Jungle Fever

2018 - us in another jungle - on top of Gunung Bntan

Well, that's another location I have introduced to the boys - the ridiculously amazing and beautiful Bintan.

We have had adventures in loads of places now. Small places like Mutiara means that you are able to get to know the people who live and work there. I met Mark the owner of the place just before I left. He had dropped in to check on how things were and we had a very short chat for about ten minutes. I told him how much I admired what he was doing and how important it was. It was an example of what tourism could be like and he said that his idea was two fold - the have a business which could focus and give the place direction because hand outs was not a solution, but also to give the people opportunities to go on to work in larger resorts. Then he added, laughing, but they don't leave! Well, that's because you are a good employer.

Bintan is really beautiful, BUT it still suffers from the blight of plastic. Thankfully, I met a few people who were cleaning up the place. Plastic is becoming something which Indonesia is waking up to. I'm hoping that the next few years will see it becoming far more aware of taking it out of the system.

The other side effect of plastic pollution is the burning of plastic. Because there is no waste management system, the only thing people can do is burn the rubbish. This results in not only toxic smoke, but also the ashes are full of dioxins and this then goes into the water supply, contaminating it. The problem is not plastic per se - actually plastic is an invaluable material - it is the disposal and poor use of it.

Having sweated my all over the last week and been really pushed to my limits, taken right out of my comfort zone has been great for me. I feel much better - and I am utterly inspired by Geoff and Mark and Adil - sadly I encountered very few women on my travels, most of the people I encountered were men. I think I'm going to start running in MacRitchie now although I have no idea how I'm going to get there - there is a straight bus but I'm wondering if it is worth my while taking the trouble to get there... there are no jungles here though in Serangoon. Running in jungles is awesome because you end up sweating like you have never sweated before. The super high humidity is excellent and you feel like you have cleansed your pores of every toxin.

Today i'm walking a couple of miles from the MRT to Cashew Terrace which is near Mandai. So sort of in the North. I have discovered the delights of walking in Singapore. There are no real distances here and it gives you sense of place.

Artistic shot by Geoff

Next week begins with my prep for Class 7. It has been so relaxing this time in Singapore. I have, after 20 long years, come to enjoy it. I don't know what has made the difference. It is like I am no longer too afraid of it somehow. And I am no longer angry with it. Well, that's not true, I am still really angry with it, just no longer really expressing it pure bile.

It must be a great relief to everyone else.

Well, time to start putting a few pieces into place. It has taken a little longer to reset the button, but it has been done. Last night, I went to bed, with the memory of the beach on Bintan. The warm waters, the coconut trees, the sound of boats and the waves breaking on the shore. This is love, love. And the universe, life holds me in this gorgeous embrace. I know that every cell of me is loved and I couldn't ask for more. It is a good way to fall asleep.