We left Koh Samui and began our long journey to Malaysia which involved a bus-boat-overnight train-bus-boat-bus and voila a mere(!) 23.5 hours later we arrived at our hotel in Penang or Georgetown. That journey knocked the socks off me I have to say.

Our first port of call was to go to a Chocolate Boutique which I think I mixed up in my head as a Chocolate Factory and I was all ready to Willy Wonka it up!!!! Well there was no choco river but it was a lot of fun trying all the different kinds of chocolate. I liked the sesame white chocolate and the chilli chocolate was usual but strangely enough a really good combination 🙂 A couple of hours testing later and we were full to the gills.

Spent a couple of hours at the night market working it off. Okay so I made myself a promise before I left not to buy any “tat” and up until then I succeeded……… This night market broke me down though in more ways than one. First off I bought some jewellery including a toe ring – which now means I’m an official backpacker I guess…. Then to add insult to injury, I bought a full length hippie (ish) skirt so that was the final nail in the coffin. Dear god I’m a crusty backpacker!!!!! Not sure if I’m very comfortable with that title but I guess that’s what I am. Hmmmmmm.

The following day found us wandering around Little India which was kinda fun. Browsed in a few of the shops – never knew how many types of bangles there were!! This shop is completely devoted to them!! We continued the evening with a nice Indian meal which we ate from banana leaves. Didn’t eat with my hands though, not because I didn’t want to, just because I reckon they are waaaay too dirty!!

The next day we left to go to the Cameron Highlands on a really crappy bus. So crappy that one of the girls had a cockroach on her seat (which isn’t massively uncommon) so her boyfriend swatted it away only to find that there was a NEST of them living in the seat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was sitting at the front of the bus but I would have had a complete wobbly if I was sitting near there. Yuck, yuck, yuck!!!!!! Don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing them to be honest.

Anyway we arrived in the Cameron Highlands and for the first time since leaving home I put on my fleece because it was actually cold!!! Felt nice to be all cozy wrapped in the clear air and not “sweaty-betty” for a change. We also sat around the campfire at our hotel having a couple of drinks and one of the locals played the guitar.

The following day was action packed, did a little trekking in the jungle, found the largest flower in the world the inside of which looks like this…….

……it’s really just a type of mushroom but I think it looks pretty unique all the same. So after a lot of sliding around in the mud we went to a very cold waterfall to get cleaned up and a nice cold drink of water from bamboo stalks. 

We also went to an Aboriginal Village and took aim with some blow darts…..

…see I really could be on Survivor 🙂

The afternoon took us to see a tea plantation, the scenery and views of the valley were lovely and we finished off with a spot of afternoon tea. Had to force myself to drink a cup!!!

Afterwards we went to see an insect farm which was really interesting. Check out this cool Rhino beetle….amazing huh?

Also held a stick insect which just look like matchsticks, a snake and a scorpian!!!! Didn’t think I would but sure when will I get the chance to do these things again, right?

We finished up our day by going to a strawberry farm and sampled some great milkshakes, ice-creams and jams took the cheesiest photo imaginable…….

More photos as always on http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindybear/sets/72157606029794742/ and 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindybear/sets/72157606050263531/