Singapore

As with Thailand, Cambodia and India, we left Borneo promising ourselves a return trip some day. There is so much to see in this unspoiled land by way of virgin jungle, Mount Kinabalu, fantastic coastline and dozens of tiny islands to explore.

But now it was back to KL and then another transport adventure. This time we took the local express train (only 7.5 hours to travel 200 miles) to Singapore! It gave us a chance to see a lot of Malaysian countryside. Lots of Oil Palm plantations, but lots of little villages and farming communities.

And on arrival in Singapore we found ourselves in the best possible hotel location in the best possible bedroom. Our recommendation is to stay at the Swissotel, Merchant Court on Clarke Quay right on the Singapore River - and ask for Room 290! When we got up in the morning and looked out the window, we thought we had arrived in Disneyland, with the candyfloss coloured buildings, the floating restaurant and pedestrian only bridges.

It was only for three nights, but we crammed in a lot of activity. Singapore itself only measures 24km by 42km... so easy to get about and we went almost everyone by taxi or on foot.










First of all a tourist boat along the Singapore River, with accompanying commentary,
explaining about the history and buildings ... certainly a good introduction to the place.

More shopping down the famous Orchard Road, but not much - and then the mandatory Singapore Sling in the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel.














Next day we took ourselves off to Singapore Zoo, world renowned for its free range natural habitat for the animals. And yes, we saw Tigers, white ones! We couldn't leave Asia without having seen a tiger after all. Doug was doing his Dr Doolittle bit again, this time making friends with a Boa Constrictor.



























Then on the way back to town we stopped off at an Orchid Nursery... over 200 different shapes, sizes and colours.... stunning.















There were loads of good eating places along the river so we stayed fairly close to home at night, but on the final night had a particularly good Indian meal on Boat Quay with the river and all the buildings as a backdrop, and then headed off to a couple of jazz clubs. Doug again enjoying himself lost in the music.

And so our adventure in Asia came to a close and we headed off to the airport for Australia.... watch this space!

Orang Utans

As with the excursion to Angkor from Bangkok, it seemed daft whilst in KL to turn down the opportunity to visit Malaysian Borneo (Sabah) to see Orang Utans. We knew from the web that there is a rehabilitation centre at Sepilok in Northern Borneo where captured (for pets) and orphaned Orang Utans are prepared for a normal life back in the wild. So off to Sepilok we went.

Our hotel was the Sepilok Jungle Resort - very basic but clean and good food (executive suite - 14 quid a night)!!





Our "suite" at Sepilok and the board walk which took us to reception, restaurant etc. All very pretty but hot and wet (see Doug below).









The Rehabilitation Centre at Sepilok is a few minutes walk from the Jungle Resort Hotel where we stayed. The Orang Utans are prepared for the return to wild-ness over several years. This is achieved by offering food stations deeper and deeper in the rain forest, offering less and less food until our furry friends are completely self sufficient. We were able to visit at the nearest food station - still a trek into the rain forest via elevated boardwalk. Quite an interesting walk in its own right.

As you can see, we were able to get quite close to them.










But by far the closest encounter we had with them was in the afternoon. We were early and pretty much on our own, walking on the boardwalk through the rainforest when a small furry creature appeared through the fence and attached herself to me!! Amazing!! Talking to the rangers afterwards, this is apparently an extremely rare event. It was a little difficult since the centre stresses the need for the Orang Utans to be "weaned off" humans, but this one had a very tight grip on my hand and didn't want to let go until she saw a ranger approaching at which point she legged it in the opposite direction. Fortunately Diane managed to reel off a few photos of the event. I feel very privileged to have met Anna Lisa (we later found out that this is her name and that she is six years old).

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

All that lazing around for five days set us up nicely for a few more adventures, so by air from Krabi, back to Bangkok and then down to Kuala Lumpur. The highlight has to be the Petronas Towers - they really are magnificent.

We thought we would also try some retail therapy too, having been advised that KL is cheaper than Singapore... and it is! But we really liked KL. Very impressed by the cleanliness, the helpfulness and the shopping malls! Girls.... we must arrange a whole week's trip to do the girly bits, since we finished up spending most of our pennies on electronic/technology stuff... essential, but a tiny bit boring. Better to be looking at clothes, bags and shoes and jewellery... not just designer, even M&S!

Petronas Towers - by day and night







We queued up for tickets to do the sky bridge walk. We were there at 8.30 am, reached the front of the queue at 9.30 and spent that hour chatting to a lovely young couple from France, Cathy & Nicholas. Our time slot was 11.45 and by that time all the tickets were gone for the day!The sky bridge is two stories deep and links the twin towers in case of emergencies and provides access at the 41/42 floor. The towers are 88 stories high. Fantastic views and for those of us that are vertically challenged surpisingly manageable.








All that shopping called for a drink and we found a great road with every variety of pub/restaurant from every nation! Finished up spending much of our drinking time in the Rum Jungle, but our own hotel - the Crowne Plaza had good restaurants, bars and live jazz at night, so Doug was happy!


We thought the signage for the "rest rooms" at the Rum Jungle was novel.

Rayavadee (Krabi, Thailand)

After Bangkok and Angkor we were needing a few days R and R, hence Rayavadee. We have always promised ourselves a visit here and have considered it often for a winter break (usually reverting to our old favorite Nyali Beach in Kenya ( although you do meet some funny people there - not you Gemma and Richard))! Ryavadee can only be reached by boat. The accommodation, service and cuisine is superb and the gardens would make Kew proud. We do like to spoil ourselves from time to time.... and this was certainly very special!





Our accommodation was in a pavillion - two storey "rondavel" style with lounge downstairs and loo, plus the gorgeous bedroom and bathroom upstairs.




















And you know you usually get a couple of bottles of bathroom goodies... well here you get the works! Shampoo, conditioners, shower gel, bath foam, after sun creme, moisturising conditioner, pumice stone of your own, shaving equipment, etc., etc, and all special aromatherapy stuff.... together with a trio of candles beside the circular bath for a nice relaxing end to the day!

We thought we knew most tropical fruits... but had never come across this one... the shocking pink thing in the fruit basket is a Dragon Fruit, and when sliced for breakfast it looks like the above pink with white flesh and black flecks. Very pretty.

Some of the flora and a few pics of the beaches.

Note Diane in "her" infinity swimming pool.

The hotel was about one third full and thus most of the time we had the pool to ourselves!!








N
























Needless to say we ate well - four restaurants one of which is in a cave!!
















Most visitors to this part of Krabi arrive by "long tail" boat - this is a shot in the evening as the last few drift home.

Angkor Wat

Some of you will know that the reason Diane wanted to come to Angkor Wat was that when she was working for the Managing Director of Guinness, Robert MacNeale, in 1969 he came back from a trip to the Far East raving about this fantastic place deep in the Cambodian jungle and said he was concerned it might get destroyed in the years ahead because of the troubles brewing in that part of the world. He was absolutely bowled over by the place and showed fantastic photos.... it is now a World Heritage site and we are privileged that it is still there and we have seen it too! Not a lot more to say really, just take a look at the photos.... amazing!

Our first view...

Some of the bas relief work on the outside of the temple

Doug at the bottom of one of the conical towers... he thought about going up, but changed his mind when he thought about the journey down... very, very steep!

A close up of some of the magnificent carving... and how it looks in situ

A last look after a long and tiring day at the Angkor Site.