Molly

Tim's dog Molly.

Australian phone number

+61 420573800

Loving Melbourne.

Tim and Richard have staunchly managed to avoid picking up a single Australian turn of phrase or accent, but Ben always answers his phone 'G'day mate'. Talking of Ben, I met an 8 week old Oliver yesterday who is very, very, lovely. Tonight we are going to Christmas-in-July dinner at Ben and Lainy's. Tim's dog Molly is already wearing one of her many Christmas outfits.

I have only been to cool places so far in Melbourne. Last night we went to 100,000 seat stadium (which was full) to watch an Aussie rules game. We've also had a trendy brekkie, been to a rooftop bar, and the Gallery at Fed Square to see the Brack exhibition.

Today I went to cool little artist's market on Rose Street which was full of people selling things they had made, and then over to Queen Vic market for lunch from the deli section. I also went to the Victoria State Library and learnt a little bit of Melbourne history. It was founded in 1835 by an entrepreneur from Tazmania in order to graze livestock, as the small island was getting a bit full.

Moving on to Melbourne

Spent a wet but wicked week with Tim and Kylee in Perth. We had a barbecue, we drove in a ute, we went to a TAB, we saw Kings Park, we drank Coopers Sparkling, we did it all really! Thanks to those two who were the best hosts and really showed us a good Aussie time.

Also caught up with Sadie, Mac and the two not-so-little-anymore kids, up in the hills behind the city, which was really good. Sadie fed us well too obviously recognising that we would be living on 2-minute noodles for much of the rest of our travels!

We're in Melbourne now staying with Tim and Richard who have very kindly put us up in their immaculate 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, suburban house. Saw Tim and his band play a gig last night in the nicest gay bar I have ever been in - it had a complimentary cheese board.

Tom and I walked the city today taking in the sites of Melbourne; old Victorian houses with ornate verandas; trams; cafes; and trendy shops. Also saw a glimpse of it's dark-side too in the form of junkies and street urchins.

I'm having a quiet night in tonight with pizza and TV while Tom catches up with Ben at another of Tim's gigs. Tomorrow we go to Queen Victoria Market, and also take in some galleries before heading to the pub and a footy game at the MCG. Go Carlton!

Western Australia. Perth and Margaret River

Just got back from 2 days in Margaret River wine country. There are literally hundreds of vineyards here and we manged to visit a good handful of them - free wine rocks. We tried some amazing vintages, the most expensive was $105. We purchased a few as well - but not for that much money.

Unfortunately the weather hasn't held and we've even had hail! Luckily, I've discovered that you don't need sun when you have free wine.

I've uploaded our photos to facebook, so go and have a look if you're interested.

Perth

It's midwinter in Perth and it's sunny and 21 degrees. That is the kind of winter I like! It's lucky really as I only have clothes for hot weather. Gonna have to go shopping before Melbourne I think.

We arrived yesterday and Tim picked us up from the airport. Kylee predictable cooked us a beautiful meal of Australian lamb and roast veggies - very different from the Malay curries of the last couple of weeks and very welcome.

Tom has money from four different countries in his wallet - Malay, Thai, UK, and Australian.

Night train, Beaches, Jungle, River

So it's been a while. I was on holiday and forgot about you completely back there in the mother country, although we've been over in the former colony of Malaysia.

We went up to the viewing platform of the KL Menara to see the city from a 276m perspective. We went just before dusk so we saw it by day and then stayed to watch the capital light up.

Luckily, on our last day, we had both a whole lot of time to kill and a whole lot of stuff to see in KL before our train, so we headed up to Lake Titiwangsa to the north of the city (which smelt bad and was full of dead fish), and to the National Art Gallery. On the way back we visited Chow Kit Market which was really cool. Tom bought some clothes of natural fibres to wear in his battle against the humidity, We ate some really good samosas from a hawker and then ventured into the centre to the food market where literally every vendor was shouting his wares and there were rivers of blood and guts from the butchers and fishmongers stalls. The smell was bad - It made me long for Lake Titiwangsa. We managed eventually to find a Chinese medicine store selling spirit alcohol in the form of some disgusting whiskey which we purchased. Then we spent some time in the biggest mall in South East Asia, Time Square, did a bit of shopping, a bit of eating and just some general hanging out.

We caught a v luxurious night train up to the north from KL. It was like being in James Bond. We got a first class cabin and some cold coca cola and got drunk on the revolting whiskey. It was brilliant.

We arrived refreshed and well slept in Wakaf Bharu at a civilised 10 in the morning where we got a taxi to the port where we could cross to the Perenthian Islands. Sitting waiting for the boat was possibly the hottest I have ever been bar none - and not in a good way.

We stayed on a remote beach on the edge of the Jungle on Kelis Island. Tom kept himself busy battling both the humidity and mosquitoes, I lay about and read books. We were there for four days before we began a rather long, but surprisingly easy journey, south on the Jungle train. It left at 4am and by the time the sun was up we were going through the mountains and jungle. Well worth the early morning. We stopped about halfway down the country and caught a boat up the river to Tamen Negara National Park. It is the oldest Jungle on Earth at 130 million years old. It has escaped all natural disasters for this long and it was incredible. Tom by this time had given up all hope of being dry ever again.

This morning I did the most terrifying thing I have ever done. I traversed the canopy walkway which is the world’s longest such walk at over 500m. The swinging rope and board bridges are over 25 meters above the ground through the canopy layer of the rainforest. I have never been so scared in my life. Needless to say Tom stayed firmly on the ground with his fear of heights to keep him company.

A 2hr boat ride back down the river through the jungle brings us to a tiny rubbishy town called Jerantut where we catch another train out of here and onward to Singapore....

KL

KL is a huge melting pot of cultures. It's a Muslim country but there are huge Indian and Chinese populations here and as a result there can be a Hindu temple on one side of the street and a mosque opposite it. It's very modern though with vast shopping malls and really good transport. Why doesn't London have a monorail?

Beer is more expensive even than the Vic in KL at 1.40 for a little can in the shop. Everything else is pretty cheap though. Had amazing curry and rice with roti from a market in Little India earlier for about 40p.

It is hot, hot, hot here. It's 30 and it's 11pm. Just about to catch the second half of the football and really glad Megan is having to work for it instead of me!

We've been gone for less than a week but it feels like about 3 weeks. It's been quite a whirlwind of boiling and frothing cities so far and hanging out for the beach.

J x

BKK

Feels a bit like purgatory waiting in the airport. So tired from lack of sleep and can't wait for the beaches of the paradise islands. Brief stop in KL first though.

Bangkok

So we arrived safe and sound in Bangkok a couple of days ago and have managed to fit in a few cool things before we head off to KL tomorrow.

We're staying on Khoasan Road in a cheap hotel with the loudest air conditioning in the world - however it's A/C so I'm not complaining. I like it here for the people watching but Tom is less than convinced that Bangkok is a good place to be!

Yesterday we went to Jim Thomson's mansion and then the night market in the evening, before some late night cocktails in a roof bar overlooking the Khoasan Road market.

Today we're going to see a temple with a 3m phallus shrine (Tom doesn't know that part yet) so I'll try and post a photo later, ladies ;)

Love ya x

Day 1

Bangkok here we come!