught a flight from there to Bali, Indonesia and headed straight to Ubud for about five days. The first place we stayed was right beside the <a href="http://www.monkeyforestubud.com/" target="_blank">Monkey Forest</a>. So naturally, we spent an afternoon there. The monkeys seemed to particularly enjoy climbing on Jerome. There were all sizes and personalities and we spent several hours watching them. Here's a couple of them:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MlIXbKDcEFinqdxGN78JGQ9rFSGDCdRNUozV8MqkqxXIWmWjCms6FHUXdCLiaLqZRlirkLu3tmHgjN-JcBmAEPvZwsHV0RIkLmrQfZtc3hG_MupYOXdZ6PlhCI8EYsLOPd9RDkqdihI/s1600/IMG_3503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MlIXbKDcEFinqdxGN78JGQ9rFSGDCdRNUozV8MqkqxXIWmWjCms6FHUXdCLiaLqZRlirkLu3tmHgjN-JcBmAEPvZwsHV0RIkLmrQfZtc3hG_MupYOXdZ6PlhCI8EYsLOPd9RDkqdihI/s1600/IMG_3503.jpg" height="394" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7IVVTueNob59bh-KjNbY1uMIkJXEbrdwBMDGEC5jyTr9Ce_FWo1NB2GxpXIlut2i3sLkwz7Dt4gRBT33WqkUpGutI3bhCACckVbOzk8sv5vo7ysLjCbCz1plyHzD1RgblITwKJjg8Rk/s1600/IMG_3447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7IVVTueNob59bh-KjNbY1uMIkJXEbrdwBMDGEC5jyTr9Ce_FWo1NB2GxpXIlut2i3sLkwz7Dt4gRBT33WqkUpGutI3bhCACckVbOzk8sv5vo7ysLjCbCz1plyHzD1RgblITwKJjg8Rk/s1600/IMG_3447.jpg" height="304" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZFDUDCJhSanlI3WYCcghCmEDWvwbeDi-aEjVA2Z38bWqBZqUzcUQsNA_QvQGM71xK2ifzYp3VpENniTBOT0uz2UoaDG26pZ4d37dMgglCEHZBOU8xSJyNVWZ3NZ5YAsKKIaDq8bpzBM/s1600/IMG_3440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZFDUDCJhSanlI3WYCcghCmEDWvwbeDi-aEjVA2Z38bWqBZqUzcUQsNA_QvQGM71xK2ifzYp3VpENniTBOT0uz2UoaDG26pZ4d37dMgglCEHZBOU8xSJyNVWZ3NZ5YAsKKIaDq8bpzBM/s1600/IMG_3440.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHNZ8iAI23r89anyvIGgWFDIKtsXjbEXJxs9vhpRfXQr0I-kNGd3UoRTWEHutJy52iTJA6u73OcQn6Ng1Or5u2D2_Zc7jr2ltHJX0d4NrThU6zzptsVqXZgalvlHu9eqiFCykVt-jqwI/s1600/IMG_3497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHNZ8iAI23r89anyvIGgWFDIKtsXjbEXJxs9vhpRfXQr0I-kNGd3UoRTWEHutJy52iTJA6u73OcQn6Ng1Or5u2D2_Zc7jr2ltHJX0d4NrThU6zzptsVqXZgalvlHu9eqiFCykVt-jqwI/s1600/IMG_3497.jpg" height="446" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIw3F45BjUKJi3ekWzStSf4falYiq4S5OzIafsBiAzICPzi2jg2q-reAsGLjey91NCNLFxHAWtikPcDSW1-UcGqVtU_dkjR7xlE5ix4IELNq8UTTqb7AQs1Tj3_XNQdRyKNrb0sDRCi80/s1600/IMG_3509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIw3F45BjUKJi3ekWzStSf4falYiq4S5OzIafsBiAzICPzi2jg2q-reAsGLjey91NCNLFxHAWtikPcDSW1-UcGqVtU_dkjR7xlE5ix4IELNq8UTTqb7AQs1Tj3_XNQdRyKNrb0sDRCi80/s1600/IMG_3509.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOA65ffqd0q1OkgWq2BaSPhzp6ZEgyHQcneAnyyYpwt3nrY3e9Os21az15kxiDjk7LHAJ72Hq7HmskBVgVvdlJHsz5DpS_6RItHzhBq_dhYGWbQcbf3eLlwvDcEzJbbWOuC2wHatBHZaM/s1600/IMG_3522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOA65ffqd0q1OkgWq2BaSPhzp6ZEgyHQcneAnyyYpwt3nrY3e9Os21az15kxiDjk7LHAJ72Hq7HmskBVgVvdlJHsz5DpS_6RItHzhBq_dhYGWbQcbf3eLlwvDcEzJbbWOuC2wHatBHZaM/s1600/IMG_3522.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uwnUI-KikBmrhQQbfpQYv7KeEiWL5d6KRJWRs4D1Ii6qhmTkMZO92Bio3paXRDDgrZq1moZMMpFDLqYzuQAvtrWHOfCpbX6ZGlJ9roCEHwL_rXsiPkA8OOLvyQbyRiHmtIbgTyUKFHY/s1600/IMG_1382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uwnUI-KikBmrhQQbfpQYv7KeEiWL5d6KRJWRs4D1Ii6qhmTkMZO92Bio3paXRDDgrZq1moZMMpFDLqYzuQAvtrWHOfCpbX6ZGlJ9roCEHwL_rXsiPkA8OOLvyQbyRiHmtIbgTyUKFHY/s1600/IMG_1382.jpg" height="464" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukxa7l7GyM0zAUhpOHizemeZq4d4yibAtW-YN6R-6EMs-Sa5Zh_UpEc7d_yhrOZGtJe-01vmNCxmi5ouOKU8lByUpuQgt7w7OubCAzdIzwOg063EXP7zumul9e-LlK4CMMbH4RRKOPgg/s1600/IMG_3542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukxa7l7GyM0zAUhpOHizemeZq4d4yibAtW-YN6R-6EMs-Sa5Zh_UpEc7d_yhrOZGtJe-01vmNCxmi5ouOKU8lByUpuQgt7w7OubCAzdIzwOg063EXP7zumul9e-LlK4CMMbH4RRKOPgg/s1600/IMG_3542.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
More monkey videos in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-I3EJvz98ed-HsqAVki0OnOG_mPqpvf1" target="_blank">my YouTube playlist</a>.<br />
<br />
The next day we took a cooking class at <a href="http://www.paon-bali.com/" target="_blank">Paon Bali</a>. It began with a market visit where we learned about and tasted the different fruits from the area, such as <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1174751065"></span>mangosteens</a> (our favorite) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salak" target="_blank">salak</a>. Then we were put to work - slicing, dicing, and grinding ingredients. Puspa the head chef led us in cooking nine traditional dishes! If you're curious, here's an <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1bus_HlRM7rQ0FzemhvWERHUk0/edit" target="_blank">online copy of the recipes</a>. At the end we got to eat our spoils, and it was a very tasty feast!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMEtcugSoFbZqXHMEYCal0xGB8pr7lB3buMeQUFP-FKCjXIdVrobshXPspGlu9-khr0y-wOLVUEDDP4zrpEf3Cz9Gbv9K2POeUfyqU8iYaRQ-bbyyHQowTSMINHOs-C3Sl618zVA7uOc/s1600/IMG_3559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMEtcugSoFbZqXHMEYCal0xGB8pr7lB3buMeQUFP-FKCjXIdVrobshXPspGlu9-khr0y-wOLVUEDDP4zrpEf3Cz9Gbv9K2POeUfyqU8iYaRQ-bbyyHQowTSMINHOs-C3Sl618zVA7uOc/s1600/IMG_3559.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Market selling the ingredients to prepare the traditional balinese offerings that are put out every day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb4GxOQsB1MtGV25B_KNZBjhx6dXXZhBuEkNzDCh7Lo2uy_irWqCInIyxAMa9CX9ogM4pFdQzsAEpKJUNRQJo4d3-XKtKE3gvfQK9n2reccQiN3w_qn6M_IOKkvTaWgUDbZG9uqgGD0Q/s1600/IMG_1419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb4GxOQsB1MtGV25B_KNZBjhx6dXXZhBuEkNzDCh7Lo2uy_irWqCInIyxAMa9CX9ogM4pFdQzsAEpKJUNRQJo4d3-XKtKE3gvfQK9n2reccQiN3w_qn6M_IOKkvTaWgUDbZG9uqgGD0Q/s1600/IMG_1419.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Mangosteens - our delicious! Our favorite 'exotic' fruit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafjI2Yx8EsIZhRI8zbzF3sngHffm1OVBbprbaumcdI7j8lk5frc40gl_rSpyK2PAyqP1jaxjiRNwqy2JuTMQAD5g8AqFOILG2OZpa3lTnG_6qQ4DbC26apaG_I0L1By6zP4wAJb20UCc/s1600/IMG_3566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafjI2Yx8EsIZhRI8zbzF3sngHffm1OVBbprbaumcdI7j8lk5frc40gl_rSpyK2PAyqP1jaxjiRNwqy2JuTMQAD5g8AqFOILG2OZpa3lTnG_6qQ4DbC26apaG_I0L1By6zP4wAJb20UCc/s1600/IMG_3566.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Salak (aka snake fruit). Kind of dry and apple-y</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVczzmX_ibhbbNwLLVLOyTVEZqRsjOtCrj2gd-dQZnsLCNGqHTLeb_hwHLuUXyHCcNw_FovSU9M5UaEmf314q7fkJatcjTjGHbe1R_o3vnXspLeQiheEIegq5o5QigCD__7Qx45gTFYio/s1600/IMG_3594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVczzmX_ibhbbNwLLVLOyTVEZqRsjOtCrj2gd-dQZnsLCNGqHTLeb_hwHLuUXyHCcNw_FovSU9M5UaEmf314q7fkJatcjTjGHbe1R_o3vnXspLeQiheEIegq5o5QigCD__7Qx45gTFYio/s1600/IMG_3594.jpg" height="640" width="588" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Laura, crushing the ingredients to make the basic yellow sauce</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3MamhLzl7ZMsSyQEmqRgFhKLTWshIrefwjeDNB7ZAt__wxjm8YbBBLPzzt9I84E1OL67bclzd14xgcUlLIK0j4Ey1DsOpd0Em934OpFfDill7lRJIeti4a2-gUasykuI-kJGcoDCxjE/s1600/IMG_3586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3MamhLzl7ZMsSyQEmqRgFhKLTWshIrefwjeDNB7ZAt__wxjm8YbBBLPzzt9I84E1OL67bclzd14xgcUlLIK0j4Ey1DsOpd0Em934OpFfDill7lRJIeti4a2-gUasykuI-kJGcoDCxjE/s1600/IMG_3586.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Jerome, crushing peanuts to make peanut sauce</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_Zr9rwt1ZOxJF3TkpW9eeGUjz3ranCHam_ytcMgSkE62v-Nhe6a1Cg8VTZ8YHjxmczFl_tN5ERuTsdn9PQc-VzwY-T6nMcnVbVp2NtkLFpkY1aztKmcjXg4u8mH3z1UQHtxoXxiIGI0/s1600/IMG_3633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_Zr9rwt1ZOxJF3TkpW9eeGUjz3ranCHam_ytcMgSkE62v-Nhe6a1Cg8VTZ8YHjxmczFl_tN5ERuTsdn9PQc-VzwY-T6nMcnVbVp2NtkLFpkY1aztKmcjXg4u8mH3z1UQHtxoXxiIGI0/s1600/IMG_3633.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Our finished meal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The following day we continued expanding our knowledge, by taking a Batik making class. We arrived at 10am, and didn't finish until 6! We started off by drawing our design on paper. Coming up with the ideas of what to draw was quite a challenge itself. Once we were happy, we transferred it onto an 18" by 36" piece of cotton, also in pencil. Then came the tricky part. You use a special little device that holds wax and lets you draw on the fabric. There's quite a knack to it. If you have too much wax or tip it up too much it leaves a big drip on your picture . If you have too little, it won't write. And if you tip it down too much, it drips boiling wax on your hand! Needless to saw we each had a few drips, but overall did pretty well. Next we used metal stamps in hot wax to make geometric patterns along the border. Once the whole piece was outlined in wax, it was time to paint in the dye. It is a bit like a colouring book picture, except where the wax is now will be left white at the end.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwY37x-_gZZzIo8TBTy80r5HpvE6XF20mGtfv7mUU5PP7QYb8WQb1HiTxx5kI0ANjWp35sJonxVA6eDTrnYgh_HIAJgff-zkw_MuVyKxaXMMB3rMr9NOrtjFXVdj9mJ_TOTIbZFFMtrY/s1600/IMG_3659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwY37x-_gZZzIo8TBTy80r5HpvE6XF20mGtfv7mUU5PP7QYb8WQb1HiTxx5kI0ANjWp35sJonxVA6eDTrnYgh_HIAJgff-zkw_MuVyKxaXMMB3rMr9NOrtjFXVdj9mJ_TOTIbZFFMtrY/s1600/IMG_3659.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Tracing the outline with wax</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TBst1in6TZE3cvyOtQJQwAps3cSD6k57ehIXna30nfl0lHuS9HfxW-XNacS4DR9Vexl5r8rUTqLBOcAxxGY1ZDA8WBcObRMNEkM3ujd1yXeJVezy1AfAukRsmmI7Z_Db3KCmMpUDiXA/s1600/IMG_3664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TBst1in6TZE3cvyOtQJQwAps3cSD6k57ehIXna30nfl0lHuS9HfxW-XNacS4DR9Vexl5r8rUTqLBOcAxxGY1ZDA8WBcObRMNEkM3ujd1yXeJVezy1AfAukRsmmI7Z_Db3KCmMpUDiXA/s1600/IMG_3664.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDV7xwyFHleu54FkNqcM3Ncoe-ZWYro2cncygVd7MBhpogIVBPzFJxvJ2DBcBOmRT0xtP8iNyWmp6CJe0TL2TDQ7yn6R4iYmDder1LyWtUoaomcu4CH1dGGJw1uXKuglMB_-UC9iQBS9Y/s1600/IMG_3675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDV7xwyFHleu54FkNqcM3Ncoe-ZWYro2cncygVd7MBhpogIVBPzFJxvJ2DBcBOmRT0xtP8iNyWmp6CJe0TL2TDQ7yn6R4iYmDder1LyWtUoaomcu4CH1dGGJw1uXKuglMB_-UC9iQBS9Y/s1600/IMG_3675.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Laura adding a border to her batik</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8cX-I1363uvmTvIF76YC9H-2JQ9HaGwVmiXWI9Obc5hZQChCMbX3RoShvjQt81Ben6o-IaRqm6yiEQ26vfI5VKB284oczQU0SICL1wxvayp_0JFvvJb5fiaRu7d12EUwh9JOV1kDiX8/s1600/IMG_3677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8cX-I1363uvmTvIF76YC9H-2JQ9HaGwVmiXWI9Obc5hZQChCMbX3RoShvjQt81Ben6o-IaRqm6yiEQ26vfI5VKB284oczQU0SICL1wxvayp_0JFvvJb5fiaRu7d12EUwh9JOV1kDiX8/s1600/IMG_3677.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Laura's batik - Finished with the wax and ready to color</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6LnRHtVh01VKeG4Hs9Y1KIwSS2Q5bRedBbuYFn3K3fQu49I_O8qpbRDjbk5Yjr20VAYZLNLCSV_zdtgr8YLSbhEiC59eijyTuvxa7_BCy7QIpLb85OatiTTuSxCZL69gPaXJdj7-lZI/s1600/IMG_3680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6LnRHtVh01VKeG4Hs9Y1KIwSS2Q5bRedBbuYFn3K3fQu49I_O8qpbRDjbk5Yjr20VAYZLNLCSV_zdtgr8YLSbhEiC59eijyTuvxa7_BCy7QIpLb85OatiTTuSxCZL69gPaXJdj7-lZI/s1600/IMG_3680.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Jerome's batik - finished with the wax and ready to color</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Choosing colours was interesting. There were about 15 colours to choose from, but they didn't all paint on with the colour they'd be in the end. So the pictures looked weird. For example the green dye paints on a dark purple, and then in the chemical setting process turns green. And the reds painted on very faint, but deepened with sun and water exposure. There was a colour wheel to use to figure out what the colours should end up like.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xObyYjOjlIPX9mdFhHlTul6sVsxH2sWSx3j57Qqzszx6V6R4JkLG3wvrS70eTWAgX1U8pVFFeZALGwO4QIlEBLDVOX7AR-UhV2JR4PkjSKKQAS26oE40dXMs9pta4S7ckYgw3DrIXDg/s1600/IMG_3692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xObyYjOjlIPX9mdFhHlTul6sVsxH2sWSx3j57Qqzszx6V6R4JkLG3wvrS70eTWAgX1U8pVFFeZALGwO4QIlEBLDVOX7AR-UhV2JR4PkjSKKQAS26oE40dXMs9pta4S7ckYgw3DrIXDg/s1600/IMG_3692.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPp1fMUFWugZNjngYnxcAcPLBI1XT4fiAB8rvJIFvXLznJeFUqDU9ve39yQRjR3zRS3IF-H_pOBoDxLyXCSK24Avp99589RaoECwu5kZdWHvz2fY-VURzM6hH2EjBIaR5QbGNrAoFL-A/s1600/IMG_3670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPp1fMUFWugZNjngYnxcAcPLBI1XT4fiAB8rvJIFvXLznJeFUqDU9ve39yQRjR3zRS3IF-H_pOBoDxLyXCSK24Avp99589RaoECwu5kZdWHvz2fY-VURzM6hH2EjBIaR5QbGNrAoFL-A/s1600/IMG_3670.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It took a long time but we eventually covered the whole cloth. They had to dry and then were ready for the magic. It was so neat putting them in the setting bath and seeing all the colours change! A few rinses in hot and cold water, and we were done! A very fun and productive day.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_W3w4rcNPAF9DUaqnpy7r3170dPUdVWEWgaKZAnLlmc4np2VwnbfDOMgcCJoHXHFALteC0L0usCnjHBQ5rbIPfidjsaKdtW-_m3M_c9irVb3kWA7eT2r1_Gl_aT7d6Xvvyk-gjZUz9c/s1600/IMG_3706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_W3w4rcNPAF9DUaqnpy7r3170dPUdVWEWgaKZAnLlmc4np2VwnbfDOMgcCJoHXHFALteC0L0usCnjHBQ5rbIPfidjsaKdtW-_m3M_c9irVb3kWA7eT2r1_Gl_aT7d6Xvvyk-gjZUz9c/s1600/IMG_3706.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Laura's completed batik </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjcZRpA6dIPxIxkP1w9_QF3nd-5h9VtbPWOyM9ts-W_Je8Yj7iUM-AQIjGA5eHixWhmXPY-9lsM8_JFHrYaXMMcaxa3mNcC0U5SaoZgKE1P8LjQnGBSzAT79yrJyvDqPGdOF05ZrtELM/s1600/IMG_3709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjcZRpA6dIPxIxkP1w9_QF3nd-5h9VtbPWOyM9ts-W_Je8Yj7iUM-AQIjGA5eHixWhmXPY-9lsM8_JFHrYaXMMcaxa3mNcC0U5SaoZgKE1P8LjQnGBSzAT79yrJyvDqPGdOF05ZrtELM/s1600/IMG_3709.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Jerome's batik before setting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4JZBn0zOR2JzdExNZOGc_NFn_0soruttEIkdkxz1mzmRKECP1RoSDXQr7sylu3uLrs35eYU4OiqFi7PvMLxGoEt0Bg6f1wtY6EyxIeKffOlQBktm35nZm-ok3bysbt9TIP-NchciMWk/s1600/IMG_3710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4JZBn0zOR2JzdExNZOGc_NFn_0soruttEIkdkxz1mzmRKECP1RoSDXQr7sylu3uLrs35eYU4OiqFi7PvMLxGoEt0Bg6f1wtY6EyxIeKffOlQBktm35nZm-ok3bysbt9TIP-NchciMWk/s1600/IMG_3710.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Jerome's batik after setting -- note the color changes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The next day, we were scheduled to go diving, and were up and ready to go by 6:30, only to find out it was canceled. We went back to sleep intending on only sleeping for an hour or so, but didn't wake up until the afternoon. So we explored the main street. Very interesting as every shop, house, car, moped has a small offering on it to the spirits. It was also only a few days before Galungan day - a biannual holiday to give thanks to the gods. So everyone was busy making decorations and more complicated offerings for that along the road. After dinner we attended a traditional <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kecak" target="_blank">Kecak </a>and fire dance which was quite impressive. A large circle of men perform a rhythmic chant while dancers act out the story of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramayana" target="_blank">Ramayana</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-88wEhLACrBY/U8ojlzHHGUI/AAAAAAAAVKc/ZZo9stXY7y4/s1600/MVI_3717.mp4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-88wEhLACrBY/U8ojlzHHGUI/AAAAAAAAVKc/ZZo9stXY7y4/s1600/MVI_3717.mp4" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-slS1lMeRkO4/U8oj0KfUTeI/AAAAAAAAVLI/m0ldYJikeYU/s1600/MVI_3726.mp4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-slS1lMeRkO4/U8oj0KfUTeI/AAAAAAAAVLI/m0ldYJikeYU/s1600/MVI_3726.mp4" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vRMxE11Y2lI/U8okAFrxRrI/AAAAAAAAVMY/vNKBiVbFFsM/s1600/MVI_3737.mp4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vRMxE11Y2lI/U8okAFrxRrI/AAAAAAAAVMY/vNKBiVbFFsM/s1600/MVI_3737.mp4" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Our last day in Ubud was a bit of a splurge. We'd found this hotel, the Royal Kamuela Villa, with these beautiful villas and decided to stay for one night. We had a private pool, a king sized bed, a bathroom the size of the bedroom. It included afternoon tea, bedtime chocolates and a welcome foot massage. It was heavenly!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDtbsaiKqiO6zoRTODypKUIrIOITI96wLSV-ClZGzB8qDicRwGDleG-g3ACkkCKk5yMZOpbaS70SPqYuAAdNP7XulHxu_UOdyGZn2vCLdbodfZAReyHlGhJWDy6rTauGl4yp2EIYVoSc/s1600/IMG_3748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDtbsaiKqiO6zoRTODypKUIrIOITI96wLSV-ClZGzB8qDicRwGDleG-g3ACkkCKk5yMZOpbaS70SPqYuAAdNP7XulHxu_UOdyGZn2vCLdbodfZAReyHlGhJWDy6rTauGl4yp2EIYVoSc/s1600/IMG_3748.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
That night we also decided to go fancy for dinner and tried Locavore, which had really great food!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLV19XH-qQjsivx0tsj47SvEmOQ0blNnggvvqwpIPm1WrMS0Gdd_j9bAUgSUB3BgBWV5sdZJYwq4C4_HN0CFUofvZ2D89tKEwfvCjNdF_GSurkTp6iPhXkzOma79vmaIlT04RR6BfORPA/s1600/IMG_3782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLV19XH-qQjsivx0tsj47SvEmOQ0blNnggvvqwpIPm1WrMS0Gdd_j9bAUgSUB3BgBWV5sdZJYwq4C4_HN0CFUofvZ2D89tKEwfvCjNdF_GSurkTp6iPhXkzOma79vmaIlT04RR6BfORPA/s1600/IMG_3782.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Best dish was this bloody mary sorbet with tomato consomme. Warm soup, cold bloody mary sorbet, super flavorful.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPa-FS9bDx9Gg05A8eiW4Htez9-lI_ZV1qRMgVzeRZHlnc9sH147tdiSgpzfSBqBlL6xiiqQWZlBJC0aQbTRXPGznILHBDlQajK27nIKHecvwUP26CvbEq7G1n2nImZk2zvSKvzRN6cEA/s1600/IMG_3786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPa-FS9bDx9Gg05A8eiW4Htez9-lI_ZV1qRMgVzeRZHlnc9sH147tdiSgpzfSBqBlL6xiiqQWZlBJC0aQbTRXPGznILHBDlQajK27nIKHecvwUP26CvbEq7G1n2nImZk2zvSKvzRN6cEA/s1600/IMG_3786.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Slow braised oxtail / pan-fried gnocchis / green asparagus & sorrel veloute / egg plant puree / wood sorrel leaves</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That wrapped up our time in Ubud, and we reluctantly tore ourselves out of our pool and headed to Amed - on the east coast of Bali. We did a quick stop at a water temple on the way.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizx8E6dUGlCpbrRMRXJ46RQw8VbJRhMR1CVz3sebwZ3x2WQQwSqDFpo32TpsKYB40UPy-ApNOqyPCprMkM-SEXxgjv5cT_-VsM6zKt9a6_WaM7NNQB98_sFld6RJq2rW33mHfQTWvm6pc/s1600/IMG_3805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizx8E6dUGlCpbrRMRXJ46RQw8VbJRhMR1CVz3sebwZ3x2WQQwSqDFpo32TpsKYB40UPy-ApNOqyPCprMkM-SEXxgjv5cT_-VsM6zKt9a6_WaM7NNQB98_sFld6RJq2rW33mHfQTWvm6pc/s1600/IMG_3805.jpg" height="378" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgbj0pNWvTKQTNZJrNwdpHiTXAdPw0rtaIrfmw4R4NLVxNdGymAjvm3StWFvxbQZw-vS7-NeJ7_winiSf7fOpb7xNN60Ef3pdIIgjTTxs6N4Dl86yC_qJ5a6Ly3rHCWaKvJTLYVxXTLA/s1600/IMG_3811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgbj0pNWvTKQTNZJrNwdpHiTXAdPw0rtaIrfmw4R4NLVxNdGymAjvm3StWFvxbQZw-vS7-NeJ7_winiSf7fOpb7xNN60Ef3pdIIgjTTxs6N4Dl86yC_qJ5a6Ly3rHCWaKvJTLYVxXTLA/s1600/IMG_3811.jpg" height="640" width="580" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdhFNABKHRl5ARkS77cDJZrzWH5DyKFy86FlavNG61MsgE6avH3Ay_cwp3-ejjbYlM5LopNShd4xxr1ysURco5Jp5yiZN_W1zTHQujnDD4afI-2Q02_0MNBvX8oskIVlLMGad3nOBEl8/s1600/IMG_3832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdhFNABKHRl5ARkS77cDJZrzWH5DyKFy86FlavNG61MsgE6avH3Ay_cwp3-ejjbYlM5LopNShd4xxr1ysURco5Jp5yiZN_W1zTHQujnDD4afI-2Q02_0MNBvX8oskIVlLMGad3nOBEl8/s1600/IMG_3832.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
In Amed we stayed in a very cute, very efficiently run guesthouse called Geria Geri Shanti. It was also a dive shop, and we spent 5 days there, completing 12 dives, including our first night dives which was very interesting. Other highlights included diving with huge Manta rays and seeing our first Pygmy seahorses!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhH55h-zR7nwq2hX-kR6x_weJhcjgtbGcxL6YllqYJFXzDqYRfjZ685M48c46eFC4J18CzLFBITFxFhXDu64VVIFPW9v4KbXYht-h1pbM5uGbB6e05lB7pGPtWKfW8xhu8nWFLuuOJ_48/s1600/DSC06411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhH55h-zR7nwq2hX-kR6x_weJhcjgtbGcxL6YllqYJFXzDqYRfjZ685M48c46eFC4J18CzLFBITFxFhXDu64VVIFPW9v4KbXYht-h1pbM5uGbB6e05lB7pGPtWKfW8xhu8nWFLuuOJ_48/s1600/DSC06411.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
There's a lot <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/+JeromeMourits/albums/6037672898186658209" target="_blank">more pictures in our album</a>!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Bali, Indonesia-8.4095178 115.18891600000006-9.4146568 113.89802250000007 -7.4043788 116.47980950000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-742062521620268322014-07-07T05:49:00.000-07:002014-07-07T05:49:05.736-07:00Facts and FAQs About Our Trip: South East Asia Edition!<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNaO9mn12oIpSkktly9K3mxZ5nssEQhtLpazeCjqDMktmiN7RduZQUXe8YVGx06DfPYtmplXDA0GM9rcB2fI7GJKKojRRNTmTL3KsJn5j8uQvIHn1JYCPFa9Z0gOKIIhwm_LTrEkYPdg/s1600/IMG_2626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNaO9mn12oIpSkktly9K3mxZ5nssEQhtLpazeCjqDMktmiN7RduZQUXe8YVGx06DfPYtmplXDA0GM9rcB2fI7GJKKojRRNTmTL3KsJn5j8uQvIHn1JYCPFa9Z0gOKIIhwm_LTrEkYPdg/s1600/IMG_2626.jpg" height="486" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We're home! We made it back home after the most amazing three month adventure! We are quite sad that it is over as we really enjoyed all the places we got to explore. We're very grateful to have had such a wonderful opportunity to travel the world again! We've started sorting through our pictures and will have some more posts of places we went, once we get settled back in at work again. But first, a short facts and faq post about our trip! If there's any questions you have that we didn't answer, feel free to comment or email us and we'll be happy to. Thanks for coming along for the ride with us! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Where did we visit?</b></div>
<div>
We visited 7 countries: Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Maldives, Cambodia and Hong Kong. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4J9SyCRgmKKTRzqt-On983cS1zHQ6gbGGy7CGDhoo8nhhv4qyfRggkk19WLflqjmUnYs20beZgXiupKgf834U6loGvIgOCBhaDyNlcgsxblZhefhRsHbIS8xy42-tuddvygqQFSZlRna/s1600/Asia+Flags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4J9SyCRgmKKTRzqt-On983cS1zHQ6gbGGy7CGDhoo8nhhv4qyfRggkk19WLflqjmUnYs20beZgXiupKgf834U6loGvIgOCBhaDyNlcgsxblZhefhRsHbIS8xy42-tuddvygqQFSZlRna/s1600/Asia+Flags.jpg" height="52" width="640" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1465467731"></span><span id="goog_1465467732"></span><br />
We stayed in 22 places: Legazpi, Donsol, Banaue, Batad, Coron, El Nido, Sabang, Kota Kinabalu, Mt Kinabalu, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Ubud, Amed, Labuan Bajo, Kanawa Island, Yogyakarta, Singapore, Male, Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Siem Reap, Hong Kong.<br />
<br />
<b>What was your favourite place?</b><br />
For our favourite place, we both really liked the Philippines. We were there for a month and saw everything from whale sharks to rice terraces to ship wrecks under the ocean. It was beautiful everywhere and the people were so happy and extremely nice. It was great, we'd highly recommend it as a place to visit sometime, and it has something for everyone!<br />
<b><br /></b>
We both agree that our favourite activity was the scuba diving. We took to it like ducks to water! We ended up doing quite alot, but I think we'd have been happy to do even more if we could have! We dove in 5 of the 7 countries we visited, and I think we both enjoyed the Maldives the most (it was strictly a diving visit), and Coron in the Philippines second best which was the first place we dove and where we got to see all the wrecks.<br />
<br />
<b>How long were we gone? </b><br />
We left Sunday March 30th, and returned home Thursday July 3rd. For a total of 96 days!<br />
<br />
<b>Where did we stay?</b><br />
In total we had 95 nights:<br />
<b>69 </b>nights in hotels or guesthouses<br />
<b>8 </b>nights on boats<br />
<b>4 </b>nights on island camps with Tao<br />
<b>1 </b>nights in unheated dorms on Mt Kinabalu<br />
<b>3 </b>nights in an AirBnb room<br />
<b>3 </b>nights in a hut on Kanawa Island - 1 with cockroaches<br />
<b>2 </b>nights in a shared hut in the jungle of Borneo<br />
<b>2 </b>nights in a freezing cold bus<br />
<b>2 </b>nights on planes crossing the Pacific Ocean<br />
<b>1 </b>night in a traditional Ifugao hut in the Philippines<br />
<br />
<b>10 </b>nights were spent sleeping outside with only a roof and a mosquito net<br />
<b>25 </b>nights were spent with no air conditioning<br />
<br />
<b>How many currencies did we use? </b><br />
We used 8 currencies during our trip. Philippine Peso, Malaysian Ringgit, Indonesian Rupiah, Singapore Dollar, Maldivian Ruffiyaa, Cambodian Riel and US dollars were used in Cambodia also. The most fun one was the Indonesian Rupiah which has an exchange rate of about 10 000 to 1, so you get to carry millions with you!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnLCq6MDAOcWd-BotQH9TuXKd227mD5gzE-i-eiJpBTVoXgcsYcgkOtMI6yqUjYU_S0_Uwbrdso3GMqKw04rLawwaxxuY4AhldG8raN00X5aJxiLJcfXy77rjbjDU7JT_QChddcxJ6kw/s1600/IMG_2686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnLCq6MDAOcWd-BotQH9TuXKd227mD5gzE-i-eiJpBTVoXgcsYcgkOtMI6yqUjYU_S0_Uwbrdso3GMqKw04rLawwaxxuY4AhldG8raN00X5aJxiLJcfXy77rjbjDU7JT_QChddcxJ6kw/s1600/IMG_2686.jpg" height="290" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Some other fun facts:</b><br />
<br />
<b>18 - </b>Number of flights we took<br />
<b>8 - </b><a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/" target="_blank">Unesco World Heritage Sites</a> we visited<br />
<b>3</b> - Days stranded in Labjuan Bajo by the eruption of the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2644253/Incredible-moment-huge-volcano-erupts-Indonesia-sending-ash-spewing-thousands-feet-sky.html" target="_blank">Sangiang Api</a> in Indonesia<br />
<br />
<b>35 - </b>Number of days we spent at least an hour swimming in an ocean<br />
<b>69 - </b>Number of Dives we did<br />
<b>61 hours - </b>Number of hours we spent underwater scuba diving<br />
<b>10 - </b>Shipwrecks we dove in and around<br />
<b>3 - </b>Bodies of water we dove in - South China Sea, Indian Ocean, Gulf of Thailand<br />
<br />
<b>20 -</b> Number of different islands we visited<br />
<b>8 hours - </b>How long we were <a href="http://www.jeromeandlaura.com/2014/04/our-expedition-with-tao-spoiler-alert.html" target="_blank">stranded on a deserted island</a><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<b>32lbs - </b>How much weight we lost in total on the trip!<br />
<b>21 lbs - </b>How much heavier our bags got by the end of the trip<br />
<br />
<b>7 - </b>Types of sharks we dove with!<br />
<b>4 - </b>Number of Komodo Dragons we saw<br />
<b>2 - </b>Number of whale sharks we got to swim with<br />
<br />
<b>17.5 hours</b> - Time spent actually climbing and descending <a href="http://www.jeromeandlaura.com/2014/05/climbing-mount-kinabalu.html" target="_blank">Mt. Kinabalu</a><br />
<b>8454 ft - </b>How high we climbed at <a href="http://www.jeromeandlaura.com/2014/05/climbing-mount-kinabalu.html" target="_blank">Mt. Kinabalu</a><br />
<br />
<b>3 - </b>Number of holes in one Laura got at Angkor Wat Mini Putt! (Jerome won overall though)<br />
<b>14 - </b>Number of paper and audiobooks we finished<br />
<b>115 - </b>Cryptograms Laura solved on the trip<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180831334700731895noreply@blogger.com9Sunnyvale, CA, USA37.36883 -122.036349637.1669745 -122.35907309999999 37.5706855 -121.7136261tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-49437340473861861252014-06-16T10:37:00.000-07:002014-06-16T10:37:48.756-07:00Scuba diving the Maldives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHDj3oX-bLmdt9R_GOvstvLBykimHFmTFC7cS_7PWwgSqQjD7whnkTq3-xxiHPUWgwbaS0yiuZz9C539BbEQcLTC80znIG8ZPjhw6SPvuKkQj6jdoiRPmI7rGiQFpipCcxMHb4LnikoA/s1600/20140611_134324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHDj3oX-bLmdt9R_GOvstvLBykimHFmTFC7cS_7PWwgSqQjD7whnkTq3-xxiHPUWgwbaS0yiuZz9C539BbEQcLTC80znIG8ZPjhw6SPvuKkQj6jdoiRPmI7rGiQFpipCcxMHb4LnikoA/s1600/20140611_134324.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Jerome-- Sorry for the long delay in posting. I accidentally went snorkeling with our camera in my pocket and we're still tring to figure out if we can recover our pictures from Indonesia. We'll post something about that later. <br />
<br />
We had originally planned to visit Bangkok for about a week, but we decided to change our plans because of the coup, curfew and protests. AirAsia also canceled our flight to Bangkok. And we also wanted to try to do some more diving.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnw3pSuYqOQyiMvfZGjCYeAoOIB2t5iKlgo9aDsESIm0oO4MKvSDuCug-7UsSDExWDuTB7BblghtUh-PtqDW70ohZXaEvu-V_JB2i_BDaGUcJEtuJh1AF4TUK2a2t3nPbyP0lP8Pmv5k/s1600/IMG_20140608_142804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnw3pSuYqOQyiMvfZGjCYeAoOIB2t5iKlgo9aDsESIm0oO4MKvSDuCug-7UsSDExWDuTB7BblghtUh-PtqDW70ohZXaEvu-V_JB2i_BDaGUcJEtuJh1AF4TUK2a2t3nPbyP0lP8Pmv5k/s1600/IMG_20140608_142804.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We searched for last minute deals on a liveaboard and found a great one in the Maldives on a boat called the <a href="http://www.aggressor.com/maldives.php" target="_blank">Maldives Aggressor</a>. Maldives is definitely farther afield then we were planning on going, but we also found cheap, direct flights from Singapore.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmZuX-nkrrLF69swSclsVzI4XwLWib22HT_Wn_sNx1RTT07QFeQGhkdRklp1wtuOiw1KU0x9h8S6lGrhurve0886JPFvfvBED3E9g5C8i6qUhw3x0oVbOy9gbXxvhamMmQj5-LTUmfDo/s1600/20140611_211219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmZuX-nkrrLF69swSclsVzI4XwLWib22HT_Wn_sNx1RTT07QFeQGhkdRklp1wtuOiw1KU0x9h8S6lGrhurve0886JPFvfvBED3E9g5C8i6qUhw3x0oVbOy9gbXxvhamMmQj5-LTUmfDo/s1600/20140611_211219.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Maldives Aggressor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Maldives Aggressor is a 115ft diesel and sail powered yacht. We had a completely full boat with 20 guests and a double contingent of crew (half the crew was being trained). Guests came from all around the world - Australia, Germany, USA, Russia, Switzerland.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr396gD7nGa7nwFtOcBvUQD9EXBHBrdLF082Y1hITnlzpt5AV87Kw4qSUxHxbUCrEZlb8T2hcK_XeWH_63YIKTjRSuT075VqHugtWvwvB0geGKFzqaH8U5efMe3a3LyPTBgw2dPtBN4nc/s1600/20140611_205306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr396gD7nGa7nwFtOcBvUQD9EXBHBrdLF082Y1hITnlzpt5AV87Kw4qSUxHxbUCrEZlb8T2hcK_XeWH_63YIKTjRSuT075VqHugtWvwvB0geGKFzqaH8U5efMe3a3LyPTBgw2dPtBN4nc/s1600/20140611_205306.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfie with our safety sausage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We did 21 dives over the 7 days, including 4 night dives. Laura and I have now completed 67 dives (63 dives since we started our trip in April) and we've logged a total 56 hours and 42 minutes underwater! We also did our Nitrox certification before we went, which allowed us to use tanks filled with 32% oxygen (rather than regular air which has 21% oxygen). This lets us dive for a longer time at a deeper depth without having to worry about getting "the bends".<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfI5QcyFvYLGJwOIRBBRNU7pzB57GQi8ieDFtkXL0yZy_0WyE3jM3V8Ac1baFz7kONxA_IvZSKluvSQ6kM-BM5SIWUFfL2UrQuh_RWB6dhoSrpShwjW_YFVxSuJwR5mECvuTACA1J3b4/s1600/20140610_192921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfI5QcyFvYLGJwOIRBBRNU7pzB57GQi8ieDFtkXL0yZy_0WyE3jM3V8Ac1baFz7kONxA_IvZSKluvSQ6kM-BM5SIWUFfL2UrQuh_RWB6dhoSrpShwjW_YFVxSuJwR5mECvuTACA1J3b4/s1600/20140610_192921.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maldives anemonefish in a magnificent sea anemone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Diving in the Maldives was fantastic! One of the night dives we did at an underwater pinnacle had circling sharks, giant moray eels out of their holes, huge sting rays feeding, and a highly venomous stonefish camouflaged on the sea floor. Another dive was with the huge, graceful manta rays. Another with a 6m - 8m whale shark. During one of the night dives, Laura and I found an octopus out hunting. Previously we'd only seen then hiding in little holes, but this one was swimming across the reef and camouflaging itself as it went. Very cool to see. Below are some pictures taken using our new underwater camera housing - if you want to see more <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/107778524531915524037/albums/6025332136680087921" target="_blank">check out our album</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUauamgwS5yXL9DRY0z0gdceruietzKGVuXWyFQ9F8R1d2SzW70jmDmGOH1Xk7bfr4mDsicYrKVEwh8L-9EZlfbzkOEfp1n5HXzDO6JzKpTKEQC81PMcut7-aBiqAcCC4lGa51cSWlkIs/s1600/20140609_133745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUauamgwS5yXL9DRY0z0gdceruietzKGVuXWyFQ9F8R1d2SzW70jmDmGOH1Xk7bfr4mDsicYrKVEwh8L-9EZlfbzkOEfp1n5HXzDO6JzKpTKEQC81PMcut7-aBiqAcCC4lGa51cSWlkIs/s1600/20140609_133745.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manta Ray and its accompanying remoras</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizK_-xuj2XjNkT2nu2VHlrRjWoesWH8G0HM03IFov5rmoUlo8XsqVvJJpO8gYv2-JVSK4f9162F5sVoYXRvtYmRDXjD4XaI6Savp9ypGttcXDgQFRFeDBn-Szwi-FPtuwR19PS5mIaXPk/s1600/20140611_201128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizK_-xuj2XjNkT2nu2VHlrRjWoesWH8G0HM03IFov5rmoUlo8XsqVvJJpO8gYv2-JVSK4f9162F5sVoYXRvtYmRDXjD4XaI6Savp9ypGttcXDgQFRFeDBn-Szwi-FPtuwR19PS5mIaXPk/s1600/20140611_201128.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lion fish - beautiful, but poisonous</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigh1n7pDJ9QHSpCBij7p0pjmIgxuHrem-g_G-1kajqNMb5D6YKTgxxPV4wMm4-Vw8saZ3BTE-U-55yBGFrDEgRTotfV9sp0-bjTyzPEYV0Ge5GnD2HhBc_wyRGl1cx33m8eE-ewsI64R0/s1600/20140612_135718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigh1n7pDJ9QHSpCBij7p0pjmIgxuHrem-g_G-1kajqNMb5D6YKTgxxPV4wMm4-Vw8saZ3BTE-U-55yBGFrDEgRTotfV9sp0-bjTyzPEYV0Ge5GnD2HhBc_wyRGl1cx33m8eE-ewsI64R0/s1600/20140612_135718.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snorkeling with a whale shark</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mydsoqnNGxx7d2VC1Sp26S_w7uCBWXoTR4QJosZqlO-IXUaWWDoV2HtXIgeqmZnXy__qwW2Nks6lUnUTqWDilA7KTNNIfO4iE9SJrfHYEqWPkiCK3_lH1gT4zdwyS8LS9o1doRqMFeI/s1600/20140612_222353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mydsoqnNGxx7d2VC1Sp26S_w7uCBWXoTR4QJosZqlO-IXUaWWDoV2HtXIgeqmZnXy__qwW2Nks6lUnUTqWDilA7KTNNIfO4iE9SJrfHYEqWPkiCK3_lH1gT4zdwyS8LS9o1doRqMFeI/s1600/20140612_222353.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Octopus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26KEATM391swbqdYmcIOSEACXfk9Uio2up9nDKz0Dp5ee7eOdFYo58It2crisP9HyjBJMny-eURXBh5MIgwE_zyup_sgcOkhFTWh1riBlijgfJ3Ig3XcFXxSadgaNaqY0_qOnkNZ9Ns0/s1600/20140613_221928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26KEATM391swbqdYmcIOSEACXfk9Uio2up9nDKz0Dp5ee7eOdFYo58It2crisP9HyjBJMny-eURXBh5MIgwE_zyup_sgcOkhFTWh1riBlijgfJ3Ig3XcFXxSadgaNaqY0_qOnkNZ9Ns0/s1600/20140613_221928.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stonefish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCd29-tFkJrPyBtlL4_3WwidURUEU648ZIQdLaSiabksMhzNepE8lfnI-TO39MQNczQhIs9DwEgV7MKtAp-jFgl-YNA1ipJRtkV2806xOv7YjHGLyk_7M_CHCgkesWqJoc30guMCmV40/s1600/20140614_104655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCd29-tFkJrPyBtlL4_3WwidURUEU648ZIQdLaSiabksMhzNepE8lfnI-TO39MQNczQhIs9DwEgV7MKtAp-jFgl-YNA1ipJRtkV2806xOv7YjHGLyk_7M_CHCgkesWqJoc30guMCmV40/s1600/20140614_104655.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eagle ray</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimk7pzeMxgUq8IZIsCWcvnMaENkwe9v3hdKjov07xoEYLk1JTcPmNWnyO3OTZSR5H_dCdSykHlQlWP99TatL5R3MqdvKqHadZfOT_sNjkWcnRfyKPLu-vBez3nxcvQePy_xee0z2QYX7c/s1600/20140614_135245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimk7pzeMxgUq8IZIsCWcvnMaENkwe9v3hdKjov07xoEYLk1JTcPmNWnyO3OTZSR5H_dCdSykHlQlWP99TatL5R3MqdvKqHadZfOT_sNjkWcnRfyKPLu-vBez3nxcvQePy_xee0z2QYX7c/s1600/20140614_135245.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whitetip reef shark</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Diving is surprisingly tiring, especially since we start the day at 6am. Usual day went something like: wake up at 6am, eat something small, first dive, breakfast, second dive, lunch, third dive, snack, night dive, dinner, bedtime. Basically we just ate and dove all day long. The chef on the boat was great - always preparing an amazing spread from the tiny little kitchen. My favorite was the Sri Lankan lunch which had some really nice and spicy curries.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWVOpzJlMynIfvCVrAhKru6FvDcJY-6I5OfiBI-JRpNzHdGWhq0QdYaDOh-M86GjFu60WtjOZci0AzHJ3eYV4PI_PhpNh3OSBbcmxarBRoJPI0N5ZkCeVLztnbBIkNA0MLGydw0Nd7MI/s1600/20140612_210203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWVOpzJlMynIfvCVrAhKru6FvDcJY-6I5OfiBI-JRpNzHdGWhq0QdYaDOh-M86GjFu60WtjOZci0AzHJ3eYV4PI_PhpNh3OSBbcmxarBRoJPI0N5ZkCeVLztnbBIkNA0MLGydw0Nd7MI/s1600/20140612_210203.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Our first liveaboard was a great experience and we'd love to do another in the future. Our trip is coming to an end - we're off to Cambodia tomorrow and then it's Hong Kong and back home in early July. Time's really been flying by!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqc6kdD3IgAefK5m1ggVQZP_3_KC2bVu05wRTt9IAmMTTZ5nv5fX1E_f6kNXnBTOmriyu37b74gs3muFtV3fa1q8FsszzD-S8CNmHsjUqk4vSWZVRvuD1SpiwtPdThf6JJdYq24InodWk/s1600/20140614_213746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqc6kdD3IgAefK5m1ggVQZP_3_KC2bVu05wRTt9IAmMTTZ5nv5fX1E_f6kNXnBTOmriyu37b74gs3muFtV3fa1q8FsszzD-S8CNmHsjUqk4vSWZVRvuD1SpiwtPdThf6JJdYq24InodWk/s1600/20140614_213746.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the guests from our liveaboard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5Maldives1.977247 73.5361034-6.1130145 63.2089549 10.0675085 83.8632519tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-77908799776607115472014-05-13T17:34:00.000-07:002014-05-13T17:34:43.697-07:00Uncle Tan's Wildlife Adventure at the Kinabatangan RiverLaura -- With very sore legs after our big climb, we got on a bus to head to Sandakan, on the east side of Sabah. We spent a nice evening there enjoying good food by the water and a wonderful hot shower and very comfy bed at the hotel.<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yj1V0BbPTbS4VSlg00tRkSHHI9lWy63J3r087dOIWg7HpnoE5q5TxUlVl0hbFWSIJ_zHYjtNYXLT1Vme7FGGFOd6Pu-Jy4JHqFJNolZ60aYOSOotCjHBmYlHLDP9ecq2TbXX0svPex0/s1600/https%25253A%25252F%25252Flh5.googleusercontent.com%25252FWBsPRUvmOGe5D4fIW45MXepuNyICys1rSt6NYLOPs5rk%25253Ds0-d" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yj1V0BbPTbS4VSlg00tRkSHHI9lWy63J3r087dOIWg7HpnoE5q5TxUlVl0hbFWSIJ_zHYjtNYXLT1Vme7FGGFOd6Pu-Jy4JHqFJNolZ60aYOSOotCjHBmYlHLDP9ecq2TbXX0svPex0/s1600/https%25253A%25252F%25252Flh5.googleusercontent.com%25252FWBsPRUvmOGe5D4fIW45MXepuNyICys1rSt6NYLOPs5rk%25253Ds0-d" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from our hotel room in Sandakan<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
First thing next morning, we took a cab to Sepilok - about an hour away. We spent the morning at the Orangutan sanctuary there. We got there early to see the feeding. There was a big platform with lots of ropes leading into the trees. When we arrived there were about 10 small long tail macaques chilling on it, eating leaves and climbing around. They all knew to leave though as soon as the orangutans started slowly swinging their way over. A man came with a basket of vegetables and bananas, he spread some on the platform, and kept some in the basket to make sure all the orangutans would get some. Four orangutans came over the hour we watched, and it was funny to watch their personalities. One just sat and ate the veggies, one would take a handful of bananas and sort of hide to eat them, and one insisted on picking her own bananas from the basket, and wasn't happy unless she had a bunch in each hand, and occasionally each foot too! The last one just sat back and watched all this until the keeper left and then came to the platform to eat when the others left. It was pretty neat, we were watching all this from maybe 10m away!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHqrmbKLaYQJOyn1R0-IVuo1WEGh2pVKxltJKViTb0j8TJ0yHFmBN7NXj75hqiQDxTAxQSAwiigCNpAjV7NeSHX8aF-W0V4hyphenhyphen0ebmLnizSKbKRvSOx1c-XX99_TWkSixQ1ehcdyN1IfE/s1600/IMG_3148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHqrmbKLaYQJOyn1R0-IVuo1WEGh2pVKxltJKViTb0j8TJ0yHFmBN7NXj75hqiQDxTAxQSAwiigCNpAjV7NeSHX8aF-W0V4hyphenhyphen0ebmLnizSKbKRvSOx1c-XX99_TWkSixQ1ehcdyN1IfE/s1600/IMG_3148.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuligT3p4tM-e2hS5McQYp_3Olb-Bhi4KYx-etPyuDymKvx34jEIiOmNTexC39S798KF2fMlZ4NoRxXcvXFEYGsjq-C_HVoC1VkEgC22boAThc30G9slE0Ga88Jm0HbF0VYAibC9qyxA/s1600/IMG_3156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuligT3p4tM-e2hS5McQYp_3Olb-Bhi4KYx-etPyuDymKvx34jEIiOmNTexC39S798KF2fMlZ4NoRxXcvXFEYGsjq-C_HVoC1VkEgC22boAThc30G9slE0Ga88Jm0HbF0VYAibC9qyxA/s1600/IMG_3156.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBekiQUhoHHhyMd9w3ouQFwewouFLsYUAQRWLGEo6M_SOxgk9thtN2Rq9OhvNxtS8qQ0BMY1zzLdPUZ-9OhOiBLwmXN-u_L5TLxCst3NmT8ohUbzBru3sUc9yFb4MoZEB-fud0GDW5io/s1600/IMG_3162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBekiQUhoHHhyMd9w3ouQFwewouFLsYUAQRWLGEo6M_SOxgk9thtN2Rq9OhvNxtS8qQ0BMY1zzLdPUZ-9OhOiBLwmXN-u_L5TLxCst3NmT8ohUbzBru3sUc9yFb4MoZEB-fud0GDW5io/s1600/IMG_3162.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXd8w_IPR4rCay4Y9ixSiWfJAbSsf3Zmx0dBSSkrwfBbAfcT7DWODVIEyWpBzsKyZyPXXKci6bNo6ge8mhUX1r0bvdG9AkCZ8cxMNRJIPJZB5vf95F1Mc0Nu-hKbI6Tu7ulK-iak8FZ_U/s1600/IMG_3179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXd8w_IPR4rCay4Y9ixSiWfJAbSsf3Zmx0dBSSkrwfBbAfcT7DWODVIEyWpBzsKyZyPXXKci6bNo6ge8mhUX1r0bvdG9AkCZ8cxMNRJIPJZB5vf95F1Mc0Nu-hKbI6Tu7ulK-iak8FZ_U/s1600/IMG_3179.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZp17D2a_GvjjB5tFL7topdbR4iScqn3w2QePC0owM3SyFcjLoquVJiCFdqpQoiDUg9EQjz4lfIjO-cmN3JrlBXoEMfnnafy3iXziZG2xOgc5dXusqHaUuR_2HZjceJ3v_UMf0pClRrPg/s1600/IMG_3245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZp17D2a_GvjjB5tFL7topdbR4iScqn3w2QePC0owM3SyFcjLoquVJiCFdqpQoiDUg9EQjz4lfIjO-cmN3JrlBXoEMfnnafy3iXziZG2xOgc5dXusqHaUuR_2HZjceJ3v_UMf0pClRrPg/s1600/IMG_3245.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /><br />After this we went on a short walk through the forest (our legs refused to go further once we got to a hill!) On the way back though Jerome somehow spotted a really cool stick insect on a leaf! He was very excited. And the rest of the walk took forever since he had to examine every leaf and stick!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQSDATwlUJhj2NDz5KHnOyzQjYnWbm_T5pdMF4dcM-R14fSXWdl2ZVgbdDxAZ3hllJgeGpR-npMO-rtUFsVEu1jJgFaV2XZBQHy7BbXJB7MLVJkF7dJKdHHZHyBZceyvJXOPFqVsnAbk/s1600/IMG_3205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQSDATwlUJhj2NDz5KHnOyzQjYnWbm_T5pdMF4dcM-R14fSXWdl2ZVgbdDxAZ3hllJgeGpR-npMO-rtUFsVEu1jJgFaV2XZBQHy7BbXJB7MLVJkF7dJKdHHZHyBZceyvJXOPFqVsnAbk/s1600/IMG_3205.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaCHZs4rf5-Ap5sTqBivJmCd0SUFy0tG3lrs_WlpJAIqAcvoUHYUEHr32hC15f3g_RfsFdAsT8_iWfxFEEwzywQJVmD07t6HpPtdEgSX50Kx172RSyHcA6I31sSxEMhfNsTpmpazGP_w/s1600/IMG_3217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaCHZs4rf5-Ap5sTqBivJmCd0SUFy0tG3lrs_WlpJAIqAcvoUHYUEHr32hC15f3g_RfsFdAsT8_iWfxFEEwzywQJVmD07t6HpPtdEgSX50Kx172RSyHcA6I31sSxEMhfNsTpmpazGP_w/s1600/IMG_3217.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stick insect</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBu8iz7qGQVGIEZT3FtrE_66rz58G9BBv5XUwqopz5t4wziQ2QplFWXjp0aiUWiurJIbKX8BFZ8DKQULRicTWlEarTvOVTqE6vD18rFtyGWIvfnOEGoXiE0WVvYinhXWUsMfJeM7fg6u8/s1600/IMG_3220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBu8iz7qGQVGIEZT3FtrE_66rz58G9BBv5XUwqopz5t4wziQ2QplFWXjp0aiUWiurJIbKX8BFZ8DKQULRicTWlEarTvOVTqE6vD18rFtyGWIvfnOEGoXiE0WVvYinhXWUsMfJeM7fg6u8/s1600/IMG_3220.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />We then went just down the road to Uncle Tan's Ops base, where we checked in for our 3 day jungle adventure! We had a very tasty lunch, and relaxed a bit waiting for all the guests. At about 2:30 we got in a shuttle van for a two hour drive to the Kinabatangan River. We transferred to a small boat and rode down the river for 45 minutes to get to camp. On the way our boatman spotted two crocodiles, a small 1m long one and a medium 3m long one. We also saw quite a few long tail macaques in the trees.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Wzq0hJdrxa6N2gPmaNV9bTktRjz2FfqiIwuOdYVat0MAO24IER9W1vbuJpts-SyPUk7A3MMMLMy3jwvR5d1vCUO7XK0t9dDw7gBPaoa02_7U1WucCEMGjSVKcd6Ez4gzt8eT2ZXtLOQ/s1600/IMG_3269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Wzq0hJdrxa6N2gPmaNV9bTktRjz2FfqiIwuOdYVat0MAO24IER9W1vbuJpts-SyPUk7A3MMMLMy3jwvR5d1vCUO7XK0t9dDw7gBPaoa02_7U1WucCEMGjSVKcd6Ez4gzt8eT2ZXtLOQ/s1600/IMG_3269.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSV8xC662KMc2OV2IUIe58nH7zTP2QAxr9P2WfaQuHyTx8zOnMDIR3RLjvPM5J0xnmril-CU-jIK0FysJiEuGguX4mVqHoKe1jUmsv6QxwqYXtSjRKZXhhw3kOJXwiQxL24rRXJEr8ow/s1600/IMG_3277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSV8xC662KMc2OV2IUIe58nH7zTP2QAxr9P2WfaQuHyTx8zOnMDIR3RLjvPM5J0xnmril-CU-jIK0FysJiEuGguX4mVqHoKe1jUmsv6QxwqYXtSjRKZXhhw3kOJXwiQxL24rRXJEr8ow/s1600/IMG_3277.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo5mc3lmPEIETHHWt8Can9CrL-UtMFivJP8XcYXoQpMJZRzs5ctWlzPHkSVKdH9Q_PIYin_K1wot_gZx_EnGl765byn7D6h0MKtAn1O54BCfdaDnMtMTDnhZ9bPQjS7bo7FYT2TtubxE/s1600/IMG_3280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo5mc3lmPEIETHHWt8Can9CrL-UtMFivJP8XcYXoQpMJZRzs5ctWlzPHkSVKdH9Q_PIYin_K1wot_gZx_EnGl765byn7D6h0MKtAn1O54BCfdaDnMtMTDnhZ9bPQjS7bo7FYT2TtubxE/s1600/IMG_3280.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />At camp, we had a briefing, were assigned to huts, and we had a very tasty dinner with about 12 different dishes! Then at 9, after it was very dark, we got back in the boat for our night river expedition. The guide had a super strong flashlight he scanned the banks with. We saw amusing proboscis monkeys, more macqaques, sleeping kingfishers<br /><br />The next morning we were up at 6 for another river cruise. This time we saw mostly birds: two types of hornbills, a sea eagle, kytes, a kingfisher as well as a small monitor lizard.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlGM9SErVlt9J4gKyg19wMfoEz2HrA-TM4JGJJQHAN-wp8T0nVH-QOkYD6nciaRyrxy43zt3_LIUyhSSAlzmZfnTiGX7RcakrNGKm2qJjsYmz8Vzw__J3DdwqvyjZnzIQ_TQbL8stbXs/s1600/IMG_3299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlGM9SErVlt9J4gKyg19wMfoEz2HrA-TM4JGJJQHAN-wp8T0nVH-QOkYD6nciaRyrxy43zt3_LIUyhSSAlzmZfnTiGX7RcakrNGKm2qJjsYmz8Vzw__J3DdwqvyjZnzIQ_TQbL8stbXs/s1600/IMG_3299.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two hornbills sitting at the top of the tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After breakfast at camp, we went out again, for a jungle trek this time. Due to the time and heat, there weren't many animals, but Akin showed us all the jungle plants, telling us what was poison and what was medicinal. At some points we could hardly hear him over the cicadas! We saw funny red legged millipedes, long legged spiders and cotton bugs too.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_xi8eZel-Uk-SVXjrVjScZGHVrgHAeoJYJ2qlyEVbrFw2H4iUA-jD0BiSw64Vkhzz6g7FMDpT3vlZvPAk3V180ZMK1MQ2eiqnWuQHKZ7Jgj7S87AZ2cKfh8-6r3CzE4kQV479eUsYug/s1600/IMG_3321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_xi8eZel-Uk-SVXjrVjScZGHVrgHAeoJYJ2qlyEVbrFw2H4iUA-jD0BiSw64Vkhzz6g7FMDpT3vlZvPAk3V180ZMK1MQ2eiqnWuQHKZ7Jgj7S87AZ2cKfh8-6r3CzE4kQV479eUsYug/s1600/IMG_3321.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJlE6fsBlAaEagUwSCguY-djxKOgcAEZbaT3sv5rqZceJgoFX_5bplDqnOM-LvRGA7NZbHyzbitEW4myw2kekFgeFtK2l1lb4suPR-Dap8-hPp6D3IVk8KtZRykNv0Eaa9Qwv5LVKs7s/s1600/IMG_3326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJlE6fsBlAaEagUwSCguY-djxKOgcAEZbaT3sv5rqZceJgoFX_5bplDqnOM-LvRGA7NZbHyzbitEW4myw2kekFgeFtK2l1lb4suPR-Dap8-hPp6D3IVk8KtZRykNv0Eaa9Qwv5LVKs7s/s1600/IMG_3326.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPpPpQKS6TIAKtZLYBiWhzePoJcrQyQuCkp-O4jnXymqKVyt8EG5CFk_iKz-rSQsHS98ZN31gz_iM45AxGCBqg8SzcV3eTaVCwUBcsYXBvINsCimopt4i0VTPzTsE-XoUwNooSSRYa-8/s1600/IMG_3332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPpPpQKS6TIAKtZLYBiWhzePoJcrQyQuCkp-O4jnXymqKVyt8EG5CFk_iKz-rSQsHS98ZN31gz_iM45AxGCBqg8SzcV3eTaVCwUBcsYXBvINsCimopt4i0VTPzTsE-XoUwNooSSRYa-8/s1600/IMG_3332.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Molted carapaces of cicadas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlFeq9kWL4VX2kylYaRQ375gLNfpxQXH0OXqFRzVJLhiLONOODJQprF3118TxOuy1i2M4yscV14x1rmi0n39DgpMHrLVL-FrCFzQp9JqcD42AksBv72ZU5vZd6QEP01Bj1MHpfPDCusY/s1600/IMG_3334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlFeq9kWL4VX2kylYaRQ375gLNfpxQXH0OXqFRzVJLhiLONOODJQprF3118TxOuy1i2M4yscV14x1rmi0n39DgpMHrLVL-FrCFzQp9JqcD42AksBv72ZU5vZd6QEP01Bj1MHpfPDCusY/s1600/IMG_3334.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebc3RvTP-PRrZA5hTcHEY9uZlVvRUeUOQ6Z0Pxfqr69CKI24QgrymKpi-yaHBX112547fROw0oAMkS9MDqwgwlb3dZHqson78gJ_4zlOHcR-p07-UTA_Inyf4D6rcvE9DnNanuxJsoq0/s1600/IMG_3339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebc3RvTP-PRrZA5hTcHEY9uZlVvRUeUOQ6Z0Pxfqr69CKI24QgrymKpi-yaHBX112547fROw0oAMkS9MDqwgwlb3dZHqson78gJ_4zlOHcR-p07-UTA_Inyf4D6rcvE9DnNanuxJsoq0/s1600/IMG_3339.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHfXbjC8CMw-JqoqWgyUweHXylnGfIyIlL28AMWqq5hDZUzpAq58eA-NF9n6TWSNHk4wz4jxY0gjOKCAVP_DVzrgUBvjBYBmx2rpyNbRdGP_hxTKif9QyFP4Y50oYfJhdKfgvV6V1QW0/s1600/IMG_3344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHfXbjC8CMw-JqoqWgyUweHXylnGfIyIlL28AMWqq5hDZUzpAq58eA-NF9n6TWSNHk4wz4jxY0gjOKCAVP_DVzrgUBvjBYBmx2rpyNbRdGP_hxTKif9QyFP4Y50oYfJhdKfgvV6V1QW0/s1600/IMG_3344.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caterpillar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFcL4rTU3dob2OzV9QTF9f2sc8uy0ntq0qsmC75L86E9ceEpYxJUcDbnBq7eei1gTfjeAcOGZqx7KOOMpWoJOa1WLai5kU1jPkSF9-almKzNV7HWfAsmFEVA5_KVOgf1xMXFB773HTbw/s1600/IMG_3345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFcL4rTU3dob2OzV9QTF9f2sc8uy0ntq0qsmC75L86E9ceEpYxJUcDbnBq7eei1gTfjeAcOGZqx7KOOMpWoJOa1WLai5kU1jPkSF9-almKzNV7HWfAsmFEVA5_KVOgf1xMXFB773HTbw/s1600/IMG_3345.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMdABPdxcC_EJ3bgENKZQwlJFDRDZ0kT1MnAIiW87lzwoIMtb_J43MF1eAl6y0azB7-lyWD-4PZ006kbsQcZPMiaSXCnpeABWrY4IkgWAABE-NhAoeaKrSXz19SW-IlwSfzMmSf1khR8/s1600/IMG_3349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMdABPdxcC_EJ3bgENKZQwlJFDRDZ0kT1MnAIiW87lzwoIMtb_J43MF1eAl6y0azB7-lyWD-4PZ006kbsQcZPMiaSXCnpeABWrY4IkgWAABE-NhAoeaKrSXz19SW-IlwSfzMmSf1khR8/s1600/IMG_3349.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />After lunch it was extremely hot and humid, and everyone found a hammock or somewhere to rest and try and stay cool. At 5 it started pouring rain, just in time for our evening boat ride. We all got into our rain gear and rented rubber boots and on the boat. And boy were we glad. We saw tons of proboscis monkeys, silver leaf monkeys and a big group of flying fox bats flying overhead with a sunset background, as the rain finally ebbed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcVKmlNZOYGQZSY8Uq7b_vj90wiBFGG2yyyHDLVs3Yhg0R70q1FwCJir-3R6WcDtwGDNRf4AbLwFg6uZCpMozAgUUT2lPyBjr659iGy5EWwtRdRubz0hT_zkNtFR9_0mnd6KP-O-zhms/s1600/IMG_3365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcVKmlNZOYGQZSY8Uq7b_vj90wiBFGG2yyyHDLVs3Yhg0R70q1FwCJir-3R6WcDtwGDNRf4AbLwFg6uZCpMozAgUUT2lPyBjr659iGy5EWwtRdRubz0hT_zkNtFR9_0mnd6KP-O-zhms/s1600/IMG_3365.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnztSgJGpiP1ykYddNw362blMm0AoXuWk65_KF1nQxXj_kY6DrwGQBbynZFfYWbiT8GDMgZqLJn-Po9ni7JYKn3eqQPMalIGYWXwjrhBq1Kv6TBHzVVmY9imuRLazk5KQ30n-8HbccC-c/s1600/IMG_3371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnztSgJGpiP1ykYddNw362blMm0AoXuWk65_KF1nQxXj_kY6DrwGQBbynZFfYWbiT8GDMgZqLJn-Po9ni7JYKn3eqQPMalIGYWXwjrhBq1Kv6TBHzVVmY9imuRLazk5KQ30n-8HbccC-c/s1600/IMG_3371.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />As darkness set in, we landed on the river bank, and made our way precariously up the extremely muddy bank. Jerome got stuck and I almost fell helping him and the corner of our camera got a bit muddy, but was fine! The night trek through the jungle was very cool and a bit eerie. We spent about an hour following our guide who pointed out sleeping birds, jumping spiders, wolf spiders -one carrying a big egg sack, lantern bugs, a jungle crab and lastly a Bornean Blue Tarantula!!! Pretty crazy to see it just hanging out in a tree!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQnTGA_ZzTZsJV7Bcpq0JCFgfqf3dPjycM1qB7meGGxvwTwiATYQcsEsjQ7yroL6o36zYZQdZImqqwPsNPfPrSrSGvgb-cv_cztX5JcQhfeDxx9rp8x8nISDTgOPbw8P92D4DS38koxg/s1600/IMG_3377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQnTGA_ZzTZsJV7Bcpq0JCFgfqf3dPjycM1qB7meGGxvwTwiATYQcsEsjQ7yroL6o36zYZQdZImqqwPsNPfPrSrSGvgb-cv_cztX5JcQhfeDxx9rp8x8nISDTgOPbw8P92D4DS38koxg/s1600/IMG_3377.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylI6QrHp9ocK4CDu-CK89cidFg0wTZzmxsdEijRRhiBx7QY4omWvvB6BRD2WCqMdfMFMuXugZT0s3XsZWhBdQBvJcbcW1Odiaek3-aKeqkiT6vYaxTDYTb_6mpfjrwGWqI8_Pd36vbvg/s1600/IMG_3379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylI6QrHp9ocK4CDu-CK89cidFg0wTZzmxsdEijRRhiBx7QY4omWvvB6BRD2WCqMdfMFMuXugZT0s3XsZWhBdQBvJcbcW1Odiaek3-aKeqkiT6vYaxTDYTb_6mpfjrwGWqI8_Pd36vbvg/s1600/IMG_3379.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleeping butterfly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCpPIuPDyoHExhyphenhyphendLYK781QB9HaoSIZH4e5S1sVnG4e575g5-oY2YtM5ykQ0a5E0k-7dlbbYaDMtsnBwSvhczLyBOo_Xj3LNNPq5PgCErLqQiHbwTq3y94dyTSVKhblOPt-tYKPB4B3s/s1600/IMG_3381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCpPIuPDyoHExhyphenhyphendLYK781QB9HaoSIZH4e5S1sVnG4e575g5-oY2YtM5ykQ0a5E0k-7dlbbYaDMtsnBwSvhczLyBOo_Xj3LNNPq5PgCErLqQiHbwTq3y94dyTSVKhblOPt-tYKPB4B3s/s1600/IMG_3381.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumping spider</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJL3EDA8bYlxVF15-_x4vbvn5mM_NgTFvl4VN0t5heKyE6843XOanshx28ke4DNScQuLcwTn-i1uzCWGkYVThMzBgmHmAVNvHFWw1qohIrLIfBOQxq8Aga58PCJscFU5BZsZWTstvjn8/s1600/IMG_3383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJL3EDA8bYlxVF15-_x4vbvn5mM_NgTFvl4VN0t5heKyE6843XOanshx28ke4DNScQuLcwTn-i1uzCWGkYVThMzBgmHmAVNvHFWw1qohIrLIfBOQxq8Aga58PCJscFU5BZsZWTstvjn8/s1600/IMG_3383.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tractor millipede</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1nU_MEXOMNyba433z180Wk4K4UzyN5XR_98gj6KPZ_bkvZAKyDeumq18zfC7LvsLksLuS_i9V4S51LbeTfGgaDlOw21954j5_8NLc5nC0MddRDbCRvCTNPTROTxuRFbwlTDEISBr5h8/s1600/IMG_3384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1nU_MEXOMNyba433z180Wk4K4UzyN5XR_98gj6KPZ_bkvZAKyDeumq18zfC7LvsLksLuS_i9V4S51LbeTfGgaDlOw21954j5_8NLc5nC0MddRDbCRvCTNPTROTxuRFbwlTDEISBr5h8/s1600/IMG_3384.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleeping kingfisher</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfOgwnxTcbk2bzUvVHpmSC0SQe215t1qpFnK0d_GzvYR71pD0JmduQc7KmBScEg15VLPdtAC9S_7v5U7tt_OYFR26jA1ejtnbA7PpR4VJnPs1ckGr7VTOvtTSLGoQN1ngEhmY0Aeyifk/s1600/IMG_3388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfOgwnxTcbk2bzUvVHpmSC0SQe215t1qpFnK0d_GzvYR71pD0JmduQc7KmBScEg15VLPdtAC9S_7v5U7tt_OYFR26jA1ejtnbA7PpR4VJnPs1ckGr7VTOvtTSLGoQN1ngEhmY0Aeyifk/s1600/IMG_3388.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lantern bug</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-UMYJnYwh6qt5u53reeSsonTYBAS4QlxhEHqOBqJbvtzgis2JG3gcrLyQ5QFoH3NCsQXSS70CHkfy71eNIPhLvmS0F9Ah6narzDRmgH8l_P21VHgIMNModyuYlTbj3ajJ8VqeOr_TJw/s1600/IMG_3390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-UMYJnYwh6qt5u53reeSsonTYBAS4QlxhEHqOBqJbvtzgis2JG3gcrLyQ5QFoH3NCsQXSS70CHkfy71eNIPhLvmS0F9Ah6narzDRmgH8l_P21VHgIMNModyuYlTbj3ajJ8VqeOr_TJw/s1600/IMG_3390.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOuOe19hCLnYMCfM2AfQOuvpE_JM1rn2lHXQyiKTDMM7v75xa5H-bsrFHbhdg5Qw44r-zwsyN7ddgfZRQRpiwj7KMVUYLetOJHTn804maJD0fR83IZL4OKYKrklHC51IcM1VJR7oAwe4/s1600/IMG_3392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOuOe19hCLnYMCfM2AfQOuvpE_JM1rn2lHXQyiKTDMM7v75xa5H-bsrFHbhdg5Qw44r-zwsyN7ddgfZRQRpiwj7KMVUYLetOJHTn804maJD0fR83IZL4OKYKrklHC51IcM1VJR7oAwe4/s1600/IMG_3392.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqL15QS-AqIpVIflRLveatS4O3xDNLl9xCJShtPs-Vmoyr9MmKvlPF38ChRUYZ5yTFPOUb1iCURPP_Ifvdru-xfQHJkwjQNLvQK2uvJAwQHgJtHnlDjXHw30j2Vx6qdd14LWFwe4YQ4E/s1600/IMG_3397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqL15QS-AqIpVIflRLveatS4O3xDNLl9xCJShtPs-Vmoyr9MmKvlPF38ChRUYZ5yTFPOUb1iCURPP_Ifvdru-xfQHJkwjQNLvQK2uvJAwQHgJtHnlDjXHw30j2Vx6qdd14LWFwe4YQ4E/s1600/IMG_3397.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMVslJgM4PBTnsr1MA8EA0_z8gh6XKIY82FjOyqHhwh9z26QP5XZXWcy_fOg7MFjGSIxRm6kfEi4JvqSFdqNP7BsHNGtTsvPEVdbYAeOIfk8t5Jn7u-eU-OYylKRYKmYHAgrKS1khydM/s1600/IMG_3400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMVslJgM4PBTnsr1MA8EA0_z8gh6XKIY82FjOyqHhwh9z26QP5XZXWcy_fOg7MFjGSIxRm6kfEi4JvqSFdqNP7BsHNGtTsvPEVdbYAeOIfk8t5Jn7u-eU-OYylKRYKmYHAgrKS1khydM/s1600/IMG_3400.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bad picture of the tarantula (on the right side of the tree)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpL8Q5LVLfSRvziyml7MCz92-W128haAB5knERd8ESuq3JRWZeVTv9UTNHXHjecWV7SVz-Yl1Kw1610VQMuHqctI6T07B2T7Oo6K2p8WI9XNI4NaFdL0GhFonWIxlZrq2zfCnyGdbjxQ/s1600/IMG_3404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpL8Q5LVLfSRvziyml7MCz92-W128haAB5knERd8ESuq3JRWZeVTv9UTNHXHjecWV7SVz-Yl1Kw1610VQMuHqctI6T07B2T7Oo6K2p8WI9XNI4NaFdL0GhFonWIxlZrq2zfCnyGdbjxQ/s1600/IMG_3404.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /><br />Back at camp we had dinner and found a scorpion nest with a big one and several babies, a few metres from the dining hut. And joined in a birthday party for one of the guides.<br /><br />Next morning we had one last river cruise. Saw more hornbills and sea eagles and I spotted a pretty big crocodile laying in the mud with his mouth open! Then made the return trip to Sandakan,where we had about 24 hours to get laundry done, get clean again, have a great night's sleep and eat some good food before catching a flight back to Kota Kinabalu where did some diving!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Kinabatangan River, Kota Kinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysia5.44746 118.107518499999975.1945495000000008 117.78479499999997 5.7003705 118.43024199999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-30970856142164561812014-05-09T15:42:00.000-07:002014-05-09T15:42:00.958-07:00Climbing Mount KinabaluJerome -- It's been 5 days since we climbed <a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kinabalu" target="_blank">Mount Kinabalu</a>, and our legs are still sore.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2e3HlC347b6oe0anv1-ZLFVC_CqNdsjH-hfacbIKG7jRz703XtWgl8JgGMkGAS4G-ApzQK_tBNQ0ftoyEqYHOqhGUsC3gTzGaxWtByl5D94ez1pUFzN-mrNfyrNLmnsbSIRIdcu14Fgs/s1600/IMG_2863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2e3HlC347b6oe0anv1-ZLFVC_CqNdsjH-hfacbIKG7jRz703XtWgl8JgGMkGAS4G-ApzQK_tBNQ0ftoyEqYHOqhGUsC3gTzGaxWtByl5D94ez1pUFzN-mrNfyrNLmnsbSIRIdcu14Fgs/s1600/IMG_2863.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Mount Kinabalu from afar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Mount Kinabalu is the <a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_peaks_by_prominence" target="_blank">20th highest peak</a> in the world by topographic prominence (which means its sticks out more vs the surrounding mountains). The peak is at 4095 m (13,435 ft). It's also known for being a fairly "easy" climb - no special equipment or experience is necessary. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVynvfbWTpKLgDqlA5qphDqoUtadpO0Ftu8ivGg37budvogNB-NQ82ztFc6EqN0AGrpz0yY0BqCSv9Yyq1zLcj-kcdRM8jzNNguLAVrVUkCJEGYRI3qcuaZhu5HzOO2io8zitQdOQJWhI/s1600/PANO_20140502_153702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVynvfbWTpKLgDqlA5qphDqoUtadpO0Ftu8ivGg37budvogNB-NQ82ztFc6EqN0AGrpz0yY0BqCSv9Yyq1zLcj-kcdRM8jzNNguLAVrVUkCJEGYRI3qcuaZhu5HzOO2io8zitQdOQJWhI/s1600/PANO_20140502_153702.jpg" height="152" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We arrived at the park the night before our climb, in time to have dinner and pack our day packs for the climb (rather than our much heavier backpacks). We only brought the bare essentials: a change of clothes, toiletries, a warm base-layer (it's only 3 - 5°C at the summit at night), rain jackets, headlamps, cameras, gloves, some snacks, and 4L of water. We also rented a trekking pole for each of us - I think it helped a lot, especially to take some pressure off our knees during the decent. We left the rest of our luggage in storage at the park headquarters.<br />
<br />
We were up early to meet our mountain guide and get started. Our guide was Ananias, a local from Ranau, who has been a guide for about 2 years. As a guide, he climbs to the summit 3 times each week - hard to imagine, once was hard enough! Before guiding, he worked as a porter - hauling gear and supplies up to Laban Rata. Work for porters is even harder - they go up and down to Laban Rata 5 days per week and carry heavy loads - propane tanks, drinks, food and other supplies/equipment!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2HauEKuKSlir4YoDX83WIPt9jzBQ7_19bdRhJ7E6edMELHMSuDmHG0ZICYxrQcE6bKU2QoWIl8mIjTy_DNOQ5ZLdeIKq8ZOMO1p95tQ8UUq7_UppWY_AlCK9kT_BiqBegNozx-h7EgA/s1600/IMG_2874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2HauEKuKSlir4YoDX83WIPt9jzBQ7_19bdRhJ7E6edMELHMSuDmHG0ZICYxrQcE6bKU2QoWIl8mIjTy_DNOQ5ZLdeIKq8ZOMO1p95tQ8UUq7_UppWY_AlCK9kT_BiqBegNozx-h7EgA/s1600/IMG_2874.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Timpohon Gate to Laban Rata</span></b><br />
<b>Time</b>: 8:15 am - 1:45 pm<br />
<b>Distance</b>: 6.13 km (3.81 mi)<br />
<b>Elevation</b>: 1866 - 3273m (6122 - 10738 ft)<br />
<a href="http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/333381807/5511739" target="_blank">Track via Endomondo</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWp1YeKvS1jwnAYVzwqb8kUNMNmMxuCk4unJ3o_O5iMQ_1Vgl6GQDyPP32YMHfRosYk8KWQBudWqfENKX78Tr1-BqJ5yONpX8avOdyPNvsPlbfizRTabdQxOPiY8jjHCJOj4XqTSOkgmw/s1600/IMG_2892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWp1YeKvS1jwnAYVzwqb8kUNMNmMxuCk4unJ3o_O5iMQ_1Vgl6GQDyPP32YMHfRosYk8KWQBudWqfENKX78Tr1-BqJ5yONpX8avOdyPNvsPlbfizRTabdQxOPiY8jjHCJOj4XqTSOkgmw/s1600/IMG_2892.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Timpohon Gate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The first section of the climb consists of a mix of wooden stairs and rocky boulders. There's lots of vegetation on both sides of the trail during this section. It's pretty much continuously up - very few flat sections. Every km, or so there was a little rest area with some shaded benches - nice to be able to catch our breath. We had a quick lunch break at the 4 km mark. As we ascended, we definitely started to notice the altitude. Our legs didn't feel very tired, but it was harder to catch our breath. For the top 3 km or so we couldn't see much beyond the immediate trail - lots of clouds / fog blocked the view towards the summit, as well as to the valley.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopFGgw3mmk1Fpfxpp4CEc5CTxXGrlsStHsfJrosofOAAtHLmFV1gAXFGHrKLiKCY5E2nlC7Cvxh5JBhSudf4zeUmwQmYSpJe-6nBtwM987dCpbmr8PU6OjZPHL-j_cBiDwc7-LGyNSnE/s1600/IMG_2897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopFGgw3mmk1Fpfxpp4CEc5CTxXGrlsStHsfJrosofOAAtHLmFV1gAXFGHrKLiKCY5E2nlC7Cvxh5JBhSudf4zeUmwQmYSpJe-6nBtwM987dCpbmr8PU6OjZPHL-j_cBiDwc7-LGyNSnE/s1600/IMG_2897.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Endless stairs!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcu47adcEYbIvD0byO9fwXoAFsmz9gwWA7d7-qnRCSdYk-tet0WcKk_5hGUNVvIuLord-547OzL2JSn4dGRx7ZNvIWCDwLMIiFr8vTej42-BJKu5ganUIIZKULCD2p0KqNQfsGqt8R-jA/s1600/IMG_2906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcu47adcEYbIvD0byO9fwXoAFsmz9gwWA7d7-qnRCSdYk-tet0WcKk_5hGUNVvIuLord-547OzL2JSn4dGRx7ZNvIWCDwLMIiFr8vTej42-BJKu5ganUIIZKULCD2p0KqNQfsGqt8R-jA/s1600/IMG_2906.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a><br />
At </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the 2 km mark!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was quite a relief to arrive at Laban Rata. Laban Rata consists of a cluster of small lodges for climbers to stay, and a central lodge that had a restaurant. It was actually pretty cool already (probably something like 14/15°C) so we had some tea when we arrived. It really hit the spot! After a quick, cold shower and new, non-sweaty clothes and I was feeling much better.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMhCtX4tVWXjDtBAOAzi4ph0i7YnPuxGVZwt5WzCTmyvCmTAFVZ5SoTMPaBaSz7dYy09QQO84EDqA1uGMaXbu3ILUSxbjPfRkLtZ6fQROvPnnANVSOhE5N9O9KDNgk75ajqAhPK7c6bI/s1600/IMG_3058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMhCtX4tVWXjDtBAOAzi4ph0i7YnPuxGVZwt5WzCTmyvCmTAFVZ5SoTMPaBaSz7dYy09QQO84EDqA1uGMaXbu3ILUSxbjPfRkLtZ6fQROvPnnANVSOhE5N9O9KDNgk75ajqAhPK7c6bI/s1600/IMG_3058.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laban Rata</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After a buffet dinner at 4:30 pm we headed for bed. Bed was a small, unheated room with three bunk beds. Mine squeaked every time I moved.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Laban Rata to Low's Peak (and back)</b></span><br />
<b>Time</b>: 2:45 am - 8:30 am<br />
<b>Distance</b>: 5.5 km (3.4 mi)<br />
<b>Elevation</b>: 3273 - 4095 m (10738 - 13435 ft)<br />
<a href="http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/333865517/5511739" target="_blank">Track via Endomondo</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv2tfcn5dcA6_CEqUkS4u7hifzUsx0T_fJFPFtp7H2mAbRhPocb4OHWPDQf6y9NkeW_2EoG9HfesWQQxaTepUNpDwyphcmfwCYyI-nu5SkupgOZNwaLPt8FNPB3qKtTO6d-J2fgJyabY/s1600/IMG_2927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv2tfcn5dcA6_CEqUkS4u7hifzUsx0T_fJFPFtp7H2mAbRhPocb4OHWPDQf6y9NkeW_2EoG9HfesWQQxaTepUNpDwyphcmfwCYyI-nu5SkupgOZNwaLPt8FNPB3qKtTO6d-J2fgJyabY/s1600/IMG_2927.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We were up again at 1:30 am. We put on all our warm clothes and after a quick "supper" began our final ascent. Unlike the previous section when the starting times are relatively staggered, nearly everyone leaves Laban Rata at about the same time for the summit. At least initially it was a pretty long, slow-moving queue of climbers. It was actually sort of neat to look down and see the long line of headlamps snaking up the mountain.<br />
<br />
The first section of the climb is just stairs, but the we quickly reached the "ropes section". This section starts just about at the tree-line. A thick white rope is anchored into the rocks and is used to pull yourself up inclines, keep stability on ledges, and as a general marker for the path. Laura was most nervous about this section of the climb, but she didn't have any problems at all. Quite a few other climbers did abandon the climb at this section though. I actually liked the ropes section the most - it's much more interesting than the endless stairs! The crowd of climbers thinned / spread out pretty significantly at this point.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdo93R3h6LmJ4f9cYB4p4PX6Rb4ArhIC9Z5Oig-BPofo1iGxXFlvHnpnTLkPdhC_NRkrTTAT5VqZdLAUdbWuWIfED8flHO0LHg28hh8Nksao6LULZ-zuuXLWXrM-9b4JFWRjwAvUqtfSI/s1600/IMG_3044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdo93R3h6LmJ4f9cYB4p4PX6Rb4ArhIC9Z5Oig-BPofo1iGxXFlvHnpnTLkPdhC_NRkrTTAT5VqZdLAUdbWuWIfED8flHO0LHg28hh8Nksao6LULZ-zuuXLWXrM-9b4JFWRjwAvUqtfSI/s1600/IMG_3044.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ropes section (on the way down)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqtyKzLHcumnoLN0SM_YO_pMS4f5J6Rfu5DeIo_oGprTybQpuroVdXiSrMA7E6a6YPS8OIvDPsfZBMnCB3o9jm-r_xW1txpmsE7LN30GwVg95H-5Tk0bobIMlmzSn-CSk0BZMub2FbOs/s1600/IMG_3050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqtyKzLHcumnoLN0SM_YO_pMS4f5J6Rfu5DeIo_oGprTybQpuroVdXiSrMA7E6a6YPS8OIvDPsfZBMnCB3o9jm-r_xW1txpmsE7LN30GwVg95H-5Tk0bobIMlmzSn-CSk0BZMub2FbOs/s1600/IMG_3050.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More ropes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As we ascended it got colder and colder. The climb was enough effort that we were sweating hard, but anytime we stopped our wet clothes quickly chilled us. A very weird combination of sweating and freezing. We were dressed pretty lightly compared to other climbers - we saw one guy wearing a full snowsuit (including the snow pants)!<br />
<br />
The last kilometer or so is a large inclined granite plateau, and finally a more inclined ascent up Low's peak. We arrived just as the sky was beginning to lighten with the rising sun. It was quite spectacular to see our surroundings after having climbed in darkness. We were above an ocean of clouds. The peak itself was a bit of a zoo, not too much room and a lot of climbers jockeying to take pictures. We didn't stay at the peak for too long before starting the decent (partially because of the long decent ahead of us, partially because we were freezing). It felt great to start the decent after going up for so long! And it was really nice to have great views the whole way down.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXTga6JlN_FTw-rZA8f2rc00ceg5Z52MlyuS_8aDHmlWS9EtZ-Tgjde9Qa24kaihJQXu-Dpt1A0eEgNA1NBdI-nREWjKP1hXEjK8h2TF-Xzf6ASOODwwIrCND5bt6tAVzBJMZAYtSxyA/s1600/IMG_2933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXTga6JlN_FTw-rZA8f2rc00ceg5Z52MlyuS_8aDHmlWS9EtZ-Tgjde9Qa24kaihJQXu-Dpt1A0eEgNA1NBdI-nREWjKP1hXEjK8h2TF-Xzf6ASOODwwIrCND5bt6tAVzBJMZAYtSxyA/s1600/IMG_2933.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the peak!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTkipJ1ZibPt37dX4DAnElfwv-fS6WWx52CCDBVYNtN0BxvD64Zp-yEJHT4u4wm86q-8s9lWne7NDXYAOMeBO9CUbvlrwDWDTVfpQEffzDbGJjPVAdTSQdpUegPXkqWFoZ5lomrwCOpI/s1600/IMG_2947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTkipJ1ZibPt37dX4DAnElfwv-fS6WWx52CCDBVYNtN0BxvD64Zp-yEJHT4u4wm86q-8s9lWne7NDXYAOMeBO9CUbvlrwDWDTVfpQEffzDbGJjPVAdTSQdpUegPXkqWFoZ5lomrwCOpI/s1600/IMG_2947.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise at the summit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKM3TNpU85zus4XccbH7H-MN8qJJG_qkOUkuFiWYdc0Cz8SvbaaO6bRKZPfhz0wl-DBXzeVVIARFIbeWdSSKSJAQ1gLVkIFD-wxoI_HPujcpGvG0cELfLeo8LALD0qTwZZJkSveqvwczY/s1600/IMG_2954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKM3TNpU85zus4XccbH7H-MN8qJJG_qkOUkuFiWYdc0Cz8SvbaaO6bRKZPfhz0wl-DBXzeVVIARFIbeWdSSKSJAQ1gLVkIFD-wxoI_HPujcpGvG0cELfLeo8LALD0qTwZZJkSveqvwczY/s1600/IMG_2954.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two of us, slightly down from the summit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Bq9Ec6CsV4HVDSVI4Dv2crWHouRh6h2uajlB_sC_jXnH85XfPS7UoJG3-9okz_82bhqIgXMpd0Y4pTp4MzHAMkqirOqTXEPvRo2F1wV9kYsQcwiZKkv7pM2pxgVxORj4I1OLRFtZA3s/s1600/IMG_2963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Bq9Ec6CsV4HVDSVI4Dv2crWHouRh6h2uajlB_sC_jXnH85XfPS7UoJG3-9okz_82bhqIgXMpd0Y4pTp4MzHAMkqirOqTXEPvRo2F1wV9kYsQcwiZKkv7pM2pxgVxORj4I1OLRFtZA3s/s1600/IMG_2963.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the South Peak</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdhzZ8o12jk7AJBFzo8auVaZoq_g4OwtXKpKitF6ZgcLEVaaE6hXD9S4tSSxh3A1twIpghkO-OXm04EdJDDldo2I6U1KaXtlvf5IDGyF74CeNysjq27YFthxylOiZm_8-mpRw2EKxvBI/s1600/IMG_2967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdhzZ8o12jk7AJBFzo8auVaZoq_g4OwtXKpKitF6ZgcLEVaaE6hXD9S4tSSxh3A1twIpghkO-OXm04EdJDDldo2I6U1KaXtlvf5IDGyF74CeNysjq27YFthxylOiZm_8-mpRw2EKxvBI/s1600/IMG_2967.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzikDFxH7DwJayCA0KeNlKgRKdu5RswjhO5Ev20JK3zJnsU9IKs127_VpJ8Y4Sxk5-H81cZZbuaEOwrbV4Ikud_fxEKMChgRT4MsPSRwMhifn_nmyxs-aoppJ6bgOy_-Ie6IpmR-3q8wY/s1600/IMG_2989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzikDFxH7DwJayCA0KeNlKgRKdu5RswjhO5Ev20JK3zJnsU9IKs127_VpJ8Y4Sxk5-H81cZZbuaEOwrbV4Ikud_fxEKMChgRT4MsPSRwMhifn_nmyxs-aoppJ6bgOy_-Ie6IpmR-3q8wY/s1600/IMG_2989.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beginning the trek down</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrcXzBLEGkepdvYhWFk4WnKXDYKP5-NN3HoCOy8g0RWEPhEfgQ5mxkAi9K0kz3_UerkOMbLOb4I5KMuOLcqfsm_ZMGiLGVCCVSK_9PjK02TIdkSJNUEcWOVoLb-JSRJ2xd_O7-Q6M6bw/s1600/IMG_3004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrcXzBLEGkepdvYhWFk4WnKXDYKP5-NN3HoCOy8g0RWEPhEfgQ5mxkAi9K0kz3_UerkOMbLOb4I5KMuOLcqfsm_ZMGiLGVCCVSK_9PjK02TIdkSJNUEcWOVoLb-JSRJ2xd_O7-Q6M6bw/s1600/IMG_3004.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
By 8:30 we were back in Laban Rata for breakfast and a quick break before our decent to Mesilau.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Laban Rata to Mesilau Nature Resort</b></span><br />
<b>Time</b>: 9:30 am - 4:00 pm<br />
<b>Distance</b>: 7.92 km (4.92 mi)<br />
<b>Elevation</b>: 3273 - 2000 m (10738 - 6562 ft)<br />
<a href="http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/333993173/5511739" target="_blank">Track via Endomondo</a><br />
<br />
There are two routes up Mount Kinabalu, one is about 6 km from Timpohon Gate and the other is about 2 km further to Mesilau Nature Resort. We booked our final night at Mesilau so that we'd be able to try both routes. The first couple km were pretty good, but clouds and fog rolled in and out knees started to hurt from the decent - I think we were just counting the km for the last half of the trek. I was hoping that since Mesilau is at a higher elevation than Timpohon (and the trail is longer), it would mean that the decent would be more gradual. Instead we had an extra 300 m ascent on the way down!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKG252e5ksta0_NYlJwdrYI5b9X9h6dtmJ_Hv4W-uVBg4XdKl0e0emUBx-phBBkayx-43rxhY6uKifS22fdA3c4BGlUbK7sNJLM-BMU92LBlyyNfr935K3bdLLzo8BiNWqooBNHzC-qNU/s1600/IMG_3097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKG252e5ksta0_NYlJwdrYI5b9X9h6dtmJ_Hv4W-uVBg4XdKl0e0emUBx-phBBkayx-43rxhY6uKifS22fdA3c4BGlUbK7sNJLM-BMU92LBlyyNfr935K3bdLLzo8BiNWqooBNHzC-qNU/s1600/IMG_3097.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fog rolling in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAzuDtJgbsByFiIGgybvPoAD-I6zATfmLFOI1yoMeztT1-ekDCGgSsG8-Zg3dIYZ8242Roix9lKwc_ZDrQaYeYXLHFYQc2Sswn8qPZWaB-NhSUaUfRJTvGMenEMfHfqwJ0dqFmQpbH70/s1600/IMG_3091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAzuDtJgbsByFiIGgybvPoAD-I6zATfmLFOI1yoMeztT1-ekDCGgSsG8-Zg3dIYZ8242Roix9lKwc_ZDrQaYeYXLHFYQc2Sswn8qPZWaB-NhSUaUfRJTvGMenEMfHfqwJ0dqFmQpbH70/s1600/IMG_3091.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neat pitcher plants along Mesilau trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9PoWqMJ6nh1mZjN28ZNeK8VNduG4GHTQE4C0EJYBGusd3dF6KlJLNcLRolfARKkBUeIlpe7wSlVQgRXe4K5T_rk67oIDRk5qtZhfLbPrWFrmjsy_cSFVu0kuWdqSBROFBtXVF_ppaBg/s1600/IMG_2913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9PoWqMJ6nh1mZjN28ZNeK8VNduG4GHTQE4C0EJYBGusd3dF6KlJLNcLRolfARKkBUeIlpe7wSlVQgRXe4K5T_rk67oIDRk5qtZhfLbPrWFrmjsy_cSFVu0kuWdqSBROFBtXVF_ppaBg/s1600/IMG_2913.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another pitcher plant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We were super happy to arrive at Mesilau. A bit to our dismay we found that the resort is set up as multiple buildings with fairly steep hills inbetween them. Our lodge was up a hill and was the furthest from the reception! It was great to have a shower and get some food though. Eugene, the restaurant's manager was particularly nice and arranged a special late lunch for us.<br />
<br />
All-in-all we're both pretty proud of having made it up Mount Kinabalu. The one thing I didn't like is that I found that I had to look down the whole time because the paths are uneven and require your complete attention. The clouds also make the climb fairly monotonous as you don't get to see the progress of your ascent. It would have also been nice to have more time to explore the summit - maybe an extra night at Laban Rata (I'm not sure if that's allowed). Laura's reserving the right to veto any future mountains... but I'm already trying to convince her that we should try Half Dome in Yosemite.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VhqcqUNCu1KNflJw3laUieK6ybbL-cEt921Zu5cTb6rQGS46fcPaXVPPXRQiJY5E0scJ0vaLnCqY8ZF2IV6uS8oACTf6PH9MYKx2Un1J46wwbazTW8Uclg8QlPpDMLb1-QzdZ5V6hHM/s1600/IMG_3017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VhqcqUNCu1KNflJw3laUieK6ybbL-cEt921Zu5cTb6rQGS46fcPaXVPPXRQiJY5E0scJ0vaLnCqY8ZF2IV6uS8oACTf6PH9MYKx2Un1J46wwbazTW8Uclg8QlPpDMLb1-QzdZ5V6hHM/s1600/IMG_3017.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Mount Kinabalu, 88400 Kota Belud, Sabah, Malaysia6.0745439999999986 116.56272000000001-24.69654 75.254126000000014 36.845628 157.871314tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-86898099116833554072014-05-08T08:38:00.000-07:002014-05-08T09:34:08.579-07:00Kota Kinabalu<div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.675324440002441px;">
Laura -- We arrived in Kota Kinabalu after a short flight from Puerto Princesa. That afternoon, we just explored the the town. Jerome was quite excited to get tofu-fa and spicy laksa from various market stalls. Durian also was prominent, but we didn't have any. We tried<a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teh_tarik" target="_blank"> teh tarik</a> or pulled tea, which is a sweet milky bubbly tea. Very good.</div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.675324440002441px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.675324440002441px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Opj-BrR2m8xlEgxCjo8xm9tOKk1dRoZLGADM49vBsQHQIAxy5Y1zj6lFvQepqidqTI8_6_t0siw3oEPc9M7iTys62W8DQVOteQkdqa8kyjYgKWpRHK39mzj30Ihw3z4tQSo0rNzJjhI/s1600/IMG_20140429_185131940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Opj-BrR2m8xlEgxCjo8xm9tOKk1dRoZLGADM49vBsQHQIAxy5Y1zj6lFvQepqidqTI8_6_t0siw3oEPc9M7iTys62W8DQVOteQkdqa8kyjYgKWpRHK39mzj30Ihw3z4tQSo0rNzJjhI/s1600/IMG_20140429_185131940.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spicy Laksa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfvuO6YF0x95IKoaTIqWT7GvIFUMIXS1D1406VoeFW0BIF0f6sNGM_4D2hw4mROXdRPuOcSZt7GLngzpb9WhNnm_X1u5-ipdpab2vc_YMyNAN-5h6fhKEvnO8Fch2CyiW1yZOAqzrbJc/s1600/IMG_20140501_184632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfvuO6YF0x95IKoaTIqWT7GvIFUMIXS1D1406VoeFW0BIF0f6sNGM_4D2hw4mROXdRPuOcSZt7GLngzpb9WhNnm_X1u5-ipdpab2vc_YMyNAN-5h6fhKEvnO8Fch2CyiW1yZOAqzrbJc/s1600/IMG_20140501_184632.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roti and curry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_854812925"></span><span id="goog_854812926"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.675324440002441px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoDOLIY0qd_1xbyZFLIhTOD3iezQgmVc08V50OZVcx9ZctUWXugRAJbjjYLv9tyfdkXjuztGVX2T-w1ETt4jDtGpt-fAvZ8NVKWsaCSRPqF7FsJuCMPeTAuYIVLoOjzQoqCwSWXE-oW0/s1600/IMG_2846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoDOLIY0qd_1xbyZFLIhTOD3iezQgmVc08V50OZVcx9ZctUWXugRAJbjjYLv9tyfdkXjuztGVX2T-w1ETt4jDtGpt-fAvZ8NVKWsaCSRPqF7FsJuCMPeTAuYIVLoOjzQoqCwSWXE-oW0/s1600/IMG_2846.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teh tarik</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.675324440002441px;">
One of the things I was very excited about in Kota Kinabalu (KK) was our trip on the <a href="http://www.suteraharbour.com/v4/index.php/styles" target="_blank">North Borneo Railway</a>. It was a few hour journey, on a wood steam engine from the 1950's! <a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheldon_Cooper" target="_blank">Sheldon</a> would have been jealous! The whole train has been restored to it's original condition, and the carriages are decorated in the style of the early 1900's. This is augmented with the train steward's outfits!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpw2kUEwTsSgeJdvd_ka_MBPfTuDRUOLrFXJUkt3olBSqhCLmCn8uaJTStmE3qlKvtMrOo2p4euWsoabD0HPXZjmOnossWu6EFf8lO5Aa-P1ndocg7P3EmPV0daJ4dINm-QPPVhE89inE/s1600/IMG_2711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpw2kUEwTsSgeJdvd_ka_MBPfTuDRUOLrFXJUkt3olBSqhCLmCn8uaJTStmE3qlKvtMrOo2p4euWsoabD0HPXZjmOnossWu6EFf8lO5Aa-P1ndocg7P3EmPV0daJ4dINm-QPPVhE89inE/s1600/IMG_2711.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfE8HeSkap95iqFq7cNkPITH0XLFDumVjrCEJA7DBs8e_RNI0YewGbMgNX-IWL9_XAKv04t86OLMn67sdX0wkF0WoURKdPKN4t4SlZ784eG411BLNbafqEoBPTAos2KrMJN7Me_IviTi8/s1600/IMG_2693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfE8HeSkap95iqFq7cNkPITH0XLFDumVjrCEJA7DBs8e_RNI0YewGbMgNX-IWL9_XAKv04t86OLMn67sdX0wkF0WoURKdPKN4t4SlZ784eG411BLNbafqEoBPTAos2KrMJN7Me_IviTi8/s1600/IMG_2693.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FTNphuBDu03d3tL95_lPcAlPx_qozhNELNp_eos3DswKlHXob4wJoT9HX0VtGSRH3Eh2W-4RZCI2LocHS9nUX5lupMk529VjebmNYqVo7fX9zmDjFdC522mzEbCnKCbWRlNZd9bsT1o/s1600/IMG_2740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FTNphuBDu03d3tL95_lPcAlPx_qozhNELNp_eos3DswKlHXob4wJoT9HX0VtGSRH3Eh2W-4RZCI2LocHS9nUX5lupMk529VjebmNYqVo7fX9zmDjFdC522mzEbCnKCbWRlNZd9bsT1o/s1600/IMG_2740.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lRJrfFb6UDqr2CjE4tj3wiZBnfarEBBK9kk2hEZrS679CcDEyYbvataPxeKTG-tFk4X8aI-pKJLeWbBalqa15qhwMEccorMFhtid70N-CwYLrA9tBnq0VBjY35jmB_g3W6hn8Hqzwcw/s1600/IMG_2730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lRJrfFb6UDqr2CjE4tj3wiZBnfarEBBK9kk2hEZrS679CcDEyYbvataPxeKTG-tFk4X8aI-pKJLeWbBalqa15qhwMEccorMFhtid70N-CwYLrA9tBnq0VBjY35jmB_g3W6hn8Hqzwcw/s1600/IMG_2730.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The trip was about 4 hours long, traveling almost 40km each way from KK to Papar, passing through jungle, orchards, towns, rice paddies and even through a tunnel! It made several stops at villages and a buddhist temple. We had tea and pastries on board for breakfast, and a tiffin box lunch, which was very fun and tasty! Just before lunch, Jerome and I and a few others got to go into the engine, which had decoupled to turn around. We got to see them start it going, we got to pull the whistle quite a few times, and ride in the engine to recouple it! It was pretty epic! The whole thing was an amazing experience.</div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif;">
<div style="font-size: 13.675324440002441px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13.675324440002441px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexUTLDdRS8dIuRxXPauBU-tlIrF20UQVapdtL1EgHEfTcKV_i6DCOM90BvJa_-nyVUT1ypGHxOj5xB8PtYJmZwhIkDgZ-pRDlCbFOvWJdzbJm9iKIONwokbRNGP8IBu27U1YhpmBRGMA/s1600/IMG_2802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexUTLDdRS8dIuRxXPauBU-tlIrF20UQVapdtL1EgHEfTcKV_i6DCOM90BvJa_-nyVUT1ypGHxOj5xB8PtYJmZwhIkDgZ-pRDlCbFOvWJdzbJm9iKIONwokbRNGP8IBu27U1YhpmBRGMA/s1600/IMG_2802.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13.675324440002441px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oMycSW3Xrt2sm2AR83ZStMh9xXFhYNgkD0WlIA4emfN9TrYo8Mfz_GxGMX53n8q-oZGQ1LBWBy2sm0tgJrTXAtsOPi-fLbMJsz3HmBQVnd7EvCR1cNvPjK5bbbYBYBzVErzY-mZZUy4/s1600/IMG_2791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oMycSW3Xrt2sm2AR83ZStMh9xXFhYNgkD0WlIA4emfN9TrYo8Mfz_GxGMX53n8q-oZGQ1LBWBy2sm0tgJrTXAtsOPi-fLbMJsz3HmBQVnd7EvCR1cNvPjK5bbbYBYBzVErzY-mZZUy4/s1600/IMG_2791.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 13.675324440002441px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13.675324440002441px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZM5mEQTMNMbjudITDPn_Kg1CL72B5h924-Wq1w8kkfnb2zteJQ12WhZK-8jTEBuKki1mQt-PJ6g_IiopZpD2NhQo58nupFLMJYbSVLnz17pRI7VqXyJAn8D39JMNU7et56x6RqTzmHU/s1600/IMG_2808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZM5mEQTMNMbjudITDPn_Kg1CL72B5h924-Wq1w8kkfnb2zteJQ12WhZK-8jTEBuKki1mQt-PJ6g_IiopZpD2NhQo58nupFLMJYbSVLnz17pRI7VqXyJAn8D39JMNU7et56x6RqTzmHU/s1600/IMG_2808.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 13.675324440002441px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13.675324440002441px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBBQd5TUFCj-1Q_5mG8BR2137ncc3zOVuhls8_8saUDsLKfEflbHomaQKVqz3A-KRYKXqp12K6T_aMfCE-_bYe2FeoCB7JHBCD4PQ9sjCIOK1Z898UoYSJanpejPrlIHdSkUhu2mIRbI/s1600/IMG_2831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBBQd5TUFCj-1Q_5mG8BR2137ncc3zOVuhls8_8saUDsLKfEflbHomaQKVqz3A-KRYKXqp12K6T_aMfCE-_bYe2FeoCB7JHBCD4PQ9sjCIOK1Z898UoYSJanpejPrlIHdSkUhu2mIRbI/s1600/IMG_2831.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 13.675324440002441px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13.675324440002441px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiy37_v8lMNjNafxnV_z0JOGdnUAu3Eu44n_LqpPzjbsjkxCLVGKkb0LKGtUK89rsJm4g9uEv4phlbfec2-1RyejzgsXevlfz5SSSGINyCWhBaomfPJzOXc84qgXYXC91Sc-kJGT-b5k/s1600/IMG_2840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiy37_v8lMNjNafxnV_z0JOGdnUAu3Eu44n_LqpPzjbsjkxCLVGKkb0LKGtUK89rsJm4g9uEv4phlbfec2-1RyejzgsXevlfz5SSSGINyCWhBaomfPJzOXc84qgXYXC91Sc-kJGT-b5k/s1600/IMG_2840.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 13.675324440002441px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 13.675324440002441px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.675324440002441px;">
The other thing we wanted to do while in KK was to see a <a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafflesia" target="_blank">Rafflesia</a> flower. They are the biggest in the world! But they only bloom for about 10 days, every 6 months, so it's not as easy as it sounds. We had asked at the tourist center, who told us the Rafflesia center had 3 in bloom right now, and told us where to catch a bus for the two hour ride. So we got up early in the morning to go. After alot of bad directions, we found the shuttle bus to Tambunan which drives by the center, but were told unless we wanted to pay for a private taxi, we had to wait for 5 more people to come to fill the van. We almost gave up after an hour, but a group of three came along to complete the group. After 2 hours of very bumpy and windy roads -albeit with beautiful scenery, which Jerome enjoyed while I concentrated on not getting car sick - we arrived at the gate of the impressive Rafflesia center. We hopped out, and the driver came too, calling us to wait. There was a sheet of paper on the gates, with a handwritten note in Malay, saying it would be closed today... So disapointed, we got back in the van for another half hour to get to the town of Tambunan. We ate lunch and walked around the whole place in an hour. Stopped in an internet cafe in hopes of finding something else cool nearby to see, but to no avail, so we went back to the bus stop to wait for another 5 people to fill it to get back. I think it was our first really disappointing day. But five hours in a van to see nothing, wasn't what we'd had in mind. We salvaged the evening with a visit to a craft market, tasty curry and a visit to the night market, where we bargained for binoculars to have for our jungle trip in a few days.</div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.675324440002441px;">
Then we started packing up and preparing for our trip to Mt Kinabalu park and the climb up the big mountain! This is the part I've been most nervous about of our whole trip! So stay tuned to see how it turns out!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia5.976474 116.115776999999985.723795 115.79305349999998 6.2291529999999993 116.43850049999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-66375098018080889302014-05-05T09:28:00.000-07:002014-05-05T09:28:25.944-07:00Goodbye Philippines!Jerome-- We had a few more days in the Philippines after our expedition with Tao. We spent most of our time in El Nido relaxing, kayaking, and meeting up with friends from the boat.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuu21IgYaoPjfFQhGquMOyfxWlUKjhmBefzNqEAJqSw32rEM4r4clXazFzk5cWkxRzWgEbV2jsNUrdDEtIYTz3ZtNv0V8q1yYZffszJoOYUjaFeYquq-6hqHDzuSt8arcrPrtrRz1szI/s1600/IMG_20140426_182902316_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuu21IgYaoPjfFQhGquMOyfxWlUKjhmBefzNqEAJqSw32rEM4r4clXazFzk5cWkxRzWgEbV2jsNUrdDEtIYTz3ZtNv0V8q1yYZffszJoOYUjaFeYquq-6hqHDzuSt8arcrPrtrRz1szI/s1600/IMG_20140426_182902316_HDR.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset view from our hotel in El Nido</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuo_4haKVv_u_Na62NDTCmZmnI9uLWfTJxOSan0pzqVumTB4nT2XD-iSjZB6HTGlKcYEuWhLNVaXSl6oDY2pNOdQ2J8HxYYbcBGrMA0_8r4kIFwkr8c1BfH2_Mro1ds1jVOxaCKKKIlg/s1600/IMG_20140426_200354317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuo_4haKVv_u_Na62NDTCmZmnI9uLWfTJxOSan0pzqVumTB4nT2XD-iSjZB6HTGlKcYEuWhLNVaXSl6oDY2pNOdQ2J8HxYYbcBGrMA0_8r4kIFwkr8c1BfH2_Mro1ds1jVOxaCKKKIlg/s1600/IMG_20140426_200354317.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner on the beach with friends from Tao: Mikael, Johanna, Jennie and James.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCssDyALdKF4TWLmFmf9KmNb4aMnmRSvkDykjY4XYO1s1NdIUrFSX2lN_XS7D6UGGLVVS13VromrIQhVluVUkufENrQyJHzotP0HI1GXQOQ27VFLUfYbvmkQAsDQ7oXI_UCLO4Bwa5AQ/s1600/IMG_2609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCssDyALdKF4TWLmFmf9KmNb4aMnmRSvkDykjY4XYO1s1NdIUrFSX2lN_XS7D6UGGLVVS13VromrIQhVluVUkufENrQyJHzotP0HI1GXQOQ27VFLUfYbvmkQAsDQ7oXI_UCLO4Bwa5AQ/s1600/IMG_2609.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kayaking to an island near El Nido</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqgvtIw4VCdZCucS6VwPuimUsy1oy6JF0Hf0a53tHR2QlpIfcXytnONpdNSxQuuUC29c3hOEHhyLT34ZkICbvdY2q9ZvEk59hsIHZj67OKzxympAriqu6gnxRN_1YiOE9-T6A0MNJsz4/s1600/IMG_2604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqgvtIw4VCdZCucS6VwPuimUsy1oy6JF0Hf0a53tHR2QlpIfcXytnONpdNSxQuuUC29c3hOEHhyLT34ZkICbvdY2q9ZvEk59hsIHZj67OKzxympAriqu6gnxRN_1YiOE9-T6A0MNJsz4/s1600/IMG_2604.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We took a 5:30 AM bus from El Nido to Sebang. Sebang is home to the <a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Princesa_Subterranean_River_National_Park" target="_blank">Underground River</a>, a UNESCO world heritage site. It was pretty interesting, but I was a bit disappointed at how regimented the tour was... Boats continuously bring groups of 10 guests at a time for a 30 minute / 1.5 km tour of the cave. The guides have named some of the rock formations based on faint resemblances ("this one looks like corn, that one looks like a cucumber..."). Overall it just seemed like a very long way to go for such a short visit. I did enjoy the monkeys and monitor lizards that hang around outside the cave though! One monkey snatched someone's iphone and brought it up a tree! After snapping a picture with it, it dropped the phone, and I believe someone caught it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSYus8jfNtvc64eZSRPvgy3peiuGNVf8FkMlUGNmvwGkHG2Sd6TRAlKAjDEnUsL25tiYKNPwl3Dbejg7diUL1B01_qmfnIL3Fp43tSan1mfViMpkdup1q_8kqa3Ko8eNcqWksPyKW8cg/s1600/IMG_2637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSYus8jfNtvc64eZSRPvgy3peiuGNVf8FkMlUGNmvwGkHG2Sd6TRAlKAjDEnUsL25tiYKNPwl3Dbejg7diUL1B01_qmfnIL3Fp43tSan1mfViMpkdup1q_8kqa3Ko8eNcqWksPyKW8cg/s1600/IMG_2637.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the underground river</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7sAYfi3WHrzGNkA1rH8cVfiauEuovnqhBesEvisi-kfuczjNhPM-9BjIDZkDrFtt746YlVk9t0puu5cVQ_91OOnRce0WYtBxKmuDZFjm_PXQe0W6XSBWjPmLjZwk-chNwjyIUeiel9k/s1600/IMG_2663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7sAYfi3WHrzGNkA1rH8cVfiauEuovnqhBesEvisi-kfuczjNhPM-9BjIDZkDrFtt746YlVk9t0puu5cVQ_91OOnRce0WYtBxKmuDZFjm_PXQe0W6XSBWjPmLjZwk-chNwjyIUeiel9k/s1600/IMG_2663.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TJ2p-Q-s9zCAo3ygSQDULtKSxHjSMq1x3N_9cKrpyVcbR22tJkYTT2mwD9BeSuLWwalJVBPYZdn-kdtlQKJFjvubkz516jjuu-Jo80gHjYtmrLTUYYAUqWS2kaJXmPvGqjMZ14Kyh1o/s1600/IMG_2646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TJ2p-Q-s9zCAo3ygSQDULtKSxHjSMq1x3N_9cKrpyVcbR22tJkYTT2mwD9BeSuLWwalJVBPYZdn-kdtlQKJFjvubkz516jjuu-Jo80gHjYtmrLTUYYAUqWS2kaJXmPvGqjMZ14Kyh1o/s1600/IMG_2646.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bats nesting on the roof of the cave</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-cKFQ93JWalZlCHvSwFpZxlmDy51L7WRinIa38TjY1VIvXpAoSGfA2Kb0BF-7kQlXU1aAxkUanngEk6RY5TNBkN6mHCgtbJOlecs1CBlk8bgQPUAh4tt7FXwGlavSQ5zNzvn8pvppWA/s1600/IMG_2666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-cKFQ93JWalZlCHvSwFpZxlmDy51L7WRinIa38TjY1VIvXpAoSGfA2Kb0BF-7kQlXU1aAxkUanngEk6RY5TNBkN6mHCgtbJOlecs1CBlk8bgQPUAh4tt7FXwGlavSQ5zNzvn8pvppWA/s1600/IMG_2666.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monkey munching on a flower.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xPg-eHXRC1ZsAlv7OzegZPOgp3fGiS597WXgrfIV-HxB7rvKgUA7Jd6XAm6eRFkRIYEIXlST0b8THkgmZFHW7OhQlAlOdB0tAqbVdPHWLYJh6gCdXPo18qKKotCj0VkxY7DEZETZtOc/s1600/IMG_2681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xPg-eHXRC1ZsAlv7OzegZPOgp3fGiS597WXgrfIV-HxB7rvKgUA7Jd6XAm6eRFkRIYEIXlST0b8THkgmZFHW7OhQlAlOdB0tAqbVdPHWLYJh6gCdXPo18qKKotCj0VkxY7DEZETZtOc/s1600/IMG_2681.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monitor lizard and monkies hanging out by a puddle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishs13Xkfm1cEnxGWAOwgAJd9adBjHeCQSB-CfsdW4adtQZM2ntwYoV8f1gTQqLRh_k5vZuPbRANRrHO3W8hx6hadOgz_IUR99UfMR_15_1ZWLKn2TEX1z3MngWhkeg4xAjCZjALNhbuc/s1600/IMG_2676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishs13Xkfm1cEnxGWAOwgAJd9adBjHeCQSB-CfsdW4adtQZM2ntwYoV8f1gTQqLRh_k5vZuPbRANRrHO3W8hx6hadOgz_IUR99UfMR_15_1ZWLKn2TEX1z3MngWhkeg4xAjCZjALNhbuc/s1600/IMG_2676.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monitor lizard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPtDfW-0ovrJBBo6UvVTwPDMuZbyYkfzMifgAqbpVhRwIZREYqVryhs3InFFIPQBADAzB8kya3gvIrec3LMHmWtv0PCLfT1hkQIN_KgP4NYvx0pPRMqqeTkB5uMQjbQKfmI_W4JTH3ZA/s1600/IMG_2670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPtDfW-0ovrJBBo6UvVTwPDMuZbyYkfzMifgAqbpVhRwIZREYqVryhs3InFFIPQBADAzB8kya3gvIrec3LMHmWtv0PCLfT1hkQIN_KgP4NYvx0pPRMqqeTkB5uMQjbQKfmI_W4JTH3ZA/s1600/IMG_2670.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monkey with the phone can be seen in the center oh this photo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
And that was it for the Philippines! We boarded a plane the next day from Puerto Princesa to Kota Kinabalu, on the eastern Malaysian side of Borneo!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnU2X0-VW_DWbQzURw150MQj3dgIKMOHKiEC4ktjKEouzMpv0nZNBOlk53k288caNg4BnrVdLx-zwiySEoe7WDpcbwB-VLW2LADBz17BcdgB0t7wvgYA2s2XH8xdw0L6Uzl3m3j7wMqCA/s1600/https%25253A%25252F%25252Flh5.googleusercontent.com%25252FIsVl4UgtIZL2pVkRysDyElhGvl0Mw1dxCMAeVihB4OS1%25253Ds0-d" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnU2X0-VW_DWbQzURw150MQj3dgIKMOHKiEC4ktjKEouzMpv0nZNBOlk53k288caNg4BnrVdLx-zwiySEoe7WDpcbwB-VLW2LADBz17BcdgB0t7wvgYA2s2XH8xdw0L6Uzl3m3j7wMqCA/s1600/https%25253A%25252F%25252Flh5.googleusercontent.com%25252FIsVl4UgtIZL2pVkRysDyElhGvl0Mw1dxCMAeVihB4OS1%25253Ds0-d" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our tiny plane to Kota Kinabalu</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Overall, we really enjoyed our time in the Philippines. Everyone seemed very happy and we never felt like anyone ever tried to take advantage of us because we were tourists. Getting around was easy and most people spoke at least a little English. Even with a full month in the Philippines I feel like we only scratched the surface of what the Philippines has to offer. We'd love to return some day... And with direct flights from San Fransisco to Manila, hopefully it'll be sooner rather than later!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Sabang, Puerto Princesa, Philippines10.1943551 118.8975431000000110.1787271 118.87737310000001 10.209983099999999 118.9177131tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-14356504579545880582014-04-30T11:14:00.001-07:002023-05-30T09:29:05.277-07:00Our expedition with Tao (spoiler alert: we were marooned on a deserted island!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSt_-Zd87FRlwXiFgsaphaYF9ziV1Bjs9QlepUY-S52nPdUT3PtvaE8-7z2wjUZzXZs2JNmszc7BYiIw9MQ30eOtLmb_KNO_JResn2BKyVd6G1wFdnYS8CHZPFMwj5qylV-Jg44xE85Ic/s1600/IMG_2573.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSt_-Zd87FRlwXiFgsaphaYF9ziV1Bjs9QlepUY-S52nPdUT3PtvaE8-7z2wjUZzXZs2JNmszc7BYiIw9MQ30eOtLmb_KNO_JResn2BKyVd6G1wFdnYS8CHZPFMwj5qylV-Jg44xE85Ic/s1600/IMG_2573.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Jerome -- Our trip with <a href="http://www.taophilippines.com/" target="_blank">Tao</a> was one of the things I was one of the things I was most looking forward to in our trip. They do small "expeditions" between Coron and El Nido, stopping at basecamps they've setup throughout the nearby islands. Tao does a lot of great work with the local communities - they were one of the first responders to deliver supplies to some of the outlying areas when Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit. They also try to work with, employ, and train the local communities in the area, and at their main camp, they've set up an organic farm and are working on a womens' center and an academy to provide ongoing education.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1iFMAPHBvp2kl_opO59-3yj93m4T763zzSHIcHntDOIG926iax09t2ld5KGuZGRRIQeXzr-ALADDZ-_gGce8818WAwXTTen0JNzZmwlfR_B_l0vEYhCI7Kh6nxx5IfeKF1KtMijkQaA/s1600/IMG_2557%257E2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1iFMAPHBvp2kl_opO59-3yj93m4T763zzSHIcHntDOIG926iax09t2ld5KGuZGRRIQeXzr-ALADDZ-_gGce8818WAwXTTen0JNzZmwlfR_B_l0vEYhCI7Kh6nxx5IfeKF1KtMijkQaA/s1600/IMG_2557%257E2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our expedition route over the five days. Not pre-determined, but filled out as we went.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I was a bit surprised to find out that they're actually quite big - they have about 10 boats out on expeditions every week! These range in size from private groups of a few people to large boats (like the one we were on) with 25 guests, 7 crew, Tiger, the crew dog, and Stephanie, the incredibly cute crew puppy. The guests on our boat were from all around the world - several Aussies, a couple Brits, Germans, Austrians, and Swedes -- surprisingly no Americans!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNPtjG5i9MEJ7cx8A5BFefC8ZJu8QVXWZVwVF2Kq_O5qw2r05O11iZvx9amo4GbvU1jMX-ppWqwSHCG99joxIKxDvwIClNhdu0rsqIhKetU-ljFsr2zqis6QjTZV_mEmFk75xxmFBIOk/s1600/IMG_2571%257E2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNPtjG5i9MEJ7cx8A5BFefC8ZJu8QVXWZVwVF2Kq_O5qw2r05O11iZvx9amo4GbvU1jMX-ppWqwSHCG99joxIKxDvwIClNhdu0rsqIhKetU-ljFsr2zqis6QjTZV_mEmFk75xxmFBIOk/s1600/IMG_2571%257E2.jpg" width="536" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw97gERAVFjk4KaUyjIEp5X_IkF0YngFgJm9ZL4hnXOBvrDc59_h0kPs6RVsL0UPh-HiUYP5fBTxMpCWv0tvMZhHWItUDYj6micDSvggmmRDDF-l_Obw7B_prhpXAyTaYMyfcRmZZQfWE/s1600/IMG_2411.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw97gERAVFjk4KaUyjIEp5X_IkF0YngFgJm9ZL4hnXOBvrDc59_h0kPs6RVsL0UPh-HiUYP5fBTxMpCWv0tvMZhHWItUDYj6micDSvggmmRDDF-l_Obw7B_prhpXAyTaYMyfcRmZZQfWE/s1600/IMG_2411.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Ollie was the enthusiastic leader of our group. Ollie is a native of Coron and has been working at Tao since very early on (over 7 years I believe). We embarked early in the morning and made several snorkeling stops the first day: a shallow wreck (that we had previously scuba dived at), a great reef, a sunken amphibious landing craft, etc. Lunch was fried fish, rice, vegetables. Coffee and ginger tea and drinking water were always on hand. All this was really good, but I think our first basecamp really blew me away. We arrived at around 4:30 to a beach shaded by tall coconut trees. Our "beds" were open-air frames with thatched roofs, directly between the trees (they'd later set up mattresses, pillows and mosquito nets in these). The whole area had been pretty carefully tidied and raked recently, we could easily walk barefoot without twigs or rocks poking our feet. Showers at this camp were just a bucket with fresh water (and bathroom is a toilet with a bucket to flush), but it was good enough!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAdhZviocTdCBQHJQAu-WsqpDqyQgdnJNq5gNpXUBm3O4Vf2VMGCchW2GdUy0_GrWcHuHcfMLcXI6M-juwFIW6ZbFy2ihxf4S7wYBGOcajVLGN-cyBolU0-9xDlOzJkY3JyqKRwZ_DaI/s1600/IMG_2385.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAdhZviocTdCBQHJQAu-WsqpDqyQgdnJNq5gNpXUBm3O4Vf2VMGCchW2GdUy0_GrWcHuHcfMLcXI6M-juwFIW6ZbFy2ihxf4S7wYBGOcajVLGN-cyBolU0-9xDlOzJkY3JyqKRwZ_DaI/s1600/IMG_2385.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our bedroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RjqCNL-qJ9NomQGAN4qWZuTuCNJphm9bY3g8U6nqvKDcz3R_6ONCZavRr_YAhCCwSgC6QUiCTljAA6u8vpfCwSx6FkCRg7N6mHpxuHeuTlGkSPFqCmSNsZOR24Ze2FbZIgslX2qVSqY/s1600/IMG_2440.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RjqCNL-qJ9NomQGAN4qWZuTuCNJphm9bY3g8U6nqvKDcz3R_6ONCZavRr_YAhCCwSgC6QUiCTljAA6u8vpfCwSx6FkCRg7N6mHpxuHeuTlGkSPFqCmSNsZOR24Ze2FbZIgslX2qVSqY/s1600/IMG_2440.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standard bed setup.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Chef Jeff (and Francis, the assistant chef) did an awesome job preparing our dinners - Grouper and Jack fish roasted over the fire, rice, vegetables. We also had cold beer (brough with us on the boat) and rum! A great feast!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7qpIvUe_haPiwgQQUNIwZvtOhz_9m5Kc0cQBdFFl0jWoNX3WA3pJvwy3EonMI9AsEuCpy0d_k952A8s_XDwQ3d5GGVNvx4XKvyIEN4R6QFg-6hEXyj2DT57lEpEpt5XnCiAK5AYZkpc/s1600/IMG_2354.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7qpIvUe_haPiwgQQUNIwZvtOhz_9m5Kc0cQBdFFl0jWoNX3WA3pJvwy3EonMI9AsEuCpy0d_k952A8s_XDwQ3d5GGVNvx4XKvyIEN4R6QFg-6hEXyj2DT57lEpEpt5XnCiAK5AYZkpc/s1600/IMG_2354.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Francis preparing some fruit in the ship's kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENMH-Jobcda23VnggAhIQrfNnJeC25cxfyy4Cw5LJhF4dckmqjYal4Yo1moBjSV_uNrCFizXhdFUszmqOZBZUP43hccyJ6JmjnbSnmZJfbFMj8cLQGvuu0lHT52adWK8yFDnYin9gybY/s1600/IMG_2429.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENMH-Jobcda23VnggAhIQrfNnJeC25cxfyy4Cw5LJhF4dckmqjYal4Yo1moBjSV_uNrCFizXhdFUszmqOZBZUP43hccyJ6JmjnbSnmZJfbFMj8cLQGvuu0lHT52adWK8yFDnYin9gybY/s1600/IMG_2429.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The typical spread for lunch with Tao!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtz3JAEk89DD8ODTtapQ7PWfPTBpwCIwZEUR497R2eIkyxdUmIZ2Uutzf5cXYUXhxHGqCIaaSEEqI9_x8iMzdFs2dswCmElYui44rKuSR28YLUA0DprvgPcXRjbcVCXIc7FzRr13JbDA/s1600/IMG_2430.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtz3JAEk89DD8ODTtapQ7PWfPTBpwCIwZEUR497R2eIkyxdUmIZ2Uutzf5cXYUXhxHGqCIaaSEEqI9_x8iMzdFs2dswCmElYui44rKuSR28YLUA0DprvgPcXRjbcVCXIc7FzRr13JbDA/s1600/IMG_2430.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSqDhNYE8ZWWTwOwClkjhjQKv-jn5Ym32qj4DzyMeeX9I_BMCvF0sM9HEBu9dfylfQhLZHXm-o3yHTZ4DDMzgMihmwKFhPhv8oxApIoNTE3xUANTUIrpBbifq60g_sKjX-VvtN1E6Lik/s1600/IMG_2431.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSqDhNYE8ZWWTwOwClkjhjQKv-jn5Ym32qj4DzyMeeX9I_BMCvF0sM9HEBu9dfylfQhLZHXm-o3yHTZ4DDMzgMihmwKFhPhv8oxApIoNTE3xUANTUIrpBbifq60g_sKjX-VvtN1E6Lik/s1600/IMG_2431.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
After dinner I explored the shallow water with my headlamp on - lots of crabs, hermit crabs and starfish. I also found out that the water is full of <a href="http://aquaviews.net/explore-the-blue/bioluminescent-plankton-what-makes-it-glow/" target="_blank">bioluminescent plankton</a> - kicking the water causes it to light up as if sparks are coming out of your feet! Laura was particularly drawn to the stars - I guess there isn't too much light pollution on those remote islands because the stars were super bright. We were able to identify Mars, Jupiter, and many of the constellations. Bed was little warm, since there wasn't much breeze, but it was comfortable and it was nice that it was so open to the air. We slept well after all that snorkelling!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsG03janfDrvhrLZVOalKoqKFUeskveMTdRY-9yxIn_mkzV5mJWa7Y3-o-AwSs8TlM_SDO5wZ9k5HzlTFa881_7MhrxvT1W51S5zUaTC_jeXo262HjrCOcR5Pb0sN97AwcEQHNeJdj-28/s1600/GOPR0977_1398877929509_high.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsG03janfDrvhrLZVOalKoqKFUeskveMTdRY-9yxIn_mkzV5mJWa7Y3-o-AwSs8TlM_SDO5wZ9k5HzlTFa881_7MhrxvT1W51S5zUaTC_jeXo262HjrCOcR5Pb0sN97AwcEQHNeJdj-28/s1600/GOPR0977_1398877929509_high.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And that was pretty much what every day was like:</div>
- Wake up on some island, usually around dawn<br />
- Go snorkeling for a bit before everyone else gets up<br />
- Have breakfast: eggs, rice, fruit, coffee/tea, etc..<br />
- Take the boat to ~4 more destinations<br />
- Lounge around, chat, nap, read in between desitinations<br />
- Lunch sometime in between: usually rice, fish, vegetables<br />
- Arrive at the next basecamp: shower, setup beds/mosquito nets, dinner, drinks<br />
<br />
Some of the other memories that stick out:<br />
- We were travelling on my birthday and we happened on be on an island were there was a karaoke machine. It seemed really bizzare to be out in the middle of nowhere, singing Wonderwall and Sweet Caroline - but it was a lot of fun! I stuck to beer, but I must say that a LOT of rum was consumed that night!<br />
- We stopped at one site were there was some great cliff-jumping. After scampering up some rocks, you could jump into the deep water. I jumped a couple times, Laura decided to abstain and film it all instead.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gHD9ZuB1Gj8MpuzWBJ4ByEm5ky5siGZ3eTLPIUiykzT3gqvgW6gJoTyN2iFXvajjnzWCdYLITnBwhQ1Tsr_WMnINXkAVldDPDmuHZZ6NvO8Jdfuzoi9T-8GP_tjkqQ-zdAHH8Vl6htU/s1600/G0010992_1398877492431_high.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gHD9ZuB1Gj8MpuzWBJ4ByEm5ky5siGZ3eTLPIUiykzT3gqvgW6gJoTyN2iFXvajjnzWCdYLITnBwhQ1Tsr_WMnINXkAVldDPDmuHZZ6NvO8Jdfuzoi9T-8GP_tjkqQ-zdAHH8Vl6htU/s1600/G0010992_1398877492431_high.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
- At one snorkelling site I found an area where the bottom was littered with dead fish (hundreds of them). Ollie was pretty sure that someone had recently done some dynamite fishing in the area (which is illegal) which had killed all those fish. Such a shame. We gathered some of them, which I think Ollie gave to the villagers at our next camp.<br />
- Ollie was super-excited to have us try <a href="http://langyaw.com/2012/02/10/tamilok-woodworm-actually-tastes-good/" target="_blank">Tamilok</a>. Tamilok is a worm that lives in the wood of dead mangroves and is eaten raw! He split several logs to harvest the worms, cleaned the worms. He eneded up deciding not to share (much to the relief of most of us) because the worms were too small and had a bit of sharp "wasabi" flavor. I was secretly a bit excited to try -- but not excited enough to order myself a plate when I saw them on a menu a few days later.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNdldR4-jO92BnRBewCDCZWpxS8K4dzv9oFbd44Fv3K8uMSV7pqxyRWGKTK7FZPxFKkVZ_MSKQLsHIS-0rp9N0dz5ICQhfeEWbMvW9aoN1pwPFKGLt6SmA_-zeDWYtFknZnmV2rif1Zs/s1600/IMG_2456.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNdldR4-jO92BnRBewCDCZWpxS8K4dzv9oFbd44Fv3K8uMSV7pqxyRWGKTK7FZPxFKkVZ_MSKQLsHIS-0rp9N0dz5ICQhfeEWbMvW9aoN1pwPFKGLt6SmA_-zeDWYtFknZnmV2rif1Zs/s1600/IMG_2456.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ollie gathering the tamilok from a mangrove branch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAG4LvA1RarHATWwoeF1fECLhYcjh3rUdoC6YDUFZid38grpTLMlrSaZiPjORRPCH-ArvC166VuxnvxkvAH3-HuBpNGMTi2eXUlK_tm0z5lzGfjI8Jmu6q3N46VGaOH6GUyFUJBufmyk/s1600/IMG_2493%257E2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAG4LvA1RarHATWwoeF1fECLhYcjh3rUdoC6YDUFZid38grpTLMlrSaZiPjORRPCH-ArvC166VuxnvxkvAH3-HuBpNGMTi2eXUlK_tm0z5lzGfjI8Jmu6q3N46VGaOH6GUyFUJBufmyk/s1600/IMG_2493%257E2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ollie sampling one of the tamilok!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
- We made a bunch of friends (some 4-legged), including with some of the crew! We've got most people's email addresses and I'm sure they're all eager to read the following story.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_h94e12RPlaEju-EoY8oPG_BNQRbt6oo6eMMlvI-h5SFheEaC5p5iyhnJjvEjSC4mTliVUARlV4ICA2Pgp2J1a-fB20XLtXBsrcV4kyCBHXEtkHf2tiMiSw5u-tkRUqdE8SiX_shtxak/s1600/IMG_2586.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_h94e12RPlaEju-EoY8oPG_BNQRbt6oo6eMMlvI-h5SFheEaC5p5iyhnJjvEjSC4mTliVUARlV4ICA2Pgp2J1a-fB20XLtXBsrcV4kyCBHXEtkHf2tiMiSw5u-tkRUqdE8SiX_shtxak/s1600/IMG_2586.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stephanie, the crew pup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUywiTKWrmtj-JOvvcl996akDIyudVpj1kjaXUIH5TscbhqoyvfCIGFxpSJrq3sLMmT2zM0zGr6t-ttwckT2qD51ink7r7hbgFyWhs7jeQBRB89YdKHpl4Vzyq33BV0k2wILmuWO4lKk/s1600/IMG_2485.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUywiTKWrmtj-JOvvcl996akDIyudVpj1kjaXUIH5TscbhqoyvfCIGFxpSJrq3sLMmT2zM0zGr6t-ttwckT2qD51ink7r7hbgFyWhs7jeQBRB89YdKHpl4Vzyq33BV0k2wILmuWO4lKk/s1600/IMG_2485.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiger, staring over the bow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Marooned!</b></span><br />
<br />
(Pictures in this section are from different times. We didn't have our camera with us)<br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWN1e018IKn_b2ltRVgEki4WqHpF5yykmllU3q56A3HheGivmIruC6JbpVWNJX194Eo4f8dYDVcIMzfSntfNaDN9-uuhyAy0yWXo0Vzxk7fWPtNHLJTxM6aPeTJmJ8W9T4GV-VmjJJ8Ck/s1600/IMG_2481%257E2.jpg" style="color: #0000ee; text-align: center;" width="640" /><br />
<br />
Laura -- Wednesday afternoon, after lunch, almost everyone was passing out for a nap. Partly due to the heat and activity, and perhaps a little bit due to the karaoke party the night before. Jerome and I were feeling fine though, and decided to snorkel after hearing the reef around this deserted island - <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Manlihan+Island/@11.4206402,119.6802043,6189m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x33b7140e041d9841:0x6cc30bacefe85471!8m2!3d11.4253773!4d119.7071291!16s%2Fg%2F1pw3ybx6p?entry=ttu" target="_blank">Cobra Island</a> (officially Manlihan Island) - was pretty good. We checked that the boat would be staying for a while, and went out swimming with our fins, snorkels, water shoes and rashguards on. As always I kept an eye on the boat, to make sure we didn't stray to far. We saw looks of really neat coral, and some interesting fish. About 45 minutes later I looked up to check the boat, and it wasn't where I thought it should be. I called Jerome, and we swam a few metres, and then could see see it fine. We thought we'd just gotten turned around a bit, but having checked my watch, decided we should head back to the boat. The beach where the boat was parked was very distinct - with 5 big rocks just in front. We swam to the rocks, and realized the boat wasn't there. It had moved! We could still see it, but it was across the way at the next island over. We swam to the desserted beach to try and figure out what was going on.<br />
<br />
We were sure we were in the right place, but the boat was now quite a ways away. I said that we should swim to it, to make sure we got to it. Jerome wasn't sure, but agreed to at least try. We swam for a short while, but then hit a big drop off, where we could no longer see the bottom, and it looked like there might be current. So back to shore we went. We decided the boat perhaps just went there and would come back for us when they were done there, or if they had left without us, they'd surely do a count, and then come and get us. Jerome reminded me that we'd be much more visible on an empty white beach, than bobbing in the water, and we could still see the boat, so everything was fine.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6ZdX_1MDioidrAEXfsPbsj_1D5EkdGolIAzEwfoWCIa4cFK7y3MyDGVI_z6xnofqu705jWI7nlgcgvj2wXdhrTfncNbq0UzrxHygP_OLm973WdtUF6_8ocRBCZhAXQBTN6DV_aG0Mj4/s1600/GOPR1031_1398877805592_high.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6ZdX_1MDioidrAEXfsPbsj_1D5EkdGolIAzEwfoWCIa4cFK7y3MyDGVI_z6xnofqu705jWI7nlgcgvj2wXdhrTfncNbq0UzrxHygP_OLm973WdtUF6_8ocRBCZhAXQBTN6DV_aG0Mj4/s1600/GOPR1031_1398877805592_high.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It was 2:30pm at this time. We found a small patch of shade, and sat for about an hour watching the boat anchored at the other island. We could see people walking around on deck, so were sure, they'd see us when they went to leave. At about 3:30pm, we heard the boats engine start, and saw it start to take off, it turned right towards us. "hooray, they've realized and are coming to get us" I thought. We had put Jerome's rashguard on an 8ft stick we found, I was waving it from the beach while he stood on one of the big rocks waving. Surely this was overkill, but we wanted to be sure they saw us. Then the boat turned, and started to go past the island. I started to panic and ran down the beach, following its path, waving my arms and yelling as loud as I could. Jerome was behind, having had to scramble down from the rock. And we were still waving and yelling and could see people on the boat walking around, as it passed the point of the island and went out of sight... I was devastated, angry and in disbelief! I just sat down in the water and started to cry a little bit. Jerome caught up, gave me a big hug, said not to worry, they'd be back soon. He said he'd go to the point to see if the boat was just around the corner, and sent me back to the beach area where our stuff was, to see if I could flag down another boat or find useful things.<br />
<br />
Having something to do, calmed me down, and I went back to the area, found some big sticks, made a flag of Jerome's shirt, waved at some fishing boats, tried to find something useful.<br />
About 4:30, Jerome was back, I'd waved to some boats, but had no luck in getting a response. Another was passing so we both waved for a while. We knew the sun set at about 6, so we started talking about what to do if they didn't come back right away. We knew the next part of the trip involved the boat crossing a large channel that would take at least an hour. We knew the base camp was on the other side, and that at the very least, when they handed out our bed sheet kits at camp they would figure out we weren't there. We guessed that might be about 6:30, so with coming back across the channel it would be 7:30 at the earliest. We also weren't sure the boat could come back at night, as we hadn't seen big lights or anything, so decided to plan on being there until morning.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlq419F0wBUqHvQVgnNx0-Ud9357upFfEaqtbvhdr1RnTUdDUGjqc_7RRbLovLr3V4R3TTa78tj2owFawyLxAbr1yI2cRr_0LQKRMrBlhtOjNm0xEkYGOX4ULNswSNEJM9vUNbxaSvp4/s1600/IMG_2403.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlq419F0wBUqHvQVgnNx0-Ud9357upFfEaqtbvhdr1RnTUdDUGjqc_7RRbLovLr3V4R3TTa78tj2owFawyLxAbr1yI2cRr_0LQKRMrBlhtOjNm0xEkYGOX4ULNswSNEJM9vUNbxaSvp4/s1600/IMG_2403.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Jerome went to see what he could see inland, I tried to figure out how to make a fire. We had found some rope, so I made a small bow to attempt it, but having never done it before, was unsure of exactly how to do it, and after about an hour had no luck, and seeing the sun start to cross the horizon was feeling a bit hopeless. Jerome came back with some better news. He'd found a patch of coconut trees a short way away, with one shorter one that he thought he could get a coconut from. We grabbed the big bamboo stick we'd found, and headed towards it. The tree had foot rungs cut out, and Jerome had to climb up 2 to reach the coconut with the stick. We were both scared for him to go higher. But after some persuasion, the coconut fell to the ground. We marked where to get to the tree with the big stick on the beach so we could get back in the morning, and rushed back to the area we'd decided to use as our "camp" - a clear area of beach, with a big log on it. The light was almost all gone by now. Jerome rushed to the rock and found a piece of stone. The stone was brittle enough that it could be "sharpened" a bit by bashing it into the other stones. I gathered everything together by our log so we'd be able to find it if we needed it in the dark. By the very last light of day, we hacked away at the coconut with our rock until finally after much work, we got a small hole in the top! We took turns drinking the coconut water which tasted wonderful. After an hour swimming and 5 hours on the island in the hot sun, you can imagine we were a bit parched!! We attempted to get some meat from the coconut, but after a small piece each, realized it would make us thirstier than it was worth. We decided that in the morning, first thing we'd do would be to leave a message at our camp in case the boat came, and try to get a bunch more coconuts, then we could eat ours, and have something to drink after.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxW5y0ccmc9dAPJ90RKOG2v4gY5mmIu_ifZpyAUuFOjT75f493x4kOyVTFzf08gZ8_UJr0Rq9v7AmTlj__LRxw-o9vQP6zbTyKHddBgvJY3KPn3539FLarPLmx5dxrkvw7u9IUN4WK3iQ/s1600/IMG_2519.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxW5y0ccmc9dAPJ90RKOG2v4gY5mmIu_ifZpyAUuFOjT75f493x4kOyVTFzf08gZ8_UJr0Rq9v7AmTlj__LRxw-o9vQP6zbTyKHddBgvJY3KPn3539FLarPLmx5dxrkvw7u9IUN4WK3iQ/s1600/IMG_2519.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
With the sun down, and no fire, light, water or food, we decided we should try and just sleep. It was about 7pm now. And we laid down by the log, looking up at the amazing stars. We could see where a few lights from houses in the distance which we noted for tomorrow. With night fall, the wind died down, so we tried yelling for help, and blowing the tiny whistle on my snorkel to try and alert someone to come get us, but didn't get any response.We couldn't sleep yet, so went over our plan, and tried to figure out what to do tomorrow if the boat didn't come right away, etc. We realized this wasn't helping us get into the mindset to sleep. So we decided to think on the positive, the beach was warm, there were no mosquitoes or bugs, they'd surely come in the morning. We saw about 4 shooting stars. We got all comfy to sleep and played a word game we used to play back in high school (name a band. name a band that starts with the last letter of than band's name. repeat back and forth). This lulled us to sleep, and I glanced at my watch one last time before falling asleep - 9pm.<br />
<br />
We woke up at 10pm, to the most unpleasant feeling, big cold wet rain drops on our back as it started to rain. This was something we hadn't foreseen, or considered. We ran to the small bushes where we'd sheltered from the sun. Not perfect, but better than being out. The rain was quite cool, and despite trying to wedge ourselves as far as we could under the tree, we were getting wet and cold. Jerome started shivering. This was bad. He's always way warmer than me. But he'd had his shirt off all day since we were using it to try and flag down boats, and he'd walked alot farther than me. We huddled together for warmth, but I was very worried at this point. We had nowhere else to go for shelter and if the rain kept up, we'd be very cold and tired. Jerome still thinking though, said we'd be able to drink the rainwater, which might help. The rain let up a little, and I felt my way back to the log where our goggles were to use them to catch the rain. Luckily they'd been face up, and had water in them already. So I brought it over to drink. Unfortunately, perhaps due to the plastic, or the defogger we used on them, it tasted terrible... So we hunkered back under the bush, and were both sitting quietly, and a bit despairedly, trying to figure out what to do next.<br />
<br />
Then from the other side of the island we heard the most amazing sound. A horn, it sounded exactly like the one from our boat! We jumped up despite the rain, and tried to head towards it. Then we heard Ollie's welcome voice calling our names! We yelled back as loud as we could. Jerome got around first, and they saw him! We were saved!! I went back and got all our gear together. I even paused to wonder if I should bring the coconut to eat later! When I got back to where the boat was, someone was on shore with Jerome, I didn't know who he was, but I gave him a big hug as soon as I got there. He was asking if we were okay and everything. We said yes, just very thirsty!<br />
He asked if we had shoes on, which luckily we did, the tied was out, and we'd have to walk out to the boat, but the bottom was covered in very spiny, very poisonous sea urchins. So by the light of his small headlamp, we took turns taking steps and carefully made our way to the boat.<br />
<br />
First we came to a tiny fishing boat, with a very excited local in it, who drove us out to a small speed boat. We found out later, that he was one of the fishermen, who we'd waved at all afternoon, and when our boat called the locals to see if they'd seen two people near the island, he'd said something to the effect of "oh yes, I've seen them. They're very friendly, they've been waving at me all day." But once they explained, he got in his boat right away to come find us. On the speedboat, we were greeted by a very very relieved Ollie, who gave us giant hugs, and appologized profusely, as well as two other crew from our boat who were equally relieved. Two others were on the boat who we didn't recognize. After ensuring we were okay, and giving us big water bottles, they started to head out.<br />
<br />
The boat ride back was quite treacherous. It was pouring rain, pitch black, the only lights were 4 handheld flashlights/headlamps, which were used to try and navigate through areas with pearl farms - with have nets that will ruin your engine, if you drive through them. We told our story to the people on the boat, who were a bit in disbelief, but happy we'd been smart and stayed put, and relieved we were okay, and that they'd found us right away. The two guys turned out to be Eddie and Jack - the founders of Tao. It took about an hour to get to the camp. We were greeted by the rest of the boat, who'd been waiting anxiously for the 3 hours since the speedboat had left, worrying about what was happening. We were taken to a sheltered area, giving big cups of lovely hot tea, and food.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gl25D-WHEHck_2QJ_b-xU-YcjEcPgbV3V0-89F9tqDDDCEY3RWxN6HAdth672d-SCDZJNYfiLkdj3WP6Ax3QWdkwhIQcoPz17gOpkcLBLJhCyEZGMI2fUR3I7HISwookxsnqoRJ4MJ0/s1600/IMG_2526.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gl25D-WHEHck_2QJ_b-xU-YcjEcPgbV3V0-89F9tqDDDCEY3RWxN6HAdth672d-SCDZJNYfiLkdj3WP6Ax3QWdkwhIQcoPz17gOpkcLBLJhCyEZGMI2fUR3I7HISwookxsnqoRJ4MJ0/s1600/IMG_2526.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We told our story once again, and heard the otherside of the story too. We're not sure if they counted wrongly, or just forgot to count at the two spots, but they didn't realize we were missing when they crossed the channel. Once at base camp, which was quite big and spread out, our bed sheet bag (which we hoped would be the giveaway) had rolled onto the ground. It was almost 8:30, after dinner, when people were almost heading to bed, that one of the other couples mentioned to another that they hadn't seen us at dinner. The boat is quite big with lots of areas, and the camp was big, so they thought perhaps we were just around somewhere. They checked all the bed areas, and the camp, and then went to give the alert that they were sure we weren't there. From there the boat was prepped and they headed out as soon as they could get everything together.<br />
<br />
For the rest of the trip, the whole crew was extremely apologetic, and genuinely upset about what had happened. Everyone realized that our situation was the best possible outcome, but that things could've ended very differently. We discussed with them several suggestions for how to make the counting and keeping track of people a bit more air tight, so that it wouldn't happen again. They were going to pass on our suggestions to Eddie and Jack, and look into implementing some in the future. We hope to hear from Tao in the future to learn what they've decided to do. I know that our crew was so devastated, that they will be very unlikely to not triple count extra from now on, but we'd like to be assured that this is used as a learning experience for the whole company, so that in the future, it will never happen again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXPCJhhjV0FVifCf7natOf5bVK2H2dY93oKbxHkx6EH9Ad9dwhBwt79bpZ0fGHC11TL54fbx6MV8WE0HEpUVPUxEgJWixp6bUm_28xaKn6S3udFOp51wTttP0gWZTQY_sbaNv48nnDtw/s1600/IMG_2589.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXPCJhhjV0FVifCf7natOf5bVK2H2dY93oKbxHkx6EH9Ad9dwhBwt79bpZ0fGHC11TL54fbx6MV8WE0HEpUVPUxEgJWixp6bUm_28xaKn6S3udFOp51wTttP0gWZTQY_sbaNv48nnDtw/s1600/IMG_2589.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
All in all, it was quite the experience! While it was pretty frightening at times, for the most part, we stayed very level-headed and logical I think, and worked together to do what we could to stay safe and calm, while having every trust that Ollie would come and find us as soon as he could. We were also lucky that nothing bad happened - apparently there are spitting cobras on the island! And we're very grateful the boat came when it did with the rain starting. While I wouldn't want to do it again - without several bottles of water and some matches at least - overall it was an experience of a lifetime, and I'm pretty sure it'll be a story that we'll be telling and re-telling for a long time to come! I mean really, how many people can say they were marooned on a deserted island!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUuds0lMVin5ZHBrsvRUIuoL9kOUdu3IOQt32OU8I0CdWRuOJNc71CrRIBBRJz8SXAQr06X6-73WlSnyvgDAjSRFw11JCPEvaurZYVg82wMINDLldifT0py6Bi4jIIgH8XcaWJAZ0Cto/s1600/IMG_2578.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUuds0lMVin5ZHBrsvRUIuoL9kOUdu3IOQt32OU8I0CdWRuOJNc71CrRIBBRJz8SXAQr06X6-73WlSnyvgDAjSRFw11JCPEvaurZYVg82wMINDLldifT0py6Bi4jIIgH8XcaWJAZ0Cto/s1600/IMG_2578.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5Manlihan Island, Linapacan, Philippines11.4253773 119.7071290999999711.417595299999999 119.69704409999997 11.4331593 119.71721409999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-9775537980193177172014-04-18T21:18:00.000-07:002014-04-18T21:20:52.052-07:00Coron, Philippines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Jerome -- we've been posting a bit on Google+, so some of this might be a repeat for those of you that are getting our Google+ posts.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://plus.sandbox.google.com/photos/107778524531915524037/albums/6002539161067358689" target="_blank">Click here to see our album of pictures and videos.</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGQl0XUmp9zfToqc91aCgBBPd7_i5-ZH6UxHCrHJ8Yf9Bd9OQE1E5_2zmldx4OUuXteZsL3sJSYKjjJ7HTKhZR2zj6k74jli1FzEY3BoOE497nntNz_4YPjzufcKhO-1wITzJFX4Bbfs/s1600/14+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGQl0XUmp9zfToqc91aCgBBPd7_i5-ZH6UxHCrHJ8Yf9Bd9OQE1E5_2zmldx4OUuXteZsL3sJSYKjjJ7HTKhZR2zj6k74jli1FzEY3BoOE497nntNz_4YPjzufcKhO-1wITzJFX4Bbfs/s1600/14+-+1" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We've spent most of the last 5 days here in Coron in the water. We've done 4 days (of 3 dives per day) of scuba diving with a great dive shop, <a href="http://rocksteadydivecenter.com/" target="_blank">Rocksteady Dive Center</a>. We did 10 wreck dives, one reef dive, and one dive at Barracuda Lake (which had a really neat thermocline... the water turns salty and heats up to 36C at about 14m depth, then cools back down at around 17m). We also decided to get a bit more training and got our PADI advanced open water certification.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9mo4zHHBxTR69tYRsa5cjsSFXaCvVsiY_WgZbHjxa132xqzVzYUvAVpx_nMfjlgTT6BBPGnIn7KdlfVgjw4oThGp4lP6CGnq31T9J083Pkw_Xbf6c33IPCb0t_tIbd3-KMz10rNNy-o/s1600/GOPR0633_1397564322399_high.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9mo4zHHBxTR69tYRsa5cjsSFXaCvVsiY_WgZbHjxa132xqzVzYUvAVpx_nMfjlgTT6BBPGnIn7KdlfVgjw4oThGp4lP6CGnq31T9J083Pkw_Xbf6c33IPCb0t_tIbd3-KMz10rNNy-o/s1600/GOPR0633_1397564322399_high.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwk8_t0F-NiCKmatPJy7rXtX-FLlu2-dpDa0cYmrDBXSvIQ3e1akcKZzya-WRtuFOf_2PPVouRvFCVrTWrGFH9R8QD5dLihjsYNkcb1SYznvrbtoiWFxlJfPB6qyFHMwreqTFVwYojMCs/s1600/P1080928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwk8_t0F-NiCKmatPJy7rXtX-FLlu2-dpDa0cYmrDBXSvIQ3e1akcKZzya-WRtuFOf_2PPVouRvFCVrTWrGFH9R8QD5dLihjsYNkcb1SYznvrbtoiWFxlJfPB6qyFHMwreqTFVwYojMCs/s1600/P1080928.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tPYlN4IIQTU/U1HXeQ0xnoI/AAAAAAAARXc/X3HitepThok/s1600/GOPR0803_1397742732956_low.MP4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tPYlN4IIQTU/U1HXeQ0xnoI/AAAAAAAARXc/X3HitepThok/s1600/GOPR0803_1397742732956_low.MP4" height="354" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3QHsNVrkimM/U01NkKZJxxI/AAAAAAAARFY/n6zyxYR7oiI/s1600/GOPR0626_1397564174966_low.MP4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3QHsNVrkimM/U01NkKZJxxI/AAAAAAAARFY/n6zyxYR7oiI/s1600/GOPR0626_1397564174966_low.MP4" height="354" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We dove at 6 of the 8 nearby wrecks. We were planning on diving the last two today, but I unfortunately hurt my ear a bit yesterday free diving, so we decided to avoid scuba diving today. The wrecks were all part of the Japanese navy and were sunk by the USS Lexington, "the blue ghost", in September 1944. The smallest wreck we visited was a 35m gunboat (East Tangat Gunboat) and the largest was a 147m supply ship, Irako. Most of the wrecks are down about 25m or so (our deepest dive was down to 33.3m).<br />
<br />
It's hard to describe all the fish we've seen... Clown fish, lion fish, ornate ghost pipe fish, scorpion fish, lizard fish, blue-spotted rays, huge schools of smaller fish around the wrecks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84Zn0It7pgXmwarCyup7GpXYbFoiqYdwPekJYcGaPwJLqzkCGdLFT6ZzE3zkCc-klLOYrCJ1qtNHTXNATOerZVAYYNwK94AfsV3y8TVrngtbVX-iYI9JthhHnT_FKXtcW_Nozgqc-Nrc/s1600/P1080972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84Zn0It7pgXmwarCyup7GpXYbFoiqYdwPekJYcGaPwJLqzkCGdLFT6ZzE3zkCc-klLOYrCJ1qtNHTXNATOerZVAYYNwK94AfsV3y8TVrngtbVX-iYI9JthhHnT_FKXtcW_Nozgqc-Nrc/s1600/P1080972.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kUMf-kUOyYg/U1HXCX0HqFI/AAAAAAAARXQ/pF1zPG3ct6c/s1600/GOPR0789_1397743359134_low.MP4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kUMf-kUOyYg/U1HXCX0HqFI/AAAAAAAARXQ/pF1zPG3ct6c/s1600/GOPR0789_1397743359134_low.MP4" height="354" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qgYS2pMTmKM/U1HXebP3xnI/AAAAAAAARXc/sGD6QPYSq5Q/s1600/GOPR0697_1397566501774_low.MP4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qgYS2pMTmKM/U1HXebP3xnI/AAAAAAAARXc/sGD6QPYSq5Q/s1600/GOPR0697_1397566501774_low.MP4" height="355" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: left;">We've been taking most of the video with our GoPro with a red filter (this helps correct some of the red light loss as you dive). On one dive, as we were close to the surface, I took off the filter, which is attached to the camera with a cord. When I surfaced, I found the filter was missing and the cord had snapped. I was pretty bummed since it was only out second day! Miraculously, one of the other divers on the boat came up a few minutes later with the filter! She had been below us on the line and happened to see the filter drifting down! So lucky!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yesterday we took a day off diving and went on a tour of several good swimming / snorkeling spots. It was fun, and we had a bit more time to admire the scenery above the surface!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpg0GBo4obwqKCglsVDgdhw2syuyhbUhCNCqDvOrRg9vXv0nbeU8420ISzc3HCCYyq8mZNdbkmiZaqZiBMJPB8ZWF5MS4_IrYaDT1N-47eTmEVZeFT8HACVa8nLjyarPUdUPI6JlDK7U/s1600/GOPR0873_1397815543649_high.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpg0GBo4obwqKCglsVDgdhw2syuyhbUhCNCqDvOrRg9vXv0nbeU8420ISzc3HCCYyq8mZNdbkmiZaqZiBMJPB8ZWF5MS4_IrYaDT1N-47eTmEVZeFT8HACVa8nLjyarPUdUPI6JlDK7U/s1600/GOPR0873_1397815543649_high.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pB9-c1bXnawD0c2AXNbEk2XqFTg3x6NxPjxG4mgvC913_2qAyKrQGWNBkmJzF7hSh_kuYQuX5qIRr1JJKLQsgNU2EzJzWLK3KSJcK6AJdDh6qj7uNRCqXHiuv3qyUd0yggVOAKoOLsA/s1600/GOPR0930_1397815767420_high.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pB9-c1bXnawD0c2AXNbEk2XqFTg3x6NxPjxG4mgvC913_2qAyKrQGWNBkmJzF7hSh_kuYQuX5qIRr1JJKLQsgNU2EzJzWLK3KSJcK6AJdDh6qj7uNRCqXHiuv3qyUd0yggVOAKoOLsA/s1600/GOPR0930_1397815767420_high.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Tomorrow we're off on a <a href="http://taophilippines.com/" target="_blank">Tao expedition</a> from Coron to El Nido (over 5 days). We've met several people who've already done it, and everyone says it's fantastic, so we're really looking forward to it. </div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Coron, Philippines12.0772376 120.1884691000000211.0833206 118.89757560000002 13.0711546 121.47936260000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-31769409541601448492014-04-11T19:34:00.000-07:002014-04-12T03:31:12.812-07:00The rice terraces of the Philippine CordillerasJerome -- We spent the last 3 days visiting the rice terraces around Banaue and Batad. The <a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_Terraces_of_the_Philippine_Cordilleras" target="_blank">rice terraces</a> were built over 2000 years ago and are a UNESCO world heritage site.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWQatf7STFieMYhRGfLQS6sIJ1wYsgD7Lbvuwv8blurxz7sMIPYE06AAo73f14i7Xv69PFAuTKCB_ervLtDd_97gMQGxXQogYw53UY6608rCp4fDIOrFKFdLTQ0BXjJjXQtBscFiEZrw/s1600/IMG_2108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWQatf7STFieMYhRGfLQS6sIJ1wYsgD7Lbvuwv8blurxz7sMIPYE06AAo73f14i7Xv69PFAuTKCB_ervLtDd_97gMQGxXQogYw53UY6608rCp4fDIOrFKFdLTQ0BXjJjXQtBscFiEZrw/s1600/IMG_2108.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQlE9jb7OsoON_jwHuMkt-TfamziX75pUIT-IjbHj5ukZkOpQCzQjTlZI2-liBxr5pmQy79xH03Ek37VfhMQu17eC60O0Uy0Z5qC5EzlGEpK2LMOIRppEePjxIv5ue00sZ4dBCIOajPQ/s1600/IMG_1966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQlE9jb7OsoON_jwHuMkt-TfamziX75pUIT-IjbHj5ukZkOpQCzQjTlZI2-liBxr5pmQy79xH03Ek37VfhMQu17eC60O0Uy0Z5qC5EzlGEpK2LMOIRppEePjxIv5ue00sZ4dBCIOajPQ/s1600/IMG_1966.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPBROgSmh7Yfg5tcD5Xp3iCmgeMOjZhFKVmf7L71TlhmoeyKRXB-gs4An-zHy8XHyEbJVhWfbZHZ5L82PkYsSCgBO1SXp7aYgIfVq4SRmKpWDMlVuqJjDPmSdF4LrYAZH62KFzyszNoE/s1600/IMG_2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPBROgSmh7Yfg5tcD5Xp3iCmgeMOjZhFKVmf7L71TlhmoeyKRXB-gs4An-zHy8XHyEbJVhWfbZHZ5L82PkYsSCgBO1SXp7aYgIfVq4SRmKpWDMlVuqJjDPmSdF4LrYAZH62KFzyszNoE/s1600/IMG_2012.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTCDCOsB-qhMxtksxMK0eC4V0xdXa27qFfn-TMD6sNBoruKgJtBgGPgJhhNgdPSHfsX9L52pbivr0lAyc2BUo7aFNQpGGS_NRfkVJ8HDh9Z0CkTMVU2L8QfbCq40FV0UUzpsXh7unq_Y/s1600/IMG_1908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTCDCOsB-qhMxtksxMK0eC4V0xdXa27qFfn-TMD6sNBoruKgJtBgGPgJhhNgdPSHfsX9L52pbivr0lAyc2BUo7aFNQpGGS_NRfkVJ8HDh9Z0CkTMVU2L8QfbCq40FV0UUzpsXh7unq_Y/s1600/IMG_1908.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMEByDTpK1MFyBznvs7bcx28DDHelvFykZ3hjlAg0PGE-YvkytHQda1OObEKbKNBmbaEuSULI0JMFfdJbc8SroibiZT-F-uqdJVJZzqsR-tylieq7-rzfCxb3CP2qkx8tPY_KOO_oOxo/s1600/IMG_2255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMEByDTpK1MFyBznvs7bcx28DDHelvFykZ3hjlAg0PGE-YvkytHQda1OObEKbKNBmbaEuSULI0JMFfdJbc8SroibiZT-F-uqdJVJZzqsR-tylieq7-rzfCxb3CP2qkx8tPY_KOO_oOxo/s1600/IMG_2255.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmc4Xxmbn58xBvYcN7o0mrk8vZbooqb3SqNw95N2i4G2TfuJ83xR0oF9U8DoxCWg0-VnD_UboGf2ui1WUVqGs1kvHKQnXhBsiWj4fyGT3fiFkC_kHJvONviPb3I-ltbGeeuO1A9wh3OyE/s1600/IMG_1860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmc4Xxmbn58xBvYcN7o0mrk8vZbooqb3SqNw95N2i4G2TfuJ83xR0oF9U8DoxCWg0-VnD_UboGf2ui1WUVqGs1kvHKQnXhBsiWj4fyGT3fiFkC_kHJvONviPb3I-ltbGeeuO1A9wh3OyE/s1600/IMG_1860.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We had a great guide take us around (Irene Binalit <a href="mailto:bireneann@yahoo.com">bireneann@yahoo.com</a>) and explain a lot about the local culture and traditions. On the first day, visited a couple terraces by jeepney (a very common, and colorful, mode of public transportation here).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWerbSQMHy7oKY9qqp8LtPKEUDprKVSgmEin0KohoniFPEi8v39iaVuiBpTdGi9o5Yc7nZWUkogUMWpSDfaqyuklpg2NLPL33YADvkGIwm1Bg9yl3dBvndzQ_0l9IoMHqEsNkQX8PdS9Y/s1600/IMG_1948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWerbSQMHy7oKY9qqp8LtPKEUDprKVSgmEin0KohoniFPEi8v39iaVuiBpTdGi9o5Yc7nZWUkogUMWpSDfaqyuklpg2NLPL33YADvkGIwm1Bg9yl3dBvndzQ_0l9IoMHqEsNkQX8PdS9Y/s1600/IMG_1948.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggngJumIYVbxw8deBEESf9S6Dvm5-SW5Sv1OfU2cW5GZGFHSTbmvpyl8j7LUT1fRzMmKtUNQFaqUo_45E3EhU1o1LWY7osAcPs4vounGE_Ja5hY1LXJTVP90bm_s_nSOPiCA_kg0Nhhi0/s1600/IMG_1949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggngJumIYVbxw8deBEESf9S6Dvm5-SW5Sv1OfU2cW5GZGFHSTbmvpyl8j7LUT1fRzMmKtUNQFaqUo_45E3EhU1o1LWY7osAcPs4vounGE_Ja5hY1LXJTVP90bm_s_nSOPiCA_kg0Nhhi0/s1600/IMG_1949.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On the second day we hiked to the more remote village of Batad. No roads lead in, so its about a 2h hike from the road. We stayed overnight in Batad at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/RamonsHomestay" target="_blank">Ramon's </a><u>Homestay</u>, in their native <a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nipa_hut" target="_blank">Nipa hut</a>. Facilities were pretty primitive, but we had a great time.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54aC9VbFlspi9bCzLU3Bi_9oqWmBWE2V65tPgupDtqtTZUzIvG0Dw9QZTBOqY-MgIkIrPRfiiTsVkHK2TucuTQOyAK9CExSjdpdgXjHImXSuBRBbCWqcoFjL7sJEiEslurzzxxjxC4i8/s1600/IMG_2044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54aC9VbFlspi9bCzLU3Bi_9oqWmBWE2V65tPgupDtqtTZUzIvG0Dw9QZTBOqY-MgIkIrPRfiiTsVkHK2TucuTQOyAK9CExSjdpdgXjHImXSuBRBbCWqcoFjL7sJEiEslurzzxxjxC4i8/s1600/IMG_2044.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5KyuoGcRrg6O6KjO_n7GIlkTZEy0sMHU-57Z9MgCQLLyzO1F4AL2UQD1fNsCDmTn_-DEznnG9kFjej8L3EYX8Io-05w_mlLeYld4ZYTgAzSY7QHHGD8_WKSppuDGqfUmfHta03-OQbM/s1600/IMG_2057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5KyuoGcRrg6O6KjO_n7GIlkTZEy0sMHU-57Z9MgCQLLyzO1F4AL2UQD1fNsCDmTn_-DEznnG9kFjej8L3EYX8Io-05w_mlLeYld4ZYTgAzSY7QHHGD8_WKSppuDGqfUmfHta03-OQbM/s1600/IMG_2057.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKJT4M2F6_RHsMg14xH1-lXFa_4Yh8ZOFcwsRLFTlAzVPfS6lkccpzr0SKEb2gc12ldOx5BTYwmkuu2K5dx-4yW9Q8YfXFf8f2eDiKJkLgyWacRIBHbUV35ODN3sPqy38tJPAdP9ntM4/s1600/IMG_2174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKJT4M2F6_RHsMg14xH1-lXFa_4Yh8ZOFcwsRLFTlAzVPfS6lkccpzr0SKEb2gc12ldOx5BTYwmkuu2K5dx-4yW9Q8YfXFf8f2eDiKJkLgyWacRIBHbUV35ODN3sPqy38tJPAdP9ntM4/s1600/IMG_2174.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncxyUC-qn8iGXflLfSIuRYqf0qVFEs2gTwUUTtQQbXjJYRZP1c30GRuYpDkV8uPGDWNN5caX56RXHhevQeJt42Inf0IDXNKQSH5G9NQ0g_udLuV0v_Voh2Zf1XQtW8J_YwSUUiE4OmJU/s1600/IMG_2164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncxyUC-qn8iGXflLfSIuRYqf0qVFEs2gTwUUTtQQbXjJYRZP1c30GRuYpDkV8uPGDWNN5caX56RXHhevQeJt42Inf0IDXNKQSH5G9NQ0g_udLuV0v_Voh2Zf1XQtW8J_YwSUUiE4OmJU/s1600/IMG_2164.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIirU9VtbgNAlhC7dNAElDWVInFWxZb67819byE5tlsoQDTMFBII4h6UrrYpU7vdDg6vJrndKttw2pCEEXmloh-_xL-0Ko0vJyvpFpyJF_l0ZdT7gMAD-5F2porxU7XTLPvrxFURl89Xg/s1600/IMG_2165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIirU9VtbgNAlhC7dNAElDWVInFWxZb67819byE5tlsoQDTMFBII4h6UrrYpU7vdDg6vJrndKttw2pCEEXmloh-_xL-0Ko0vJyvpFpyJF_l0ZdT7gMAD-5F2porxU7XTLPvrxFURl89Xg/s1600/IMG_2165.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXseHc3w3CjRkGxe0APLxdHE45WO8BecT2YN_Cv6PvQwlKINtIt2_0rRiw0vFxaEyNep5SKzKD0jQmcGzLknluGTHlVvMBWpeoKhzQ65HJFpUcm19Mh_c8xC3eJFVUw3ZzKmeU2spfaAs/s1600/IMG_2167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXseHc3w3CjRkGxe0APLxdHE45WO8BecT2YN_Cv6PvQwlKINtIt2_0rRiw0vFxaEyNep5SKzKD0jQmcGzLknluGTHlVvMBWpeoKhzQ65HJFpUcm19Mh_c8xC3eJFVUw3ZzKmeU2spfaAs/s1600/IMG_2167.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a><br />
<br />
As some of you may know, Laura isn't a huge fan of open-backed stairs or narrow ledges. She did great on the rice terraces nevertheless!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjE2zq5KhREwxC6BkXFazmZ53YbJAM0892IKPWVThz4ImBzInfbi5eG1jZpkOCpdhpWKcmE6I9iYIxTA_rucNJEYOgWTKOMJlgsc4FbMyzBLGa5tSkYJl2cwvrwNtqz3xV_QGGjDFUa8w/s1600/IMG_2183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjE2zq5KhREwxC6BkXFazmZ53YbJAM0892IKPWVThz4ImBzInfbi5eG1jZpkOCpdhpWKcmE6I9iYIxTA_rucNJEYOgWTKOMJlgsc4FbMyzBLGa5tSkYJl2cwvrwNtqz3xV_QGGjDFUa8w/s1600/IMG_2183.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our escorts on the second day of trekking (from Ramon's): Biscuit, Pilay, and Hatch I.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOhBndRyNlgHcO5YoUUMD3mzfkzqna8QeeyHrHsT5trQ_DXYqDPZTf8NhkqjF4c7pSCPvQZ0J7TYMr2ImfmLkXvDQ1Gdz1QWsow2Rnyad5kt_5p40TbAU4dZBTP0C66RIy4Du5WD9jjg/s1600/IMG_2186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOhBndRyNlgHcO5YoUUMD3mzfkzqna8QeeyHrHsT5trQ_DXYqDPZTf8NhkqjF4c7pSCPvQZ0J7TYMr2ImfmLkXvDQ1Gdz1QWsow2Rnyad5kt_5p40TbAU4dZBTP0C66RIy4Du5WD9jjg/s1600/IMG_2186.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwskyMyKIPgSS7j1cO-yXxtzDFTadoaDWmspZAE0WdeZSovAPiKVlKJqUyEP-mpKNRoXOTclJR2XFgzObcCVhvpFlYOd4lyyMhAs4Mq76fynQH2mAOMQOaLmNlhHN3CoeM2j7e9XmN30/s1600/IMG_2200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwskyMyKIPgSS7j1cO-yXxtzDFTadoaDWmspZAE0WdeZSovAPiKVlKJqUyEP-mpKNRoXOTclJR2XFgzObcCVhvpFlYOd4lyyMhAs4Mq76fynQH2mAOMQOaLmNlhHN3CoeM2j7e9XmN30/s1600/IMG_2200.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMN0MV8yaX2Oidigpg4AUTBR8BxkKezM7qmc4gLB3g4ifjXGY8AePv-bWTX52sXFWwyg-qodSJgSLFhyom4udTWSdXBqw6oZZ5WpmKOU4nNToBhKdi0WaxSnkWaxvUoBosbG6h7x6BQMQ/s1600/IMG_2196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMN0MV8yaX2Oidigpg4AUTBR8BxkKezM7qmc4gLB3g4ifjXGY8AePv-bWTX52sXFWwyg-qodSJgSLFhyom4udTWSdXBqw6oZZ5WpmKOU4nNToBhKdi0WaxSnkWaxvUoBosbG6h7x6BQMQ/s1600/IMG_2196.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We also got to see some of the locals preparing roasted rice wine (the wine was quite sweet, but very nice!). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o8ZbkOY7LmI/U0iaI2uEetI/AAAAAAAAQz4/0TqpBlFJOyY/s1600/14+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o8ZbkOY7LmI/U0iaI2uEetI/AAAAAAAAQz4/0TqpBlFJOyY/s1600/14+-+1" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRu2mH4hgw5VmAIClHYLZ5Tdkadypg9Vs4ZVSPcWoLjgS8onMaVebVbOwxFYiWBfN5hceMO0XDGBOz6HtQZRaVkk4I_ro6UeC7RZ1ruo8TFoFkm8HW45cJBA67_TWB2kRtbtnVH-WeWw/s1600/IMG_2148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRu2mH4hgw5VmAIClHYLZ5Tdkadypg9Vs4ZVSPcWoLjgS8onMaVebVbOwxFYiWBfN5hceMO0XDGBOz6HtQZRaVkk4I_ro6UeC7RZ1ruo8TFoFkm8HW45cJBA67_TWB2kRtbtnVH-WeWw/s1600/IMG_2148.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNODdsCfMPHTvOkOjdnse9HpL2fknXvEY3hizk7MKtiD-qzL0Dc14-0cZzLMOsJUrBAgXihDFziFrAuIJODKrQ7bf0VukFT2VmkaEeVdLj_epXgip5mtItHwBh82MYV6u4StwBD5_VtlE/s1600/IMG_2158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNODdsCfMPHTvOkOjdnse9HpL2fknXvEY3hizk7MKtiD-qzL0Dc14-0cZzLMOsJUrBAgXihDFziFrAuIJODKrQ7bf0VukFT2VmkaEeVdLj_epXgip5mtItHwBh82MYV6u4StwBD5_VtlE/s1600/IMG_2158.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We're gearing up for another 11 hour bus ride back to Manila overnight... then its off to Coron!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBEh0OGXBixE8-IhjdnsxhOckPsQRvOtlxurStCu4sOIdD0X6UZaLh_F_TSWjVRhsuyoPpdGMYYDkkBnabkO099Oao2pi-c2wX8AAs1gMjXZvxt6qS4jdkyaM_goXaiKMP31oUSf7pWs/s1600/IMG_1851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBEh0OGXBixE8-IhjdnsxhOckPsQRvOtlxurStCu4sOIdD0X6UZaLh_F_TSWjVRhsuyoPpdGMYYDkkBnabkO099Oao2pi-c2wX8AAs1gMjXZvxt6qS4jdkyaM_goXaiKMP31oUSf7pWs/s1600/IMG_1851.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Banaue, Philippines16.9188889 121.0588889000000616.6758584 120.73616540000006 17.1619194 121.38161240000005tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-77667307915747279052014-04-07T18:07:00.000-07:002014-04-07T18:08:47.284-07:00A magical day with the whale sharks and fireflies<span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura -- We arrived in Donsol with much anticipation. Donsol is one of the only places in the world where you can regularly see <a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_shark" target="_blank">whale sharks</a> and we were hoping to be lucky enough to see one!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIhN3r9XbbFYxgC_1a7oqQNWynypYJYB1iQR9C7BQILa-YjO3xhO4EagVV19NOX8NydIBpmTaagY_sK4kJ8LsY0H4fRmN-wjYV5zjfJP_SKr0MVX1VGxKFsy_jqlG3i_ZcgAoYYiIXM4/s3200/GOPR0238_1396854726508_high%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIhN3r9XbbFYxgC_1a7oqQNWynypYJYB1iQR9C7BQILa-YjO3xhO4EagVV19NOX8NydIBpmTaagY_sK4kJ8LsY0H4fRmN-wjYV5zjfJP_SKr0MVX1VGxKFsy_jqlG3i_ZcgAoYYiIXM4/s3200/GOPR0238_1396854726508_high%257E2.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Whale sharks or Butading are the world's biggest fish. They are filter feeders like whales and so very gentle giants. They feed just under the surface, and so you can snorkel alongside them.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first day we went out as soon as we got to town - about 11am. We were the only ones on the boat as 8am is the best time to go, but we wanted to try our luck. Despite a very picturesque 3 hour boat ride, no whale sharks were to be found.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmq-afUhvibjEd3MGlBO43hHhf1lypeFA_H0Ozi1tqiD9ZM-Ef6ks0ynKPyWYBtGKo2JiDTEe2tyRjgAcHlUWQzB6dTdbnQ8nAoUcWh151aLt8C0KjdibXRZeA2YXA38ZFoEaLcbut7g/s3200/GOPR0225_1396854590367_high.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmq-afUhvibjEd3MGlBO43hHhf1lypeFA_H0Ozi1tqiD9ZM-Ef6ks0ynKPyWYBtGKo2JiDTEe2tyRjgAcHlUWQzB6dTdbnQ8nAoUcWh151aLt8C0KjdibXRZeA2YXA38ZFoEaLcbut7g/s3200/GOPR0225_1396854590367_high.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaIukQvYQ4YNfMP3bX_s1kpRj-96gMwhpNnIgx4mbi4OsR0LNtH1AU3Knp5TjRuT9j-HDHxx-VDAqmDw-G3XZ3B8a114bdB1K0et9VlHQ7nBqDyqkpm2L1AWg9JJEc8jcnzDFeUPCr4w/s3200/GOPR0235_1396854693969_high.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaIukQvYQ4YNfMP3bX_s1kpRj-96gMwhpNnIgx4mbi4OsR0LNtH1AU3Knp5TjRuT9j-HDHxx-VDAqmDw-G3XZ3B8a114bdB1K0et9VlHQ7nBqDyqkpm2L1AWg9JJEc8jcnzDFeUPCr4w/s3200/GOPR0235_1396854693969_high.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdypuTK9eOfkBfK06tSKwkmbQ4ZqU9AduMNaOwlECpl2NNyOP__r2hyphenhyphenQHiAeokmskZEmb1SFMMlM1WF14kE-jU9RG1dmPtjWfXc3zvNV-GjrzjZvVNzXiuzi0L_KKaW9ymxqhaTNQl7FQ/s3200/GOPR0226_1396763263738_high.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdypuTK9eOfkBfK06tSKwkmbQ4ZqU9AduMNaOwlECpl2NNyOP__r2hyphenhyphenQHiAeokmskZEmb1SFMMlM1WF14kE-jU9RG1dmPtjWfXc3zvNV-GjrzjZvVNzXiuzi0L_KKaW9ymxqhaTNQl7FQ/s3200/GOPR0226_1396763263738_high.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So yesterday morning we were up at 6 to make sure we got on a boat as early as possible. We shared a boat with two Swedes and a girl from Toronto - go figure!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After an hour and a half with no signs at all, we were starting to despair that we'd miss out again. But then as both Jerome and I had started to doze off, there was some action. Our Butanding Interaction Officer got his snorkel gear out and things started to look promising! After two or three near misses where the whale shark dove down deep before we could get in the water, we were worried again that we would miss out. But then we heard the shouts from a neighbouring boat and we were close. We dove in off the boat and led by our guide, started swimming like mad towards the others in the water. The visibility was very poor due to all the plankton, and it was hard to tell what we were heading for. Then the giant whale shark loomed out just ahead of us. It was amazing! Giant and beautiful, calmly swimming along with 20 snorkellers trying to keep up with it. It was truly a magical experience. We were fortunate to get to do this 3 or 4 times, all with the same whale shark. We were able to get some neat pictures and at least one video that shows the scale of how big it was. Our guess is about 10 metres long.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To see our video of the whale shark, <a href="https://plus.google.com/107778524531915524037/posts/HpvKzfUwRrS" target="_blank">follow this link</a>.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We spent the afternoon resting after all our swimming - they go pretty quick - before getting ready for our evening adventure!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We took a trike to the Ogod river in Donsol and boarded a small boat with a German couple we'd met. We set off down the river. The stars were the most amazing I've ever seen, with so little light pollution. We saw all the usual constellations and so many more stars than usual. We even got to see Mars glowing red and Jupiter sitting just to the side of the quarter moon!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After about ten minutes our guide asked us if we were ready, and to clap when he said. We could see a few fireflies in the trees along the river, but then he said clap, and as we did a whole tree lit up with them getting brighter as we clapped louder, now in applause at the magic of it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A bit further down the river we stopped the boat and just sat in awe at another tree teaming with fireflies! There were hundreds of them all blinking away individually and also creating a strobe like effect in the tree as they all tried to copy each others blinking pattern. Our guide, Josh, told us all about the fireflies while we sat for half an hour watching them. We stopped by by two more spots before reluctantly heading back to our resort for the night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was overall a truly memorable and magical day!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(Unfortunately pictures of fireflies are pretty close to impossible. The following pictures are from around our hotel, <a href="http://elysia-donsol.com/" target="_blank">Elysia Beach Resort</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEion0rhkfi7jc52l6PAcYOlgFOXlVGrGvbq6IVNhGl4EXb6y6YoypSMMXaWw82A6fJwdtZUWgYCE-Exb4GPm1s5WEMb5E22p_sktZGbXcjSL8_IhePyqjFR5ABUKVgw0vVg5yVwrYUicJg/s3200/IMG_1769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEion0rhkfi7jc52l6PAcYOlgFOXlVGrGvbq6IVNhGl4EXb6y6YoypSMMXaWw82A6fJwdtZUWgYCE-Exb4GPm1s5WEMb5E22p_sktZGbXcjSL8_IhePyqjFR5ABUKVgw0vVg5yVwrYUicJg/s3200/IMG_1769.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TzQ-cRCIP2CYMa5uI8hBHRJ0kSLvRjzqWLzNFKHFJoJRUlzNsCle9zAATF_HyxaFk6ii7JWOmXNrRoQJofLUgO86TvDdXg6p3EakUuZN8KabP0ORmyaRuTj8chkGMSCkHCmSS0-O-P4/s3200/IMG_1783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TzQ-cRCIP2CYMa5uI8hBHRJ0kSLvRjzqWLzNFKHFJoJRUlzNsCle9zAATF_HyxaFk6ii7JWOmXNrRoQJofLUgO86TvDdXg6p3EakUuZN8KabP0ORmyaRuTj8chkGMSCkHCmSS0-O-P4/s3200/IMG_1783.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NOQPnnkeb1H_bckKkZcOrxF7qnlMekBgmv16z2QH7fC2ESdQ8UEBy7Zw-MeAgqLkHvfPOQXW-3yIQlG87zWRsRN2GimSOnUwyTik3iE2Ojtaattr_dEfvnItelPl5dkVq3CAuXnuVKY/s3200/IMG_1814%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NOQPnnkeb1H_bckKkZcOrxF7qnlMekBgmv16z2QH7fC2ESdQ8UEBy7Zw-MeAgqLkHvfPOQXW-3yIQlG87zWRsRN2GimSOnUwyTik3iE2Ojtaattr_dEfvnItelPl5dkVq3CAuXnuVKY/s3200/IMG_1814%257E2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOU1fnvKLz0A0SfbfzAPGQYS69mqpOFTNpksq7afUSNjiDysVO626SAxQOgRBYuQRWthZ9XoXnqSD3kwRYDhgL9sfUW3qw1TdMQ6fAHTxf9AOKnGx2Vut9lvpJhqMnP93i9h74CNa5Las/s3200/GOPR0297_1396866062894_high.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOU1fnvKLz0A0SfbfzAPGQYS69mqpOFTNpksq7afUSNjiDysVO626SAxQOgRBYuQRWthZ9XoXnqSD3kwRYDhgL9sfUW3qw1TdMQ6fAHTxf9AOKnGx2Vut9lvpJhqMnP93i9h74CNa5Las/s3200/GOPR0297_1396866062894_high.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8xwG-2LpCpc/U0NLAml6-FI/AAAAAAAAQQo/lW2A13D4YXU/s3200/14+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8xwG-2LpCpc/U0NLAml6-FI/AAAAAAAAQQo/lW2A13D4YXU/s3200/14+-+1" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3Donsol, Philippines12.91182 123.6026990000000312.788029 123.44133750000003 13.035611000000001 123.76406050000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-68835492584351812702014-04-07T17:22:00.000-07:002014-04-07T17:22:47.818-07:00Vera FallsJerome -- Vera Falls seems like its straight out of a movie. It's a fairly small waterfall that falls into a cascading set of clear swimming pools. The water is nice and cool (almost too cold for some of the locals, but it was perfect for me). The falls are small enough that you can dive under them, and surface in a small cave behind them. The locals were super-friendly. The guy who looks after the area invited us to camp there next time we visit.<br />
<br />
It's a bit of a challenge to get to - the roads are narrow where they exist (the rest is just a rocky path). We hired a Taxi driver (Dan - 090-535-86095) to take us around for the day for around 4000 Pesos. We visited the beach at Barcacay, Vera Falls, and the rest house 1/3 up Mayon Volcano - but the falls were the highlight for me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhR4xwa-fLRHEBf888zPQBQj5caFu9Hc0j1e4bEeSiJfdmDKk3imBM5RlSaEd8LJfihiq90hGuD9NFYvTHlBh47uIBrkN8fjHJxzrrjnieYjgDyFSOp2OUDE7BXnXG_93j4A1_7KVdP0/s3200/GOPR0099_1396853953506_high.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhR4xwa-fLRHEBf888zPQBQj5caFu9Hc0j1e4bEeSiJfdmDKk3imBM5RlSaEd8LJfihiq90hGuD9NFYvTHlBh47uIBrkN8fjHJxzrrjnieYjgDyFSOp2OUDE7BXnXG_93j4A1_7KVdP0/s3200/GOPR0099_1396853953506_high.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLHO6TJXHvIWOnBY5uc5FfsWvKwapDwaymC8Qxgke6KZD7aOQApecjRAhjG5C3haRXAwgPv4HUSXb044YPmCYPkQ_0u2yKRGCAci7yIsDUhyKxxHbjJQbb5cRwYBsZTitygbl_JYHBCY/s3200/GOPR0094_1396853924679_high.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLHO6TJXHvIWOnBY5uc5FfsWvKwapDwaymC8Qxgke6KZD7aOQApecjRAhjG5C3haRXAwgPv4HUSXb044YPmCYPkQ_0u2yKRGCAci7yIsDUhyKxxHbjJQbb5cRwYBsZTitygbl_JYHBCY/s3200/GOPR0094_1396853924679_high.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMceELCbik7W-v_JH7qa74g_Hx7e4471k_k-YG5_WHibcFcqGKdm1S5V0JyTQSMhVpZxT2fh8xP7jCDwOUiAMD093D4uL8a2I_f0YKugiqxtDDHlFVbea-Ht-wMz3xHMqx_ocUgGLuY5I/s3200/GOPR0089_1396853893830_high.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMceELCbik7W-v_JH7qa74g_Hx7e4471k_k-YG5_WHibcFcqGKdm1S5V0JyTQSMhVpZxT2fh8xP7jCDwOUiAMD093D4uL8a2I_f0YKugiqxtDDHlFVbea-Ht-wMz3xHMqx_ocUgGLuY5I/s3200/GOPR0089_1396853893830_high.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdGpMIwUBhSm3i7QDhutba5__92V_P2wUQZvGe9Fi_QRgcszj7XMlSgHoQtzv8ZnQiu4sfErc7fZS4cJVZtrAtvNzKVncEy_VLTuB0Fvmj9EUE1HHlVIqTuQGaHZ60Woq_SyJp4H2ibw/s3200/GOPR0160_1396854176070_high%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdGpMIwUBhSm3i7QDhutba5__92V_P2wUQZvGe9Fi_QRgcszj7XMlSgHoQtzv8ZnQiu4sfErc7fZS4cJVZtrAtvNzKVncEy_VLTuB0Fvmj9EUE1HHlVIqTuQGaHZ60Woq_SyJp4H2ibw/s3200/GOPR0160_1396854176070_high%257E2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the Mayon Resthouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Tabaco City, Philippines13.3240963 123.6451389999999713.0768828 123.32241549999998 13.571309800000002 123.96786249999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-16163450802480847782014-04-06T23:43:00.000-07:002014-04-06T23:46:46.774-07:00ATVing around the Mayon VolcanoJerome -- We did more than just eat spicy food in Legazpi (although Laura was a huge fan of the chili ice cream).<br />
<br />
We <a href="http://mayonatvtour.com/" target="_blank">rented ATVs</a> and did a 2 hour ride to the lava flows from 2006 eruption. We rented the bigger 350cc ATVs. They were very comfortable. The peak of the volcano is often obscured by clouds, but we were lucky enough to have a clear view - quite spectacular! It is said that <a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayon_Volcano" target="_blank">Mayon</a> is one of the most symmetrical volcanos. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_FfRrEhfzraLN6vPxWvyxM43MFtNYbi4dtqq_VhcwD3IPczTC-qvcXPpbWMfNl_hbKriL9pg1LKi5Tpf2zpN7lbVaEMbAB_PGmatWCWOQ3qRtxkIhxAwdeoQUNbLdd89_sD8aO-gZj4/s3200/IMG_1733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_FfRrEhfzraLN6vPxWvyxM43MFtNYbi4dtqq_VhcwD3IPczTC-qvcXPpbWMfNl_hbKriL9pg1LKi5Tpf2zpN7lbVaEMbAB_PGmatWCWOQ3qRtxkIhxAwdeoQUNbLdd89_sD8aO-gZj4/s3200/IMG_1733.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKWuzbdodDSxFtVMDKlP8gNOP5ctS-4RTu54Xb3mHSamSWIbQqXBUI31Zdtn3usgpIaxVIDEACDVtE1XlUivmpucFBvKPL9e0ulYLUoD6MjAu17R5DDpuY-tM7JxO6KhL5iVzhwPp7IY/s3200/IMG_1739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKWuzbdodDSxFtVMDKlP8gNOP5ctS-4RTu54Xb3mHSamSWIbQqXBUI31Zdtn3usgpIaxVIDEACDVtE1XlUivmpucFBvKPL9e0ulYLUoD6MjAu17R5DDpuY-tM7JxO6KhL5iVzhwPp7IY/s3200/IMG_1739.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6n7hEDW3VsXVD44Vac0o8lQlu4_qiN492hCJtscYzEsrOGYQdRYgH01DJATa6L2gC0H9aL6RwnIWi0UUK_HKWSWPON7nj2WFtYUo5rsDoEOBCrdB5_lBNXsvZbNNYrOXUSYLp_Wyw8fE/s3200/IMG_0982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6n7hEDW3VsXVD44Vac0o8lQlu4_qiN492hCJtscYzEsrOGYQdRYgH01DJATa6L2gC0H9aL6RwnIWi0UUK_HKWSWPON7nj2WFtYUo5rsDoEOBCrdB5_lBNXsvZbNNYrOXUSYLp_Wyw8fE/s3200/IMG_0982.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjll2jR4_9l0oYsKYKJcHWTTZxthseU8mKgoM2YoGXyDam1j6tlX5B3FciMe_dQUFk-L86VTAIhUd3aTrSp0g7oOnTgJ5Q-5bm57FwedGD0SfesSs9XO9gJIaKsYVUBQ3PgLkOMTS8ku2o/s3200/IMG_0942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjll2jR4_9l0oYsKYKJcHWTTZxthseU8mKgoM2YoGXyDam1j6tlX5B3FciMe_dQUFk-L86VTAIhUd3aTrSp0g7oOnTgJ5Q-5bm57FwedGD0SfesSs9XO9gJIaKsYVUBQ3PgLkOMTS8ku2o/s3200/IMG_0942.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOf8H7O3dn6m0sqq9bta2j41PrK8ZVPh0wpSHZbbo05KBHvUidzQGpkJypNSkHqG9cWEgMPvani5kXtcxkXanYUnKdHCCAYE-kY6PvdZbzNb5VIPLNeeFsFJm2uBGXGbk7xcn3N-Bqfs/s3200/IMG_0981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOf8H7O3dn6m0sqq9bta2j41PrK8ZVPh0wpSHZbbo05KBHvUidzQGpkJypNSkHqG9cWEgMPvani5kXtcxkXanYUnKdHCCAYE-kY6PvdZbzNb5VIPLNeeFsFJm2uBGXGbk7xcn3N-Bqfs/s3200/IMG_0981.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnTFUy6BhD_WY0XT5STMJDPBxVrZ3fqF-xyln7Cx_ifAVtaY5rA07xWkKsbzGaRjyD7IuBfz8Khayuhm1VmrZzwe5WlULflSsWK8DqIFLrRNaLQyrckR9lIIM_Kfrux-4yQ_Ev2qjVpQ/s3200/IMG_0979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnTFUy6BhD_WY0XT5STMJDPBxVrZ3fqF-xyln7Cx_ifAVtaY5rA07xWkKsbzGaRjyD7IuBfz8Khayuhm1VmrZzwe5WlULflSsWK8DqIFLrRNaLQyrckR9lIIM_Kfrux-4yQ_Ev2qjVpQ/s3200/IMG_0979.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoFpSdNsaVQnUqg5b38o94UgXg9K3FkhfUE3DOt9ZqIEtwnCLmCi6bE7QN-8kB7HrFIk_HTZMPC_IcaZpM8h7TkNg_7eiQGMN_OgCYlxfv2YwlMb9m468fhMu5UZosezlaE3_mvr2cXs/s3200/IMG_1690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoFpSdNsaVQnUqg5b38o94UgXg9K3FkhfUE3DOt9ZqIEtwnCLmCi6bE7QN-8kB7HrFIk_HTZMPC_IcaZpM8h7TkNg_7eiQGMN_OgCYlxfv2YwlMb9m468fhMu5UZosezlaE3_mvr2cXs/s3200/IMG_1690.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rs9OAwlC18qOVsPec2Z73BqstGGjsKrtTOEsp6HS0JTpsUVUIaK_xUnLG8yTgx2cPH3t0DMLXWFpaZfnWsfGY4XXMeTfRLEtKM5KhzvtubXybFCXqidfIGrJ1-SjjSyXYYc7tvYvH2c/s3200/IMG_1701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rs9OAwlC18qOVsPec2Z73BqstGGjsKrtTOEsp6HS0JTpsUVUIaK_xUnLG8yTgx2cPH3t0DMLXWFpaZfnWsfGY4XXMeTfRLEtKM5KhzvtubXybFCXqidfIGrJ1-SjjSyXYYc7tvYvH2c/s3200/IMG_1701.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
When we reached the peak, we had fresh coconut water. Once we were done the water, they split the coconuts for us and fashioned a spoon from the husk in order to eat the meat. Very refreshing after all that time in the sun!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8RFW1TAE9W-S7Du5yQkOVCMDWoAhTF0Kn4ACD16MwRkbkesmVD7eL01gb6-Log5xCzOiTEF2prFDKfkiShEi3sI8rmHOJGNyBQ1qqZ7fW6VNiv-75i8_tZolgHpFEvFgJQ8O4RXVYHs/s3200/IMG_1715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8RFW1TAE9W-S7Du5yQkOVCMDWoAhTF0Kn4ACD16MwRkbkesmVD7eL01gb6-Log5xCzOiTEF2prFDKfkiShEi3sI8rmHOJGNyBQ1qqZ7fW6VNiv-75i8_tZolgHpFEvFgJQ8O4RXVYHs/s3200/IMG_1715.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cIZC0bzoD1pRm6wmYZ7HY-Nd2qqOn_EsAOdiMdHuKwkzfo1k6YnOloQ9yBkf3IiLuP1C8_j0NUBst8n3s2LrpeBg6G3P2IkF8ScQ48okrrTGW7qbd0GnaG1rSmtmkBzHPYeQz1mcy1k/s3200/IMG_1718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cIZC0bzoD1pRm6wmYZ7HY-Nd2qqOn_EsAOdiMdHuKwkzfo1k6YnOloQ9yBkf3IiLuP1C8_j0NUBst8n3s2LrpeBg6G3P2IkF8ScQ48okrrTGW7qbd0GnaG1rSmtmkBzHPYeQz1mcy1k/s3200/IMG_1718.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOVWuf1aGwg84dXk3T2Bne52G9C_vIV8S6KjP1dYhKeRal6uc_4BAxCALjquCF4R7d00LWiemLSYTvnAp1WLYVM5EGU3eQcmGpCrN3I4WN2iiziRa2b5uTt3AKK1b3ICjwA6qJtIfcTc/s3200/IMG_1719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOVWuf1aGwg84dXk3T2Bne52G9C_vIV8S6KjP1dYhKeRal6uc_4BAxCALjquCF4R7d00LWiemLSYTvnAp1WLYVM5EGU3eQcmGpCrN3I4WN2iiziRa2b5uTt3AKK1b3ICjwA6qJtIfcTc/s3200/IMG_1719.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Our guide was really proud of his 'trick shots'. Here's a couple of his best:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1lo0m-a8V4W-LOZjHUIt-W1T7L1TZyMgpwSKlnKOvfhKl4tMR1D0J8rSMu5CZKZlRxVqzLQsVQxGxXFrx87Gv7Wc0yedKKmneadpkQHOMg5O2i417-zi0osnJTEmGbPHaQ_Go7aQMjM/s3200/IMG_1709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1lo0m-a8V4W-LOZjHUIt-W1T7L1TZyMgpwSKlnKOvfhKl4tMR1D0J8rSMu5CZKZlRxVqzLQsVQxGxXFrx87Gv7Wc0yedKKmneadpkQHOMg5O2i417-zi0osnJTEmGbPHaQ_Go7aQMjM/s3200/IMG_1709.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-GPMZ-ybsbtmeW1_cuwRHF4a_hLitepV3V13d4WX9V55Rka5X_wrgJWeRoBjZsWOqRrbr1b_dqvK5aJfAd6rHYQwb1LL0yoAFeW-fZrLAa2FsGFbKKzzlv0kcEzzW1Zp6C5zOmSYfxY/s3200/IMG_1699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-GPMZ-ybsbtmeW1_cuwRHF4a_hLitepV3V13d4WX9V55Rka5X_wrgJWeRoBjZsWOqRrbr1b_dqvK5aJfAd6rHYQwb1LL0yoAFeW-fZrLAa2FsGFbKKzzlv0kcEzzW1Zp6C5zOmSYfxY/s3200/IMG_1699.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
All-in-all, a very fun afternoon ATVing!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Mayon Volcano, Mayon Volcano National Park, Philippines13.2558333 123.68583330000001-17.0022522 82.377239300000014 43.5139188 164.9944273tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-53220290383328545372014-04-03T07:27:00.000-07:002014-04-03T07:27:08.408-07:00I'm in the news!We happened to find out that the month-long Megayon festival was going on in town. We decided to check it out. It just so happened that the main event of the night was the sili (chili pepper) eating competition. The goal of the competition is to eat 250 g of extra-spicy <a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicol_Express" target="_blank">Bicol Express</a> and 250 g of <a href="http://angsarap.net/2013/05/09/laing-2/" target="_blank">laing</a>. No water is allowed. First to finish wins.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
They had 10 guys compete, followed by 10 girls. Last, they had a wildcard round, with two local volunteers vs two foreigner volunteers. I was the only one to raise my hand as a foreigner... So I got to compete!<br />
<br />
The food was definitely spicy (and also very tasty)... but I think that ghost pepper salsa I've been eating at home prepared me for it. I didn't do too bad. Of the 4 people competing with me, I finished second. And since I came in first for foreigners I even won a 1000 Peso prize! Here's a clip from a local morning show<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/b3s1iIaqZT0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
These guys are the actual winners (the guy ate all his food in 1:04. Not sure what my time was... But at least 2 or 3 minutes)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4YXsqUkR2_A4TnWIp2KPWRz_a3VSDGUKJL1GpDIOrwuYZGMT-0Dd12u-40pZmVc_wr_h18iP5zoY8-9Fddu100iSK_WfZYNOSgHmZ6ggDNEb6_LT6Z_ZjGjj3MqLkvg0iArx22qK2Rw/s3200/IMG_1650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4YXsqUkR2_A4TnWIp2KPWRz_a3VSDGUKJL1GpDIOrwuYZGMT-0Dd12u-40pZmVc_wr_h18iP5zoY8-9Fddu100iSK_WfZYNOSgHmZ6ggDNEb6_LT6Z_ZjGjj3MqLkvg0iArx22qK2Rw/s3200/IMG_1650.JPG" height="640" width="528" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Laura was curious to try the Bicol express, so we ordered some the next night (this one was fish rather than the tradional pork). I think this one was less spicy than the one I had for the competition.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEv5p-hthQzYFUVntdxjXAI8yrCJz8Nf34O-rjkbNRICIEENs1bizrksWOaIrFckvCTbhNaawJaBvYZeThb7FVDU1BmM_C9WtEl8zpbymFueakh8YLGPVarh3fzt8AogPMJYR-aGA41UQ/s3200/IMG_1760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEv5p-hthQzYFUVntdxjXAI8yrCJz8Nf34O-rjkbNRICIEENs1bizrksWOaIrFckvCTbhNaawJaBvYZeThb7FVDU1BmM_C9WtEl8zpbymFueakh8YLGPVarh3fzt8AogPMJYR-aGA41UQ/s3200/IMG_1760.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
A fun (and hot) few days here. We'll post more when we can.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfi_sMiHkahrfcbCkxPy2USZSrhKtsx0Dmixk46AYOScwr52ipAbH7UxaHE9TNmu9p8kNe4agxRDiBBLSSRQouhvthaTrS6JfciAUf2E7yflaFlfqfTuYPseE-1FFm_7gdvxA8vcBPIWI/s3200/IMG_20140402_165058744_HDR%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfi_sMiHkahrfcbCkxPy2USZSrhKtsx0Dmixk46AYOScwr52ipAbH7UxaHE9TNmu9p8kNe4agxRDiBBLSSRQouhvthaTrS6JfciAUf2E7yflaFlfqfTuYPseE-1FFm_7gdvxA8vcBPIWI/s3200/IMG_20140402_165058744_HDR%257E2.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Mount Mayon, over the harbor<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4Legazpi City, Philippines13.1390621 123.7437995000000212.8916366 123.42107600000003 13.3864876 124.06652300000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522736476950184922.post-70300702359646704012014-03-30T17:59:00.000-07:002014-03-30T17:59:08.924-07:00Packing List V2We're all packed up and just about ready to go. It's a 15 hour, direct flight to manila, arriving at 4 AM on April 1 (yup...we lose all of March 31) and then a second flight from Manila to Legazpi arriving at noon.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2SzWBlZL8sNKng4VmUImuPXSeu0Edadm7d1qszMVl_bHRho664STjbebwunrTijFrDu9_cA0FzLfqXLAEu7CWhiGk2xma9RI91OsdLZdKtvBusa5pOZx6EoGgReplvcZ_bwlNayA0Q4/s1600/IMG_20140330_173909733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2SzWBlZL8sNKng4VmUImuPXSeu0Edadm7d1qszMVl_bHRho664STjbebwunrTijFrDu9_cA0FzLfqXLAEu7CWhiGk2xma9RI91OsdLZdKtvBusa5pOZx6EoGgReplvcZ_bwlNayA0Q4/s1600/IMG_20140330_173909733.jpg" height="640" width="590" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Many people liked our <a href="http://www.jeromeandlaura.com/2013/01/packing-list.html" target="_blank">first packing list blog </a>post, so we thought we'd do it again. We were hoping that going to the tropics would mean that we could get away with bringing a lot less stuff. Unfortunately, with the sunscreen, bug spray, fins, snorkel and mask, we're actually bring about 10-15 lbs more stuff. Our bags weigh 26 lbs and 27 lbs, and our carry-on is 11 lbs. On the plus side, our bags might actually get lighter as we go and use up the sunscreen!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VMn8Twmuzllc4Yus_queCWzfp90EZ110w52UYxNPg4OgF4PKNZ3CBsdiFeBRllj_o9kxZtRqFiBsXV86nSrBEm9O58sVqWz_FhNGpHj3r48suMWU2IuLjWpjNCniJwRPxtBcP5nO-wU/s1600/IMG_20140330_095749747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VMn8Twmuzllc4Yus_queCWzfp90EZ110w52UYxNPg4OgF4PKNZ3CBsdiFeBRllj_o9kxZtRqFiBsXV86nSrBEm9O58sVqWz_FhNGpHj3r48suMWU2IuLjWpjNCniJwRPxtBcP5nO-wU/s1600/IMG_20140330_095749747.jpg" height="396" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Clothes</span></b><br />
We pre-treated most of our outerwear with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CZC27UW/ref=pe_160220_113678880_em_1p_0_ti" target="_blank">Picaridin </a>- it should keep the mosquitos away for about 6 weeks (we're hoping it last a bit longer than that). Laura would like to emphasize that she actually doesn't have a lot more stuff than I do. Her list is just longer.<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" dir="ltr" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #ccc; font-family: arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup><col width="293"></col><col width="293"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Jerome"]" style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Jerome</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Laura"]" style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Laura</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2x swimming trunks"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">2x swimming trunks</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Board shorts"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">board shorts</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Swimming rashguard"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Swimming rashguard</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2x bikinis"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">2x bikinis</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2x shorts"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">2x shorts</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Swimming rashguard"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Swimming rashguard</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Zip off pants"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">zip off pants</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Zip off pants"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">zip off pants</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Long sleeve shirt"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">long sleeve shirt</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"3/4 length pants"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">3/4 length pants</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Wool long sleeve base layer"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">wool long sleeve base layer</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Shorts"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">shorts</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2x cotton t-shirt"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">2x cotton t-shirt</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Long sleeve shirt"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Long sleeve shirt</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2x short-sleeve collared shirt"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">2x short-sleeve collared shirt</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2x short sleeve collared shirt"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">2x short sleeve collared shirt</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"4x boxers"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">4x boxers</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Wool long sleeve base layer"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">wool long sleeve base layer</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"4x socks"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">4x socks</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Wool t-shirt"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">wool t-shirt</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Rain jacket"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">rain jacket</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2x tank top"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">2x tank top</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Shoes"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">shoes</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"pyjama shorts"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">pyjama shorts</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Flip flops"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">flip flops</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"5x underwear"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">5x underwear</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2x bras"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">2x bras</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"sports bra"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">sports bra</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"4x socks"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">4x socks</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Rain jacket"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Rain jacket</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Sandals"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Sandals</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Shoes"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Shoes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Electronics</span></b><br />
Since we're going to be in the water so much, I decided to get a GoPro. The housing that it comes with is good down to 131' (40m). Hopefully we get some amazing pictures and video.<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" dir="ltr" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #ccc; font-family: arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup><col width="293"></col><col width="293"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"GoPro Hero 3+ Black"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><a href="http://gopro.com/cameras/hd-hero3-black-edition" target="_blank">GoPro Hero 3+ Black</a></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Canon S100"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><a href="http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons100" target="_blank">Canon S100</a></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"3x 32G micro SD cards"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">3x 32G micro SD cards</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Canon PowerShot SD870 IS"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><a href="http://www.dpreview.com/products/canon/compacts/canon_sd870is" target="_blank">Canon PowerShot SD870 IS</a></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"3x battery + charger"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">3x battery + charger</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"3 x 32G, 2 x 16 G SD cards (for cameras)"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">3 x 32G, 2 x 16 G SD cards (for cameras)</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"GoPro handle"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">GoPro handle</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"4 x battery + charger"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">4 x battery + charger</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"GoPro dive filter"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><a href="https://www.polarprofilters.com/shop/hero3plusredfilter/" target="_blank">GoPro dive filter</a> (color correction under water)</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Mini tripod (it's super awesome)"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pedco-UltraPod-Lightweight-Camera-Tripod/dp/B000ANGNN0/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1396222305&sr=1-6&keywords=mini+tripod" target="_blank">Mini tripod</a> (it's super awesome)</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"GoPro accessories, anti-fog inserts"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">GoPro accessories, anti-fog inserts</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Shallow, water resistant housing for SD100"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Shallow, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dicapac-WP-ONE-Digital-Camera-Waterproof/dp/B005IAXVMG/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1396222422&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=dicapac" target="_blank">water resistant housing</a> for SD100</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Lens cleaners"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Lens cleaners</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Moto X"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Moto X</td><td></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Nexus One"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Nexus One</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Universal power adapter"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Universal power adapter</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"phone charger w/ two cords"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">phone charger w/ two cords</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"extension cord with 3 outlets"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">extension cord with 3 outlets</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"micro usb to usb (to transfer pictures to phone)"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FUNYSA/ref=pe_175190_21431760_M2C_SC_dp_1" target="_blank">micro usb to usb</a> (to transfer pictures to phone)</td><td></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7La45b1UvquYSzxlAw9M9tw5et-4m-rGQk-gXJ0kgZpwNrV8ZPLqBB_6tuTUtdw_4FTGrJLcv98FgtUSXuuo_-kZPkzy5vaT4oAnQyZZH7jLax3pl8Md3mWq1cDxq5Iak0hY2FpztkRI/s1600/IMG_20140330_174039193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7La45b1UvquYSzxlAw9M9tw5et-4m-rGQk-gXJ0kgZpwNrV8ZPLqBB_6tuTUtdw_4FTGrJLcv98FgtUSXuuo_-kZPkzy5vaT4oAnQyZZH7jLax3pl8Md3mWq1cDxq5Iak0hY2FpztkRI/s1600/IMG_20140330_174039193.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">General</span></b><br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" dir="ltr" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #ccc; font-family: arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup><col width="293"></col><col width="293"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2x 60L Packs"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">2x 60L Packs</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Buffs bandanas"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSvRm4CHmvE" target="_blank">Buffs bandanas</a></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"1x 30L Day Pack"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">1x 30L Day Pack</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2x headlamps"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">2x headlamps</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2x bag rain covers"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">2x bag rain covers</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"3x luci lanterns (two to give away)"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">3x <a href="https://www.mpowerd.com/" target="_blank">luci lanterns</a> (two to give away in the philippines)</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Packing Cubes"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><a href="http://www.ebags.com/category/travel-accessories/packing-aids/packing-cubes?sourceid=ADWCATTRAV&couponid=31516070&gclid=CIGy_OG2u70CFUNhfgodJZwA5g" target="_blank">Packing Cubes</a></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Swiss Army Knife"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">swiss army knife</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"25L dry bag"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">25L dry bag</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Money Belt"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">money belt</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2x Sleeping Bag Liners"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">2x<a href="http://www.terrevistatrails.com/jag-bag-deluxe.html" target="_blank"> Jag Bag silk sleeping bag liners</a></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Watch"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">watch</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Quick Dry Towels"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Quick Dry Towels</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2x whistles"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">2x whistles</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Sunglasses each"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">sunglasses each</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Cards"]" style="background-color: white; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">cards</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"extra pair glasses (each)"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">extra pair glasses (each)</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"backgammon"]" style="background-color: white; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">backgammon</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"gloves for climbing Mount Kinabalu"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">gloves for climbing Mount Kinabalu</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"cribbage"]" style="background-color: white; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">cribbage</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Ziploc Bags"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">ziploc bags</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"books"]" style="background-color: white; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">books</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Clothesline"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">clothesline</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Cryptogram notebook"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">cryptogram notebook (Laura's hobby)</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Carabiners"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">carabiners</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Earphones"]" style="background-color: white; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Earphones</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Sewing Kit"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Sewing Kit</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"first aid kit"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">first aid kit</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2x snorkel & mask"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">2x snorkel & mask</td><td></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2x fins"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">2x fins</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Small tearaway notebook"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Small tearaway notebook</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2x water shoes"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">2x water shoes</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Notebook"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Notebook</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"anti-fog"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">anti-fog</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Pens/pencil"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Pens/pencil</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"dive log books"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">dive log books</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Binder clips"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Binder clips</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Dive Cards"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">dive Cards</td><td></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTM5oanTACEzITame-01w4_up3s82RekfDzvS7t8oZjOf4MYnpXRzjSql5JnSwsUcSAtLtAdUxGwe4shsJoAaxNut2040FV8bXpJGGY78fb6dbzPWvMD3roIOEv6Ksevi7hb9FuviDEk/s1600/IMG_20140330_174519320_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTM5oanTACEzITame-01w4_up3s82RekfDzvS7t8oZjOf4MYnpXRzjSql5JnSwsUcSAtLtAdUxGwe4shsJoAaxNut2040FV8bXpJGGY78fb6dbzPWvMD3roIOEv6Ksevi7hb9FuviDEk/s1600/IMG_20140330_174519320_HDR.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBuuq8yPJmV_zmxKClvLbS3sVH-Hz2jqCQKHNDGXOb6a0BoX2shy50-rAH-Kge3TdKfsN0membKNVOnCt-dk7uk0EEa5TK07eNCKgI5vil_lFZ-LmkiE4zNBw3M1IZd3EGQCB8X9qWLs/s1600/IMG_20140324_230610175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBuuq8yPJmV_zmxKClvLbS3sVH-Hz2jqCQKHNDGXOb6a0BoX2shy50-rAH-Kge3TdKfsN0membKNVOnCt-dk7uk0EEa5TK07eNCKgI5vil_lFZ-LmkiE4zNBw3M1IZd3EGQCB8X9qWLs/s1600/IMG_20140324_230610175.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laura trying out her new Buff, and Jerome, looking like a ninja!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Toiletries</span></b><br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #ccc; font-family: arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup><col width="293"></col><col width="293"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"hanging toiletry case"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">hanging toiletry case</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2x 16 oz sunscreen"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">2x 16 oz sunscreen</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Toothpaste"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Toothpaste</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2x bullfrog sunscreen (for the water)"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">2x bullfrog sunscreen (for the water)</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Toothbrushes and container"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Toothbrushes and container</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"spf lipbalm"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">spf lipbalm</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"floss"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">floss</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"bug spray"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">6x 4 oz bottles of<a href="http://twp.duke.edu/uploads/assets/Mehta_09.pdf" target="_blank"> 20% Picaridin insect repellent</a></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"shampoo and conditioner"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">shampoo and conditioner</td><td></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"soap and container"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">soap and container</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"advil "]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">advil </td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"nail clippers"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">nail clippers</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"motion sickness patches + pills"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">motion sickness patches + pills</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"tweezers"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">tweezers</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"anti-diarrhea medicine (immodium + Azithromycin) "]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">anti-diarrhea medicine (immodium + Azithromycin) </td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"razor"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">razor</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"malaria pills (malarone)"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">malaria pills (malarone)</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"hair clippers (for my beard)"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">hair clippers (for my beard)</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"allergy pills"]" style="background-color: white; font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">allergy pills</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"hair brush"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">hair brush</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"aloe"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">aloe</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"hair elastics"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">hair elastics</td><td></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"hand sanitizer"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">hand sanitizer</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"laundry soap"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">laundry soap</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"deoderants"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">deodorants</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"kleenex"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">kleenex</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"q-tips"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">q-tips</td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"moisturizing cream"]" style="font-size: 100%; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">moisturizing cream</td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
On a different note... look at the awesome cake my co-workers got for my going away party! The cake was decorated with asian fruits - durien, rambutan, bananas etc. One side had pineapple filling and the other side had pandan and coconut.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygcpk6V3l2QdnrBd_a7zG1G_abgHne64FXOaXDH1EhxTgj2kxHi3wqDRklRVuItpZTBY-ZAJJ2tAXsCF_-H975l9MfmD_wGTelatQGhqF9sZ0_7AvyMRYJMIdT_vJC2YzlQqf-u2SFyc/s1600/IMG_20140327_140752648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygcpk6V3l2QdnrBd_a7zG1G_abgHne64FXOaXDH1EhxTgj2kxHi3wqDRklRVuItpZTBY-ZAJJ2tAXsCF_-H975l9MfmD_wGTelatQGhqF9sZ0_7AvyMRYJMIdT_vJC2YzlQqf-u2SFyc/s1600/IMG_20140327_140752648.jpg" height="496" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1