I'm back in Asia! It's been a while since I've blogged, but with 2015 well and truly underway, the blog is making a comeback (just like my rice and egg diet).
It's been a bloody great start to the year as on the 18th of January I flew to Malaysia to meet up with my Vietnam family. I reunited with Heather, Rach, Phoebe and Ross on a little island near the Thai border called Langkawi. It was a pretty drunk and relaxed week and was amazing to catch up after so long apart. Heather and Rachel came from China where they've been teaching, Ross and Phoebe from Vietnam - teaching with Major still, and then me from Australia (no longer teaching...just pot washing). International hunnies.
We rented a car, visited some great beaches and little islands and just had an all round great time. The island had similar beaches and scenery to the Thai islands, just less of the 'lads on tour' vibe which was great.
We went out a couple nights but it was sometimes a little struggle to find booze. Langkawi is a beautiful island with amazing views to see, but if you're looking to party party rather than chill I'd go elsewhere in South East Asia.
It was a sad time when Phoebe and Ross had to leave to go back to teach, but me and the girls stayed on the island for a couple more tanning days. We discovered a private beach which was the most incredible beach I'd ever seen. We had it pretty much to ourselves and the pictures just can't do it justice!
We also went up in the islands cable car, and after visited a local food market, which was delicious and so cheap. I love being back in Asia where eating out is literally pennies compared to Australia.
We had one final night out in Langkawi, where things escalated and we woke up to some homeless Jesus look a like on our floor, as Heather kindly invite him after he said he had no where to stay. Christ.
Heather, Rach and I then headed back to Kuala Lumpur for a very glam couple of days. We arrived in the city at night, and seeing the Petronas towers lit up in their glory was quite overwhelming. I've seen so many pictures of them, so it was pretty cool to see them for real.
Heather discovered a room on Air B and B which words cannot describe. We paid 10 dollars a night each to have our own self contained flat, and probably the best swimming pool I will ever step in in my life.
The owner of the apartment was also bloody lovely. Him and his Indonesian wife Lenny were so helpful, giving us a tour of the city and taking us out for a Malay meal. They were a very down to earth and chatty couple, with loads of stories to tell.
It was the first time I'd stayed in an Air B n B place and it definitely won't be the last. To have such welcoming and helpful people around when you're travelling is the best thing.
The girls then left to fly back to China. Luckily for them they have still a couple weeks off work, and have a planned trip around the country. I would have loved to go stay with them but the Chinese visa issues seemed pretty complicated.
So I'm now back to travelling alone, and have checked into a hostel where I'm writing this from. It's pretty scabby and I'm missing the infinity pool, but I'm just going to go with it. I have a full day of touristy things planned tomorrow, including visiting china town and heading to the Batu Caves.
My next stop will be Malacca on the west coast of Malaysia - a couple hours south of the capital. I'm really looking forward to it and have been told there's lots of history to the place. I just now need to get back into the mindset of travelling solo, talking to complete strangers and trying not to spend all my money on pedicures.
