Coach trouble

26/04/08

Done 3 nights in Cherating before moving on. Got a bus from there to Kuantan where we boarded a coach for Mersing which should have been a 3 hour journey - it turned into 6 hours. Our driver was a little gas happy and had the rear end of the bus sliding about! However he seemed to settle down a bit and about half hour before we reached Mersing he mowed down a motorcyclist. So we ended up at the police station while statements were taken and a new coach sent down so that we could continue our journey. Was right naughty really, a bunch of locals that seemed to swell in numbers and tempers quite quickly were trying to get the driver out of the coach. I'm not sure what happened to the bike rider but I'd be surprised if they survived being hit by a coach at 60KPH.

So the last few days I've been really pissed off. Fed up with not sleeping, loose bowel movements, being bitten by insects (especially pesky mosquito's). I could kill for a bacon sandwich loaded to the gunnel's with smoked back rashers and a generous helping of brown sauce. Or, one Mum's roast Lamb dinners with them glorious spuds that she does so well. My back is really playing up and my leg actually gave way on me today - not good! The constant moving on to the next place - packing, unpacking, packing, unpacking, it's relentless. But we are now on Tioman island and it looks like we'll be here for a week or so giving me time to recharge the batteries and rest my back. Between Cherating & Tioman we had a night in Mersing at Omars guesthouse. There was only one double room available which was for Lee & Lex naturally. So I took my chances in the dorm where i met Dave from Rochdale. We are now "roomie's" sharing a hut on Tioman. Omars was an experience - no mozzie nets and open windows on a main road. So, no sleep and lots of bites and I had to give him 10 RM for the privilege - I won't be rushing back there.

27/04/08

We originally arrived at ABC (Air Batang) beach and stayed at Mawar beach chalets. Dave & I split the 30RM per night down the middle. Was OK, we had monkeys right outside our door every morning and a big monitor lizard that came past everyday. There's huge fruit bats roosting in the palm trees and we found some Rhino beetles too. They are like a Stag beetle but have no pincher's. Instead they have like a mini Rhino horn on their head. But, we'd heard about Juara on the deserted East coast of the Island so we transferred the 7KM across the Island by 4X4 and found some great huts right on the beach for 25RM a night. That's 2 quid each per night (Dave & I are still roomies). For that we get a fan (oscillating - naturally), shower (ccccold), toilet (western), 2 separate beds and mosquito nets on an almost empty but beautiful curved beach. The 1950's film "South Pacific" was filmed on this Island and looking at our surroundings, it could've been on this very spot. The piccies above are of a Sunrise on Juara beach and a monkey outside our hut at ABC.

The owner of our huts (Paradise point) is a Malay guy with his wife & children. His wife cooks the excellent food and his young family are a constant cause of entertainment - I'm going to enjoy my time here for sure! A piece of worthless trivia for you, Time magazine voted Tioman island as one of the ten most beautiful in the world. The butterflies alone are stunning, I've never seen so many brightly coloured different species before.

01/05/08

Went on a snorkeling trip today to Coral island. It was excellent, best 13 quid I've ever spent. I'm a lot more confident in the water now so able to relax, head into the deeper water and enjoy my surroundings. The Coral & Marine life around Tioman are the best I've seen so far and certainly something that I never thought I'd set my eyes upon. It really is a great Island. The east side resort of Juara is much more quieter with no banging stereos and is ideal for the big relax. ABC & Salang etc are much more lively and would suit people who want to drink and scuba dive etc.

02/05/08

I'm back in Mersing and not at Omars!! Got a better room in another place with attached bathroom, free loo paper, soap and drinking water for 30RM. Dave & I are still sharing so it's only 15 each. Hopefully we'll get some sleep and not get bitten by mozzies. We are on the 10am bus tomorrow (03/05/08) heading for Kuala Lumpur. I'll do some sightseeing there and then it's either Melaka or the Cameron Highlands - not sure which at the mo.

Been going through books at a fair old rate, John Grisham - The Testament. Thanks for that one mum. It was really good but I think I'll trade it in KL. Bill Bryson - A walk in the woods. Not a bad book but couldn't follow Grisham. Norman Parker - parkhurst tales 2. Hmmmm. Tim Butcher - Blood River. Now that is worth a read if you get the opportunity.