15 Mar 2011 – The Rivers vs Pan Borneo Highway

Mon: thanks Chuan for dinner@The Heritage****but most of all do appreciate you for taking the time to meet and for helping out with info about transportation and accommodations for the next stop!

Tue: the Ekspres Bahagia departed KCH 0830hrs speeding down the calm waters of the Sarawak River (bypassing some industrial areas and some villages) into the end bit of a slight choppy S China Sea (nothing else but the sea) and then back into more shelter water on the Rajang River (some industries and villages) to Sarikei. The ride took app 3hrs 15mins and cost 40MYR. It was a comfortable trip but would not want to attempt it during monsoon season. Did certainly check with the weather first, especially after the earthquake in Japan!

Imagine the slow boat in the 1930s, that would take at least a day to get here then! Sarikei the capital of the Sarikei District, Sarawak/E Malaysia. It is located on the Rajang River near where the river empties into the S China Sea. With an app area of 985sq km/380 sq mi and a pop app 57,000 is culturally mixed with mostly Iban, Melanau, Malay and Chinese predominating. Checked into the Dragon Inn for 40MYR/per night, clean room with bath attached and most important unlimited internet access! Too hot, lazy and tired to go out to take pix now. Pix from town- akan datang/coming soon! A nap sounds good for now 🙂

Human nature is above all things lazy – Harriet B Stowe