Into the Wilds of Borneo- Part 3

3/12/09 Into the Wilds of Borneo Day 3 Daybreak comes early (funny, it still feels like nighttime) and we’re off and running to see the sights of Kota Kinabalu. First up, a tour of the city. Kota Kinabalu is a bustling city; the perfect place to stop and get your bearings after flying into Borneo. If you forgot to pack something, you can more than likely find it here before you take off to the more remote areas of the island. For Ty and me, it’s a great place to catch our breath before flying to the island to Mabul. We cruised around the city with a tour guide to get a general feel for the place. It’s truly a cultural melting pot, as Malay, Chinese, Indian and Filipino busily go about their business while Western and Asian visitors like us weave their way through the crowds. There’s also an incredible mix of cosmopolitan versus traditional here in Kota Kinabalu. Modern skyscrapers compete for attention with the State Mosque and local temples. And yet, Borneo’s oldest resident, Mother Nature, is never far away. Mount Kinabalu towers above the city and examples of traditional Borneo dwellings are only minutes away. Our last stop before heading to the PADI Course Director Training Course graduation dinner is at the Monsopiad Cultural Village, about 30 minutes outside of KK. This was probably one of our favorite stops because, in addition to learning how the locals once lived (and still do in more remote areas of Borneo), we were welcomed with a cold cup of local rice wine. Gotta love that! Here, we watched the graceful moves of more local dancers, learned how village housing was made, tested our hunting abilities using blow darts and slingshots (Ty and I will definitely starve if lost in the jungle), and visited the House of Skulls , where 42 warrior skulls still hang from the ceiling; conquests of the great warrior, Monsopiad, from a time that has now long past. A couple cups of rice wine (okay, so I was a little shaken up after hangin’ with the skulls) and a quick shower later and we’re on our way to the CDTC graduation dinner. Thirty-nine PADI Course Director candidates from all over the world have been testing for the past two weeks to learn if they have what it takes to become a part of this elite crowd. Only PADI Course Directors may offer PADI Instructor-level training, and to qualify at this level, you have to be the best of the best in everything diving. This group of guys and gals has been testing in the classroom, pool and ocean for the past two weeks. There have been a lot of long days in the water and long nights studying. But tonight, it’s all worth it, as all 39 candidates have passed and are ready to take on the new responsibilities of a PADI Course Director. To help celebrate their achievement, the honorable Datuk Masidi Manjun, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment for Sabah has chosen to attend the festivities. Members of the CDTC staff, including my friend and colleague, James Morgan, are truly honored by the minister’s presence at the event. They’re also a little nervous. The candidates are ready to celebrate and not necessarily in “a-dignitary-is-in-the-house-so-be-on-your-best-behavior” mode. Will the CDTC be welcome back to Sabah next year??? The minister takes the stage to congratulate the candidates and extends a welcome on behalf of all the people in Malaysia. He’s very eloquent in his presentation. After sharing his obvious love and passion for Sabah and all it has to offer, he says shares these final words of wisdom with the group: “And now, I invite you all to let loose and party!” Yeah, I’d say the CDTC will be welcome back to Sabah next year; and the minister is one of the coolest guys ever! Ty and I slipped out shortly before 10 PM. We have an early flight to catch. The next leg of our adventure is about to begin as we travel to Borneo’s northwest coast and the islands of Mabul and Sipidan. Entered by Theresa Gulledge, PADI Diving Society Manager, PADI Americas