Sheet Metal Monsters...

Day 27. And I'm so glad to see it! Well feck me, what a night! At around 5am i was woken by some rustling and gnawing sounds below me and to my right. Crap! I'd left my bag and all my kit on the floor! The first time I'd done such a thing! Being the jungle, it was pitch black all around... so the fear starts... and I was too scared to even MOVE an inch! So I lay there in my hammock, head torch in hand, not daring to turn it on, with the sounds of scuttling continuing below me. Literally just below my arse! I knew it must be some sort of animal, perhaps originating from the sheet metal. Therefore, I should of known that it would be small, but oh no! The only thoughts going through my mind were "bear... puma... monster". I lay hammock-bound with absolute fear for about an hour, wanting to cry for help, or turn on my torch, but not having the guts to do so. After the most terrifying hour of my life, I dozed off due to sheer tiredness. The noises had also subsided...
By morning I learned that the mysterious creatures (although likely to be rats, other rodents or civets) had paid visits to Calvey, Emma and a few others. I wasn't alone in my terrified state! The monsters had lived in the sheet metal, and had probably returned to their corregated castle by daylight. I kicked the metal a few times to annoy "them"...
I frantically tried to disinfect my kit in the river, using handwash soap... it didn't feel or look clean no matter how much scrubbing and rinsing I did! The monsters had also gnawed my bag strap, played with my bowl and crawled over my socks - i was far from pleased! I donated my bowl to the guides, as I was NEVER EVER going to eat from that rat-piss thing anymore! Other members of our team did the same, making us feel guilty for giving them diseased reject items, although they did ask for them! And guess where the guides put all their newly acquired kit? Yup. Under the sheet metal!
So it was the final walk & hurdle back to Bario this morning, and it was only going to be about an hour and a half! Thus not being too hard. And it was over familiar ground (the same damn trail that we'd used when we set off from Bario!)
Once in Bario, me and Calvey took Gabriel by surprise and hoisted him over the "finishing line"! We didn't go and stay in Nancy's house again, but instead we walked (a fair distance!) to a nicer homestay! It had free Milo, tea, coffee etc, a TV, loadsa seats and was bigger and more spacious with loads of rooms. It was also clean! What a nice end to all the walking! Even "The Bucket" shower was relieving, despite how cold it was!
We did return to Nancy's for a "take-away" lunch, then the rest of the afternoon was much-deserved lazy time, ready for the Bario BBQ in the evening. The excitement!
At this new hostel, there was a girl with really bad food poisoning - she looked terrible, AND was going to have to trek tomorrow. Oh dear. I'm so glad I haven't had anything worse than mild squits yet! YET!
That night, the BBQ was a gathering for all World Challenge, Trekforce etc teams in the area (more than you think!) and many locals, with lotsa food (donuts!), singing, random conga-lining and the cooliest blow-dart warrior man ever! Dang, he could aim! It was held inside Bario's main village hall, which was pretty damn spacious! "Ceiling trapdoors..."
Some bastard smashed up the hall's toilets, probably someone linked to that annoying twat guy from the other team, who HAD to be centre of attention. Their team was the worst ever!
Anyway, we were forced to re-do our rendition of Brown-Eyed girl in front of everyone (about 100+), and cacked it up, resulting with us being presented with "sympathy chicken!" Classic!
Another classic line came when we were watching a Scottish team perform something typically Scottish... Samira asks, "Are they Scottish then?!"
The night seemed to last forever, but we escaped early...

We walked home, singing...