08/04/2002
Jimmy from Iceland's FLASH intro is up and running, let me know what you think.
Spent another lazy day with the natives. Little Marlowe seems to feed all day long, his mother looks exhausted. They live a relatively sedantrry life most of the time, sitting around scratching, belching and throwing things into the river. You appreciate the simple things in life out here with no television or books or other distractions. I could watch the rain on the river all day, listen to the birds, watch the animals and lie in the sun.
UPDATE....
I am so bored. All the natives seem to do is sit around lately. I tried to rouse them into learning some more Beatles songs but they threatened me with spears.
07/04/2002
Today the rain stopped for most of the day, and I sat with the men and talked. We dipped spider into tins of beans, we sang tribal chants and I got quite badly sunburnt. I remember now why I wear clothes out here most of the time.
Jimmy from Iceland sent me a FLASH intro for marlowe, I will upload it soon, but please when you E-Mail me , bear in mind that I have limited battery time and large E-Mail attachments can be a real pain.
Thanks to Greta from New York for your pictures, they were very interesting and I see tuppeware in a whole new light now.
06/04/2002
My face hurts.
I've decided to stay a bit longer here, now I have suffered the bone through my nose, things can't really get much worse. I spent today out in the jungle with the men, they move so swiftly and gracefully, with almost feline precision, I feel woefully inadequate macheteing my way behind them. I did impress them with the range of insects I can kill and eat, they started clapping and cheering after my eighth spider. The sad thing is, they seem to go hunting for animals and flowers so they can exchange them for tinned western food up the river. I sit around the fire eating grubs and leaves while the natives open tins of Heinz sausage and beans. It seems so wrong.
05/04/2002
My face is so swollen I can see my temples out of the corner of my eye. I tried to pull the bone out but the natives stopped me, they seemed frantic so I gave in and passed out instead. Days like this I wish I'd stayed at home.
Thanks to Rob for the E-Mail advice on how to breathe with my new nose enhancement, it really helped and the bleeding has eased now. I wish I'd started with my ears, nipples or eyebrow though, the nose bridge was never meant to be peirced like this, I might never wear sunglasses ever again.
Now that the tribe have drugged me and mutilated my face, the sound of them singing the song I taught them has a bittersweet ring to it. "All you need is love" , all I need is some antiseptic, a bonesaw and a team of paramedics.
04/04/2002
I woke up this morning after last nights party with the worst headache I have ever had, then I put my hand up to my nose and found out why.
The bridge of my nose is pierced and has a bloody big bone stuck in it.
I am not happy.
I guess the crushed beetle stuff they fed me last night must have got me VERY stoned, I remember dull images, loud sounds, I do not remember anyone mutilating my nose. It hurts like hell, and if I don't get it out somehow I am going to go cross-eyed looking at the thing. On the plus side, the women in the tribe seem to regard me very highly now, stroking my face, giggling and smiling at me. I think I've passed some sort of initiation, and I suppose their are worse things they could have peirced.
03/04/2002
They seem to be throwing a party!
The fire is roaring, the woman have been crushing beetles into some sort of drink that tastes of oaky paintstripper and makes my head buzz. They are all dancing and I'm going to join them, they seem the happiest , most gentle people and I can't imagine their idea of a party is all that bad. Wish me luck.
02/04/2002
There is something coming up, I'm not sure what. The old woman (I think her name is either Kanab or Cocab, not sure which) drew two moons in the sand and pointed to me. I hope they don't still want me to marry anyone or circumcise me with a blunt knife.
01/04/2002
I think I sucessfully explained that I have no wish to marry Kinny. We had a group meeting and the old woman translated. Kinny cried, some of the men followed her and when she came back she put her hand on my forehead and said "Marlowe". Everything has been cool since then, but the women are not as warm and friendly toward me.
BORNEO DIARY 
