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OK, sorry, its a been a while: We have had some technical problems (a virus meant we had to wipe the lap top and transfer data etc.) but actually we've also been busy travelling and having fun too, so we have been remiss in our blog duties. But we're online again now!
This is what we've been doing since the last blog:
Wed 15 October, fly to Penang (Malaysia) and stay in Georgetown. Lunch at malay cafe Sup Hamed, a simple cafe where you choose your curry from whatever is in the cooking pots, Total cost for four £5!
The following day we made the trip up Penang Hill where Max saw his first Python, then on to Kek Lok Si, the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. Building started in 1890 and is still being added to today. A roof is being placed over the giant Kuan Yin Godess, Floss & Max made a donation of 30 Malaysian Ringgit (£5) to purchase a roof tile (with their names on it, which will be placed over the Goddess.
The next day we visited the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion built by a Chinese tycoon big on Feng Shui, then onto Fort Cornwallis where Floss had a picture taken with a huge Burmese Python round her neck (Yuk!)
One of Max's teeth fell out and is now buried under a cannon in the gardens of the Eastern & Oriental Hotel.
We moved up to Batu Ferringhi, by the beach for Charmaine's visit. FM were really pleased to see their sister. Floss especially did some bonding (shopping). Had a really good time - sorry no photos as Chars took the memory cards home with her.
On to Kuala Lumpar, capital of Malaysia. We stayed on the 20th Floor of a fab hotel opposite the Petronas Towers. Incredible view. Had a farewell lunch with Chars in a food hall at the KLCC shopping mall (huge - mall, not lunch). Next day was the best part of Florence's trip so far - trip to the cinema to see High School Musical 3.
Sunday we left KL for Melaka, historical trading port with Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese and Malay influences. Full of character, we really enjoyed it (Max found Chinatown a bit hectic but enjoyed seeing water monitor lizards - or were they iguanas)?
Finally we went back to Singapore for two nights. We met up with Stef's old schoolfriend Seamus for a great evening of beer and reminiscing.
Thursday 30 Oct early start for a 7am flight to Sydney, Australia. We spent four nights in central Sydney and saw all the familiar landmarks (see photos): Opera House, Harbour Bridge; Ferries, Zoo; Aquarium.
Monday 3 November We collected our motorhome and started to drive out of the city and south. Well, oddly camping did not turn out to be quite as much fun as anticipated:
Our aim was to travel from Sydney to Adelaide via Melbourne, we travelled about halfway to Melbourne along the coast road, which wasn't as interesting as we had hoped, the weather turned fairly cold and we decided to head into the Snowy Mountains to Jindabyne and the ski resort of Thredbo. We took a chair lift up to the last patches of snow. Really nice part of the country. Next we went to the Australian capital, Canberra. Great science expo - Questacon.
and on to the Blue Mountains which were really stunning, the small town of Katoomba had good character and great coffee shops. After this we drove up to the Hunter Valley for some wine tasting. Max dropped another tooth here and we buried it under a vine in the McGuigan vinyard. We went to the village Christmas lights switch on - very strange in warm weather with short sleeves. Not festive at all! We plan to be in New Zealand for Christmas so hopefully that should be a bit cooler.
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