Ian Synclere

Not like any other capital i've ever seen. No highrise buildings, no mcdoogles or bugger king in sight (although I did see a kfc), PP is the real deal. A swirling chaotic mass of human weirdness. The bikes swerve and jostle like crazed giant ants, the people are friendly, warm, some badly deformed, always laughing, shouting, selling, hassling. Its mad, mad, mad. But what can you do in PP (apart from watch the amazing lilfe unfold around you)? Well of course there is the jovial highlight known a Toul Sleng (formely Security Prison 21 under the Khmer Rouge) - the Genocide Museum. Well is was an experience, not one you could ever say you enjoyed, but worthwile nevertheless. It was a school, then a toture chamber, with tiny brick sells and a history of unimaginable cruelty. ... read more

Welcome to Bangkok.....intense, vibrant, smelly, noisy, everything is here! Well I got the sleeper train from Surat Thani for the 12 hours journey to Bangkok....what a plesant journey, lounging in my own little bunk with a curtain for privacy, managed to sleep well and be refeshed for the Bangkok madness! Once in the capital I got an 'ordinary bus' to the area known as Banglampuh, basically this is where all the budget hotels are and it has become a backpack mecca. It also contains the famous Khoa San Rd (pronounced cow san) that you might have seen in the movie the beach....by day the Khoa San is intense by night it is a head rush! I strolled down it last night, one moment there was a midget begger on crutches, then there were gogo girls, next ... read more

Melacca is an old ex colonial town on the west coast of Malaysia that overlooks the famous Melacca straights, a really important trade route since the 1400s. So as you might expect it has been controlled by various European powers - firstly the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and finally us lot! All this considered the town is something of a melting pot architecturally and cuturally. Anyway history lesson over! I am staying at a place called Shirah's Guesthouse owned by an Indian guys who calls himself Steve! We were greeted (Pontus and myself) with a beers and a joint and a little tour of the tv room and rooftop. Sweet. So the tourist bit then. Went out on the night river cruise, which was beautiful, with lots of the river side lit up. The trishaws (3 ... read more

Went out on the motorbike yesterday and saw some awesome views on the plantations (see photos). Loved burning around the highlands on the little Honda Dream - might have to get one when back home. Managed to do a big unintentional wheelie whilst going up a steep hill and breaking the mud guard on the bike. Despite all the rumours of getting ripped off for damage to a bike the shop said no probs, dont worry about it! Bit of waterfall trekking today, let down by garbage! Had some lush indian food eaten straight off a banana leaf. Best thing has been the great people in the guesthouse and the general brilliantness of the place I'm staying at. Off to the rainforrest with Pontus tomorrow though - Taman Negarra - Mosquitoes, spiders, snakes, and big creepy ... read more