Kuala Lumpar

25th December - 30th December

First of many Air Asia flights for this holiday - OMG - just horrendous!  It would be hard for Gary Coleman to fit in their seats let alone us!  3 hours - seriously anything over 2 hours from now on - no budget airlines!  Arrived in KL and a nice temperature change - 25 degrees.  Checked into the InterContinental KL - after 1 hour drive from the airport - first of our new InterContinental stays this trip.  The bed here is just to die for - after the last few months in a smaller than double bed - this luxury king is just amazing!

Very centrally located close to the city centre and many shopping options. Again out shopping for all the kids but this time managed to get ourselves some things we would not normally buy.  Still no shoes for Mels - seems to be a worldwide shortage of size 42 shoes!!  More choices in the food court than Bondi Junction and all cheaper than 1 hours parking!  Even Maccas (not that we have tried it) is $2 for a meal deal. 

We did a city tour on the hop on hop off bus - and went up the KL tower to see the city and what a great view.

KL Tower

View from KL Tower

Took a trip down to China town - lots of rip off stuff - (not for us) but great atmosphere and cool to see.  More from the Hop on Hop off - pics tell a thousand words..................

Rich - with the NZ bear (they had a bear from every country)

We found a cool bar (over the road from the shopping centre) - called the Library.  They had good food, wine and happy hour beer specials from 12.00pm - 10.00pm.  All bars in KL seem to have TV's with Soccer showing 24/7.  Brings you up to speed with the football world pretty quickly. 

Today - up to the Ginteng Highlands - it was freezing!!!  The coldest weather we had felt (15 degrees) in over 8 months!!  It was nearly 6000ft above sea level and a really unusual place.  Very American - hotels, casino, restaurants and theme parks - they advertise over 900 chefs - imagining that most of them can probably barely cook.  Heaps of fast food outlets and schools of Asian restaurants.  We went up there to go on the cable car.  Unfortunately - weather was not kind and could not see much for the cloud.

Next stop we headed off to Berjaya Hills - it was really quaint - very different - not what you would expect up in the hills of KL.  We stopped off for some lunch and had crack ups when this Phillipino band started playing Australian Music for us................  Air Supply - missing most of the words!

They were singing "I'm All Out Of Love" - but really they were - all out of tune!

KL - time to go.  Vietnam here we come - more soon.  We have a 6.00am flight which means get up at 2.15am - I think I might kill myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bali

December 18th - December 25th

A bit of a last mintue pack - a few goodbyes and off we went.  Jetstar to Bali - no too bad only a bit of a delay - yet they sell beer at the gate lounge - so all happy.  Landed in Bali paying our arrival tax - ha what a joke.  Then off we go - transfer waiting (unusual for us - but surely something we could get used to!).  RF had purchased a week stay online through one of those last mintue deals.  It was actually really good.  We arrived at the hotel and although 3* - very nice and room was great.  A week of touring and relax to follow.  We had always been aprehensive to go to Bali - after to bombings in 2002 etc - but truely we were very pleasantly surprised.  It was HOT in Bali - as bad if not worse than Darwin at this time of year.  The first things you notice are the massive number of motorbikes - oh my there are thousands.  It was unbelievable to see a mother feeding a baby on the back of a moving motorbike, babies huddled in the front whilst parents weave in and out of manic traffic.  At times it was hard to watch. 
We did a lot of sightseeing - we had a driver Komung - local man with wife and 2 children.  Looked after us amazingly.  All the photos are on Facebook.  Rich was keen for us to taste the roadside delicacies and that we did.  Some Goat.  Rich thought that we were having Satay from the "Gods" yet small miscommunication and all of a sudden we are eating Goat satay and soup - really good.  We have previously had Goat in Fiji - and really it is quite nice - it is just a head space thing!

Goat Curry and Soup - $1.50

Suckling Pig, Duck, Chicken,Satay, Baby Banana Plant Soup - $25 (for 3 people)

We loved Bali - you can keep Kuta, Nosa Dua etc - but would love to go back for the other things.  On Christmas Eve we decided to head to one of the Orphanages.  Our driver too us to a bunch of local shops and we brought some clothes, toileteries, food and school books. We arrived and found 95 children being very well cared for by a couple of locals that had set up this place.  A young local showed us around and we hope that in some way we have made a difference.  Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Eve 2011

Apart from the thieves that stole our Vodka - we found Bali a very peaceful and loving place and understand why so many people love going there.

2011 and we are Back on the Road

Jan - Dec 2011 - an overview (because we have been slack!)

Mel turned 35 and not too much celebration as we were all getting ready for the big day in Feb.  Wedding celebrations kicked off with a road trip with Sam and Gary.  Sammy just pregnant with Charli Kate - but in great spirits.  Arrival in Sunshine beach to our mansion - and the games did indeed begin.  So many family and friends - and most of you reading this know how much fun was had and thank you to Cyclone Yasi for missing us!  Mr & Mrs Fanshawe - Feb 3 2011.  But again for those of you that know Mel - still an Evans!

Three and half months off work!! Yippee.  We spent some great time with Sam and Gary at their lovely home and were so pleased to be there while Charli Kate was growing!!  We decided it was time to hit the road and spend a week exploring a week exploring the Murray and Northern Victoria - great idea!!  





Roughin it LOL -oh time for an upgrade







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Gave Penfolds a helping hand!



Wolf Blass - our favourite - didn't need any help - so we had a few here!

Droped in on an old friend and her animal farm in Melbourne!  It was lovely to spend some quality time with good friends.  The life of the unemployed - thanks to Jana and Garry for letting us squat for a week.  If anyone is ever headed that way - drop in and try her lasagne it is fab!

Took the train to our old stomping ground in Torquay to catch up with JB.  Little did we know back then that it would loose its IHG brand just a few months later.  A bit sad after all the blood sweat and tears!  But true to form we had a wine filled night with Jason and hope to see him in China at his new hotel some time soon.

Qantas had a points sale!!  Yipee a cheapy to Brissy.  Off to see Jarad and Carolyn and my Milkshake (Caitlin Grace for those of you who are not in the loop).  Planned on a week in Brissy - stayed for 4.  Weather good, comany good, wine (always good), and some quality time with the Evans clan.

Little did she know that I would get her a proper horse to ride a little later in the year!

Back to Sydney for Easter - and a mostly/partly memorable trip up the Hunter with Gav & Skye.  A car full of food and booze - typical fashion.  Arrival and straight into it.  However best memories hanging out with our best mates! xxoo

Absolute Hunter Valley

May and we are OFF - 5-6 weeks back in the NT to Cooinda.  Ha.....more later....

Amidst this was the arrival of Chali Kate Brannigan.  September 9th 2011.  Welcome to the world.  A phone call from Sam - left me in tears (of joy).  So happy for Gary and Sam. Cant wait to see her!  My good friends trecked half way across Sydney to take some pink flowers - thanks Gav and Skye - we are so lucky to have friends like you both. xxoo

October still working in the NT - RF at Cooinda and ME at Crowne Plaza Darwin...more later....

A trip down to Sydney to see Charli.  She is beautiful.  I walked her around the shopping mall for 3 hours whilst she slept on my shoulder - funny how you don't feel any pain.

Charli Kate Branningan - 5 weeks

Quick stop and then off to Caitlin's 1st Birthday.  A great milestone for Caitlin and her lovely parents.  What a great occasion - nice family time. 



Now she can stop riding the cat.



The Evans Clan

November - RF and ME - still in the NT at Crowne Plaza Darwin - more later.....

Sam and I always said that we would be eachothers daughters God Parents.  Sam asked me to be Charli's and I was honoured.  A quick trip to Sydney for the Christening.  The weather was kind and a great day.  Another lovely family occasion - gee we have been lucky this year.

Sleeping Beauty.

Charli's Christening Cake and Candle (Thank God the candle arrived!)

December 2011
What will 2012 bring??  Lets start with a few months off and head off on holiday to SE Asia.  Oops looks like Mel has a job starting in Cambodia in Jan - looks like we are going to be living there...

First stop Bali.