Day 7

Well everyone slept fairly well last night - still some snoring but I think everyone was so tired they just crashed.

We got up this morning and Jerome cooked us all a yummy omelette - really good. Once we were all ready we were then driven to the next part of the track. Unfortunately there are certain parts of the track that you can't go on and so sometimes you have to be driven to where you can pick up the track.

We got to Taviu hill and for an hour we all walked straight down through thick dense jungle. Jerome stopped in a certain spot where the jungle dropped off on one side. He told us that as the POW's stopped to rest here, the Japanese would come along behind and kick them over the ridge where they would fall until coming to their final resting place dead or injured and lying in agony until they died. Lots of bodies were later recovered from this spot.

We then continued down to the river but unfortunately were unable to continue along as this is another spot where permission has not been granted to trek along.

Another big walk back to the top of the hill and Jerome then took us to meet the ring lady from Paginatan Village who is now in her 80's. When she was only 13 she was walking through her village and spotted a man in the bush making a gesture with his hand for food. Her father was chief of the village and when she told him he told her to feed them. There was 7 men that she bought food to for 5 days. On the 6th day when she took them food they were gone. In the spot where they had been they had left a small tin can and in it was their 7 wedding rings as a thank you.

Had she been caught, the Japanese would have killed her and her family. They risked everything to help these poor POW's who were starving while they hid in the jungle. Nobody knows who they were or what happened to them. The ring lady was invited to Australia to be formally thanked by the Australian government. She had given 6 of the rings away to her relatives but took the last one with her to Australia to have DNA done on - unfortunately they couldn't get anything.

We then made our way to the Sabah long house where we were staying for the night. Here we got our first shower in 3 days - wow it was good.

Having finished trekking for the day we all piled into the mini bus and Uncle took us all into the local town of Ranau where we were SO excited to find a KFC! While lots of us were scoffing this down (so glad for a break from rice and noodles) the others were getting a massage.

We are all off to have dinner now. Been so nice to have an easier day today as tomorrow we have decided to combine two days into one so we can finish a day early and have a day of rest. Wish us luck.

Jerome our guide is fantastic and we have become great friends with him, Kazz, Jacko, Din and Uncle. They are all very entertaining and I think are really enjoying our Aussie humor as well.

Brad, Simon and I are really suffering with bad blisters and Jackson is struggling with his knee. Aaron is loving capturing all the drama of spills, falls, tears and laughter. We all wish Craig had come with us because Ali is picking on us all - poor Craig, we can't wait to bring her back to you!!!!!!!!!

Until tomorrow,

Donna

Ps happy birthday Red and I love you Ben and Ethan xxxxxx