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So, I got out of the jungle. I collected my bag, which thankfully was still in one piece undisturbed. I knew I could trust the employees of Uncle Tan's Wildlife Adventure.

    Now, a geography lesson. I was the operations base cum B&B place at Gum Gum, near Sandakan. It takes about 3 hours to Lahad Datu, and 6 hours to Tawau on the same road passing. The van ride to the river was an hour plus, so that means I'd have to travel for an hour plus to Lahad Datu, and then another couple of hours to Tawau, which was my next destination. I tell you, after that stint with the broken-down-airconditioning-bus I took two days before from Kota Kinabalu to Gum Gum .. I was petrified of the public transportation system. I mean, I have total confidence in the drivers, but not the machines that they handle. But … who am I kidding? What choice do I have? DUH.

    I was told that I could get a mini bus to pick me up if I just wait at the side of the road, but thankfully there was a mini van waiting to take some of the foreigners to the Lahad Datu Airport. The foreigners somehow changed their plans, so I guess I'm his new passenger! Well, better than none right? Although, somehow God heard my plight and answered by sending me a mini bus right where I'd be, to right where I wanna be. God is so good. 

    So I load my bags onto the mini bus, which I think I have mentioned before that it's a van. Naturally air-conditioned .. we embark on the hour plus journey to Lahad Datu, a town of which I would get on an express bus to Tawau. The van picks people up and drops them off where ever they desire on the main road. I then wondered. How would the fare be determined? I saw an old lady give the driver 50 cents for a short trip, and others gave from RM2 to RM5. I asked, before I got on to the van earlier about my fare, and I was told that it was RM15. There was this lady who gave RM1 as her fare, and the driver actually called the lady back and asked for another ringgit. I suppose, the guy might just come after you if you shortchanged him. Hehe.

     I observed/interacted with a few interesting people. First was an old lady who was on the way home. I usually greet the people who are around me, calling them makcik or pakcik as a sign of acknowledgement and respect. So, I first greet this old lady, and she asked me where I was heading. I told her that I was heading to Lahad Datu, and she started to tell me about her son, who's working as a guard in the town, and how he came back recently for to visit her. She also visited him recently, in town. Then, the van also stopped to pick this pregnant woman up. I saw that she had a lot to load onto the van, so I got off and helped her carry all her bananas and fruits that she had bought at the market. When she got off, I wanted to get off too, to help but this time … the driver got down and helped her. My, he must have felt guilty for not helping the first time round. Ehehe. No matter. She got help anyhow. There were also the other passengers in the van that looked at me funny. 

    Arriving at what I'd presume as the town center, I was directed to a bus ticket counter to purchase my ticket to Tawau. The fare's another RM15, and I'd have to wait for another hour before the bus arrives. Hungry, I set on foot around town, searching for food. Settled for a bowl of pan meen which wasn't anything to shout about at a coffee shop called "Pan Meen". I then repacked my bags, cause I was living off my laptop and sling bag in the jungle. Rested for a bit and headed back to the bus ticket counter to wait for my bus. Inevitably, the bus was late, and full of people! I was relegated to the 3rd row from the back, and hoping that the ride would be more forgiving I popped my MP3 player and dozed off to tunes of Parachute Band's latest album, All The Earth. Highly recommended. 

    I woke up to City Harvest Church's album, Cross. An hour into the journey, and I'm hungry already. Good thing I bought the packet of Chipsmore Chocolate Chip and Almond cookies to munch. There were a few kids on the row in front of me, so I decided to give them a piece each. They were very grateful, and so was their mother. Or so I think it was.  

    Even the express bus stops at anywhere you request them to. I was to stop at a Shell Station, just outside of Tawau town where my aunt would be waiting for me. I got off the bus, and immediately I hear a sharp cracky voice screaming, "Lehhbit CHAI!" Yup. That's me. And my LOUD 2nd Aunt. I'm glad the last part of travelling with public transport was over.

David[hmmm]