Back in HCMC

Got back yesterday and straight into out bad habit or ordering take-away food. The city is deserted as it was Chinese New Year on Thursday no-one is back yet from visiting relatives in the countryside. It was so nice walking out this morning without hundreds or bikes about on the roads. Here are some pictures of our breakfast by the park this morning!

Last Day In KL

Night time cocktail at the super pricey sky bar. Amazing views and a bar full of little swimming pools and sitting areas. Very exclusive but unfortunately these are the only decent photos - all the rest came out too dark.

My birthday present from G

Had a great massage today but the lady was a bit tough on my legs and they feel a bit bruised now. I think they see my big old muscles and want to get working on them but I am really quite delicate! View from the sky walk betweeen the 2 Petronas Towers

Little India

Last night we watched Sweeny. I love both Tim Burton, Johnny Depp and musicals so a great film for me but grusomely gorey! We spent the morning taking a stroll (in 35+C heat) round little India. I was a little sweaty! It was cool to see all the beautiful saris and scarves as they pumped out bollywood music at full volume in the markets. We saw some cool buildings. I just love the architecture here. We have a lazy afternoon by the pool then I watched a chick-flick in the bedroom and took a bath, while Gareth went to the gym (too active for me but I did manage to go yesterday). We're going for a meal in an old mansion then a few drinks tonight on a rooftop bar. I think I will go for a massage tommorrow. I know I'm spoilt but I love a bit of pampering!

Temples in China Town

Kites in the Market

Mosque

Colonial Buildings KL
Singapore - views from the hotel

Petronas Towers

Singapore and Kuala Lumpur

We've had a really nice start to our holiday. We began in Singapore. It is such a clean and lovely city but a bit too lovely for my budget when out shopping. I was so pleased to find M&S though to restock on underwear - Vietnamese aren't quite the same size as me! Had the most amazing massage with a really sweet lady who fixed my miserable aching back - at least for a couple of days. We stayed on the waterfront where there were loads of bars and restaurants so we were spoilt for choice.

We took the bus into Malaysia. I always love crossing a border on foot. It seems so exciting! Malaysia is really jungly for miles and miles. We drove for 5 hours though jungle until we reached Kuala Lumpur. It is a city of massive sky-scrapers. Nicer looking once you take a walk around than when you first arrive. Yesterday we walked to the Petronas Towers and today we took a walk through China town, which is crazy as it's coming up to TET - Chinese New Year on Thursday. They have some crazy traditions which if they don't commit to means they will have terrible luck all year. It's the year of the rat coming up - a good year if it's yours! Gareth bought me the most amazing birthday present. A Buddhist tapestry wall hanging. It's about 50 years old and very traditional. I fell in love with it when in the market. Shame it won't be a surprise but I don't care because it will look great in my bedroom! Loving KL. I do feel like I need another month to see more of Malaysia but I'm sure we'll come again.

Back again!

Been gone from here for a while as school has been so busy. Last week I had the kid's school production after school so I was late home 2 nights. I was so shattered by Friday I went to bed at half 6!

Had a great night last night - went to Australia day celebrations. You paid $40 and all food and drinks were included. We sat out in the sun drinking beer then danced all night. I really neede a good night out but I'm feeling a bit ragged today!

Also wnt to the orphanage yesterday morning. We had a laugh with the kids - they are so cute. But they were all a tired and sick with colds so they were quite hard work. I know the picture is not the best of me! But please bear in mind it's pushing mid 30C-40C at the moment and I was sweltering. Thought I'd put it in anyway.

Poor me

Feeling very sorry for myself. I've only been back for 3 days at school and I'm already ill. I had to take the day off yesterday and today. I hate being at home ill - there's nothing to do and I can't go out. Anyway enough moaning!

I'm not trying to count away my days but we only have 3 more weeks until half term holiday. I know we are so spolit! We're planning our trip to Singapore and Kuala Lumpa. I'm very excited to visit Malaysia. From speaking to people who worked there last year they think it's great. Everyone speaks English and it looks beautiful from photographs.

Anyway I should get back to lying on the coach. Gareth has got me the new Ugly Betty series and I am halfway through 24 so lots of TV watching to get through. I will try to get out this weekend and put some photos on here!

Coming to an end

I'm very sad as I have to fly home tomorrow and this is our last day (possibly ever) in Australia. We went to see the cricket yesterday. I thought I would be bored out of my mind but we met up with a load of other teachers from Saigon and had a good laugh drinking beer in the sun. I can't believe I sat through 8 hours of the game and they still had 2 more days left to play. It's an insane sport for sure!

Loving Sydney

New Year in Sydney was wonderful. We ate the most amazing prawns and oysters at our friend's house before going out to see the Harbour Bridge fireworks. They were fantastic and went on for ages. It was a great night but I was so shattered from a mammoth walk from Coogee Beach to Bondi and was yawning shortly after midnight. I'm not young enough to party all night any more!On New Year's day we went to Manly - a very nice beach but closed because of the crazy surf. It's also quite disconcerting to swim when every beach has its own shark watch helicopter circling all the time. We had a walk through a bush area which was great until I noticed all the massive spiders hanging in webs above us. The one in the photo was right above my head - not sure if he has massive eyes or pinchers?. I had some delicious octopus and chips as we watched the sun go down in the evening. We took the boat back into Sydney.
Today we went to the Blue Mountains by train. It was good to get out of the city and it was spectacular, with the most amazing views. We saw the famous 3 sisters - the rocks in the photo and walked through rain forest and creeks. We went up the mountain in the steepest funicular railway in the world. It was very freaky. I thought we were going to slide all the way down again and slip straight down into the rain forest below.

Back in Sydney

I can't believe how quickly our holiday is passing by. It's been really hard to put on photos as everything seems to shut here over Christmas holidays. I thought the cities would be more like London or New York but there is a really small-town feel. It really is like being back in Guernsey but with good weather.

I just got here with plans to put on photos but forgot my camera lead so I'll have to put them on another time. We had a great time in Melbourne. We went out for a goodbye meal with Gareth's mate down by the beach after spending the day at the botanical gardens. It's boiling hot now around 40C. I really don't feel cold anymore! We flew into Sydney yesterday very early so went into town for lunch then had a nap in our hotel. We met up with our friends from Vietnam to go to a moonlight cinema in the park. We all had big beanbags and a picnic. A very good evening.

Today we're at Bondi beach and plan to take a walk around the area. Tonight it's New Year's Eve so we're going out for a meal with our friends then off to see the famous firework display over the opera house.