OK so I published the last entry a little late, so sue me.
We arrived back at Heathrow On the 16th January, bang on time and much to our surprise, welcome home banners in hand, the girls were there to meet us. Ever cryd and laughed at the same time, bloody weired I can tell ya. After loads of hugs, kisses and many cuddles we managed to pull ourselves apart and because we had arranged a taxi to meet us, parted to our arranged transport and made our way to the place we call home.
would you bleeding believe it. one moment we're in ar*e sweating heat, the next its nut checking cold (got to keep counting um just to make sure one ain't frozen off), Yep, it snowed the very next day, bit of a shock after what we just left and in the following weeks we joined the rest of the family in coming down with various types of colds and flu. Oh the joys of being back in the UK.
Lin decided to go back to work, found a job and like putting on a well worn pair of much loved slippers is now back to trundling of to work every morning. As for me, well, I've bought a couple of old bikes to do up and sell, only problem is, what with being at home and doing all the things that entails, I'm having trouble getting in the garage to do anything, having the garage filled floor to ceiling with stuff from Roxanne's last house don't help, nether does the freezing cold and when I do manage to find a bit of time, I've got so many coats on, if I fell over, I'd roll to the end of the road.
As I write, the bike (good old Ruby) is still at sea and should be back in the country somewhere round the 17th of this month and I cant wait to have her back, odd how you can miss a machine ain't it?
Anyway, Christmas come late for us this year and on the 24th of February it finally arrived. All the decorations went up, yep the whole lot, tree, lights, ceiling Dec's, even the wreaths on the door. All the kids were here for Christmas dinner, Turkey, stuffing roastes, the whole works and it even managed to snow on the day, how bout that?.
Right, the next trip is in the planing, gonna do route 66 later in the year, some were round Sept/Oct time and by the time it comes round, I'm gonna bloody well need it. Yep, we're back and don't we know it.
Love you all, see you soon
John and Lin xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
16th Jan 2013...Homeward bound and in the air....
On our way, bags packed, taxi arrived 15 mins early, so we are up and on our way to the airport.
Fair to say the journey there was teeth clenching and butt exercising. The driver obviously thought we would appreciate a bit of 'Top gear' at 5 in the morning. The stig he was not ! but he did get us there and boy were we glad to get out of the taxi.....
Anyway no more chatting, here comes the piccies,
This is Kuala Lumpar International Airport (KUL), funnily enough we did't actually land here, cuz we got budget flights out of Oz, which landed us at the KUL, LCCT (low cost carrier terminal.......we did't know that at the time, but thanks to Howard, we were soon put right...), we still had to clear immigration and customs, but good job we thought to check when we were due to start the homeward journey because the two terminals are some distance apart...
John does it in style (and yes still wearing the hat!)
Happy days...and we've just realised we've just gained another 4 hours and will soon be getting some more back....
The plane that brings us out of Kuala Lumpar (hot, humid and 40 degrees) and into Muscat in Oman.
and we are up, up and away....
Blue skies....
A view down the plane...
and we land in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman 8 hours later and its hot , breezy and 42 degrees.....and weve gained some more hours....yipppeeeee...
Ahh bless, look at his lollipops.....lol..
and him back on the blog....did't get very far though cuz there was no free wifi....
Our next plane is filling up.... ready to take us to Heathrow...(funnily enough my Dad and my Uncle Keith were Shell tanker drivers....., don't think they ever filled up an engine this size though...)
and up we go again...
We fly over the Sultanate of Oman..
flying by......
and here we are just coming into land at Heathrow...its cold, damp, dark (hahaha hence the dark piccie) and a healthy minus 4......wheres the coats .......arghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
WE'RE BACK ............... lol xxxxxxxx
There may be a few more updates still to come....so keep an eye on out xxx
Fair to say the journey there was teeth clenching and butt exercising. The driver obviously thought we would appreciate a bit of 'Top gear' at 5 in the morning. The stig he was not ! but he did get us there and boy were we glad to get out of the taxi.....
Anyway no more chatting, here comes the piccies,
This is Kuala Lumpar International Airport (KUL), funnily enough we did't actually land here, cuz we got budget flights out of Oz, which landed us at the KUL, LCCT (low cost carrier terminal.......we did't know that at the time, but thanks to Howard, we were soon put right...), we still had to clear immigration and customs, but good job we thought to check when we were due to start the homeward journey because the two terminals are some distance apart...
John does it in style (and yes still wearing the hat!)
Happy days...and we've just realised we've just gained another 4 hours and will soon be getting some more back....
The plane that brings us out of Kuala Lumpar (hot, humid and 40 degrees) and into Muscat in Oman.
and we are up, up and away....
Blue skies....
A view down the plane...
and we land in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman 8 hours later and its hot , breezy and 42 degrees.....and weve gained some more hours....yipppeeeee...
Ahh bless, look at his lollipops.....lol..
and him back on the blog....did't get very far though cuz there was no free wifi....
Our next plane is filling up.... ready to take us to Heathrow...(funnily enough my Dad and my Uncle Keith were Shell tanker drivers....., don't think they ever filled up an engine this size though...)
and up we go again...
We fly over the Sultanate of Oman..
flying by......
and here we are just coming into land at Heathrow...its cold, damp, dark (hahaha hence the dark piccie) and a healthy minus 4......wheres the coats .......arghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
WE'RE BACK ............... lol xxxxxxxx
There may be a few more updates still to come....so keep an eye on out xxx
Wednesday, 16 January 2013
15th Jan, We're coming home, Kuala Lumpur
The problem with having a room with air-con and no window, Is ya just ain't got no idea of time or what the hell the weathers doing, suppose that's what ya get for going cheep and cheerful.... Eyes open at nine fifteen, and by nine thirty we're down stairs paying up the twenty six bucks (I think we're getting a discount cos we're regular costumers) for brekkie. . Lin makes straight for the croissants and grabs a plate full, just in case they run out again, then orders up egg on toast. She's covering all the angles this morning and ain't gonna go short. I wander over and have a look. I really can't face the Meek Marat, a sort of re fryd noodles with stuff in (looks kinda black) and I certainly ain't doing the porridge thing again, so that only leaves the rice with a boiled egg, or same as yesterday, so I do the groundhog thing. Much to my surprise I'm getting a taste for the chicken sausages and fall out me chair!!! ....when the scrambled egg is almost hot. See, if you build it, they will come??
Since this is our last day we're out on the 'hop on, hop off bus', just to make sure we get to see all the sights. Now the plan is to do the tour, then go back to the places we want to see. Over two sodding hours we spent on that bloody bus and the only place we want to go back to is Little India and that's only two stops away, ain't bloody right is it.??? So round we go again for another two stops and off at Little India. Now we've been to Little India in Singapore,
little India in Sydney and now here. Guess what? they're all the bloody same........ so much for "travel broadens the mind".
That's it, take the photos and we're out of here, now just got to find our way back to the hotel.......
Downtown Kuala Lumpur.. its actually seen as the high tech hub of Southern Asia..and in places it leaves you in awe and in others it leaves you with some sadness as its fair to say that some people really do struggle to survive and make a living here.....theres very little social care or help..and if you don't have money, you are left to beg on the streets...and beg they do.
Now where have we seen this before???, Kuala Lumpur theatre....(think somebody here might have been to Sidney Opera house and liked it lol!!!!!)
This is a must see, its the famous Petronas twin towers... its been in films with Tom Cruise, Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta Jones... to name but a few and it is actually stunning as building go..
(another one off my bucket list)
A view across the city...
This is the telecoms tower... yep, I bet you've seen that before too... lol
This is the Royal palace...
"They're changing guards at Buck......palace lol"
We can see you....
These steps lead up the side of the palace gardens....
More views from down town Kuala Lumpur..
The elephant fountain in Little India...
Flowers, flowers and more flowers....Little India of course..
A view toward the main entrance to Little India..
At last we arrive back, and we didn't bicker, no not a cross word, not a one........ OK maybe one, but we were lost, walking and in thirty degrees of heat, but we made it in the end (both alive). So now I sit down to write this blog and publish it before we get home.
A last trip down the market after dinner, gives me wallet a bit of exercise much to the enjoyment of the stallholders, one even sympathises with me as we pass by for the forth time, still, its probably the last time I hear Lin ask me "how many rink-a-dinks is that". With the last bit of shopping out the way, its back to the hotel to pack for tomorrows flight.
Pendaling Street, this is where we stayed.. we seem to have come full circle.. we started off in Singapore and end up in Kuala Lumpur..., very worth a visit, but you need to have your wits about you and your eyes on everything..
Inside Central Market at Pasar seni.....
Sand art...
Outside Central Market..Pasar Seni...
....................About the trip, would we do it again? (after and only once we've seen the kids) but yes in a heart beat..... Have we had fun? sooooooo much fun you couldn't believe it.......
This blog has only been small snippets of what we've done and been up to while we've been away. The photos on it, are a poor imitation of what its like standing there looking at this mountain, driving through that desert or walking along beaches that we all dream of..... The people we've meet have all been helpful, kind and will live in memories forever, (well, a week at least.....).... I cant think of one person we didn't take to or who was unfriendly. The Ozzie's are a breed on their own......its called 'the australian way', and it is warm, friendly, giving and very trusting...
On our way, but it still love to all.. xxx
Since this is our last day we're out on the 'hop on, hop off bus', just to make sure we get to see all the sights. Now the plan is to do the tour, then go back to the places we want to see. Over two sodding hours we spent on that bloody bus and the only place we want to go back to is Little India and that's only two stops away, ain't bloody right is it.??? So round we go again for another two stops and off at Little India. Now we've been to Little India in Singapore,
little India in Sydney and now here. Guess what? they're all the bloody same........ so much for "travel broadens the mind".
That's it, take the photos and we're out of here, now just got to find our way back to the hotel.......
Downtown Kuala Lumpur.. its actually seen as the high tech hub of Southern Asia..and in places it leaves you in awe and in others it leaves you with some sadness as its fair to say that some people really do struggle to survive and make a living here.....theres very little social care or help..and if you don't have money, you are left to beg on the streets...and beg they do.
Now where have we seen this before???, Kuala Lumpur theatre....(think somebody here might have been to Sidney Opera house and liked it lol!!!!!)
(another one off my bucket list)
A view across the city...
This is the telecoms tower... yep, I bet you've seen that before too... lol
This is the Royal palace...
"They're changing guards at Buck......palace lol"
We can see you....
These steps lead up the side of the palace gardens....
More views from down town Kuala Lumpur..
The elephant fountain in Little India...
Flowers, flowers and more flowers....Little India of course..
A view toward the main entrance to Little India..
At last we arrive back, and we didn't bicker, no not a cross word, not a one........ OK maybe one, but we were lost, walking and in thirty degrees of heat, but we made it in the end (both alive). So now I sit down to write this blog and publish it before we get home.
A last trip down the market after dinner, gives me wallet a bit of exercise much to the enjoyment of the stallholders, one even sympathises with me as we pass by for the forth time, still, its probably the last time I hear Lin ask me "how many rink-a-dinks is that". With the last bit of shopping out the way, its back to the hotel to pack for tomorrows flight.
Pendaling Street, this is where we stayed.. we seem to have come full circle.. we started off in Singapore and end up in Kuala Lumpur..., very worth a visit, but you need to have your wits about you and your eyes on everything..
Inside Central Market at Pasar seni.....
Sand art...
Outside Central Market..Pasar Seni...
This blog has only been small snippets of what we've done and been up to while we've been away. The photos on it, are a poor imitation of what its like standing there looking at this mountain, driving through that desert or walking along beaches that we all dream of..... The people we've meet have all been helpful, kind and will live in memories forever, (well, a week at least.....).... I cant think of one person we didn't take to or who was unfriendly. The Ozzie's are a breed on their own......its called 'the australian way', and it is warm, friendly, giving and very trusting...
On our way, but it still love to all.. xxx
Monday, 14 January 2013
14th Jan, Monkey Business, Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur
Up with the lark (fuc*er had a lie in) and once again Lin's demanding food...... no need to hang about, we know where toast and croissants can be had, so downstairs and next door we trot, part with another thirty ringgets and make for the buffet. Lin gets stuck into the toast while I have another go at the scrambled egg and chicken sausages to see if things have improved, they ain't! The scrambled egg is still almost warm and the chicken sausages are...... well, cant really describe um, sort of not chicken and not quite a sausage. Sometimes I wonder what the hell I'm putting down me throat, but me ar*e tells me it all comes out in the end, so not to worry. Lin's got a face like thunder, the buggers have run out of croissants and the next lot ain't done yet, she's checked the timer and got six minutes to wait, so while waiting...... I'm off to have a sample of some of the other delicacies on offer and the pot of God knows what that seems quite popular, so I'm gonna have a go at that. Looks a bit like porridge, only smells a bit iffy, oh well, in for a penny ..... I follow suit and sprinkle some doggy looking grey stuff on the top and head back to the table.
First thing Lin says (after asking if the croissants are out yet) is "you ain't gonna eat that are ya?" sod it , shovel it in. Turns out to be some sort of very watery rice with bits of fish and some other stuff in, cant say it's the best thing I've ever eaten and I don't think I'll be eating it again, still don't know what the grey stuff was, but it was the best part. I spot the croissants coming out and Lin's there as they hit the counter. Result, Lin's one happy bunny and comes away with a plate full.
We're off to the Batu Caves today, so breakfast is now gone but by no means forgotten and it's a quick shower and back out the door. We, (OK Lin) seem to have mastered the rail system, so two trains later, we're getting off at the end of the line. The caves are home to an Indian shrine/temple and the paths leading up to it are full of peddlers painting henna and selling all sorts of trinkets..... (cheep sh*t). I have a go at one of them coconuts with the top cut off and a straw in, ain't bad, could do with a bit of ice, but where do I find ice at an Indian shrine in thirty degrees of heat?, no organisation this lot.....
So we do the lesser shrines on the lower level, now for the big one and it three hundred and sixty odd stairs to get there. Bloody things been here for hundreds of years, you'd have thought some bright spark would have put in a lift by now, anyway, up we go, well at least a couple of flights, then stand wheezing for a while, then off again. Finally we make the top and I've got to admit, its worth it. The cave itself was a wonder and the view even more so. We spot another level on the far side of the cave and make our way over, two steps up and down comes a monkey..... That's it for Lin, she ain't going no further, no way. So up I go just to complete the climb. The place has a small shrine over to one side, that and a barrel full of monkeys. I think Lin's made the right choice, so I hot foot it back down the stairs to join her before I get me ar*e bit.
The days coming to an end, so we head back to the train, on the way, Lin decides to get one of them Henna things done. At this stage I'd like to point out to me kids, Henna is like a tattoo, but this WEARS OFF..... Lin's right made up with the result and I'm right made up with the price, five Ringgets (£1.20)
Two trains and forty five minutes later, we're back at the hotel, me banging out yesterdays blog, Lin checking out what the inside of her eyelids look like... It don't last for long, its coming up to dinner time and once again we're heading for Lin's favourite restaurant. We get to the door and its falling down, believe me, if you ain't seen tropical rain, you ain't seen rain... It don't last long and we're soon back on track, within five minutes we're sitting down and checking out the menu. No need to look for Lin, chicken satay and egg fried rice, Me?? I'm having a go at the ginger and spring onion frogs with BBQ pork fried rice, Hey, when in Rome.... Lin does the usual and polishes her plate clean, so I take it the satay was good. The frogs went down a treat and the rice really topped it off, and so it should, it was the dearest meal we've had since we've been here, wont be doing that again, tomorrow more street food.
The days done and noddy's saving me a place on the magic roundabout in the land of nod, so bugger off you lot, I'm off ta bed.
OK, so just to explain, this is a Muslim country and they have train carriages and areas at the stations that are for women only.... and you definitely don't cross this line unless you are a 'lady', so that's me done then !!!! lol, so we catch a train 2 ringets each..50p...to you...
Kuala Lumpar city...
Train station...
More city...
We arrive at the Batu caves...
This ones on guard.. no doubt knew we were coming...
The priests make pictures out of coloured rice....
To get to his temple we had to take our shoes off and run up the steps fast as the sun was scorching the ground....then we had to run back down again.. and our shoes were still there !!!
The temples
John does the coconut thing...
On our way to the main shrine...
and yes we did climb these !!!! all 272 of them..
The guard of the shrine...Lord Murragon..
and look at the steps up.. and yep we walked them ..
A light shaft lights up the caves...you've got to be there to appreciate this scene...
The light shines on John... yea right!!! lol...
This little git.....(he's a maccaugh monkey) , nicked this bottle off of a tourist (out of his hands , I might add!) and ran off with it, stuck its finger nail in the end and sucked... He's done this before...
Magnificent.....
More steps and as these were guarded by monkeys... John did theses alone....
and here we go again back down...
The coconut man...
Malaysian style 'slush puppy', basically, block of ice on drill,, drill mashes ice, ice into glass and then sauce and condensed milk added...
The shrine guard...Lord Muragon...
I get my hand done ... 5 ringetts (about £1.20)...You like ???
Ok, time to go, me in front of the big man.... this is the monkey god..Hanuman...
thats all for today.....
2 days to go....yipppppeeee... xxx love to you all xxx
First thing Lin says (after asking if the croissants are out yet) is "you ain't gonna eat that are ya?" sod it , shovel it in. Turns out to be some sort of very watery rice with bits of fish and some other stuff in, cant say it's the best thing I've ever eaten and I don't think I'll be eating it again, still don't know what the grey stuff was, but it was the best part. I spot the croissants coming out and Lin's there as they hit the counter. Result, Lin's one happy bunny and comes away with a plate full.
We're off to the Batu Caves today, so breakfast is now gone but by no means forgotten and it's a quick shower and back out the door. We, (OK Lin) seem to have mastered the rail system, so two trains later, we're getting off at the end of the line. The caves are home to an Indian shrine/temple and the paths leading up to it are full of peddlers painting henna and selling all sorts of trinkets..... (cheep sh*t). I have a go at one of them coconuts with the top cut off and a straw in, ain't bad, could do with a bit of ice, but where do I find ice at an Indian shrine in thirty degrees of heat?, no organisation this lot.....
So we do the lesser shrines on the lower level, now for the big one and it three hundred and sixty odd stairs to get there. Bloody things been here for hundreds of years, you'd have thought some bright spark would have put in a lift by now, anyway, up we go, well at least a couple of flights, then stand wheezing for a while, then off again. Finally we make the top and I've got to admit, its worth it. The cave itself was a wonder and the view even more so. We spot another level on the far side of the cave and make our way over, two steps up and down comes a monkey..... That's it for Lin, she ain't going no further, no way. So up I go just to complete the climb. The place has a small shrine over to one side, that and a barrel full of monkeys. I think Lin's made the right choice, so I hot foot it back down the stairs to join her before I get me ar*e bit.
The days coming to an end, so we head back to the train, on the way, Lin decides to get one of them Henna things done. At this stage I'd like to point out to me kids, Henna is like a tattoo, but this WEARS OFF..... Lin's right made up with the result and I'm right made up with the price, five Ringgets (£1.20)
Two trains and forty five minutes later, we're back at the hotel, me banging out yesterdays blog, Lin checking out what the inside of her eyelids look like... It don't last for long, its coming up to dinner time and once again we're heading for Lin's favourite restaurant. We get to the door and its falling down, believe me, if you ain't seen tropical rain, you ain't seen rain... It don't last long and we're soon back on track, within five minutes we're sitting down and checking out the menu. No need to look for Lin, chicken satay and egg fried rice, Me?? I'm having a go at the ginger and spring onion frogs with BBQ pork fried rice, Hey, when in Rome.... Lin does the usual and polishes her plate clean, so I take it the satay was good. The frogs went down a treat and the rice really topped it off, and so it should, it was the dearest meal we've had since we've been here, wont be doing that again, tomorrow more street food.
The days done and noddy's saving me a place on the magic roundabout in the land of nod, so bugger off you lot, I'm off ta bed.
OK, so just to explain, this is a Muslim country and they have train carriages and areas at the stations that are for women only.... and you definitely don't cross this line unless you are a 'lady', so that's me done then !!!! lol, so we catch a train 2 ringets each..50p...to you...
Kuala Lumpar city...
Train station...
More city...
We arrive at the Batu caves...
This ones on guard.. no doubt knew we were coming...
The priests make pictures out of coloured rice....
To get to his temple we had to take our shoes off and run up the steps fast as the sun was scorching the ground....then we had to run back down again.. and our shoes were still there !!!
The temples
John does the coconut thing...
On our way to the main shrine...
and yes we did climb these !!!! all 272 of them..
The guard of the shrine...Lord Murragon..
and look at the steps up.. and yep we walked them ..
A light shaft lights up the caves...you've got to be there to appreciate this scene...
The light shines on John... yea right!!! lol...
More steps and as these were guarded by monkeys... John did theses alone....
and here we go again back down...
The coconut man...
Malaysian style 'slush puppy', basically, block of ice on drill,, drill mashes ice, ice into glass and then sauce and condensed milk added...
The shrine guard...Lord Muragon...
I get my hand done ... 5 ringetts (about £1.20)...You like ???
On the way out we see this one is just being built and appears to be a large cooking pot for the gods..
Some shots from the train on the way home.....
thats all for today.....
2 days to go....yipppppeeee... xxx love to you all xxx
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