Paris, but not for long

Singapore to Paris flight was good. So much food. Enough sleep I hope. Then it was airport train, train, another train and we are at a different airport on the other side of Paris for our flight to Portugal. I didn't expect that a croissant would be eaten this early in the trip so no betting pool was created .

One hour into a 2 hour wait to check in. Then another 2 hours to flight. I tried, accidentally, to purchase a coke using Singapore coins. So very tired.

It seems like every crying child is on the flight to Porto. And the one behind me keeps kicking my chair. I guess this is the price you pay for actually booking a discount airline to reduce the price you pay. 

We found the metro, accidentally purchased an extra trip, made our way to Trindade and quickly discovered that Porto contains many, many hills, which are so much fun with luggage. Luckily, the Easyjet luggage restrictions meant we had packed quite light and our accommodation was only 10 minutes uphill.

We got into the apartment building with the code given, found the lift, got out on the 3rd floor and couldn't figure out how to get in the door. Nowhere to put the given code. A quick read of the instructions revealed the lift had 2 exits. We had chosen poorly. 

Error rectified, we then struggled to figure out how to open the 4 digit lock box with a 6 digit code we had been emailed while the timer light kept turning off.

Then we noticed the door handle itself had a code.

Without such bumbling, this blog would be quite boring.

Inside the door and the one roll of toilet paper was put to good use.

We are here for 4 nights. Reinforcement paper will be required.

We headed out in search of a supermarket and dinner. There are lots of little shops that caught the Editor's attention and then we stumbled on Jerry's Kebabs. It was under some stairs in a tiny hole in a wall but the kebabs were excellent. Jerry's (I'm sure that's his real name) was very friendly and got the spicy sauce just right for my requirements. The 🍟 were a bit disappointing but my review on Google will be excellent.

We wandered down to the river and then with phone battery low realised that the guy who invented Newton's law of relativity actually came up with it in Porto with the theory initially being "with every long walk down hill there is a much harder walk uphill following".

At least it was only 30 minutes.

Back home, we tried our best to stay awake until 11pm to appease the "beat jet lag app" but I only made it to 10.

I will be back bright eyed and bushy tailed tomorrow with hopefully good news on the toilet paper situation.

Blame it on the caffeine

Those familiar with our attempts to tackle jet lag head on will be familiar with the methods, but I'm guessing you have forgotten the science behind it, because I always do.

It involves sleep deprivation, bright lights, dark lights, bulk periods of hourly caffeine and strict bedtime and wake up.

Sort of the Guantanamo Bay for those travelling the globe.

Anyway, this morning's lack of caffeine is what I blame on the Editor's intolerance of the check-in system at the airport.

You see, if you put a computerised system that requires you to print and attach your own baggage tags, you better make sure it actually prints the tags or somebody will get agitated.

"On to Singapore" I say to myself in a Bill Belichick drawl. (Yes there is homework already to understand what this reference is). To be honest, I'm not even sure what I'm on about. It's 1am Sydney time and a robot wheelchair and what might be a robot garbage bin have just met going in opposite directions near our boarding area. 

I need sleep badly, but it and caffeine are banned on the long flight to Paris for the first 6 hours. 

I'm so tired.

I will read this in Europe and probably be very confused. 

Sunset on the holiday

Breakfast, pack for me. Breakfast, pool and pack for her. We checked out at 12:00, were elated that the credit card only policy didn't count for check out. That solved the problem of the leftover 170 ringgit. I purchased chilli and we caught the bus to the airport. where a local airport rule meant no aerosol in any luggage. Our guide was the recipient of deodorant, bug repellent and shaving cream.

It was about a 2 1/2 hour wait at airport 1, a noisy 2 hour flight if you didn't have your noise cancelling headphones (it's not me, it's her), and it's now 9:09pm with about 2 hours to boarding at airport 2 (after already being here for 2 1/2 hours).

If only I had 170 ringgit, I could go to Burger King.

We ate on the flight at 4:40pm, will probably eat at midnight and then be welcomed home to a less humid climate where I think I will have the chicken.

See you in Portugal.

It's not me, it's you

Waking up early to go to golf and beat the heat is hard, considering that when I walked out the door the heat was waiting, which made it extra hard. But after a quick breakfast I walked to the course, got there early and was one of the first on the course. 

My first strike ever with a Titleist driver rolled about 50m. I had to purchase a dozen golf balls prior and with water on every hole, there was a chance I would need them. As predicted, I couldn't hit the Titleist t100 Irons (it's not me, it's you) but the Scotty Cameron (an expensive one) worked ok.

By 3 holes, 2 balls had found a watery grave. On the 4th, a local golf ball grave robber offered to sell me balls he had found. I was confident the 10 remaining would be enough. It took until the 11th for the next one to be lost and then no more. So now I have an extra 9 to take home. 

It was hot and sweaty and I hit the driver much further than my ones waiting for me at home. This could cause a financial problem.

Back to a vacant room 404, the 2 bottles of drink I had purchased only lasted seconds.

The Editor returned from the pool and we headed back to the golf course for lunch. Not the greatest choice, but the cheapest on the resort.

An afternoon nap on the lounge for one and a treadmill session for the other. On my return Annette went to the pool.

Dinner was nice. We chose the Asian outdoor and then moved to a table where some others from the group were sitting, then ...

Prepare for your minds to be blown.

The couple from the group who used to live at Wattle Grove (as if that wasn't enough) blew my mind. She was friends with a woman who married a man who was best man at our wedding. Kaboom went my brain.

Anyway, the meal was excellent (I had the chicken) and we got to the shop with a minute to spare for soft drinks 4 and 5 of the day. Golf is thirsty work and the "feels like 42 degrees" on the weather every day, with the official ending of a Titleist golf irons relationship for the second time, needed fizz in the day.

Just the leaving for home post to go.

Resort

We had heard that the resort (Shangri-La Rasa Ria) was expensive and, as we were leaving at lunch time, snacks must be found. First, our final buffet breakfast of the holiday, then into a dodgy, smelly little shopping centre where Twisties and chips and nuts and Pepsi were purchased for not a lot. 

The Editor used the steam room and sauna one last time while I did nothing.

On the bus, I took my buttered bread roll from breakfast, added my curry Twisties and for a moment, 2 cultures became one.

The one hour drive was closer to two. We found our room and decided to do kayaking but the ocean was too rough. 

We walked to the golf course and booked me in for tomorrow. They have very good hire clubs but they are Titleist so it could be tough. We have past history that is not good.

Next stop ice cream, then pool.

It is very pricey but all payments are on card so the 200 ringgit we have left will be an airport final day spend. 

We had dinner at the dimly lit Sampan Bar, or should I say the mosquitoes had dinner there. 

Annette got the mozzie repellent so I only lost half of my blood in those 15 minutes. At least the malaria tablets weren't a waste of money.

Our room is a garden room view, but the ocean view at sunset was pretty good.

Culture

The plan was to leave at 9:30, then it changed at late notice to 9:00, and those wanting a sleep-in had to do a hurried get ready and eat breakfast before heading through dark skies to the bus. There it was suggested that raincoats may be needed, so half the bus went back to the hotel, came back in pouring rain, and we left at 9:15.

It rained most of the trip, but by the time we arrived at the Mari Mari cultural village, we saw just enough drops for me to have to needlessly carry a rain jacket and umbrella for the entire visit. 

The village was in the rainforest and 5 different huts belonging to 5 different tribes were visited.

The above pic is me modelling a poisonous dart proof baby carrier, together with needless rain protective devices.

We even saw the crocodile sculpture where the head hunters used to put their newly acquired heads.

(crocodile sculpture)

A music and dance show followed, I got a new tattoo (henna) (too much sampling rice wine), one more buffet lunch and off we went back home.

One steamed (steam room and sauna) while the other ran, and then we went with some of the group to the Welcome 100%  Seafood Restaurant where I had the chicken.

This was the official end of the tour.

But wait. There's more.

Swimming with the fishes

The itinerary had us catching a boat to Manukan Island and swimming and hanging around. I didn't expect much from the day.

Bus to the jetty, pick up goggles and snorkel and into the speedboat we went. The Editor was not impressed with the bumpy ride at the front of the boat. 

At the island we saw a 2m shark at the jetty and lots of fish. After Flo our guide paid and got us through the entry point, we walked a couple of hundred metres and claimed a couple of tables on the beach. Flo told us there had been crocodiles in the nearby mangroves but we should be ok. Excellent.

Five hours on a beach seemed too much so we did the 1.6km walk on mostly paved path through the forest to Sunset Point.

There was a sign warning that the path was under maintenance and to proceed at your own risk.

At the beginning of the walk we disturbed a massive black monitor lizard that scurried off before we could take a pic. I had my camera in my hand but didn't put 1 and 1 together. Sunset point at sunset is probably very nice. We were about 8 hours early.

An hour later we returned and went all Aqua Man with our gear. I spent forever floating and taking pics with a waterproof camera I have had for a long time. The first time I tested the casing was 5 minutes before I started using it. There were lots of fish, but seeing what I was taking was impossible so I just aimed randomly and clicked away. The results will have to wait until I get home.

Another buffet lunch (that was advertised as a BBQ) and back to the beach just hanging around for an hour.

One of the joys of holidays (and please do not target me as racist) is watching Asians taking photos  of themselves. A young couple came and sat in front of us. She lay down and pretended to sleep while he took pics from all angles. Creepy or funny? I'm not sure. 

Of course when this behaviour is presented to us, we will take pics of it happening. Creepy or funny? Still not sure.

Back to the mainland, at the back of the boat this time to protect frail backs, onto the bus and back to the Hilton.

With our free arvo we fought the humidity, looked into some fabric shops and made our way to Suria Sabah shopping centre. So nice and air conditioned. 

There was lots of cheap stuff, expensive stuff and even familiar stores.

The only purchases were 2 bags of coffee (from a shop on the way) a Portuguese tart and Maccas ice cream.

We walked the 30 minutes back, got ready and off to our farewell dinner, as recommended by Adam, our bus driver. Adam is pronounced Adam and not Adam, as is the spelling. 

Annette was dropped off with a lot of the group at an Irish bar while I returned to the 8th floor of the Hilton to start up my Malaysian branch of Dad bank. 

At the island today, a family of 4 expecting to pay for parasailing on card were told cash only. They had to pay our guide that night. Coincidentally, we had overestimated our spending and figured we could exchange 2,000 ringgit with our undercashed group. 2,000, or half of what we came with, was changed for Aussie dollars. $185 is still outstanding as they had to wait until they got back home. Here is where you find out if you can trust people you have known for 9 days.

Our other joy on holidays is taking pics of weird, usually platform, shoes being worn. I'm starting to worry about us.

Tea plantation to the Hilton

First stop was a war memorial and the story of one of the WW2 Sandakan death marches and the saving of the memorial itself. 

Then through some mountain roads where Adam our bus driver showed all his skills on the way to the Botanical Gardens. Lots of interesting plants, some extremely rare orchids and a well worth it visit. 

The mountain views are awesome. 

A short drive to lunch where the demolition crew once more battled the many, or too many, plates of food they give us.

The stomach was feeling a little funky and a long bus drive did not fill me with confidence but luckily 10 minutes down the road there were markets where I spent 50 cents entry for a cubicle with no paper. The 2 tissues I had taken at the restaurant would come in handy, as would the hose next to the toilet. If you are at all apprehensive about using the apparatus, then I suggest staying away from Asia. 

While everyone shopped, I checked out the excellent scenery.

From here it was over an hour to the coast at Kota Kinabalu and the Hilton hotel.

We found the gym and steam room so what better time to get back on the treadmill. I may have put on 5kg in the last week. 

Then to dinner. Every meal has been the same so I just craved a burger. We found a place that google rated highly and made our way through the streets to find it. We couldn't order by QR code as requested as we have no mobile data. We ordered 2 burgers, one with extra pineapple and lime fries. The girl taking the order said "sorry we're out of fries". The Editor doesn’t swear, but this was close. "You can't have burgers without fries!" she said and we walked out the door. Remember us having no data? We wandered aimlessly for half an hour in search of food, and eventually decided that you can have a burger without fries, you just couldn't be happy about it.

This time when we ordered, we were informed that they had run out of pineapple.

Sometimes Maccas is the best option.