Back in KK in the midafternoon we checked back into Lucy's homestay. Stiffly a few of us climbers made our way to have Christmas dinner at Little Italy, a splurge that cost a bit more than 10$CAD. No turkey to be had. The italian wine was delicious. Back at the hostel a group of Irish had prepared a meal for Lucy's sons who ran the lodge while she was away - when we got back we each had a taste of the delicious roasted bird - ahhhh Christmas at last!

I met a Danish guy on the mountain who also hopes to go to the Philippines. Armed with stories from a travel agent in Sandakan he instilled a hesitance in me over this trip - surely the stories were rumours?
After a lot of time on the net, I was a bit reassured.
On the busy street in front of the internet shop I ran into a guy that was staying at the hostel a few nights ago, and was introduced to a filipino tourist; he was heading to Zamboanga via Sandakan too and didn't mind escorting Per (danish guy) and I. Great guy from Davao, lots of fun, "Mindanao is safe!" "I'll show you around!"...

Tomorrow we will catch a bus to Sandakan (8hrs) and then take the next ferry to the Philippines, a 20hour sailing that will surely be an adventure in itself. I am registering with the Canadian embassy, just to be on the safe side...