Pulau Tioman

So the last few days I have been on Tioman in the South China sea. I thought it would be a bit like the Thai islands, like Ko Tao and Krabi - it's been on the backpacking map for longer than both. However, when I got here, bearing in mind it is low season as well, the place is a paradise. I worked it out and it's about 16 hours away from London, but it's amazing. As I said before the blog never comes across as fun when I am having a great time but I can't help that can i!

Yesterday I went diving which was ok. The vis wasn't great but lots of turts and rays, groupers, file fish etc etc and I spotted an ugly scorpion fish, a real big bugger. So diving was good but not exceptional, I am here on the off season though. Apart from the diving though, the weather was great and I sunbathed and watched the long tailed macques stroll along the beach - there being only myself and their gang around. At dusk the fruit bats fly out down and the beach, it's all well pretty perfect. Easy living people, easy living. The two concerns I have at the moment, are (1) my aircon. Tell me if this doesn't sound dangerous, it drips water continually and crackles - not the "snap, crackle, pop" type, the "I'm going to set your room on fire" type. So I've switched it off and therefore means I sweat at night more than I did in RUSSIA. Do you remember that? feck. AND (2) the mosquitoes are like horses, galloping from afar to suck the last traces of my blood.

Today I woke up to a cracker of a thunder storm, tried to take a photo on the beach but then thought I might get killed doing so, so ran inside. Decided I was not going to spend the day lazing so I headed off into the jungle to trek to the other side of the island. There is a reason they call it the "rain forest". I don't think I've ever been as wet. No leeches though. Beautiful too but think i wrecked my camera in the humidity - oops! Speaking off which if it does survive I got a USB cable but I am sat at a computer now with no USB slots, can you imagine? You'd think I was on a remote island or something equally as rubbish for telecommunications. So I will update with photos as soon as I can.

So it's a hard life really. Sorry. It's beer o'clock though, and therefore I can no longer chat. Off tomorrow or Saturday to Johor Bahru and then on to Borneo, which I am quite excited about. Yippee!

Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Mersing

So here we are again! Back to intermittent blogging and I have forgotten my cable to upload pictures, so at the moment it'll just be words (Simon has reassured me that I will be able to find one somewhere in Asia - what a kidder, eh?). Took only one photo with me and here it is.....

 For those of you who don't know, I decided to fly to Malaysia for some "easy" traveling after the epic adventures on the train. So I boarded a 12 hour direct flight to KL. Things didn't looked promising when the check-in lady checked me in as Richard Williams, I only noticed my boarding card as I was entering security. Went back to her and not an apology was uttered. I decided not to make a scene but you wouldn't get this sort of service on the train, or on BA for that matter. Someone (no names mentioned) likened this flight to a Ryanair farce, and he wasn't far off. Once on board, I quaffed 2 "one-a-day" Nytols and said bye bye to the cheap seats (although plenty of leg room), annoying Swedish children (although no screaming babies), and charges up your woo woo, and said hello to bad dreams, DVT and gut rot. Whilst I was sleeping said Swedish child grabbed my foot, who I then kicked hard thinking I was being attacked by a paranormally active being (have you seen that yet Alison?). But arrived safely you'll all be happy to hear. I have a phone but I don't have the number with me.

It's nice to be hot again. Although the rain storms in the afternoon are something else. KL was wicked, I stayed for nearly 2 days and it's a really excellent city. The first one since my travels began that I could actually see myself living in. Rocked up to the Petronas towers which were big and silvery. The place reminds me of a massive Canary Wharf with quirky little alleys and houses all around the place. Then moved on to Kampung Baru, Chow Kit, Merdaka Square (originally a cricket pitch - saw these cutesters curled up together), China Town, Little India and home. Ate some delicious food (with my hands I hasten to add, which I am now regretting as I have the squits already. On my first day, I can't believe it). I even used that squirty, anti bacterial stuff, which blatantly has not worked! So basically in the words of Gordon Ramsey "KL, done" (not really guys).

Next day I made a washy plan, and set off to Melaka 2 hours south of KL. Turned out to be quite a good idea, as it was an interesting, and colourful place with an extensive history. Look it up. My day did involve a very uneventful river trip however, although I did see some monitor lizards sitting in the trees. Then today I set off to Mersing a port town on the East of the peninsula with the idea of going straight to Tioman Island for some diving. Turns out I am stuck here for the night as the tides are screwed up, and no ferries are running. So hopefully heading off tomorrow to get some diving in before the Monsoon. You can feel it coming you know, there is something in the air! Wish me luck anyway that the diving is good, and the sun comes out!