Day 16 - Matang Borneo - Bears, Paths and Street Parties

Back to work today and the rota had come back round to bears. Mel and I were together again which was good. Before cleaning we had to build a few more steps for a new bear who has arrived. She is a lot older than the rest and struggles with the platforms. Although it was only 8.30am it was boiling. Standing on an exposed platform with that on your back means you sweat a lot! Great way to start. But we wielded the power tools and got the job done.

Mel and I returned home to find head chef Beau cooking up a storm. Spicy pasta! Mel however struggled with the heat but watching her attempt it was quote amusing. After lunch we felled a tree that was encroaching into the bear enclosure. We started to saw then all of a sudden the tree started to make strange noises and it snapped. Time to call in some man muscle. Richard came to our rescue with his machete and had it down in no time. Then we all clubbed together to pull it over the wall.

The effort of this afternoon had only just started. Back to the farm. Kiwis Bron and Mel with the English roses Eddie and I. We had a path to build today, sand first then gravel on top. Seems fairly simple but add uneven ground, temperatures soaring and no shade it gets a whole heap harder. It did seem like it wasn't achievable but we battled through and kept each other going. After 3 hours it was complete, what an achievement. The simple accomplishments out here really do make you feel proud.

We returned home exhausted but there was more work to do. TSL had organised a street party, the first ever! We had arranged with the locals for them to help us cook bamboo chicken and sticky rice. They all bought their children, wives, cousins, extended family and Rice Whiskey! It started off sophisticated, all grouped round a table filling the bamboo, then drink came out then it rapidly went down hill, everyone was chatting giggling, we had music and more alcohol. It was only when one of the neighbour suggested we called it a night that we headed to bed. Well I say all the volunteers, not Mel. She had passed out on the grass about an hour before so Bron, Beau and I had set her up an outside bedroom complete with mosquito net and water.