I had been quite optimistic that the morning might be better but soon after we arrived it started to rain. Apparently this doesn't help - Orangutans sensibly prefer to stay in bed in the rain. Also the fact became clearer that seeing them at this time of year is really quite unusual because they have plenty of fruit in the forest and don't need handouts. We probably were also not helped by the arrival of a large party of children who, naturally enough, found the keep 'quiet signs' a struggle to comply with!
So to cut a long story short no orangutans came and I was faced with the choice of whether to return on the 11.00 bus or hang around until the afternoon. I quite wanted to explore the park even though the rangers did not seem to encourage this. It's technically allowed but I got the impression they like the public really to be present just for the two would-be feeding sessions. As it was, I equivocated and got to the bus only to find it had left a good 8 minutes early. So having sorted out this internal mind-game, I had a very leisurely stroll around the main trek and very easily passed the three hours until the 2.00 batch of punters arrived. On the walk I saw some old orangutan nests in the trees as well as an array of insects and butterflies at ground level.
The people that afternoon proved the noisiest ever. The 'keep quiet' notices were lost on them, particularly an alpha male European who spoke loudly to his accompanying driver and a Malaysian who walked around belching and making mobile phone calls.
Needless to say, no Orangutans turned up and having seen me so many times one of the Park staff said it was pretty hopeless between October and February and if I wanted to see Orangutans I should go to Matang and see them at where the ones that cannot be released are kept in cages.
Back in Kuching, I sat at my desk nd noticed one of the clips I used to hold money together on the floor. I couldn't quite explain it but dismissed it and went for a meal - a very nice one at the Carpenter Street Chinese which was becoming something of a haunt for me. When I got back at about 09.45, a Singapore $10 bill on the desk caught my eye. This was definitely strange and I stated to go though my back pack where I'd been forced to leave my various collections of foreign notes. £130 was missing as well as I reckon $Singapore 150 and I don't know how many Baht (but not much).
I shot downstairs in a thunderous mood and discussed this with the manager who assured me such a thing had never happened before. He said he'd ask the staff the next day but this seemed so pointless and I was so pissed off about it I said I would report it to the Police immediately. The police station is literally three doors from the hotel so this was ridiculously easy and the officers were very helpful, seeming to have nothing better to do at that moment than take my statement. Then they said I needed to go to another station to see someone senior. This was all getting a bit out of hand but I felt I had better see it through. In fact it took very little time and it was quite fun being whisked around in a police car.
It is an annoying episode and arose because the room had no 'safe' and on the first day, the manager assured me everything would be secure. Luckily I had some skepticism and had taken my wallet, passport and US$ out with me as well as all my credit cards. But it obviously left me with a very bad taste and I decided to leave the hotel the next morning.
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