Day Twenty-Five - Just Get Us to HK Today wouldn’t be great, we knew that. Essentially it was another three-hour offroading, moped avoiding, potholing, buttock clenching drive; a long wait in the rundown remnants of an airport last graced with modernity in 1983; a flight taking off on one of the most dangerous runways in the world; and a short kip in a transit hotel before our much anticipated flight back to HK. You get days like this travelling, sometimes they are unavoidable but they still suck. We got out of the rooms early and relaxed over breakfast. Leanne even took time to paddle in the river before our 4x4 arrived and Shannon picked up a few trinkets. The journey back was predictably painful although the ATMs this time were much friendlier. With no discount for ... read more

Day Twenty-Three - Shanitood Surly but Sweet Sixteen I could have lain in bed all day but the lovely Tune shower melted away any last aches as Angela went next door to calm the Shanitood and of course wish her a happy birthday. I think Leanne kept her up for part of the night and Shannon’s grumpier alter ego has emerged (again). We checked out, took a cab to KLCC and settled in a DeliFrance in the bowels of Suria Mall for breakfast. After topping up on supplies we took the LRT to KL Sentral, checked in our bags and took the Expres to the airport - much nicer than the bus & half the time for twice the price, works for me. At KLIA we got some lunch we knew it would be a while ... read more

Day Twenty-One - Ain’t Life a Beach A lie in ended any thoughts of a trip so we went looking for some breakfast further up Pantai Tengah. We found a luxurious resort (Villa Molek) that served a great bit of food for less than the surly and slow Crocodile Shack managed yesterday. The staff were great and considering they have a no kids policy they welcomed us all in. I would think of staying there if we came back. Then it was on to the beach. We got some loungers lined up in the shade and as per, Leanne hit the water. There were no eagles at this end of the beach but we didn’t mind too much. Another few hours of the beach would do, as it was our final chance. Back at Zackry’s, Niamh ... read more

Day Nineteen - Phuket, We’re Out of Here After a great breakfast, the guesthouse owner took us the few minutes journey to the airport. With Angela’s nerves jangling at another flight, it wasn’t helped when she took the terrors on us all having drugs planted in our bags. Thankfully, we were clean and able to get on our Firefly flight to Penang. I was looking forward to getting to spend some time in Malaysia as it is a great place. I had mixed feelings on Thailand - I had enjoyed and got bored of Bangkok; I had found Phuket to be a mix of the good but mostly bad; and I had loved Ko Yao Yai, it was what we had sought. We landed mid afternoon and took a taxi (teksi) to Georgetown, the island’s capital ... read more

Day Seventeen - How The Feck Do You Get Sunburn In The Shade?? We leave tomorrow dammit. In saying that I think we are all ready to move on, this has been relaxing and lovely but there’s only so many day in a row you can lie on a beach. After yesterday managing to burn whilst lying in the shade all day, I snuggled up to a sunshade and lathered myself in factor 50. I burned further. I also think another guest may be a friend from home but as I had no glasses on I didn’t head over thinking I’d see her again later. I didn’t so who knows? It is a small world after all. We tried some snorkelling as well but after the storm, the water was too murky and we soon ... read more