Friday, 4 June 2010
After our insect disturbed night’s sleep we were all up early and headed off for coffee to fuel our upcoming journey to the Miri/Buntulu junction. We had hired a driver the night before, as there doesn’t appear to be any public transport from Belaga to anywhere, other than by ferry and we didn’t want to backtrack, so forward was the only option. We went in a convoy of two 4WDs as there are 7 of us leaving and soon realised why there is so many offroad vehicles around. This is not Perth where 99% of 4WDs probably never go off the bitumen, this is not a road, but a continuous grouping of potholes. It appears that when a road was meant to be built only the equipment came up here but was then left to rot on the side of the road. We were all hanging on as the potholes got bigger and the going got tougher. However, on a good note the jungle was amazingly close and there were some beautiful roadside orchids. On the bad side it was bumpy, very bumpy. One of the funny moments was when a sort of grading bulldozer was in front of us dragging what looked like as a house on a sled – not sure if they were using that to smooth the road or if they were really just moving house.
This went on for hours, until we did a quick toilet break (in one of the world’s most gross toilets, remember, we have been to Tibet) and then the road widened and evened out and the palm oil plantations and forest clearing were the norm from there on. Eventually after about 4 hours we made it to the junction and were dropped off to wait for a bus to Miri. The first bus was full and wouldn’t let us on, but another bus stopped and we piled on, even accepting there weren’t enough seats and so Scott and the French family had to stand.
It was too hot to continue standing on the side of the road without melting. We finally stopped for a short break at the Niamh cave turnoff where the French family decamped to the caves and the rest of us continued on to Miri. I managed to get some sleep but Scott was sitting below the dodgy speaker so was too busy having his hearing damaged.
We got off the bus in Miri and headed to the Somerset Hotel. Checked in and the room isn’t too bad (wish places here would have tiles instead of carpet) and Scott made a phone call to a dive company and has arranged for us to dive tomorrow and Sunday. We then headed out for a late snack where we ordered a laksa and roti which were delivered from a different restaurant across the road – very strange set-up here. Back at the hotel we sorted out our ever expanding washing pile which is now most of our bag as we haven’t been anywhere for more than one night and in this humid weather that isn’t long enough to get anything dry. We did some chores and headed out to an Indian Cafe (Khans) for a curry as a bit over noodles, the dahl and aloo gobi were a very welcome change and wolfed down with some naan and rice. There are loads of food stalls here in Miri, although most of them tend towards seafood, not that we have seen much of the ocean/river, except for a very smelly part.
We then headed off to find an ATM that is working. We haven’t had much luck in the last couple of towns, but alas again nothing, so hopefully tomorrow can try and find one that will work, otherwise I will be selling Scott J
Got home and finally decided to vent my dissatisfaction at not spending a night in a traditional longhouse by updating the blog, but travelling is an adventure and the best laid plans and all, should be making me laugh and it is kind off, typical. The hotel also has wifi, so checked email and found out that our friends Jacqui and James are expecting their first baby – woohoo well done guys, we are very envious and can’t wait to catch up with Jacqui on 23 June for a celebratory soda water. So our day has ended on a good note.