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Well it has only been about a week since we lasted blogged but seems like much longer. We have managed to fit so much in, in such a small amount of time.
We are currently at the airport in Singapore to go to Oz we have travelled through Malaysia to get here. Our journey here has involed a varity of transportation, taxis, buses, ferrys, tuk tuks, metro and monorail it has certainly been an adventure and a memoriable one at that!
We left the girls with an emotional good bye, with kimberly telling me to pull it together! We had a 5 hour bus and ferry journey to the bottom of Thailand to Had Yai. We left at 8 in the morning and eventually arrived at 8 pm that night, definately longer than 5 hours! We were only stopping a night as we could not go straight to Malaysia.
We left early the next day for another coach ride to Malaysia. When going through the border, we found that the security guards where more interested in us, then our actual bags! We felt very safe!! They were saying 'ah beauitiful fair ladies' - we looked an absolute mess!! They were looking at us as though we were for breakfast! We managed to get out of their unharmed and bags semi-checked, we were back on the coach, off again to Penang in Malaysia. On the bus we met some guys who live in Sydney, one is a D.J and said that he would show us around, we are hoping for free entry into some good clubs!!! We arrived later at a hostel, it was not one of the best we have stayed in, but bearable. The rest of that day and night we went sightseeing, we had alot to pack in as we only had one and a half days there!
The following day we were up early ready for a full day, we had a plan of what we we wanted to see and how to get there, which were mainly public buses! By now, as you are all aware that what ever we plan and what ever we want to see it does not normally turn out that way and this day was no exception! We had been recomended to see a Temple with a large bronze statue at the very top. We took the public bus, the temple was really lovely and it had a turtle pond. I wanted to feed them but Stephanie wouldnt let me! We then took another bus to see the botanic gardens which was meant to be full of monkeys, the bus dropped us off nowhere near the gardens and we had to walk ages to find it! When we thought we had got there, it was not really what we were expecting. We did however see some monkeys, one of which had got on someones scooter and took everthing out from the basket and took it up the tree! To get back we had to get another bus but there was nothing and no one around, we waited and waited at what looked like a bus stop and eventually to our relief a bus turned up. We did not care where it was going we just jumped on! After a bit more sigtseeing we were so tired that we went back to the hostel and asked to get an earlier bus to KL, we were in luck there were spaces. We left early evening to the bus terminal to board the coach to our next destination.
Public transport has been one of our biggest problems all week, but we thought we could always rely on a taxi if we needed to. However we have found out that this is not true, you will now read what happened when we were tired, its was 2 in the morning and we had just been dumped by our coach driver in the middle of K L. We had no idea how to get to our hostel are therefore have named this journey 'the journey from hell' and you will see why...
Picture this..We have boarded our bus from Penang to KL its the nicest bus we have been on, we are sitting there getting comfortable, thinking this is not too shabby with a few nerves, but more excitment about getting to the next destination. Of course the bus journey takes longer then expected, when they say 4 hours you always have to add on an extra 3! So when they said to us arrival at 11.30pm we knew we would be there at 2am and guess what we were right! We finally got there, we were tired and not looking forward to searching for our hostel which we had prebooked. We thought that for this once as we had no idea where we were and the bus driver was no help we would get a taxi (we normal stay clear as they are obviously more expensive then other forms of transport). The taxis have always been our saftey net if we were stuck and scared we thought we could always rely on them, this however would be the case if we had a driver who knew his way around KL and was not borrowing his brother's taxi for the evening to get some extra cash - he did not inform us of this fact before we got in! The taxi driver said it would cost us a set rate, they are not meant to do this as they should go by the meter but we were desperate! We set of and already he turned off into the wrong direction. Stephanie had to insruct him that he was heading the wrong way! He then pulled over to have a look at the address we had given him, he was still insisting the other way, when we asked him if he could phone the hostel he said he could not as he had run out of credit! Stephanie then tried on her mobile but it would not connect! We told him to take us back to the taxi rank and we would get another taxi which knew the way. He said 'no, no ill ask my friend!' So we carried on until he got to a group of taxis, he jumps out and asks which way then jumps back in proclaiming 'I know the way, I know the way.' Finally, we thought we could relax. When, oh guess what he doesnt know his way and is shouting 'He cheat me, he cheat me its not here.' We stop for the second time, so he can ask directions, Stephanie and I at this point have had enough we just want to be in bed. We keep thinking we are never going to get to the hostel, I said, if we can't find it we will get dropped off at a hotel and the credit card will come in handy! Once he is back in the car we are off again this time he is sure he knows where it is and starts to slow down saying its around this area! We finally spot the road name after we drive past it and relief floods over us but the journeys not over yet! We ask him to turn round, but its one way, he says he can reverse, 'no police, no problem' and yes you have probably guessed it, the car coming round the corner is the police. We make an abrupt stop and they start to slow down, the taxi driver quickly grabs our map and pretends to read it. Once the police have rolled past staring in, he wipes the sweat of his head and carries on reversing telling us his friends got charged just the other day! We drive back round forwards this time and right in front of us is the hostel sign we have never been so pleased to see a hostel in all our time travelling! We pile out the taxi as quick as possible, Stephanie checks in while I get the bags. We had been in the taxi for an hour the driver notes this to us and says normally he charges by the meter and if he did it would be expensive - I wanted to say its because he didnt have a clue where to go but I was just relieved he didnt give up and drop us off in the middle of nowhere! I bet he was kicking himself he gave us a set rate! I paid him the money and just wanting to get away when he tells me to write down his name and number just incase we need a taxi during our stay in KL, I couldnt believe it! That wasn't even the best bit, while im walking into the hostel I see a car approach the taxi driver asking the taxi driver for directions, needless to say Stephanie and I were in fits of laughter!
We woke up early the next morning ready for another full day! We were at one particular attraction looking at our map for the 10th time that morning (this happens alot!) When a man comes up to us and asks if we need help we said no thanks and that we were fine, he then asks whether he can join us, we said no that we were meeting friends and had to hurry (this excuse gets used alot!). He didnt take the hint however and continued to follow us, our fast walk turned into a sprint and luckly we didnt see him again! We managed to come across another shopping mall (this also happens alot) this one was a bit different as it had an amusment park inside. It was so crazy they had a roller coaster that went upside down and loads of other rides, this was located on the 7th floor and the mall had 12 floors! We were out sightseeing for another 12 hours and ended the day in Chinatown to have something to eat at the night market. Yes it was another market but this time Stephanie really needed to get a bag it was a must - she had bought so much it didnt all fit into her backpack, and this is after we sent a box of things home! After that day we were so tired and went straight to bed. The following morning we were up early to get the bus down to a place called Melaka.
Once we arrived in Melaka we chanced another taxi to take us to our hostel this one knew his way around very well (after we asked him!) and gave us a guided tour, luckly we didnt have to pay extra! The hostel was really lovely, we dropped our bags and went exploring straight away. Again and we honestly don't know how this happens we came across two shopping malls, next to each other so obviously we went in - it would be rude not to! That night we had another early night ready for another full day of sightseeing! We got up early and had decided to get the tourist hop on, hop off bus, that way we would see everything we wanted and not waste time getting lost or getting on the wrong bus - what could possibly go wrong?? Well after waiting at the bus stop for 45mins the bus never turned up! We decided not to waste anymore time and went straight to the museum, this may come as a shock to you all but I actually enjoyed this one it was all about 'enduring beauty'. It was about how different tribes and cultures view beauty and how they achieve it, there was so much displayed, a few examples are: face piercing, long neck, big ears and tooth filling into a point. We then went to try and get the tourist bus again, after waiting at the bus stop a bus pulled up we asked whether this was the right one he said yes so we hopped on! When the bus had started to go off the tourist route and then proceed to wait at the main bus terminal for 30 minutes we realised we had been lied to! After a few frank words exchanged by us and the bus driver we stayed on till we got back to the stop where we got on, after thanking the bus driver for wasting an hour of our sightseeing time we were on our way to the next attraction. More sightseeing was done such as a river cruise. Then it was back to the hostel as the next day was another bus journey to Singapore!
Another early start and we were on the bus heading to Singapore we had to go through passport control and all of that which stupidly we didn't realise, but it did mean another stamp in the passport, which we were very excited about! We walked this time, from the bus terminal to our hostel which was a mission but we made it! It again was a very nice hostel and this was the first time we shared a dorm with other people. We had made it to Singapore earlier then we thought so we walked around, took the metro, went to a couple of art gallerys and explored the city! The next day may come as a surprise to you but it was another full day of sightseeing! We managed to fit in loads and we always seem to be where the tourist are not - we like to mix with the locals! We even came across a flea market! We both love Singapore loads, it such a clean city with lovely parks - one with esclators in! And lots of recylcing bins, which Stephanie loves. I even had to take a photograph of her with them!
We are currently in the airport waiting to go to Australia. We are both very excited and can't wait to get back on a beach to top up the fading tan! We will update you soon with more adventures, im sure! loads of love to you all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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