I have found paradise. This puts me in a slight quandary now, I enjoy writing my travel blogs and telling you guys about all the amazing things I get to see and do on this extended-for-life holiday of mine, but do I want to give away where paradise is and see it ruined? Ok, I'll try to tell you all about it while still keeping it secret. If you can work out where I'm talking about then your hard work will be rewarded, but it better not be teeming with drunk Brits and topless tanners when I come back next year! Paradise is officially on the east coast of Malaysia. It's a tiny island, just six kilometres from the mainland, and totally overshadowed by its hyped up neighbours. It only gets busy when hoards of cavorting ... read more

Another 20 hour combined trip of normal sitting bus to Hue and then an overnight sleeper bus got us to Hanoi, this time in relative comfort and safety (at least compared to the hell that was the journey from Nha Trang to Hoi An). Our first bus from Hoi An to Hue was only half full so I could get a window seat and watch the coastline unravel below me as we climbed twisting roads clinging to the cliffs and mountains on this stretch of the journey. It was extremely picturesque, just a shame we missed the very best of it by cutting through massive tunnels in the mountains. We stopped in Hue long enough for a Laughing Cow baguette, and again later for a bowl of Pho (delicious staple out here, it's only noodle soup, ... read more

The past few days have been rather harrowing. I have seen more evidence of torture: photographs, implements, paintings, descriptions, personal tales and victims bones than I ever thought was possible. It is impossible to comprehend the incredible evil of a small minority of human beings, even when faced with the full horror and facts of genocide and war in such graphic ways. South East Asia has suffered a traumatic and bloody past. I don't pretend for one moment to understand the complexities and horrors of the past few decades but the brief overview I have had from three very important museums/memorials is enough to make you weep and certainly puts life into perspective. In Phnom Penh - the capital of Cambodia - we visited the Tuol Sleng Museum and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields for ... read more

...and one hundred and one other scams to learn between Bangkok and Cambodia: 1. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. This is the number one scam I've learnt to look out for and avoid, very difficult for penny pinching backpackers to resist though. Only $2 you say? Wow that's so cheap I have to do it! Hmm, no actually I don't. 2. The temple/palace/hotel/whatever that you wish to go to is open and welcoming paying visitors, but your guide/tuk tuk driver/random stranger on the street won't be benefiting from a healthy commission so will do everything they can to convince you that it's a public holiday/only open to locals this morning/closed down/owned by bad people/too far etc etc in a bid to get you to go to their temple/travel agents/hotel/gem shop. ... read more

For someone who is not the biggest fan of huge settlements, giant skyscrapers, shopping malls and the bright lights, I seem to have spent a lot of time in exactly these sort of places during the first two weeks of this trip. It's not been all bad, cities are damn useful places to get fast internet, reliable pharmaceuticals and a decent cocktail. However I definitely had more fun stepping away from the bustling streets and kicking back on a tropical island for five days - this girl is definitely made for days lounging on the beach, evenings sunset and stargazing, and nights strolling to the bar for another cold beer! From Dubai we flew direct to Kuala Lumpur. No surprises that we needed another good lie in after an 8 hour flight, but eventually we dragged ... read more