30/5/09 - Hat Yai to Ko Lanta
Up, packed, brekkie over the road consisted of tuna salad & J had the usual Pad Thai noodles!
Checked out & hailed a Tuk Tuk to the main bus station. Saw a cute kiddie on the way who kept waving at us foreigners, bless! Eventually got the mini bus to Trang for 100B pp 2 hours & result the bus didn't stop every 10 mins to drop someone off yippee!
Arrived at Trang train station after another hairy minibus drive & booked our onward bus to Ko Lanta Yai with the promise of a hotel/beach bungalow for 600B. Had a quick lunch then off to another minivan (found out we'd been ripped off again!)& two car ferries later we arrived! Haggled with the lady in the Tourist office for a bungalow, sooo tired I just want somewhere nice, free of rat poo, insects that has a nice pool! No crying though this time! Booked into 'Blue Adaman' for 500b pn, double room, ensuite, tv & aircon approx a tenner let's see what it's like! Another ride in the back of a cattle truck, funny down a dirt track & we arrived. Lush bungalow, lush pool, hallelujah bring it on & the best bit is the price drops to 400B tomorrow, yes let the hols commence! Big sigh of relief!
Dumped bags, had Happy Hour cocktails in the bar, strangest Long Island Ice Tea I've ever had but the cheapest, watched the sunset ahhhh.
Both vowed to drink water (during the day - come on now!) & to eat fruit for brekkie!
J fell asleep watching the FA Cup!
31/5/09-3/6/09
Spent the last few days lazing by the pool, very quiet here off season. Watched sunsets, v.nice ate, the waitress kept mixing up the orders & it was difficult to tell what was what in the dark....
On our last day we hired a moped, I was on the back no surprise there that Ginge didn't trust me & we went all around the island, didn't take long! Four pounds for the whole day, not bad. Had a nice home made ciabatta sandwich for lunch, made a change from the bungalow food.
Met a guy called Rich & a strange lady in her 60's who'd been travelling forever! Rich decided to come to Phi Phi with us the next day in search of 'striking limestone formations!'& the James Bond Island. Left J & Rich drinking & went to bed.
Oh, we managed to get a discount on the bus ticket from 'smiler' that's gotta be a 1st!
Friday 29 May 2009
Thursday 28 May 2009
27/05/2009 - 29/05/2009 Hat Yai
27/05/2009 - Mummy's Birthday, we sent some flowers
4 hours on the shuttle, no probs thru border and visa all good.. English Budhist with mobile phone and smoking at every chance, didn't seem right... he was delighted that Thailand were an hour behind so he could still eat before 12... we think thats cheating a bit
What a crap hole, I thought Nic was going to cry again... nice hotel tho, we are staying at the Kosit http://www.kosithotel.com/ for about 10.0 per night, made sure we had satellite TV ready for the champs league final which I just about stayed awake to see then fell asleep, woke up 4 minutes into it to see the first Barca goal, then I woke again with Nic moaning about the noise when Alex ferguson was being interviewed... gutted I missed it.. I hear Utd weren't up to it, did they really miss Darren Fletcher that much? they will probably re-run it today (28th).
we wandered, got a Tuk Tuk down to the main bus station, some wierd girl jumped on with us for the ride, kept squeezing my leg, very strange, and singin, Nic was well pissed off!!! got ripped off a bit apparently Tuk Tuk should be 20 Baht a person, we paid 60... will know for tomorrow (29th)... we'll need to get back down there for a bus tomorrow, should be fun, can't buy a ticket just pay as you get on, they go to Trang every 40 mins..
We met some really nice guys from Singapore, Leo, Li and Eye.. we sat chatting for ages and they invited us to dinner with them, they are Muslim so we went to a Halal place, no pork on the premises, Eye ordered everything, they even slyly paid... we had Sea fungus, like white mushroom, salt fish, dry beef, rice, veg, Tom yam prawn soup, fish noodle salad, was really good...
We saw an elephant in the street after, very odd, they wanted you to buy food to feed it...
We took the guys for a drink, they don't drink alcohol but gave us a chance to chat a bit more..
We might see them tomorrow, they are getting mopeds... Nics isn't feeling too good so we'll see... I had to check the symptoms of swine flu for her...
28/05/2009
Nic still not too good... went and found Dim Sum which was really good... we came back to the Hotel to do a bit of the blogg, Nic felt ill again so went up 3 hours ago, I've been sitting here for 5 hours according to the time, thats 100 Baht altogether... and I need a beer.. have finished everythin since Singapore, not bad with me 2 finger typing... we now need to catch up New zealand
Don't know what we'll do later, should go see the guys from last night...
We picked up the email from Mich about Bob popping the question, well done guys...
TO BE CONTINUED....
Nic here! Well, we ventured out again for dinner, I was feeling a bit better. Wandered around & saw the guys from Singapore & walked around a shopping mall with them for a bit....J resisted the nice white Y fronts! Said godbye to the guys & found a restaurant for dinner. Mmmmm Chicken & Ginger, rice, veggies & crispy pork all washed down with a beer for J & another water for me! God 1st beer free day for ages! Back to the hotel stopping on route for room supplies, beers, OJ & some nice fresh fruit from a roadside stall! Watched a movie then bed!
29/5/09
Got up, I'm feeling a bit better so went for brekkie which was a disaster, ham & eggs on toast but their toast has sugar in it so didn't taste that good. Stopped for another dim sum brekkie, so, so, then off to the internet cafe to update BLOG on NZ & J's looking at Ko Lanta accomodation, looking good nice beach bungalow's with pool! Yes we decided where to go next!
Well after hours in the internet cafe & finding the most recent Lonely Planet guide to Thailand where it said not to go to H.Yai because of it's terrorist bombings we found the Irish bar & 4 vodka tonics & a few beers later we were steamin!
I went to 'Siam & Guy' instead of 'Toni & Guy' for a haircut, Jay came looking for me after 1 hour as he was worried, ahh bless!! Really gopod haircut, bit short but straight & shiny yes!
Beers in hotel then out for dinner to a steakhouse for fried chicken, pork steak & proper veggies yum. Found a bar with a funny menu that included crispy swamp cabbage, Pork innards, deep fried snake head & stinky bean with pork! Oh & not forgetting deep fried bird with garlic & pepper! Obviously this was the best dish in the house!
Off now for sleep before journey tomorrow to ko Lanta!
4 hours on the shuttle, no probs thru border and visa all good.. English Budhist with mobile phone and smoking at every chance, didn't seem right... he was delighted that Thailand were an hour behind so he could still eat before 12... we think thats cheating a bit
What a crap hole, I thought Nic was going to cry again... nice hotel tho, we are staying at the Kosit http://www.kosithotel.com/ for about 10.0 per night, made sure we had satellite TV ready for the champs league final which I just about stayed awake to see then fell asleep, woke up 4 minutes into it to see the first Barca goal, then I woke again with Nic moaning about the noise when Alex ferguson was being interviewed... gutted I missed it.. I hear Utd weren't up to it, did they really miss Darren Fletcher that much? they will probably re-run it today (28th).
we wandered, got a Tuk Tuk down to the main bus station, some wierd girl jumped on with us for the ride, kept squeezing my leg, very strange, and singin, Nic was well pissed off!!! got ripped off a bit apparently Tuk Tuk should be 20 Baht a person, we paid 60... will know for tomorrow (29th)... we'll need to get back down there for a bus tomorrow, should be fun, can't buy a ticket just pay as you get on, they go to Trang every 40 mins..
We met some really nice guys from Singapore, Leo, Li and Eye.. we sat chatting for ages and they invited us to dinner with them, they are Muslim so we went to a Halal place, no pork on the premises, Eye ordered everything, they even slyly paid... we had Sea fungus, like white mushroom, salt fish, dry beef, rice, veg, Tom yam prawn soup, fish noodle salad, was really good...
We saw an elephant in the street after, very odd, they wanted you to buy food to feed it...
We took the guys for a drink, they don't drink alcohol but gave us a chance to chat a bit more..
We might see them tomorrow, they are getting mopeds... Nics isn't feeling too good so we'll see... I had to check the symptoms of swine flu for her...
28/05/2009
Nic still not too good... went and found Dim Sum which was really good... we came back to the Hotel to do a bit of the blogg, Nic felt ill again so went up 3 hours ago, I've been sitting here for 5 hours according to the time, thats 100 Baht altogether... and I need a beer.. have finished everythin since Singapore, not bad with me 2 finger typing... we now need to catch up New zealand
Don't know what we'll do later, should go see the guys from last night...
We picked up the email from Mich about Bob popping the question, well done guys...
TO BE CONTINUED....
Nic here! Well, we ventured out again for dinner, I was feeling a bit better. Wandered around & saw the guys from Singapore & walked around a shopping mall with them for a bit....J resisted the nice white Y fronts! Said godbye to the guys & found a restaurant for dinner. Mmmmm Chicken & Ginger, rice, veggies & crispy pork all washed down with a beer for J & another water for me! God 1st beer free day for ages! Back to the hotel stopping on route for room supplies, beers, OJ & some nice fresh fruit from a roadside stall! Watched a movie then bed!
29/5/09
Got up, I'm feeling a bit better so went for brekkie which was a disaster, ham & eggs on toast but their toast has sugar in it so didn't taste that good. Stopped for another dim sum brekkie, so, so, then off to the internet cafe to update BLOG on NZ & J's looking at Ko Lanta accomodation, looking good nice beach bungalow's with pool! Yes we decided where to go next!
Well after hours in the internet cafe & finding the most recent Lonely Planet guide to Thailand where it said not to go to H.Yai because of it's terrorist bombings we found the Irish bar & 4 vodka tonics & a few beers later we were steamin!
I went to 'Siam & Guy' instead of 'Toni & Guy' for a haircut, Jay came looking for me after 1 hour as he was worried, ahh bless!! Really gopod haircut, bit short but straight & shiny yes!
Beers in hotel then out for dinner to a steakhouse for fried chicken, pork steak & proper veggies yum. Found a bar with a funny menu that included crispy swamp cabbage, Pork innards, deep fried snake head & stinky bean with pork! Oh & not forgetting deep fried bird with garlic & pepper! Obviously this was the best dish in the house!
Off now for sleep before journey tomorrow to ko Lanta!
23/05/2009 - 27/05/2009 Penang
23/05/2009
So bus left an hour late, we stopped at a realldodgy looking place en-route.. stopped for diesel again while full of passengers and engine running, seems to be the normal thing over here.. went thru a couple of roads blocks, one of them plain clothed police came on looking for a fugitive, all good fun..
Arrived at the long distance bus station and shared a cab to Georgetown with a couple of girls, we fixed a price but the guy still tried to squeeze us for 2 drops as agreed, he got nothing, I swear I'm gonna slap one of these f*ckers soon...
Arrive at the Hutton Lodge, was lovely.. we had shared bathroom but it was so clean that you didn't really notice, was lush and cost 60RM, nice staff and TV where I could watch F1 and last day of the Premiership tomorrow...
They have a guy who does a Thai visa service so we arranged that for Monday
We had a wander round near to the hotel, had beer for a change at D'joint watched the grand Prix qualifiers Monaco, Button pole, Lewis crashed out, had food at the Red Garden Food stalls, was really good, BBQ Butter Prawns, Thai bit, veg, Satay... excellent.. they had some singers on, was hilarious..
24/05/2009
Good nights sleep..
Went to get photos for our Visa with Stephen and the 2 girls Bianca and Mand who were getting there's too, it was a proper photo studio place, we got 12 done and a CD.. there is an excellent free bus in Penang round the main parts of the city, don't get any cabs!! while they were being developed Stephen took us on a mini tour then when we had all the photos he got us to the 101 bus, the 4 of us went to watch the International dragon boat racing, he hadn't told us how far it was, took about 3/4 hour then we had to walk on what must have been the hottest most humid day on record up to the lake, its fomed by a damned river... we watched the first race fter a water stop, met some Ozzy guys who were over for 5 days from Perth, its only 5 hours for them.. her mate goes to Bali on a days shopping from Perth apparently, its only 2 and half hours, lucky buggers..
we headed back after the first race, we weren't all that interested in seeing more of the same...
Went for a pint, then back to hotel, I watched the F1 then the football.. I loved it.. nic stayed up til about 10, she didn't do too bad... I waited for the Liverpool goals after the game and went to bed at about 0130... the guy I was chatting to was a Spurs supporter which made it sweeter, 3 - 1, who cares if Keene scored against us..
25/05/2008 - Our Anniversary
Had to go with Stephen with our 4 Passports on the back of his moped, I don't think this was part of the service, was funny tho, I had to pretend to be the girls uncle.. hee hee
I had to go back with him in the afternoon so me and Nic just went for lunch and a coffee close by, all very un-romantic.. then I had to go back and get the passports..
For some silly reason we had arranged to go to the big night market with Stephen and the Girls, left at 6pm on the free bus, went into a couple of Chinese family Jetty's they live all together, a bit like the Malay long houses but obviously not exactly, we saw the Chew's and Li's, went into one of the houses as it was a relative of Stephens, shews had there own Temple on their's.. wandered down to the market had a couple of Satyays and a sweet corn and got the bus back... we intended to go back out but we weren't all that hungry so se cracked open the bottle of Pirates 24RM Rum and ended up sitting there and drinking the whole bottle with diet pepsi, we had a good laugh, met a few other people and got very drunk, there are few good pics to go up of all that...
26/05/2009
Had a proper look round Geogretown, got the free bus about... had lunch in Little India at Sri Ananda Bahwan, vegetarian place, North India special Thali was lush... walked thru and had a coffee at same place as the day before, nice to have proper brewed coffee... we walked past the Eastern and Orient hotel and then stopped on the way at bar Thirty-Two which has a little beach terrace, we had a quick drink at happy hour, I had beer, Nic Mohito... we wlked back past a place we were thinking about going for tea, Local Peneng cooking is Nonya so we thought maybe we should try on our last night... we didn't in the end but it looked good...
walked down the hotel, got cleaned up, went down to Red Garden again, at least we knew what the score was down there, we had Dim Sum then Nic had Chicken Curry in bread and I had the set BBQ pork, rice veg and soup.. we well over ate after such a good day yesterday... there were lots of older couples about at tables just drinking water, seemed a bit strange until later on when the Ballroom dancing started, was really good, the old folks loved it..
we walked back and I got a little bottle of Brandy, what an alcy, was about 3 larges ones wort, was about the same as one beer at the hotel, was just ecomomising I told myself.. Nic went to bed I finished me bottle chatting to the Manchester guys with the 3 year old who had been out and bought the same maharaja cheap Brandy, think we had started a bit of a trend there...
27/05/2009
0830 shuttle bus to Hat Yai in Thailand - hopefully we can decide our route thru Thailand from there...
So bus left an hour late, we stopped at a realldodgy looking place en-route.. stopped for diesel again while full of passengers and engine running, seems to be the normal thing over here.. went thru a couple of roads blocks, one of them plain clothed police came on looking for a fugitive, all good fun..
Arrived at the long distance bus station and shared a cab to Georgetown with a couple of girls, we fixed a price but the guy still tried to squeeze us for 2 drops as agreed, he got nothing, I swear I'm gonna slap one of these f*ckers soon...
Arrive at the Hutton Lodge, was lovely.. we had shared bathroom but it was so clean that you didn't really notice, was lush and cost 60RM, nice staff and TV where I could watch F1 and last day of the Premiership tomorrow...
They have a guy who does a Thai visa service so we arranged that for Monday
We had a wander round near to the hotel, had beer for a change at D'joint watched the grand Prix qualifiers Monaco, Button pole, Lewis crashed out, had food at the Red Garden Food stalls, was really good, BBQ Butter Prawns, Thai bit, veg, Satay... excellent.. they had some singers on, was hilarious..
24/05/2009
Good nights sleep..
Went to get photos for our Visa with Stephen and the 2 girls Bianca and Mand who were getting there's too, it was a proper photo studio place, we got 12 done and a CD.. there is an excellent free bus in Penang round the main parts of the city, don't get any cabs!! while they were being developed Stephen took us on a mini tour then when we had all the photos he got us to the 101 bus, the 4 of us went to watch the International dragon boat racing, he hadn't told us how far it was, took about 3/4 hour then we had to walk on what must have been the hottest most humid day on record up to the lake, its fomed by a damned river... we watched the first race fter a water stop, met some Ozzy guys who were over for 5 days from Perth, its only 5 hours for them.. her mate goes to Bali on a days shopping from Perth apparently, its only 2 and half hours, lucky buggers..
we headed back after the first race, we weren't all that interested in seeing more of the same...
Went for a pint, then back to hotel, I watched the F1 then the football.. I loved it.. nic stayed up til about 10, she didn't do too bad... I waited for the Liverpool goals after the game and went to bed at about 0130... the guy I was chatting to was a Spurs supporter which made it sweeter, 3 - 1, who cares if Keene scored against us..
25/05/2008 - Our Anniversary
Had to go with Stephen with our 4 Passports on the back of his moped, I don't think this was part of the service, was funny tho, I had to pretend to be the girls uncle.. hee hee
I had to go back with him in the afternoon so me and Nic just went for lunch and a coffee close by, all very un-romantic.. then I had to go back and get the passports..
For some silly reason we had arranged to go to the big night market with Stephen and the Girls, left at 6pm on the free bus, went into a couple of Chinese family Jetty's they live all together, a bit like the Malay long houses but obviously not exactly, we saw the Chew's and Li's, went into one of the houses as it was a relative of Stephens, shews had there own Temple on their's.. wandered down to the market had a couple of Satyays and a sweet corn and got the bus back... we intended to go back out but we weren't all that hungry so se cracked open the bottle of Pirates 24RM Rum and ended up sitting there and drinking the whole bottle with diet pepsi, we had a good laugh, met a few other people and got very drunk, there are few good pics to go up of all that...
26/05/2009
Had a proper look round Geogretown, got the free bus about... had lunch in Little India at Sri Ananda Bahwan, vegetarian place, North India special Thali was lush... walked thru and had a coffee at same place as the day before, nice to have proper brewed coffee... we walked past the Eastern and Orient hotel and then stopped on the way at bar Thirty-Two which has a little beach terrace, we had a quick drink at happy hour, I had beer, Nic Mohito... we wlked back past a place we were thinking about going for tea, Local Peneng cooking is Nonya so we thought maybe we should try on our last night... we didn't in the end but it looked good...
walked down the hotel, got cleaned up, went down to Red Garden again, at least we knew what the score was down there, we had Dim Sum then Nic had Chicken Curry in bread and I had the set BBQ pork, rice veg and soup.. we well over ate after such a good day yesterday... there were lots of older couples about at tables just drinking water, seemed a bit strange until later on when the Ballroom dancing started, was really good, the old folks loved it..
we walked back and I got a little bottle of Brandy, what an alcy, was about 3 larges ones wort, was about the same as one beer at the hotel, was just ecomomising I told myself.. Nic went to bed I finished me bottle chatting to the Manchester guys with the 3 year old who had been out and bought the same maharaja cheap Brandy, think we had started a bit of a trend there...
27/05/2009
0830 shuttle bus to Hat Yai in Thailand - hopefully we can decide our route thru Thailand from there...
21/05/2009 - 23/05/2009 Kota Bharu
21/05/2009
so, after the water taxi we caught a cab up to Kota Bahru. It was the oldest cab with the oldest driver, we got just out of Besut when we had a blow out tyre, good start, people stopped or waved as they went past, I left the old man to do his own tyre to nics discust, well tough I thought, plus it was bloody hot too...
we got into the city but instead of dropping us at the Hotel he decides to turn the other way and leave us a 10 minute walk and sweat, I was now very happy that he'd done his own tyre, the git, I nearly gave him less than we had agreed but Nic wouldn't let me.. she's too soft.
Got to 'Kencana Lodge'.. I had a bit of a hissy fit cos it was very old but it was actually ok in the end, we showered and went to see about doing our thai visa's, we couldn't do it in the 3 days we wre there cos they have there weekend friday and Saturday and we weren't staying long enough, tomorrow was Friday, we always do this, we need to get a bit wiser I think..
We wlked towards town, had a beer,we discovered Malay Jaz Beer, cheap and very nice, ended up being the place in the planet book with out knowing it, then we walked to the nigh market which wasn't all that good, had a quick satay, lucky nic read the labels, choice was chick neck, liver or body... I'd picked liver without looking properly... after that we went back to where we had come from... good food and more beers, had a TV in our room so we watched a movie
22/05/2009
Went to the city market, very busy, had a wandr round, couldn't decide what to eat so we had McDonalds, very bad but needed a break from noodles...
Went and done a load of Blog stuff then went to yesterdays bar for beers, got chatting to some great guys from West Oz, Tony and Lynne, Lynne does handi-crafts and arty stuff, she made me an ashtray out the Tiger beer can, all good re-cycled stuff.. we sat with them for probably a couple of hours then we went off to find the four season chinese restaurant we;d walked past the day before, you've guessed it, it was closed.. next door to the hotel was a chinese hawker place, we managed to find someone who spoke English so we ate and had a couple of beers...
23/05/2009
Bus to Penang... an hour late, no surprise
Tony and Lynne
so, after the water taxi we caught a cab up to Kota Bahru. It was the oldest cab with the oldest driver, we got just out of Besut when we had a blow out tyre, good start, people stopped or waved as they went past, I left the old man to do his own tyre to nics discust, well tough I thought, plus it was bloody hot too...
we got into the city but instead of dropping us at the Hotel he decides to turn the other way and leave us a 10 minute walk and sweat, I was now very happy that he'd done his own tyre, the git, I nearly gave him less than we had agreed but Nic wouldn't let me.. she's too soft.
Got to 'Kencana Lodge'.. I had a bit of a hissy fit cos it was very old but it was actually ok in the end, we showered and went to see about doing our thai visa's, we couldn't do it in the 3 days we wre there cos they have there weekend friday and Saturday and we weren't staying long enough, tomorrow was Friday, we always do this, we need to get a bit wiser I think..
We wlked towards town, had a beer,we discovered Malay Jaz Beer, cheap and very nice, ended up being the place in the planet book with out knowing it, then we walked to the nigh market which wasn't all that good, had a quick satay, lucky nic read the labels, choice was chick neck, liver or body... I'd picked liver without looking properly... after that we went back to where we had come from... good food and more beers, had a TV in our room so we watched a movie
22/05/2009
Went to the city market, very busy, had a wandr round, couldn't decide what to eat so we had McDonalds, very bad but needed a break from noodles...
Went and done a load of Blog stuff then went to yesterdays bar for beers, got chatting to some great guys from West Oz, Tony and Lynne, Lynne does handi-crafts and arty stuff, she made me an ashtray out the Tiger beer can, all good re-cycled stuff.. we sat with them for probably a couple of hours then we went off to find the four season chinese restaurant we;d walked past the day before, you've guessed it, it was closed.. next door to the hotel was a chinese hawker place, we managed to find someone who spoke English so we ate and had a couple of beers...
23/05/2009
Bus to Penang... an hour late, no surprise
Tony and Lynne
18/05/2009 - 21/05/2009 Pulau Perhentian Kecil - Perhentian Islands
Arrived at D'lagoon, it was a small beach with only their own bar and restaurant, there were bungalows, tree house and Dorm accommodations...
We had a bungalow, it had a great view but the place was lets just say a bit too basic for us posh travellers, thee was some kind of poo in the shower/toilet room, we later worked out it was from the Geckos that shared the open shower room with us... all very nice, not. The food wasn't bad but there wasn't much to chose from, they did have beer tho, and we had brought a bottle of rum and some vodka just in case
The next morning Nic got a bit upset cos she was hoping for a beach paradise, it wasn't quite that, although it looked OK it just wasn't clean, a real shame, it spoilt it a bit for us... trying to be positive I got us a water taxi round to Long beach, the busy bit, we had a coke and then walked over to Coral beach. We had a look at some other rooms but in the end decided not to hassle ourselves with moving, we had lunch served by the moodiest women..
went back to our place a laid on the beach for a bit, the water was lovely and warm.
we lounged for the next day then went... it ws ok but next time we'll be a bit more careful with where we stay I think...
They have good snorkling and diving but we decided to leave that for maybe Thailand, we'll see...
We had a bungalow, it had a great view but the place was lets just say a bit too basic for us posh travellers, thee was some kind of poo in the shower/toilet room, we later worked out it was from the Geckos that shared the open shower room with us... all very nice, not. The food wasn't bad but there wasn't much to chose from, they did have beer tho, and we had brought a bottle of rum and some vodka just in case
The next morning Nic got a bit upset cos she was hoping for a beach paradise, it wasn't quite that, although it looked OK it just wasn't clean, a real shame, it spoilt it a bit for us... trying to be positive I got us a water taxi round to Long beach, the busy bit, we had a coke and then walked over to Coral beach. We had a look at some other rooms but in the end decided not to hassle ourselves with moving, we had lunch served by the moodiest women..
went back to our place a laid on the beach for a bit, the water was lovely and warm.
we lounged for the next day then went... it ws ok but next time we'll be a bit more careful with where we stay I think...
They have good snorkling and diving but we decided to leave that for maybe Thailand, we'll see...
15/05/2009 - 18/05/2009 Cameron Highlands
15/05/2009
Arrived at Tanah Rata Bus station and got met by Paul from Fathers guest house, got into our room which was nice and clean again, we were just in time for dinner, they have food and beer there so you don't really need to go anywhere else... met up with James and Megan & compared notes about bus trip, they were delayed by an hour as well..
16/05/2009
4 of us took a taxi up to the Honey Bee Farm for 15 RM, then we made our way back down the road stopping at the Butterfly garden, which was rubbish, and the Strawberry farm where we had tea and scones with home made local jam, local tea and squirty cream (no clotted).. stopped at a few food places, the guys had chicken nuggets, we had corns and a bit of skewer stuff, tried the smelly Durian fruit which was quite nice, had some black drink full of molasses sugar.. Got to Brinchan and walked round Cactus valley, was just like a cactus garden centre, took some silly picture and messed around like kids..
Got a taxi back, me and Nic had a couple of beers then walked back to the Guesthouse for tea... I watched the Man Utd game, they got the point they needed so won the title, the Fulham game was on straight after so didn't have to watch them get the thophy again!!
17/05/2009
Went for an organised day trip with the guest house guide plus James and Meg, drove to a track that we then followed off road up to where we started our hour walk up to see the large Rafflesia flowers, the off road ten minute ride was hilarious, the flowers were quite disappointing to be completely honest.. managed not to get stung by the the honey bees which kept landing on my sweaty salty arms, sweat towel helped me flick them of.. it was raining by the time we got the jeep back down the track, was even better than the way up..
Stopped at a small village for a blow pipe demo in the rain, don't think anyone was that interested but some of us had a go, some of the suckers bought a short version..
Left there and drover up to the Tea plantation, had a quick tour then tried the garden, best tea, at last could get a sandwich we were starving, was 3 already.. on the way down we went past a temple where the guys were throwing yellow paint at each other (was curry powder and water), they knew our driver Bob so they stopped our Jeep to throw paint at us, we held our doors but Bob (now curry Bob) had to let his best mate in to give him a covering, was very funny... took some photos of the Tea Plantation, was really nice and so quiet..
Drove up to the highest mountain in the Highlands for the view and Francis the other guide told us about some of the plants and what to do if we get bitten by a snake, all good info..
Went for a quick tramp in the Mossy Forest, another great view and wierd walking on the mossy forest floor.. dropped a few farts on James hee hee
Then back to the guesthouse... we got cleaned up and went for Banana leaf Indian with James and Meg in town then back to the TV for Liverpool Newcastle, the writing was on the wall for them after our win...
18/05/2009
10am Suttle van transfer to Kuala Besut then water Taxi to D'Lagoon on Perenthian Islands
Arrived at Tanah Rata Bus station and got met by Paul from Fathers guest house, got into our room which was nice and clean again, we were just in time for dinner, they have food and beer there so you don't really need to go anywhere else... met up with James and Megan & compared notes about bus trip, they were delayed by an hour as well..
16/05/2009
4 of us took a taxi up to the Honey Bee Farm for 15 RM, then we made our way back down the road stopping at the Butterfly garden, which was rubbish, and the Strawberry farm where we had tea and scones with home made local jam, local tea and squirty cream (no clotted).. stopped at a few food places, the guys had chicken nuggets, we had corns and a bit of skewer stuff, tried the smelly Durian fruit which was quite nice, had some black drink full of molasses sugar.. Got to Brinchan and walked round Cactus valley, was just like a cactus garden centre, took some silly picture and messed around like kids..
Got a taxi back, me and Nic had a couple of beers then walked back to the Guesthouse for tea... I watched the Man Utd game, they got the point they needed so won the title, the Fulham game was on straight after so didn't have to watch them get the thophy again!!
17/05/2009
Went for an organised day trip with the guest house guide plus James and Meg, drove to a track that we then followed off road up to where we started our hour walk up to see the large Rafflesia flowers, the off road ten minute ride was hilarious, the flowers were quite disappointing to be completely honest.. managed not to get stung by the the honey bees which kept landing on my sweaty salty arms, sweat towel helped me flick them of.. it was raining by the time we got the jeep back down the track, was even better than the way up..
Stopped at a small village for a blow pipe demo in the rain, don't think anyone was that interested but some of us had a go, some of the suckers bought a short version..
Left there and drover up to the Tea plantation, had a quick tour then tried the garden, best tea, at last could get a sandwich we were starving, was 3 already.. on the way down we went past a temple where the guys were throwing yellow paint at each other (was curry powder and water), they knew our driver Bob so they stopped our Jeep to throw paint at us, we held our doors but Bob (now curry Bob) had to let his best mate in to give him a covering, was very funny... took some photos of the Tea Plantation, was really nice and so quiet..
Drove up to the highest mountain in the Highlands for the view and Francis the other guide told us about some of the plants and what to do if we get bitten by a snake, all good info..
Went for a quick tramp in the Mossy Forest, another great view and wierd walking on the mossy forest floor.. dropped a few farts on James hee hee
Then back to the guesthouse... we got cleaned up and went for Banana leaf Indian with James and Meg in town then back to the TV for Liverpool Newcastle, the writing was on the wall for them after our win...
18/05/2009
10am Suttle van transfer to Kuala Besut then water Taxi to D'Lagoon on Perenthian Islands
12/5/09 - 15/5/09 Kuala Lumpur & Melacca
12/5/09
Arrived on the bus from the airpot & walked down to our hostel 'Matahari Lodge'http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/malaysia/kuala-lumpur/31465/ near China Town.
Got a great welcome & the room was lovely & clean & tidy! Result! after a while we elt at home, friedly staff who remembered our names & just a chilled out place, you need one of those once in a while!
Popped to the 'Beatles Bar' for a beer & Happy Hour G & T. It was a funny bar all they played was Beatles music & i do't even like it! Then one of the local guys started Kareoke! He was really bad & was singing in broken English, the couple of guys that were also in there soon got up & left, so we thanked them for leaving us!
Wet for an Indian dinner, God klnow's how we odered as there were no menu's but we had a great dinner in the end for about 1.30!
13/5/09
Got the train to the Petronas Towers & got our tickets to go back at 4:30pm.
Then we had a quick look around M&S at the wine & got the bus to the Indian Embassy to get our visa's sorted. Got all the way there only to be told that the Tourist Visa's are done at another office 2 blocks from our hostel, gutted!
Submitted the visa & then it started to rain so we went back to the hostel for a beer
& then got up the momentum to go to the Towers! Towers were ok, just more tall towers really!
Met a guy called Tom in the evening & again when we were in the Beatles Bar again. He couldn't resist the singing!
14/5/09
Day trip out to Melacca with a couple we met at the hostel, James & Megan. James is as silly as Jay! The Drivers there and back were clearing their thoats and gobbing out the window, Jay and James were cracking up...
Wandered around the old town in Melacca, had a cheap Laksa lunch & a couple of beers then got the bus home, missed the big Tesco's that was next to the bus station to go for Dim Sum in KL.
Found the hawker stand on Jalan Alor & ordered loads of lush Dims. I went to the loo & saw a nice huge rat in the kitchen on the way back but tummies were all good the next day!
Got a taxi back in the rain, beers & bed!
15/05/2009
Had luch with Tom in China town, was really good, had a couple of beers, last thing we wanted to do was get on a bus for a few hours...well 6 hours..
Went back and got our sacks and walked up to the bus station, sweating again, then we had to walk across the road to where the bus went from, then we had to walk again to find it... got on the bus sweaty and very happy, not.. the bus was really crappy, did have air con, we were lucky..
On the way up to the highlands its really twisty and the driver goes like a crazy man, shame it was dark,more gobbing from the driver, we heard from James and Meg that the views were really good..
ArrivedCameron Highlands, Tanh Rata the main town...
Arrived on the bus from the airpot & walked down to our hostel 'Matahari Lodge'http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/malaysia/kuala-lumpur/31465/ near China Town.
Got a great welcome & the room was lovely & clean & tidy! Result! after a while we elt at home, friedly staff who remembered our names & just a chilled out place, you need one of those once in a while!
Popped to the 'Beatles Bar' for a beer & Happy Hour G & T. It was a funny bar all they played was Beatles music & i do't even like it! Then one of the local guys started Kareoke! He was really bad & was singing in broken English, the couple of guys that were also in there soon got up & left, so we thanked them for leaving us!
Wet for an Indian dinner, God klnow's how we odered as there were no menu's but we had a great dinner in the end for about 1.30!
13/5/09
Got the train to the Petronas Towers & got our tickets to go back at 4:30pm.
Then we had a quick look around M&S at the wine & got the bus to the Indian Embassy to get our visa's sorted. Got all the way there only to be told that the Tourist Visa's are done at another office 2 blocks from our hostel, gutted!
Submitted the visa & then it started to rain so we went back to the hostel for a beer
& then got up the momentum to go to the Towers! Towers were ok, just more tall towers really!
Met a guy called Tom in the evening & again when we were in the Beatles Bar again. He couldn't resist the singing!
14/5/09
Day trip out to Melacca with a couple we met at the hostel, James & Megan. James is as silly as Jay! The Drivers there and back were clearing their thoats and gobbing out the window, Jay and James were cracking up...
Wandered around the old town in Melacca, had a cheap Laksa lunch & a couple of beers then got the bus home, missed the big Tesco's that was next to the bus station to go for Dim Sum in KL.
Found the hawker stand on Jalan Alor & ordered loads of lush Dims. I went to the loo & saw a nice huge rat in the kitchen on the way back but tummies were all good the next day!
Got a taxi back in the rain, beers & bed!
15/05/2009
Had luch with Tom in China town, was really good, had a couple of beers, last thing we wanted to do was get on a bus for a few hours...well 6 hours..
Went back and got our sacks and walked up to the bus station, sweating again, then we had to walk across the road to where the bus went from, then we had to walk again to find it... got on the bus sweaty and very happy, not.. the bus was really crappy, did have air con, we were lucky..
On the way up to the highlands its really twisty and the driver goes like a crazy man, shame it was dark,more gobbing from the driver, we heard from James and Meg that the views were really good..
ArrivedCameron Highlands, Tanh Rata the main town...
Monday 4 May 2009
5/5/09 - 11/5/09 Malaysia - Kuching
5/5/09
Crossed the border by bus to Johur Baru then caght a flight to Kuching (Malysia Borneo). Arrived at our Hostel in the evening Borneo B&B.
The hostel is a family run place, got checked in by the two sons, room was well basic....& not made up as they didn't get our booking because the internet was down.
The bed was bending in the middle & J got up in the middle of the night & it actually broke!!! So spent the rest of the night with L.Planet books underneath the break for support!
6/5/09
Got up & found the bus to the Cultural Village so hopped on. The place has 7 different houses representing the different tribes of the Sarawak area. Got a passpot to take into each house to get a stamp, did the whole lot & ten watched the show with all of the different tribes dancing & traditional costume. Saw a guy using the blow pipe & then J got up on stage for a dance with the locals!
Booked our longhouse trip through Boreo B & B as you go & stay with her Sister at her Longhouse & our hotel (Tune Hotel) for when we got back after 2 nights, 3 days roughing it.
HAd Wonton soup at 'Green Hill Corner' with 'Gorgeous' the waiter/ess, lush home made wontons!
7/5/09
Left for the Iban Longhouse trip, dropped off at Kuching main bus station, got the bus to Sri Aman & then got picked up by Auntie in the smallest car in the world!
Our trip was just 3 of us, us two & Ray who was 72 years old. He was on a mission to travel & find his Father In Law's lost war grave as noone knows were he is buried.
Funny trip, got in the small car with Ray's big case , she said to me 'ou sit in the front as very big!', so the 2 blokes got in the back with Rays great big suitcase on top of them! Ray also had to mind his feet as she'd stored a live fish by his feet that she'd bought from the market!
On the way out we went to see a delapitated English Fort from the war time tha looked out as a guard against the Japs coming down the river.
Drove along to an old graveyard in the grounds of an old school (St.Lawrence) where Iban children board, the kids were funny, ran all round us saying 'hello. how are you, what is your name?' They were well cute, we took photo's of them & showed them on the play button & they were cracking up... J was disapointed at the amount of Man U shirts though!
Next stop was a modern longhouse, brick built & not wood, met the Chief, had a cup of tea, J rolled loads of ciggarette's for each of them as he as only the 2nd person they had seen rolling his own! Saw the Head Hunters 'Skulls' in a basket with the bones of the warrior in a tomb above them to watch over them. Each week they smoke the skulls to preserve them! Very rare to see this now.
Cracked on, had a drink & some monkey nuts with Auntie & the locals in the shop before getting to the actual Longhouse in Batu Lintang. In the distance you could see the purple hills of Indonesia.
Unpacked the car & the fish & was met by Gloria(daughter in law), Julia(Grandaughter) & Jeffery(Grandson), they love the English names!
Went for a swim/shower in the river to cool off & clean up. Auntie brought the soap! Aunty gave Nic a sarong to wear like a proper Iban woman!
Out the back of the house Antie had a couple of pigs which she was fattening up ready for her celebration at the end of May, very smelly when the wind changed!
Had dinner & sat around, her Son Charles arrived home, thought he was acting a bit weird especially when he laid down in the missle of the lounge & went to sleep but it turned out he'd been drinking with his cousin all afternoon.....
The Langkow (rice wine but boiled to make it stronger in alcohol, it's illegal Longhouse brew bought for 5 Ringets a bottle) came out then it all got messy! We all sat on the floor drinking shots followed by a glass of water to take the burn away, I had to have very small glasses & hold my nose! When that went we had a small bottle of normal rice wine which was a lot easier to drink then we went to bed on the floor & giggled at the fish splashing around all night in the tank by Ray's room! Poor old Ray went to bed tired without Langkow. Auntie said'He's very old'....
8/5/09
Got up for a real shower which was actually a bucket of water with a big ladel so you could throw it on yourself... was clean tho..
Went for a jungle treck in the morning, walked past where we had our river shower the night before, saw somw pine apples growing, I'd never seen them growing before... walked over a rickety old briged and round to where they had there cememtry for the local people of the Longhouses.. Ray was loving that, we weren't too sure, took a few photos.
Walked thru the jungle which was mostly all Aunty's, there were lots of fruit trees, unfortunately harvest is end of October so nothing for us to see.. walked past a small shed where Aunty used to have a Indonisian family living who used to work herv land. Went past some big holes in the ground which used to be under their old Longhouses during the war, they used to use them as bunkers when the Japanese attacked. Walked on to where all her Rubber trees were and had a go at cutting the bark to release the rubbber river which then drained down in to a cup, they used to then take that too market... there were hundreds of trees about.. we searched out some Bamboo shouts, we pick these and peeled them and chucked them in the bag, these were for dinner.. we went back to the house for lunch, Nic and I went for a quick river dip as we were melting alot...
After lunch we wandered down the river to get in Aunty's boat to go down to her vegetable garden.. had to prune a few pepper bushes, well actually loads of them, the whole lot between us, Ray got told off for slacking, he was very old she said, there were chilli plants and herbs too... had a few bananas and water abd more cigarette, aunty loved a smoke...
Went back down to the river for a swim and a jump in, there's a a film clip of bottler me.. hen had a funny journey back up stream to the house, we kept going off course and getting a bit stuck... we were meant to put a net in for fishing but it was going to rain so couldn't, the water get really high and would have washed the expensive net away..
Got back to the house, we helped prepare the Bamboo shouts for tea, while Gloria did everything else as usual... Had dinner went round to another place in the long house, Aunty's cousin there does handi-crafts, we didn't buy anything, Ray bought a couple of bits and bobs... got back to the house and watched a bit of TV, I just commented 'no Langkow tonight then?'... Charles went and got some so t 4 of us got stuck into that.. ended up drinking far too much, 2 bottles of the hard stuff laughed alot and then went to bed...
09/05/2009
We dropped Ray off at the bus stop and then Aunty took us back to Sri Aman for our bus, we had time to have a look around the Jungle market, all the local paople bring their produce to sell, Aunty got us some fruit for the journey..
got to bus back to Kuching, no air conditioning, after an hour we realised we could open the windows.. divs..
Got picked up by two of the sons from the B & B and got a lift to the Orang-utan Santuary (Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation centre)..
we saw a Mother and the youngest baby of 2 months up by the car park then we went down to the feeding area, they hadn't seen any Orang-utans there for 4 days cos there was loads of food about for them in the jungle but we were really lucky and saw about 4 there, they were playing and messing about, was really great to see, the facial expressions were brilliant... the rain started so we headed away from there, and the Mum and Baby were down in another area. We wandered down there, there was a 3rd, a young male having a feed.. I sat under a shelter while Nic got some photos, the mother and Baby had the same idea and came to sit next to me, we heard that the mother had gone for a Chinese tourist who had got too close before, I was scared so made a move, Nic just about got a fuzzy photo of me with them...
Got picked up by the boys and went back to Borneo B & B, we had already booked into to the Tune which was a bit imbarrassing cos Mum had made up another nicer room for us.. felt very guilty we did...
10/05/2009
After a nice sweaty walk we found the Jungle market in Kuching, it's on every Sunday where all the villagers come into town to sell their wares. Saw the Jungle ferns again that we'd eaten at the Longhouse, had a spot of lunch away from the stinky market & then went to the Museum. It was actually surprisingly interesting all about the history & hw the war came about, all stuff we didn't have a clue about until Ray opened our eyes.
Got back after a few watermelon juices & beers & then off out for dinner in the local hawker place so J could watc the footie!
11/5/09
Got up early, walked to the bus station, grabbed a Chinese bun & got on the local bus to Baco National Park. After an hour or so on a bus with no suspension & hard plastic seats we got to the park base where we shared a water taxi to the actual park. It was blistering hot! Arrived & booked our boat time back, on the way to the office we spotted a huge group of rare Silver Leaf monkeys playing near the beach & the even rarer Proboscis Monkey's in the tree's with the funny noses! So result no need to walk a trail in the heat (no such luck). Walked the Paku trail through the jungle for 1 hour to a nice secluded beach, on the way J spotted a massive spider in it's web where we saw him munch some insect & a Hermit crab who was a funny thing moving around!
At the beach we saw some funny lizard things skiming on the water. Left our tops in the sun to dry out & had a rest!
Saw some monkeys in the trees on the way back but not a really good view, we could hear them though.
Saw a huge Wild Boar, pig thing by the office when we got back & missed the huge snake that was aprently sitting by the canteen! Saw some weird tiny one clawed crabs too in red & turquoise colours....
Got the boat back & hopped onto another local bus although a taxi was very tempting! The bus was full of kids as we'd hit the school run, they all said hello again & wanted their photo's taken....
12/5/09
Left Kuching for Kuala Lumpur on an Air Asia flight.
Crossed the border by bus to Johur Baru then caght a flight to Kuching (Malysia Borneo). Arrived at our Hostel in the evening Borneo B&B.
The hostel is a family run place, got checked in by the two sons, room was well basic....& not made up as they didn't get our booking because the internet was down.
The bed was bending in the middle & J got up in the middle of the night & it actually broke!!! So spent the rest of the night with L.Planet books underneath the break for support!
6/5/09
Got up & found the bus to the Cultural Village so hopped on. The place has 7 different houses representing the different tribes of the Sarawak area. Got a passpot to take into each house to get a stamp, did the whole lot & ten watched the show with all of the different tribes dancing & traditional costume. Saw a guy using the blow pipe & then J got up on stage for a dance with the locals!
Booked our longhouse trip through Boreo B & B as you go & stay with her Sister at her Longhouse & our hotel (Tune Hotel) for when we got back after 2 nights, 3 days roughing it.
HAd Wonton soup at 'Green Hill Corner' with 'Gorgeous' the waiter/ess, lush home made wontons!
7/5/09
Left for the Iban Longhouse trip, dropped off at Kuching main bus station, got the bus to Sri Aman & then got picked up by Auntie in the smallest car in the world!
Our trip was just 3 of us, us two & Ray who was 72 years old. He was on a mission to travel & find his Father In Law's lost war grave as noone knows were he is buried.
Funny trip, got in the small car with Ray's big case , she said to me 'ou sit in the front as very big!', so the 2 blokes got in the back with Rays great big suitcase on top of them! Ray also had to mind his feet as she'd stored a live fish by his feet that she'd bought from the market!
On the way out we went to see a delapitated English Fort from the war time tha looked out as a guard against the Japs coming down the river.
Drove along to an old graveyard in the grounds of an old school (St.Lawrence) where Iban children board, the kids were funny, ran all round us saying 'hello. how are you, what is your name?' They were well cute, we took photo's of them & showed them on the play button & they were cracking up... J was disapointed at the amount of Man U shirts though!
Next stop was a modern longhouse, brick built & not wood, met the Chief, had a cup of tea, J rolled loads of ciggarette's for each of them as he as only the 2nd person they had seen rolling his own! Saw the Head Hunters 'Skulls' in a basket with the bones of the warrior in a tomb above them to watch over them. Each week they smoke the skulls to preserve them! Very rare to see this now.
Cracked on, had a drink & some monkey nuts with Auntie & the locals in the shop before getting to the actual Longhouse in Batu Lintang. In the distance you could see the purple hills of Indonesia.
Unpacked the car & the fish & was met by Gloria(daughter in law), Julia(Grandaughter) & Jeffery(Grandson), they love the English names!
Went for a swim/shower in the river to cool off & clean up. Auntie brought the soap! Aunty gave Nic a sarong to wear like a proper Iban woman!
Out the back of the house Antie had a couple of pigs which she was fattening up ready for her celebration at the end of May, very smelly when the wind changed!
Had dinner & sat around, her Son Charles arrived home, thought he was acting a bit weird especially when he laid down in the missle of the lounge & went to sleep but it turned out he'd been drinking with his cousin all afternoon.....
The Langkow (rice wine but boiled to make it stronger in alcohol, it's illegal Longhouse brew bought for 5 Ringets a bottle) came out then it all got messy! We all sat on the floor drinking shots followed by a glass of water to take the burn away, I had to have very small glasses & hold my nose! When that went we had a small bottle of normal rice wine which was a lot easier to drink then we went to bed on the floor & giggled at the fish splashing around all night in the tank by Ray's room! Poor old Ray went to bed tired without Langkow. Auntie said'He's very old'....
8/5/09
Got up for a real shower which was actually a bucket of water with a big ladel so you could throw it on yourself... was clean tho..
Went for a jungle treck in the morning, walked past where we had our river shower the night before, saw somw pine apples growing, I'd never seen them growing before... walked over a rickety old briged and round to where they had there cememtry for the local people of the Longhouses.. Ray was loving that, we weren't too sure, took a few photos.
Walked thru the jungle which was mostly all Aunty's, there were lots of fruit trees, unfortunately harvest is end of October so nothing for us to see.. walked past a small shed where Aunty used to have a Indonisian family living who used to work herv land. Went past some big holes in the ground which used to be under their old Longhouses during the war, they used to use them as bunkers when the Japanese attacked. Walked on to where all her Rubber trees were and had a go at cutting the bark to release the rubbber river which then drained down in to a cup, they used to then take that too market... there were hundreds of trees about.. we searched out some Bamboo shouts, we pick these and peeled them and chucked them in the bag, these were for dinner.. we went back to the house for lunch, Nic and I went for a quick river dip as we were melting alot...
After lunch we wandered down the river to get in Aunty's boat to go down to her vegetable garden.. had to prune a few pepper bushes, well actually loads of them, the whole lot between us, Ray got told off for slacking, he was very old she said, there were chilli plants and herbs too... had a few bananas and water abd more cigarette, aunty loved a smoke...
Went back down to the river for a swim and a jump in, there's a a film clip of bottler me.. hen had a funny journey back up stream to the house, we kept going off course and getting a bit stuck... we were meant to put a net in for fishing but it was going to rain so couldn't, the water get really high and would have washed the expensive net away..
Got back to the house, we helped prepare the Bamboo shouts for tea, while Gloria did everything else as usual... Had dinner went round to another place in the long house, Aunty's cousin there does handi-crafts, we didn't buy anything, Ray bought a couple of bits and bobs... got back to the house and watched a bit of TV, I just commented 'no Langkow tonight then?'... Charles went and got some so t 4 of us got stuck into that.. ended up drinking far too much, 2 bottles of the hard stuff laughed alot and then went to bed...
09/05/2009
We dropped Ray off at the bus stop and then Aunty took us back to Sri Aman for our bus, we had time to have a look around the Jungle market, all the local paople bring their produce to sell, Aunty got us some fruit for the journey..
got to bus back to Kuching, no air conditioning, after an hour we realised we could open the windows.. divs..
Got picked up by two of the sons from the B & B and got a lift to the Orang-utan Santuary (Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation centre)..
we saw a Mother and the youngest baby of 2 months up by the car park then we went down to the feeding area, they hadn't seen any Orang-utans there for 4 days cos there was loads of food about for them in the jungle but we were really lucky and saw about 4 there, they were playing and messing about, was really great to see, the facial expressions were brilliant... the rain started so we headed away from there, and the Mum and Baby were down in another area. We wandered down there, there was a 3rd, a young male having a feed.. I sat under a shelter while Nic got some photos, the mother and Baby had the same idea and came to sit next to me, we heard that the mother had gone for a Chinese tourist who had got too close before, I was scared so made a move, Nic just about got a fuzzy photo of me with them...
Got picked up by the boys and went back to Borneo B & B, we had already booked into to the Tune which was a bit imbarrassing cos Mum had made up another nicer room for us.. felt very guilty we did...
10/05/2009
After a nice sweaty walk we found the Jungle market in Kuching, it's on every Sunday where all the villagers come into town to sell their wares. Saw the Jungle ferns again that we'd eaten at the Longhouse, had a spot of lunch away from the stinky market & then went to the Museum. It was actually surprisingly interesting all about the history & hw the war came about, all stuff we didn't have a clue about until Ray opened our eyes.
Got back after a few watermelon juices & beers & then off out for dinner in the local hawker place so J could watc the footie!
11/5/09
Got up early, walked to the bus station, grabbed a Chinese bun & got on the local bus to Baco National Park. After an hour or so on a bus with no suspension & hard plastic seats we got to the park base where we shared a water taxi to the actual park. It was blistering hot! Arrived & booked our boat time back, on the way to the office we spotted a huge group of rare Silver Leaf monkeys playing near the beach & the even rarer Proboscis Monkey's in the tree's with the funny noses! So result no need to walk a trail in the heat (no such luck). Walked the Paku trail through the jungle for 1 hour to a nice secluded beach, on the way J spotted a massive spider in it's web where we saw him munch some insect & a Hermit crab who was a funny thing moving around!
At the beach we saw some funny lizard things skiming on the water. Left our tops in the sun to dry out & had a rest!
Saw some monkeys in the trees on the way back but not a really good view, we could hear them though.
Saw a huge Wild Boar, pig thing by the office when we got back & missed the huge snake that was aprently sitting by the canteen! Saw some weird tiny one clawed crabs too in red & turquoise colours....
Got the boat back & hopped onto another local bus although a taxi was very tempting! The bus was full of kids as we'd hit the school run, they all said hello again & wanted their photo's taken....
12/5/09
Left Kuching for Kuala Lumpur on an Air Asia flight.
1/5/09 - 5/5/09 Singapore with Jules & posse!
01/05/09
Jules came and met us at the airport what a star, got a taxi down to the Hangout hostel at mount Emily, brillian place we thought.. then off to a bar in Emerald Hill road, 3 beers for $20 happy hour, it aint cheap here... so we sat there and had a few beers and a chat... there's a 2 hour time difference so our 11pm here was already 1am for us but we hung in there... was good fun
They have this wierd thing here that only 15% of outside tables can be smoking ones, or you can go stand in the street..
$50 fine if you jay walk with 50 metres of a crossing, obviously hard for me not too.. hee hee
I also found out that I wasn't allowed to bring in my pouches of baccy without paying duty... only open packs allowed without singapore tax being paid... malboro lights about $12 at the newsy.. about same as at home i think
we stayed here, $89 per night online... 195 if you walk in... don't do it... was really good http://www.hangouthotels.com/
recon we were out til 2am..
02/05/09
11am... good sleep.. Got a taxi down to Raffles and met Jules for a cocktail.. very back packers, Nic had the good old Singapore sling, Jules and me went for a Raffles Revelry, very nice indeed, they bring you out salted monkey nuts and you just chuck the shells on the floor, yes even at Raffles... the long bar is really nice inside, with swinging fans that surely don't do any thing... in the courtyard there was a wedding going on the bride was just giving a speech as i bowled in over the rope to chuck me fag but in the bin, no one noticed fortuneatly..
we wandered on past the cricket ground and old parliment buildings and down to the river, took a 45minute boat trip for a look about then it was good for a look about... went for lunch at a place on the water had sort of oriental,we just shared a few differnt plates, had stingray sounds wrong i know but tastes lush, some greens, satay, rice, dumplings...
they have a real mix of foods, indian, chinese, japanese, vietnamese, can get that in the same restaurant too
Sha Sha's birthday, out at the Helipad funky bar... and very loud for the old ginge, drank lots and lots... the four of us went for dinner first at the Lao Beijing restaurant, was lush, dusk, spicy pork, scallop and bean curd soup, greens etc... sha sha ordered it up with a bit of help from Jules, it was lush
03/05/09
Met Jules down at the Prince of wales in Little India, got some curry sent over to the pub, what a great idea
poor Rick Hatton lost, we couldn't watch it anywhere...
Went down to Muddy's Irish pub that Bjorn manages, drank lots just like at home on a sunday, then we all went down to Chijmes bar restaurant and ate and watched the mighty Liverpool beat up Newcastle, I do hope they don't go down but we really needed the points to get auto qualify in the champs league..\
stayed out drinking til gone midnight, Sha Sha was bought a white waterfall drink, a bit of a tradition with the group...
I stayed on for a beer with Bjorn once everyone had gone... Nic was already back at the ranch burnt out..
04/05/09
We were pretty burnt out so we hung around the Hotel and done some blogg, we are getting there, actually had our first breakfast at the hotel, we had baked beans yippee... we've got a can in the sack in case of emergency's...
Went too Marks and Spencers, yes Bird needed a new Bra, and guess what bought another top..
Met poor old Jules down Emerald Hill for a few beers... poor bloke had been at work after the heavy weekend.. he perked up after a couple San Mig lights
got the train down to a Hawkers type place, Lau Pa Sat Festival Market and had lush food again, also nice and cheap, the tiger beer lady bring, its a definite must do, you can get any kind of food you want... left there and went to chian square for beer... went on to some courtyard place and unfortunately saw a fight between a couple of Koreans, Jules knew them too, you don't get fights over here..
last beer near the river then a cab back.. another 2 am finish
05/05/09
Meeting Jules down POW in little India for lunch then off on our travels at 3pm
Cheers Jules its been awesome seeing you!!!! and cheers to your friends too they are great
Jules came and met us at the airport what a star, got a taxi down to the Hangout hostel at mount Emily, brillian place we thought.. then off to a bar in Emerald Hill road, 3 beers for $20 happy hour, it aint cheap here... so we sat there and had a few beers and a chat... there's a 2 hour time difference so our 11pm here was already 1am for us but we hung in there... was good fun
They have this wierd thing here that only 15% of outside tables can be smoking ones, or you can go stand in the street..
$50 fine if you jay walk with 50 metres of a crossing, obviously hard for me not too.. hee hee
I also found out that I wasn't allowed to bring in my pouches of baccy without paying duty... only open packs allowed without singapore tax being paid... malboro lights about $12 at the newsy.. about same as at home i think
we stayed here, $89 per night online... 195 if you walk in... don't do it... was really good http://www.hangouthotels.com/
recon we were out til 2am..
02/05/09
11am... good sleep.. Got a taxi down to Raffles and met Jules for a cocktail.. very back packers, Nic had the good old Singapore sling, Jules and me went for a Raffles Revelry, very nice indeed, they bring you out salted monkey nuts and you just chuck the shells on the floor, yes even at Raffles... the long bar is really nice inside, with swinging fans that surely don't do any thing... in the courtyard there was a wedding going on the bride was just giving a speech as i bowled in over the rope to chuck me fag but in the bin, no one noticed fortuneatly..
we wandered on past the cricket ground and old parliment buildings and down to the river, took a 45minute boat trip for a look about then it was good for a look about... went for lunch at a place on the water had sort of oriental,we just shared a few differnt plates, had stingray sounds wrong i know but tastes lush, some greens, satay, rice, dumplings...
they have a real mix of foods, indian, chinese, japanese, vietnamese, can get that in the same restaurant too
Sha Sha's birthday, out at the Helipad funky bar... and very loud for the old ginge, drank lots and lots... the four of us went for dinner first at the Lao Beijing restaurant, was lush, dusk, spicy pork, scallop and bean curd soup, greens etc... sha sha ordered it up with a bit of help from Jules, it was lush
03/05/09
Met Jules down at the Prince of wales in Little India, got some curry sent over to the pub, what a great idea
poor Rick Hatton lost, we couldn't watch it anywhere...
Went down to Muddy's Irish pub that Bjorn manages, drank lots just like at home on a sunday, then we all went down to Chijmes bar restaurant and ate and watched the mighty Liverpool beat up Newcastle, I do hope they don't go down but we really needed the points to get auto qualify in the champs league..\
stayed out drinking til gone midnight, Sha Sha was bought a white waterfall drink, a bit of a tradition with the group...
I stayed on for a beer with Bjorn once everyone had gone... Nic was already back at the ranch burnt out..
04/05/09
We were pretty burnt out so we hung around the Hotel and done some blogg, we are getting there, actually had our first breakfast at the hotel, we had baked beans yippee... we've got a can in the sack in case of emergency's...
Went too Marks and Spencers, yes Bird needed a new Bra, and guess what bought another top..
Met poor old Jules down Emerald Hill for a few beers... poor bloke had been at work after the heavy weekend.. he perked up after a couple San Mig lights
got the train down to a Hawkers type place, Lau Pa Sat Festival Market and had lush food again, also nice and cheap, the tiger beer lady bring, its a definite must do, you can get any kind of food you want... left there and went to chian square for beer... went on to some courtyard place and unfortunately saw a fight between a couple of Koreans, Jules knew them too, you don't get fights over here..
last beer near the river then a cab back.. another 2 am finish
05/05/09
Meeting Jules down POW in little India for lunch then off on our travels at 3pm
Cheers Jules its been awesome seeing you!!!! and cheers to your friends too they are great
23/4/09 - 1/5/09 Sydney!!! Yippeee!!
Well a whole 8 nights in Sydney, yippeee!!!
We arrived all ok from NZ with 2 litres of Woodstock! The view from the plane was amazing, all over the harbour, think we must have come in a different way before!
We got to the hotel in Glebe, dumped the bags & went out for dinner & drinks.
Stayed at the Haven Inn as a cheap hotel with pool (supposedly heated!, room was nice with a strange balcony with a window for all to jump through!
Glebe area was really nice, quite bohemian/studenty & only a short walk to the city.
Walked into town on Friday & managed to book our trip for China & sort all our flight dates out which was brilliant so no more stuff to do for the rest of the week! Wandered around & went to the rocks for drinks & saw the same barman from 4 years ago! He remembered you Suzanne!(not really) In the evening we went for dinner in Glebe at a place called Thai On Wok.
It was a great buzzy BYO Thai cafe & it was busy & I mean really busy every night. All meals were about $10, bonus so we seemed to eat there every night with Jay always having the same Thai herbs with chilli & stir fried veg & bottle of red wine!!
Saturday morning it was Anzac day, we walked down through Sydney fish market & saw all of the cheap lobster & oysters, yum yum! We met U.Mike & A.Lori at their hotel, late due to the parade we couldn't cross the road, infact this seemed to be no excuse as we seemed to be late each time we met up with them! Oh well we all laughed about it! We had a great day soaking up Sydney, we walked around the Rocks Markets & then round Circular Quay then got the ferry over to Manly, had a sarnie & a wander then came back to CQ & U.Mike suggested going to Neutral Bay as none of us had been there. So we all got on the ferry, A,Lori was happy because the seats were more comfy! It was so funny because there was nothing there to look at so we just stayed on & went all the way back to CQ, so we had a nice boat ride!!! In the evening we all went for dinner, Chris joined us & we went to a lovely Italian restaurant called Bambini . We had a lovely meal & gorgeous wine & Jay tried rabbit for the first time & liked it.
Sunday we met up with U.Mike (we were late again!)& walked around Circular Quay to Woolloomolloo, past Russel Crowes penthouse & yacht (he invited us up for drinks but we were too busy!) to the place me & Jay used to go with Suzanne for beers (micro brewery)we had a drink & then A.Lori & Chris met us & we went for lunch. After lunch we went with Chris to Harry's Cafe De Wheels as he hadn't seen the famous pie floaters!
We then had a few more beers in Kings Cross & had a really good catch up, well the boys talked sport most of the time to be fair!! (only joking!) We hope Chris comes over soon so we can show him round. It wasn't long enough this visit! He sends his love to you all back home! We dropped him off for his train to the airport & then went back to Glebe for you guessed it 'Thai on Wok' again!
Monday we went on the bus to Coogee but the weather was too windy to sit out so we hopped on the bus back to town & enjoyed a few pints in Darling Harbour & then 'Thai on Wok' for dinner but alas it was closed, so we had to get super cheap $5 Thai instad & ate it on our balcony!! Managed to buy some 2nd hand L.Planet books for the rest of our trip at a bargain price from this little 2nd hand book shop in Glebe!
Tuesday we met A.Lori & U.Mike for a farewell lunch at the Hilton lush fig tart! It was really relaxed & we had a nice chat before saying a tearful goodbye.
Wandered around for the rest of the day, bought maps for the rest of our trip, walked through 'The Rocks' to D.Harbour for a few & then got the bus back & went for 'Thai on Wok'!!!
Wednesday we got up, had brekkie then headed out on our long North Shore harbour walk. We walked from Glebe over the harbour bridge to North Sydney then picked up the trail all the way to the last bridge before Manly. We stopped for a late lunch at Balmoral beach which was nice. Got the boat back to C.Quay from Manly & it was pouring with rain, there was a big rainbow over the harbour ahhhhhh!
Got the bus back from C.Quay to Glebe, showered then went for dinner at the pub over the road for steak & lamb shanks! Tried our best to drink some bourbon in the room!
Thursday it rained all day, met Zoe & Nick at lunch time after we had dodgy haircuts!
Wandered around the Paddy's markets with them, introduced them to Char Sui buns & then went to Darling harbour, wandered back to Glebe & went for, you guessed it 'Thai on Wok'!
Friday had lunch in the pub opposite after we'd walked around for a bit, got the shuttle bus to the airport & left for Singapore to meet Jules, yey it's great being met at the airport by someone you know! Remaining Bourbon travelled with us in a plastic bottle!
We arrived all ok from NZ with 2 litres of Woodstock! The view from the plane was amazing, all over the harbour, think we must have come in a different way before!
We got to the hotel in Glebe, dumped the bags & went out for dinner & drinks.
Stayed at the Haven Inn as a cheap hotel with pool (supposedly heated!, room was nice with a strange balcony with a window for all to jump through!
Glebe area was really nice, quite bohemian/studenty & only a short walk to the city.
Walked into town on Friday & managed to book our trip for China & sort all our flight dates out which was brilliant so no more stuff to do for the rest of the week! Wandered around & went to the rocks for drinks & saw the same barman from 4 years ago! He remembered you Suzanne!(not really) In the evening we went for dinner in Glebe at a place called Thai On Wok.
It was a great buzzy BYO Thai cafe & it was busy & I mean really busy every night. All meals were about $10, bonus so we seemed to eat there every night with Jay always having the same Thai herbs with chilli & stir fried veg & bottle of red wine!!
Saturday morning it was Anzac day, we walked down through Sydney fish market & saw all of the cheap lobster & oysters, yum yum! We met U.Mike & A.Lori at their hotel, late due to the parade we couldn't cross the road, infact this seemed to be no excuse as we seemed to be late each time we met up with them! Oh well we all laughed about it! We had a great day soaking up Sydney, we walked around the Rocks Markets & then round Circular Quay then got the ferry over to Manly, had a sarnie & a wander then came back to CQ & U.Mike suggested going to Neutral Bay as none of us had been there. So we all got on the ferry, A,Lori was happy because the seats were more comfy! It was so funny because there was nothing there to look at so we just stayed on & went all the way back to CQ, so we had a nice boat ride!!! In the evening we all went for dinner, Chris joined us & we went to a lovely Italian restaurant called Bambini . We had a lovely meal & gorgeous wine & Jay tried rabbit for the first time & liked it.
Sunday we met up with U.Mike (we were late again!)& walked around Circular Quay to Woolloomolloo, past Russel Crowes penthouse & yacht (he invited us up for drinks but we were too busy!) to the place me & Jay used to go with Suzanne for beers (micro brewery)we had a drink & then A.Lori & Chris met us & we went for lunch. After lunch we went with Chris to Harry's Cafe De Wheels as he hadn't seen the famous pie floaters!
We then had a few more beers in Kings Cross & had a really good catch up, well the boys talked sport most of the time to be fair!! (only joking!) We hope Chris comes over soon so we can show him round. It wasn't long enough this visit! He sends his love to you all back home! We dropped him off for his train to the airport & then went back to Glebe for you guessed it 'Thai on Wok' again!
Monday we went on the bus to Coogee but the weather was too windy to sit out so we hopped on the bus back to town & enjoyed a few pints in Darling Harbour & then 'Thai on Wok' for dinner but alas it was closed, so we had to get super cheap $5 Thai instad & ate it on our balcony!! Managed to buy some 2nd hand L.Planet books for the rest of our trip at a bargain price from this little 2nd hand book shop in Glebe!
Tuesday we met A.Lori & U.Mike for a farewell lunch at the Hilton lush fig tart! It was really relaxed & we had a nice chat before saying a tearful goodbye.
Wandered around for the rest of the day, bought maps for the rest of our trip, walked through 'The Rocks' to D.Harbour for a few & then got the bus back & went for 'Thai on Wok'!!!
Wednesday we got up, had brekkie then headed out on our long North Shore harbour walk. We walked from Glebe over the harbour bridge to North Sydney then picked up the trail all the way to the last bridge before Manly. We stopped for a late lunch at Balmoral beach which was nice. Got the boat back to C.Quay from Manly & it was pouring with rain, there was a big rainbow over the harbour ahhhhhh!
Got the bus back from C.Quay to Glebe, showered then went for dinner at the pub over the road for steak & lamb shanks! Tried our best to drink some bourbon in the room!
Thursday it rained all day, met Zoe & Nick at lunch time after we had dodgy haircuts!
Wandered around the Paddy's markets with them, introduced them to Char Sui buns & then went to Darling harbour, wandered back to Glebe & went for, you guessed it 'Thai on Wok'!
Friday had lunch in the pub opposite after we'd walked around for a bit, got the shuttle bus to the airport & left for Singapore to meet Jules, yey it's great being met at the airport by someone you know! Remaining Bourbon travelled with us in a plastic bottle!
11/4/09 DOC site Whatanango Bay Picton
Green lipped mussels, lost flip flop!
Beers with Nick & Zoe.
Cards in the van.
Beers with Nick & Zoe.
Cards in the van.
2/4/09 - 4/4/09 Christchurch
Camp in city, cupcakes, walk. Met Texan girl, dodgy eel in chinese! Monteiths Brewery pub, jugs.
19/9/09 Moana (Arthurs Pass)
19/9/09
Left Westport & trucked down the coast onto Punakaiki where a short walk led us to the Pancake Rocks. Not very impressed really, didn't think the rocks stacked up looked anything like pancakes! Not good travellers really! Weather still not too good so we went onto Greymouth, stopped to get food supplies & bumped into both couples from the A.Tasman kayak trip in the same supermarket, well funny! Had a chat with them, then went to the info centre, found out that the Great Alpine Railway through Arthur's Pass was best during the winter & snow so binned that idea & drove out to A.Pass ourselves to have a look. Not much there, had a beer in a very old hotel where the land lady told us about the famous whitebait, you have them in an omelet, best without flour added & they guaranteed 20g per fritter. They are smaller than our whitebait & are transparent you could just see the eyes! Yuck not very appetizing but about 80 NZD/kilo!!
Decided to stay the night at Lake Brunner(Moana) as Greymouth was not that great. Arrived, parked up & had a walk by the lake, it was really quiet here, not much going on.
Left Westport & trucked down the coast onto Punakaiki where a short walk led us to the Pancake Rocks. Not very impressed really, didn't think the rocks stacked up looked anything like pancakes! Not good travellers really! Weather still not too good so we went onto Greymouth, stopped to get food supplies & bumped into both couples from the A.Tasman kayak trip in the same supermarket, well funny! Had a chat with them, then went to the info centre, found out that the Great Alpine Railway through Arthur's Pass was best during the winter & snow so binned that idea & drove out to A.Pass ourselves to have a look. Not much there, had a beer in a very old hotel where the land lady told us about the famous whitebait, you have them in an omelet, best without flour added & they guaranteed 20g per fritter. They are smaller than our whitebait & are transparent you could just see the eyes! Yuck not very appetizing but about 80 NZD/kilo!!
Decided to stay the night at Lake Brunner(Moana) as Greymouth was not that great. Arrived, parked up & had a walk by the lake, it was really quiet here, not much going on.
18/9/09 Westport
18/9/09
Left Nelson after brekkie & trucked on down route 6 through Murchinson taking in the scenery to Buller Gorge where we stopped & walked across the Buller Gorge Swing bridge & zip wired back across it! Took a video clip of it. It was raining & all these little flies came out & were all over us, we got bitten to death! Think they were sand flies! Carried on through the Buller Gorge to Wesport through some great scenery, it was lashing down by now! Didn't think much to Wesport, the brewery was shut for the day so we went round the corner to Cape Foulwind & parked up at a Top 10 campsite for the night that was nothing but a glorified car park!
Left Nelson after brekkie & trucked on down route 6 through Murchinson taking in the scenery to Buller Gorge where we stopped & walked across the Buller Gorge Swing bridge & zip wired back across it! Took a video clip of it. It was raining & all these little flies came out & were all over us, we got bitten to death! Think they were sand flies! Carried on through the Buller Gorge to Wesport through some great scenery, it was lashing down by now! Didn't think much to Wesport, the brewery was shut for the day so we went round the corner to Cape Foulwind & parked up at a Top 10 campsite for the night that was nothing but a glorified car park!
16/3/09 - 17/3/09 Nelson & Abel Tasman National Park
16/3/09
Lush campsite right on the beach!
Got up & I went for a walk on the beach then we had brekkie & headed into Nelson town to the info centre for Abel Tasman trips. Went food shopping then headed back to the campsite. Made lunch then wandered to a local bar for a beer & waded through the leaflets of trips to do at Abel Tasman National Park. Booked on an all day Kayaking trip with Kiwi Kayaks www.kiwikayaks.co.nz the next day where we walk out then kayak back. Headed back & had dinner & an early night ready for the next day's activities!
17/3/09
St.Patricks Day!
Got picked up round the corner early to start our trip. Drove up to Abel Tasman National Park & got geared up for our day's trip. We got an upgrade to a full day's kayak so the walking got dropped, so we actually get to see loads more of the park. Put on our kayaking skirts, met our group, 2 girls from Holland, 2 from Germany & off we went! Had about a 40 min boat ride out to Bark Bay then got in our kayaks (2 people) to kayak all the way back! Was well funny once we'd got into the swing of paddling in time with each other, few strong words....
Kayaked around the coast, water was so clear & the sun was baking down. Very peaceful on the water.
We kayaked around Adele Island where they have a seal colony & we saw seals popping up. Stopped for a sandwich lunch & a dip (water was freezing!) in Torrent Bay, J went for a walk & looked down onto the beach & I sunbathed. On the 2nd island we came to called Fisherman's Islands where we saw more seals & they swam right up & under the kayak they followed us for a while, it was great as we saw babies too & to be so close was amazing! Then we paddled slowly back to the beach at Sandy Bay - Marahau taking in the scenery & racing the girls from Holland!!
Great day but we did ache a bit!
Got dropped back, showered then walked to the pub for St.Patrick's Day! Had some drinks & food & then walked back where we met a local old guy who lived on the campsite permanently, he had a plot right on the beach. He invited us to his local club the next night to watch him in a poker match, he'd won a lot that night too already!
Lush campsite right on the beach!
Got up & I went for a walk on the beach then we had brekkie & headed into Nelson town to the info centre for Abel Tasman trips. Went food shopping then headed back to the campsite. Made lunch then wandered to a local bar for a beer & waded through the leaflets of trips to do at Abel Tasman National Park. Booked on an all day Kayaking trip with Kiwi Kayaks www.kiwikayaks.co.nz the next day where we walk out then kayak back. Headed back & had dinner & an early night ready for the next day's activities!
17/3/09
St.Patricks Day!
Got picked up round the corner early to start our trip. Drove up to Abel Tasman National Park & got geared up for our day's trip. We got an upgrade to a full day's kayak so the walking got dropped, so we actually get to see loads more of the park. Put on our kayaking skirts, met our group, 2 girls from Holland, 2 from Germany & off we went! Had about a 40 min boat ride out to Bark Bay then got in our kayaks (2 people) to kayak all the way back! Was well funny once we'd got into the swing of paddling in time with each other, few strong words....
Kayaked around the coast, water was so clear & the sun was baking down. Very peaceful on the water.
We kayaked around Adele Island where they have a seal colony & we saw seals popping up. Stopped for a sandwich lunch & a dip (water was freezing!) in Torrent Bay, J went for a walk & looked down onto the beach & I sunbathed. On the 2nd island we came to called Fisherman's Islands where we saw more seals & they swam right up & under the kayak they followed us for a while, it was great as we saw babies too & to be so close was amazing! Then we paddled slowly back to the beach at Sandy Bay - Marahau taking in the scenery & racing the girls from Holland!!
Great day but we did ache a bit!
Got dropped back, showered then walked to the pub for St.Patrick's Day! Had some drinks & food & then walked back where we met a local old guy who lived on the campsite permanently, he had a plot right on the beach. He invited us to his local club the next night to watch him in a poker match, he'd won a lot that night too already!
10/3/09 - 15/3/09 Wanganui - Wellington - South Island
09/3/09
Not much to see here so bought dinner & parked at a camp by the sea! Strange folk nosing at us from their caravan! Did 2 large sacks of washing, result!!
10/3/09
Left this morning for a few days in Wellington with George.
Stopped on the way at a place called Paikakariki that George said was nice. Made sarnies by the sea & ate them watching the local kids school do training in the sea near the surf club. Then cracked on into Wellington City, eventually found our way round the 1 way system to the info office, picked up a few bits to do & ferry info to the South Island. Couldn't get over how small the Capital City was, the main road out equivalent to our M25 was only 1 lane!!! Popped into the Lower Hutt info centre to get a map of Upper Hutt so we culd find George's house.
Trucked onto Upper Hutt & parked up at a bar for a few Woodie's to wait for George to get home from work.
Met up with George, dumped the bags then went around to his Mum's for dinner. Met Marion & George's daughter Kathryn, Marion still had a broad Scottish accent even though she has lived in NZ for years now! Ate our first roast dinner since leaving home & with J's favourite cheese sauce! Well lush! Rex (Marions Hubbie) got in from work & joined us, he was funny too, he talked us through the South Island a bit as he used to visit there a lot for work. J chatted him up for brekkie the next day so he could watch the Liverpool match!
11/3/09
J got up & went round to Rex's with some eggs & a tin of Heinz Baked Beans for brekkie & to watch the footie! I chilled & washed clothes & booked our ferry to the S.Island for Sunday. Rex made him poached eggs on toast & they watched the game together.
Walked into Upper Hutt for lunch (roast roll!) & to get supplies for dinner from Pak 'N'Save, had a few beers then wandered back, made chicken curry, George & Kathryn got home, we ate dinner but it was too hot for Kathryn & George wasn't that keen, after talking to Suze she said he was more of a meat & 2 veg kinda guy! Oh well Shepherds Pie next then! After dinner George took us to his mate Shane's where we met him & his girlfriend, had a chat & got an invite to his 30th birthday on Saturday night. Then we went to the top of Mt Victoria & looked down over the city which was nice, me & Kathryn sat in the car as it was freezing! Then we went to his workmate's house right cut into the hill overlooking the city, beautiful house. Then off to his Bro's house to get some fresh eggs for brekkie, had more tea & some lush kinda Rocky Road biscuit.
12/3/09
Drove into Wellington & went on the cable car to the top of the Botanical Gardens & then walked the short distance back down through the gardens. We carried on doing the walking tour in the L.Planet book taking in all the sights. Went for beers
at Mac's microbrewery then walked along the Quay watching the training for the Dragon Boat festival to the parked van.
Went to Pak 'N' Save again & cooked Shepherds Pie for dinner for us all which went down better than the curry!!
13/3/09
George booked today off as hols to show us around which was really nice. J cooked poached eggs for us 3 then we went off for the day.
Drove into Wellngton & up to the wind turbine on the hill for some more great views, then bck down & George drove all the way around the coast/headland/harbour showing us all the sights, the coastline was lovely with some really nice houses.
Went for a beer in town & George won on the Pokies, then went for a sarnie & then off to another viewpoint.
Got back to George's, showered & changed then George drove us into Lower Hutt for dinner at this steak house he goes to then we went for beers at his old local pub & watched a band. Met some of his old mates which was nice then we went & stopped for some crispy fish on the way home!
14/3/09
Nothing day today really, Kathryn got home from staying at her mate's & we all just chilled out. Later me & J went to get supplies for the party & fry up for Sunday morning. We all went round to Marion & Rex's for a great BBQ in the garden b4 the party. Had a lovely time, Rex was funny! Marion dropped us at Shane's for the party & so we ate & drank lots all night, J tried to watch the Liverpool Vs Man U match but kept falling asleep, I had lots of text's from Neil about it hee hee they lost! Had a call from New York Big Eyes & Bob which was nice but was very drunk so don't remember much of it! Lots of drunken texts sent that night!
15/3/09
Got up late & J cooked us all a fry up, lush, just what we all needed! Got a call from Sarah & Paul & kiddies which was nice, great to hear their voices. Marion popped round to bring Kathryn home & she had also made us some sarnies for the trip, bless her & gave us a pot of home made jam, result! Packed up the van & said a sad farewell to the guys. Off to catch the ferry to the South Island.
Got onto the ferry all ok, had a nice chat with the guy showing us onto the ferry, everyone's so nice here, didn't see any dolphins on the way out but the crossing was flat & clear which was good with hangovers!
Arrived into Picton, I drove & we decided to head on round the west coast as far as we could get before dark. Drove through Havelock where they have the Mussel Festival onto Nelson. In Nelson we carried on to Tahuna Beach Holiday Park www.tahunabeachholidaypark.co.nz, found a beachside spot for the night, idealic.
Not much to see here so bought dinner & parked at a camp by the sea! Strange folk nosing at us from their caravan! Did 2 large sacks of washing, result!!
10/3/09
Left this morning for a few days in Wellington with George.
Stopped on the way at a place called Paikakariki that George said was nice. Made sarnies by the sea & ate them watching the local kids school do training in the sea near the surf club. Then cracked on into Wellington City, eventually found our way round the 1 way system to the info office, picked up a few bits to do & ferry info to the South Island. Couldn't get over how small the Capital City was, the main road out equivalent to our M25 was only 1 lane!!! Popped into the Lower Hutt info centre to get a map of Upper Hutt so we culd find George's house.
Trucked onto Upper Hutt & parked up at a bar for a few Woodie's to wait for George to get home from work.
Met up with George, dumped the bags then went around to his Mum's for dinner. Met Marion & George's daughter Kathryn, Marion still had a broad Scottish accent even though she has lived in NZ for years now! Ate our first roast dinner since leaving home & with J's favourite cheese sauce! Well lush! Rex (Marions Hubbie) got in from work & joined us, he was funny too, he talked us through the South Island a bit as he used to visit there a lot for work. J chatted him up for brekkie the next day so he could watch the Liverpool match!
11/3/09
J got up & went round to Rex's with some eggs & a tin of Heinz Baked Beans for brekkie & to watch the footie! I chilled & washed clothes & booked our ferry to the S.Island for Sunday. Rex made him poached eggs on toast & they watched the game together.
Walked into Upper Hutt for lunch (roast roll!) & to get supplies for dinner from Pak 'N'Save, had a few beers then wandered back, made chicken curry, George & Kathryn got home, we ate dinner but it was too hot for Kathryn & George wasn't that keen, after talking to Suze she said he was more of a meat & 2 veg kinda guy! Oh well Shepherds Pie next then! After dinner George took us to his mate Shane's where we met him & his girlfriend, had a chat & got an invite to his 30th birthday on Saturday night. Then we went to the top of Mt Victoria & looked down over the city which was nice, me & Kathryn sat in the car as it was freezing! Then we went to his workmate's house right cut into the hill overlooking the city, beautiful house. Then off to his Bro's house to get some fresh eggs for brekkie, had more tea & some lush kinda Rocky Road biscuit.
12/3/09
Drove into Wellington & went on the cable car to the top of the Botanical Gardens & then walked the short distance back down through the gardens. We carried on doing the walking tour in the L.Planet book taking in all the sights. Went for beers
at Mac's microbrewery then walked along the Quay watching the training for the Dragon Boat festival to the parked van.
Went to Pak 'N' Save again & cooked Shepherds Pie for dinner for us all which went down better than the curry!!
13/3/09
George booked today off as hols to show us around which was really nice. J cooked poached eggs for us 3 then we went off for the day.
Drove into Wellngton & up to the wind turbine on the hill for some more great views, then bck down & George drove all the way around the coast/headland/harbour showing us all the sights, the coastline was lovely with some really nice houses.
Went for a beer in town & George won on the Pokies, then went for a sarnie & then off to another viewpoint.
Got back to George's, showered & changed then George drove us into Lower Hutt for dinner at this steak house he goes to then we went for beers at his old local pub & watched a band. Met some of his old mates which was nice then we went & stopped for some crispy fish on the way home!
14/3/09
Nothing day today really, Kathryn got home from staying at her mate's & we all just chilled out. Later me & J went to get supplies for the party & fry up for Sunday morning. We all went round to Marion & Rex's for a great BBQ in the garden b4 the party. Had a lovely time, Rex was funny! Marion dropped us at Shane's for the party & so we ate & drank lots all night, J tried to watch the Liverpool Vs Man U match but kept falling asleep, I had lots of text's from Neil about it hee hee they lost! Had a call from New York Big Eyes & Bob which was nice but was very drunk so don't remember much of it! Lots of drunken texts sent that night!
15/3/09
Got up late & J cooked us all a fry up, lush, just what we all needed! Got a call from Sarah & Paul & kiddies which was nice, great to hear their voices. Marion popped round to bring Kathryn home & she had also made us some sarnies for the trip, bless her & gave us a pot of home made jam, result! Packed up the van & said a sad farewell to the guys. Off to catch the ferry to the South Island.
Got onto the ferry all ok, had a nice chat with the guy showing us onto the ferry, everyone's so nice here, didn't see any dolphins on the way out but the crossing was flat & clear which was good with hangovers!
Arrived into Picton, I drove & we decided to head on round the west coast as far as we could get before dark. Drove through Havelock where they have the Mussel Festival onto Nelson. In Nelson we carried on to Tahuna Beach Holiday Park www.tahunabeachholidaypark.co.nz, found a beachside spot for the night, idealic.
7/3/09 - 9/3/09 Raglan - New Plymouth (Fitzroy Beach)
Left Raglan after having a mooch around the small surfy town. The weather was not too good so Jay decided against having surf lessons!
Still laughing about how many wee's I have to get up for in the night!
We stopped at Waitomo Caves on the way down & went on a guided walk & boat tour though the deep caves to gaze up at the glowworms. Amazing, just like twinkly stars in the night.
We got to Fitzroy beach late afternoon & booked into a nice camp by the sea. They had black sand here! J cooked a lush meatball dinner but the gas ran out half way through so he transferred to the kitchen & we met some drunken girlies who were funny!
The next day we walked along the coastal walkway for 7km & then back through town for beers in the Irish bar then back towards camp stopping for another beer where we had missed the $10 roast Sunday dinner, gutted!
Got up the next day for Jay to have his 1st surf lesson! He got the wetsuit on & looked quite buff! He managed to get up but needs more practise to get up to championship standards me thinks!
Trucked on after lunch around the coast to Wanganui for the night.
Still laughing about how many wee's I have to get up for in the night!
We stopped at Waitomo Caves on the way down & went on a guided walk & boat tour though the deep caves to gaze up at the glowworms. Amazing, just like twinkly stars in the night.
We got to Fitzroy beach late afternoon & booked into a nice camp by the sea. They had black sand here! J cooked a lush meatball dinner but the gas ran out half way through so he transferred to the kitchen & we met some drunken girlies who were funny!
The next day we walked along the coastal walkway for 7km & then back through town for beers in the Irish bar then back towards camp stopping for another beer where we had missed the $10 roast Sunday dinner, gutted!
Got up the next day for Jay to have his 1st surf lesson! He got the wetsuit on & looked quite buff! He managed to get up but needs more practise to get up to championship standards me thinks!
Trucked on after lunch around the coast to Wanganui for the night.
5/3/09 - 6/3/09 Baylys Beach - Parakai (Hot springs) - Raglan
Trucked on in the morning through Dargaville & stopped to view the 3 sister Kauri trees in Trounson Kauri Park then onto see the 'Father of the Forest'in the Waipoua Kauri Forest. He had a trunk over 5m in diameter & could be the oldest in NZ (probably 2000 years old)it was amazing, we had never seen trees that big! Kauri trees can reach 60m in height, they grow to the top of the forest canopy & then grow outwards making the trunk diameter's huge!
Went onto visit the Kauri Museum in Matakohe which was amazing, all the history of these great trees.
Trucked on down to Parakai where it was raining so we went to the pub & ate t-bone!!
The next morning we went to the hot springs & swam in the warm waters & Jay went down the slides!! Left late morning & arrived in Raglan (surf beach) where we set up camp for the night, still raining! Got a Family Parks discount card, bonus!!
Went onto visit the Kauri Museum in Matakohe which was amazing, all the history of these great trees.
Trucked on down to Parakai where it was raining so we went to the pub & ate t-bone!!
The next morning we went to the hot springs & swam in the warm waters & Jay went down the slides!! Left late morning & arrived in Raglan (surf beach) where we set up camp for the night, still raining! Got a Family Parks discount card, bonus!!
2/3/09 - 4/3/09 Ahipara - Opononi - Baylys Beach
Trucked on through lovely forest scenery to Opononi where we parked at another camp by the beach for the night. I saw a possum in the middle of the night on one of my many wee's during the night. Loads of stars!
Then on the next day to Baylys Beach passing though & stopping for lunch on the shores of the Kai Lwi Lakes (natural sand lakes). I went paddling in the lake.
Met a nice retired couple who lived in Wellington but were originally from England who we had a drink with in the evening.
We both got up the next day to go horse riding on the beach (I persuaded J to come!). It was a great morning & I got to canter on the beach, brilliant!!
Then on the next day to Baylys Beach passing though & stopping for lunch on the shores of the Kai Lwi Lakes (natural sand lakes). I went paddling in the lake.
Met a nice retired couple who lived in Wellington but were originally from England who we had a drink with in the evening.
We both got up the next day to go horse riding on the beach (I persuaded J to come!). It was a great morning & I got to canter on the beach, brilliant!!
1/3/09 Cape Reinga trip
Went on a day trip in a huge bus to the Cape. Stopped on the way to visit the Gumdiggers museum & walked around a recreation of one of their villages. Really interesting learning about the history of Gumboots & the old Kauri trees. Then onto the Cape where we stopped for piccies at the end by the lighthouse, it's where the Tasman Sea & Pacific Ocean meet but no big waves when we were there! Also where the Maori spirits of the dead depart the earth.
Stopped on the way back to go sandboarding down the huge dunes, Jay watched me! Then we drove in the bus down the beach back to the campsite! Well funny driving on the sand.
Stopped on the way back to go sandboarding down the huge dunes, Jay watched me! Then we drove in the bus down the beach back to the campsite! Well funny driving on the sand.
28/2/09 Doubtless Bay - Ahipara (base for Cape Reinga tours)
Arrived here early, set up camp & went for a walk on 90 mile beach. Ended up in the golf club & had a few beers & met some old local boys. 1st golf club we've been to where they were heckling the other players! Had fun with the boys & several bevvies then headed back to camp for dinner. Booked our trip for the following day to Cape Reinga.
27/2/09 Haruru Falls - Whatuwhiwhi
Try & pronounce that!
Well today we popped into Paihia & went on a boat trip to swim with the dolphins. Unfortunatly we didn't get to swim as there were babies with their Mums but we did get to see a lot of bottle nose dolphins in a pod. They were huge & we would probably have found it a bit scary swimming with them! We both laid down on the front of the boat & they were so near we could have touched them if we were allowed! We were apparently very lucky to have seen the babies at approx 2 weeks old.
Trucked on in the afternoon through Kerikeri where we visited the oldest wooden built & oldest stone house in NZ then onto Whatuwhiwhi in Doubtless bay for the night.
Tonight was fun in the van as we experienced our 1st storm! Jay went to the toilet in his swimming shorts it was that bad! Not much fun cooking with no windows open though & the door leaked! We were right by the sea but didn't get to see anything!
Well today we popped into Paihia & went on a boat trip to swim with the dolphins. Unfortunatly we didn't get to swim as there were babies with their Mums but we did get to see a lot of bottle nose dolphins in a pod. They were huge & we would probably have found it a bit scary swimming with them! We both laid down on the front of the boat & they were so near we could have touched them if we were allowed! We were apparently very lucky to have seen the babies at approx 2 weeks old.
Trucked on in the afternoon through Kerikeri where we visited the oldest wooden built & oldest stone house in NZ then onto Whatuwhiwhi in Doubtless bay for the night.
Tonight was fun in the van as we experienced our 1st storm! Jay went to the toilet in his swimming shorts it was that bad! Not much fun cooking with no windows open though & the door leaked! We were right by the sea but didn't get to see anything!
26/2/09 - Northland Waipu Cove - Haruru Falls
Had a great sleep then packed the bed & bits away & trucked on!
J's lovin the truck!
We headed on the route 1 & drove through Whangarei (WH is pronounced Fan in Maouri)& round the Heads to stop for lunch. Pulled up, made sarnies & sat by the sea. Trucked on after lunch still on the route 1 to see the waterfalls Whangarei Falls, bit disapointing after seeing Iguazu Falls but hey ho!
Trucked on again all around the coast to Paihia & parked up at a campsite just outside at Haruru Falls, again tiny compared to S.America hee hee!
No sooner had we parked up but Jay got attacked by a swarm/flock of ducks! Well funny they all went for him & he got scared!!
Bay of Islands tomorrow to swim with dolphins!
J's lovin the truck!
We headed on the route 1 & drove through Whangarei (WH is pronounced Fan in Maouri)& round the Heads to stop for lunch. Pulled up, made sarnies & sat by the sea. Trucked on after lunch still on the route 1 to see the waterfalls Whangarei Falls, bit disapointing after seeing Iguazu Falls but hey ho!
Trucked on again all around the coast to Paihia & parked up at a campsite just outside at Haruru Falls, again tiny compared to S.America hee hee!
No sooner had we parked up but Jay got attacked by a swarm/flock of ducks! Well funny they all went for him & he got scared!!
Bay of Islands tomorrow to swim with dolphins!
25/2/09 - Auckland to Waipu Cove
Left Stillwater in the morning after packing up the van & went to get our 1st food shop! It was great to get bits to cook for ourselves after a few months in S.America, we went a bit overboard & spent too much but hey ho!
After fuelling up the truck we headed north & trucked on to our first stop for the night Waipu Cove. Found a cool campsite right by the beach, set up camp, plugged in & went for a wander. We had dinner & then sat out under the stars, listening to the sea & had a few beers, heaven!
After fuelling up the truck we headed north & trucked on to our first stop for the night Waipu Cove. Found a cool campsite right by the beach, set up camp, plugged in & went for a wander. We had dinner & then sat out under the stars, listening to the sea & had a few beers, heaven!
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