Another day on the bus with a few stops along the way. First one a tea plantation, did a little walk, looked at some leaves and then drank some tea. Well I paid for tea and tried to drink it but when they bought the condensed milk out again I had a little strop and gave it away-just get me a goat I'll milk it myself. Lunch was in a really nice restaurant overlooking the mountains and then we stopped to see a floating village. This was definitely the best bit o...

We said goodbye to half the group at Padang and 8 of us flew to Jakarta. As soon as we stepped off the plane the heat hit me, back to sweating all the time...I'm so happy, bring on the sunshine. The traffic here is ridiculous, the worst I've come across anywhere...but it's ok because all the traffic means capital city and I'm sure they have some decent food somewhere and I'm making it my business to find it!! While sitting in the traffic people have tried to s...

After our shortest drive yet, less than 2 hours we arrived at our hotel on lake Maninjau. It is a bit like stepping back in time when you see the hotel room and as soon as you see it you want to leave. Lying on my bed...to the left I have the noise of the lake and people on it, to the right a goat, rooster and the loudest road...sometimes the motorbikes sound like the might come through the wall. There is nothing to do here except watch the sunset and eat dinne...

Up at 6 ready for the loooong bus journey, the only good thing at this time of day is we had a really good view of the mountains for miles and the sunrise. Breakfast - no same same but different here - just same same same same same and it's crap! Why am I not losing weight?! ... Could be the chocolate pancakes. I figure I have about 3 weeks left, it's doubtful I will do any exercise and I've decided to enjoy any good food I can find and deal with the flabby co...

We left the pretty little island early on our big boat and obviously it was a beautiful day...it always is when we have to sit on the bus for hours. My tan is fading fast, get me to that bali beach quick! The road is extra bumpy today which makes for that extra special travel sickness feeling and the earache I had for 3 weeks at the beginning of the trip feels like it's coming back to haunt me. Nobody will want to be my friend anymore after our 10 hour travel ...