Posts by alex

Once more beleaguered by Tuk-tuks, but this time twice the price of Phnom Penh, we searched desperately for a mode of transport which wouldn’t ruin us in 5 days. We read in many forums that foreigners were banned from hiring scooters, put off we looked instead at bicycles. Finding a hotel which rented them for…

Tuk-Tuk?”  The hopeful cry had become common in Phnom Penh. Every time we emerged in public it would be uttered, if we ignored them it would be repeated, louder and with more insistence. Even once we’d hired a scooter, and stood next to it with helmet in hand, we’d hear “Tuk-tuk?” look over our shoulder…

Monday morning, 9am. We’re in the huge foyer of the JPJ office headquarters in Putrajaya on a sort of governmental island filled with only government or civic buildings and teeming with clerks. Looking for the reception, a chap approaches us and we explain that we need road tax (according to the first agent we approached).…

Basically, one can spend an inordinate amount of time in malls in K.L. It’s full of them! These vast air conditioned halls of merchandise, each shop the identical twin of the outlets in Europe or the states. We sated our mall thirst in the first couple of days, finding out that each mall hid a…

We were due to be reunited with our bikes in a week and after following various forums, we were well prepared for the documents we would need to clear shipping once they arrived. Before the bikes hit Malaysian soil, they would need insurance and an ICP (a circulation permit). Then one is required to engage…

Neither of us had been to Singapore and expectations were varied. We’d heard such things as chewing gum being illegal and couples not being allowed to cuddle in public but what constituted a cuddle? Was holding hands OK? A kiss? Not wanting to test the boundaries too firmly we opted for platonic walks around Singapore.…

Ubud was the next destination- 2 hours by car from Tulamben and in the heart of the island. We drove through, admiring the sudden frequency of little cafes, restaurants and posh spas. We also noted the massive increase in westerners who filled the streets with their sunhats and sarongs. This was clearly different to the…

We discovered whilst in Indonesia, that it was very cheap to fly between islands and countries. Some airlines are cheaper than the EU low-cost options. Keen to see what Bali had to offer (many of our friends had been and all had only good things to say about the place) we set off for Denpasar.…

We emerged from the plane in Jakarta, immediately hit by the humid warm air of midday in Indonesia. Thick clouds hung overhead and our bodies were disorientated after a mega 26 hour transit from snowy Vancouver. This was New Year’s Eve and we were looking forward to enjoying some warmer weather! The parking area made…