BORNEO (7/14): Setting Off In The Darkness!

This is the first chance I've had to write about today. So much happened today which has given me renewed confidence in the whole trip. Today, we awoke at 02:00 in preparation for ascending to the summit of Mount Kinabalu. After a breakfast of boiled eggs and water melon, we proceeded along the summit trail where we left off yesterday afternoon.

In the darkness, head torches ablaze, the group of seventy-odd participants clambered over stones, rocks and rubble in a bid to witness the sun rise from what is dubbed the 'highest peak in South East Asia'. After about an hour, people had dispersed, each man for himself. As time drew on, the landscape became more barren, the atmosphere very cold, the wind more intense. About 04:00, I found myself alone again as many people had been the day before. Suddenly, the rubbly trails ceased to exist and gave way to the granite surface that adorned the upper reaches of Mount Kinabalu. The air was much cooler, barely above freezing, and the wind was never ending. Nothing could have prepared me for what laid in wait. From within the view granted to me by my head torch, I could make out a number of ropes which one was supposed to used to assist them in their climb. This went on for about an hour, causing me to stop many times to recover from the exertion.

Throughout the early hours of the morning, the majestic outline of the many surrounding peaks were visible in the bright moonlight. Accompanying the barren landscape, which was featurless in the semi-darkness, were an array of stars dotting the sky. I had never seen such brilliance radiate from the sky at night. It made me wonder: how many millions of landscapes like Mount Kinabalu there are floating round the universe, aimlessly orbiting without end? I guessed there were hundreds of thousands, if not millions.
Friday, 1st April 2000. 10:00 SMT

BORNEO (6/14): The Climb Begins!

Sorry for the sudden cliffhanger there. Our timetable had been changed so that dinner was now at 19:00 rather than the 19:30 as planned. As I write this, we are at the Laban Rata Guest House at a height of a three thousand, two hundred and seventy-two point seven metres (3,272.7m) above sea level. This will be our base overnight before attempting to reach the summit of Mount Kinabalu. Before I go on about what happened today, I will attempt to document what happened yesterday before my memory starts to fail me.

Having rushed off to dinner, I didn't get back until 23:30. At that time, I was busy preparing my bag for today which is why the entry for yesterday remains incomplete. So, where was I? That's it, I was talking about the ferry operators competing for our custom. We tried to walk away, but they were very persistent. They followed us for about a hundred yards before admitting defeat. In comparison, the timeshare touts in Tenerife were less persevering than these people!

As we walked away, we headed towards the shopping centre. There, the three of us bought postcards and the drink we would need for the two hour coach ride to the Rose Cabin. As we headed back for the coach, it was tempting to go through some more air-conditioned shops for the relief it would provide from the humidity.

I boarded the coach and found a seat. Sharon, the one from Romford, was sitting behind me and we started talking about the town, what it was like, the smiling locals etc. All of a sudden, four 'loud' guys boarded the coach sporting beady, afro wigs. As expected, Troy and Aaron were among the four. Was this another attempt at attention-seeking? I reckon. They were jeering, shouting "Eng-eeer-land!" When will British lads grow up and realise that it's quite sad to base life around football? Even when I say lads, Troy is thirty and Aaron is twenty-eight! More to the point, I'm stumped as to how a football brings so much pleasure to people in the UK. Would someone like to justify all the hype and excitement to me?

Within ten minutes, after the last people boarded the coach, the journey began. The trip was very scenic and we saw a number of things and places that intrigued me. There was the majestic Sabah State Mosque, the Yayasan Sabah Building and dozens of other places of worship accommodating countless religions. The locality is truly a harmonious community considering the number of different races that live here. The people are very unrushed and it seems that the less one person has, the happier they are. Do we expect too much or they too little?

As the coach left Kota Kinabalu, it joined a rain swept dual carriage way. It should be noted that when it rains here, it doesn't just rain, it pours down! I noticed several children playing in the rain, by the road-side, without a care in the world. In the UK, when it rains, a child would probably watch TV or log on to his / her Playstation. Here, they don't have that luxury, although some would debate whether TV and computers are a healthy luxury to have anyway.

All of a sudden, a flash of lightning blazed across the sky, quickly followed by another and another. At home, thunderstorms are relatively short-lived. Here, they last two to three hours. As the rain continued to pour down from the heavens, I noticed these man-made ditches running down both sides of the road. They're obviously there to transport the flood water to the lowlands. They're a foot wide and two foot deep and they are already close to overflowing. Another thing I noticed were the overhead electric cables. They're about two inches thick, perhaps rubber coated to prevent damage from the daily thunderstorms.

Getting higher, the rain not relenting, we were surrounded by valleys embraced by falling mist. At first glance, the landscape looks very green. When the bus slows, to contemplate a patch of asphalt road for example, closer inspection reveals a much more colourful landscape of reds and yellows also. Looking out at the valleys reminded me of Gorillas In The Mist, the film starring Sigourney Weaver who portrayed Dian Fossey of Zaire whose quest was to bring about an end to the poaching of the Silverback Gorilla.

As I am writing this, a cockroach is walking down my wall, just inches from my top bunk in Room 10 at the Laban Rata. Nice, eh? I can't afford anymore distractions so I'm going to press on. On the coach, many other people were asleep so Hugh (the charity representative who travelled with the team from Manchester), thought he would record some video moments for his own amusement. Every so often, a vehicle will pass by and the people there will wave in a frenzy of friendliness. While we're on the subject of cars, the ones here in Borneo are very polluting. You can't leave a hotel without getting a whiff of car exhaust fumes. I take it their government doesn't impose statutory car checks like the MOT? Lucky sods!

Shortly before arriving at the Rose Cabin, we passed what resembled a shanty town. Houses made of wood and tin adorned the highway. Kids played happily in their yards while mothers tended to babies and domestic duties. To live, even people up here make money however they can. Every so often, a stall may be set up outside a Malaysian home. They sell wicker baskets mainly, but rely on the infrequent passing trade.

16:22, SMT...

Got called away again there. I welcomed the distraction since it required for me to leave my room, the one infested with cockroaches. One thing I noticed on the way out is how plant life is so diverse; there are plants and flowers of every colour imaginable, even at this altitude.

We were introduced to members of Henshaw's Society for the Blind who are taking part in the Borneo Challenge alongside Children Today. Since we would be doing the four events together, it made sense for both parties to get to know each other. In the evening, at the Rose Cabin, I met some nice people from all four corners of the UK. Both parties ate dinner together, competed at Table Tennis and the brave, if not drunk, engaged in a spot of Karoake. About 21:00, someone screamed blue murder! She had spotted the elusive Borneo Three Horned Beetle. I must admit that it even freaked me out. It was slightly smaller than a packet of cigarettes and one of the guys teased it by stroking it. The beatle, at first, tried to defend itself with its horns, but relented having detected that the human posed no threat. It was intriguing.

Shortly before turning in for the night, I paid three-pence-a-go to play some of the arcade games in the reception area. I can't envisage paying less than a pound at home to play a decent game in an arcade. I'm going to enjoy this cheap entertainment while I can. I also sent a fax home for RM5, equivalent to eighty pence. I could get used to the cost of living here on my current salary; I would be able to live the life of a king!! I got into bed about 23:30, but didn't sleep till about 03:00. Something was playing on my mind. God knows what though.

The text from hereon relates to today, Wednesday 29th March. It's now 16:20 and today has been a hard day for everyone. At 07:00, the group rose for a breakfast of beans and toast. Best thing I've eaten since we arrived, bar the breakfast fit for a king at the Pan Pacific. At home, it's chips with everything. Here, it's chicken with everything. I'm getting fed up with being plied with chicken!

After breakfast, we got a coach from the Rose Cabin to the entrance of the Kinabalu National Park. At this time, the sky was pure blue, affording us a view of the summit rising majestically in the sky. The sheer size is awesome. Eight at a time, we were transported to the Power Station where we would start our climb along the Summit Trail which began at Timpohon Gate.

At 08:55, everyone from Children Today and Henshaw's got together for a five minute warm-up. Within ten minutes of the climb, which started at 09:00, I could start to feel the grind. Within half an hour, I was sweating profusely. Wearing a cap all the time was impractical because it retained heat so I ended up getting burnt all over my recently shaved head. The sunburn spread to the cheeks and my ear lobes.

As the climb progressed, you could sense the zones within the ecosystem. The forest, being so dense, emitted a never-ending rustle of leaves. After two hours, part of me wished I had never come. Though the temperature was cooler at this height, the air was also a lot thinner, giving rise to labourious breathing. An unforgiving series of inclined step ladders laid the way for most of the summit trail. It was excruciating at times and I just had to stop. Several times during the trek, I detached myself and focused so much on the task at hand, that I lost track of all other participants. Later, I was to discover that this happened to quite a few people.

At one point, I hadn't seen a human for over an hour. Part of me did begin to worry, despite the fact that the trail was very well sign-posted. I knew, therefore, that I was on the right track. Suddenly, I saw something scurry quickly across the four foot wide trail. Was it a chipmunk, a squirrel? Having been so stunned by the speed of the 'creature', I hurried on ahead. Later, I cursed myself for being such a wimp.

About three hours after we started, I caught a glance of the infamous Pitcher Plant; many species of this plant are unique to Borneo. They're a member of the carnivorous plant family and attract their pray by secreting a sweet, honey-like smell. As the insect, bird or even a small animal approaches the plant, it's spiky exterior triggers the plant to standby. Once the prey has entered the plant itself, there is no escape. The downward spikes inside prevent escape, trapping it. Detecting the frenzy from within, the plant drops its 'lid' and sets about producing acids that will digest the prey. Once the prey has been digested, the lid will rise once again and the plant begins its job of enticing new prey into its lair. These plants have always fascinated me. In my early teens, I had a venus fly trap. Because the plant wasn't very successful in catching prey unaided, I fed it a cornflake. It died within days, ravaged by fungus. For months, I wondered why!

As time passed, I caught up with some people from Henshaw's. A while later, we came across a water stop where we renewed our supplies. From then on, it became very misty and the odd raindrop began to fall. After an hour of undulating gravel trail, we finally reached the Laban Rata, our base for the night. The trek had been a difficult one and there were handshakes all round on arrival. We arrived at the Laban Rata at 13:30, four and a half hours after setting off. As I write this entry, a number of people still haven't reached the guest house.

As you can imagine, the rooms are very basic, each one furnished with a number of bunk beds sleeping up to ten people. Dinner wasn't until 18:00 so a number of us met in the bar and chatted the afternoon away. It was a long afternoon because everyone just wanted their dinner so they could go to sleep. While the rest of the party continued to arrive, a group of us spoke about who was staying on after the event, doing what etc. There are so many things to do in Borneo; the options are endless. Eventually, 18:00 came and dinner was served; rice and sweet and sour chicken. I should have guessed there would be chicken in there somewhere!

After dinner, I went straight to bed. Tomorrow is a big day. There's the three hour arduous climb to the summit, from the summit back to the Laban Rata for breakfast, then the five hour trek back to Timpohon Gate.

BORNEO (5/14): Into Kota Kinabalu

Too soon, the morning came. I had programmed my pager to wake us up at 09:00. I felt rested and the mood from the day before didn't plague me anymore. Maybe the jetlag was just building up and, in an overworked frame of mind, I just couldn't relax enough to sleep. The breakfast was amazing. It was a buffet and I feasted on an American breakfast, fruit juices, toast and jam and then cake and coffee for good measure. I've always had a good appetite. In this heat, I kidded myself it would be worked off in no time!

After breakfast, I went for a swim in the Hotel's swimming pool. Bliss! Other members of the group had gathered and it got a bit competitive so a few races were organised. After the bout of swimming, we were due to be transferred to the Rose Cabin at the base of Mount Kinabalu. There, we would stay for one night before commencing our climb tomorrow.

First, however, there was a brief tour of Kota Kinabalu. As soon as we left the comfort of our air conditioned building, the heat was stifling. Thank god the coach was air-con too. The town, recently granted city status by Kuala Lumpur, was less than a mile away and was surprisingly built-up. While you could probably fit the whole of the 'city' within the structure of Lakeside Shopping Centre, the shops are jam packed with produce and friendly faces. The charity has organised lunch first, then an hour free to our own devices.

The lunch didn't go down well. Soup was full of what looked like grass shavings. The main course consisted of rice, chicken, fish and battered squid. I said to someone "This tastes unusual," The eight or so people at the same table all looked up. Janet, from Greenwich, told me it was squid. Instantly, I cringed and begrudgingly swallowed!

After lunch, I suggested some of us head for the shopping centre where we might find supplies of water and postcards. Janet and Michelle, from Hampshire, agreed and off we went. As we walked down the main road in the direction of the shopping centre, the lure of air conditioned stores proved too powerful! We discriminated and only browsed through the stores that had air-conditioning. If it didn't have air-conditioning, we didn't enter.

Eventually, we came near the coast where ferry operators hurriedly quoted prices in a bid to secure our custom. Not impressed,.....

BORNEO (4/14): The Long Journey & Jetlag

07:37, Standard Malaysian Time (SMT)...

We landed, at long last, in Kuala Lumpur at 06:30. It was surprising that dawn hadn't yet broken. We had left the plane and were wandering around in the terminal, waiting for our onward flight to Borneo when Hugh, the Children Today representative, suggested people amuse themselves and meet up at 07:55. With an hour to spare and in need of a shower, I made my way to the Airport Hotel and paid the equivalent of £3.30 (RM20) for the provision of a towel and use of a shower.

The first thing that strikes you about Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is that it is very modern. Dawn has now broken and there is a man chanting next to me, no doubt rejoicing because God decided to grant us another day on His world! Honestly, this man is nodding his head repeatedly and chanting very loudly. God, someone else has just joined him! It's all part of the culture and I respect that. It's all part of life in this part of the world.

Our onward flight to Kota Kinabalu departs at 08:55. I never thought I would admit it, but I don't want to get on a plane so soon! That shower has done me wonders though. One by one, in the distance, members of the Children Today group are getting together so I better go. Some more interesting facts: the sun rose today at 06:45. At the same time, the temperature was 22 degrees centigrade!

As I look above me, the architecture of this place is awesome. It's a bit like Stansted, but on a much, much larger and grander scale. When we landed here, just over an hour ago, the place was dead. Now, amidst the arrival of several commuter flights from nearby islands, the place is heaving!

21:11, SMT...

The last leg for Borneo took off from Kuala Lumpur at 09:10. The mass of rain forests in Peninsular Malaysia went on for miles, the vegetation denser than any forest I've ever seen before. As the South China Sea cut in, we left the Peninsular behind and headed towards Borneo. At 11:30, a number of islands became visible. Each were surrounded by clear water, sandbars and what looked like coral. The temperature outside the cabin is already 27 degrees centigrade. Is this paradise?

Shortly after 11:30, we landed in Lebuan, an island half an hour South of Kota Kinabalu. There, several native people got off, but the plane quickly filled up again! Malaysian Airlines certainly runs a good system to ensure its flights are booked up well. The service itself has been fantastic, although the Boeing 737's aren't as well equipped as the long-haul 747's for obvious reasons.

In the distance, I can see Borneo. Miles off the coast, you can see the bottom of the Ocean. To the left is an island so small, it has just one shack on it, surrounded by trees and its own beach. It is now 12:23 SMT and we have landed. I am absolutely worn out. All I want is a bed! One more hour and we'll be at the hotel. Thank god!

15:32, SMT...

What can be said of Kota Kinabalu so far? It's certainly a mixture of qualities. Our transfer from the airport was bumpy, but it was interesting to see that they drive on the same side of the road. Even all the traffic lights and signals are the same. It is perhaps a result of Britain's ownership of Borneo in the 19th and 20th centuries. So far, every Malaysian person I've spoken to speaks a reasonable amount of English. The girls over here look so young and innocent and they have what look like the softest, smoothest faces. Likewise, the guys here look well too. The sun probably helps, but it's ironic that where we're from, the sun causes wrinkles!

On the way, we passed a 'stilt village' where the poor establish homes over water to avoid taxation which they would be liable to pay if they purchased land on which to built their homes. Apparently, there are no regulations to tax home owners of water. I can actually imagine the impracticalities!

The hotel itself is fantastic. With a temperature of 27 degrees centigrade, the hotel pool looked appealling. It was disappointing when the water turned out to be warmer than the air itself. So, Troy (my assigned room mate) and I went to try out the beach, just metres away. That was even warmer! To be honest, I'm peed off by this. To make matters just slightly worse, it has done nothing but pour down with rain since about 14:00. Apparently, it rains every day this time of year which is something the travel guides didn't tell me!

As this very moment, the sky has darkened and a blazing thunderstorm is in progress. The lightning isn't brief. It's continuously electrifying, lasting several seconds at a time. The thunderclap itself is severe; I can feel the rumble through the desk I'm writing on in our seventh floor hotel room. The view from the wide window was good, until the storm kicked in! It is now 15:55 and all the lights are on in the apartment. The windows overlooking the harbour, swimming pool and neighbouring islands have steamed up which goes some way to illustrating just how humid it is here right now.

Troy, my room mate, is thirty. He seems all right though and there is an orientation meeting at 19:00 tonight so people can get acquainted. I'll write more then. I don't feel jet lagged yet, but I'm bound to sleep well tonight.

21:17, SMT...

I've now been up twenty-six hours and I don't feel tired. I'm also afraid to go to sleep in case I sleepwalk. I've told Emma Leaman, the charity representative, in case anything should happen. My priority is to enjoy myself, though I feel detached from humanity at the moment. There was a meeting earlier to welcome everyone to Borneo, followed by a traditional Borneo dinner. During the meeting, I enlisted the help of Sharon from Poole who was happy to lip-speak for me. To have to ask a stranger for this kind of help makes me feel so inadequate, especially when she's a bit of a babe! I've spoken to Emma about my embarrassment, but she told me not to worry, that everyone was bewildered by the timetable of what was in store for us.

Whenever I feel this way, I tend to shut myself away from the world. That is why I'm writing to you right now. It's 21:30 and I'm in my room, on my own, thousands of miles from home. On the dresser was an envelope addressed to myself. In it, there was a fax from my Mum, confirming receipt of my fax to her earlier that evening. How I wanted to be at home that very minute! I can't believe I've only been away from home for thirty-odd hours. It feels like a week and I only hope that when I wake up tomorrow that I'm in a better mood. The feeling of inadequacy is overwhelming, difficult for anyone to imagine. As I approach my 23rd birthday on the 14th of April, I want to feel better about myself, feel more secure when I'm away from my loved ones. It's true that you can't choose your family, but I wouldn't want anyone else! It's still raining outside which doesn't alleviate the mood, does it?

BORNEO (3/14): The Big Day!

So far, so good. Saying good-bye to Mum and Dad was hard to do. The minute I cleared Passport Control, they disappeared from view. My eyes filled up and I cursed myself. After all, this is supposed to be an adventure. It's not as if I've subjected myself to a death sentence, no matter what negativity has been cast around since I registered to take part. In the departure lounge, on my own, it was a strange feeling. I was surrounded by families looking forward to holidays together, young couples holding hands, perhaps about to embark on their first trips abroad.

The departure board instructed people to make way to Gate 2. It was easy to find. In fact, it's the first gate because Gate 1 is an executive lounge, no doubt reserved for the rich and famous. Within the gate area, I met Sharon and Janet, two women taking part in the event. I happened to recognise Janet from a press release sent out by the charity. She had already met Sharon so the three of us were well acquainted before the flight boarded half an hour later.

As I write this, I'm sitting towards the back of a Boeing 747 Malaysian Airlines jet. Apparently,
one person still hasn't boarded and it's 10:55, the time we're supposed to depart. Already, I've spent half an hour talking to other people taking part: Colin from Gloucester, Yannik from France, Sharon from Poole and Graham from Reading. They seem quite friendly and so far, they've all been quite young so I'm pleased!

It looks like the flight will take off without the late boarder. The aircraft has reversed out of its bay and is now heading for Borneo... We are passing a mass of planes; United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Qantas, they're all here in what seems like a car park designed for aircraft. While the 747 itself is quite an old-timer as far as aircraft go, the technology in-cabin is amazing. You can send faxes from the rear of the plane and make international calls from the comfort of your own seat. Built into the seat in front is a liquid crystal display for your own use; you can choose which movie to watch, which game to play or which audio channel to listen to. Maybe this flight won't be so boring after all.

The plane must have received clearance to proceed to the runway. We are now driving around Heathrow Airport and seeing more airlines: Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Royal Brunei Air, Air France! From this side of Heathrow, the place is huge. I've flown from Gatwick, Stansted and Luton before, but not Heathrow. Yet even more airlines are waiting to take off before us: a British Airways 767, an Iberia 727 and a British Midland 737.

We've been taxi-ing for ten minutes which gives some idea of how big the place is. Maybe my thoughts are premature, but aside from the lonely feeling I initially experienced in the airport after parting from my parents, I feel quite happy. I only hope the grass really is greener where I am going. Seven months of fundraising and planning has gone into this trip. It's only natural, therefore, to want for it to be a success.

To my left, outside the windows, there are six planes waiting in a queue to take off on a different runway. What a busy place! An Aer Lingus jet has just taken off, a British Airways jet less than a minute after it. Air Malta is now taking its position. It's at times like this when the underlying, boyhood ambition to become an airline pilot resurfaces for the umpteenth time. We have now taken our position on the runway. It's 11:21, UK time. The engines are powerful, we are going fast. Up in the air, Heathrow is surrounded by dozens of lakes and reservoirs. We're above the clouds in less than two minutes where it's always sunny! It's a lovely, sunny day above the clouds of Britain today, but I guarantee it's warmer where I'm going! From the air, I can make out the curvature of the M25 around London. The clouds are now blocking the view so I'll sign off now and amuse myself with my gameboy!

15:40, GMT...

Throughout the day, I have looked out at the world. All too often, the world below has been smothered with cloud as soft as cotton wool, looking as smooth as silk. Having passed through most of the developed countries in Europe, the aircraft began to run parallel - although not on - the equator, seemingly avoiding areas such as Iraq and Kuwait. Geographically, it would have made more sense to fly right over these countries. Perhaps it's a safety measure in light of Saddam Hussein's unpredictability.

The entertainment on-board puts your local cinema and the Sony Playstation to shame. Via the console built into the back of the seat in front of you, you can access eleven English spoken TV channels, eight audio-only channels, ten arcade games and five mind games.

It's now 15:50 UK time and 22:50 in Kuala Lumpur. We're cruising at 607 mph at a height of 33,000 feet. We're north of Tehran, yet just south of Grozni. Thirty-odd thousand feet below is a band of mountains, smothered with snow. You wouldn't have thought that Grozni, currently involved in a civil military conflict, would look so peaceful from above. The suffering here has been well televised in recent times and the isolation of this region is somewhat apparent. You can fly for ten minutes before another town or similar settlement comes into view. How aid reaches these regions, I do not know.

We're now finishing our haul across the Caspian Sea and heading towards India and Thailand. Darkness is descending outside with a zonal time of 20:10. Don't ask! I'm still trying to figure out how the time zone system functions! Another interesting feature is that, for the duration of the flight, you can monitor the progress of the flight by watching the Airshow Channel. A map of the world is displayed, detailing the course of the flight, speed, altitude etc. This is an innovation for deaf people like myself who no longer need to ask passengers to interpret the Captain's overhead messages. On Airshow, there's also an indicator that tells you where Mecca is, and how far away it is; this information is provided for the benefit of Muslim passengers. A prayer mat and area is available on request...... Any takers?

19:40, GMT...

Once again, I am writing in this book. We have just flown between the Indian cities of Delhi and Jaipur. We are now heading towards Calcutta, then Phuket whilst cruising at 30,000 feet over the Himalayas.

About two hours after we took off from Heathrow, I got up to go to the toilet. When I returned, the man sitting in the aisle seat had feel asleep. The wotsit! Obviously, this would make my attempt in claiming my window seat awkward! I went in search of Sharon, the woman I had met at Gate 2 at Heathrow. There was an empty seat next to her and it's been good getting to know her. She's from Romford, where my Dad and I used to race Greyhounds. This afternoon, we've spoken about more things than would be practical to document here. We've been flying for eight hours with just 4½ hours till we reach Kuala Lumpur. It's been relatively uneventful up until now, but I doubt the rest of the trip will be this quiet. That I am sure of....

BORNEO (2/14): Getting Excited!

A week has passed since my hair was sheared off. More money has been pledged and I'm only a few pounds short of my target. Even though I didn't stand to lose 'much' hair anyway, the event was considered a success. Not only did it help me to raise £680, I have also acquired a hair style I am thinking of adopting. Those of you who know me personally will agree that there's no point in my pretending to have hair! More people than I can remember have said the cut suits me and the local press covered the event well.

It's just one more day to the big day; forty-eight hours from now, I will have touched down in the land of the Orangutan, the legendary "wild man of Borneo". Research tells me that Borneo has one of the most diverse 'ecosystems' in the world; many species of monkey, plant and aquatic life are unique to what is the worlds third largest Island. I am looking forward to sampling the culture of Borneo, of witnessing their customs and hoping to learn about their way of life. It's just as well that I like flying really; some of the other people taking part might not be prepared for the 15 hour journey. Not being able to enjoy in-flight entertainment because of my deafness, I will have to find other ways to keep myself occupied. Maybe I can charm a stewardess, but since drinks are free on Malaysian Airline flights, why bother?!!

In the past, while travelling abroad with family, it's been nice to meet other people to pass the time. I'll never forget that time I flew alone to join my parents for the second week of their holiday on the island of Menorca. I think it was September or October 1996. For the duration of the 3½ hour flight, this old dear in her mid-seventies didn't - or wouldn't - shut up! It was only when she started talking about Elvis, who had died before I was even born, that I sought the company of an air hostess. What a relief to have some younger, less trivial conversation. It made me feel human again! The next time I write in this book, I will probably be in Borneo. I'm sure, by then, things will get really interesting.

BORNEO (1/14): Introduction to Borneo Millennium Challenge

This text is a written record of before, during and after the Borneo Millennium Challenge event. The main reason for keeping such a written record is because people, be they friends, family or colleagues, have asked to know all about it! This text will ensure that I don't forget any of what is going to be a memorable challenge in a unique part of the world.

As I write this section, it is just ten days before we depart from Heathrow Airport and it's just two days before my hair is shaved off in a last ditch bid to raise the money I need to reach my minimum £2,750 sponsorship target. I suppose I am rightly apprehensive about having my hair shaved off, but I'm more apprehensive about the expedition in Borneo.

I can remember like it was yesterday when I first became aware of Children Today's Borneo Challenge. It was a really hot day towards the end of last Summer. It must have been in August because I hadn't had the opportunity to lounge around in the back garden before then! Determined to get a tan before another long winter arrived, I relaxed on the patio with a magazine and a drink in hand. Being a subscriber to Men's Health magazine, I flicked through the pages of the latest issue. An insert, advertising the Borneo event, fell out. I picked it up, read it and was instantly enticed by the prospect of climbing 14,000 feet and white-water rafting.

I read on and discovered that it was a challenge established to raise money for local disabled children. Being hard-of-hearing myself, I've always felt for disabled children who so often endure a miserable childhood. Last Summer, in June 1999, I had taken part in the Three Peaks Challenge for the second time. This involved climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland, Sca Fell Pike in Cumbria and Mount Snowdon in Wales within 48 hours. The event was in aid of the British Heart Foundation. It was only natural, having done this event twice already, to want to do something more challenging which is why I went ahead and registered to take part in the Borneo event.

Nothing could have prepared me for how quickly the next six months would fly by. As I write this, I'm still £120 short of my target; that is how difficult it has been to raise the money. So far, I've held an auction, hosted a successful Christmas raffle and have appealed to local businesses for support. Now, in two days time, I'm having my hair sheared off! Pictures of the event will appear throughout the text so as to give the reader a visual insight into all the goings-on!