Today we are "up the river"......in the middle of the Borneo Jungle. We started early from Paula Lekai this morning at 0530 and motor sailed most of the morning to enter Belawai River, the second of three massive waterways that are all interlinked that can go up to Sibu but form a massive network of broad and deep waterways into Borneo Jungle that interlink and will eventually release us further north to go to Miri.

We have meandered and wound our way up Jungle Rivers accompanied by Dolphins at times and avoiding the logs and debris washing down with the tide in this deep jungle. Interestingly the palms come right down to the water edge like mangroves, which are there as well but they form a seemingly impenetrable waterfront jungle barrier. In some areas there has been logging, and we pass the occasional local boat as we meander and work our way through this amazingly interconnected waterway. At times the depth is 30 metres at others down to 2 as we skirt around sand bars and other shallow areas trying to follow our plotted path but with many options of streams, rivers and waterways we can pursue.

A typhoon north near Vietnam has made parts of the South China Sea less than hospitable so we may even spend some days in this waterway until the sea conditions hopefully smooth out and become more hospital.

There is no doubt that this is a great contrast to the blue clear water and super white sands of the east Coast of Malaysia Peninsula, nevertheless the brown water, the jungle, the animals, and the vegetation are very interesting and challenging, as much as we would love to jump into the water to cool off it is not the "done thing" and the water is actually not that inviting. So looking forward to getting back to blue clear water and pristine beaches as we move north we are enjoying the exploration and jungle as we work our way through it.

Tonight, anchored near Blue Moon of Oz it is clear although the day has been overcast, and river very flat and calm as we bask in the sunset over a cool drink. The night threatens to be tropical balmy and the mosquitoes fierce, after all in a river in the middle of Borneo deep into the jungle what else could you expect.

Tomorrow 12th is Dianne's birthday, we will probably be out of phone contact and birthday lunch may be in a riverside native longhouse accompanies by smoking human skulls and stories of past feuds and fighting.................we'll see when we get there after about a 0730 start......and then, well let's see........