Sat 11 Aug:
Waiting for flight in Birmingham Airport. How I loathe this place!!!
Sat 11 Aug:
Waiting in Dubai now. Wicked architecture. Had a good first leg. Emirates are good. Sat by cool guy and had a good laugh. I can't wait for KL!
Dubai:
As we approached, all I could see was a sea of tankers and a city of light. We disembarked into a 'space-age' airport. The design resembles an ovoid cylinder with a glazed bottom half.
Sun 12 Aug:
I didn't get lucky with my seating this time. I got to sit next to some boring old twat. The flight is far too long. Since Dhaka I've been on my tod. Slept through most of it. Got woken for lunch by a very fit hostess. Have you ever eaten on a bucking bronco?
Another good thing about Emirates . . . they have damn fine cabin crew. The one who sits opposite me . . . well, I definitely would!!!
Sun 12 Aug:
Landed at KL and met Nick's family. Came to the city. Ate out at HRC.
Mon 13 Aug:
Got up & had breakfast at McDonald's. Went to the station then Chinatown. Saw Batu caves . . . they're stunning. Came back to KL and the twin towers.
Mon 13 Aug:
Went from KLCC to KL Sentral. Waited in the modern station for our sleeper train. We got into a good room (1st class -- we travel in style). The room sort of gave the idea of the Orient Express (as in 'murder on the').
Tues 14 Aug:
It is really fucking early and the Stazi just came on the speaker about immigration. We nearly got into trouble about not having disembarkation cards.
Tues 14 Aug:
Got to Singapore early and found a hotel. Trekked to McDonald's & up Orchard Road to the MRT. Caught it to get to the HRC where I had a pint. Later, I went to Chinatown and saw a cool spiral mall. Walked back via harbour and subterranean mall.
Tues 14 Aug:
Went to Raffles City, where we looked around and had dinner before Raffles Hotel where we sipped Singapore Slings. Nick wouldn't let me thief the glass, however.
Wed 15 Aug:
Got up and went to Singapore Zoo. We had a really pissed up taxi driver who was telling us about whores in Bangkok, that we had 'Big Jungle' in England and general other inanities.
The zoo was amazing. Monkeys more or less roamed free and there were some brilliant animals (see photos and video).
Wed 15 Aug:
Back in Malaysia in a quaint little (sh)city called Johor Bahru. I'm led to believe you can get the best haircut in Malaysia here -- I hear people come from Singapore for it.
My day was spoilt by no one saying, 'fifee dolla; me luv u long time!' But a bloke asked if we wanted escorts. Thank God I am going to Kinabalu tomorrow.
Thurs 16 Aug:
Woke up to the local music: Mercedes first symphony, in beep-flat for the car horn.
Thurs 16 Aug:
Flew to Kota Kinabalu, where the taxis remind me of Hawaii-5-0. We are in a nice lodge. Will use this as a base.
Thurs 16 Aug:
Bought some sandals -- really flip-flops with back straps (heel) -- and had dinner in a Malay restaurant.