Welcome to Sydney

Departure from Malaysia and Arrival in Australia

Without flinching an eyelid and just like any other day of your life, we arrived in Sydney, Australia. Equipped, Natalja and I with simply a passport, a one year visa and our possessions, we slipped casually past border control and into the realms of Australia. That was late October 2009. At the tender age of Read more about Departure from Malaysia and Arrival in Australia[…]

Thirsty Thursdays: The Beatles Bar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Its amazing you know where and how you find things. This one was random – I found a “Beatles Bar” slap bang in the city centre of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! It was by chance. I mentioned before how English traveler Niki Whitley spent a day with Natalja and I and helped us firstly by loaning Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: The Beatles Bar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia[…]

Backpacking in Malaysia: Visiting Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur

In 2007 I sent my kid brother Daniel a postcard from Kuala Lumpur, the postcard contained on it the Petronas Twin Towers. On that occasion I was stuck in Kuala Lumpur airport and sent the postcard as a gimmick, the “towers I didn’t see” because I didn’t have time to leave the airport. Fast forward to Read more about Backpacking in Malaysia: Visiting Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur[…]

Backpacking in Malaysia: Touring Kuala Lumpur

2009 saw my second trip to Kuala Lumpur, but in reality my first. I say this because I had stopped in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia before, back in 2007 on my whirlwind world tour. My aeroplane from Auckland (New Zealand) would arrive in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and I would stay there for only 8 hours before Read more about Backpacking in Malaysia: Touring Kuala Lumpur[…]

Backpacking in Malaysia: Batu Caves, Hindu Shrine and Snake Handling

We made the trip to the town of Batu, which is north east of Kuala Lumpur, and only about 1 hour by bus. The reason for the trip would be to visit the Batu Caves, a famous Hindu Shrine built within natural caves and rock formations on the edge of the town of Batu. The Read more about Backpacking in Malaysia: Batu Caves, Hindu Shrine and Snake Handling[…]

Last Minute Buses, Slow Trains, Lost Passports and Sleeper Train to Kuala Lumpur

It was all a big rush leaving Singapore. We had been to Night Safari, leaving it around 8.30 pm, having to get to Keppel Road Train Station for our 10 pm Singapore to Malaysia sleeper Train across the border into Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur. WE had left it tight, and we had also left our bags at Read more about Last Minute Buses, Slow Trains, Lost Passports and Sleeper Train to Kuala Lumpur[…]

Night Safari Singapore Zoo 2009

Backpacking in Singapore: Night Safari

You’re thinking what the hell is “Night Safari”? But it’s obvious. The answer’s in the title. Singapore had the world’s first night safari. So while there and with one of the world’s most famous zoos so close, we couldn’t resist the temptation to do the “Night Safari” in Singapore. It would mean being up close Read more about Backpacking in Singapore: Night Safari[…]

Singapore: The Island; The City; The Country

Singapore, in case you didn’t know is a hat-trick of things all in one. It’s an island (or strictly, lots of islands), it’s a big city (or metropolis) and its a country. It’s also used by many people as a half way point between the United Kingdom and Australia. Without wanting to be obvious or Read more about Singapore: The Island; The City; The Country[…]

Thirsty Thursdays: Drinking a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar, Raffles Hotel, Singapore

Thirsty Thursdays: Drinking a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar, Raffles Hotel, Singapore

It had to be done. It was so obvious. There we were in Singapore, Asia and staying in a hostel just 25 minutes walk from the world famous Raffles Hotel. The Raffles Hotel is possibly the most famous hotel in Asia. It began life in 1887 and was founded by the Armenian Sarkies brothers. Monarchs Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: Drinking a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar, Raffles Hotel, Singapore[…]

World Borders: Kuala Lumpur to Singapore (Malaysia – Singapore train)

Knowing we had made it to the correct terminal in Kuala Lumpur Sentral was such a relief. I had already swapped a few Malaysian Ringitts in Taouyan Airport rather than aimlessly spend my final few Taiwan Dollars on junk at the airport. This barely gave us time to buy anything for the train. Natalja managed Read more about World Borders: Kuala Lumpur to Singapore (Malaysia – Singapore train)[…]