Managed to evade the Muslim death squads and extermist bombers and entered through the South East border of Thailand to make it up to the tripical paradise of Crabbi and Ko Phi Phi :)). Weather is pants and the beeb says that there is a tropical storm on its way to Thailand (battering Nam and 'bodia at the mo) so it may be an interseting time for the full moon bash :))

Not long left in this part of the world so need to try and get some more in. Planning on staying here for 2-3 days then over to Ko Pangyan for full moon on the 7th, fly to Singapore on the 8/9th and see the girls before they head back to Ireland then over to Bali for a week.

Later folks,

C

hey Y'all,

In the perinthian island of Kecil and have been doing some full on Bond style diving. Swam into my first wreck yesterday which was awesome in a very creepy kind of way, did two dives yesterday and got two on today. Did one this morning which consisted of lots of swimming through coral tunnels and avoiding scary fish, cut my leg on the rock and spent the rest of the dive bicking myself about sharks!! Seen some sting rays (don't worry, wasnt about to do a Steve!!), squid, shrimp, sharks, turtles (not the ninja varity though) and loads of other things.

Heading up to Thailand tomorrow to get to Pipi for some more beach action and to see the island the beach was shot on then over o Ko Pangyang for some full moon craziness. Was going to try and get to Sappa in Borneo but the flights are crazy expensive and I really fancy getting mashed for a couple of days :)) Bumped into some boys that i met in Bangkok so going with them! Don't worry will try not get involved in any coup like activity :))

have to keep it short as spintnet charges are twice as much as the mainland!!

later folks,

C

Well just left the girls heading back to Singapore and i've just arrived in the rainy, rainy Cameron Highlands. This place is beautiful. Looks loads like back home and has lots of Colonial era houses to reinforce that image. Staying in a Nissan hut of all things. The TA boys or maybe the GA boys will know what i'm talking about. The guest house used to be a former barrcks so very apt for an army boy like me :) Going to do some treks tomorrow and then either stay another day (depending on the caric) or head East to the Perinthian Islands for some of the worlds best diving!! After that it's into the jungle to check out some 130 Million year old primary rainforest and then get the jungle train down to KL.

having some issues getting my pics onto the net after my site changed it's back end dbase but will try and get them uploaded over the next week or so. But rest assured peeps as the weather here is as bad as back home. Spent the last 2 days in Pangkor Island in the middle of one of the worst thunderstorms i've ever seen...so the tan is heading back to the white end of the spectrum :( But maybe the Perinthians will sort that out!!

More later,

C

Hey Y'All,

Currently in a wee island called Pangkor off the West coast of Malyasia. Spent the last couple of days in KL doing the tourist thing. Climbed the highest towers, went to the aquarium, got my PSP chipped :)) and lots of games! Going to spend a couple of days here then see where we end up. Not much to do on the tourist family front on this side so it may be not much!

Really tiring having your life revolve around a small blond 2 year old. But she certainly is the centre of attention over here. The people over here absolutly love her and are aleays trying to take her picture! Sorry boys white blond beats ginger hands down!

The weather seems to be settling down and might manage to get some scuba on the go if there is any about tomorrow. If not then it will be snorkling and some burning, sorry I mean tanning!

More later,

C

Arrived in KL about 4ish yesterday after a very pleasant 6 hour bus ride in a well minted bus. Feeling a tad jaded after being out on the lash with Helen and Lucy till4am then having to get up at 8 for the bus!! Met up with Scotty Mac for some beers and a chat. Will try and hook up wioth him later as well. Hotel is nice, well nicer than the usual places I have been staying but then with Kaitlyn u can't really stay in the usual hostels!

Went up the Petronus Towers and the KL Tower which are 2 of the world highest buildings. Ok but a bit on the dull side. Am going to try and either get up to the Cameron Highlands or over to the Perinthian Islands over next couple of days as there does not seem to be that much to do in KL. Decided that I need to check out Borneo and the crazy Orangotangs there

Oh and rendomly bumped into Garerth (Vicky Bottomley's brother) for the 3rd time in as many months so maybe grab a beerio with him tonight as well!

Before u all start mailing though I am aware of the Military Coup in Thailand and no it should not effect any travel plans. May head up to Phuket and over to Crabbi or Pipi with the girls but depends on flights!

TTFN,

C

Arrived in rainy Singapore and hooked up with Tracy. Staying at her mates minted place off Orchid Rd. Think i'm on babysitting duties tonight as the girls want to go out bevvying but that suits me as was out with Bobby Tsang till the wee hours this morning then had to get up at bastard o'clock to get the bus to the airport.

looking to hooking up with Helen E tomorrow and then maybe head up to Malyasia or possibly Thailand next week. Might be able to get Pipi and Crabbi in which would please me no end as really pissed that i missed them the first time round!

Anyway off for more Barney the Dinosaur singing and Dori the Explorer madness!

C

Well arrived safe and sound in HK and met a cool dutch guy on the bus who I am sharing a room with in the dodgiest, smallest, wierdest place I have even stayed. The police raid it on a constant basis looking for illegal immigrants!

HK is cool, but has been pissing with rain since I got here. It is also well expensive compared to China and other SE Asia countries :( But the rain has stopped now and think i'm going to head over to HK Island and climb the hill, ride the longest escalator in the world and take pic of really tall buildings!

Meeting Bobby Tsang tonight for some beers but will need to keep it reasonably quit as flight to S is at 10 tomorrow!

Off tomorrow to Singapore to RV with Tracy and Kaitlyn which will be a nice change to the usual backpacker lifestyle. Also just found out that Helen Evans is arriving on Sat which is really cool didn't get to see her b4 I left due to RBS being mean with travel!!

Oh and congrats to katy and Ozzy for their recent engagement :))

C

Just back from the Gobi and it rocked. Lots of adventures like the wheel falling off the van while doing 60, riding horses and camels and trekking up 300m sand dunes and trying to slide down on a polly bag (it was shite). Stayed with Mogolian families along the way in these funny round tents called Gers. It started fecking snowing on the 2nd day and we all had to stop and buy camel hair gloves, hats and socks...i'm not kidding. It went from 35 in Beijing to about 15 in UB, to -5 in the desert. Cool shots of snow in the desert and had a snowball fight as well!! Lots of reading, some cards, and lots of driving. We covered about 900KM in 7 days and that was with 1 full day of camel and dune climbing.

Going to have a long shower and a shave as I look like Duckering did when he did his Wild Man of Borneo impression. Bit of shopping and some pizza. Mutton and wierd Mongolian food for 7 days straight is enough for me!

Flight leaves tomorrow at 1 to Beijing then onto HK 2 hours later. One night in HK (need to find somewhere to stay as Tsangy has failed to come up with Bobby's details) then 10am flight to Singapore to meet Tracy and Kaitlyn. Going to be wierd seeing them both but saw loads of cute kids over last few weeks to get me back into the parenting vibe.

Hope everything is peachy with you guys and good to see that Scotland are actually doing well at footy for a change.

C

Well FINALLY managed to get my Gobi trip sorted and now have a flight on the 12th from UB to HK but did sting me $400 and another $200 for the trip. Been a bit of an expensive country so far. Should be good as it's an english, Ozzy, Canadian, German, Japanese and me the lone Scot!! Going to bring the kite and gets loads of pics.

Oh and yes I am now fully scalped!! Fianly got my hair cut after almost 2 months so opted for the almost skin head, sorry girls couldn't bring myself to lose all of the tuft!!

Be back in touch sometime over the next week or so.

The Desert Rat :))

Alright party People,

Just arrived in Ulaanbaatar, capital of the land of the Mongoloiods. Took 3 days to travel 1170 km's but did have to spend hours at some shitty border town :( last couple of days were pretty chilled in Beijing and finally got Mao's tomb in on Fri morning. Oh and met some cool Scottish girls and Colm and i hung out with them for a couple of days!!

Met some guys on the train and am staying in an ok hostel with them for tonight and maybe tomorrow. Need to sppend the rest of the day getting my trip sorted out as i've barely got enough time to get the Gobi in :(( and thats cutting HK to the bone!

Well i'll try and post before I head off into the great unknown of the deep desert and the phone is now working anywhere in this country so will answer all text's on arrival in China.

Until then,

C