Love at first sight

After watching a spectacular sunset at Singapore airport we boarded our night fight from Singapore, leaving at 8pm and arriving in Melbourne at 6 am, another 3 hours in front.


We were knackered and freezing, after the heat and humidity of Singapore a rainy Spring Melbourne morning was a bit of a shock. A shuttle bus took us into the Southern Cross station and we spent a pleasant hour in a community cafe having a breakfast of bruchetta with locals who were having breakfast on their way to work. Lovely - no rice or noodles!

A friendly taxi driver took us to our apartment building, first impressions were poor, there was no key. You know that feeling when you are so tired you can't see straight, you want a shower and to remove the clothes you feel as if you have been wearing for ever? Well, we had to wait another 3 hours until the apartment owner and the manager of the block traced the key. We wandered like zombies through a grey, cold morning, not really seeing anything, drinking coffees we didn't really want. Passing time until we could sleep.

Cut to a few hours later, we were in a delightful apartment, rested, unpacked and looking out onto an amazing view on a bright, hot Melbourne afternoon!
The sky was blue, the sun was high and the humidity was - gone! Oh yes!!

Our apartment, owned by a French lady, and very Parisian in style, overlooks the huge park which contains a very impressive shrine of remembrance, the Governors House, the Royal Botanic gardens, the Tan (a 4 km running track), and the Sydney Myer Music Bowl. Since Tuesday we've explored the park, in depth, shopped til we've dropped and practically renewed all our clothes, drunk at brilliant bars, eaten at fab restaurants, cooked (yes cooked) and fallen in love with Melbourne. We've seen parakeets, possums and kookaburras.










It's all wide streets, gorgeous buildings, both old and new, street entertainers, crap telly, Aussie rules football, proper football! cricket, KD Lang and Stevie Nicks gigs, theatre, etc. In fact it's almost like home, with sun!

During this frenetic settling in period, I've had my hair cut, at last. You know I'm a bit fussy with my hair but a lovely German girl cut it in a swanky salon in David Jones department store. Today we've been to the Immigration museum, very poignant, some truly heartbreaking stories of children sent to Australia from Britain, sometimes without their parents knowledge. There were tales of abuse, physical and sexual, siblings being split-up and some stories too distressing to read or hear. However, it's a fantastic insight into the development of Australia, and the wrongs done to the Aboriginal people.







The Melburnians are great, laid back and very friendly. The girls are stunning, no artifice, no acrylic nails, bright nail varnish and straightened hair. They favour tousled hair and curls, short, bare nails and a natural look and are so refreshing. Everyone seems to be into sport, every other person is in sports gear and they run and cycle everywhere.

We're enjoying just 'living' here, we've made great friends out of the Chinese born owners of the local coffee bar. Every day they tell us somewhere else to explore then we have to report back the next! Wi-fi is a bit hit and miss so please forgive the intermittent blogs and slow replies to e-mail.

I've just read this back and it's a bit mixed up and garbled, sorry! Suffice to say Melbourne is lovely, we could live here! Plans for the next few days - to St Kilda to the beach, visit the Italian quarter, the grand prix circuit, explore the suburbs, book a hire car and plan a road trip to Adelaide along the Ocean road. Hope everyone is ok at home, Christmas seems a world away, no decs out in Melbourne - yet. Take care.

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Location:Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Melbourne

Super, shiny Singapore

First of all thank you for all your supportive messages re our little incident on the monorail. Its nice to know we have such kind and caring family and friends - NOT.

Anyway onto Singapore. V-Hotel Lavender is an expensive travelodge, tiny room, tiny single beds, tiny, tiny bathroom, oh but they do throw in a tiny breakfast! Needless to say we didn't spend too much time there.

Singapore is a gleaming, spotless shrine to man-made perfection and there is so much to see. It does take your breath away. Everything they do is done to the highest standard.

We visited Raffles on Thursday, it's just like a film set, stuck in a time warp but with every modern amenity you could imagine.





Anyway, as you are aware, we ended up in the Long Bar, drinking Singapore slings - delicious, and it felt so decadent!


We made our way down to the Marina Bay development, oh wow!!! It looks like an artists impression, so perfect, it's gorgeous with the weird and wonderful art and science museum, a floating sports field, a bridge which replicates DNA, a three tower hotel with a massive boat on the top holding the world's largest elevated swimming pool, an amazing shopping centre which has a canal on the ground floor where boats float serenely. I could go on and on but I'm sure you'd rather look at photos.









Little India is an education, only a small area but it bustles with activity. All the Chinese shophouses have been renovated and painted in striking colours. We spent Saturday night at the Blue Jazz Cafe in the Arab Street area, it was brilliant, a real buzz. There are a collection of streets round there where restaurants pop up on an evening, its a real mix of ethnicity, fantastic.

Saturday, 5th November, hot, hot, hot! We didn't need the scarves, gloves, hats etc, seemed a bit weird.


We visited the Botanic gardens, again, so perfect but really beautiful. In the evening we returned down to the Marina and spent our Bonfire night watching the laser and water show over the bay. Stunning!!








We spent Sunday around the Orchard Road area which is like Oxford Street in London but lined with malls, rather than individual shops. Didn't buy anything, we've started chucking clothes, over washed in hot laundries, ready to pack for Oz. There has been a Rugby 7's tournament on the Pedang whilst we've been here and a Veterans hockey tournament, the New Zealand teams have been staying at our hotel. They have been so peeved, and very ripe with their language as England won all categories, beating Australia in the different age group finals. We've had such a laugh with them.

After 8 weeks in South-east Asia it is time to say goodbye. Our flight leaves at 19.55 and arrives in Melbourne at 06.30. We are so looking forward to staying in an apartment, hotelled up!

We've loved Asia, the Thais were by far our favourite people though, the friendliest, funniest and most generous. Hope you've enjoyed the trip so far, hope to talk again in Oz.


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Location:Jellicoe Rd,,Singapore

We're famous - in Melaka

'MONORAIL TRAPS BRITISH DUO'

Couple descend using ladder

The Star, Wednesday, 2nd November, 2011




It was meant to be a gentle little trip on the brand new monorail in Melaka, the one that runs alongside the river, the river that we had just walked next to to see a traditional Malay village built on stilts, another UNESCO site.





As we waited in the station for the monorail to leave at 12 pm a teacher, accompanying a school trip of about 25 9 and 10 year olds, came to check the price. She decided that, at 10RM (£2) it was too expensive and left us to be the only passengers on this quiet Tuesday.

We got into the first carriage of the brand spanking new, shiny 3 carriage vehicle and the driver, a young lad of about 17, settled himself into the driver's seat. The door hissed shut and we were off - very slowly. We hadn't moved more than 100m when we stuttered to a standstill. Ha, ha we thought, very funny and continued discussing the lovely little wooden houses.

Gradually we became aware that some minutes had passed and we still hadn't moved another inch. Then the door opened again, and shut, opened and shut. Still we didn't move. The driver, looking a little worried, got out of his seat and tried to close the door with a bigger slam, to no effect.


It was beginning to get quite hot.

We peered out of the door, looking about 30 feet down to the ground - a bit too far to jump then, we decided. Unfortunately, unlike Bear Gryhlls, we didn't have any rope, wire or even bag ties in our backpack. Members of staff, all quite young, gathered around on the ground looking up at us. It was quite clear that no-one quite knew what to do.

All I could think was, God bless that teacher!

The our intrepid driver reached up onto the roof through the open door and released a rope ladder.






I thought we were going to go down the ladder but then realisation dawned, we were too high, it was twisting and the kids at the bottom didn't know to keep it rigid. Two of them tried to climb it, and failed. They then tied 3 bottles of water to it and we hauled them up. 45 minutes had gone past, but we were ok, we had a bottle of water!

We kept our sense of humour.....

Eventually, in my best teacher voice, I suggested they ring the fire brigade (bomba) Jim was becoming hysterical at this point, laughing so much, he was in danger of flooding our little prison cell with his tears. At just after 1pm the fire brigade arrived, they were real action heroes, they put an extending ladder up then, before we could go down, two of them came up complete with a harness and belay ropes.





Jim went first, and practically landed on top of the guiding fireman, he was going so fast! Then I went down, really conscious of the poor fireman who was going down the ladder before me, looking up at my bum!!


When we reached the ground we were greeted by several photographers and two reporters from the local press. The manager of the monorail was so apologetic, she kept trying to hug me. I left my husband happily chatting to the reporters and I went to get our refund, plus complimentary tickets to the revolving tourist viewing tower. (I don't think so!)

We managed to get away, leaving the fire brigade and monorail company to agree who was paying for what. We set off back to walk along the river path on the other side, we were given a standing ovation, applause and cheers, by the staff on all the river cruise boats.



All the way back we kept giggling.

This morning, at 7.20, we were woken up by reception in our hotel. A package and letter had been delivered from the Chief Executive Officer of the monorail and viewing tower company. We were given 2 postcards, 2 baseball caps and a jigsaw, all with images of the revolving viewing tower.

As we were checking out the concierge brought us a copy of The Star newspaper and a Chinese daily paper, both were carrying the story with dramatic pictures! We kindly donated our gifts to an anonymous child who may or may not be coming to stay at the hotel!

Fame comes in many forms....

Finally, we loved Melaka, it is so laid back, bohemian and pretty.

We've spent today on a coach from Melaka to Singapore and have settled into the smallest hotel room you have ever seen in your life. Can't wait to see what the next few days have to bring!
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Location:Lavender/Kellang, Singapore

Small problems don't faze us!

Having returned our hire car, which turned into an epic tour of Kuala Lumpur as we tried to negotiate their tortuous road system, we are now travelling by public transport and have reached Melaka which is a UNESCO world heritage site.


The bus journey here was uneventful and quick. However on our first evening we had a telephone call from the ever helpful Anwar, the Concierge at the Furama Hotel in Kuala Lumpar. We then found out that Annie had left her handbag, which contained her passport, in the taxi we had taken to the bus station. Thankfully the taxi driver had taken it straight back to the hotel and Anwar remembered that we were going to Melaka. He phoned several hotels before he found the one we were in.

On the following day I took the bus back to Kuala Lumpar, collected Annie's handbag, and more importantly her passport, thanked Anwar profusely and got the bus straight back to Melaka.

For some reason the hotel we are now in has decided that we are executive customers, they brought a basket of fruit and chocolates to the room and invited us to the executive club for evening cocktails. When we went in I was greeted as Sir James, perhaps they know something I don't! We now use the club for breakfast, away from the run of the mill guests, nibbles and drinks around lunchtime and cocktails in the evening before venturing out. I have decided that I like being Sir James and the advantages it brings, I think Annie concurs although she refuses to call me Sir!

All the states in Malaysia have a royal family and Melaka's likes riding round on a motorbike with his entourage. The other morning we were on our way out and several people in motorcycle gear got into the lift. It was only when we exited the hotel with them and saw the police escorts, that we realised we were with local royalty.

Melaka itself is a small walkable town and has a laid back atmosphere. It attracts many visitors and coach parties and has many places worth a visit.
It is also the home of trishaws that are heavily adorned with artificial flowers and coloured lights and come equipped with speakers that play music as loud as possible. What a cacophony of noise, light and colour, a real assault on the senses.


The Chinatown area is one of small narrow streets of "shophouses" and has many bars and restaurants. On weekend evenings cars are banned and the main street, Jonker Walk, is lined with market stalls. During the evening it becomes an heaving mass of different nationalities and ethnicities. It positively buzzes and is a good place to be.








After a pleasant meal it was good to stroll round and be part of the "buzz" before sitting outside a bar with a couple of beers listening to live music and watching the world go past. Definitely a place I would recommend.








We have another couple of days in the town before then we move onto Singapore before (hopefully) flying to Australia. We have just seen on TV that Quantas has grounded all it's flights due to industrial action, and yes we are due to fly with them. It's fingers crossed and hope they sort it out quickly.

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Location:Melaka, Malaysia

Important announcement

Forgive me for hijacking our blog but I need to wish my great mate Sue Horner happy birthday.

HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY SUE

Can't believe I'm not there to celebrate with you but have a great time. You look fantastic darling. Bit worried though, think I'm heading the same way!


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Location:Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia

Whistle stop tour of Langkawi (and Ipoh)

We have stayed in some pretty basic hostels but as long as the bed linen and bathrooms were clean we were happy but the Seaview Hotel, I know, it sounds a bit Blackpool guesthouse and we should have known, takes the biscuit. It was obviously undergoing refurbishment, but that refurbishment has probably been going on for years and nothing is finished. Lovely new bathroom but grout everywhere which has turned an attractive shade of grey, a massive hole in the ceiling added to the luxurious ambience of the room. However, there was a balcony and the view was pretty spectacular.


I am pleased to inform you that the ferry crossing, complete with flying and, I jest not, running fish, was vomit free! We found a little cafe to eat in on the first evening, chicken fried rice x 2 and lemon tea all for 8.40RM or £1.90. Bargain!

After a rubbish nights sleep, we could hear the lovely couple in the next room arguing into the early hours, we returned to the ferry port and promptly hired a little Kia and drove to the cable car. Whoa, it is steep, the longest span is 950m and it shakes and wobbles but the views, oh man, just fantastic. There is a suspension bridge right at the top across a gorge. Again, just a bit scary!







After returning to terra firma we visited the beautiful beaches, paddled and dozed in the sun. Perfect!


Next morning another, surprisingly vomit free, ferry trip back to the mainland and a 3 hour trip to a town called Ipoh. We stopped there en route to Kuala Lumpar to visit the hot springs, but when we arrived we discovered they have been commercialised and turned into an upmarket spa complex. No worries, we stayed at a pretty little boutique hotel and visited a place called Kellie's Castle built by a Scotsman in the style of a moorish palace/Scottish castle. We had a giggle with 4 young blokes, who took a shine to us, we are now in loads of photos in various poses - don't ask... They were Man Utd supporters, told them we thought City would beat them, they didn't believe us.





Finished off the day watching the Manchester derby, oh we did laugh! Noticed not many of the Malays did though.

Another 3 hour drive and back to Kuala Lumpar, our lovely car has now gone, rubbish electrics and all and we're now back on public transport. It is divali and a public holiday from 25th to 31st so everywhere is either very quiet or packed. We visited Brickfields today, or Little India, it was the morning after the night before and very quiet, there had been big parties last night and fireworks. Looked as if there were lots of sore heads today.



All packed up now, I've ironed all our laundry - again! We're ready to catch the bus to Melaka tomorrow, we're staying for 6 nights then onto another bus to Singapore.


I can't believe our extended stay in Malaysia is coming to an end, we have loved it.


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Location:Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia

Our holiday ends

We're getting ready to leave the lovely island of Penang, we extended our stay here and have had a fantastic relaxing 10 days. We've lazed by the pool, meandered around Georgetown and learned about the Chinese clan houses, mansions and shophouses - everyone's an entrepreneur in Chinese Malaysia!





It is almost divali and Little India is packed with stalls selling amazing saris, garlands and food. The smell is gorgeous! Treated ourselves to the best samosas we've ever eaten.

Yesterday we rode on the funicular railway up Penang Hill, it's very steep and was full of Australian backpackers convinced we were all going to die! At the top there is a temple, mosque, a couple of hotels and spectacular views of Penang. 100 people get off the railway every half an hour but I have no idea where they go! We found a footpath, one of many trails which wrapped around the hill, and set off for a walk, it was as if we were the only people in the world. As we walked we nonchalantly passed a snake climbing up a tree......! Then, we looked up and a massive black and ginger squirrel was running along a wire. We hadn't gone more than 50m further and we found ourselves in amongst a family of gorgeous black and white gibbons.


Amazing - and where was everyone else? After about an hour we got back to the top again and there they were, queueing to go back down! We felt very smug, didn't they know what they were missing?! Or probably they've seen it all before and it's just us who are like kids in a sweet shop.


We had a superb meal on Monday night, at a restaurant which brags, 'If it swims, we cook it.'

There is every sea creature you can imagine- you cringe, you look, you pick - they cook!









We picked giant prawns and a red snapper. We ate:
Baby pak choi stir fried with garlic
Battered garlic prawns with sweet chilli dip
Lemon rice
Red snapper in a lime, garlic and chilli sauce

It was sublime and we were stuffed, we're going back there tonight... In a place which generally costs us £5 tops for our dinner, it's an expensive meal, about £30 including beers but oh wow, it's certainly worth it. We had to keep ourselves to ourselves on Tuesday morning - all that garlic!

Forgive me if I have a moan now. Because our faces clearly stand out in this part of the world, 20 times a day we are asked, 'Where are you from?' After answering honestly, 'England,' then being engaged in a conversation about Manchester United or Liverpool we're now inventing places we come from. I know everyone is really friendly and just want to shake hands with the Englishman but it gets a bit wearing. Plus who wants to stand around discussing Man Utd, oh yes I remember, everyone who doesn't live in Manchester!!

Thanks again for all e-mails, it's great to hear from home. Some of you correspond much more regularly than our sons, we have to Skype them, they don't answer, then feel guilty and Skype us back, usually without any regard for the massive time difference! Thanks for that Alex, who needs sleep anyway?

We're catching a ferry tomorrow to an island called Langkawi, it's meant to be very beautiful, about 2 hours on the ferry. Oh dear, makes me gip just thinking about it! Speak soon.

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Location:Jalan Lim Chin Guan,George Town,Malaysia