Parasailing around Sapi Island

Passing time in KK, we took a trip to Sapi Island (just a 20 minute boat journey) for a spot of parasailing.  It was hilarious(!!)

They dropped us into the water and we were coughing and splatting around on the water - would've been such a great sight for a scuba diver underneath. 

bye xx

Wildlife-spotting in Borneo

After two weeks of fun in Western Malaysia, we really thought it was time to stop fannying around and time, to see an orangutan.  Spontaneously, we booked a flight for the next day and NEEEOOWWWW: we arrived in KK.  A traumatic 7-hour coach journey surrounded by vomiting and unhygienic humans left us sitting in the dark, on the side of a roundabout, in the middle of nowhere... however, at the sight of a familiar 'Wildlife' T-shirt peering out of a 4x4, we were transported to a beautiful hostel surrounded by baby turtles, lakes and monkeys jumping around in the trees; Sepilok.

On our first morning we managed to crawl out of bed at 9am and make it the Orangutan Rehab Centre by 10am.  The red apes swung to the feeding block from all directions and we were able to view seven of them fighting over the biggest banana.  We were, at first, a little sceptical of the Sepilok 'Rehabilitation' Centre but were pleasantly surprised by the fact that the crowds weren't so big that we could not see the animals and that it was not simply a zoo built for tourists but actually a fantastic cause! The charity rescue orphaned animals or those that have been inappropriately kept as pets.  They are taught survival skills such as climbing and foraging (what an amazing job those guys have!!!) before being released into the protected forest to fend for themselves.  It was wonderful to be able to see a snippet of all this up close!!! 

The next step in our wildlife adventure was to head to Bilit Lodge on the river bank, where we spent two days cruising the waters in a tiny boat, spotting completely wild orangutans, the hilarious proboscis monkeys, silver monkeys, long-tailed macaques, pygmy elephants, a crocodile, a range of hornbills and some other funky birds.  It was like safari on water and we got lucky(!) 

Perhentian Islands

... were Beautiful. We spent a luxurious week of doing absolutely nothing. After days of diving and sunbathing, we headed for endless milkshakes and Tom Yum soups at the Cafes and Restaurants. 

Wet Dog^

We filled our evenings drinking 'Monkey Juice' (essentially Banana flavored Poison) at the ever-busy Panorama bar, with a live band every night. After a few drinks we would head across to the 'Black Tip' bar to watch the fire shows and the convincing lady-boys, whilst chilling on bamboo mats in the sand. On the Saturday, they held a party for the whole island which lead us to a boogey with our beloved dive master: Crumb. It was GREAT. A night out on the town really doesn't compare to partying with the sand between your toes and sweat dripping down your face -  Brilliant. 

If you head to The Perhentian Islands, you simply MUST try a banana and chocolate milkshake from panorama, we had literally 3 every day and never regret the calories.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Although everyone insists that KL is a place you HAVE to stop... we are not quite sure why.

We may have missed something, or it may just be that we are island girls and panic when we cannot see the beach... but two days was defiantly more then enough to see and escape the city.

However, we did slightly over indulge in western life with a little shopping and tourist attractions.
On our first day we decided to jump on the hop-on, hop-off tourist bus, which showed us around all the attractions in KL, we pondered around museums, visited the palace and explored the aquarium, which was actually really good (we love sharks!).

We filled up on amazing street food in the streets of China Town, cooking our own tofu and broccoli in the steamy pan in front of us, then smothering it in satay and chili sauce - delicious. China Town is also the place you want to be for a bargain; a mulberry purse for three pounds? - Yes Please.

On our second day we headed to the 'Biggest Bird Park in the World' because Jodie loves the feathery creatures. From Flamingos to kingfishers, we were well and truly surrounded by lots of colourful egg laying specimens and also an entire park full of bird poo, mmmm.

We made our way to the Perinthian on the overnight bus, which was delayed 2 hours, followed by 8 hours on an wild ride through the trees, a 2 hour coach and then a speed boat- but WELL WORTH the journey.

:)

Island Hopping the Gili's

Our last week in Bali!!!!! :(

We jumped on a fast boat from Ubud and headed to the sweet honeymoon island that is Gili Meno.

 

Imagine paradise and you are in the Gili's; white sand, crystal blue water and a mountainy lombok for a screen-saver worthy view.
Our first Island of the 3 was Meno. We spent our days enjoying the beach, or exploring the island in a tiny one hour walk, aswell as diving.... the most INCREDIBLE diving! With 20m visibility and 24 degree ocean we swam around with Sea Turtles aswell as Bumphead fish (a shawl of 23!!!!!!)... simply incredible. In the evenings we played cards with the locals whilst they sang a very Indonesian version of Jason Mraz with the guitar and bobbed their crazy afros.

We stayed in a cute lile shack... showering in sea salt in the back of the cow field was rather smelly.... to say the least.

 View at breakfast! ^

The 2nd island we visited was Trawangan; the party island! Each bar/club/crazy pool resort has a day of the week that they host a party, we arrived on Monday just in time for Blue Marlin night. THE best party location, the sea, a pool, the bar and two great dancefloors! Locals showed off their impressive moves whilst drunken westerners danced on the bars... brilliant. However, the rest of T wasn't as untouched as Meno, with lines of shops and bars and never ending shouting of 'TRANSPORT!' - but this time on a horse! Its safe to say that we loved the party in Trawangan, but Meno is not worth missing for the chilled atmosphere and incredible landscape.

 

The bluest of seas.

  

The 3rd and final island we visited was Gili Air, snorkelling on a reef just 50m from the shore with turtles was not something to be missed! We also played tourists and got hair wraps, ice creams did a little shopping for various sarongs etc. In the evening we went to an open air projecter in the beach and watched a movie for the first time in 2 months...... cute.

WE LOVE MENO

bye bye, Malaysia tomorrow xxxxxxxxx

The Yoga Barn (Ubud)

After a short but sleepy boat ride on the public boat with the locals and a melon, we jumped on the bus to Ubud! Probably the only place that we had any idea what we wanted to do; rafting, visit temples and the rice paddies. That was until... we found the wonderful Yoga Barn.

'A little piece of tranquillity n the heart of Ubud'

Immediately we fell in love with the jungly location and never ending list of classes on offer; Yin Yang, Hatha, Sound healing, Esctatic dance, take your pick.

We decided on an unlimited pass for seven days, creating our own little yoga retreat.

We ended up going to an average of 3 classes a day, normally including at least one Yoga and one meditation class. Aside from our beloved sound healing with White Star and Esctatic dance, a few of our favourite classes were Vinyasa Flow (with Carlos; yoga to a ukele, why not?), Crystal Bowl Mediation and Sunday Dance.... a long explanation of each will be boring unless you are here, so maybe start saving and head over to Bali and the Yoga Barn?

ALSO even if you don't like yoga... the FOOD was the best we've had on our trip so far. All organic, eco friendly and vegetarian... The Little K has managed to create a recipe for the perfect Dhal and Chapati, or feta omelette wrap, simply amazing.

Slack lining at the YB

BIG LOVE FROM BAAAAAAAALI, heading to the gilis tomorrow xxxxx

Kuta + Uluwatu (Bali) PARDY

We have arrived in Bali! (well we have been here for nearly two weeks, but the internet is about as slow as everything else on Bali time so we have been struggling to update)

On our first night in Kuta, it was safe to say that we were terrified... we arrived in the dark, got completely ripped off for a taxi (30 dollars when it should have been 6, but he followed us around and into the toilet so what could we do), and then locked ourselves away into a crepe shop of all places, to hide forever.

HOWEVER, after a brave walk down a mysterious dark alley, we arrived in the perfectly fine, and equally hilarious Poppies Lane 2. We wandered outside and realised that Kuta was the Aiya Napa of Bali, with Bounty and Skygarden night clubs handing out free drinks to 'international guests' - free drinks for being on holiday? safe to say we got carried away!

The following night we were ready.... 9pm at Sky Garden for drinks and THE BEST dance in Sky Dome with the locals. We stayed at Gora Beach Inn... after you get over the scary exterior of a dingy car park, the inside is really sweet, for less then 5$ a night we had a room overlooking the pool and banana jaffles for breakfast! Pretty perfect as an escape from the streets of  'Transport!! Transport!!' and 'Mushrooms???'

After we had enjoyed the nightlife in Kuta, as well as hiring surfboards for just one day, we quickly plotted our escape to nicer surroundings; Uluwatu. We stayed near Padang Padang beach, which is beautiful! White sand, blue sea and the rest... though i'm pretty sure we spotted a few comodo dragons!!!!!!!! As we arrived on a Sunday we headed to the Single Fin Party at Uluwatu beach; there was an amazing local band and every traveler was keen to drukenly chat to you about Bali and their love for surfing.

We spent our days either chilling on the beach with a Nasi Goreng (Pot noodle with an egg on the top) or at the Temple, with the monkeys............ THAT ATTACKED US! Absolutely terrifying; the monkeys jumped out the trees, bared their fangs at us and started climbing up Jodie skirt.... our screaming did NOT help but was rather entertaining for the locals.... "You no like monkey???"

^^(After being asked SO many times for photos with various foreign people because we are English, we have started asking for photos back, with hilarious results hahahaha)

In Uluwatu, we spent our mornings taking part in the yoga classes at Mu, a hotel near where we were staying. It was SO NICE! The teacher was really cool, tanned, told us we were beautiful in our sweatiest times and loved everything about Bali - we would definitely recommended this class! It was quite pricey at 100,0000 for an hour but definitely worth the money, we spent the whole day feeling relaxed and stretchy.

One day after class we befriended a 60 year old french man (why are our mates always about a thousand years old) and we gave both of us a lift home on his moped whilst telling us which surf competition he was organizing that day.... hilarious.

Happy Travels xxx