Monsoons of Malaysia

"Don't go to the East coast of Malaysia in February" they said. "It's monsoon season" they said.

As usual, Adeena didn't really have a plan for Malaysia.

I mean, it's one of those countries that you kind of just see what happens.

...(Or at least that's what she said)

First sights and sounds of Malaysia

The first visit to the wonderful lands of Malay, back in 2009, got her lost in the jungle for hours and when she finally escaped, she was forced to sing her first ever karaoke while Barney the purple dinosaur played in the background.

The second visit got her shipwrecked and marooned on a deserted island (2011).

The third had her attacked by a stray dog (2012).

This time she promised me it would be different.
In fact, being the responsible [near] adult that she is, she stopped right at the border (Jahor Bahru) to work out where to head next.

Overwhelmed with decisions, she wondered over to the local bus station and took the first bus out of town.

It just sop happened to be heading to the East Coast.

Where everyone had told us not to go.

The welcome party that came out to meet us.

And then despite the adverse weather warnings, we jumped on a boat and headed to Tiomen island.

It was an alright kind of place....

Did the weather close in and get us stranded without a ferry for almost a week???

Of course it did!

At least when the seas get rough, Adeena finds other ways to keep busy.

There's always something bizarre for her to lick

The best fruit shakes in Malaysia - we returned to The Take Away shop 6 times in a week!

I suppose there are worse places to get stranded.

When eventually we did head back to the main land, we decided on some jungle time...

But after being attacked by a kitten...

...And marveling at a restaurant's decor...

...And having the bus driver forget to kick us off the bus to take a connecting one inland....

We would up back at the beach, in Cherating, Malaysia's number 1 surf beach.

Unfortunately, due to my unfortunate genetic make up [fluffiness] I don't water well, and I don't surf.

At least Adeena left me in good hands.

Maznah, our guesthouse owner bearby sitting me for the day.

And then rather suddenly we realised that weeks had passed and we had to get to Kuala Lampur in a hurry... so we hitched off into the abyss.

Adeena's not very good with maps, so we ended up going in the wrong direction...

Fortunately it's not so difficult to write in Malay

And these fine gentlemen saved the day.

After three weeks of beach life, the city was a lot overwhelming

But we escaped to Pods, the Backpackers Home, where smiles, and comfy beds and good showers and free breakfast and a chill out roof and peaceful retreat welcomed us.

(Totally worth a visit whether you're passing through, or staying 3 months!)

In fact it was such a haven that I didn't mind being left behind to sip good coffee and chill out while Adeena last minute Malaysia-ed and made new friends.

PODS Cafe'

(no caption needed)

No, I suppose it really was the perfect trip. Maybe some times it's better not to listen to what people tell you to do and just follow your heart. There's some flipping excellent places out there!

Singaporian Shenanigans

I sat in the sky thinking how it was possibly time to get some vengence on the pigeons... I mean, from way up here, I could probably shit on their heads for a change.... But really I was probably just trying to find distraction from the flight...

Things weren't looking too good either - I'd bought a salad in the airport (because apparently airplane food isn't that good) and had just cracked it open when an announcement bounced around the cabin  "No outside food or drinks are to be consumed on the flight." ... I snuck nibbles of it anyway - but I've never felt so guilty eating a salad!!!

The nice gentleman next to me was kind enough to help distract the stewardesses too and a great source of in flight entertainment to the point that I didn't even realise we'd touched down.

 I was feeling pretty smug stepping off the plane - knowing for a change where I was going and where we'd be sleeping that night. In fact I'd even watched the YouTube clip (http://youtu.be/ooIq3QNZMg4) to see exactly how to get to my hostel from the airport and it was just as easy as it had seemed although they forgot to mention that we'd be doing it in the heat....

Yes, welcome to Singapore, where it's a sunny 31 degrees - day or night, rain or shine and always 80% humidity. I'd sweated so much getting to the hostel that I didn't need a shower.

Preparations for the year of the monkey

 The Beary Best Hostel was a good find -  just the right mix of phenomenal human specimens and a plethora of stuffed toys to make Teddy feel quite at home. In fact, as I'd lugged him down the street from the Chinatown MRT station, people had kept on pointing us in the right direction. And then there were things like free breakfast and air con and seriously comfy beds and well, I knew I was in good hands for the next few days.

My kind of place

I'd only once briefly touched down in Singapore before and I'd spent all my time photographing the don't signs. This time was different - this time I was out to push the limits. I went barefoot when it wasn't allowed; I licked statues labeled "Do not touch"; I even went as far as doing the forbidden act of chewing gum... yes that's right, this Gypsy lives dangerously!

The city didn't fail to impress, and when I'd had enough of buildings and mind-blowing architecture, there was the Botanical Gardens and Orchid sanctuary and a long bike ride down the East Coast Pathway and and and...  they really do do things properly in Singapore! 

Getting excited about "Golden Showers"

Singapore, a city so advanced that even visitors transform

New friends were made, and old friends were reunited with and for a person who doesn't like cities, I think Singapore surprised me a lot!

The only thing I failed to do, yet again, was to lick the president.

The future of the world (I hope)