Destination: Malaysia

KK is OK

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 | By melaniebrigden | Views [325]

Good morning from the opulence of the Hotel Promenda in Kota Kinabalu where two cups of tea or coffee would cost the same as an entire days food and drink last week.  You can imagine I've just been one block away and paid local price for my teh tarik ... Read more >

Day 4

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 | By melaniebrigden | Views [524]

How was English Kathie? Have only 15 mins left on this as checked in for tomorrow online. Tomorrow I will sleep in KotaKinabalu,  2 1/2  hour flight to the north, late arrival, so don't expect to hear from me.  I'll put that on the map below. BTW I'm ... Read more >

Day three

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 | By melaniebrigden | Views [342]

Hey Kathie good lucks for English tomorrow.  You've improved so much this year, and I know you'll think about what is the question  that they are expecting you to answer. Have spent $90 NZ on this since arriving in Singapore. Bought a new cheap camera ... Read more >

Photos: Malaysia - Penang, Melaka and Kuala Lumpur

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 | By pauluiza | Photo Gallery

Day two

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 | By melaniebrigden | Views [240]

Just out of the pool (in the rain) and awaiting the rest of the group for dinner.  Have rung RW and left a message. A full session of lectures this morning. I have come up with a selection of bites on my arms, no knowledge of having received them. ... Read more >

Banquet

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 | By melaniebrigden | Views [190]

20 mins left before the shuttle to day two. The banquet last night was just off the planet.   If you think the new outfit is over the top, well, it sure wasn't. Didn't have a hope of identifying Rod K.  At one stage I wandered about thinking he ... Read more >

In which my jaw drops to the floor.

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 | By melaniebrigden | Views [264]

After the banquet extravaganza, we're all bought back to earth by having to pile into buses to be taken from the venue to the taxis. The people in the aisle seats are talking animatedly and I pick up in a foreign sentence, the words 'Vacherot and Lecoufle'.... Read more >

Day one

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 | By melaniebrigden | Views [249]

The minivan's route from the Miramar hotel to the Marina Bay Sands complex showed I was truly taken for a ride by the taxi last night.  Well, it was the only option at the time. The only way to describe the complex is to suggest you google it. It ... Read more >

Good lucks for maths

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 | By melaniebrigden | Views [261]

Chose to spend $10 writing this over spending $10 getting two pair of damply washed knickers dry! Now that I have hot water, decided to handwash everything, including pants and tops.  Only the Kathmandu fabrics have dried.  The cotton knickers not. ... Read more >

In which I deliberately harm people

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 | By melaniebrigden | Views [479]

Greetings from the 'business centre' of the Hotel Miramar, where the swanky lady in the purple evening outfit has 25 minutes left for her $10.  Jut back from the fabulous 'gala preview' of the 20WOC,  Mike D you would like some of the masde's. An arduous ... Read more >

Let the 20WOC begin!

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 | By melaniebrigden | Views [345]

Despite the irritating children between 1am and 2am I woke as usual at 5.30am, in my luxurious room. Its 10.30am now and I will finish today at the Orchid Conference preview!  How different can it get? By 6am, clear full moon, I was walking towards ... Read more >

Pontian

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 | By melaniebrigden | Views [478]

Wandering back maybe 2km from the cybercafe to the hotel, this small somewhat ramshackle town specialises not only in fish but fabric - shops of fabric flowers and also the most incredible range of colours/ patterns of fabrics by the metre for sewing ... Read more >

The first orchids

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 | By melaniebrigden | Views [198]

This hotel has a 'roof garden' so up I went: orchid heaven!  And every plant named and dated, and plants I recognise and not - flowers, even the arrangement of planter pots artistic, plus all these myriad orchids on wee mounts strung up on the bamboo.... Read more >

. You're not in Christchurch now, Dr Ropata v2.

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 | By melaniebrigden | Views [413]

Out and about at 6am this morning, the usual family stall not yet ready so I wandered in the dark along to the Melaka jetty, survived the tunnel of trees of a million abluting birds. Again the staff at Time Hotel were incredibly helpful.  The internet ... Read more >

On to Pontian

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 | By melaniebrigden | Views [251]

Just back from a night cruise of the Melaka river, it was really nice with lighting all along, a 45 minute journey up and back. Only MYR10 - $4. I'm not sure when you will read from me again. Tomorrow I attempt to stuff my pack, attempt to offload ... Read more >