Something to Declare

Post No. 7. If it’s Thursday, this must be Borneo. Yeah, Borneo.

Thursday, March 23. We’re now in MY Nature Resort in the State of Saba, Malaysia, which is the in the northeast corner of the island of Borneo.

Last time we left off, we were still in Jogja. On Wednesday, March 22, we visited Borobodur, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site, and the largest Buddhist temple in the world.

In Singapore, I’d really wanted to taste “Newbrew,” a local artisanal beer brewed by Brewerks. It’s made from water filtered from sewage (to showcase the Singaporean dedication to environmental protection). But it was not to be; couldn’t find it anywhere. BUT……in Jogja we had the opportunity to visit a “coffee shop,” and taste Luwak coffee. (It was on Jack Nicholson’s “Bucket List” in the eponymous movie.) It’s made from coffee beans eaten by Civet cats (related to the mongoose).

The digestive process removes only the fruity outer part of the coffee bean. What’s left has been made more mellow and flavorful by the cat’s digestive system. They “collect” the fecal end product, clean the beans (really well), and roast them.

Quite good, really.

Bought 100 g to take home, for the equivalent price of $100/lb.

After lunch at the mountain-top Plantaran Resort, off to the airport, from Denpasar to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We were honored to fly with the Prime Minister of Malaysia (he and his entourage were in First Class), and a huge group of aspiring Indonesian Hajjis (whose ultimate destination was Mecca). Harrowing landing in KL. We bounced off the runway (came in too fast), requiring immediate re-take-off, and circled around for a frightening second try (which was successful). The motto of Malaysia Airlines: “We land on the first try, mostly.” Overnight stay at Sama Sama Hotel in airport, and next morning, off to Sandakar in Northeast Borneo, from whence we are now writing.