A Resort Wedding Outside Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
On Thursday, we left Kuala Lumpur on a Malaysia Airlines flight to Kota Kinabalu. The flight was only a few hours without turbulence or entertainment, though most of it was over water.
Our spicy chicken and roti meal arrived as I was deep in imagining what it would be like if our plane crashed into the ocean. It was some nice roti.
We saw little of Kota Kinabalu, as our destination was a plush resort 45 minutes away by taxi.
The taxi driver drove quickly and the suspension of the aging compact Toyota sedan rattled on the bumps. A variety of interesting buildings passed by the window, as the scenery gave way to jungly hills both pristine and bulldozed.
Early evening, we arrived at the lobby and were greeted by a super enthusiastic employee who orchestrated a lot of embarrassing and unnecessary activities to make our arrival feel special.
Luckily, the future bride and groom were passing through. We embraced, caught up, and went to our room to freshen up before meeting again at one of the outdoor bars.
Dark hallways open to the mild tropical air.
Banana tongue vogues.
Night pétanque.
The master.
J and the table.
For the next few days, J and I enjoyed swimming in the pool, visiting with the couple and their friends, going on a nature walk through and orangutan sanctuary, playing beach volleyball, and watching some epic beach sunsets.
The wedding ceremony was sweaty and beautiful. The meal afterwards: multicultural gut buster.
Plumeria.
Segway racetrack, no racers.
White sands.
Sail.
Sand bubbler crabs making their little sand balls.
These guys were ambitious.
Follow the arrow.
Rubs the lotion on his skin or he gets sunburned again.
Tropical plant shadows.
Breakfast tables.
Patio, pool, and ocean.
Dominating the groom-to-be.
Our porch.
Sunset.
A lone man watches the sun hit the water.
Palm trees.
Silhouette birds.
Macaw.
Carpenter Bee.
Lounging ghots.
Viper digesting a bat.
Young orangutans.
Long tailed monkey.
Seeds.
Trail view.
Another trail view.
Tree penises.
Snake.
Translucent leaf.
Banana flower.
Thinking hard.
The woman with the iPhone bling.
Bros.
Petals.
A shy dolphin.
Family of the bride.
Me, D, and J.
Formerly strangers.
Martial arts buddies.
The beautiful couple.
Sunset.
The outdoor feast.
The flames of love burn sootily.
This social sloth was honored to be invited to witness two attractive and friendly souls get bound by love and law.
I tried my best to flutter like a butterfly, and enjoyed not having to worry about what to do.
But I itched to choose my own adventure again.