[KK, Malaysian Borneo] Kinabalu mountain lodge was a little warmer last night but to be honest we were so tired it really did not matter. After a quick breakfast we packed up and headed out with very sore legs and packs loaded with dirty, damp washing (probably heavier with all that water too).

The two friendly pooches from the hostel accompanied us along the road as far as their territory allowed before bolting for home. We only had to wait a few minutes before a ‘private taxi’ (fancy people carrier) pulled up to offer us a lift. He was asking RM20pp (£4) but we knew the minibuses were RM15 so we waved him on. He stopped just ahead of us, jumped out and renegotiated to our price – as long as we didn’t mention the price to the other passengers on board – excellent. The ride back to KK was quick and uneventful with a police checkpoint being the only excitement.

Back in KK the weather was great. Positively hot. I hung our soaking shoes out of the hostel window on some cord to dry and we headed out in search of a laundromat. Finding one was a little frustrating – as you would expect in a first world city not geared for backpackers. We found one that wanted 3 days to do washing! Fortunately there was another one round the corner that would have it ready by tomorrow. Anyway, with the chores and lunch (good and reasonable at a ‘Thai’ restaurant) out of the way we headed back to the hostel to plug into the net and let the pain drain from our legs. Watching V going up and down the stairs at the hostel would be more funny if I wasn’t also in agony 🙂

The hostel has reasonably speedy Internet access and I have figured out how to download torrents to my iPhone – so we’ll have plenty of entertainment while we are recovering. We don’t expect to leave the 2nd floor of the hostel tomorrow unless hunger pains outweigh the agony of descending the stairs.

[Pictures: Our escorts and back in the city – love this building]

– Posted from my iPhone via WiFi