Jul 07

HEY
AT LAST MY TOP DESTINATION.
AFTER A DODGY FLIGHT...TAKING OFF AND AFTER AN HOUR HEADING BACK TO SINGAPORE WITH NAVIGATION PROBLEMS WE EVENTUALLY ARRIVE IN DARWIN APPROX 8AM.
THE SUN THROUGH THE WINDOWS OF THE PLANE IS BLINDING. I WAS SO TIRED BUT REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE.
AFTER GOING THROUGH A STRICT IMMIGRATION WE HEAD OFF IN AN AIRPORT SHUTTLE BUS TO DARWIN CITY TO A HOSTEL CALLED MALEUCA WHICH I HAD BOOKED PREVIOUSLY. THE WOMAN DRIVER IS A TOTAL SHEILA ABOUT 50 YEAR OLD REALLY JOLLY AND EVER SO FRIENDLY AND ENTHUSIASTIC.
WE ARRIVE ON MITCHELL STREET THE BACKPACKER STREET AND CHECK IN OUR HOSTEL. THIS TIME A 6 BED DORM FOR DOUBLE THE PRICE OF THE ONE AT SINGAPORE. LOOKS LIKE THIS IS HOW ILL BE SLEEPING FOR THE NEXT 8 MONTHS OR SO ! YOU WALK INTO YOUR DORM ITS ALL FEMALE YOUR HOPING THE GIRLS YOUR SHARING WITH ARE CLEAN AND DONT SNORE BUT UNFORTUNATELY THERE NOT AND THEY OFTEN DO.
THE HOSTELS HAVE A POOL AND A LAUNDRY AND A COMMUNAL KITCHEN WHICH IS QUITE FUN COME 6PM AND 475 PEOPLE ARE TRING TO GET AROUND 6 STOVES !!

NOT SEEN MUCH OF DARWIN AND THE AREA AS OF YET. THE PEOPLE ARE FRIENDLY BUT OFTEN SPOILT BY THE SIGHT OF A DRUNKEN ABORIGINIE GUY YELLING ABUSE. THERE ARE LOTS OF OUTBACK TRIPS TO DO INCLUDING THE FAMOUS KAKADU AND LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARKS AND OF COURSE AYRES ROCK WHICH I PLAN TO DO BEFORE HEADING OFF. THE WEATHER IS AWESOME 32 DEGREES AND NOT A CLOUD IN SIGHT REALLY COOL ON AN EVENING TOO.

WENT TO MINDIL BEACH SUNSET MARKET ABOUT HALF AN HOURS WALK FROM MITCHELL STREET. IT HAS LOTS OF STALLS SELLING CROCODILE AND KANGEROO MEAT,DIDGERIDOOS AND BOOMERANGS. THERE IS A COOL ATMOSPHERE WITH AUSTARLIAN MUSIC PLAYING AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GATHERING ON THE BEACH FOR THE MOST AWESOME SUNSET EVER !!

GONNA BE LOOKING FOR A JOB OVER THE NEXT WEEK AROUND TOWN AS PLANNING TO STAY HERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE HEADING OFF EAST TOWARDS CAIRNS.
THE JOBS IVE LOOKED AT SO FAR INCLUDE WORKING ON A CROCODILE FARM BUILDING CROC CAGES, WORKING AT FANNIE BAY RACECOURSE FOR THE DARWIN CUP FOR A WEEK OR BASIC BAR AND HOSPITALITY WORK OF WHICH THERE IS LOTS BUT ALSO LOTS MORE COMPETITION.
WILL KEEP U ALL POSTED
BYE FOR NOW XX

HELLO ALL
SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE BEEN BUSY SUN BATHING !!!

SINGAPORE..... A NICE PLACE TO SEE. IT TOOK US 6 HOURS ON A BUS FROM KL AND WE HAD TO GET OFF ON THE BORDER TO HAVE OUR PASSPORTS STAMPED.
SINGAPORE IS VERY CLEAN AND WELL ORGANISED. THERE IS A HUGE MIX OF PEOPLE ABIT LIKE WHEN YOU GO TO LONDON.

WE ARRIVED AT SINGAPORE BUS STATION LATE. DURING THE BUS JOURNEY WE ASKED A FEW PEOPLE WHERE WAS BEST TO STAY IN SINGAPORE AND THE GENERAL ANSWER WAS LITTLE INDIA. AFTER STAYING IN CHINA TOWN IN KL WE THOUGHT IT WOULD MAKE A NICE CHANGE CHANGING FROM CHOPSTICKS TO TURBANS !!!
WE WALKED FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO LITTLE INDIA IT WAS ROASTING MY BACKPACK IS HEAVIER NOW WITH THE NEW SHOES I BOUGHT,MY BACK IS DRIPPING WET. WE REACH LITTLE INDIA TOTALLY WACKED....ITS A DUMP AND ITS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BE AT 11PM. WE REST FOR 5 THEN DECIDE TO STICK WITH THE CHOPSTICKS AND HEAD FOR CHINA TOWN.
WE TRY SEVERAL HOSTELS BUT ALL ARE FULLY BOOKED. WE TRY AND BOOK INTO A HOTEL ALTHOUGH EXPENSIVE ITS GETTING LATE AND WE NEED SOMEWHERE QUICK. ALL HOTELS ARE FULLY BOOKED. BY THIS POINT 12.45AM WERE GETTING A BIT WORRIED AND WE ARE EXHAUSTED.
ON A LAST ATTEMPT WE FOUND A SMALL SHABBY LOOKING HOTEL AND THEY HAVE A ROOM. I GO UPSTAIRS TO HAVE A LOOK BUT ITS DISGUSTING. IT WERENT CHEAP EITHER. I WANTED SO MUCH TO SLEEP BUT IT WAS AWFUL. WE DECIDED TO FIND THE ENERGY TO SEARCH FOR ANOTHER 10 MINS AND IF WE COULDNT FIND ANYWHERE ELSE THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO SLUM IT THERE.
OUR LUCK WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE WE SEEN A SMALL BACKPACKER PUB CALLED COW AND COOLIES AND THE GUY IN THE BAR SAID HE HAD ROOM IN HIS 10 BED DORM UPSTAIRS 6 QUID EACH A NIGHT.
WE HAD NEVER STAYED IN A DORM BEFORE BUT THIS WAS OUR LAST HOPE SO WE FOLLOWED HIM UPSTAIRS. ALL THE OTHER BEDS ARE TAKEN AS EVERYONE IS ASLEEP. IT SEEMED OK VERY CLEAN WITH A SHARED BATHROOM. AT LAST SOMEWHERE TO REST OUR TIRED BACKS !

WE STAYED IN SINGAPORE FOR 3 NIGHTS. ALTHOUGH VERY EXPENSIVE IT IS A LOVELY PLACE AND ALOT LIKE KL FOR SHOPPING AND DINING OUT. THE DORM WERENT THAT BAD.THE BAR DOWNSTAIRS WAS A KARAOKE BAR AND YOU HAD THE CHINESE SQUELLING TUNES FROM 7PM TILL 2AM ! THERE WAS A GOOD MIX OF PEOPLE IN THE DORM 2 ENGLISH GUYS, 3 CHINESE GIRLS 1 GERMAN LASS AND A VERY LARGE NIGERIAN GUY.

LOOKING FORWARD TO OZ NOW. HAVE A 5 HOUR FLIGHT LEAVING AT 10PM SO WILL ARRIVE IN DARWIN IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY EARLY DOORS.
BYE FOR NOW X

FEELING LIKE A REAL TRAVELLER NOW !! DONE THE DREADED OVER NIGHT TRAINS AND BEEN BITTEN HALF TO DEATH IN THE PROCESS BUT FELLOW TRAVELLERS KEEP TELLING ME ITS PART OF THE EXPERIENCE !!

ON LEAVING THAILAND FOR THE OVERNIGHT TRAIN WE HAD TO WAIT 4 HOURS IN THE TRAIN STATION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IT WAS QUITE SCARY. WE GOT ON THE TRAIN AT 2AM NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT AS FROM THE OUTSIDE THEY LOOK AWFUL. THE BUNKS WERENT TOO BAD THO,THE BEDDING WAS CLEAN AND WE DIDNT SEE ANYONE AS WE WERE LAST ON AND EVERYONE WAS ASLEEP. I ON THE OTHER HAND DIDNT SLEEP ALL NIGHT. THE TRAIN TRACKS ARE TERRIBLE U FEEL LIKE YOUR ON A RUNAWAY TRAIN ! WE HAVE TO GET OFF THE TRAIN WITH OUR STUFF AT 6AM TO CROSS THE BORDER THEN BACK ON TILL 2PM WHEN WE ARRIVE AT BUTTERWORTH IN MALAYSIA. WE ARE NOT SURE HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO KUALA SO WE HAVE TO WAIT TO ASK WHEN WERE OFF.

IT TURNS OUT THE TRAIN TO KUALA LUMPAR WAS ANOTHER OVER NIGHT TRAIN SO WE BOOKED ONTO THAT. I SUPPOSE IT SAVES PAYING FOR ACCOMADTION.WE HAD THE WHOLE DAY TO HAVE ALOOK ROUND SO WE GOT A 10 MINUTE FERRY TO PENANG (GEORGETOWN) THERES NOT A LOT TO DO OR SEE BUT WE MET SOME NICE PEOPLE ONE AMERICAN LADY WHO WAS ON OUR TRAIN WHO WAS IN MALAYSIA TO RENEW HER VISA AS SHE LIVES IN THAILAND HAD BEEN ROBBED BY A CHINESE GIRL ON THE TRAIN SHE LOST ABOUT $500 SO YOU HAVE TO NE CAREFUL. WE SPENT THE DAY WONDERING AROUND THE HEAT IS OVER POWERING AND I WAS BIT ABOUT 8 TIMES IN HALF AN HOUR WE HAD SOME NICE FOOD IN AN INDIAN RESTAURANT AND THEN ONTO KUALA LUMPAR AT 10PM.

ARRIVING IN KL AT 8AM THIS TIME ID HAD SOME NICE KIP DESPITE THE DODGY TRACKS !
WE GRAB A TUBE TO CHINA TOWN AS I KNEW THERE WAS LOTS OF ACCOMODATION HERE. WE FOUND A NICE HOTEL ABOVE THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THE FAMOUS STREET MARKETS. THERE IS SUCH A MIXTURE OF PEOPLE HERE ITS AMAZING. THE MARKETS ARE SO CHEAP FULL OF COUNTERFEIT GOODS FROM HANDBAGS TO WATCHES TO CLOTHING AND TRAINERS!! COULDNT RESIST BUYING MYSELF A COUPLE OF PAIRS AT ABOUT 4 QUID A PAIR !!

ONE DAY WE WENT TO THE PETRONAS TOWERS AND SHOOPED IN A MALL IN BETWEEN THEM.IT REALLY COMES ALIVE AT NIGHT AND IVE TOOK SOME PICS OF THE TOWERS ALL LIT UP. WE ALSO WENT UP TO THE SKY WALK WHICH IS 170 METRES APPROX ONE THIRD UP.

WE ARE FINDING KL ALOT MORE EXPENSIVE A BEER IS 2.70 A WOPPING 2.00 MORE THAN THAILAND SO LAYING OFF IT FOR A WHILE !

WE RE HEADING TO SINGAPORE AFTER 2 DAYS HERE. THIS TIME WE ARE TAKING A BUS EVEN THOUGH IM STILL NOT OVER THE MOTION SICKNESS FROM THE TRAIN. IT TAKES 6 HOURS

HELLO ALL

GETTING SETTLED INTO THE THAI LIFE NOW JUST AS IM APPROACHING THE END OF MY TIME IN THAILAND.
ARRIVED BY SPEED BOAT TO KO SAMUI SOUTH OF KO PHAN NGAN. IT IS A LARGER ISLAND AND VERY MUCH A BUSY RESORT. VERY DIFFERENT FROM MY BUNGALOW RESORT PREVIOUSLY.
WE STAYED IN THE BUSY RESORT OF CHEWANG FOR 1 NITE BUT IT WAS EXPENSIVE TO STAY THERE AND A BIT OVER THE TOP SO WE MOVED TO THE SLIGHTLY LESS BUSY RESORT TO THE SOUTH CALLED LAMAI. THE PLACE IS REALLY NICE,THE BEACHES ARENT GREAT BUT THE HOTEL WERE IN IS REALLY NICE AND WE HAVE A POOL FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE STAFF ARE INCREDIBLE, CANT DO ENOUGH FOR YOU.

HIRED A SCOOTER FOR THE DAY AND WENT FOR DINNER IN A GORGEOUS NEW RESTAURANT BETWEEN CHEWANG AND LAMAI CALLED DR FROGS WITH GREAT VIEWS. THE FOOD WAS LUSH. PAYING ABOUT 7 POUND FOR A MEAL BUT FOR THE SAME FOOD AND VIEWS AT HOME YOU WOULD BE LOOKING AT 30-40 POUND A HEAD!

MAKING UP FOR ALL THE LOST SLEEP IVE HAD WITH HAVING A JOB AT HOME IVE BECOME A BIT OF A DUVET QUEEN AND IM EASILY HAVING AN AVERAGE OF 10 HOURS A NIGHT ITS WICKED !!!

AFTER MY LUXURY DINING EXPERIENCE AT DR FROGS.THE NEXT 2 NIGHTS HAVE BEEN TRUE BACKPACKER STYLE. EATING FROM THE THAI FOOD MARKET STALLS. ONE THING I CAN SAY ABOUT THIS PLACE IS I AINT HAD A BAD MEAL YET. YOU PAY 30 BAHT WHICH IS ABOUT 40P AND YOU GET A THAI STIR FRY OF YOUR CHOICE WITH NOODLES IN A REALLY COOL ATMOSPHERE IN WITH THE LOCALS. THEN FOR DESSERT A BANANA,COCONUT AND NUTELLA PANCAKE FOR ANOTHER 40P. FULLY SATISFIED ON 80P!

HEADING TO MALAYSIA TONIGHT BY OVERNIGHT TRAIN WITH A BED IT TAKES 12 HOURS TO GET TO THE BOARDER THEN GONNA HEAD SOUTH TO KUALA LUMPAR
BYE FOR NOW X