Klias River safari

While I said earlier that everyone at the hotel spoke very good English, unfortunately this did not extend to the guide that took us out to a river safari on the Klias River. My favourite was after she had conversed with a local chap, and then announced "Horsemeat" to our puzzled multi-ethnic group. "Horsemeat, he is my horsemeat" Ahh, housemate....

Now the purpose of this river cruise was to catch sight of proboscis monkeys (so-called because of their distinctive huge noses), silver leaf monkeys (disappointingly so-called only because of grey hair on their heads), and fire flies, which are only visible after dark. The latter are impressive, but impossible to capture on a normal camera, as they are only faint lights on the trees. Pretty, but really like a Christmas tree lit up. And frankly, when you have ooed at one tree lit up like that, you might as well pack up and go home, as you have seen it all. This was not helped by our guide gasping "beautiful" every time we came across another treeful of fire-flies. Yes pretty, but I don't gasp every time I see my friends' Christmas tree.

Monkeys, of course, are more exciting. However, when our party got to the river, we were decanted into a boat with another group of Chinese, who quickly proved to meet all Chinese stereotypes. So our guide announced that we were about to search for monkeys. "Ah, searchy monkeys" echo our Chinese comrades. "Its very important we keep very quiet so we don't scare off the monkeys" our guide continues patronizingly. Again repeated faithfully by the Chinese.

Needless to say as soon as we catch sight of a proboscis monkey in the distance, the Chinese roar like a crowd at Wembley who have just seen England score the winning goal in a world cup final. Followed by "Ah, sorry, sorry!" Needless to say, the Chinese have a reputation for loud continuous chatter. Fully justified. And taking endless photographs of each other rather than the surroundings.

 So, here is a proboscis monkey. Afraid I never got a good shot of the snozzle.

Here are the silver leaf monkeys. Unfortunately by now too dark to pick out their silveriness.