change of plans

We were supposed to stay two nights in Giam, but by 11am the second morning we had found out all that we needed to know and interviewed all the people we wanted to meet. Wandering around speaking to random people wasn't much of an option either - the people in this area seemed to be a little more guarded and less forthcoming with opinions. Something to do with the slightly more urban demography, maybe?

Just before lunchtime, the rest of the bunch dropped in at Victor's place en route to Kampung Nyegol, where they were to spend the night. Ai Fern, Daveency, Chris and I decided within ten minutes to join them. I'd left my rubber shoes in Kuching, so I popped out to the shops with Ai Fern and got myself a new pair... we got back just in time to wolf down lunch, and then off we went!

In front of me is Gavin from Nyegol, carrying about 6 gallons of fuel home for the electricity generator.

We took about three and a half hours to get there, and the last hour or so was in heavy rain. We squelched into the home of Aheng and his wife at about 6pm, muddy and sodden. They very kindly piled on the firewood for everyone to hang their things out to dry - Si Cheng and a few of the others had not a single dry shirt left.

The both of us were OK though (perks being over-prepared, heh): Chris had packed all his stuff into a large black binliner before putting it into his haversack, making it effectively waterproof. I did it the lazier way - I just put on a huge plastic poncho over myself and my whole bag the moment it began to rain. So the only things we had to dry out were the clothes we had been wearing, caps and bags etc.

I found it quite funny how the next day everything smelled of firewood: it wasn't at all noticeable in Bengoh, but my ash-scented clothing suddenly became quite conspicuous in the sterile B&B room in Kuching.

Chris' camera bag hanging by the fireplace

The plank that connects Aheng's home and the house next door, where we had dinner later

Speaking of dinner.... watch this space, folks! ;)