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Published: April 15th 2012
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TRAVELBLOG'S 10th BIRTHDAY: PARTY IN KL...7-9 APRIL 2012.
As I had not received any response to my Oceania Recruitment Drive...I woke up on 1 March 2012 and said in OZ venacular to Denise...
"Bugger it...lets go to KL for Easter." "Great idea...I was thinking last night we could go to Vietnam over Easter to meet Cockle." "Mmmm...He'll probably go to KL...let's surprise him there!" Seemed a cool idea to further my quest for enlightenment at the "Holy Shrine" known as TB HQ...on its Holy Day..!
Denise...straight onto the internet to book flights from Sydney for Good Friday...yikes only two seats left...gotta hurry...book it...what about a hotel it asked...like the one with the peaked roof...book it...confirm RSVP...done...phew just made it..!
As a result we RSVPed for the KL TB's 10th B'day bash on Sunday 8 April 2012.
Skype with Oceania for 8 April will need to be with someone else...as we were previously the nominated Skype with Sydney for that day.
We looking forward to seeing fellow TB'ers in KL...great excuse for a party...pretty excited actually..!
Mid afternoon...Denise decides to check out the hotel we had booked in such a rush that
morning.
"David...you won't believe this...we are staying at the previous residence of the Governor of Malaya..!!! Following
Jo Trouble's thread on the event...numbers building...but...
deleted_46288 is piking...offer him room on the couch...
The Travel Camel can't fly on doctor's orders...wonder who we'll meet.
Onto the Malaysian airlines flight...man behind me introduces himself:
"Good to see another Aussie...we'll have to have a beer together...we can be friends...you can come to my place...and I can go to your place...what's your address?"...me surprised by his enthusiasm.
Arrive 4.20am...yippee...we are in KL...this should be quite an adventure.
You can't always have good times...but the insanely good times we had from that moment...could have put us into orbit..!
Yes...the rest of this blog is abundance of positive.
Two men holding signs as we exit...one with our names...into a black Merc...then to Carcosa Seri Negara...our hotel...our room unbelievable...far out...we are in for a cracking time.
Couple of hours sleep...ring
Ali we have arrived...we'll meet for dinner before the party tomorrow...
Jo Trouble rings...invite her here for lunch...looking forward to meeting her.
As a dedicated trekker...Jo walked from her digs near Ali's...underestimating the distance...her map not to scale...had to laugh when she arrived...sweaty but
excited...hugs all round...lunch is on us.
So began 3 days of an amazing travelblogging experience...loved every minute of it...swapping laughs, stories, good times with the Travelblog community...seeing first hand why it is more like a family...strangers in reality...real friends in mind and soul.
Meet Ali at his appartment...feels like we have known him for years...laid back genius...surprisingly humble...the inventor & owner of Travelblog...and the gorgeous Michelle...you're
auspicious...the one in the goggles...and their expat friend Rosetta...can't find the African music CDs I brought as a birthday present for Ali...your kidding...we can't have left them in the taxi...talk for hours...off to dinner nearby...the 6 of us like old friends...depart after midnight...looking forward to tomorrow...the party proper.
Easter Sunday...nah...it's mighty hot in KL but don't need my Quadblock sunburn cream...Tuareg jewellery...camera...taxi waiting...let's go.
As I have read Maisondubonheur's blog on the event
Thanks Ali for 10 great years of Travelblog!...and the comments of my complexion...I say in my defence...I am allergic to most suncreams...sensitive skin...inherited from my father...and my tennis days...plonk hopefully not a factor.
That said...the party was around two swimming pools...hot as a KL arvo...deck umbrellas set up...massive smiles and hugs when the participants met...well stocked with food & drink...let's party.
There
were 14 of us...10 adults and 4 kids...couldn't have been a nicer group...a pleasure to be part of...being the following:
Ali...Blogger No. 1...Scottish...lives in KL.
Ali's blog...
TravelBlog, a story 10 years in the making......the reason we can be here at all.
auspicious...Michelle...USA...lives in KL.
Affandy...Ross Affandy...Malaysian...lives in KL.
Rosetta...USA...lives in KL.
Jo Trouble...Jo...New Zealander...travelled from Auckland.
Maisondubonheur...Peter...Belgian...with his kids...Leslie & Tiffany...travelled from Bangkok.
MichaelnFaye...Michael & Faye...English...with their kids...Nate & Gabe...400 days on the road...travelled from secluded beaches in Western Australia.
Dancing Dave...David...Australian...travelled from Sydney.
Laila the Tuareg...Denise...Australian...my dance partner...from Sydney.
And a special guest...introduced discretely at first...then as everyone's model for photos...kissed by some...but Ali refused absolutely
"No way am I kissing him"...a photo of
The Travel Camel...Shane...there in spirit and later by Skype from Brisbane...reckon we made Shane's day..!
We wanted to Skype to Dave & Merry Jo
D MJ Binkley in San Francisco for the North American party with bvchef...but didn't think 1 a.m. or 4 a.m. their time was fair...sorry guys.
So instead we chatted, some swam, ate & drank, had fun with the kids, played tricks on Ali (photos of us bowing)...shared photo techniques...Ali & Peter...masters of underwater, Michael...master of effects, David...a penchant for portraits...and had
ALI & LESLIE
Teaching the next generation of Travelbloggers heaps of laughs...everyone totally comfortable with the others.
Michael & Faye...time for kids' bedtime...thanks for coming...better for your presence.
Then for a superb street restaurant...another late night...hard to say goodbye...new friends...part of the family that is Travelblog...the World's friendliest travel site.
Met Jo at the Birdpark on the Monday...below our hotel which is on the top of the jungle hill...went by taxi to save a 10-20 minute walk down...as it was really hot...asked the taxi driver as we headed through Times Square, past the old jail, the Houses of Parliament, Petronas Towers etc
"Are you taking us on a Tour of Kuala Lumpur?"...not surprised when he said
"Yes"..."No need to wait for us...we'll be here all day..!" Den & I visit Jo's appartment (would have shared it with Shane if not for his malaise)...then with Jo to Ali's...like old mates dropping in for a chat and a cup of tea.
Michelle said the best views of Petronas Towers were from the Sky Bar at the Traders Hotel...great advice...33rd floor...tables around a swimming pool...allowed window seats to 8 p.m. ...tapas & cocktails...and to end a fantastic 3 days...dancing...just the 3 of us...boogieing out to
"Let's Get Funky"...Jo heading to beaches up North...we early flight back to Sydney.
Thank you Ali & Michelle...thank you Jo, Peter, Michael & Faye, Affandy, Rosetta...for being you...and the kids...Leslie, Tiffany, Nate & Gabe...thank you from David & Denise...great memories...with like-minded persons...travel fanatics...friends through the ether...even better in person...we had a blast..!
Thank you Travelblog...Happy 10th Birthday...looking forward to the 20th.
Relax & Enjoy,
Dancing Dave
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deleted_46288
deleted_46288
Love it :D
All hail Sir Watters :)