tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72276600853487242462024-02-19T18:54:49.277-08:00Travels take 2AmyHarrietTravellinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607701423444900318noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227660085348724246.post-11270872171055291012017-07-16T14:30:00.001-07:002017-07-16T14:31:16.003-07:00Kelimutu national park - Koka beach - Maumere<span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">12.7- Today was a very early start, getting up </span><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">at 3.45am</span><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> ready to go to the Kelimutu national park and walk up to see sunrise at the volcanic lakes. We were all hoping for a clear day as all of our days in Flores have had a fair amount of cloud. The 'trek' to the summit was more of a 20 minute amble so we arrived at the summit with plenty of time to spare. We huddled up in the wind and waited as more and more people arrived and finally the sun started to come up at about </span><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">5.20am</span><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">. It was a bit cloudy but still stunning. There are 3 lakes that are all different colours, and they also change colour with depending on what gases are going into them from the volcano. </span><div><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfX2ONcjFjXJfFc84stux48PMsnUrTo15qAjlqvVMZHbc2f1VEEAfrgyt2xSgCzQaPmMOGVuHcJnWnH1vUZH7n-VXZiLdh7B5JtTw-V9mZTZivT1eVyWO7hMPMa56D9SPlqHKwuxCdn-O/s640/blogger-image-354053588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfX2ONcjFjXJfFc84stux48PMsnUrTo15qAjlqvVMZHbc2f1VEEAfrgyt2xSgCzQaPmMOGVuHcJnWnH1vUZH7n-VXZiLdh7B5JtTw-V9mZTZivT1eVyWO7hMPMa56D9SPlqHKwuxCdn-O/s640/blogger-image-354053588.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzkE2dFgQ7N2DiD4-Pwerj2I3MBfVH58BaJpuRMmEW_zQ7dqRGQTzbe7Tva2_tAvIS4jlv1j1_i5bn-lomKDD8ZM80waley5-w95zIgaPXd0JXx_75FZku3pFy3UZ_m7XaHxc0ljrBxoh/s640/blogger-image--966454033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzkE2dFgQ7N2DiD4-Pwerj2I3MBfVH58BaJpuRMmEW_zQ7dqRGQTzbe7Tva2_tAvIS4jlv1j1_i5bn-lomKDD8ZM80waley5-w95zIgaPXd0JXx_75FZku3pFy3UZ_m7XaHxc0ljrBxoh/s640/blogger-image--966454033.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUo83OI7_crQ3zKDS11A90tz-B_mZZYih5tGOH3BQcuMX04ju8XPSQlYiY1ZzXK6kJ5aLClbA2vw14Uy_A1_IFZfXP-1Swvz5oug-Gab0-IisjblF-Hs01EcqxJEfBxw2aIebNMWCO5LY9/s640/blogger-image--1701744915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUo83OI7_crQ3zKDS11A90tz-B_mZZYih5tGOH3BQcuMX04ju8XPSQlYiY1ZzXK6kJ5aLClbA2vw14Uy_A1_IFZfXP-1Swvz5oug-Gab0-IisjblF-Hs01EcqxJEfBxw2aIebNMWCO5LY9/s640/blogger-image--1701744915.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6i-zDVT9XykT-FvqDhzPRz_FtZcfhdPgwnGqOmkRSs7S7gPv14P4LmCp1bj8fipeatbfLJZWS-HbgQM3UsRL_KAi_Q1PcnHh4s4Y_7ZCtlQJ6hL7S79LvkVBfS-BRkBBuKBvPwqZ_zm2b/s640/blogger-image-1469386016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6i-zDVT9XykT-FvqDhzPRz_FtZcfhdPgwnGqOmkRSs7S7gPv14P4LmCp1bj8fipeatbfLJZWS-HbgQM3UsRL_KAi_Q1PcnHh4s4Y_7ZCtlQJ6hL7S79LvkVBfS-BRkBBuKBvPwqZ_zm2b/s640/blogger-image-1469386016.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><br></div>After sunrise walked to a couple more viewpoints before heading back to our little guesthouse for breakfast. </span><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">That day we then drove on towards Maumere but stopped at Koka beach on the way. This deserted beach was definitely one of the most beautiful we have been on. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshoAcnM_rR0ekCiXfVaanYul8GMg_ks-CuCHBIBbVHZgaTRYTSh-1twItzoV6OkzmdeK9J3SYwb8EucmadPfMMb4DOacgvi5OKv5Ov_SL44viIW7Z8XOQODWhGzaWSm6WQORzmBnwJBa0/s640/blogger-image-1533454554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshoAcnM_rR0ekCiXfVaanYul8GMg_ks-CuCHBIBbVHZgaTRYTSh-1twItzoV6OkzmdeK9J3SYwb8EucmadPfMMb4DOacgvi5OKv5Ov_SL44viIW7Z8XOQODWhGzaWSm6WQORzmBnwJBa0/s640/blogger-image-1533454554.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">After a few hours sunbathing it was on to Maumere where we were lucky to find a really lovely guesthouse with beautiful stone bungalows and literally right on the beach. The sunset was also beautiful. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgzt-16Dafp61dKZe70gpHK8S0XdwSJ1yMGNtmNRmbF_1rq7XaZD8aiEUOTNtUo2KqOR_MS5iJwVI2x_Zx4pksEKRJooIyAFo9APJH10u_B3oa5A8D5aUIVBq8KbHBnopntc_YrUtQhK_/s640/blogger-image-193400722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgzt-16Dafp61dKZe70gpHK8S0XdwSJ1yMGNtmNRmbF_1rq7XaZD8aiEUOTNtUo2KqOR_MS5iJwVI2x_Zx4pksEKRJooIyAFo9APJH10u_B3oa5A8D5aUIVBq8KbHBnopntc_YrUtQhK_/s640/blogger-image-193400722.jpg"></a></div>The owner was so friendly and was able to help me organise diving too for the next day. We ended up finishing the drive a day early somehow, so we feel slightly scammed by the guy who we paid as he charged us for 1 too many days. We ate at the guesthouse that night as we were sort of on a random road with very little on it. </div><div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">13.7- I decided to do one last day of diving, where as Lizzie and Josh fancied a beach day. So I got a motorbike taxi the half hour to one of the only dive centres. It's a completely different diving scene here to Labuan Bajo, and all the dive sites are deserted. After the 1992 tsunami, this area was hit badly and a lot of the coral reefs were destroyed. However 25 years on they have come back and are back to their colourful beauty. We were the only ones on the dive site and there were no other dive boats anywhere. You can tell that the coral here is very untouched. Saw lots of sharks, a few turtles and lots of fish and beautiful reefs. Obviously no photos of the diving again, but here is the little island we docked at for our surface interval- apparently there used to be a fishing village here but it all went with the tsunami.</div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3B4k0rijsrhQL-XiLoOcjRLiBMPGAfUURcpdMuo6RLDF2a3l4GiZI2OmEg1dmWxryNEZDPFm6q-4fk4_sbb_ANjxmD7ljjhdMlDkdF796xxIm9yav6wCQaf6jLYtUuL-7Jl1znPsizA5v/s640/blogger-image--135357523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3B4k0rijsrhQL-XiLoOcjRLiBMPGAfUURcpdMuo6RLDF2a3l4GiZI2OmEg1dmWxryNEZDPFm6q-4fk4_sbb_ANjxmD7ljjhdMlDkdF796xxIm9yav6wCQaf6jLYtUuL-7Jl1znPsizA5v/s640/blogger-image--135357523.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbwzayuziDxB3FfXavqbf2vnEDkhl0ZY5p4iV6NtAtWdbUiId_78EQm7vCCFaSomtkC7m1CQ0bbUy7uhiFytTAkr1NyQlxHnVDljr6Shp5wlQ2Ct8f0bOzMmsJk4p1h4GXJJcoJ7DSy2e/s640/blogger-image-1443867175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbwzayuziDxB3FfXavqbf2vnEDkhl0ZY5p4iV6NtAtWdbUiId_78EQm7vCCFaSomtkC7m1CQ0bbUy7uhiFytTAkr1NyQlxHnVDljr6Shp5wlQ2Ct8f0bOzMmsJk4p1h4GXJJcoJ7DSy2e/s640/blogger-image-1443867175.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> It was a wonderful last day! I got one of the local bemo vans back, which was an experience as we kept stopping en route to drop off and pick up various people and items! We ate at the guesthouse again that night and the owner went to the market to buy us a big fresh tuna fillet to share, and barbequed it- probably the best fish we have had out here, it was delicious. This was our last night in Flores before we fly back to KL via Bali tomorrow. </div></div></div><div><br></div>AmyHarrietTravellinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607701423444900318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227660085348724246.post-12295989297892917332017-07-13T03:21:00.001-07:002017-07-13T03:21:46.986-07:00Ruteng- Bajawa- Riung<span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">8.7- after being dropped at our hotel we tried to go for a little wander in the rain but soon found that there wasn't a whole lot to see. For the first time we were twiddling our thumbs with what to do! We got picked up for dinner and taken back into town, then spent the evening playing cards back in the room. </span><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq0dk1qbDcOe1zZHJH0FSbVTjVQXVRGVc2LJlkJD8tY4w5vefcqbz82iLyazwUEGk6ib3iSD-Miq98_hssqbR6wlyA01QTU2j662whxFkNDIdY2vrgGoA3vSqMWmLJUrcskLNlJhvVUNp/s640/blogger-image-2012303704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq0dk1qbDcOe1zZHJH0FSbVTjVQXVRGVc2LJlkJD8tY4w5vefcqbz82iLyazwUEGk6ib3iSD-Miq98_hssqbR6wlyA01QTU2j662whxFkNDIdY2vrgGoA3vSqMWmLJUrcskLNlJhvVUNp/s640/blogger-image-2012303704.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">9.7- After breakfast we left Ruteng for Bajawa. Our first impressions of Flores are that it is very mountainous and beautiful but very rural. We definitely get a lot of stares here due to the lack of tourists! On the way to Bajawa we stopped at an arak processing place. They basically chop fruit that looks like coconuts down from high trees, and then boil the arak multiple times to make it to about 50% alcohol. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLJIKRvRCmayb9OBorLHtWpOf-IfsCoKUvZvkEFQYy9mQbZFO-x2rsfVxpBAK9nLE1uI5uM3g4mFGSNfgnlVPzqS0_bOdda_VISEryhPCNk8diMGT_7s9xZ1gxzkF7pUyLtuoScVdkr_M/s640/blogger-image-989659242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLJIKRvRCmayb9OBorLHtWpOf-IfsCoKUvZvkEFQYy9mQbZFO-x2rsfVxpBAK9nLE1uI5uM3g4mFGSNfgnlVPzqS0_bOdda_VISEryhPCNk8diMGT_7s9xZ1gxzkF7pUyLtuoScVdkr_M/s640/blogger-image-989659242.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ1VhUSm3GAqT_PliNDUL4H1mwF0HL_YazNQOEGz4G02UEQnVnRq9Dae4HkURZK9kZThddMicV0iwdF2U1fsUVOZWRdlU5FxXz2Z4TCO91S69OVxYn9HGA42bXXYX3I5mBr_J56cx5VLS/s640/blogger-image-1528566786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ1VhUSm3GAqT_PliNDUL4H1mwF0HL_YazNQOEGz4G02UEQnVnRq9Dae4HkURZK9kZThddMicV0iwdF2U1fsUVOZWRdlU5FxXz2Z4TCO91S69OVxYn9HGA42bXXYX3I5mBr_J56cx5VLS/s640/blogger-image-1528566786.jpg"></a></div><br></div>We even got to taste some... The 50% was a bit much for me and josh at 10am but of course Lizzie was game. After lunch in Bajawa we went to the small traditional village of Bena. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkKxiu4wDEFocxXYVRsiSa9fU28EPAawicIMbGaCEXy4tNmnO3iRiGmJC7_oyBIheIg3IHOi0t-7t4CA7iZvQPbmLNoZU6Nu-_KCGTgXhS_Mt5UwhVlTBCat_8ygYvgl3hSe8RLQExoUE/s640/blogger-image-769823787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkKxiu4wDEFocxXYVRsiSa9fU28EPAawicIMbGaCEXy4tNmnO3iRiGmJC7_oyBIheIg3IHOi0t-7t4CA7iZvQPbmLNoZU6Nu-_KCGTgXhS_Mt5UwhVlTBCat_8ygYvgl3hSe8RLQExoUE/s640/blogger-image-769823787.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJchlDv2xTkHZ33ibOD87qxQxFDO2cMSRem8O1-Ay_Hqic2IWpydiAsPE_VasXG7FcvfxMqay7nN9Dbo3BIbWXibVycURIOqwWDVnlywOKoC9Qc2HwP_Eyb8NhAptkqcPYfREATzW3Togc/s640/blogger-image--145370004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJchlDv2xTkHZ33ibOD87qxQxFDO2cMSRem8O1-Ay_Hqic2IWpydiAsPE_VasXG7FcvfxMqay7nN9Dbo3BIbWXibVycURIOqwWDVnlywOKoC9Qc2HwP_Eyb8NhAptkqcPYfREATzW3Togc/s640/blogger-image--145370004.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">This was a bit weird as it feels odd wandering around looking at people going about their days, but once again we seemed to be the main tourist attraction with lots of people wanting photos with us! After this we went to find a hotel in town, went for a wander and a drink. There wasn't a whole lot else to do in this town either! </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">10.7- The next stop on our roadtrip was the natural hot springs. We got here at about 9am which was before the main crowd of locals arrived. The hot springs were about 34 degrees and it was a nice way to spend a morning, although our bikinis are all a bit rust stained now from the minerals in the water. After this it was on to Riung along a very bumpy road. We had lunch at a very 'local' style warung, which was rice, tempeh, egg and sauce and was actually pretty tasty. The hotel was slightly better that we had been used to- complete with flushing toilet! We walked to the harbour and booked a boat trip for the next day and then spent the last of the afternoon soaking up some sun. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4MlxuEvjl2xJ4usv6kmotpFY9cdKSX3esoV96gqr_k-wcBPydZSSx9kjGRVsveHKiVjLNyY6C75axgnQtvxfcAM-Yff2mO_JyurByVEQW6rhdn6np7GfJRdeMf-65f2CxfAOLDbwO53O/s640/blogger-image--1836431960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4MlxuEvjl2xJ4usv6kmotpFY9cdKSX3esoV96gqr_k-wcBPydZSSx9kjGRVsveHKiVjLNyY6C75axgnQtvxfcAM-Yff2mO_JyurByVEQW6rhdn6np7GfJRdeMf-65f2CxfAOLDbwO53O/s640/blogger-image--1836431960.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">11.7 - we were up early for the 7am boat trip around the '17 islands'. First stop was to see the flying foxes, and after that was a few snorkelling and beach stops. There were thousands of flying foxes and they are massive!</div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRRVS3GbxX4lZF2bpbPQjitAeB3KzX07SnkbqwbuCOwsS6n-psrsXYZBakAc8ay5quamI5M1yA5DFChjW1hvJJPhnA6MfkCp5GomPUAdipKBhBVUUXCNzQHL8VHQKtd_YSy_6psBv9htp/s640/blogger-image-2128998085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRRVS3GbxX4lZF2bpbPQjitAeB3KzX07SnkbqwbuCOwsS6n-psrsXYZBakAc8ay5quamI5M1yA5DFChjW1hvJJPhnA6MfkCp5GomPUAdipKBhBVUUXCNzQHL8VHQKtd_YSy_6psBv9htp/s640/blogger-image-2128998085.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLoCAzRZxU2RItU7QJ-FWF20KE5O2EZuO-4jRYIQbOPXXc3AnzTzlEllA1oeiOUKclbtGRuGW5HwMOb12esdebNHbIQiTwvV9DNDPXDtNlCJ3JS7LAAx9JSFWe7ajn6sgUYaU3mbFr9Up/s640/blogger-image--280493006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLoCAzRZxU2RItU7QJ-FWF20KE5O2EZuO-4jRYIQbOPXXc3AnzTzlEllA1oeiOUKclbtGRuGW5HwMOb12esdebNHbIQiTwvV9DNDPXDtNlCJ3JS7LAAx9JSFWe7ajn6sgUYaU3mbFr9Up/s640/blogger-image--280493006.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> It was beautiful and luckily the sun came out for us to top up the tans. Lunch was a delicious fish BBQ, it just arrived a little early at 10.45am! </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_QZ15ABp58Yiphe6pxcX1chCfH6ulY-XL4rP2wr1YIwWOhkOpv2uIDv38R-4fIFZcYX-RzcSMkFKHtkcuJoopjm2th6gsDjwIOMno5elrpXRE2ayMiQw-jmFEcMZ1Tds8IYvoz5BPHKU/s640/blogger-image-1617196333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_QZ15ABp58Yiphe6pxcX1chCfH6ulY-XL4rP2wr1YIwWOhkOpv2uIDv38R-4fIFZcYX-RzcSMkFKHtkcuJoopjm2th6gsDjwIOMno5elrpXRE2ayMiQw-jmFEcMZ1Tds8IYvoz5BPHKU/s640/blogger-image-1617196333.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXAph2hUf4NxMea7afr6CQE8sKy2BA3ZCq3okZFezBKIkgKe1ecUHOnAeyaI2FuIDJH999jN5GZTuhUmEWFM-ealSdC4OUDZijUdXCn7jdd7fnd_lPgjUirC4SA7xarPtipPf76hu__8K/s640/blogger-image--1069013896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXAph2hUf4NxMea7afr6CQE8sKy2BA3ZCq3okZFezBKIkgKe1ecUHOnAeyaI2FuIDJH999jN5GZTuhUmEWFM-ealSdC4OUDZijUdXCn7jdd7fnd_lPgjUirC4SA7xarPtipPf76hu__8K/s640/blogger-image--1069013896.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Our final stop was at another island where we walked up to a nice little viewpoint, although the walk back down was so slippy I'm not sure it was worth it! That concluded that half day trip and we were then back to the hotel for a shower and ready to hit the road again. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NAMpm4cJdqGr7jhn8B7Uuy87XR2LnBnknzLQRcrHOMecq1HR00e7jfw8ZRaicyLHi0visUjpHTeyvJUR2ts7h0eyN8_ZQuIYI4etykRwj5kW3aw7fvz6d880yRgzqyfb6sXVstRRd1sL/s640/blogger-image--175578935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NAMpm4cJdqGr7jhn8B7Uuy87XR2LnBnknzLQRcrHOMecq1HR00e7jfw8ZRaicyLHi0visUjpHTeyvJUR2ts7h0eyN8_ZQuIYI4etykRwj5kW3aw7fvz6d880yRgzqyfb6sXVstRRd1sL/s640/blogger-image--175578935.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmS5cv-3q4gYABHIkRyA-xW0OLVHjol8A2baLlr1h5JSt_BFRapeNseV9KwWWdwNIW1iK1jlwAIx9I2BBcHczUHUqNhbFbJlZk7gX1FBOM2wZ7kFmtvBJ4aywX9Ss7UxudBClsN9f7eQGl/s640/blogger-image--1476027045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmS5cv-3q4gYABHIkRyA-xW0OLVHjol8A2baLlr1h5JSt_BFRapeNseV9KwWWdwNIW1iK1jlwAIx9I2BBcHczUHUqNhbFbJlZk7gX1FBOM2wZ7kFmtvBJ4aywX9Ss7UxudBClsN9f7eQGl/s640/blogger-image--1476027045.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">It was a 3 hour drive to the blue stone beach at Ende on the other side of the island. The stones really are blue but who knows why! </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HNa_x2H9-ED6NeT_-bDbqDLUc4q_anMV0bxo7OEAt0Xrg9bPJw_1zTgSd93AaR93F3A9RnBUvZYajgFpSeIqrsfTNjsE3JmQD7p1zRt2Dq02cEr3MUq7alCZOcqlBfQDrZ3hLUT-tAkt/s640/blogger-image--686592664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HNa_x2H9-ED6NeT_-bDbqDLUc4q_anMV0bxo7OEAt0Xrg9bPJw_1zTgSd93AaR93F3A9RnBUvZYajgFpSeIqrsfTNjsE3JmQD7p1zRt2Dq02cEr3MUq7alCZOcqlBfQDrZ3hLUT-tAkt/s640/blogger-image--686592664.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We then drove on into Ende town for another local style meal for dinner. After that is was just an hour to Moni, where we are staying the night ready to do the sunrise trek up to the volcanic lakes in Kelimutu national park. </div>AmyHarrietTravellinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607701423444900318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227660085348724246.post-84483350129796237672017-07-09T04:08:00.001-07:002017-07-09T04:08:22.521-07:00Labuan Bajo - Ruteng<div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">5.7 - we had another early start for our boat trip around Komodo national park. We were sorely disappointed when we reached the boat, which was worse than expected. Luckily we had a good group of people, us and another English guy, 2 Aussie guys and a not so great Taiwanese couple. The crew didn't speak a single word of English, and the boat chugged along at what felt like 3mph. However when we eventually arrived at Rinca island, we were lucky to see some pretty big Komodo dragons that were lazing around near the camp. We did a little walk up to a viewpoint before heading back to the boat. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfAramAZf8mVjs83DJkIB6fluuqL6iyeiMnCWMhtfWCsi1DcbS3RZG3zlWN-uF_-lkqacG6c31meDPE-2c-G-SJGqcvt-cfn-AU8UFhVbXhfTQ7bVZjACBpQxzcRv1o-GJZSyzHeMdNIf/s640/blogger-image-1920387264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfAramAZf8mVjs83DJkIB6fluuqL6iyeiMnCWMhtfWCsi1DcbS3RZG3zlWN-uF_-lkqacG6c31meDPE-2c-G-SJGqcvt-cfn-AU8UFhVbXhfTQ7bVZjACBpQxzcRv1o-GJZSyzHeMdNIf/s640/blogger-image-1920387264.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46VbRWROh0qrRDqtioFe4ralV_Ns9lkfGVpBaeqJD-XMbbwY9MntL_Uk1OI2tIDT7VTqcP-7GtRx9B29C26RgVvcXW3l3PpoRD4R47_dvlfBq6HZNoon9GWAn3i3sVekuqGTtXiaGShiQ/s640/blogger-image--933510866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46VbRWROh0qrRDqtioFe4ralV_Ns9lkfGVpBaeqJD-XMbbwY9MntL_Uk1OI2tIDT7VTqcP-7GtRx9B29C26RgVvcXW3l3PpoRD4R47_dvlfBq6HZNoon9GWAn3i3sVekuqGTtXiaGShiQ/s640/blogger-image--933510866.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbm3WYDeQ4GFkYp9efgA6Zv9uTLR9Phyvlvh7FXpxCPMPMtpguy0JaakkBFt-CrJQcCzpGJemAcSUmnuJ_kKcpfGby1N3Btk9mNzgxMq3bUJscG5v2da0Wqsg9POGcBZx3qYrcdi_4Tu3/s640/blogger-image--2047761045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbm3WYDeQ4GFkYp9efgA6Zv9uTLR9Phyvlvh7FXpxCPMPMtpguy0JaakkBFt-CrJQcCzpGJemAcSUmnuJ_kKcpfGby1N3Btk9mNzgxMq3bUJscG5v2da0Wqsg9POGcBZx3qYrcdi_4Tu3/s640/blogger-image--2047761045.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div>As we chugged on to Komodo island we had lunch of rice, vegetables and fried fish (including the heads, ew.). As it is mating season we were warned that the dragons tend to go off into the jungle, so were unlikely to see them. We did a little trek (complete again with guide with wooden stick) and were lucky to see a couple of small dragons strolling around. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxTuxDMDPmxXtMDSwyIhV6RUdfiY3PYOr_LPSfM6FKmGQ9GJT0zNGLJBNcahExt_HuWW31kAo8unS_0RoVCexuUwmx9uGVYh43Tk7QlTHRFBa0LjPmV71HPT_yFr0S82h_hTh-97O75Iv/s640/blogger-image--1454031778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxTuxDMDPmxXtMDSwyIhV6RUdfiY3PYOr_LPSfM6FKmGQ9GJT0zNGLJBNcahExt_HuWW31kAo8unS_0RoVCexuUwmx9uGVYh43Tk7QlTHRFBa0LjPmV71HPT_yFr0S82h_hTh-97O75Iv/s640/blogger-image--1454031778.jpg"></a></div>We also saw a very very old, thin one which looked like it was about to snuff it and needed a good smack on the head. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSJFT3oX4f_Ja9hZ_hKXD5LfeXRyFNZGskrxboq3tN8f1m8BC-min3Ht_DjX4CPazXSU7Recg2_BZCUaCeR90JE8W32KkRPcVgG8QleVK_OTVhYPSyCiSSK8qy6n2HdWxGKY0gGQKJ0Gs/s640/blogger-image--1149761898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSJFT3oX4f_Ja9hZ_hKXD5LfeXRyFNZGskrxboq3tN8f1m8BC-min3Ht_DjX4CPazXSU7Recg2_BZCUaCeR90JE8W32KkRPcVgG8QleVK_OTVhYPSyCiSSK8qy6n2HdWxGKY0gGQKJ0Gs/s640/blogger-image--1149761898.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Next was a snorkelling stop which had some lovely coral and fish. Every stop we went to, we were just told 'one o'clock' as it appeared to be the only word of English the crew knew- helpful! </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Dinner was a repeat of lunch and then 2 little sponge mattresses came out... And that was it. Between 8 of us. Not quite the mattress, pillow and blanket we were promised. Of course the Taiwanese couple went straight for the mattresses. This did not lead to the best nights sleep, especially with a bad snorer on the boat. The night was topped off when it started to rain and surprisingly the tarp wasn't exactLay the best shelter... Here is a photo of our lovely ship:</div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuchTwjn2xDxUYvAN_iETcJ5f4EoZC-oW-BCHvUFgcG8oiO763v-8aGy2vIt2XFe3shVL_T-_p1cMaCpMloAhy_9UCRW3Js2tg0y_ZsJYOnQN6zEBf0OSQxghXEzPHbL3jF4gicB_VcGPh/s640/blogger-image-33048979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuchTwjn2xDxUYvAN_iETcJ5f4EoZC-oW-BCHvUFgcG8oiO763v-8aGy2vIt2XFe3shVL_T-_p1cMaCpMloAhy_9UCRW3Js2tg0y_ZsJYOnQN6zEBf0OSQxghXEzPHbL3jF4gicB_VcGPh/s640/blogger-image-33048979.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">6.7- we got going again at about 6.30 in the morning, after being woken up by the nice Taiwanese man using his ridiculous flash camera. We arrived at Padar island about an hour later and climbed up to the stunning viewpoint down over 4 beaches. It was beautiful. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO46B2_nqpc-X9TP-p94v9INe0MnFQL4FH3ZPUEzbpTGndu5frW9foJHnGQm3cib4QzjcDEEDRb1qaK22cnCxhRcmRkBa4A3g1LA_rGKXrBdObfzdn97SySA9AM2EGL6G4ZHvapZ1BAZke/s640/blogger-image-295774097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO46B2_nqpc-X9TP-p94v9INe0MnFQL4FH3ZPUEzbpTGndu5frW9foJHnGQm3cib4QzjcDEEDRb1qaK22cnCxhRcmRkBa4A3g1LA_rGKXrBdObfzdn97SySA9AM2EGL6G4ZHvapZ1BAZke/s640/blogger-image-295774097.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fLw1XeYi9-klDRqdyLYYg-EXaK6VRgCjcgWJRHS8wXpp5EE2tGzsb_khOEFzoRMEw02ESpjgIsosHyhs1UoH_MIiu0QBFmu2QuNoUnH1ITE31OQjeO-1Fqh6TXCDrqSrETQo-D9mXMYZ/s640/blogger-image--876372905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fLw1XeYi9-klDRqdyLYYg-EXaK6VRgCjcgWJRHS8wXpp5EE2tGzsb_khOEFzoRMEw02ESpjgIsosHyhs1UoH_MIiu0QBFmu2QuNoUnH1ITE31OQjeO-1Fqh6TXCDrqSrETQo-D9mXMYZ/s640/blogger-image--876372905.jpg"></a></div><br></div>After that was another snorkelling spot and a couple of hours chilling on a lovely beach. Finally we were headed back to Labaun Bajo and I was very glad to get off the boat! We ate at a little local place that had been recommended by our dive instructor and had a few drinks/chocolate brownie at a nice restaurant with live music. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">7.7- yet another early start ready for 7am diving. We hit the jackpot with this school and were on a beautiful big boat that was also used as a liveaboard. We had 3 dives that day, all in Komodo national Park, and each one was amazing. Such beautiful coral teeming with life, and we saw lots of turtles, countless species of fish, black and white tip reef sharks and even a seahorse. We got to sun ourselves on the sun deck in between dives and fed some delicious food- overall one of the best days of the trip, I wish I had put my money into 2 days of diving rather than the disappointing boat trip! We ate in a local buffet style restaurant again before heading up the hill to a rather quiet bar, there isn't too much nightlife here as everyone gets up so early to dive!</div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">8.7- We started our roadtrip across Flores today, so we met our driver Steven and his boss Agus at 8.30 to leave for Retung. The roads were in quite good condition although very windy, so it was slow progress through the hills. We stopped at a few viewpoints and at the 'Spider rice fields' which is basically huge paddy fields shaped like a spiders web. We arrived in Ruteng for lunchtime and stopped at a cafe where we saw some fellow white people. We then wandered around the local market with our driver; quite the experience as possibly the most unhygienic market we have been to in Asia so far. </div>AmyHarrietTravellinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607701423444900318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227660085348724246.post-22049044784047429232017-07-09T04:07:00.001-07:002017-07-09T04:07:03.494-07:00Ubud - Labuan Bajo, Flores<span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">2.7- we got the very sweaty boat back from Gili T and then got a transfer to Ubud. We had some lunch and then wandered to find accommodation, and we ironically ended up at the same place Harriet and I stayed 3 years ago. Once again not much has changed, so we had swim to cool down and watched the monkeys playing on the roof of the building. We found a cooking class for the next day and spent some time wandering the lovely streets and markets of Ubud. We had a really nice dinner in one of the little restaurants, which felt like a splurge meal at a whole £6 for dinner and a drink! Mine was a delicious beef redang with all sorts of stuff with it. </span><div><font color="#454545" face="UICTFontTextStyleBody"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1w8AUp2oNaf15ProVdA5Y_2NCxgTsfp9O_HO9KP4orAXU17xKveGN28dFp8h9Fcx8L2rmDvwbAat36yuxpqSNOHx7DdKHDlEkS8wc7t9OBHtkyVVbXJK4MkRSAZbClvLuWHV7cha5Jdst/s640/blogger-image-368915766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1w8AUp2oNaf15ProVdA5Y_2NCxgTsfp9O_HO9KP4orAXU17xKveGN28dFp8h9Fcx8L2rmDvwbAat36yuxpqSNOHx7DdKHDlEkS8wc7t9OBHtkyVVbXJK4MkRSAZbClvLuWHV7cha5Jdst/s640/blogger-image-368915766.jpg"></a></div><br></font><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">3.7- we were up quite early to be picked up for the market tour and cooking class. The guide was very good at pointing everything out in the local market and even bought us some local snacks to try. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxVmWRp1qOki5nc97uUxYgLFnbO6B2HB1Md5oKH6Wv2syFPjuk45KHoFF99qK4CMAhI_32dHOcFigHG0RED-lxpLqqyPldmKtK4zkVNOmxcVJNb3eIMoB7B7WX1NFH2Ac87Bn2NHIDV7g/s640/blogger-image--1142764639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxVmWRp1qOki5nc97uUxYgLFnbO6B2HB1Md5oKH6Wv2syFPjuk45KHoFF99qK4CMAhI_32dHOcFigHG0RED-lxpLqqyPldmKtK4zkVNOmxcVJNb3eIMoB7B7WX1NFH2Ac87Bn2NHIDV7g/s640/blogger-image--1142764639.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36pw8NUfyqLF5bwaTew7Tj17_0hv1g7pPJ9pHn5kPB7KAVqwPd2f_L-hzqu-6o7xUHaKdVEtY2DjoJajWrLHyJvnlgBb3dawTwXhcng3Cd0czXN9uxlupIaMGUk9D5-3gkSj-CqMX79hh/s640/blogger-image-979356862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36pw8NUfyqLF5bwaTew7Tj17_0hv1g7pPJ9pHn5kPB7KAVqwPd2f_L-hzqu-6o7xUHaKdVEtY2DjoJajWrLHyJvnlgBb3dawTwXhcng3Cd0czXN9uxlupIaMGUk9D5-3gkSj-CqMX79hh/s640/blogger-image-979356862.jpg"></a></div><br></div>We then went to his house where he explains all about the Balinese houses and how coconut oil is made. We also got to have a go at making Balinese offerings.</div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjo946N1wQRFhEHdX4lUzKhyphenhyphenDiAhjz_ps8OpW_HrKnBU1puFkg6i93Wi71IRFX26UUJSD6Un7Gcbz9CpP_vCEjbjTWLaBW02Dyph21GK00F5PvzSDks7Adez6scQFCK-VSZbAuWsx6g3S/s640/blogger-image--121376294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjo946N1wQRFhEHdX4lUzKhyphenhyphenDiAhjz_ps8OpW_HrKnBU1puFkg6i93Wi71IRFX26UUJSD6Un7Gcbz9CpP_vCEjbjTWLaBW02Dyph21GK00F5PvzSDks7Adez6scQFCK-VSZbAuWsx6g3S/s640/blogger-image--121376294.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAtlclKdGMbmRwefbvniWt1BBIE_tBzG4BLNC4ZVUUboYB-VMjU3GNmGERNkoHVo7944Bz9iQpGPROsjPF4-zIUXLPu2g6DDguPmM_WrvCWABSoEj934BDBJlp74Ve_C6ymIvdZvYxE1D/s640/blogger-image--539986293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAtlclKdGMbmRwefbvniWt1BBIE_tBzG4BLNC4ZVUUboYB-VMjU3GNmGERNkoHVo7944Bz9iQpGPROsjPF4-zIUXLPu2g6DDguPmM_WrvCWABSoEj934BDBJlp74Ve_C6ymIvdZvYxE1D/s640/blogger-image--539986293.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> Next was the cooking, we made quite a few dishes; chicken curry, chicken and veg soup, spicy sauce, satay, spicy tempeh and coconut pancakes for dessert. Everything turned out delicious and we had a very filling lunch! </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ3VCFZ3PeF7J8XSaMBIpqiJx1rtXyGdO4VkjZd2dhCzYVIwsqZEh9As7R54jrJCXOL10_4cPCv4JXo_N8qoNfP_9leIwa2lCbZPtLa9RlXCU_ZFl87oZ9wORDayduCLuGRkSi1VQmSBU/s640/blogger-image-2083395458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ3VCFZ3PeF7J8XSaMBIpqiJx1rtXyGdO4VkjZd2dhCzYVIwsqZEh9As7R54jrJCXOL10_4cPCv4JXo_N8qoNfP_9leIwa2lCbZPtLa9RlXCU_ZFl87oZ9wORDayduCLuGRkSi1VQmSBU/s640/blogger-image-2083395458.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQS0v29e9_tsQvFJex7j8n9dvdCaEnfUR6JjEs7D1L5Hn70ooYZkDuz33tvPZm3co8fAjCH7cKJ9xs_Xpymi8QdJB7IoPIFFAvLSceLFdHLmsOOCrx72c0onv1RvXbENMEWUPCI86XcpNi/s640/blogger-image-1372389792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQS0v29e9_tsQvFJex7j8n9dvdCaEnfUR6JjEs7D1L5Hn70ooYZkDuz33tvPZm3co8fAjCH7cKJ9xs_Xpymi8QdJB7IoPIFFAvLSceLFdHLmsOOCrx72c0onv1RvXbENMEWUPCI86XcpNi/s640/blogger-image-1372389792.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">In the afternoon we went to the monkey forest near the hostel, which is still overrun with macaques as it was 3 years ago! We booked our final flight of the trip (a relief!) and had some incredible coconut ice cream. Ubud is certainly a foodie place. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">4.7- it was an early start to get an uber to the airport for our flight to Labuan Bajo, Flores. It all went very smoothly and we even had time for a slightly weird Pizza Hut breakfast. Komodo airport is tiny and it looks like you are about to fly into the side of a mountain the runway is that close! We spent the afternoon in Labuan Bajo finding somewhere to stay (bargain hostel of 50,000 rupiah/ £3 for a night with breakfast... Although the bathroom leaves a lot to be desired!), finding a dive school and booking a 2 day 1 night boat trip to see the dragons. </div></div>AmyHarrietTravellinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607701423444900318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227660085348724246.post-10143354278679450312017-06-30T02:49:00.001-07:002017-07-03T18:17:49.588-07:00Nusa Lembongan - Gili TrawanganWe headed straight to Sanur from Denpasar airport to catch the boat to the island of Nusa Lembongan. As I wasn't feeling well, Josh and Lizzie were gems and searched out a fab place to stay and scouted out the dive schools. We had a lush little bamboo hut with outdoor bathroom, it was so nice to have our own space :) the rest of the day was spent relaxing after the last night of travelling. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWPd7k9Jv7sNPFqmIoYCPwzdIQl90KXbaryaZwcHFZ7Nv2DKOBBeja1WZw_XC9DkG1tZ_GvQuqpzeMAVvF3L7t9au8y94kmY-mUALnAfyAujmMByKi98LNhFHjJ2rAwzvyTC-UieTTpGD/s640/blogger-image-60569392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWPd7k9Jv7sNPFqmIoYCPwzdIQl90KXbaryaZwcHFZ7Nv2DKOBBeja1WZw_XC9DkG1tZ_GvQuqpzeMAVvF3L7t9au8y94kmY-mUALnAfyAujmMByKi98LNhFHjJ2rAwzvyTC-UieTTpGD/s640/blogger-image-60569392.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>We had a good lie in, got some breakfast and then did some more travel life admin... Booking a boat, dives and finding somewhere to do laundry. We had a pretty chilled day on the beach, so we decided to rent paddle boards to take out as the sun set. A little kid on the beach got some great photos on lizzies camera, however we made a bit of an error by going out just as it got to low tide, meaning we all had to scramble back in over spiky coral trying to get back to the beach! </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28Fzf0C_25PQEAZWItpW7EAPfm6ELDDNWupOVsViy_CDlyJY-6TjPeVyhzzcv5zCWtR1zCIxSC64hl5cHODlliKfZP2zKxgDMwUehhtsGt3BiZA8wlqA_1TnGFw0ZtjIPaFcgQQgFkZdL/s640/blogger-image-580805241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28Fzf0C_25PQEAZWItpW7EAPfm6ELDDNWupOVsViy_CDlyJY-6TjPeVyhzzcv5zCWtR1zCIxSC64hl5cHODlliKfZP2zKxgDMwUehhtsGt3BiZA8wlqA_1TnGFw0ZtjIPaFcgQQgFkZdL/s640/blogger-image-580805241.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qoOErz2J4Phhzoe_yv8uwNVivzBhF7Z-OlXt8KELFftY40pyzzyB1G8kIQu06W5Cqfc5aRh92Np2Lk6ymH1oygKBh830Nu0o0itPEUoPqPJP8nV2_Fl7MW0iWv5v__l3Poe09r_xM3ZZ/s640/blogger-image--1613015092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qoOErz2J4Phhzoe_yv8uwNVivzBhF7Z-OlXt8KELFftY40pyzzyB1G8kIQu06W5Cqfc5aRh92Np2Lk6ymH1oygKBh830Nu0o0itPEUoPqPJP8nV2_Fl7MW0iWv5v__l3Poe09r_xM3ZZ/s640/blogger-image--1613015092.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKNiv4ZrLMyTxjz8SQmprWRJwWFAThPK39-KIV-Qjxdec_bby3rgiCpaZZUjT4ptlYj3DrHR608cV5PjT4gZXG2C7GZps02QxLV5nSLvkNk1jmsgRKAT2936JABWTYDAzMGFjdYfv04K_/s640/blogger-image--656627155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKNiv4ZrLMyTxjz8SQmprWRJwWFAThPK39-KIV-Qjxdec_bby3rgiCpaZZUjT4ptlYj3DrHR608cV5PjT4gZXG2C7GZps02QxLV5nSLvkNk1jmsgRKAT2936JABWTYDAzMGFjdYfv04K_/s640/blogger-image--656627155.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The next day was diving day. We got kitted out with gear and eventually managed to get going once the tide had come in enough to push the boat out. It was a 40 minute ride around the next island of Nusa Penida to the dive site of manta point. We were certainly not disappointed, as soon as we went down we saw manta rays, and our luck continued for the whole dive. We must have seen about 15, and we just floated and watched them swim around us. I wish we had a GoPro with us as it was just amazing :) we then spent out surface interval on the boat and continued to another dive site. No mantas at this one, but plenty of healthy coral reef and lots of fish. The current was quite strong so we just drifted along the wall and it was also a really good dive. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">That evening we went for dinner with a couple of Canadian girls who were on their last night of 6 months away. We had dinner near our bungalow and the girls all had a few beers to celebrate. We found one bar that was open until midnight (it's a very laid back island!) and played pool there until it closed. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The next morning we got the boat to Gili Trawangan, quite a smooth ride compared to when I went last time! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-PMvIyjlFLj06YkYxV4M2IStHXifPEZgd0b_d0xD99XXZqVY-MOGcn1mjgWprWe5PpZEk_ob2ZLBZZ09pxMC4m5-majyi2R0rmATLrTpEfgwNUCEXGBZVj0OUPxacYLzHm3br5R_WPJM/s640/blogger-image--1870108675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-PMvIyjlFLj06YkYxV4M2IStHXifPEZgd0b_d0xD99XXZqVY-MOGcn1mjgWprWe5PpZEk_ob2ZLBZZ09pxMC4m5-majyi2R0rmATLrTpEfgwNUCEXGBZVj0OUPxacYLzHm3br5R_WPJM/s640/blogger-image--1870108675.jpg"></a></div>We had booked back into the same hostel that Harriet and I stayed in a few years ago... Not much has changed and it was pretty surreal to be back! We had a few laid back drinks on the first big and visited the night market for food. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEG-pjXBc3lfH4Xfer3w9394zXVz8R3cplrFc0YuKu5523wCHA5h0IH-5XmDuVagE_ILzGO5mxezg8jfVTJsvfGOh9XTWxLGbT9QNAI3s1jHK8dSgFN7dN0974LMwuY6psaSlc7FgcYD9j/s640/blogger-image--445823842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEG-pjXBc3lfH4Xfer3w9394zXVz8R3cplrFc0YuKu5523wCHA5h0IH-5XmDuVagE_ILzGO5mxezg8jfVTJsvfGOh9XTWxLGbT9QNAI3s1jHK8dSgFN7dN0974LMwuY6psaSlc7FgcYD9j/s640/blogger-image--445823842.jpg"></a></div> We were just spending 2 nights this time to give us enough time to explore the island a bit and do some diving. Josh didn't feel up to it so just Lizzie and I dived, and we saw lots of huge turtles which was really cool :) once again no GoPro so no photos of that. In the evening we rented bikes and cycled to the other side of the island for sunset. It was a bit cloudy but we still took the classic Gili T swing photos. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPBd1ee5LNubgRs8wY37X_-Fbp6MVaXlvlqtL3wUvFv9ZMDfpcQdrjc7n-YQSmjHhrgCT2GCjM_hvczdTJbhPwznzcKy8YM4pwwfqctMF5ViiTJaQtAw8bOHhBjn3lHWWPFhPiy9rva74/s640/blogger-image--1908978530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPBd1ee5LNubgRs8wY37X_-Fbp6MVaXlvlqtL3wUvFv9ZMDfpcQdrjc7n-YQSmjHhrgCT2GCjM_hvczdTJbhPwznzcKy8YM4pwwfqctMF5ViiTJaQtAw8bOHhBjn3lHWWPFhPiy9rva74/s640/blogger-image--1908978530.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TaFdLwHlyGQ6oIQuyFkHYSeXi7UzurPRegz79PCox8eIFATLff73cUi8JE6ohpV_MIoUB2EgHYhoNF4g4Oi-JBwTVUZCJRhqQSbbiTBvVhrSRnoSYdBHADyMU4QcbfxXrSZLj9RNH99t/s640/blogger-image-1959637646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TaFdLwHlyGQ6oIQuyFkHYSeXi7UzurPRegz79PCox8eIFATLff73cUi8JE6ohpV_MIoUB2EgHYhoNF4g4Oi-JBwTVUZCJRhqQSbbiTBvVhrSRnoSYdBHADyMU4QcbfxXrSZLj9RNH99t/s640/blogger-image-1959637646.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMYiyKRDP73nACYupL8cWEhJzMz9bF8opKntkNJN_TbiI_-iLKcyOoIAbLX3aiRxfmUWmeCWTKEIvlxOZY0PDohG0u3GEgqkKNx7NI0sq1kv7HF1kNc01gzVREfNZoHJybd_9uUDbTYoB/s640/blogger-image--76905297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMYiyKRDP73nACYupL8cWEhJzMz9bF8opKntkNJN_TbiI_-iLKcyOoIAbLX3aiRxfmUWmeCWTKEIvlxOZY0PDohG0u3GEgqkKNx7NI0sq1kv7HF1kNc01gzVREfNZoHJybd_9uUDbTYoB/s640/blogger-image--76905297.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Liz and I then headed to Sama Sama for a bit of a night out (Josh still not feeling great) which was really fun although we both came back stinking of smoke... So glad that you can't smoke inside at home! We had a boat booked for the next morning to head back to mainland Bali. </div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div><br></div></div>AmyHarrietTravellinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607701423444900318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227660085348724246.post-28238516442951721372017-06-28T07:10:00.001-07:002017-06-28T07:16:24.401-07:00Bukit Lawang - Bali<div>Bukit Lawang, Sumatra </div><div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">24.6- we got up bright and early ready for the '7.30am' start.... Only to be told that we then weren't leaving until 9.30. Not the best start but finally the rest of our group arrived ( 2 Indian guys and 1 Nepal/Austrian girl) and we set off. There was a lot of up and down as we walked further into the jungle, and about an hour in we saw our first orangutan. She was clearly not fazed by humans and it was amazing to watch her swinging about in the trees. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigm4Lc_xmunWLC1_Mq_FjgvEadJAiYICp1GBwYMwNmMLaagNvZCpOGBFSXsGV72vphtCaYU3Yzo2sFZwr_0qotVzsjH4qvrkVzOsGtTle6y7026KdS1YZnTNFZ4TDRGHADZvhUqHSz1nOn/s640/blogger-image-200255502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigm4Lc_xmunWLC1_Mq_FjgvEadJAiYICp1GBwYMwNmMLaagNvZCpOGBFSXsGV72vphtCaYU3Yzo2sFZwr_0qotVzsjH4qvrkVzOsGtTle6y7026KdS1YZnTNFZ4TDRGHADZvhUqHSz1nOn/s640/blogger-image-200255502.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEg0so81q1qRyrc7gbCROJyWtfvaS00ikHRsW1ggF0-saDpnymJqofkt34n07zLmURFZqflgWVq5HGMtO1k_X9Ka-Dmdr6XmYF6KF3OIp27h5ziXGkUZnZlm7ZK4AdGpX4-UpbaggFT3q/s640/blogger-image--827152986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEg0so81q1qRyrc7gbCROJyWtfvaS00ikHRsW1ggF0-saDpnymJqofkt34n07zLmURFZqflgWVq5HGMtO1k_X9Ka-Dmdr6XmYF6KF3OIp27h5ziXGkUZnZlm7ZK4AdGpX4-UpbaggFT3q/s640/blogger-image--827152986.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We carried on and stopped for a delicious fresh fruit stop- pineapple, bananas, passionfruit and watermelon. We continued our trek and stopped at a high up lunch spot- the guides just kept producing food from their backpacks! </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMC41ysWHJhQFpJzhfD5q8iXQFJnoAeIstKPmUOTMY4h-HzPivRX2_eTTSyDH_mDAwnaEkzJbHuQPZsH67N755aZtnRZVwuQklZDMh4MBnHSiY4xBIP5kTr0e4KXdaRMvL3Inx-rz0kjG/s640/blogger-image-1995468114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMC41ysWHJhQFpJzhfD5q8iXQFJnoAeIstKPmUOTMY4h-HzPivRX2_eTTSyDH_mDAwnaEkzJbHuQPZsH67N755aZtnRZVwuQklZDMh4MBnHSiY4xBIP5kTr0e4KXdaRMvL3Inx-rz0kjG/s640/blogger-image-1995468114.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We had just finished when the guides started to say "Mina's coming". Now apparently Mina is an aggressive orangutan, so they chuck fruit skins for her, to distract her from the tourists... However we saw no aggression and they continued to throw fruit for both her and a few other orangutans that came with her. Whilst an amazing experience to see them so close, it did not sit well with us that they were being fed; surely that is keeping them domesticated and so easy to poach if they want to interact with humans? It seemed far more for the tourists benefit than the animals.</div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRq6BlHY8X6oW0jNMApYqkV7q5Kc02UXCMXvJkpuTHkSve3ZpPZU3tOnS7Ds0XaZ17uq_UE-xDqU-MAIcBMDr-dkWZEeRGpXycMv2NU9qcd_PRbBzSr67kgx-WAqo1WnuWmAGO9PG7dQE5/s640/blogger-image--816054019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRq6BlHY8X6oW0jNMApYqkV7q5Kc02UXCMXvJkpuTHkSve3ZpPZU3tOnS7Ds0XaZ17uq_UE-xDqU-MAIcBMDr-dkWZEeRGpXycMv2NU9qcd_PRbBzSr67kgx-WAqo1WnuWmAGO9PG7dQE5/s640/blogger-image--816054019.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Anyway, we continued and saw some other types of monkeys and some more orangutans (and more fruit feeding...) and began and very slippery slope descent to the river camp. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkbHpkyq1VDKsbZu8_NzvHPLfEx-sIpi2mQjPOuqqnMDuPTq3jDkAlCSgTmmp7d4Ar7KhBDONI3flUI6ouqb8v-1JuIO_FcWvwCpa_AaDO2-ozFrNEBkP1dv9B9gJNH-LTxJfFHkHU-1U/s640/blogger-image--1820424650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkbHpkyq1VDKsbZu8_NzvHPLfEx-sIpi2mQjPOuqqnMDuPTq3jDkAlCSgTmmp7d4Ar7KhBDONI3flUI6ouqb8v-1JuIO_FcWvwCpa_AaDO2-ozFrNEBkP1dv9B9gJNH-LTxJfFHkHU-1U/s640/blogger-image--1820424650.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBv8Zyyw9a3GlyqkGsvIlOMQ-q214g_1VVm3VfvKrNQj3IUykE1lJHF854Qw17sSq3B2PkqZxgi562MaP-tFuYKHXtz-uptj_9lyxfkyqO49WjepCrtG3hYFFakk0CFjgpilVIiGsYSis8/s640/blogger-image--1256195272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBv8Zyyw9a3GlyqkGsvIlOMQ-q214g_1VVm3VfvKrNQj3IUykE1lJHF854Qw17sSq3B2PkqZxgi562MaP-tFuYKHXtz-uptj_9lyxfkyqO49WjepCrtG3hYFFakk0CFjgpilVIiGsYSis8/s640/blogger-image--1256195272.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The camp exceeded expectations, having sponge mattresses to lie on, and a generally waterproof roof. We also saw a massive monitor lizard having bath in the river. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNp7La7-D7KWWutfr_04GnG7LHOU9xbkZl0mt1POmvASy3oVObnDamZ1P9t1rCpiIiL9tIFFiDSJb5O5mjPSHoL3wfqmG802DP79YsjUjlrU99ZHCXhyPK2v8TlaDq2xkBcF75XAosyTVX/s640/blogger-image--625347596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNp7La7-D7KWWutfr_04GnG7LHOU9xbkZl0mt1POmvASy3oVObnDamZ1P9t1rCpiIiL9tIFFiDSJb5O5mjPSHoL3wfqmG802DP79YsjUjlrU99ZHCXhyPK2v8TlaDq2xkBcF75XAosyTVX/s640/blogger-image--625347596.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWW3cnh5ClUOoq5IkpWjR-ZHtVHeBVd-I9-oKK3E9jYdOqLL_gwAA500AlOpJEyalv71XkudE6kLcWy1kZ2fDQbIjlpTJriEu1qXZnjqZldGfIz8nnhOLrbaapElEcw2ApSz2UKY7dxfyL/s640/blogger-image-1719964323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWW3cnh5ClUOoq5IkpWjR-ZHtVHeBVd-I9-oKK3E9jYdOqLL_gwAA500AlOpJEyalv71XkudE6kLcWy1kZ2fDQbIjlpTJriEu1qXZnjqZldGfIz8nnhOLrbaapElEcw2ApSz2UKY7dxfyL/s640/blogger-image-1719964323.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> We spent the evening playing cards by candle light, eating a lovely meal and watching one of the younger guys perform card tricks. The rain was absolutely hammering all night but we stayed (mainly) dry in our little shelter.</div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">25.6- After a better than expected nights sleep we had breakfast and we're lucky enough to see a mum and baby orangutan that came to check out the camp. The baby managed to get inside one of the shelters and steal some biscuits, but at least they weren't intentionally feeding these! </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyqnjWJb2Xpd3UIndS-z-jWwYf1IQQZA8m0ZKH4xLJ7LDjanhm2rBcQZUWIzY76oEb0fRT9SLLd9SfbAK6MYKWYbi0BIcp6DvRQYBAEG4yp83080RtLuikaQk8UgCUaf2c5SCQHupWlHS/s640/blogger-image-1605020840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyqnjWJb2Xpd3UIndS-z-jWwYf1IQQZA8m0ZKH4xLJ7LDjanhm2rBcQZUWIzY76oEb0fRT9SLLd9SfbAK6MYKWYbi0BIcp6DvRQYBAEG4yp83080RtLuikaQk8UgCUaf2c5SCQHupWlHS/s640/blogger-image-1605020840.jpg"></a></div>Next we waded up river to a track up to a little waterfall. We all swam and relaxed here for a bit, then jumped into the river a few times, where the current would sweep you downstream- lots of fun! </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4UA9hlRMVGw5daWuJSgtlkCratM_6OyBafWu5X5Vw5FbL3TySs4HHOlX-NJZvfHd1S_OAQ38r8jdWCmCsmdE74vVInLt6ttdGHLRj5cS67rm8OwOj5s9u6UJRPXmySSJC6gPTWMrxDRA/s640/blogger-image-901661199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4UA9hlRMVGw5daWuJSgtlkCratM_6OyBafWu5X5Vw5FbL3TySs4HHOlX-NJZvfHd1S_OAQ38r8jdWCmCsmdE74vVInLt6ttdGHLRj5cS67rm8OwOj5s9u6UJRPXmySSJC6gPTWMrxDRA/s640/blogger-image-901661199.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUI7Od0IK7kimSEGBgMhd25iHbahRTMLJmLIws08EVssnZAff7NhSLDVVv58gsbh2fiBmF2d5mA5zBKZ7iUF4zmFch5Rk9NGbR0nlMf6CtDXUV4JGUTZQuLXjrfIoOyEdRgh9FlgbUQvr/s640/blogger-image-2082566551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUI7Od0IK7kimSEGBgMhd25iHbahRTMLJmLIws08EVssnZAff7NhSLDVVv58gsbh2fiBmF2d5mA5zBKZ7iUF4zmFch5Rk9NGbR0nlMf6CtDXUV4JGUTZQuLXjrfIoOyEdRgh9FlgbUQvr/s640/blogger-image-2082566551.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdu-2dwZn2Rogw_8r7CmaS_ebahYT2dkJEfkqhVSrebkFNH8HHuV3K06glFJSZqTuefI-QHdu5fY2mTHFYXUCTj_ra3gIbZjtKZbxOQYZo_jH3ceIoYavP86ErotJCob7OHnIoX5GWeHIo/s640/blogger-image-861007104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdu-2dwZn2Rogw_8r7CmaS_ebahYT2dkJEfkqhVSrebkFNH8HHuV3K06glFJSZqTuefI-QHdu5fY2mTHFYXUCTj_ra3gIbZjtKZbxOQYZo_jH3ceIoYavP86ErotJCob7OHnIoX5GWeHIo/s640/blogger-image-861007104.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCd97nMFs-tx44MvglBm9y6FHa8vDqIhBu5GbsqvTNemKQYRu231RWE9zZpQDu_J90EZuE2bDX44_2DNDJJDN9Ba3lCWh3zSf1m4xFOgfLlhB1kx7oJ2EomynSabt_faj15NlfsyM6Q_9/s640/blogger-image-1622081676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCd97nMFs-tx44MvglBm9y6FHa8vDqIhBu5GbsqvTNemKQYRu231RWE9zZpQDu_J90EZuE2bDX44_2DNDJJDN9Ba3lCWh3zSf1m4xFOgfLlhB1kx7oJ2EomynSabt_faj15NlfsyM6Q_9/s640/blogger-image-1622081676.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PnKsPa_B5t-Pb5KHIarzA79AyRQWU7H8MoUhJ97rVnTmA-dW7KoTdYn_BrdxxSYZlKuDwfWw16P7apcU9UEkwYQz3NDIgv1zD174yOo8MwEYpT6f9gA15y96MoW5z9QbK4Sp068clVWc/s640/blogger-image--551946871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PnKsPa_B5t-Pb5KHIarzA79AyRQWU7H8MoUhJ97rVnTmA-dW7KoTdYn_BrdxxSYZlKuDwfWw16P7apcU9UEkwYQz3NDIgv1zD174yOo8MwEYpT6f9gA15y96MoW5z9QbK4Sp068clVWc/s640/blogger-image--551946871.jpg"></a></div></div></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Then it was time for lunch and another amazing fruit platter before rafting back down the river in 5 tubes tied together and our stuff tied in plastic bags. When we arrived back in the village the celebrations for Eid were well underway and the village was busy with families picnicing along the river. We wandered around the village that afternoon and watched a variety of average fireworks being let off in some sketchy places in the evening! We then had a stressful night trying and failing to find accommodation in our next destination ( Lake Toba in Sumatra). We thought we had it solved, but later found out that everything was full. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">26.6- On to Plan B, go to dive on one of the islands... Also full everywhere we tried.... Plan C get back to the airport and get on a flight when we got there! We decided Bali was a safer bet due to being less Muslim and more touristy. We paid cash for the flight (6 million rupiah, quite the wad of cash) and left that evening for Jakarta. We then had a 6 hour wait in Jakarta, so we travelled round on the shuttle bus for a bit to find an open terminal and slept on the chairs in the entrance like homeless people.... We slept well on our next flight to Bali anyway! </div></div>AmyHarrietTravellinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607701423444900318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227660085348724246.post-65869445014765037902017-06-26T14:58:00.001-07:002017-06-26T14:58:42.716-07:00Perhentian islands - Penang - Medan, Sumatra<span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">20.6- we had a bit of a lie in then spent an hour or so on the beach before it was time to pack up and get on the </span><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">12 O'clock</span><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> speedboat back to the mainland. When we arrived in Kuala Besut we had a taxi driver latch on to us, despite us not wanting to leave for the airport for another 2 hours... He then proceeded to follow us and watch us eat lunch for the next few hours. We eventually took pity on him and got in his taxi to the airport in Kota Bharu. It was a short 55minute flight and we got served a snack and drink in the little propeller plane, with a catchy airline song to complete the experience. Top marks for firefly! We got the public bus into Georgetown, found a decent pod dorm hostel and went for a late </span><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">10.30pm</span><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> dinner at a Chinese cafe. We had a couple of drinks on the lively street of Love Lane with a bit of live music. </span><div><font color="#454545" face="UICTFontTextStyleBody"><br></font><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">21.6- after breakfast in the hostel we got the free shuttle bus into the centre of Georgetown and spent the morning wandering around the markets in the jetties and finding street art around lots of the streets. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBzEGgjgWaW2T3h0khNxJ4g7qU3qPc1_mnAfryUwdPJKwYV2eehH3Tc-1FoXdNbasnMAW-FsYsaaP9-MIG39TgxP6bnbTMCVcnB3Dtzfx933QdNnZLYi5wdat8AGXUXjRXd2DvnuMHjqe/s640/blogger-image--1029996523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBzEGgjgWaW2T3h0khNxJ4g7qU3qPc1_mnAfryUwdPJKwYV2eehH3Tc-1FoXdNbasnMAW-FsYsaaP9-MIG39TgxP6bnbTMCVcnB3Dtzfx933QdNnZLYi5wdat8AGXUXjRXd2DvnuMHjqe/s640/blogger-image--1029996523.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7luK8yNYP_1eyw_Fc0m4XP9t1ZpqHUEWSVfzvr_-_zFznAKGt7Z5uNS1VWpKxPnGwRLk6dlJ0LF3a7UoYKG0ZzAD6m92ru3tWnJJXyKW-PEAfWEvM13TiaNoRlmCvI9JWBF5XiF1MTj-M/s640/blogger-image-1748884356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7luK8yNYP_1eyw_Fc0m4XP9t1ZpqHUEWSVfzvr_-_zFznAKGt7Z5uNS1VWpKxPnGwRLk6dlJ0LF3a7UoYKG0ZzAD6m92ru3tWnJJXyKW-PEAfWEvM13TiaNoRlmCvI9JWBF5XiF1MTj-M/s640/blogger-image-1748884356.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We stopped for lunch at the esplanade street food market, but unfortunately most of the stalls were closed due to Ramadan. Josh and I had Hainenese veg and rice while Lizzie had some unknown tofu and noodle dish. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUc6cZ-QF3tIoBdcJraqT2untOT3UcQ0S2k6I1Iiz-F5zooqceAyA153QIkrFIhBVzLPdV4jGxvzENVHN5htPOOW2idwzlGbiGop9I7yU1B1FbBk958HhW0UiIhUaAQA_RbG2txNpaJSXr/s640/blogger-image--686897452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUc6cZ-QF3tIoBdcJraqT2untOT3UcQ0S2k6I1Iiz-F5zooqceAyA153QIkrFIhBVzLPdV4jGxvzENVHN5htPOOW2idwzlGbiGop9I7yU1B1FbBk958HhW0UiIhUaAQA_RbG2txNpaJSXr/s640/blogger-image--686897452.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I then went to find an Internet cafe to have a quick FaceTime job interview, while L and J went to the Wonderfood museum, which involved a lot of plastic food models and picture taking. After that we got the shuttle back across town and went to the 3D glow in the dark museum, which was totally random and involved a lot more hilarious photos. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguJboYzWf957lHIxzrT2Ti7ZsseITGNBdxC1LvV1GiIWS-oZgwi8FI07mTAVarZHqqY-jHC3MjtVswRBkSmbpW4ZmlO4u8vl7C_bdLhUaFmbRD4pxCfyUTdjnGMlrqOSzSx3AuEvL0ToF/s640/blogger-image--1982148171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguJboYzWf957lHIxzrT2Ti7ZsseITGNBdxC1LvV1GiIWS-oZgwi8FI07mTAVarZHqqY-jHC3MjtVswRBkSmbpW4ZmlO4u8vl7C_bdLhUaFmbRD4pxCfyUTdjnGMlrqOSzSx3AuEvL0ToF/s640/blogger-image--1982148171.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBn4h3UxABlCMdkLL_8wjlxES986gFrp1PuTGEVD9jjpjSiOTBudfMkwM3blwGDhVKwLWaim_YAMLL_-p93qwxb0kYn-gQtWj7CotLtS2VdyCvqh-gpmMoXjQ88d88nImE-DQ4FjZkR5S/s640/blogger-image--257095834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBn4h3UxABlCMdkLL_8wjlxES986gFrp1PuTGEVD9jjpjSiOTBudfMkwM3blwGDhVKwLWaim_YAMLL_-p93qwxb0kYn-gQtWj7CotLtS2VdyCvqh-gpmMoXjQ88d88nImE-DQ4FjZkR5S/s640/blogger-image--257095834.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We went to a nearby street food market for dinner and had a duck and rice dish (Fried tofu and prawn cake thing for Josh) and some weird peanut rice cake dumpling for dessert. Then we sat and people watched at some bars with a few nice cocktails, it felt like we had made the most of the day! </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">22.6- first up was a walking tour of Georgetown, which was really interesting and event better because it was free! </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNqioNzLcLcgyvhpuADYcjCySrPqjE5LRTX8b6zOElAtqSOIU911_Qmgo3WosAe8jE6Qq-WVxUHuvgu6qsFzUFsY2d12_abV8bn15Cfzv-AWxjPAT0pNjKv9zMn-QVfV6jxk1wL9JQFIn/s640/blogger-image--1325181777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNqioNzLcLcgyvhpuADYcjCySrPqjE5LRTX8b6zOElAtqSOIU911_Qmgo3WosAe8jE6Qq-WVxUHuvgu6qsFzUFsY2d12_abV8bn15Cfzv-AWxjPAT0pNjKv9zMn-QVfV6jxk1wL9JQFIn/s640/blogger-image--1325181777.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Next we tried another street food court (Penang is very foodie!)- dim sum for Lizzie and Josh, nasi lemak for me (a bit on the spicy side!) and then some weird sweet rice and sweet dim sum for dessert! </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUJKr6vjwDXIev3xXbG0TD-P6e2gOudkzn0YbTZQRLp4uA42avINCjN2dMypOFI_atbCBuN26pxosYqQEZBqoExzWnb7JREKH02SnACJyj_doloiVdEgvi7Ekjd3qmYUpB9DTMXXDix0l/s640/blogger-image--2033690193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUJKr6vjwDXIev3xXbG0TD-P6e2gOudkzn0YbTZQRLp4uA42avINCjN2dMypOFI_atbCBuN26pxosYqQEZBqoExzWnb7JREKH02SnACJyj_doloiVdEgvi7Ekjd3qmYUpB9DTMXXDix0l/s640/blogger-image--2033690193.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDmnqc6DODgJ53s9zAyhsYdQ_h_Z_vI6Y2NI-GKtQp4ugve0Fnnt5bZw-PzDxa0W2rPuiF_KoT7ISXnyPvwq6D9htyBU3gkHhO3NECZBWHov2Kekk0d85vIsK8FlYdNyWuNp2zkhpbHLE/s640/blogger-image-43284645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDmnqc6DODgJ53s9zAyhsYdQ_h_Z_vI6Y2NI-GKtQp4ugve0Fnnt5bZw-PzDxa0W2rPuiF_KoT7ISXnyPvwq6D9htyBU3gkHhO3NECZBWHov2Kekk0d85vIsK8FlYdNyWuNp2zkhpbHLE/s640/blogger-image-43284645.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We wandered a bit more and then went to a very random cat cafe. Mixed thoughts on this, the cats were all generally in good condition but I still think the whole concept is a bit odd. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqc_8hFxdWICyyB_01bGPdNIoUOdrOX0kcQHWLX7z_j_kpY194qLyhTrIzPtNmueVJE0TO97ShcU4J9JFzKWZ-BaEnLbY6_iE3yIZnWa1XUhKlatwYadj0FCus_uobTrxx9MRFpNp_Wc1p/s640/blogger-image-2010929813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqc_8hFxdWICyyB_01bGPdNIoUOdrOX0kcQHWLX7z_j_kpY194qLyhTrIzPtNmueVJE0TO97ShcU4J9JFzKWZ-BaEnLbY6_iE3yIZnWa1XUhKlatwYadj0FCus_uobTrxx9MRFpNp_Wc1p/s640/blogger-image-2010929813.jpg"></a></div>However it did fill half an hour while it was raining before it was time to get the bus to the airport. Our 45 minute flight was delayed by nearly 3 hours, but we enjoyed some western Mac and cheese for airport food! We were the only Caucasians on the flight and we were totally baffled when checking in by the amount of stuff people had- boxes and boxes up to 100kgs per person. We also had the most turbulent landing I have ever experienced, which was a bit scary... We were very glad to have arrived in stormy Medan and have a driver waiting to take us to the hostel. Really cute little family guesthouse. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">23.6- our host made us some lovely scrambled eggs on toast, and we had several rounds of photos with passing locals- I don't think they get many white tourists in Medan! We then decided to book a car through the orangutan trek people who picked us up and drove us the 4 hours to Bukit Lawang. The driving here is mental, mainly due to the many weaving motorbikes (we saw one with 7 people on...) and lots of beeping (it seems to politely mean- move I'm coming through). We arrived at our room which we have paid £0.80 each for- it's fine apart from the very low down bucket flush toilet!!</div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We decided to walk to the bat cave, where we paid 25000 rupiah each (about £1.60) to go in with a local guide with flash torches, bargain! Saw lots of bats and a few monkeys on the walk back. We made it back just in time before the heavens opened and we learnt why they call it a rainforest. </div></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJQSRt_vy3LdQkig6-Mk9Bwfxlq-GtNbXqtQDca6LfdqxBH-DebsE0VJ_cuXJ3cpzjfD0YB_LzTLwG017YEbK59sI0j4PUZMzg17my1CkQkLTzgXPPQcdV2WHdqOt1jUDeSa3XGkSzBbn/s640/blogger-image-867485637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJQSRt_vy3LdQkig6-Mk9Bwfxlq-GtNbXqtQDca6LfdqxBH-DebsE0VJ_cuXJ3cpzjfD0YB_LzTLwG017YEbK59sI0j4PUZMzg17my1CkQkLTzgXPPQcdV2WHdqOt1jUDeSa3XGkSzBbn/s640/blogger-image-867485637.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ54_01eYHJThDL6MYphlf-PrIzOyguCyPQL2j0JqOKkcdJ5qRST8FGOTi7EksKzfDwlH930FsWgyoTA4G6xc1DJW0OV9W-7FfnCX1Ruwl5-tOIPERwc1X-mpMEKKpQ-mWSJEIkE4_fCyo/s640/blogger-image--536336917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ54_01eYHJThDL6MYphlf-PrIzOyguCyPQL2j0JqOKkcdJ5qRST8FGOTi7EksKzfDwlH930FsWgyoTA4G6xc1DJW0OV9W-7FfnCX1Ruwl5-tOIPERwc1X-mpMEKKpQ-mWSJEIkE4_fCyo/s640/blogger-image--536336917.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Next stop jungle trekking to search for orangutans! </div><br></div><br></div><br></div>AmyHarrietTravellinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607701423444900318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227660085348724246.post-10604850426737402232017-06-19T22:58:00.001-07:002017-06-19T22:58:35.073-07:00Kuala Lumpur- Taman Negara - Perhentian islands<span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Kuala Lumpur 12.6.17</span><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We arrived in KL at about 3pm after a very rushed transfer at Qatar. Picked up our bags, and got a bus into KL, ended up at Pudu central rather than KL Sentral but we found our way to the hostel eventually. 25 by Ohana was on floor 25 of the building and was small but clean. We did some planning then headed to the nearby mall food court as it was raining. Josh was horrified to see rats running around the kitchens... Welcome to Asia!!</div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">13.6- After a bit of a lie in and breakfast in the hostel we headed out to explore Chinatown. The wet markets were an experience, with all varieties of live and dead animals.... Now nicknamed salmonella street. Then we looked around a Hindu temple and walked to the botanical gardens in the Colonial district. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEiNxbjmQIn2RkgCFsTJDK4UHEgTXi53AzIhh5aPSolw25yHobeUx_iW1c13sfk3Dl38NaSWoNvxui92FxUhjV-1ie8rYh82dcJRLEtAUula605sYnI3p620qt-0uqfp7cyfcGTazkFY1/s640/blogger-image--1101673525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEiNxbjmQIn2RkgCFsTJDK4UHEgTXi53AzIhh5aPSolw25yHobeUx_iW1c13sfk3Dl38NaSWoNvxui92FxUhjV-1ie8rYh82dcJRLEtAUula605sYnI3p620qt-0uqfp7cyfcGTazkFY1/s640/blogger-image--1101673525.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Next up was little India, we looked at the markets and tried and failed to find a restaurant from the guide book... Turns out a lot of the others were closed due to Ramadan. We ate in another mall food court which was a lot cleaner, and the nasi goreng Tom yam was good! We wandered back through the markets, bought some fruit, a high quality £3 watch for Josh and £8 'mulberry' bag for me. Got the packed monorail back to Imbi. Went for a swim and sauna in the pool in our building- 3rd storey and unexpectedly nice. Did a bit more planning and then walked to Jalan Alor for dinner- really nice satay, lemon fish, veg, rice and drinks for under £9 each. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38opFWV5SQY7OywCNayVJhJZr28VcwqrxICMyJsL49DycXfhhHOCfBmkzAmvw7MsWWOoZPUjxmkDzOXbS-cvK7BrSApp7HgqDQMSJvPkzKozUwRHUFngwyXSA5mbb0X0J8T0GocA8Cbgj/s640/blogger-image-689284116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38opFWV5SQY7OywCNayVJhJZr28VcwqrxICMyJsL49DycXfhhHOCfBmkzAmvw7MsWWOoZPUjxmkDzOXbS-cvK7BrSApp7HgqDQMSJvPkzKozUwRHUFngwyXSA5mbb0X0J8T0GocA8Cbgj/s640/blogger-image-689284116.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">14.7- early start to get the bus 8am bus to Jerantut. We were collared at the bus stop by a guy who could take us to the national park in a minibus. So an hour later we arrived in Kuala Tahan, a little village just across the river from the park, and we stayed at the Yellow Guesthouse, where Katie had stayed las year. The owner was a quiet old man but the room was fine. That afternoon we went into the park for a walk to the swimming spot, decided not to swim as the water looked a bit grim, then I headed back to try and get wifi for a Skype interview, while Lizzie and josh carried on and got covered in leeches. That evening we ate in one of the floating restaurants on the river, and then went for a guided night jungle walk, where we saw a lot of massive spiders, scorpions and a snake. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">15.7- had breakfast in one of the floating restaurants and bought some snacks for lunch and headed into the park again. We did the £1 canopy walk which was really cool, if a little sketchy being so high up! Then we walked through the jungle to a viewpoint, Bukit Indah and we were all incredibly sweaty and gross when we got there, but it was a fab spot for a lunch stop. Next we walked the couple of hours back relieved we had spent the whole day leech free. We spent an hour of so chilling and planning back at the guesthouse before dinner. We got to the restaurant just in time before the heavens opened, but luckily the rain doesn't last too long here. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kUjEyXDAe9795M56Lne63lYF_iR6YFXPFz180HP8oLEsAjoKwVQVXXme5cVwnMhT1ot5hfVZ1x5SVHYHdWxq6cV0YzClGO4UGg_OCCRDozFVK6ISTVKKe6t1YjwpNFiwix63J7DzF5Nt/s640/blogger-image--24202529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kUjEyXDAe9795M56Lne63lYF_iR6YFXPFz180HP8oLEsAjoKwVQVXXme5cVwnMhT1ot5hfVZ1x5SVHYHdWxq6cV0YzClGO4UGg_OCCRDozFVK6ISTVKKe6t1YjwpNFiwix63J7DzF5Nt/s640/blogger-image--24202529.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8DS_omH786nKBgpoUy9ueovpj8wYJSSQdvE8Wk6btTGsIt2USNY42l3GIt5MLN3BcDH195BE9pRA3u-86OKAUUmFJEVKRNZvSQZ6bfMTWWHMqSjudFhf8nsukmbyc1iTEx8oFiXGJxYF/s640/blogger-image--1596618536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8DS_omH786nKBgpoUy9ueovpj8wYJSSQdvE8Wk6btTGsIt2USNY42l3GIt5MLN3BcDH195BE9pRA3u-86OKAUUmFJEVKRNZvSQZ6bfMTWWHMqSjudFhf8nsukmbyc1iTEx8oFiXGJxYF/s640/blogger-image--1596618536.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLc57l3WhF40tzBz9OPCuYzeayWRBzQktOukVyi7ruAtk7-B-PhW9SY6PzI2p5AXt9m9M7_b_1DTXMYx5hUm549OIySuc48PxinV_cGXyE0vfQr0Fo3gx21CWFoGvzR89hp26R58Rk7OYS/s640/blogger-image--996179787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLc57l3WhF40tzBz9OPCuYzeayWRBzQktOukVyi7ruAtk7-B-PhW9SY6PzI2p5AXt9m9M7_b_1DTXMYx5hUm549OIySuc48PxinV_cGXyE0vfQr0Fo3gx21CWFoGvzR89hp26R58Rk7OYS/s640/blogger-image--996179787.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">16.7- 8am bus from Kuala Tahan back to Jerantut, and the 1h 15 journey took just 45 minutes this was due to the psycho driver going 70mph around blind bends on the wrong side of the road. We were very relieved to reach Jerantut in one piece and had a new driver for the next leg of the journey. After a slight delay at the lunch stop we arrived at the jetty about 5pm and got on a speed boat to the Perhentian islands. When we arrived on Kecil (small island) we wandered along the beach to find the best deal for diving; Josh was doing his open water PADI and Lizzie and I the advanced. We settled on Matahari dive school and our own room rather than the mosquito full dorm. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Next was the moment we had all been waiting for; results. The wifi is crap so it wears maybe the longest 15 minutes of my life waiting for the page to load... WE ARE VETS!!!! We did it!!! It has taken a while to sink in, but we were also delighted to find out the entire year have passed :) I then had a FaceTime job interview and finally we could celebrate with dinner and our first alcoholic bev of the holiday :) </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">17.7- Dive courses started, boring videos and a dive for Josh, a wreck and buoyancy practice for me and Lizzie. Our instructor is a Malay guy called Aslan and Josh had a Dutch girl called Mira. More nice food and relaxing in paradise </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYg9vCzTORhp0jyCpUB_DnyA-vb0Lp2gGmebAl_HokW-IuW6AaVTvynotbgF6QgAoX_j1Ubx_8wMZpT-ZsYMWz9QinFxk7YzDfTcLe6N5qngCfoHqidNOgJ1TjqcBqN5ZKrf39zJ2em12j/s640/blogger-image-565857968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYg9vCzTORhp0jyCpUB_DnyA-vb0Lp2gGmebAl_HokW-IuW6AaVTvynotbgF6QgAoX_j1Ubx_8wMZpT-ZsYMWz9QinFxk7YzDfTcLe6N5qngCfoHqidNOgJ1TjqcBqN5ZKrf39zJ2em12j/s640/blogger-image-565857968.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">18.7- Deep dive at Vietnamese wreck for me and Liz, followed by some sunbathing while Josh did a few more dives and videos. Later on we did a night dive, we went down as it was getting dark and had torches under the water, saw lots of stingrays and a couple of octopus which was cool. There was also a storm going on outside and the lightning flashes would light up the water which was awesome. Slightly scary little boat ride back though! Had some nice redang curry at our fav chill out cafe on the beach. Next we tried to have a session booking more flights but the wifi wouldn't play ball. As we were sat in reception lizzies bag got nicked. Whoever did it must be well practices as it went from right under our nose. Luckily it only had a few pounds in, and the whoever took it chucked the room key about 5m from us. Relieved to still have out passports! </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">19.7- we all went to the same dive site this morning, where we did underwater navigation. It was a nice reef and saw some cool fish. Josh finished off his open water and we finished our advanced. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3AINVgMa6PZnu_p9hu4TBcXKgOyOgkSZNuY-JPNOYq6L-RLwlmoXrh3VKaryPl22mEp36qvnJfrP1nVYO8FHaR0pKSNxeeFGvUrRwv2L0DoVQ65etcIH9PHLxWVI4V03waCfPWyWK0YUJ/s640/blogger-image--953436060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3AINVgMa6PZnu_p9hu4TBcXKgOyOgkSZNuY-JPNOYq6L-RLwlmoXrh3VKaryPl22mEp36qvnJfrP1nVYO8FHaR0pKSNxeeFGvUrRwv2L0DoVQ65etcIH9PHLxWVI4V03waCfPWyWK0YUJ/s640/blogger-image--953436060.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We walked to the other side of the island for a disappointing cloudy sunset and BBQ dinner. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkb1vyWTEfFcyy3NAgzYdDmTRgVhSD0cK6hzpiCRdlR20wr5U4-PC2eB1wWkv1k0cBL0niE9Wq9opNeOJws6ubjpdHoH0gLkzb9nXDh1RPYyNQboI82Uzld0k74_aWrLxdZzNOxHMVFmwl/s640/blogger-image-115453387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkb1vyWTEfFcyy3NAgzYdDmTRgVhSD0cK6hzpiCRdlR20wr5U4-PC2eB1wWkv1k0cBL0niE9Wq9opNeOJws6ubjpdHoH0gLkzb9nXDh1RPYyNQboI82Uzld0k74_aWrLxdZzNOxHMVFmwl/s640/blogger-image-115453387.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Next stop Penang!</div>AmyHarrietTravellinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607701423444900318noreply@blogger.com0