Malaysia

So I'm in Malaysia now, on the island of Penang.

Quite simply, Malaysians are the nicest people in the world. Yes, one or two will try to con you (like the "Yoggi man" I called a "F***ing snake oil merchant" the other day, and the numerous requests I've had to help people with visas - yeah, right). But, on the whole they're a wonderful people and the cultural merging of India, China and the natural Malay culture makes for wonderful - and cheap food! Seriously, my dinner last night cost about 60p.

Awesome!

Comics related - warning those of you who think I'm sad. Like I care.

Buy this, that is all.

And it's written by Paul Cornell who's written some of the best Dr Who episodes of recent years, including the 2 parter last season set in the public school with the Doctor becoming human and the excellent Jekyll which graced BBC TV shortly afterwards.

Farewell Honkers - it was truly Bonkers.

Wow,

What a town Hong Kong was!

From the utter crazyness of Mong Kok and the old town, with its "bird market" "goldfish market" and other random places, to the sheer obsession with shops.

Walking past shops selling birds nests, and other "delicacies"; the sheer obsession with capitalism that puts the US to shame; the rudeness of the people; watching people gamble like idiots in Macau; The Giant Buddha, perhaps the least spiritual place I've ever been too!

So much to say, it's a crazy place and well worth spending a week in if you're out that way!

Big thanks of course to Mylo for putting me up for a week and being a great host! And of course to the boys and "ladies" of Kowloon Rugby Club who made me so welcome both on and off the field. The Miss Kowloon contest has left many scars, thats all I really care to divulge right now!

So goodbye Australia.

Hmm its time to leave. Feels weird the whole idea of getting on a plane again after 2 months. It's weird. I've actually gotten so used to Australia. The other day for example, I walked around a museum, barefoot, with a stinger suit up to my waist, topless wearing only a hat and aviators.

Heck I find myself sat here at 6:10pm on a laptop in shorts, thongs and a VB beater like its the most natural thing in the world!

There are some things I'm not gonna miss about Australia though:

1) The general rudeness of the blokes
2) The strange obsession with the song "The Piano-man"
3) Greyhound drivers - are they really old or is it just the toughest job in the world? - so weather beaten!
4) Backpacker bars. These places are the scummiest places on earth, making student nights seem somehow flash!

Things I am gonna miss:

1) The Ocean
2) The sun - apparently HK's really cold right now!

The highlights? Oh there've been many, from being asked alongside my cousin Stu if we were a "couple of poofters" in the ironically named "Port Fairy", to trying to hitch a lift home on Fraser Island with my tour guide whilst in an extreme state of consciousness on Australia Day and proceeding to have an in depth discussion of the life and works of the Thievery Corporation with anyone who we could find with a ute!

Anyway, I'm off to Hong Kong tomorrow following what is bound to be a fun night of sleep at Cairns airport! Apparently it's cold! But, I've got a rugby game lined up hopefully. Eek! Should be good though, then off to Kuala Lumpur (or "oompah" as we prefer to call it_. I'm Horse confident that it'll all be apples!

Hoa boy this place just keeps getting better.

So after the excellence that was Fraser Island (seriously, every bit a beautiful as the eponymous 'they' say). It was off to the Whitsundays fro an awesome 3 days of sailing and nights of sleeping on the deck and general boozyness (bekark has gone global folks!)

Anyway, back on dry land, it's raining (again) it's mid afternoon and I'm trying to work out where on earth I'm gonna be able to watch the England game tonight.

Oh and tomorrow I'm on a bus all day. Doh! This country gets better and better the further north you go though!