Not
much sleep was had last night - there seemed to be lots of roaming around with
sore blistered feet, aching bones, sunburn, severe heat rash and sheer
exhaustion - yes you can get too tired to sleep.
However,
when we all got up this morning everyone was once again helping each other and
we all enjoyed a nice breakfast together, elated that we did not have to trek
again today!
Several
of us gave our boots, poles, socks, etc. away to our guides. These people are
so proud and so gracious. When I handed my boots to Din, he started crying,
hugged me and said "I don't know what else to say except Thank You".
It makes you feel very humbled to be around and spend time with these people.
After
this we jumped into the mini bus and went to the Poring Hot Springs. It was great to sit by the pool and cool our
hot legs. There was a beautiful
waterfall there too with a great swimming hole. As we all sat on the rocks in
the water the little fish were having a field day eating all the dead skin off
our feet - much to Sharkie's horror. He was saying "I just can't do it -
it feels horrible" to which Simon quickly replied "Sharkie, you have
just walked over 100 kms through the jungle, you can surely cope with a few
small fish nibbling on your feet!"
We
left here feeling refreshed and then visited the Kundasang War Memorial. Here
we watched a 20 minute DVD about the March we had just completed and some
interesting footage of interviews of a couple of the POW's who had escaped.
The
Memorial also had lots of things that were later found on the track like money,
bullets, buckles, hats and a pocket watch which one of the little boys from a
Village along the Track was given by a man he said was extremely thin and very
hungry. He gave it to the little boy for some food - the watch is still working
some 70 years later.
There
were letters that had been written by the POW's to their loved ones, all of
them saying they are fine and not to worry about them!
From
there we visited the various Memorial Gardens - Australian, British, Borneo and
the Garden of Remembrance where all the POW's names are listed. It is a
beautiful solemn place and a great way to top off our Trek.
When
we left here we made our way back to Kota Kinabula to Le Meridien Hotel - hard
to believe we left this place 7 days ago to start the Trek. We really had no
idea what was in front of us and so much has happened to all of us emotionally
and physically since then.
Lots
of the gang have now gone for a massage but I chose to have an hour long bath
which was just heaven. We are all meeting shortly to go to Little Italy for a
big feed of anything that is not rice or noodles.
Tomorrow
we catch a plane to Labuan Island to go to the war cemetery. All the bodies of
the POW's who were recovered were moved to here - 200 are still unaccounted
for.
We
are all missing everyone heaps and looking forward to seeing you all very soon.
Until
tomorrow,
Donna
xx
1 comment:
I am speechless at the selfless act you have all just completed for our families at Camp Quality. Your generosity of spirit, motivation and resilience to just keep going and your ability to laugh in the face of the adversity you all experienced over the last few days of that trek is nothing short of amazing. You are all such wonderful ambassadors for our organisation and we are so lucky to have you. We are even more lucky to have you all as friends! Love to you all and look forward to all the stories when you get back. Michelle Y
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