Didi The Explorer

Sydney

didi — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:49:00 GMT

I have been in Sydney for about a week now and I am starting to love this town. It is full of cool little suburbs that are fun to explore. For the first few days I did not do much as I had to sort out all the boring stuff like banks, tax file numbers and joining an agency. Now that most of that is done I have been able to explore and do some tourist stuff. Esmay came to Sydney for a long weekend so we went to the opera house and saw a concert. We caught the ferry to Manly and sat on the beach. It was not a nice as I have expected esp after everyone had bigged up Manly. We also went to Bondi beach and had fish and chips. Yummy!! It has been nice to be stay in one place and unpack a little or spread my shit out all over the place as I have done. The hostel is ok. I am staying at the Pink house. It is quite large and it appears that a lot of people staying there are actually living there. This is not the cheapest option in Sydney. So anyway the hostel hmmm bad kitchen, bathroom ok, dorms small but does the job. I am leaving the hostel on thursday to go to Newcastle to see some friends and then when I come back to Sydney for a few weeks I am planning to stay somewhere else. This will hopefully be better but also gives me a chance to explore a different area of Sydney.

Goodbye Malaysia

didi — Sat, 8 Nov 2008 18:15:00 GMT

Ok so this has been a long time coming but I have been busy and it actually takes a while to write these things. So I have left Malaysia just over a week ago now. I will try to remember what I did in my last week. I returned to KL for the last week. The last week mainly consisted of shopping. Picking up all the last minute things that I had wanted to go back for. I had forgotten how much KL stinks and how hectic it was. I sent a parcel home which was great as it meant that I could post home all the things that I had bought and had been carrying around with me for the last 3 weeks. My bag was beginning to explode. In KL went for a trip to Deerland, a petting zoo and to an elephant sanctuary where we rode on elephants and bathed them in the river. It was pretty amazing to see them close up but it all felt a bit too touristy like we were taking advantage of the elephants. We had a massage in KL on the day before we left. I sould have expected get beaten up as we were in Asia but it hurt. They dug elbow in and hit us in the head. I can laugh about it now but it hurt and I think we bruised after. That is all I can remember at the mo but I am sure much more stuff happened. It will come back to me at some point. So for now I am in Sydney trying to get sorted. I acheived some things this week. I have a phone number, bank account and I am getting to Sydney. I like the town it is cool and as lots of different suburbs to explore. It is all rather confusing on the job hunt and I will begin proper next week.

Melaka

didi — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:25:00 GMT

We left Penang on one of those wonderful buses they have here. It took around nine hours to reach Melaka. It was sad to leave Penang as I had really liked the city and loved the little India. We had done some could shopping and saw lots of temples. We had even managed to get to the Botanic gardens. We did get lost on the way there in the stinking heat. Apprently no buses go there and after what seemed liked hours of walking, waiting for buses and buses not stopping. We got a taxi there. The gardens are ok but the best bit about them is the monkeys running around. As we arrived we saw a monkey steal an ice cream froma girl and run off to eat it. Not sure what kind of monkeys they were but they were cheeky. I had of course replaced my camera by this point so normality had resumed. So to Melaka. Strangly the bus station is way out of town so when you arrive you have no idea where you are or where you are going. Again due to the extreme knackered ness we hopped into a taxi and eventually got to chinatown. The only problem was that we had not taken the holiday divawli in consideration and the hostel we had planned to stay in was fully booked. Luckily there were two beds in the dorm left so I had my first experience of sleeping in a dorm. The dorm was fine. It was big and everyone was very quiet. We did get a room the next night which makes life just a little easier and it means that you can spread your shit all over the place. Melaka is a nice town to wonder round. We went to the night market in chinatown on the sunday night and bought some silly things. The best about Melaka was the mega mall and oh my is was mega. So huge we got lost in it. We spent most of the next day shopping in the mall. We went to the cinema which is an extremly cheap way to spend a few hours. And that was hours time in Melaka only one full day and two nights. We got the bus to KL the next morning.

Penang

didi — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:11:00 GMT

Is it Penang or Pinang. I am not sure and I don't think the city knows either as it both spellings are all over the place. I have been here since tuesday and I have really liked the town. I am staying in chinatown right in the middle of everything. Little India is just at the end of our street and it is great. The food has been amazing here. We found a bakery a few doors down where they sell the most amazing bread and do great beans on toast. So we have been going there ever morning. Kapitans in Little India does the best tandori chicken and we feasted there tonight.

Lots has happened in Penang. We got taken to a chinese opera out in a village on the edge of town by a volunteer we meet at the buddhist centre on Love lane (great name). It was a very surreal night. We arrived before the show had started and meet the actors and Es was half forced to try on some of the costume. After some staged photos with a dude in a scary beard we watched some of the show. It was great. Loud, clourful and didn't understand any of it. We didn't stay to watch all of it as we wanted to go to little India to see the beginning of the celebrations for the festival of light. It was less of a frestival and more a beauty contest. Before we got to little India out guide for the night took us to see some local singing. It was an outdoor stage surrounded by old men dancing like little girls to women singing in costumes taken from 80s hookers. Funny does not cover it.

The next day (have no idea what day as they all blur into one) we went to a big temple on the outside of town. This is where my camera fell down a loo. Boo hooo. It was buggered and has now been replaced. The temple was not that spectacular as it turns out as it was covered in scafolding. The stressful event of pulling my camera out of loo was enough for one day.

The Islands

didi — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:15:00 GMT

Well we have left the Islads. Which is sad. I miss the hammock and reading my book in the sunshine. We left the Island on the boat ride off death. It rained all the way and was rather bumpy. The Islands were amazing. We stayed on Long beach for 8 nights in a place called Lemongrass. We had a hut that had sea views and the owner had kittens which slept in the bookcase. This sold it for us. We were about 30 seconds from the beach. On the Island there was not much to do but sunbath, dive or snorkel. We opted most of the time for sunbathing but did managed to squeeze in some snorkelling. We went for a day trip and went to 5 different sites. We swam with millions of fish and jellyfish. We saw some turtles but they were wise to us and they stayed on the bottom so there was no close up of the turtles. They also swim much faster than expected. We also swam at shark point which surprisingly has sharks there. We saw a few black tip reef sharks. We meet some cool people who were also staying at Lemongrass so hangout with them most evenings at the only bar on the beach and drank monkey juice. We joined a dive trip out to Redang and saw some amazing coral. It was just me and es swimming in the very big sea. We swam with some more sharks but freaked us out a little bit as it was us alone with sharks. They were only little ones so very unlikly to have eaten us.

There was not really any bugs, well not that I saw. I did find a few spiders in my clothes but nothing scary. The main problem in the hut was the evil squirrel. The bastard sounded like an elephant climbing on the roof at 3am. He also got into our hut and chewed a massive hole in my makeup bag and Es's day bag. The bastard!!!

The weather was fantastic and only rained sometimes in the night. On our last day it pissed it down most of the night and morning but was glorious sunshine the rest of the day. I have managed to get a bit of tan but was not really trying as I am so bloody pale I end up just looking pink.

It was sad to leave the Islands but the weather was definatly on the turn and lots of places had started to close up. So boat ride of death. Rain at high speed bloody hurts and the a taxi to Kota Bahru.

Kota Bahru. We only stayed one night. A town worth little mention. Smelly fish market were Ali stood in fish guts. The most disgusting thing ever. Had doughnuts in a cafe. Amazing bakery which saved us with its air con in the boiling heat. Got the bus to Penang from there. It took about 6 hours and I love the buses. They have air con and lazy boy seats. So that is where I am the moment. In chinatown in Georgetown, Penang.

The Trek

didi — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:11:00 GMT

Today we went for a trek in the jungle/forest. It was trek number 10 and took around 2 1/2 hours. Not sure how many K it was but it was lots of up hill. There was a great view from the top and we were litterally in the clouds and they came in real quick so we made a hasty decent before the rain started. It rained nearly all afternoon but it has been nice as it is now cool and we got to wear our rain coats which we have been carrying with us everywhere. We have been having great food. Lots of curry and rice. Scones and banana pancakes are the things to get. Also noone uses knifes its all very strange. You always get given spoon and a fork but no knifes!

Tomorrow we are off on a bus to the east coast and the islands hopefully if the good weather holds out. Will probably spend around 8 days on the islands (which have no internet so this will be my last for a week or so) Not sure what we are doing after that but we will have a week ish before we have to get back to KL and our flight to Sydney. The rough plan is to go to Cherating and possibly some towns/beaches futher down the east coast but who knows. The plan changes daily.

Hmmm what else. Have used my misquito net while in the hills. Its like sleeping in a princess bed rather annoying. You have to get everything you are going to need in the night inside and then attempt to seal yourself in and you make sure that you dont need the toilet in the night as it is a bloody hassle.

Right time running out. xx

Cameron Highlands

didi — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:28:00 GMT

I am now in the Cameron Highlands. We caught a bus from KL to town in the hills. The bus was amazing. Fully reclining seats and air conditioning all the way. It was better than the plan. The highlands are beautiful. Very lush and full of tea plantations. We are staying in at the fathers guesthouse. Our room is in a WWII shelter and it is great. Big beds but no window. This does mean less bugs. The hostel has a big garden full of flowers. We took a tour bus today. It took us around the countryside to see the attractions. We went to a rose centre, bee farm, strawberry farm, tea plantation, butterfly house and a budhist temple. The tea plantation has the most amazing cafe. The building sticks out over the plantation so you get the most amazing views. The highlands are a great place to sit and read. It is much cooler than the city and so quiet.

Gallery: Malaysia

didi — Wed, 8 Oct 2008 23:23:00 GMT

Pics form 3 wks in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur

didi — Wed, 8 Oct 2008 21:10:00 GMT

Well Hello from Malaysia. I arrived yesterday (had to check that with Es as I really thought we had been here for two days already)ok although I have no idea what day it is, what time it is or really where I am! The flight was long and a little boring as the movie selection was shit. It is a bit of blur how we got the hostel from the airport but it was done with very little stress and confusion. It was bus and then walk to hostel I think. KL is crazy. It is very noisy and pongs a bit. The hostel is ok. Basic and does the job I suppose but our room is a bit like a prison cell. It seems to have improved with time tho or maybe that is because we have covered it in our crap so it just looks like our room now. On our first day we crashed as soon as we got to the hostel and slept till 3 ish our time (time so very confusing) and then we went for a walk around china town which is full of fake handbags and dvds. In the market I bought the most amazing watch. It is blue plastic with superman on it. I'm sure that it will break within days but it only cost me 10RM which I think is around 1.30. I also bought a teddy of Toroto. We generally walked around the area, went to the central market (not a market at all but a small air conditioned mall. Thank god for air conditioned mall. They give you a chance to dry out a bit) and got some dinner.

Day two was a busy one. We got up early and sadly went to starbucks for breakfast but it was needed and much cheaper here. We headed to the Petronas towers and got our ticket to the skybridge, which was good. It is good way to see the city and its a free thing to do in the city. At the base of the towers is a shopping mall. It is the mother ship of malls. Not only is it air conditioned (praise the lord) but it is huge and full of amazing shops. You will be glad to hear I did not spend my entire travel fund on a chanel handbag but was restrained and bought only bought a hairbrush (as could not find the one I had backed and I was beginning to look like a wild woman. I did later on find my brush so now I have two) We plan to go back to the mall!

We attempted to see the KL tower and walk around what we thought was going to be park but it turned in a forest full of midges. So now I have some rather angry looking bites on my legs. Im sure that they will be fine if not I am following Es's tried and tested advice of applying tiger balm. We quickly abandon this idea and went to Chow Kit which was supposed to have a good market. It was ok but very smelly and full of tacky clothes. We did pick some bargin baticks. There is so much amazing stuff to buy here. When we got back to the hostel the cafe type thing was closed so we ventured out for dinner. The receptionist recommened an indian which was literally next door. We had a selection of curry type things and it was gooood! So was the price 10RM each.

So rather weary now and in need of bed and it is only 9pm. We are in the process of planning our next move. We have bus tickets to the highlands. 4 hours of joy on an aircon bus but that is not till friday xx

The Packing Crisis

didi — Sat, 4 Oct 2008 21:27:00 GMT

Well it is my last weekend in London and I am finally packing my bags. I have of course already packed them 3 times and emptied them. I have spent the last 3 days thinking far too much about how to pack these bloody bags. The original plan was to take a backpack the size of me as my Australia bag and then a smaller backpack to take around Malaysia. It went a little squiff as I tried to pack these bags. I found that the small bag I had was crap and so after much squishing and removal of non essential items (but much wanted items) I came to the conclusion that a new bag was needed. So a quick dash to Blacks and hey presto!! a bag that fits all. One problem down, now just to solve the problem of carrier two backpacks at once. This was easily solved - take the small wheelie case I have stashed in the loft. Praise the lord the packing crisis is over!! I have at last managed to fit everything in easily and with a little space to spare for non essential shopping that will be done along the way. Oh yeah. I am amazed that packing has caused so much stress and loss of sleep. I have even dreamt about packing.

I fly on Monday. It stil does not seem real but I am very excited about the flight and being somewhere hot and sunny xx

The countdown begins!

didi — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:26:00 GMT

Less than 8 weeks to go!

I am attempting to get organised. I have had my shots. You can get shots for all sorts of things. Luckily I only needed a few as they make your arm ache for days after.

I think I have everything I need for the big trip. I have a backpack, brand new shiny raincoat, which I can't wait to try out, swimsuit and one huge checklist of stuff still do.

The plan so far: flying to Malaysia beginning of October and then travelling around (lying on beach I hope).

Sydney early November and then not sure what is happening next. Will probably meet up with a few chums and then hopefully spend christmas with family. It will all become clear once I get there.

So thats it so far.

I'm counting the down the days.

Gallery: Luagge

didi — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:55:00 GMT