Pete's Blog 

Gloucester boys, booze and beaches...

Having a great time in Perth and racking up a few hangovers along the way. Staying in the Club Red Backpackers hostel which is really good laugh and have met some really sound people, including Rich and Lou from my home town of Gloucester of all places. Being hanging out at the beaches and playing pool and drinking lots, but went to the zoo yesterday (which was excellent - nicest zoo I've ever been to!) and we're off to tour the wineries today. Also did the swimming with dolphins thing (again!) which was a bit pricey but Mel really enjoyed it which is the main thing.

Gday Mate!

Arrived in Perth yesterday afternoon and all is well. 5 hour flight but it took a further 3 hours before we got to the hostel - Ozzy customs and immigration is a long winded process to say the least. Perth so far has been really cool - Nice people & great weather. Its quite social were we are at the Club Red Backpackers in West Perth so it is nice to hang out a bit after it being just the 2 of us for weeks in Malaysia. Did a bit of a tour of the local watering holes last night and got quite plastered with a few of the guys who are staying here and will probably go out again tonight. Spent the day by the beach at Scarborough - big waves for surfers and quite high wind - so it wasn't all that pleasant for just chilling out but a nice place to ease the hangover none-the-less. Had a bit of a stroll around Leederville which is the town 10 mins walk down the road - nice shops - might buy a cool t-shirt and stuff even more into my ever-expanding rucksac.

Back to Singapore

Decided to leave Melaka a day early so we can have all of Thursday in Singapore (and hopefully go see LOTR3 in a posh cinema - fingers crossed!). Flight on Friday is at 10:05 so an early start then. Just killing a few hours on the web before getting the 15:15 express coach to Singapore (4.5 hours) so will probably just crash when we get there. Its raining now for the first time in ages (not since the brief showers in Koh PhanGan) and will probably stay like this whilst were in Singapore, but on the plus side it should be schorchio when we get to Perth. Saw afew of the historic sights of Melaka yesterdat but it may be sometime before I get to put the photos on the web.

Historic City but a bit quiet

Had a pretty good nights sleep last night, not too many beers. Its quite quiet here in Melaka but thats probably a good thing as we did go out on the lash a bit in KL. Loads of museums and old stuff here - so will take the opportunity to play 'cultural traveller' for a couple of days and take some photos. Have not taken that many in Malaysia yet, so time to pull one's finger out me thinks...

Bus to Melaka

Catching a 2pm bus to Melaka for the bargain price of RM8 each (that's about 1 pound and twenty pence for a two hour bus ride). The weather has been very kind in KL and we have been a bit touristy in shopping and clubbing. Wanted to go and see Lord of The Rings last night but it was sold out which was a bit dissapointing - so I guess we'll see it in Singapore.

Probably going to stay in Melaka for 2/3 days and hopefully get another bus to Singapore (4 hours) on the morning of the 29th (Thursday) then stay 1 night in Singapore (and hopefully catch LOTR3 and have a drink in the Elephant bar) before flying to Perth on Friday lunchtime.

Have been enjoying a bit of luxury for the last week in Langkawi and KL, but now we are going back to basics and staying in a travellers guesthouse... Keeping it (sur)real.

Year of the Monkey actually!!

My mistake, Rat was last year but it did fit the pun nicely!

New food experience - went to an Iraqi restaurant last night and it was bloody delicious. Checked the bathroom cupboard for WMD - sorry George not there either!

Malaysia (Part 1 - Penang & Langkawi) photos now online here

Thailand Photos Part 2

Thailand (Part 2) photos here

Year of the Rat-arsed!

Had a nice night last night having a guided tour of KL courtesy of Elissa's cousin Kok Tim Soon who is a top bloke and a superb host. After visiting a temple, China town, a local Indian (for the best Tandoori Chicken I've ever tasted) we ended up at the Mai Thai bar near the KLCC (twin towers). Bumped into Johnny and Alex from our mad night in Singapore who were off on a huge one, and we can hopefully hook up again on our return at the end of the month.
Went to the twin towers again today and had a couple of beers in the shade - it was scorching today (33-34 degrees easily). Have found a very fast internet connection (as KL is quite westernised) so have been able to finally upload 2nd batch of Thailand photos from Full Moon Party onwards (see above).

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Just arrived in KL and are staying at the swanky Federal hotel on J.B. Bintang in the Golden Triangle. Going to meet Elissa's cousin later at 19:30 who will hopefully show us some of the sights and sounds of the city on this first day of the Chinese New Year (of the Rat).

Will stay here a few days and look around (a lot of things are shut today as its a bank holiday) then might go to the Cameron Highlands and maybe Melaka before going back to Singapore.

Langkawi Life

... has been pretty easy. Just spent a nice 3 days splashing out a bit and chilling by the pool in the Tanjung Sanctuary on Langkawi. Have a huge room with massive balcony and sat around getting fat for a few days - exactly what I needed after Penang (which was a bit of a shit hole really!). Not planning on doing anything much until we go to KL on Thursday (22nd).