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Steph's Asia Trip
Haven't written for a while - been very busy, still alive though.
Took us 6 hours to get from the highlands to Penang - very tiring. Arrived in Penang on Sunday and it was really hot in comparison to the highlands. wasn't that keen on Penang - was dirty and smelly and there were lots of prostitutes (think we were staying in the slightly dodgy bit of town). There were also lots of very poor people sleeping on the streets - they looked half starved. We went up Penang Hill that evening - got the local bus which was funny!! We got the fenicular railway up the hill and were there in time for dusk - was a really spectacular view - Tom got some good photos - he'll upload them when he gets back to the UK.
The next day we went to some of the historic monuments in Penang - which were a bit disapointing. Went to the Khoo Kongsi Klan house - which was interesting.
Hostel was ok - but a bit hot!!
We left on tuesday at 5am to get a minibus to Ko Samui. Was quite a stressful journey - no-one spoke english and we didn't really know what was happening - and we were really tired!! Was a wierd mix of people on the journey too including a buddhist monk!! Was reassured by that! It was a 13 hour trip involving 2 minibuses 2 taxis and a ferry! Got to Ko Samui at about 8pm Thai time and found a beach hut to stay in. We're staying at a place called Dew Drop huts and its nice. We're really lucky because its practically on the beach. Oh!! But yesterday when Tom was in the shower I was getting something from one of my bags and there were these things that looked like slugs on them!! Then I realised they were baby rats!!!! I prefer to think of them as mice. Tom helped them comit suicide off our balcony. My only concern is where is the mother!!??
Ko Samui beach is gorgeous - white sands and clear warm water. Spent the last 2 days lying on the beach recovering from the journeys!! Am very burnt! (no suprises there!!) Evenings have been spent in the bars and restaurants on the beach - lots of cocktails!!
Sadly Ko Samui is very touristy - think it's a package holiday destination and it's expensive too, but it's been nice to have some relaxation.
We leave tomorrow for Bangkok - we're on the internet at the moment working out how to get there, We can either get an over night train or fly - trying to work out which is better. The train journey is about 11 hours I think, we're not sure if we can manage another mamouth trip!! Think I'll definitely do things much more slowly when Tom's gone - all this travelling it quite exhausting!! especially when you don't speak the language!!
Tom is still sweating stupid amounts of fluid!! Can't believe it - didn't realised he suffered this much with the heat - it's quite funny really - he's more of a fairy than me which I think has suprised him!! I'm on my way to being a hardcore back-packer!!
Looking forward to the markets in Bangkok - will update the journal again soon.
Hope everyone is well.
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