Wrap up

Still another 2 weeks before we head back to UK. Must admit, now that I'm in HK, I am actually missing London...I realised this when I was in Bangkok a few days ago watching the film Closer, and there was a scene where Jude Law and Natalie Portman were riding on a London bus and in the background you can see the old houses and grey skys of London. Yeh, wierd, you must think, how can I miss that?! I didn't think it would be possible, but there's just a certain buzz about London that you just can't get away from!

Anyways, thought it was about time that I'd do a wrap up of my trip, just to remind myself of the fab time I had travelling round SE Asia and Oz.

Time spent away: 20th Sept - 17th Dec (pure backpacking and exploring); 17th Dec - 12th Feb (hols with family and friends)

Places visited:
Thailand - Bangkok, Koh Toa, Hat Yai, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabi, Similan Islands, Koh Lanta. (Hmmm... thought we went to more places than that!)
Australia - Cairns, Great Barrier reef, Sydney.
Malaysia - KL, Kota Kinabalu, Sarawak, Sandakan, Sabah, Langkawi, Penang.
Singapore
Hong Kong

Highlights:

• Trekking in Thailand - staying in a hill-tribe village and meeting lots of new travelling buddies
• Lazing on a beach bar in Koh Lanta
• Visiting secluded islands off Krabi - Poda and Chicken Island...true paradise
• Getting my PADI in Koh Tao
• Diving in the Similans
• Seeing sharks in the Great Barrier reef
• Eating fresh met-in-your-mouth salmon sashimi from Sydney fish market
• Dribing through North Queensland and stopping to swim in freshwater lakes and mini treks through lush rainforests
• Climbing Mount Kinabalu... a real killer, but truly rewarding
• Watching turtles lay eggs on Sepidan Island and setting baby turtles free into the ocean!
• Visiting the Orangutang sanctuary in Sarawak
• Eating all types of hawker stall foods - sharing a Dai Bo (Big Bun) with Kee, Dan, Fai, Kiks, Tony and Alan in Penang
• Chatuchuk market in Bangkok
• Massages at Healthland spa in Bangkok, and foot massages in Saladeng
• Eating 25p fried rice!
• Staying with families that have their own maids...makes me wanna move to SE Asia in the future!
  
• My bro's wedding at Hyatt, getting pissed in Jewel bar and meeting lots of ming sings there (partying with Edison, Cheung Pat Tse, Twins, Maggie Q and other young 15-min- fame HK ming sings)

Must say, that although i'm now in mighty debt (about 4500 quid...) from this trip, it has truly been the best 4 months of my life, and I'm totally grateful for my credit cards, overdraft and Kee!!