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Exploring Niah Caves

After a breakfast of rusk and milk, I checked out of my hotel.  I enquired about transport to Niah Cave National Park HQ as it was a 5km walk according to the map.  The receptionist managed to book me a taxi which turned up about 10 minutes later. I got to the park at 0800 […]

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Moving on to the caves

Leaving Bakelalan We had a pleasant change to breakfast today with kanpua (Foochow) noodles.  It was a satisfying meal that would keep me going for the day ahead, travelling from Bakelalan to Miri then to Batu Niah.  As I finished breakfast before 0800, I could tell the clouds were burning off very nice and early […]

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Picnic and a walk

We had a relatively late breakfast today at 0800, preceded by our usual pre-meal grace.  At 1000 Maureen, Badau and I (along with all three dogs) set off for a walk to Sungai Muda, a nearby stream/river. Along the way, we stopped near the apple orchards and was shown the Ice Cream Bean pod.  It […]

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Crossing to Long Bawan in Indonesia

Crossing the border I woke around 0700 for breakfast at 0730.  My hosts suggested that time despite a departure at 0900 (subject to weather) across to the Indonesian weather.  With weather looking favourable, Badau and I walked into town around 0915 where he had his bike parked.  The dogs cleverly didn’t come along (whereas they […]

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Flying to the highlands

Getting going I had set the alarm for 0600 and  asked the frontdesk to call me as well just in case.  But I woke at 0430.  Realising that there was no phone, I figured that the receptionist would have to walk up two floors to wake me.  So I WhatsApp’ed them to say I was […]

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Nighstop before my mini-adventure

Today I fly to Miri for an overnight before going inland to Borneo’s highlands for my mini-adventure. I ordered a Grab car on the app but none were available in my area. I tried numerous times and it was starting to worry me even though I had three hours till my 1500 flight. Perhaps it […]

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Final sight-seeing

Bird’s eye view of Saigon I had enquired about a late check-out till 1600 for half a day’s rate. Anything beyond that would he at the full day’s rate. I decided against it in the end and checked-out at 1100, leaving my pack at reception. I took a Grab car to Bitexco Tower. I read […]

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Slothful day

I had a lazy start today, staying indoors after breakfast till 1100. I headed out for my massage to Pham Ngu Lao. I tried choosing the place carefully again, trying to avoid the many that had skimpily dressed female touts. I stumbled across one with a young masseur. The massage started off well, then about […]

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Around Saigon

As expected, I woke early in Saigon and dozed till around 0530. I took breakfast on the hotel’s rooftop in their main building; I was housed in their annex. Surprisingly, they had no pho for breakfast so I settled for an omelette accompanied by a very good personal baguette. It was very light inside and […]

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Saigon once more

We landed at Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat airport about 30 minutes early around 1915. With no luggage, I was out quickly. First priority was to get money from the ATM. Both the ones I tried imposed a local fee. I chose the one with the cheaper fee and withdrew what I expect to spend for […]

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