2nd Dec. - Sydney. DALAI LAMA.

The second day of teaching. H.H. on good form. Very witty and self efacing. There were many Tibetans in the audience and some traditional singing and dancing.

Paula & Jake had been galivanting around Sydney during the day, then in the evening we went to the Opera House to the first night of 'Good Evening'.
This was Shaun Micallef and Stephen Curry doing a rehash of Peter Cook & Dudley Moores old sketches. It was brilliant. Brought it all back to me.

Intermission champagne outside the Opera House.

1st Dec. - To Sydney. DALAI LAMA.

Paula, Jake & I flew to Sydney the day before. Staying at Darling Harbour.

His Holiness was giving a 2 day teaching on 'Awakening the Mind' by considering an old text by Nagarjuna.
Fascinating stuff with considerations of sleep, coma, trance, death - just like my anaesthetics really.


In the evening we got on the Manly ferry and went over to a restaurant called 'Hugo's' where we met up with Joe & Jude Boninton and their 2 girls Edie & Honor.
An excellent evening of talking about the Annapurna trip over beer and pizza.
Hugo's at Manly

JAKE - 17 on the 23rd Nov. Birthday Dinner.

Hasn't the little fella grown up? He looks about 6 feet 12 in this shot!

Off to 'Wilson's Boathouse' restaurant on the river with
Paula, Jake.
Madeleine and me. Brady was there but out of shot.

Borneo - Day 9. Last full day.

Another beautiful morning - so more shopping to be done.
Modelling Paula's new set of black pearls - I rather suit them !

And that evening, another Turner sunset.

Borneo - Day 8

Mount Kinabalu from the hotel the next morning. It's 58 km. away 'as the crow flies'.
Legs not too sore after the climb, so able to stagger round Kota Kinabalu doing the serious shopping of the trip
Paula checking out the perfumes in the night markets - real smell at unreal prices!
More seafood on the waterfront - with Tiger beer of course.

Borneo - Day 7. Climbing KINABALU 4095 m.

Up at 2.00 and climbing by 3.00.
The rock was dry and there were plenty of fixed ropes to help.
The altitude could be felt and the going was slow.
It took 2 and a half hours to climb the final 2 km. with a height gain of 823 m., 2,700 ft.
Myself and Richard at the summit, Low's Peak, at 5.30 am. 4095 m., 13,735 ft.
The lights of Kota Kinabalu just before dawn.
Then the walk back down to the lodge for breakfast.


Another 3 hours downhill through the jungle got me back to the National Park gate and my bus back to Kota Kinabalu.

Borneo - Day 6. Climbing KINABALU 4095 m.

Left KK at 7.00 for the 2 hour drive to Kinabalu National Park.
Did the paperwork and met my local guide, Richard.
Set off climbing at 9.30 from the Timophon Gate at 1866 m., 6122 ft.
The track was steep and through quite humid jungle. There was plenty of water but needed half an hour with an iodine tablet before drinking.
Pitcher plants bigger than my hand were just next to the trail.
After 3 hours I reached Laban Rata lodge at 3272 m., 10,735 ft. - a height gain of 4,613 ft.
The lodge was comfortable and well above the clouds. It was pleasant drinking tea and watching the sun go down.

Sleeping was in dormitories. I shared with a group of 5 very nice English people - Will, Beth, Jemima, Adam & Emma.
It was a light supper and early bed - up at 2.00 am !!!

Borneo - Day 5

The fast boat over to Manukan Island for a snorkel.

Then because of all the people, a hasty retreat to the pool at the resort. Much better!

In the evening a trip to the night markets in Kota Kinabalu. Amazing place. Very busy but with incredible fresh food.
A tiger beer and grilled sea bass at a waterside restaurant.

Borneo - Day 4

To the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park to see the relatives.
The Orang Utangs were sensational -


But the Proboscis Monkeys were very cute in an ugly/cuddly sort of way..

Borneo - Day 3

A walk over to the modern and rather elegant State Mosque.
The contrast with the tidal stilt shanty town nearby was vivid.
I was forced to take refuge in happy hour at the poolside bar. Phew!
Then a sunset that Turner would have been proud of....

Borneo - Day 2

'Plenty of fish in the sea' as they say. These were in the hotel pond.
We were lucky enough to see this yacht - Pangaea - as she visited.
She's been built for polar exploration and is on a 4 year voyage led by a South African called Mike Horn.
They have a website/blog at;
Mike Horn - Pangaea

Borneo - Day 1

After a night in Brunei (unexpectedly), Paula and I arrived in Kota Kinabalu in time for breakfast.
This was the view from our hotel room!

BORNEO

Borneo in the next few days.
Turtles , Orang-Utangs, Proboscis monkeys, happy hour at the hotel bar, great Malaysian sea-food, plus a clamber up the 4095 m. Mt. Kinabalu.
Photos will be posted!

Kseniya Simonova - Sand Animation

I posted this on my Facebook page and people seemed to like it.
It turns out that this won the 'Ukraine's Got Talent' show this year.
She tells the story of suffering in the Ukraine in 1945 and it's very moving.

BIG DAY OUT - Jan. 2010

Stayed up until midnight when tickets went on sale. Took about 8 minutes to get in, then it was sold out in 15 minutes. Whew!

BDO is an Australian institution with a world class line-up of bands.

This January will feature MUSE, POWDERFINGER, ESKIMO JOE, GRINSPOON, MARS VOLTA, TEMPER TRAP, KASABIAN, TAME IMPALA, LADYHAWKE, GROOVE ARMADA, LILY ALLEN, KISSCHASY and plenty more.

Lots more about it on the website at
BIG DAY OUT Line-up

MAO's OTHER DANCER