Hi all

well sorry i havent written in a while been every busy. i went back to KL where i spent a few days relaxing and trying to decide what to do which was nothing, i did decide to head to Melaka where i would be able to find out about going to indonisia or if too expensive going to an island, so off i went on a bus to melaka where i found a guest house, the ticket to indonisia wasnt to bad so i decided for the last 3 weeks before fliying to delhi i would head over there so i catch a boat over to sumatra which took for ever then i had to catcdh an over night bus to a placecalled Bukittinggi where there is jungle and lots of things to do. i arrived at 8 in the morning so after finding somewhere to stay i carshed out for a few hours, the bus journey wasnt the best build for local people but there leggs arnt as long as mine so was really crampped and the road was bumpy and bendy so no chance of sleeping.after a couple of hours sleap i headed in to town i went to an old fort that was build by the dutch when they were here and attached to it was a little zoo so i have managed to see a tiger just nowneed to see it in the wild. walking around town there was a huge market, a lot more traditional here than any of the other countries i have been to recently. they sell lots of tapioca crisps which are yummy and good for you. walking around town i looked at doing a few tours as really cheap i settle on one of the surounding villages. it was really good i got to see lot of different things - old traditional houses, coffee mill, kings, palace,wood carving and weaving village, Huge lake, traditional resturant with good food, old carvings in sand stone. all were really good and the guide was very good at telling us what everyhing was and what it was used for.

In the town there is a huge canyon to the side and there is a big panoramic viewing platform where you can see the canyon, lots of monkeys hang around here and some had tiny babys that were only a few days old so cute. i met a guy who said that at sunset there are flying foxes (bats) that travel form there cave to the fruit trees the other side of the canyon an that the best view is from the bottom of the canyon, so off we go down the slippery steps and balancing on the edge of rice feileds down to the canyon on to a bridge where we sit and wait, i was expecting thebats to be tiny but they were huge some of them 2feet wide when they were flying and there were so many of them and one landed in a tree next to us so we were able tosee it land upside down really cool. only problemnow is that the sun has set and now dark so have to climbup the hill abit in the dark but manage it and get a lift to the townup the canyon as to steep to climb. the guy is also a guidewho does trecks so i organise with him to go on a 2 day treck staying one night in the jungle leaving the next day so i had an early night so i would have the energy, i know i keep saying i hate trecking but im hoping i will find one i like if i keep trying and this one i likes.

we left town at 8.30 in the morning and caught a local bus to the last village before the jungle and we started walking around the rice fields them the first obstical a river up to my knees and very strong current, i borrow my guides flip flops as i wore my trecking trainers and didnt want to walk with wet feet and we waded across easily then next one i lost a flip flop so Coan my guild chases after it and catches up with it, after i ware his trecking sandles so i cant lose any more shoes and the rest of the river crossings go well except the last one where the water is up to my waste so very wet. finally no more river crossings we treck up steam and climba waterful by this time i am wet and covered in mud so not looking my best but who cares only monkey tosee me, we see a yellow monkey which is very rare unable to take photo as as soon as we move the monkey goes. but was prettywe get to a village and walk through to the next one where we get a motobike up the rest of the montain stopping of for food to take with up to the viewing platform the view was white the clouds had come down so we couldnt see much. the lace where we were staying was halfway dow the other side so after eating a late lunch we walked down, i slipped and fell and when we got to the lodge i counted my injuries. i toe nail had fallen off (well 3/4 has the last bit is hanging in) 2 blisters a bruised thigh from falling and lots of leaches yum there was a lot of blood from the leaches but they didnt hurt, so all is ok. the view from where we were was soooooo pretty really clear and of 2 mountains with the sea behind and the lake infrount and the sun setting inbetwen the mountains picture perfect, the lodge was basic with no electric and lots of noises from the aniamals, dint take long for me to sleep and was the best night sleep in a long time. morning again and after breakfst we head back across the mountain to a waterfall i end up sliding down the mountain on my bum most of the way as so steep and slippery but i make it with out to many injuries so all is good, at the bottom there is a village which we walk throught and on to the lake which is clean and walm and very nice to see. them bus back to bukittinggi to travel to the north.

so i have been vey busy i will tr and get soem photos on soon and i wont leave it so long before writing.

speak to you all soon lots of love leanne