Up, Up and AWAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY! 1st Stop- Malaysia!

Thank God. Finally, FINALLY. Ye old travel itch is getting a well deserved, GIANT scratch.
And how wonderful to kick off this special solo expedition with my special partner in crime....
And so it begins...


It's the smell that hits me first. A cliched burst of memories. Stinky and sweet , yet inviting. And the heat- much like Broometown, but with that familiar 'asian influence.'
It was a long flight, but with butterflies in my belly, and my man by my side (finally!)- things were looking pretty good.
We landed first in K.L. I'd left the Malaysian accom up to Brad and , he was definitely up to the job. Above and beyond. The first hotel was ridiculous- all chandeliers and high ceilings and white gloved service- ooh la -la...He wanted me to taste a little luxury before my 1 star backpacking adventure- and taste I did!
The first night we hit the markets and then woke up to the celebration of Brad's 28th year! ( and the bday fairy had visited-where do those b'day decos came from!?)
Brad wanted to spend his b'day in the Cameron Highlands-and so, his wish was my command.
We took a long, decidedly bumpy bus ride, through the rolling tea plantations and leafy jungle and arrived at an even more impressive hotel! Spoilt!
After exploring the town's centre and buying an array of useless/'must -have' items we donned the hiking shoes and set off to find Brad's dream b'day prezzie- the extremely venemous and therefore even more appealing ( to him) cobra! ( He really , really wanted to catch one...other people wish for a bike for their b'day- my boy- a big fat poisonous snake!)

We forged our way up an unmarked mountain, through thick, wet, shiny jungle, keeping an eye,ear, and very heightened heart-rate on alert for our fork- tongued friend.
We trekked , and slid and sweated for hours until Brad discovered, what we are pretty sure was a tiger footprint- uh huh- an actual tiger...in the jungle. With us. NO-ONE BUT US... eeek.
We headed back pretty quickly after that...
Later that night we dined in the hotel's Malaysian style restaurant, where we ordered the exotically entitled ' Steamboat.' The eager, ridiculously attentive waiters brought out dish after dish of what looked like raw fish and meat and weird little balls.
Then some uncooked noodles and a gas cooker- exactly like the ones we take camping.
Brad and I looked at each other and asked the staff many times, whether we were meant to eat it raw or heat it with the soup. They assured us, it was to be eaten as is. So just as we were about to 'give it a go' and thus give ourselves a serious case of food poisoning, they lit the gas cooker and stared at us as if we were crazy! A typical example of a language barrier- but a funny one. I was trying so hard not to laugh- I kept making very unattractive little snort sounds and tears were streaming down my face. Poor Brad had to keep talking to them as normal, whilst trying very hard not to look at me. Then they left. And we lost it. A very funny end to his first day as a 28 year old.

The next day we went on an organised trek through the jungle, visited the impressive rolling tea plantations and sampled some local strawberry produce. That night, nicely exhausted we discoved a little dive of a restaurant, where we woke up the drunk/owner/chef/only other person in the whole place, and he whipped up an impressively delicious feast. Not bad , for someone who wouldn't have looked out of place lolling about on the street with a paper bag in hand!
The next day and another bumpy bus ride later we arrived at the seaside suburb- Penang.
I kept remembering strange little tidbits of my family trip there - same same, but different!
Then to the really special markets- but as fate would have it- the taxi driver, dropped us right outside a snake show- which showcased...wait for it....the elusive cobra!
Brad managed to convince the head honcho that because he was a professional snake catcher in Australia, that he should be allowed to handle this huge, very poisonous creature! And he did- and it was fantastic.If a little heartstopping. ok- ALOT. Late b'day wish granted! Afterwards we were both exhausted, too much adrenalin will do that to ya.
The next day- a bargain keyboard was purchased for him, a cheap travelling watch for me and some new runners- the others got ruined in the tiger trek!
And then before we knew it it was our last night together for months!
We treated ourselves to a seafood/ tropical fruit cockatail feast in a jungle style restaurant which was amazing.
The next day, a quick flight back to K.L and then lots of squeezes, lots of talk of time travelling way too quickly, and then...there was one. Just me. Flying solo...
Until next time- bon voyage my beloveds xxoxoxo