So Malaysia started off with Kuala Lumpur, which coming from Singapore, just seemed like another city, with the first River Island we've seen in 9 months and no money to spend in it!

We moved quickly on to see what Asia really had to offer and found ourselves in the jungle - Tamen Negara. Despite the diet of rice and chicken, we had a great time here. One highlight was seeing an authentic tribe living out there. We were to be introduced to the chief. Excitement buzzed, surely he was going to be clad in a freshly dead lion head? Not so. He was sporting a Shell petrol T-shirt. Kinda lost some of its authenticity from then!

We did get the opportunity to try one of their shooting weapons - blowing an arrow through bamboo. I was pretty near on target and so concerned they may have captured me as a white slave.

Next stop - the Cameron Highlands, home of tea plantations and every type of farm you can think of. So we took afternoon tea with scones and strawberries. Very civilised.

No visit to Asia is apparently complete without a few near death experiences - ours have begun and I will continue to catalogue them despite parents probably not wanting to know... first of all was our erratic 5 hour mini bus drive to get to out next stop. However, everyone seems incapabable of driving sensibly so hopefully they all cancel each other out in the end. Also - on our boat journey to the Perentian Islands, a guy went into the engine room with a lit cigarette. The looks of horror from all of the Westerners on board...!

So final stop in Malaysia, the Perentian Islands. Gorgeous tropical islands with white sand and turquoise sea. We snorkelled with a huge turtle and got to hold baby turtles which fit in to the palm of your hand. Paradise.

As we are beginning to learn though, where there is good, there is bad. The room was DISGUSTING. There was actually a rat in there one night who was apparently partial to the Ritz biscuits we keep for emergencies. But for 3 quid a night, ensuite included, one can hardly complain too much.

So to Thailand next!

Katherine xxx