Time flies. Feels like a week ago since we left Bangkok, but it has actually been a month!
Nevertheless, we were back in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand and home to almost 10 million people.
 |
| Bangkok's shopping district |
We
were here for a few days so everybody had time to see the sights they missed last
time we were here and do some last minute shopping. Most of the group went out
together one night to see a Lady-boy show. This was also Tina’s last night
before she flew to Sydney and later home to Norfolk Island. (If you know were
that is?) The show was very good but at the same time, disturbing. Some of the
boys was better looking than any girls we met here!
 |
| At the Lady-boy show - Dave, Alicia, Luke & Louise |
 |
| Yep, she's a man! |
We
said goodbye to Tina the next morning:O( and later, the rest of us got on a night
bus down south to the beautiful islands of Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao.
“Beach
week” The week some people had been planning since China was suddenly here. You
could call it a week’s “holiday” from the trip. Were everyone had the
opportunity to explore the islands independently and not constantly being on
the move. It was time to relax!
 |
| On the ferry, Dave & Alicia |
 |
| Bruce having a snooze |
 |
| Steve |
 |
| Almost there! |
 |
| Sunrise Beach, Ko Pha Ngan |
 |
| If you are prone to seasickness, a houseboat on land might be the answer |
 |
| Samui market - Thai food requires lots of chillies |
 |
| Board walk on Ko Pha Ngan |
 |
| Jason |
 |
| Ko Tao |
 |
| Jordan |
 |
| Jason, Jordan, Dave & Alicia diving on Ko Tao |
 |
| Jason |
 |
| Black moon party on Ko Pha Ngan |
%2BBuckets.JPG) |
| The famous (and hard-hitting) buckets) |
We
were actually on the Islands during the “rainy” season, but the weather was
beautiful and not a drop of rain in sight. Another bonus of not traveling in
the tourist season is lower prices and you get most of the islands to yourself!
We
had a very early morning reunion at Don Sak pier back on the mainland. Beach
week was over and it was once again time to get on the road. 2 minivans picked
us up and after a few hours’ drive it was time to say goodbye to Thailand and
hello to Malaysia.
Our
first stop in Malaysia was the historic, George Town. (Named after Britain’s
King George III)
Captain
Francis Light, a trader for the British East India Company, founded it in 1786. Since
then, traders from all over the world has been here and brought their cuisine
and traditions with them. In 2008 Georgetown's historic Centre was declared a
Unesco World Heritage site for having “a unique architectural and cultural townscape
without parallel anywhere in Southeast Asia”
 |
| Street art |
 |
| Georgetown is also known as Malaysia's food capital |
 |
| Mel showing that not all food in Georgetown is world class... |
 |
| Daniel taking a nap on the way to the islands |
 |
| Lunch stop enroute to the Perhentian Islands |
 |
| Louise, Alicia, Dave, Mark, Mel & Keith |
 |
| Wayne trying some of the local food |
 |
| Keith on the speed boat to the islands |
 |
| Proper speed boat! |
 |
| Alicia, Mel, Louise, Dave & Luke |
We
thought we had seen the most beautiful islands possible when we were in
Thailand, But the Perhentian Islands beats everything we’ve seen so far. With
its crystal clear, ice blue waters, sand so white it looks like snow, jungles
and reefs teaming with wildlife and with no light pollution, the stars seem to
shine brighter here than anywhere else. On a tropical island like this, the
“real world” becomes something like a bad dream..
 |
| Crystal clear waters |
 |
| Our garden |
 |
| Monkeys on the roof |
 |
| Keith, Wayne, Bruce & Steve having breakfast at a local restaurant |
 |
| Steve |
 |
| Local micro-chicken |
But,
after 3 wonderful days on Palau Perhentian Besar, It was time to wake up and
get back in the boats. We were on our way to Kuala Lumpur.
In 1857, 87 Chinese prospectors landed here on
the Klang riverbank in search for tin, now 1.4 million people live here. KL
can be a bit confusing as it lacks an overall plan and has few obvious sights
apart from the iconic Petronas Towers. KL’s charm lies in the people who lives
here and in its mix of new and old. Historic temples rub shoulders with glitzy
hyper malls. You can have your dinner from a street stall in little India or
dine at the revolving restaurant atop KL Tower. You can zip around the city on
the superfast monorail or on the back of a Chinese motorcycle taxi. It’s all
here.
It was also here that
we had to say goodbye to our 2 Canadians Cal and Lorri. We wish them safe
travels.
 |
| Lunch at Muzdalfa Fried Chicken |
 |
| Daniel & Jordan |
 |
| Petronas twin towers |
 |
| Time to say goodbye to Cal & Lorri |
 |
| Mega mall in KL |
 |
| Lantern competition in KL |
 |
| Steve looks a bit lost |
 |
| Mark & Mel |
 |
| Petronas Towers |
 |
| Museum of Islamic Art |
 |
| Jordan |
Noooooooooo!! It can’t
be over.. We just started!
After a lovely
breakfast, we left KL and Malaysia behind.
It was always so far away but suddenly it
sneaked up behind us… Singapore.
And is there any
better way to end a epic trip like this with a Singapore Sling at the iconic
Raffles Hotel Longbar?
 |
| Singapore Gardens |
 |
| Sultan Mosque |
 |
| Hajih Mosque |
 |
| Singapore street art |
 |
| The spectacular Marina Bay Sands Hotel |
 |
| Final trip slideshow |
 |
| The famous Raffles Hotel |
 |
| Time for a drink, Raffles Longbar |
 |
| Karmajuice! |
 |
| Jason & Jordan |
 |
| This is where the Singapore Sling was invented |
 |
| Mel, Teresa & Alicia |
This trip has been
amazing!
A lot has happened
since we first met up in Istanbul, almost 6 months ago.
Together we have:
-driven more than 20.000 km on roads good and
bad
-Crossed 16 borders
-Cooked up many truck
dinners: ranging from memorable porridge to fantastic whole spit roasted sheep
-Flapped many hundreds
of dishes
-Eaten our way through enough snacks to feed Africa for a year.
-Raised our tents
regardless of altitude, sunshine, rain and mud.
-Shopped until we couldn’t
carry anymore.
-Dug the truck out of
mud and sand.
-Used toilets ranging
from -3 to +5 stars
-Walked, swam, ran,
danced and climbed
-Laughed and cried
Every one of you have
all brought something special to this trip and it wouldn’t have been the same
without you. Thank you all for coming.
The elements tried to
put a halt to our journey by sending scorching hot sunshine in China, mudslides
in Nepal and rain in India. But together we endured and enjoyed it all. Well done guys.
You can now call
yourself true Overlanders!
Good luck and safe onward travels to all of you.
Over and Out..
