Kiau is a small town at the bottom of Mount Kinabalu. It is home to Dusun/Kadazan people, the largest ethnic group in Sabah. Sappingi was our host and also the lead guide who would take us up Mount Kinabalu. We had a very warm welcome and were treated to a local dance performance by kids who were being taught English thanks to Intrepid's work with the village. We even had a go at some local instruments ourselves.
Dinner was at Sappingi's brother-in-law's house, a 15 minute walk away. However, is was absolutely pouring with rain and we were all slipping and sliding all over the place. This was a brilliant night, one of my best on the trip so far - the food was great, the people exceptionally friendly and lots of local spirits to keep the party going on well into the early hours.
It was Dennis' birthday the previous night and so he had a lot of rice wine early on, before he passed out on the couch in the living room. The rest of us continued as Sappingi toasted each of us before we drank. If the cup was left with a drop when turned over, another shot followed. Ruby, a friend of Han's and a fellow tour guide, was playing old classics on the guitar like 'Country Road'. As the night wore on, we played all sorts of games (with poles, on each other's backs, limbo), and slowly, those sensible ones, returned back to our nightspot.
Once again, Scotland (Kathleen and Jackie), Han and me were last out, I think around 4am. Apparently, we were very loud on our return and woke everyone up - don't believe it!
The next morning was a struggle as we went for a village tour - nothing special except Carina had a great fall.
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