Singapore
We were both really excited about getting back to Asia as it was still our favourite continent. We were looking forward to being warm again, the food, and the fact that everything would be so much cheaper than in NZ and Oz.
First stop Singapore. As this isn't one of the cheaper cities in Asia we were very lucky to be able to stay with Mik's friend Rob again who has now been living here for 5 years, and who we stayed with last year. It was great to see more friends and we celebrated with some cheap food from the local food courts (about a pound for a plate of roast duck, rice and veg.) and some hideously expensive beers - paying 5 quid a pint hurt.
We stayed for the weekend and spent most of the time eating all the lovely food we had been missing and tagging along with Rob and enjoying his expat party lifestyle. We went to a birthday party which was fancy dress - back to school - I'm sorry to say we didn't make the effort but enjoyed the entertainment and the jelly shots! We also spent a Friday night in the pub with his work colleagues. It was quite strange to remember what the end of the working week must feel like.
In order to help counteract all this drinking we agreed to go with Rob to his dragon boat racing training on the Saturday afternoon. We were both a little nervous having not done a lot of exercise in the last 15 months and Mik was determined to get out of it one way or another. He didn't and once in the boat he took to it really quickly. It was hard work but great fun being out on the river and seeing the city from a different angle. It is also very sociable with a keg of beer being provided at the end by the sponsors. It is a hugely popular activity and there are loads of different teams. We were actually training with the Aussies as apparently the British team is crap! We really enjoyed it but I was glad they took it easy on us. Despite the beer I knew I would be aching the next day.
In Asia, warm weather also means high humidity. Thus a return to being sweaty on a regular basis. Mik found that his girl's hair wasn't helping the situation and after a few (lots) of encouraging words from me he finally got his hair cut. Thank the lord. I no longer have to walk 5 paces behind him down the street. This was of course not as simple as it should have been. For starters the girl had to lower the chair as far as it would go, and then still ask Mik to slouch down in his seat, as she couldn't reach thevtop of his head. Then came the description of what he wanted done. Quite straight forward really, just cut it so that is 3 inches long all over. She got it eventually, or so we had thought! You can see the results in future photos. Personally I was delighted.
Our last evening was spent up on the 70th floor of the Swissôtel where not only do you have a great view over the city, but they also have a happy hour every evening with half price drinks. As this was the case I thought I'd hit the cocktails which would have been fine had I, a) not had to return a couple of them after the first few sips as the glass was cracked, b) not had to return a couple after the first few sips as they didn't taste right (turned out there wasn't enough alcohol in them) or c) had more than a snack to eat all day. As a result the lads, who had been drinking one beer to my one and a half peachy loves, were fine as we left whereas I couldn't stop giggling and was rather worse for wear. Still, we hit a local chinese restaurant and all was right with the world. Until the following morning that is!
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Yep, of course we had an early start to catch a bus to Kuala Lumpur, we were back in Asia afterall, where all things start before dawn. Ouch. Luckily we had booked ourselves on the luxury coach. We had had trouble finding a room on the internet and so Rob kindly offered to get us a deal at the hotel he usually stays at when on business in KL. A huge expense for us but an amazing hotel, and a we got a suite to boot. The hotel complex is massive it houses not only the usual rooftop swimming pool and spa etc but also a massive shopping centre, restaurants and a theme park complete with indoor rollercoaster. Madness. Oh and I nearly forgot the cinema and Imax screen which we visited as they had a film on about sharks. Guess who's choice that was. 
When we were in KL last year we had seen the sights but had not managed to get up the Petronas Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world. This time we got up early and queued for an hour to get a free ticket for our slot 3 hours later that day. You are taken up to the skybridge which connects the two towers. They only allow around 20 people on the bridge at one time. I don't think I want to know why. Unfortunately it was a hazy day so we couldn't see too far but the building itself is very impressive.
We spent two nights there enjoying the luxury as we were then catching a flight to Tawau in Malaysian Borneo and there the luxury had to end or we would be coming home before the end of September! We were flying with Air Asia, the low-cost airline, and unbeknown to us they had relocated to the cargo terminal. Luckily our taxi driver (Mr Nairdu) had collected us super early and the 20 minute detour to get to the right place didn't mean us missing our flight. We checked in with baited breath as baggage allowance was only 15kg. We had left a few bits with Rob in Singapore to collect on our way out of Asia but would still probably be over the limit. We were, but only by a couple of kilos and they let us off - phew. Don't know what I'm going to do about all the things I plan to buy while here though! And we were off, gone were the trappings of modern cities, we were on the road again, and thoroughly looking forward to it.
Cara
When we were in KL last year we had seen the sights but had not managed to get up the Petronas Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world. This time we got up early and queued for an hour to get a free ticket for our slot 3 hours later that day. You are taken up to the skybridge which connects the two towers. They only allow around 20 people on the bridge at one time. I don't think I want to know why. Unfortunately it was a hazy day so we couldn't see too far but the building itself is very impressive.
We spent two nights there enjoying the luxury as we were then catching a flight to Tawau in Malaysian Borneo and there the luxury had to end or we would be coming home before the end of September! We were flying with Air Asia, the low-cost airline, and unbeknown to us they had relocated to the cargo terminal. Luckily our taxi driver (Mr Nairdu) had collected us super early and the 20 minute detour to get to the right place didn't mean us missing our flight. We checked in with baited breath as baggage allowance was only 15kg. We had left a few bits with Rob in Singapore to collect on our way out of Asia but would still probably be over the limit. We were, but only by a couple of kilos and they let us off - phew. Don't know what I'm going to do about all the things I plan to buy while here though! And we were off, gone were the trappings of modern cities, we were on the road again, and thoroughly looking forward to it.
Cara
No comments:
Post a Comment