s/v Field Trip

Marina Rats Since arriving into the Labuan Marina in Sarawak, Malaysia, one topic has continuously come up in conversations with other cruisers - beware of the rats .  Rats?  Yes, rats.  Immediately my mind envisions a yellow-toothed rodent nibbling on the apples in our fruit basket, scurrying across our countertops, and chewing the rubber coating off the wires behind the ship’s control panel.  Rats are not welcomed aboard Field Trip.  Hospitality ends here.  Up until this point, the varmints have kept their scrubby paws off our boat, but the sheer number of rats estimated to be roaming the docks here has me thinking that the chances of a furry stowaway are inevitable.  In the first day we’re here, we see two roaming rodents.  It is time to fortify Field Trip before the enemies can invade.  “Of all horrors in the world - a rat!”  Winston in the novel 1984. How will they get aboard?  Where do we start? Rats ar...

BRUNEI - Lessons in Luxury Brunei has a tiny land mass, but a big bank account.  It is smaller than the state of Delaware, but boasts billions in petroleum revenue.  This conservative Muslim country has had its share of controversy recently, but we wanted to see the place for ourselves and learn what we could while we were traveling along the west coast of Borneo.  Turns out, the learning was as plentiful as the oil reserves, and we left knowing much more than when we’d arrived.    ABSOLUTE MONARCHY The school kids here don’t have to memorize the names of this country’s numerous past presidents.  Every four to eight years there’s not a new guy in office.  Brunei is a sultanate, ruled by a Muslim king who’s title is passed down through generations.  In fact, it’s been the same sultan here in Brunei for the last 50+ years.  Kids in school here don’t get off too easy, though, because they are required to memorize the sultan’...

Our Field Trip to Mulu National Park Diary entry by Elizabeth We packed up and got ready for our adventure the day before our plane ride. Our whole family had to fit the clothing and miscellaneous things in Mom’s roller bag and Dad’s backpack. I folded Michael’s, Dad’s, and my clothes the ‘travel way’ that I’d learned from a few how-to Y outube videos. This let us bring more things like all of the camelbaks  (Mom’s fanny-pack, Michael’s small backpack, and my large one). I am glad that we brought these because we used them every day for water and storage. Dad also brought his drone and camera bag (with the Nikon inside) and Mom brought her purse.  When we got to the airport the next day, I was nervous because Dad said the plane was going to be a twin prop! The whole clear in and security check, I was picturing the scene from Hatchet (when the boy was in a single prop plane and crashed)! When I saw the plane, I sighed in relief! It was just like a normal plane but s...