NEARLY HOME
The end is near and what an exciting journey it has been. Starting with the old colonial town of Kuching with its historic buildings from the “white rajahs” era and lovely promenade on the waterfront, to the acclimitisation trek with full packs to the beaches and waterfall at Bako national Park. Then the flight to Miri and the small plane to the hill town of Bario in the Kelabit highlands where all in the group did an outstanding job on construction at the primary school. Trekking in the humid jungles Sarwak with swollen rivers and swollen leeches, meeting the Penan people with their blow pipes and crossing swollen rivers in what was once head hunter territory. Down to Niah caves where locals risk their lives climbing bamboo poles to reach the nests of swifts which are sold to China for birds nest soup. Next stop KK then the climb up Mount Kinabalu under the light of a full moon, coping with near freezing temperatures and the rarified air and eventually everyone in the group summitting (an unexpected achievement _ (congratulations to all for their perseverance). The Orangutans at Sepilok and snorkelling amongst the coral and fish on Manutick island. The students have had a challenging, diverse and enriching experience and it has been gratifying to watch the growth in their leadership skills, the development of their team spirit and their willingness to generally uncomplainingly rise to the challenges they faced. Although everyone is now looking forward to getting home and catching up with family I am sure the trip has been a rewarding and unforgettable experience. Photos of the awesome climb up Mount Kinabalu and also the Orangutans should be on the site tomorrow and they are well worth checking out. Thanks to all who participated in this adventure.
Dane De Kretser DOB:- 5/7/1970 Singapore Airport
Here we come!! :P
hey guys,
it’s ash writing you the last (maybe) blog. Well 28+ days later we are all excited to share our stories and pic’s with you!!! We all can’t wait to get home for our much over due hugs and kisses and i know i’ll be waiting to be pampered by my loving parents 
We have had a wonderful time and experiences that will last a life-time!! Just to get you up with the present news and haps, 12 of us are in sinapore airport waiting until 8 O’clock to flight back to australia, now i know what your thinking “TWELVE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER TWO” our awesome leader Vikky stayed back at kota kinabalu to do her own trekking and Gayeatree was picked up at singapour by her over sea family!! We have had a AWESOME time and will be waiting ‘impatiently’ to see you guys!!
see you in 10 hours
Cheers
Ash 
last day in country
hey everyone dylan here
Climbing mount Kinabalu was an amazing experience. it was one hell of a climb, especially when the air started to get thin. but i endured and made it to the top without any injuries or pains. i was the first from our world challenge group to make it to the top, and i was just in time for sunrise. seeing that sun come up that morning was an amazing sight. it was well worth the walk all 21km (up and down). but the next day i was hobbling along at the back of the pack, trying to keep up with everyone. The muscles didnt agree with the mountain.
today is our fnal day in borneo, wow that went quick. yesterday we went shopping at the night market where they sell all the cheap brand labels, cheap sunnies, belts wallets etc. today we are doing the same thing pretty much. just looking around at the shops and relaxing on our last day in borneo.
all is well
catch u back in aus
cya
Kinabalu and Orangutans
hi everybody
its been a long couple of days
we have climbed mt kinabalu and seen the orangutans
on the 12th we started the climb up mt kinabalu, it took over 6 hours to climb the 6km to accomidation at 11 000 ft. the accomodation was very good. at one point in the night a rat crawled on flynny’s bed. that was a suprise. we went to bed at 7:30 and woke up at 1:00 on teh morning to start climbing at 2:30.
the climb was hard and we reached the sumit by 6:00 after lots of blood and sweat( and a little bit of spew from me) we made the top.
the views were more then worth the effort.
the rest of the day was spent treaking back to park headquarters and catching a bus to sepilok
this morning we got up at 7:30 to go see the orangutans. the first feading was not veryexciting and inbetween we went to the information center and saw a video. the second feeding was much better with orangutans getting within 50cm of myself and Mr Flynn.
on the way to the B&B some of us visited the australian war memorial.
thats all from me
david
P.S. legs still hurting
HELLO down under!!!
hey guys,
yep we are all safe and we ALL made it to the summit!!! IT WAS AMAZING!!! we are now in Speilok all looking forward to seeing the orang-utangs!!
hello oma and Masons,
its great to hear from you!!! i am sooooo jelous about the meat and garlic bread there HAS to be more when i come back!! Hey Oma happy birthday i cant wait to see the DVD! i am having a great time and i STILL haven’t lost anything!! trevor you better write into the local papers and tell them that the silence will be over in a few days!!! i will defenantly (cant spell) be sing a i walk in and thanx for the lyrics i really didn’t know them (hand head in shame) looking forward to seeing you next saturday i will be over at your place around 11am so be ready!!After climbing the summit im much fitter i will be joining you guys running when i get back!!
hey mum, dad and mikky!
sorry that you lost mikky but congrats to making the finals! im sad to hear my team lost but im sure they had fun!! (when dont they ever have fun) great to hear from you mummy it was awesome talking to you i’ll try to talk soon when i get to kota kinabalu!!! i made it up to the summit safley but it was damn tiring!! i cant wait to see you guys in 5 days!! mum can you please make mars bar slice when i come back i am missing it SOOOO much!!
see you soon guys
keep reading
Ash
Hey
hey guys,
yes dad i do say “lol” alot and no im not going to stop!!!!
ANYWAY to the poor people trying to read all my “lols” im sorry! I Would like to say a special “HAPPY 17th BIRTHDAY” to Gaye we celerbrated her birthday in a traditional way…….LOTS and LOTS of sugar!!! Just to let you guys know tomorrow we are going to start our journey up the highest mountain in south-east asia “Mt Kinabalu” i know i cant wait!! We are all well just VERY full on sugar! Anyway back to business after our journey to Mt Kinbalu we will travel (sorry about bad spelling) to Sepilok where we will see the beautiful Orang-utangs! i know personally i cannot wait to set my eyes on the next closest thing to human (after chimpanzee’s of course)! We will try to get in contact soon as we can but the limited internet acess might be a problem! I hope you guys can keep flooding the comments in, we all enjoy the news of the life back in Australia!
8 days
keep reading!
Ash
