I really need to do something about my bag! I say this to myself every time I actually have to carry it anywhere and I have discarded so many things along the way, but its still not light enough. I also cannot think what else I could live without but have a few ideas. If you ever go travelling, never bring anything you wouldn't happily throw away, I've got a few items that I am attached to, but haven't used or worn in a while, due to the temperature being so warm but knowing I am going back to colder climes at some point, I'm loth to discard these items, so I will just have to carry them around like a pack mule and stop grumbling.

So I bring this up as I had to walk 20 minutes or so to the bus for Malaysia. It wouldn't seem much if I wasn't carrying all that weight and if it wasn't over 30 degrees before 8 in the morning. I was a sweaty mess by the time I found the techno coloured dream boat of a coach I was taking to Malaysia.

I was the only white person on the bus, which is a recurring theme for me in a lot of countries but I expected more back packers, which I haven't seen an abundance of since arriving in Singapore, more people just on holidays.

The borders again were a doddle and we were through before you knew it, with more stamps in my passport.

Malaysia on the way up to Melaka was very green, lots of forest and not much in the way of life, which was a nice change of scenery from Singapore. However the closer we got to Melaka, the busier it became and really gives you an idea on how good Singapore is at keeping its traffic to a minimum because it was mayhem compared to there. Melaka is an old city, with British, Dutch and Portuguese influence, it all runs along a river and has a bit of a Venice feel about it. The temperature is even higher here and must be over 35 degrees, you are instantly soaked as soon as you get outside and there is no breeze to help either.

Despite the heat it is a very pretty city, buzzing with life, restaurants, stalls and people milling about. Again I seem to have come to a place that seems fascinated with white people. This happened in Indonesia, where people would ask to randomly have their photo with you, when I asked why, they said it was because I wasn't Indonesian or tall for a woman or because of my lip piercing. These were generally in areas that many tourists go. I thought it would be different here, but I have been stopped on the street several times, asking where I am from and again people wanting their photo with me. It is strange to me, but they think its funny and go away laughing like it's the best thing they have done all day!!

So the hostel I'm staying in has a great dinner club, so at 7 each evening, if you want, you can meet with all the other people from the hostel and be taken to a cheap local place for dinner. This was a brilliant way to meet others and get to go to some places off the beaten track. So I managed to make some friends with some younger girls and did the touristy thing together like boat trips and walking tours around the heritage part of Melaka. You have to do everything jumping from shady spot to the next as even the locals are struggling with the heat.

We even found a local swimming pool to hang out one afternoon when the going got tough. Once great food I managed to get was chicken rice balls, which can only be found in Melaka. It does as the package says, balls of rice and you get steamed chicken to eat with it, simple yet really good, so good that the locals line up outside this one place just to get in. There is nothing else on the menu, that's just what you get. It also looks like you're sitting in someone's kitchen to eat!

I just have to mention how nice the Malaysian people are, they are just super friendly, always want to talk and help in any way, I could easily find somewhere to live here and you would be welcome everywhere. The cities can be a bit impersonal, but you find little pockets of communities where they welcome you in and never feel alone.

After Melaka I spent a few days in Kuala Lumpur, this is a large city with so much going on, mainly with shopping, you can buy anything you want or need there, lots of imitation goods, but its easy to walk around but the heat is the part that makes it hard, you find yourself ducking into shopping malls to get some air conditioning and reprieve from the heat. So due to the heat I decided to duck into the Cameron Highlands, this is where the tea plantations are and rolling green hills and hiking. The temperature was cooler but also with the altitude the rain comes, which is torrential but won't last too long. So after a couple of days of hitch hiking to plantations and looking at the scenery I then headed to Penang with Steph and Meg whom I met in the highlands.

So with the travels I have found that the places I love the most are not just about the place, it's the people you experience these places with. I then end up staying longer in a place for the company and experiences and Penang was like that. John joined our group on the first night and the island consisted of a lot of games of s*** head, food, beaches and just walking around the streets of Georgetown. It was lovely and I decided to stay till everyone else was parting ways. Also after 2 years I have slowed down and find myself having little spurts of travel and then staying in a place for a while.

So I then took the boat to Langkawi from Penang, we were told the sea would be choppy and as soon as the people around me started to throw up, I decided out of stubbornness that I would survive this journey chunder free, and my word, I did, but it was close a few times!!

Langkawi is a beautiful island with waterfalls, beaches, beautiful people and food. Again I was fortunate to join a group of travellers who were so outgoing, welcoming and instantly felt like I could stay here a while. We rented scooters and explored the island for beaches and waterfalls. Also due to Ramadan we would head to the night markets where not many tourists go and buy so much tasty food for less than £2 for a feast, most items are 50p or less, its just incredible. Again I could have easily stayed here till I need to leave for heading home but I met some people who I want to see a bit of Thailand with, which has given me the intention to move on.

I have found that for my next travels I would like to just pick a spot and stay for a month at least, get to know the locals, immerse myself in the way of life and experience so much more than just flitting around from place to place. All these ideas for the next travels, potentially for the rest of my life!!

So off to Thailand I go……