The One with the Island Getaway

With a day of travelling through the Malaysian Jungle on the hottest and stickiest train in history, we arrived in Kota Bharu, before setting off the next day to the idyll that is Perhentian Kecil.

I had been told how w0nderful these islands were but to be honest, our first impression of Coral Beach was not good as it looked as though there was an oil rig in the bay... once on the white sands, however, we didn't look back, and as luck would have it we couldn't see the workers (who are actually building a new jetty) from our tree house style room.

Instead this is the view in the day:

And then as the sun starts to set:

We spend lazy days relaxing reading adn drinking M and M Milkshakes (and yes they are as good as they sound), but the highlight had to be our days snorkelling.

Rod and I set off, in our little motorised boat with our guide, and our first stop is Shark Point. Arfter a disappointing 20 minute swim we finally start to see lots of black tip reef sharks swimming below us. They are fab!

Next up was turtle point where Rod and I followed a Big turtle, waiting for him to come up for breath. We got a great close up view of him.

Then there was the fish. At one stage I was totally surrounded. Literally every time you tried to swim you were touching fish they were that close (H - more than at that last snorkelling site on Whitsundays!)

We also stopped further out at sea to see some beautiful coral, and then headed to the Romantic Beach where I saw the most Nemo's I have ever seen on one Anemone! Well over 20 of various sizes on one small purple anemone!

Perhentian Kecil was a paradise, but sadly it also marked the end of the holiday with Rod... and from now on, I'm on my own...

The One with the Blow Pipe

The Cameron Highlands are wonderful. Green and luscious, and much cooler than KL - so much that I even need a jumper in the evenings.

We book a tour for our first day and are joined by an American girl called Autumn, who is very good company.

Our first stop is the BOH (Best of Highlands) Tea Plantations. I am really glad I don't have to pick the tea. The women have to climb those hills with up to 20kg of leaves on their backs (the equivalent of my rucksack), and believe me, those hills are steep.

Our guide tells us that the leaves are used for all sorts of tea, and the flavour simply depends on how long they processed/ dried for!

We head up the hill to the highest point of the highlands which is shrouded in mist, and then go for a walk in the"jungle". We saw pitcher plants (right), and Rhod tried to climb a big vine.

Next stop was the BOH tea factory, where we saw the tea being processed, and more importantly got to try a cup! mmm.... lovely cuppa

Our last stop before lunch was the insect "farm"/zoo... where we held a rhinoceros beetle, cats eye gecko, and I held a scorpion. The photos have my head cut off.... Rhod was just desperate for me to put it down! The guide there was a nutter, stepping lightly on the scorpions claws to show it's tail flex to show you "what not to do" in the jungle!

Autumn is only doing the half day tour, so Rhod and I head off in the afternoon with our guide. We head down the hill to the wooden stilt houses we had seen the previous day on the bus ride up.

We're met by a guy in traditioanl costume -loin cloth, and a woven basket, carrying a mean looking knife and a blow pipe. His name was Ali. We follow Ali down the road to a waterfall, where he proceeds to pose for photos with his blow pipe and to shoot it at trees.

Back at the hosue we get to look inside. They have two monkeys chained outside (really sad). As I bend down to take a photo of one he jumps on me! This little boy was playing with the nice monkey for ages (the other had an attitude problem as well you might if you were chained up). This monkey then proceeded to groom the boys hair - it was very sweet.



We then got the chance to try the blowpipe. Randomly - I'm a natural at it and hit the middle of the board on my first shot. Rhod has a few goes first before he hits it. He also almost hits a rooster en route!

That evening we met up with Autumn and had a steamboat. It's like a fondue but with a soup instead of chocolate. You're given loads of fresh fish, meat veg and noodles and add it to the soup to boil and cook. There were prawns, Jellyfish, Stingray, Jellyfish, and Fish balls to name a few. We had to ask what to do when we were presented with all this food. Much to the amusement of the locals! Dinner took ages but was really good.

The next day we just took advantage of the sun and chilled. They're quite keen on their Cream Teas up here too so it would have been rude not to partake!

The One with the Bus Journey

Bus journey's in themselves don't often get a mention but our trip to the Cameron Highlands, was certainly eventfully enough to warrant a blog entry.

We were a little dubious as the woman with the walky talky started hassling us in the bus station but followed her, and had a ticket to the highlands in our hand moments later. Another unsuspecting tourist was also herded to her booth, and the three of us crossed the road, had our tickets stamped and boarded the bus which thankfully had all its wheels and had large comfortable chairs and air conditioning. We gave ourselves a pat on the back for our good fortune and settled back to enjoy the journey.

As we set out, I was at first engrossed in my book, and only later became aware that out top speed was a whopping 40 kmph - on the motorway, and that the driver felt the need to spend the whole journey in the hard shoulder.

Every so often, the engine would make a disconcerting bang, the driver would stop, and pull open the cover to the engine (which was INSIDE the bus), poke a bit, put it all back and carry on once more.

It was becoming increasingly clear that only the power of prayer would make this bus reach the dizzying heights of the Cameron Highlands, and as if to prove it, we stopped once more.

This time it was the wheel. Not the tyre... the wheel. One of the rear left wheels had come off the bus in it's entirety!

We had no option than to wait for the next bus which came along an hour and a half later, and boarded this bus with anticipation... but it soon was noticeable that there weren't enough seats.

The three jolly foreigners were placed right at the back of the bus. There seemed to be what looked like a parcel shelf at the back of the bus, and we perched uncomfortably on here with our backs upright against the back windscreen, until such times as other passengers were randomly dropped off on the hard shoulder of the motorway and seats became available.

As we curved the continuous bends up to the highlands, I began to realise how doomed our first bus really was!! So thankful that we arrived in one piece... what an adventure!

The One in KL

As we get up H is already on her way to Japan, and Rod and I get an early morning taxi to the train station.

The train ride is non eventful. We get stamped out of Singapore, but randomly do not get stamped back into Malaysia... and before we know it the 7 hour train ride is over and we're in KL.

Our hotel is the old train station and looks very grand from the outside with it's minarets and towers. Inside it's a bit musty, and very antiquated but at least it has character!

We chill out, have some dinner, and then head off to see the Petronas Towers, which are even more spectacular in real life than in the pictures!

Next day we stumble through multiple methods of public transport and finally get to the Batu Caves just outside of KL.

These are a Hindu temple and have 270 odd steps to get up into it. The caves themselves and the shrines inside them were not that spectacular, but the wild monkeys that roamed the steps were!

It made the climb up about 3 times as long, as you had to negotiate monkeys, and not get too close (boy they're scary when they're angry!) On the way back down a guy started throwing out bananas and a monkey tidal wave (Pied Piper of Hamelin Esque) flew down the stairs! They're very cute!

Back in town we tried to get the monorail which led to walking around in big circles in the humidity (which i am having trouble dealing with) Eventually, we found the station, just in time for the thunder storm.

We headed up the Minara Tower, where we had a 360 degree view of the city (shrouded in cloud) but sat and admired the lightening.

The One with the Singapore Sling

So Singapore sees the end of my time with H, who heads of to Japan, and the beginning of my time alone in SE Asia. Rod has come out for 2 weeks so that should give me some company while I get used to a totally different culture.

It's nice to be somewhere warm again after the last few days freezing in Sydney, but despite the warmth we still haven't managed to ditch the rain.

We spend our first day getting our bearings and avoiding the rain in the shopping centres on Orchard Road. While going for a drink we stumble across this can of pop: Anything which boasts "Any taste for any thirst" This is too good to be true and curiosity of what "Anything" will taste like leads us to buying a can

This drink makes me laugh for many reasons. Firstly - the boredom of the marketing team who obviously came up with the ambiguous name and slogan. Secondly - the fact that now if anyone who can't make up their mind what they want to drink and say "oh... get me Anything" on your round, you can come back with just that. And thirdly - the slogan itself. Surely "Any taste for any thirst" implies that well... Anything doesn't taste of anything. To be honest the taste is both awful and yet not unpleasant at the same time, and while you try and catagorise it's flavour in your head, or liken it to something you've had before, you realise it really doesn't taste of anything, and yet paradoxically it must do (being called Anything!). Ironic or what?!

Anyway sorry for the ramble but it highly amused me!

We decide to get our bearings by doing the duck tour (recommended by Cil who now lives in Singapore), and we were not disappointed. That evening we did the Night Safari at the Zoo. It was great to see so many of the animals that you usually only see curled up asleep, running about and being highly active in the fake moonlight. The otters were a particular favourite - they sound like Gordon the Gopher! The show was also very entertaining, especially the 10foot snake that took 4 people to hold. Sadly the only problem with it being a Night Safari is that I was quite tired adn the tram ride round the enclosures saw me nodding off from time to time!! Oops. I must be getting old!

Next day adn we go for a walk around Little India which is where our hostel is. We visited one of the Hindu temples, and checked out the flower garland shops, and the spice grinder. Then we headed over to Sentosa Island, a rather touristy area.

We immersed ourselves in the tourism nonetheless. Climbed the massive Merlion, visited the Images of Singapore museum which showed all the different cultures, religions and their ceremonies, which co exist in Singapore. I have to say that I love the fact that Singapore is such a melting pot of cultures and races. Next we did a tour of Fort Siloso for a bit of war history, and then a trip on the Cable Cars over to the mainland and back.

Our last full day in Singapore and we tackle China Town. We visited another Hindu Temple. Here, the decorative tower at the front of the temple is juxtaposed with the skyscrapers behind. Another symbol of the merging of cultures. We have lunch in a hawker stand. It's really hard to choose what to ahve as the names mean nothing to me. I looked at everyone elses dinners and started drooling but I had no way of knowing what anything was or where they had got it!!

We headed, then, to the CBD, said hello to the statue of Sir Stamford Raffles, and went to see the Merlion. And on the way back we had another random Singapore thing to try... ice cream wrapped in bread. I had Yam flavoured ice cream and the bread was marbled pink and green. Not exactly a taste sensation but another first at least!

We also heard about the Durian fruit. The locals think that the music halls downt eh front look like this popular Asian fruit. Westerners tastebuds apparantely don't like it (we didn't try it as the smell was bad enough) and the smell of them also stops them being carried on public transport as this sign shows!

Finally it was off to Raffles for our last night and a Singapore Sling. No one had told me how tasty they were!!!! We also ate the peanuts (very disappointing, they were Lionel!) and as tradition allows threw the shells on the floor. There is something very rewarding in doing that!

Our last stop was the Fountain of Wealth. Allegedly the largest fountain in the world. If you walk round it three times in a clockwork direction you are supposed to gain big fortune. We didn't understand that it was the tiny fountain in the middle you circled. A bit late for H who had powered 3 times round the large circumference in the hope of more pennies to prolong her trip!

And then, after nine months together, H and i said goodbye and went our seperate ways.... Miss you already dude!

The One with the Last Hurrah!

And so I find myself back where I started in the hostel in Sydney where H used to work.

We've spent our last couple of days here doing chores such as buying Malaria tablets, and sending home another box of stuff. My bag is such much lighter as a result.

The day we got here, we arrived at 5am, and couldn't get in the hostel until about 8am, and it was proper chilly. It feels like November, and I had 5 layers on and my woolly hat as a result. I don't think I'll cope this winter back home after a year in the sun!

The first night back we went out for dinner with Sue, Julie and Kevin at our favourite little restaurant Newtown Thai II. A great way to end our time in Oz, as we've spent several evenings here, and we're ending the trip in the company of the people we started it with. Thanks for taking us out guys, all your advice, and once again for taking the time to show us around when we got here!

Our last night in Oz was also well spent, in the company of Phil and Ray from Centrica. We had several cocktails and spent the evening catching up on all the gossip!

And so I'm off to Asia, and in just a few days will part company with H.

Australia has been fantastic. A country of complete diversity - deserts, tropics, reefs, and bush, and some of the strangest (and deadliest) animals on earth! Plus a land of opportunities. To think I've jumped from 14,000 feet, swam with sharks, and licked the bottom of a Green Ant.

I've also ticked off a few stereotypes - Played a didg, tried to Surf, and munched on kangaroo, and even a witchetty grub. And of course drunk a few cans of Beer!

Plus I've also picked up a few choice phrases: "No Worries, Mate" "She'll be Alright, mate", "Far out" and "Too Easy!"

I'm very fond of Oz now, but it's time to move on to the final chapter of the adventure.

The One with Falling from 14,000 ft

So I find myself back in New South Wales, in the very beautiful Byron Bay, and I suddenly wish that I hadn't bothered to stop in Surfers at all!

With clear blue skies, I decide to sign up for my skydive so that I don't change my mind or have a sleepless night panicing about it.

Randomly, I have a weird sense of calm as I sit on the bus. I have a few butterflies, but by the time I'm given my trousers and am being harnassed up, I'm starting to get very excited indeed!

My Instructor is called Dave and is from Skeggy. He's a real laugh, telling me it's his first jump, and lots of other bad jokes. There are four of us jumping from 14,000 feet, 2 Irish girls and a brazilian girl. So there are 12 of us in the back of this plane (4 instructors, 4 camera men and 4 victims!).

We take off and I'm no longer worried, I'm just enjoying the view. We can see the Humpback Whales migrating even from up here, and it's such a beautiful day. Just as i think that we can't possibly go any higher, I'm told we're half way up!!!!

Finally we reach the optimum height and one by one the pairs shuffle forward on their bottoms to the edge of the plane. It's an odd sensation being this high in a plane with the door open! We go last so I watch 3 other pairs of lemmings drop from the sky before it's my turn, and I'm really excited!

We dangle our legs and before I know it we're in the air.

It's a strange sensation. You don't feel like you're falling, more like your suspended, and yet the feeling of the windrush on your face, (and up your nose - which hurts like if you dive into a swimming pool and get water up your nose) tells you that you're not. I think the sheer elation in this photo tells it all.




I free fall for 70 seconds and then the canopy is opened. Dave, my instructor, goes a bit mad with the aero display, and I lose my stomach several times over as we swoop around. And then, before we know it we're landing. The most amazing experience!!!

It's hard to top, but the next day H and I do a really nice walk in the sun up to the light house.

We pass the most Easternly point in Australia, see pods of Dolphins, and some more migrating whales, and just enjoy the view of the bay itself. It's a shame we don;t have more time to stay here. I love it!

But we're back on the Greyhound bus for the last time as it winds it's way back to Sydney.

The One in Sufferer's Paradise

I think the word Paradise has been used with a touch of poetic license here, or else it could certainly be called up on trading standards for mis representation.

The beach is nice enough, but lined with sky rise hotels which shadow the beach in the afternoon, and the rest of the town is merely touristy.

I know I'm a tourist too, but there is nothing here of interest.

We made the most of it. Perused the shops. Posed for photos, but one day was even too much.

The bus driver called it Sufferer's Paradise, and I can see why.

The One with Mannface

From Noosa, we head to Brisbane, and a chance to catch up with my housemate from Uni Lisa, and her boyfriend Mick.

For those of you who don't know Mannface, I'm not being mean with the nickname - as you can see she's totally gorgeous and in no way masculine, but once someone is branded with a nickname, it's very hard to get out of calling them that.

I had two objectives for Brisbane - 1) see Mannface 2) hold a Koala at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.

So on the Saturday morning, after a wander around the New Farm Farmers Markets and a yummy al fresco breakfast, Mannface drove us to said sanctuary and I got to cuddle a koala.

Cuddle is an interesting word. Avoid getting my eyes scratched out by, might be a more apt description. For some reason this Koala took a dislike to me. It was taken a way - given a stern talking to, fed some Eucalyptus leaves (which obviously drugged it into a stupor) and it came back happy to pose! She was very soft though so I forgave her.

We also got a chance to feed the kangaroos. They ate right out of our hands (sticky work), but were also very cute.

The weather was unbelievably cold, so after a hearty lunch, we just chilled out at the flat in fron t of the heater, before heading out to "The Valley" to sample Brisbanes night life. I like it here, the city has a funky style to it!

The next day I was glad to see the sun was out, and we caught the ferry into the city centre. Here we saw the "beach" - a sandpit by a salt water paddling pool - complete with life guards - looked around more market stalls, stopped for several coffees, and even
went for a culture stop at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA)

Here my favourite piece was by a Buddhist Thai guy, who every day chose one article from the paper, used the paper to make a Papier Mache model of something which represented the story, and then wrote his response to the story in Thai on the model. He did this over 2 years and there were over 300 models. Very interesting.

We caught the ferry back to New Farm, had dinner, and then went to see Pirates of the Carribbean at the cinema (the less said about that the better)

I've had a great time in Brisbane, and it was so good to catch up with Mannface. Thanks for having us dude! Look forward to seeing you again soon!

The One with the Surf Lesson

With a day or so in Noosa, we decided to have a surf lesson.

As you can see from the photos, I was surfing on tiny waves, in water which went up to my waist! We had two little girls (7 and 9) in our lesson, and both of them managed to stand up quicker (and more often than I did)

Having shown people the technique we were taught since, I'm not sure that it's something the professionals would use, but it seemed to work.

I never seem to make it totally out of the "squat" position though, and always seem to have a bit of a kack-handed finger thing going on. As always, I'm ooze style and grace in everything I do!

That said, it was awesome. I'm totally hooked, and despite the cold water back home, am totally going to have surf lessons either in Cornwall or the Gower next summer!

The One with a Reunion in Peanut Country

Back at Hervey Bay we are met by Janelle (who we met on the Canyons Trip back in the USA). We are going to stay with them for a couple of days. Tonight however we stay at her parents holiday home in Hervey Bay, where we all have a very pleasant evening, chatting and eating a yummy roast.

The next day, and after 3 days of rain, the sun is out, on cue, for our trip down the Sunshine Coast. We head through Gympie (an old gold mining area), Coolum, and Maroochydore, before heading inland to the Ginger Factory. We didn't actually go in but it was good for a few funny photos (mainly due to the colour of Rhod's hair!)

Now in the mood for silly photos we also head to Nambour's Big Pineapple. I had head about Australia's "Big Things" from one of Danny Wallace's books, and was pleased to get to see at least one before we headed home.

It's not so big!!!

We drive back to Kingaroy the scenic route, so that we can see the Glasshouse Mountains - absolutely beautiful in the afternoon light.

Back to Kingaroy, and we catch up with the lads - Lionel, Brendan and Hayden. Considering we'd konwn these guys all of 3 days, it feels like meeting life long friends, and conversation certainly never runs dry. We also get to try some Australian Fayre - Rocky Road and Pavlova.

Next day, and we've brought the rain with us. The Wiecks rejoice at being able to squelch in the garden, and once more I'm reminded the serious drought that Oz has. This rain could make all the difference for the farmers of the region. Once the boys are off at Work and School, we have a tour of the farm, and the local area,a nd the city heathen that I am, I learn how peanuts grow (on a bush, but on taps under the ground!)

Then we're up to the Bunya Mountains, swathed in cloud and mist, but a good opportunity to see wallabies and a kookaburra as well as the brightly coloured parrots that live in the trees here.

We have another lovely evening, and I'm sad to know that tomorrow we'll be back on our way.
Lionel (who also works for the PCA - Peanut Company of Australia) - brought home a big bag of flavoured samples to try. Lionel for your information, in order of preference: Sweet and Salty, Salt and Vinegar, Cajan, Malaysian Curry, Butterscotch and Caramel, and Chili and Lime.

Thank you all so much for your kindness and hospitality, and I know we'll see you again soon!

The One on Fraser

Next stop Hervey Bay, and another 3 day trip this time to Fraser Island. Fraser is interesting in that although it is entirely sand, there is still a lot of vegetation including large trees.

We are put in groups of ten and have to come up with a shopping list. We will be with these people for the next 3 days, and they could make or break the trip! Luckily we had a fantastic bunch (including a chef - so that was the food side of things sorted!

We head to camp shed to pick up the 4WD jeeps and all the equipment, and then head to Woollies to buy a whole lot of (mainly own brand) food. Fitting it all back in the vehicle proved a bit of a riddle, and the whole thing was turning into an Anneka Rice style event, as we kept looking at the other two groups and trying to beat them out of the Woollies Car Park.

Finally we were on the ferry across, and before we knew it we were putting the brakes to work on the downhill sections of the inner tracks of the island, which made you jolt around. You need 4WD vehicles here for very good reason.

At such a slow rate, it took us quite while to reach the beach which is also the road. The other two groups decided to have lunch here, but we set off on our own.

We stopped at the Shipwreck of the Maheno for some pictures, and then headed to set up camp and make lunch. Out tents were less than rubbish and very antiquated. One pole held the tent up and with the slightest nudge you would be smothered in canvas. Plus the tarpaulins for the top did not fit over the tent, and there were not enough guy ropes. It need very creative thinking, and looked a bit of a shambles to be honest!

With camp sorted we headed up to Indian head (where we spotted our first Dingo) and then back to camp where we sat to have a drink before dinner.

Then the rain started... we clambered into the back of the van, and had a couple more drinks. In the end the rain stopped about 10pm and we managed to make a sausage sandwich or two before crawling into bed, to find 2 of the tents had flooded. This resulted in at one time 6 people in a 3 man tent, and several people asleep in the van!

Next day we were up and about early, and luckily the sun was shining so we could dry the tents off a bit.

We headed to Eli Creek. A freshwater stream that pumps out tons of clear water per minute and as such you can float down it towards the beach. At times it's a bit shallow however so you need to commando crawl a bit!

Then we met up with the other two groups and set up a campsite together. In the afternoon we walked to Lake Wabby, which involves a 1 km walk across a Sand Blow. it looks like the Sahara Desert and involves a lot of ups and downs on sand dunes. I decided to roll down one!

Lake Wabby was a green coloured lake at the bottom of a steep sand dune and we went for a well deserved swim despite the weather looking particularly murky again.

Back at camp the weather holds off long enough for dinner this evening, but we hear the rain on the canvas all night long. We must have done a better job this time as only one tent floods.

I forgot to mention that with only 3 drivers (over 21, and who are used to manual cars) amongst ten of us, the poor group were subjected to my driving. on day 3 this was particularly fun,a s once more we headed on the bumpy inland roads.

Our final stop was Lake McKenzie. Despite the rain it was still beautiful. Again clear turquoise coloured water and soft white sands. Of the three groups barely anyone went in, and of our ten it was the 6 British who ventured in the water (which was surprisingly warm considering the weather)

Too soon it's time to head landward once more, and time to get the sand out of EVERYTHING I took with me!