So... I really need to update this more often so I can remember what we've done.

After Teman Negara we spent a few nights in Cameron Highlands chilling out and getting a bit more organised. Visited a tea plantation, honey farm, strawberry farm, butterfly / insect / reprile farm and an amazing bhuddist temple. Met a group of girls going the opposite way to us in the hostel bar and got chatting to them telling them all about Oz and in particular Melbourne. And we did LOTS of eating sampling just about every cuisine known - Jamie was particularly fond of Satay Mama's street stall and bought 20 satay sticks from her for the extortionate price of two quid. Had a steam boat as well while the waiting staff entertained themself laughing at us and our inability to use chopsticks properly until they relented and brought us forks.

Took a minibus to Penang (Georgetown) and lucked out again with the accommodation in a budget hotel in Little India. Found a cracking little bar just round the corner which doesn't have a name but is known as the cowboy bar due to the wooden wild west doors on the front. We were a bit wary about going in as we were the only non Indian people but as soon as we walked in the door seats were given up for us at the bar and everyone started chatting to us. The owner has only had it two months and doesn't have a restaurant license yet but he went into the kitchen and came out with different food for us to sample free gratis. There was a birthday party in full swing so he told us to come back the next day and he could talk to us better. We did and after more delicious food he invited us back to join them for his birthday with singers and a band.

We went down to Orang Utan island the following day with our own car and driver which the hotel organised for us and you get a boat across to see them in their natural habitat - most have been rescued or have been bred while there. The little ones in the intensive care unit were so sweet - they had their little nappies on and soft toys to cuddle. Went on to the eco park and saw a great animal show with parrots riding bikes, doing magic tricks and even sums and then on a sky rail cycle.

Party at the bar was great, again we were treated like everyones best friend, given more food and entertained. The singer didn't turn up so the regulars made their own music - an upturned plastic bucket for a drum, a guy playing a match on a matchbos that sounded like castanets and bottles being clanked together while people got up to sing old Indian songs. One guy in particular who has been singing round bars for over 30 years and was 67 but looked about 40 and we nicknamed him the Indian Elvis which he took great delight in, insisting on having his photo taken with us and that everyone else referred to him as that. Numerous people bought us drinks and some more westerners even braved coming uin after seeing us there.

Sad to leave Penang as it was lovely but from there we took the 22 hour sleeper to Bangkok...