Singapore

Hey everyone!

Well I just spent a long stint in Malaysia. It was good fun, very different but a great experience. I learned a lot from it and I think I've come to appreciate Australia just that little bit more. It was a real eye opener and that is why I love traveling. I will post some of the photos from my time there soon, and do a full rant about the people I met and the places I went to... Not to mention the things that happened while I was there.

After staying in my friends town for five days I finally said goodbye and head onwards to Singapore. I will stay here for 5 days before going to Taiwan to see Ya Ling on Saturday. I had plans and all kinds of places to see, but as usual the plans I make always fall apart some how. It's the reasoning behind my fairly impulsively nature these days... Less of a chance for fate to go 'Hey... wait a minute! I'm gonna stuff you around!"

Anyway, so the plan was to explore and see the zoo, the museum, the harbor front and every thing else that Singapore has to offer. Now I can't. I have to stay inside for the day, try to keep cool. "Why?" You ask.

BECAUSE OF A RASH!

God knows how I got it, but it itches! ALOT! I have red spots all over my body and when they first appeared I thought 'Wow thats great. A million vaccinations from that old bat in Meloburne and I get Dengue Fever!' So I went to the Doctors this morning. He was funny, probably the nicest doctor I've met.

He pissed himself laughing when he saw how far the rash had spread over my white arse, then laughed even harder when I showed him the cream I was using, which I explained had been given to me by a pharmacist in Malaysia.

"That" He told me in between shots of laughter "Is for fungal infections. It says here... In chinese!" And surely enough he translated it for me:

"For Fungal infections of the feet, armpits of... Vagina"

Brilliant, I thought, that helps me out a lot. I knw I had a real problem this morning when I woke up... AND MY VAGINA WAS MISSING!!! God damn useless people!! At least I'm covered if I ever get a case of thrush in my non existent genitalia...

So after he stopped laughing he pulled out a syringe that he said would help me. I pulled up my sleeve, knowing the drill from having done it a million times before. He lifted an eye brow and smiled. "Think again my friend..."

I sighed... Sadly enough I knew this procedure as well. So I bent over and in it popped, through my skin and straight into the muscle that structure my chiseled god like buttocks. He said the rash should be gone by tomorrow, but it puts a dent in my itinerary. The medications he gave me also knock me around a lot, and as I type this I can already feel it kicking in... I'm gonna be sleeping a few hours today!

It's a shame I was so looking forward to going to the Singapore zoo and watching a couple of monkeys doing it.... Guess I will have to do that tomorrow.

My god Singapore is a pain in the arse!

Bali - Island of the Gods Indeed..

Alright!

So 10 days ago I left Melbourne to fly into Denpasar, Bali. The change in the weather couldn't have been more noticable. Melbourne was cold and I was concerned about walking out the front door wearing only shorts and two layers of thin T-shirts... When I reached Bali the effect was immedidate. I could see as the plane touched down outside on the windows huge droplets of water had formed... Not from an excess of rain but because it was so damn humid. Stepping off the plane was like stepping into a huge sauna, and it would stay like the entire time we spent in Bali.



I walked off the plane and went into Customs, Immigration, etc... All the bullshit that comes with entering another country. No problems... Well not yet, but I didn't know at the time the woman at the counter had just cost me $50AUD... but that's not until later.



It was bizare. As I walked around the corner that leads from the baggage pick up to the only exit from the international arivals I was immediatly confronted by about 20 people all yelling at me. There message was pretty simple to understand: "TRANSPORT!" Over the next week I would get used to this phrase as it was repeated at least fifty times a day and in so many different ways it was humourous at times.



Every one in that place is your friend. In fact in the two hours I waited for Brendan to arrive many of those friends walked up to me, offered me 'cheap transport' then when I declined walked off... never to be seen again. Well I never said the friendships were long lived. When Brendan did arrive we were asked by a kind taxi driver if we needed cheap transport. We took him up on the offer and he took us to a hotel... THEN CHARGED US $30US for the bloody ride!! We played dumb and droped it down to $20AUD... But he quickly became one of the more annoying people we met on our trip.



Actually, over the period we spent in Bali we did compile a short list of people who really bugged us. Quick mentions are:

Milo - A tour guide we paid for... who provide no tour or guidance of any sort... or his name. Milo was my idea ^^

Fat and Sick Prostitute - Brendan was propersitioned by her... He hated her... I like her for that reason... What can I say? I found her small, sick sounding coughs and the fact that she got off her motorcycle just to come and feel up Brendan was quite endearing on her behalf :P



Angry Taxi Guy - He started off happy... but it just left him at one point. What an arse :S

Anyway, the trip was an eye operner and even though there were many strange and funny people we did meet some nice people. The beaches were pretty good, but we spent most of our time in hotel pools or just having random siestas in our room. It was really relaxing!

We saw some great temples, and I got a tonne of new photos from all over the place which I hope you can see soon. I'm not sure how fast this internet cafe is, so I've just tried to post my choice photos for you.



But as relaxing and different the country was, sadly nearly every one you met was after your money. People on the street, people in the restaraunts in the form or service taxes, even the dogs... Well I say that but maybe they were just after my meaty backside. WHO KNOWS?!

Fact remains, that up until the last moments in that country I was being played a fool for my cash, and immigration interrogated me for half an hour before telling me that I had overstayed my visa in the country and would consequently be fined for it. Oh Bali you bastard! So $50AUD forked over for some silly bitch filling out a form incorrectly and I was free! Until I got to the terminal realized "Wait... they didn't give my ticket back!" and had to go through customs to get it. They played the fool until I noticed it was being used a F***ing coffee mug placemat. Arseholes!!



Alot of people love Bali. I had a good time, it was relaxing for the most part and cool to just chill out with no where to go and nothing to rush out and do... But I was really glad to be on the plane and flying to KL. I won't be rushing back there any time soon... even for my favorite red socks :(

****EDIT****

So the guy next to me is downloading porn... My photos will take ages if he keeps it up so here are few to satisfy you for now ;)

29th of April to Now

So on the 29th, when that counter finished I had just arrived in Bali. I decided that with the money I saved from working in Japan I would continue traveling until my savings runs out and I have no choice but to drag my sorry arse back to Australia.

In the month that I was home I decided to travel to several countries, most of which are in south east Asia. The plan is this:

1. Bali
2. Malaysia
3. Singapore
4. Taiwan
5. Vietnam
6. Cambodia
7. Laos
8. Burma

It's a pretty long list and I have no idea if I will make it to all the places that I have planned... but I will enjoy myself where ever I go and make the best of my time there. Just like I have so far I guess.

For the past nine days I have stayed in Bali - Island of the Gods. Once you get past the harassment from the locals, the money hungry society and the hordes of rabid dogs that own the streets at night it's a nice place. When I get a chance I will post some of my choice photos and do a longer blog about my time there with Brendan.

Today I arrived in Malaysia, and I'm surprised. So far it's impressed me alot more then I expected it would. Matt and myself haven't traveled far from out $6 a night hostel but tomorrow when we have a bit more energy we will. As for tonight we're content to wander the night markets and clasp the passports in our pockets every time some one bumps into us or runs past us.

Well until next time I get the chance to post... Take it easy!