In Thailand at last, had a nice few days in Penang, but cant wait to get to the beach and islands of South Thailand now. In Hat Yai until tomorrow when we head up to Krabbi, its Chinese New Year today so lots of fire crackers going off all through the nite, dogs howling!! going to a parade later today, everyone is running around in Traditional costumes there is a great atmosphere in the town.  We celebrated arriving in Thailand by treating ourselves to Pizza Hut last night!! it cost nearly 3days rent, and an ice cream that cost 2 days rent but we loved it!!

Took 5 hours yesterday in a small mini bus to get from Penang to the Thai border, the crossing wasn't half as bad as we expected, but i had wispers of Shappelle Corby running through my head and mums words of caution but it was fine. Arrive in Hat Yai its quite small, got our first Tuk Tuk to the hostel. Its a public holiday today so cant leave until tomorrow, but should be a good party tonight!!

we have just got a thai sim card for the month so our new number is +66843130451

or 0843130451 to our friends in Thailand x x x

Hi Toby & Verina    Really enjoying looking at all of your recent photos and messages - you're both looking so well. I am even getting used to your beard Toby!  Stef and I have just been to Dublin for a few days while it was half term. We stayed at the Clarence Hotel [owned by the band U2] it was fantastic. We spent time exploring the city - visited the Guiness factory and great new building where you can look out over the city- watched Irish dancers and singers .we were so lucky that it didnt rain at all.Gran and Gradad send their love.

Keep on enjoying yourselves and keep safe

love from  Sue and Stef xx 

Enjoyed ourtime in Penang been here 4 days now been doing qalot of different and exciting things, yesterday we got on a local bus upto penang hill where the Kek Lok Si temple, it is the largest buddhist temple in Malaysia it stands on the hill top it has the largest bronze statue in the world, Its Massive!! We trekked up the hill to temple passing lots of different market stalls, stopped half way to feed the 100's of temple turltles, never seen so many! Had a good look round the temple it was v. interesting it has 7 floors!! Burmese at the top, Thai in the middle and Chinese ath the bottom. Also started chatting to another couple from England up there and got the bus to Penang with them, we arranged to meet them for dinner and drinks that night, had an awesome night with them drank alot of tiger beer(even the girls are starting to like it), looking forward to meeting them again soon, hopefully the full moon party on ko phan ngan.

Today we took another trip on the local bus up towards the north off the island and the beaches, stopped off at the reclining buddha, found out our chinese new year star signs i'm a monkey, v's a dog!! look at the photos weve just put on for our impressions!! On the bus back we passed the Sokka Gakkai Malaysia, decided to jump off the bus and go in, met some very friendly and interesting people, both did some chanting and had a look around, we were invited back to do New years gonyo on Sun but unfortunately wont be here.

After that really good day we decided we could both do with some retail therapy especially v!! Havent bought new clothes for ages, V got a really nice dress and a few t shirts i got some wicked t shirts for about 1.50 each!!

We had to change our plans abit as we were going to another island called langkawi but because it chinese new year on the 18th everywhere on the island is fully booked so we're going straight upto thailand tomorrow a place  called Hat yai then upto Krabbi. Speak soon .xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi All, third time lucky with this message, spent over an hour writing a message last night and then again this morning but the computers are being tempreMENTAL!!! argh!!!

we are sweating our bollox off here, its only 10 am and its sweltering already, apparently it hasn't rained here for over 3 weeks, not like the Cameron Highlands where we have spent the last 4 days.  It was 2,500 ft above sealevel and lovely and cool, abit too cold at times. Also rained everyday. We stayed in a place called Daniels Lodge, it had a bit of a bad report in the Lonely Planet, but we thought it was really nice (shows you can't believe everything you read!!) Had a wicked little Jungle Bar self built out the back really quirky and travellers gone by had all added a little something different. It had a bonfire everynight where locals and travellers jammed around it together.                                                       

On our first day we decided to be very touristy and do a guided tour of the area, this started with a Rose Garden, up in the hills which had a stunning view out over the valley then went to a strawberry farm where we had the best fresh strawberry milkshake you've ever tasted and delicous belgium waffles with chocolate, stawberry icecream and cream!! Just as well we hadn't had breakfast!!

After this we visited a Butterfly farm where we were able to hold various insects including Scorpions, beetles, my favorite these locusts that looked just like orchids, also held a 40 year old turtle and the wierdest frog ever looked just like a leaf! After this we tooks some rather impressive shots of butterflys check out the pics you'l be impressed!!!! Next to a honey bee farm followed by the local fruit markets. where we brought some strange fruit.

Finally we were off to the tea plantations and factory the bit we were most looking forward to, when we arrived the bus driver realised that it was in fact monday so the place was shut as no tea is picked over the weekend, its always closed on Mondays!!! we were rather disappointed and decided that we would trek there the next day the tour finished with a trip to the local Chinese temple it had been a really lovely day.

Went to the Jungle bar that night (where I thrashed toby at Draughts!!) and chatted to our german friends Johnathan and Daniel, followed by a cheap feed at the local Indian we love these meals for under a pound. the next day we woke up early and started to Trek to the BOH tea plantation, it was a lovely trek, walking along the winding paths, amongst the thousands of acres of tea plants, saw lots of workers in the fields, with the sheirs and baskets on their backs, they are mostly from Nepal as the locals no-longer want to work in the fields.  Finally arrived at the tea shop and stopped for the obligatory tea and scones, we were abit disappointed when presented with Heinz jam and not local one, (Karen the scones were no where as good as the cream teas you made at Shanklin!) The factory tour took all of 30 seconds but we learnt alot from the informative pre-tour video.   so now tea experts

Treked the 16k back passed Parit Waterfalls and a cool lookout tower, got caught in the afternoon showers but it was actually quite refreshing. Made friends with some of the local hawker stall holders who made us more lovely food, strawberry rotis (yes more strawberries!) Yesterday we got the 6 hour coach down to Penang where we are now, we were slightly surprised when we were all chucked out at Butterworth (it was no problem tho, just got the passenger ferry over the river to George town and then into  China town to find our hostel the heat hit us a soon as we stepped off the coach.  Had a look round the town and shops more shopping centres ful of crazy asian fashion they are really into there cyber/punk street wear, then went up to the games arcade and watched  the local boys dancing like mad men on the dance machines they are so hooked on them loads of people just hanging around watching them so it was pretty entertaining. Last night for Valentines day toby presented me with some Strawberry covered chocs (from C. Highlands) how sweet, then we went out for a meal discussed our last valentines days, first in derby, second in Rome, third in Malaysia who knows next year ........ maybe the moon????

Got the coach from Melaka to KL it only took 2 hours, arrived in the blistering heat, luckly our hostel Red Dragon was only 10min walk from the bus station. Dropped our bags and started to explore the city, had a rather sweaty stroll around the bustling China town markets full of designer rip offs and made our way into the heart of the city to Merdeka Square, surrounding it is some beautiful Islamic architecture government buildings and the National Museum, we were abit Museumed out after Melaka and Singapore so gave it a miss this time. Followed the sky tower back to the hostel and had some yummy food in China town and some drinks in the Reggae Bar devoted to Bob Marley.

We got up early this morning to get in the queue for the sky bridge tour up the Petrona Tower as there is only a 1000 tickets issued daily and it is Saturday. Got our tour time for 11.35 so we chilled out window shopping in the posh shops for 3 hours.  The tour only took 15 mins but it was a pretty impressive view there were 88 floors but the sky bridge is on the 44 floor it felt high enough.

This afternoon we took a local bus out of the city 13k to the Batu Caves a Hindu temple cave up 272 steps!! We have just missed the Thaipusam festival last week but our friends went and said that devotees of the faith hang up on huge hooks we were trying to imagine it whilst there must have been pretty freaky!!

Inside the caves are hundreds of Monkeys running around the shrines, we were trying to get close up to some small ones playing and the mum attacked toby from behind, he is looking rather ape like at the moment.

Went to little india for dinner tonight practically got dragged in the restaurant by the owner constantly shaking our hands! Handed us the biggest plate you could imagine told us all about the food and what it is, then let us help ourselves, there was loads of vege stuff so v was in luck!! filled our plates full, we were treated like kings, dont think they get many visitors! Popadums and drinks were brought over, what a great feed, hadnt a clue what the price would be! asked for the bill it came to 14 ringits thats about 2 pound!!! Bargain!

Anyway best go, just put more pics on the net from today!! just a little tip when you are looking at the photos make sure you enlarge them and look through them it takes a bit longer but they look so much better.

Hope you are all well, wish you would  write let us know.

we are leaving the bright lights tomorrow and heading to Cameron Highlands should be abit more relaxed.  x x x

Hi T & V

Well hello, just lookd at your photos and there fab, ur both looking gooood!!! Hope u are enjoying ur travels in Asia so far, seems like ages ago since we saw you, not just 6 months or so, lots to catch up on when we all get home.

We are In india now we have been here for a couple of weeks its completley mental, just in the north at the mo delhi, calcutta, Taj Mahal, varanassi to see the burning bodies in the ghats while people are just getting on with life playing some cricket, was quite a sight! and millions of holy men all out of it on opium an god knows what else camps set up by the river for the big colour festival, it was a strange strange place.

We are heading south tommorow to spend our last couple of weeks in Goa and kerala yey the beach again, far south then to mumbai then home :(

they are so nosy though the indian guy next to me is reading this mail over my shoulder, he thinks i haven't noticed, this should be funny! if he can read english that is.

Take care of each other and hope you enjoy every minute of asia, we are going to miss it.

luv and hugs Rach & Nick xx

Well had a brilliant 5 days in Melaka, leaving tomorrow morning for Kuala Lumpur probably only stay there 3 days then off upto the Cameron highlands to the tea plantations!! Still cant believe how cheap everything is.... and its only going to get cheaper!! just been out to dinner it cost us a bout 80p each!! went to one of the best zoo's we had ever been to today it cost 7 Ringits which is a pound!!! had our photos taken with orang utans, saw some wicked animals, elephants playing football and instruments and painting!! u name it we saw it!!! it was a huge zoo but there was only about 10 people there!!

Yesterday we went on a river tour saw some cool sites then saw some more sites, a floating mosque. the sultans palace and the enduring beauty museum done nearly everything in melaka so its time to move on, met some wicked girls in the hostel and they have given us loads of hints and tips for the rest of the trip

Hi Guys, tis I.

I apologse for my lack of messaging, life has got in the way as usual. It really looks like you are both having an excellent time, great photos (v envious)and I like the new look Tobius. It will ge great to catch up with you both when you return, in the mean time enjoy yourselves.

Stew

In case anyone was trying to contact us we no longer have our Australian mobile numbers but can txt us on Toby's old UK mobile.07763880839 not sure of the Malaysian code you'll have to find out that bit.

Thought i might aswell write a quick message, V's watching devil wears prada with a group of girls that are staying in our hostel!! Had a good day sight seeing yesterday, went to museums and galleries then to the botanic gardens, which were the best weve seen so far on our trip the orchid gardens were amazing, When we got back to little india the streets were packed full of locals(only men) had a meal in a small restaurant where i ordered some indian stout to drink by accident, not nice at all!! Back at the hostel we had a few tiger beers and chatted with some of the travellers one girl who we met on magnetic island and a very nice police man from bath.

 We left Singapore this morning got a taxi to the bus station and got the bus to Melaka it took us about 5 hours, had to cross the border from Singapore into Malaysia (pretty scary). Finally arrived in Melaka both pleasantly surprised though it would be sime small town but it was a historic place where the Dutch and English first colonized here in the 1700's, when we got off the bus were approached by touts trying to get us to stay at there hotel, we decided on one closer to town and got on another bus to find it, really nice hostel very cheap and clean got our own room with 2 floors, its a bit like a tree house!! i love it!! got a wicked tree top garden too.

Made our way into town an started talking to tuk tuk driver called Bob!! (after Marley) he talked us into having a guided tour round the city and seeing all the sites, he was a good salesman and soo friendly, had the best time ever on our first rickshaw he was such a good guide showed us all the sights and told us about the hisory of the town, he was quite well known in Melaka as he is on some postcards he also loved taking photos of us!! as you will probably see. Visited one street called Harmony Road, it was amazing to see a Buddhist temple, Hindu shrine and Chinese temple all metres apart, Bob prided his country on the fact that there are so many cultures and religions in Malaysia and everyone gets on so well together, in harmony.

Probably be staying here for 3-4 days then travelling upto Kuala Lumpur.  Still cant get the dive photos on the site from the Great Barrier reef so you might have to wait till we get home to see them, but putting photos from our new camera on now!!