What were the highlights of our long trip?

8.3.16

Penang

Didn’t like it. Best thing was the food, the people and the bus system, otherwise it just didn’t grab us and feel we saw all there is to see there.
We enjoyed what we did, but 4 days would have been enough.
Got fed up with not being able to walk along any pavements without scooters, cars, bins, anything blocking the way.
Its grubby, the beach area wasn’t all that, but being there for Chinese New Year was definitely very special.
Staying on the jetties was great, even if it was smelly, it was so unique.
We wouldn’t choose to go back to Penang.

Bali

Totally loved our time in Bali. We had a fabulous time, Ubud is like nowhere else, it’s just so lovely, the people are lovely, the scenery is amazing, no transport system but finding a driver for the day is so easy and such brilliant value and the tours we did and things we saw in the surrounding areas was fab.
Candidasa is small, very low key, but enough there to make a relaxing break by the sea.
We wanted low key by the sea and did lots of research to find the right place for us.
Despite being an island there isn’t a lot of beaches and the main developed beach areas are very overpopulated by young Australian backpackers partying til 4am and paying overinflated prices for everything.
30 years ago maybe, but for a pair of old fogeys – no way.
Puri Oka bungalows was exactly what we wanted. Not posh, not even that nicely maintained but it just had a wonderful feel to it.
Really didn’t want to leave Bali.
Going back?
Not sure as we explored all the attractions in both the areas where we stayed, so we’ve done the middle and the east.
The south west is where the partying is, and I think the top half is mountainous.
We covered a huge area, although I’m sure with a bit of research we would find lots more on the island to explore.

Singapore

Lots of people described it as sterile, we didn’t really find that. If we summed it in one word we would say ‘efficient’
Superb transport system, constant development and improvement going on everywhere, they want feedback on everything.
Rules, regulations, fines for eating on the metro, you name it there’s a rule for it.
Except it would seem for blatant prostitution in Geylang area, which although an eye opener in the grubbiest, seediest of seedy hotels, the memories and the laughs will stay with us forever.
Fabulous nature outside the city, very expensive activities too, there is pretty much everything any one could want to do.
A family staying for a week would need an absolute fortune for all the entrance fees!
Restaurants are expensive but there’s still plenty of cheap tasty food options with the locals.
People are not overly friendly generally, in very much the same way as any big city, no eye contact, all in a rush or on Facebook.

Borneo

When we got to the airport I was surprised at how barren and old it was even though my pre conception was a 3rd world country.
When we were dropped on the edge of a dismal little town on a dual carriageway I was gutted.
Felt we had made a massive mistake.
Around the river area lots of places are closed but actually they’re cafes and souvenir shops and its not high season.
We only saw a handful of tourists, but as a first impression- derelict, gloomy and a bit sad.
The longer we spent in Kuching though, the more it grew on us.
There’s so many fabulous places to go within 30 -45 minutes, it makes a brilliant base.
The people couldn’t be lovelier, shouting hello from the back of motorbikes, or starting a conversation with you, just about everywhere, with no hidden agenda, it’s like Turkey was when we first started visiting over 20 years ago.
They’re proud Sarawakians, a mix of 40 ethnic groups sharing a passion for their province.
Its definitely not 3rd world, its a country with ambition.
It reminds me very much of how Calis is closed down in winter and how passionate people are about Fethiye.
We’ve been lucky enough to see Orangutans, macaque monkeys, proboscis monkeys, monitor lizards, sun bears, bear cats, a snake, lizards, black squirrels, geckos, trekked in the jungle, trekked in National Parks, had funny experiences of people driving us to places at random, met the loveliest people, stayed in a tree house, met the craziest Hasher’s, walked in conditions I would never have considered, eaten the tastiest but cheapest food and just want to explore more.
We’ve only made a tiny dent in this massive country.

Life’s short, you don’t know what’s round the next corner, we feel so lucky to be young and healthy enough to have done all this and intend to travel as much as we can while we can.

For those who want it there’s plenty of luxury hotels and spas, but that’s not our thing, not sure it would be even if we could afford it.

Lots of people say they’ve enjoyed reading the blog, its mainly for us to look back on as I love the relive where we’ve been, but if I’ve entertained people along the way that makes me happy.
Prices and detailed explanations are there to help future travellers as I use other poeple’s blogs a lot to help with planning where to go.

As usual, thanks to John, can’t imagine sharing adventures with anyone else who can put up with my constant I want to do this and that, my snoring, my chit chatting with all and sundry and my swearing and cursing when the blog app randomly deletes whole posts.
I’m so lucky he’s so easy going, and he has a good sense of direction too and takes good care of me.

Love you Johnboy.
Here’s to planning the next adventure xxx