Hi all,

So I am very sorry for the long delay for another post, the internet around asia is particularly slow and that's why I have not yet added any pics. Best of luck might be able to do some soon or when Dan arrives with his state of the art laptop.

So I am currently in Malaysia after 4 glorious weeks around the Thai islands. My last blog I posted I was on the island of Koh Toa, off the east coast of Thailand. The island is well known for diving as it apparently is one of the cheapest places to do it in the world. Therefore I took the opportunity to do a discovery dive, a shock I know considering my fears! After training in the pool and my friend pulling out I was left with four soldiers and a lovely thai diver who would be my buddy for the dive. She was very good and kept hold of my hand as we descended into the water, was very painful at first as my ears struggled to cope. However after 10 minutes it was all worth it, I saw some amazing fish of practially every colour. A sea cucumber the wierdest thing, gorgeous coral and a blue spotted sting ray it truely was magnificent and somnething I definetly want to do. Not sure how I would cope with sharks, but hopefully I would be prepared.

The next island I went to was Koh Phangan, which is well know to be a party island. The Full moon party, needless should I say no more, other than the fact I had some nice relaxing days being a vegetable by the pool and beach. After my time here, I had to go and do a visa run as my 15 day overland visa was coming to the end. I took the advice to go to Burma to do a visa run, this I would never recommend to anyone. I left to go on an overnight ferry to the mainland arriving at 4.30am and I was told I would be at my destination by 5pm. However of course this didn't happen being Asia! I had a lovely 27 hour trip with 2 tuk tuk's, a ferry, 2 minibuses, 2 car's, a longtail boat and a coach, just say I was pleased to see a bed at the end of it. All I can see is I have a stamp for Burma!

As I departed the Irish family in Koh Phangan, I met up wth another girl I met on a bus to Bangkok called Anya. We stayed on a chilled beach called Ton Sai beach, just off Railey beach. The area isn't owned by the government instead it is mainly run by raster's! It is only accessed by boat and is famous for climbing, however I did attempt it. We enjoyed relaxation and lots of fruit shakes unfortunately the weather wasn't great there so we left early to the island of Koh Phi Phi. This island is famous from the film 'The beach', if you don't know that film I explain the island. Even though tourism has slightly spoiled the island on it's strip, the beaches stay ideallic crystal clear waters and pure white powdered sand. Again here I was a beach bum, enjoying the best weather of my trip so far with a bit of luxury having an infinity pool looking over a main beach of Phi Phi. On this island Anya and I went on a boat trip to neighbouring islands and visiting the well know Maya Bay which is on the next island (it is a national island so noone can live on the island or build on it). On Maya Bay (the beach) we luckliy were one of the last boats there having an amazing beach to ourselves and getting snap happy! On Phi Phi we also ventured to shark point hoping to see some black tips or reef sharks whilst we were snorkelling unfortunately there were none. I am slowly trying to face my fears. I almost forgot to add I had my toe nail removed, the most painful thing ever, I now have a grose toe but hopefully with lots of sunshine will grow back quickly.

After 2 months altogether in Thailand it was sad to leave, however I would never say I wouldn't go back. If you ever just want to relax around beautiful scenery Thailand is the place for it. With Anya and another girl Gemma who I meant to Laos, we headed to Malaysia to the island of Langkawi. Which again is lovely, not as nice the crystal clear waters in Thailand but Malaysia's equivalent. We hired a car for the day venturing to the hightest cable car in Asia, not sure whether you would cope with the heights Mum! We saw spetacular views of the whole island and even saw Thailand. We carried on exploring the island going to some remote beaches and the duty free shopping centre, where as girls resisted to dairy milk chocolate. After Gemma departed for home Anya and I had a few more days on the island, soaking up the sun and went on yet another boat trip where we saw eagles being fed, an opportunity to put our feet into a lake where cat fish nibbled at them was not nice and only had my good foot in! We also saw the island called pregnant maiden, which literally looks like a pregnant lady.

I and Anya's trip continued to explore Malaysia heading to an island just off the east coast of Malaysia called Penang, known for it's main town George Town. I didn't particuarly warm to Penang as it was very dirty and the beach resort was far too touristy full of very loud asian families. However it is a sea of culture, having many races. We walked through 'Little India' and it actually felt like I was in India, blaring bollywood music, sahri's and smell of spices. We spent two days there and enjoyed an english tea up Penang hill in an english style garden, how I miss english tea and scones! The other day we enjoyed going to the otherside of the island to the national park where we trekked to a beach and thankfully not many people around due to the long hike. Before we headed to the capital we experienced a bit of Malaysia's version of Motor GP, it was very loud I am pleased to have experienced it, but not sure whether I will do it again.

Kuala Lumpur was my last stop and I loved every minute of it, not sure if it was really to do with the fact I was in my first modern city since I left home and had many western experiences! We stayed in the bustling China town amongst the market and street food stalls. We enjoyed having picninc's in quaint parks, admiring the sky scrapers and the view from the KL tower. At night it was so worth it, the Petronus towers looked magnificant, lighting up the whole city. We explored the endless malls although we could not afford anything and were estatic to see a topsop and even more happy to see an M+S where we bought Percy Pigs. I had a cheshire cat smile when the shop assistant said 'merry christmas' to me, sad I know but it was our first touch with christmas once we arrived in KL. KL is magical at Christmas with the most amazing decorations in there shopping malls and lights. Anya and I enjoyed a hot chocolate and marshmallows whilst listening to a jazz band play xmas musix (we felt like we were at home). My last night with Anya we treated ourselves to the cinema getting into the Christmas spirit even more, watching Arthur Christmas, you must watch it amazingly fully and English produced.

I am now in Melaka a very historical town with traders coming and the dutch, portugese, chinese and British coming to colonise the country over many years. My second day alone after 3 months of being with people very odd, but I'm ok! I have ventured to mueseams and strolled up the pretty river to traditional malay houses and talking to the locals whilst eating street food. Tomorrow I am off to Singapore to experience another modern city in Asia before heading off to Oz on Monday and Thursday I will see Dan very excited. So my next update will be with many new adventures from the land down under.

Sorry again no time to read proof and it costs everytime I'm on the internet.

I hope all is well back home, with new baby Charlotte, pregancies, new homes and cats and well I'm sure many other things happening back home.

Send me email's or messages if you like.

Love you all lots and if I don't talk to you before Happy Christmas x