Jun 2006

Finally had a chance to update my blog at last.

Arrive in Sydney from Singapore on the 17th of June. On arrival virtually went straight out to the pub, oh dear!!!

The next day wandered down to the rocks and looked at the Opera house and the Sydney harbour bridge. Then wandered around the botanical gardens. Collapsed in heap later in the afternoon.

The monday was spent organising an Australian bank account. That was far far too easy to set up. Don't need any proof of address or anything, just your passport!!!. Though I'm never complaining about bank charges at home again. Australian banks charge you for just about everything. There are bank charges for just a normal account and they just about charge every time you take cash out and probably everytime you set foot in a bank (or even walk past one). But anyway I have the sum total of ten dollars in my account, they wouldn't let me put 50 cents in!! Also sent off for my tax file number so I don't get charged tax at 49% like the rest of them!!!!!!

Took the ferry over to manly the next day and took a wander up on some of the cliff tops. Got some good photos of the bridge and the opera house from the boat.

Been getting up at stupid times to watch the football. The night Austrlia got through to the knock out stages, there were people running around the streets and horns going off everywhere at about 7 in the morning. They were quite exited before lasts night Italy game, though suprisingly quiet this morning.

On the weekend went over to the blue mountains. Went on a walk through a place called the grand canyon through some pretty amazing rain forest, crossing creeks and walking up some very steep steps. There were some amazing views as well. The blue mountains are so called because of the oil given off by the euclaptus trees creates a blue haze over the place. Got very close to some Kangeroos as well!!! and that was just the morning. The afternoon was spent walking around the three sisters and down the furbur stairs and up the steepest railway in the world. I particulary liked the safety signs they had up at the bottom, typical australian humour.

"Please keep your arms and legs in the train, Arms and legs are difficult to replace" and "Please don't leave valuables, infants and cameras on the seat next to you, no responibility for lost or damaged items". I particulary liked the way infants came after valuables!!

Stayed in Katoomba for the night. The next day went horse riding in the megalon valley, (an aborignal word meaning valley under the cliff). Made the mistake of looking vageuly competent on the first horse I got on and immediately got put on one that I would acutually have to control which was nice, given that the girl in front had one that wouldn't move at all at times and kept on disappearing off in the wrong direction. Our guide for the riding was an 11 year old girl!!! Was a bit doubtful about this to start, but she was very good, made sure we all kept up, whilst trying to control her very flightly horse. Though she seemed to think that I might like to jump over a few logs (I was riding her old horse). After explaining that wouldn't be a good idea, as I was stuggling enough as it was. After a days walking and three hours horse riding I couldn't walk very well the next day!!! The blue mountains were also freeezing!!!!!!

Hobbled around darling harbour the next day and went to the aquarium, forgot my camera, so have no pictures. I've now identified all the beasties I don't want to get bitten, stung or eaten by. Its safe to say that I'm not going anywhere near the water here. If you don't get stung by a box jelly fish, you'll probabably get eaten by a shark or taken out to sea by a rip or a attacked by a blue ring octupus or something. The fresh water isn't much better, apparently duck billed platapus have venomous claw and then theres the crocodiles to worry about and I've not even started on the snakes and spiders yet.

Anyway this is getting long. I'm waiting to get on a bus to Newcastle. Debated whether to get work in sydney or not, but decided to go up the coast, going to go to bondi etc when the weather is better, its been raining here quite a lot and its not exactly sun bathing weather. (oh and I'm not going surfing, see reasons above).

Very early in the morning left Malacca, though the call to prayer from the mosque behind us had woken us up.

Left Malaysia for singapore. Border crossings didn't too long thankfully.

Arived in Singapore around 2ish.

Headed off to the apple shop, as I needed a remote control for my ipod as the humidty was killing everones clicker wheels, also bought a little red case for it as well.

Went for afternoon tea at Raffles, was supposed to meeting Adam, Ryan and Laura there, but they got refused entry because of their clothes, we however had snuck in the back way and weren't spotted by the scary doorman!!!

The afternoon tea was better in Penang, the supply of food their was endless and it was cheaper and a lot less touristy.

In the evening went off to the night safari, next to singapore zoo. Didn't attempt to take any photos there though.

The next morning headed off to singapore zoo, took ages and ages to walk round. I particulary liked the orangtangs ( I really can't spell)

Though at the end of zoo I felt a bit like this

Wandered around Clarke Quay in the evening

My last day in Singapore was spent fighting with the internet to upload my photos to the blog, wandered around Little India and some markets as well, off to Australia tommorow at Sparrows Fart

After Kuala Lumpur headed over to Malacca, one of the shortest journeys so far only 2.5 hours.

Wandered around the streets for a bit looking in the little shops and went no a trishaw ride

We got to see lots of the sights from the trishaw

Oldest temple in china, was apparently jaw dropping to adam

From Cameron Highlands headed over to Kuala lumpur (took around 4 hours ish).

Went up the Kuala lumpur tower

View from the top

Unfortuntaly photos didn't come too well, this was one of the best.

The next headed off to the Batu Caves, just outside Kuala Lumpur. There is a big Hindu temple there and lots of monkeys running around the place.

Afterwards tried to visit the national mosque in Kuala lumpur, ut it was shut to tourists because of prayers, so we went to the butterfly farm instead which was quite good.

National Museum in Kuala lumpur (I think)

Left Penang very early in the morning (10th June) and headed off to eh Cameron Highlands.

On arrival in Tanah Rata, we went for a "Steam Boat". Which is basically a chinese fondue. They bring out a bowl of heated soup/broth, and then loads of meat/fish/veg etc which you through in to cook and fish out when its down. Again there was mountains of food that kept on being brought out!!! I've never seen a chinese fondue before, but I would recommend them.

The next day spent the morning at a Rose Centre, Butterfly farm, Strawberry plantation and tea plantation. It was quite interesting learning how tea was made. Had a cup of BOH (Best Of Highlands) tea at the end.

In the afternoon headed off to Kuala Lumpur.