We had a reasonable night! Ok, we were awake at 2 and not able to get back to sleep, so we had a cup of tea, laid and read until we were ready to sleep again and low and behold the alarm is going off. Can’t complain!
Following breakfast the party bus arrived and took us to our home for the next 4 days. We sorted out bags and then went to meet some of Leo’s family for another breakfast! Those that had flown in from KL this morning had been up since 3a.m to get the first flight out, so they were in need of breakfast. Leo’s Dad, older brother, sister-in-law and young nephew joined us. We went to a restaurant serving typical Chinese food so had rice, noodles, and all manner of things to go with them that I can’t actually remember. Some of it was really tasty, some fine, and some just didn’t do it for me! It’s not necessarily the taste, but the texture of some foods that is difficult to adjust to. In the U.K. you wouldn’t even consider walking into a place that looked like this, unless you knew that the food was going to be really good. But does it matter that you are sitting on plastic chairs, that nothing is pristine and the cutlery and chop sticks are just sitting in a plastic bowl for you to help yourself? It does just challenge you a little bit!
Breakfast was also to serve as lunch as we were going to see the proboscis monkeys a 45 minute drive away and needed to be there for their feeding time. The drive took us past a lot of palm oil plantations, reminding us of the struggle a lot of wildlife here has as its territory is reduced in size and has become more fragmented. A little piece of jungle here protects this group of monkeys and feeding them supplements what they can find in the jungle.
It was fabulous watching these animals, along with another variety that we think were Langur, but have been unable verify so far!
Then back to Sandakan for ice cream, but not really as we know it! My choice was a mixed berry one, that was grey in colour! However it did taste good. Helen thought she had chosen mango, but it tasted more like sweet corn! It came with pieces of mango and also cubes of a coconut tasting something! All different, but all part of the experience.
By the time we were done it was back to the house we were staying in to have a rest and a freshen up before the big family meal in the evening. Leo’s family had stocked us up with tea, coffee, bottled water and soft drinks, and also a box of oranges, all individually wrapped. These oranges are only available for Chinese New Year and can be found in many homes. I think most of us crashed for a while! But a nap, shower and a cup of tea works wonders!
Then onto the family meal, hosted by Leo’s uncle and his wife. We were made to feel very welcome by them and all the other friends and family that were there. Leo tells us that for Chinese New Year it is typical for families to have open homes for friends and family to visit. The food was delicious. A whole barbecued lamb, a sweet and sour fish dish, chicken curry, rice and noodles, to name just some of the dishes. To start the meal though we followed a trad when a plate of food is put into the centre of the table and everyone takes their chop sticks. After a blessing you altogether put your chop sticks into the food, lifting it as high as you can, again and again. The higher you can get the more you are likely to achieve in life and the more you can keep it on the plate means that your wealth will be kept within your close family circle. It was interesting to note that the British contingent were much more messy than the Malays. There is a debate there to be had about why this may be!!!
Later on into the evening some of the group got involved with making some sweets. To do this a bag of rice flour was mixed with water to make a fairly stiff dough. A small piece of this dough was then broken off and rolled into a ball before being flattened and a tiny chunk of either palm sugar or chocolate was put into the middle and the ball rolled up again. When it was all used up they were put into a pan of water that had been boiled with some pandan leaves, ginger and sugar. After cooking for a couple of minutes or so they started to rise to the top and at that point you knew they were ready to serve. Popular with some, but too sweet for me!
Soon after this people began to go home and with another busy day planned for tomorrow Leo drove us home in the party bus!
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