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.

Brisbane

Friday 17th December 2010 - Sunday 19th December 2010

On the road again.  But major disaster occurred - likely I broke my toe whilst getting ready to head for Brissy.  RF providing cold XXXX can for first aid.  I am certain that the people down the hall were awoken with my screams!!  Seriously think at this stage I have broken my toe - perhaps even a bone in my foot!  Here is the photo evidence - much more painful than it looks....

Killing Me!!

 

Stopped in at Perigian Beach to see our celebrant for our wedding - pretty set now - just need to write our vows - that should be a bit of fun over a glass of wine.  Lucky we think the same way - a few meaningful words - burt nice and short!!

Arrived in Brissy - found our way to Jarad and Carolyn's and now for some family time with these guys and baby Caitlin - yay :).

A few BBQ's and tonight home made pizza (including the dough) - boys are busy at it.  A trip to IKEA - picked up some $1 glasses to take to Sunshine Beach for the pre and after party.  Probably cheaper than buying nice plastic.  Got the obligatory $1 hot dog on the way out - maybe they should change their name to the $1 shop! Caitlin loved her trip to IKEA - slept the whole time and now off to her first xmas party with Carolyn.  Big day out for little baby.
More excitment today - Australia rolled the Poms in the Cricket - great work.  Now for a big Boxing Day test in Melbourne.  Yay.  Mike Hussey your are a legend - keep up the good work.  Boys manaaged to watch flat out yesterday. 

Day 2 of 3rd Ashes Test.  Jarad & Richard at home in Brissy

Today they have decided on some cooking - just pizza dough - so should be ok~!


Caitlin Grace Evans - 8 weeks



Noosa

Thursday 16th December 2010
A few appointments arranging wedding things today.  Had a nice bfst at a little cafe in Noosa - then off to meeting at Sails.  All good - can see things coming together now.  Off to Malany to see the florist - should really have arranged to see her on the way to Brissy tomorrow - oh well.  Made it, all sorted.  Weather packed in on our way home - had to stop for a bit - huge rain with thunder, lightening etc.  Made it back to Noosa.  Wandered down to Sails wine/cocktail bar - Rumba.  Very cool bar underneath the restaurant.  RF ordered a Cuban Missile - (note underneath saying - Not for the faint hearted).  It was unbelieveable.  Chilli infused rum.  It was so hot that it took him an hour to drink it.  Meanwhile I enjoyed some Soave (not had it before - very nice).  Met some staff in the bar that had just moved down from Darwin - they had been working at Pee Wee's.  The whole 6 degrees of separation - they were Tom Austens flat mates in Darwin (Tom worked for me at the Holiday Inn).  Found a cool little pizza bar for a bite on the way home - cant wait for Feb - lots of fun!

Tannum Sands

Tuesday 14th December 2010
On the road again.  Love Airlie Beach - we will be back.  Plans to get halfish way to Brissy.  Sammy works for the people that own the Tannum Sands Hotel - so decided we would make that our stop for the night.  The theme continues with heaps of road works and really bad drivers.  

RF fancies himself as one of these stand by and point people



Weather has been kind so far - no issues with the floods.  Just started to see some water close to the road - but certainly no drama for driving.

Arrived at Tannum Sands.  Different from what we were expecting - much bigger.  Nice place right on the beach.  Had dinner and some drinks (weather starting to feel cool at night - time for Jeans in the evenings).  Not really cold - just climatising from 2 years of sweating!  If you are ever passing through definately a nice place to stop.  Big thanks to Kate & Graham for looking after us.  Lovely coffees delivered in the morning - thanks Kate.

Wednesday 15th December 2010
On the road again.  Worst day today - as apparently my turn to drive.  Fair enough since RF has done the other 4,000 km - but still feel as though I have drawn the short straw.  Heaps of road works again. Destination Noosa.  Wotif.Com - love their Flaming deals - figured out that the Sheraton Noosa was the flaming deal - matching their details of the swim up bar.  Booked - love it!  Arrived in Noosa safely - very lucky given the crazies on the road.  Arrived in Noosa - checked into the Sheraton.  Definately in need of a refurb.  Lovely big rooms - we are ok with it as not paying $300 a night.  Be a little on the angry side if I was.  Out and about looking for somewhere to have drinks the night before the wedding - found a place in Noosaville - but then note the following day that the business is for sale - so may need to watch that space.  Ended up at the Surf Club - not Surf club prices - but I guess that is expected in Noosa.  A bit of Karaoke at the surf club - just spectators this time, I think my singing days are over....

Airlie Beach

Thursday 9th December 2011

Cairns woke us up with lots of thunder and a bit of a storm.  Decided to hit the road - weather was clearing by the time we left Lou and Andrews.

In the spirit of making the savings last as long as possible - we went to Dan Murphys where we collected some XXXX Gold for Richie (his new beer of choice), and some Amiri Sav for Mel - (have not lowered myself to drinking goon yet - but these little puppies are only $7 a bottle and quite nice).  The cost saving on these two allowed for a case of Bulmers - yay!  Next stop was supermarket, and finally the demise of good living - the tobacconist for a rolly machine and tobacco.  Needless to say a few lessens coming up for Mel in the art of rolling.  So finally the Goon(Amiri), VB(XXXXGold), and Rollies trip is well underway.

Headed for Townsville - heaps of roadworks along the way.  Took us 5 hours to get to Townsville and followed this crazy idiot most of the way.  I should have reported him to the traffic police (whoever they are), but then decided just to shame him on our blog. He spent the whole day driving up everyone elses rear end a true idiot.



Can see his number plate - so still might report him!















Lots more bag trees on the way - took this photo for Nina and Miles.  Bananas on the side of the road are as cheap as $1/kg.

Bag Trees!

Passed through Innisfail - I remember the horrific flooding that happened here some years ago.  The town seems to have fully recovered - lucky it seems not their turn this year.  Starting to think about our best route down the coast with all the flooding - but we have a few days yet - hoping that we can charter a safe route.

Started to take snaps of the Big Fruits - number 1 is the Big Mango - funny as you know there are quite a few more to come and Rich thinks it may be a good ideas to get key rings of each fruit to hang on the rear vision mirror - so by Sydney we will have a fruit salad.  True to his word yesterday (Saturday - as I am writing a few days behind) we were at the shops and he started to look for the mango key ring - thankfully not found as yet!

The Big Mango

Arrived in Airlie beach about 7.00pm - had booked an apartment at Whitsunday Reflections for $100/nt with full cooking facilities.  Arrived and very happy - this place is just lovely and a real bargain.  It was opened in Sept - so obviously not too many people know about it yet.  Should you ever be in Airlie Beach - highly recommend ****8 Stars!

Headed into town for a look around.  Airlie  Beach is packed with back packers having a good time.  Rich and I starting to feel a little old - but very young at heart!!  Signs for jobs starting immediately for the pubs and restaurants here - we know where to come if we run out of money!  Lots of live music and very cheap drinks.  What would have cost us $11 or there abouts in Darwin was $8 here - very good!!  Picked up a pizza and off home for the oldies.

Friday 10th December 2011
Woke next day to beautiful day - temperature here is lovely - nice hot days and cools down in the evenings - might have found our climate of choice.  The pool here is great.  Some swimming relaxing and chilling out.  Starting to feel like we are really on holidays - or just every night is a Saturday night - life is bliss.  Smart move to buy our groceries in Cairns - went to the IGA yesterday and picked up a bottle of tonic (for our Gin) and they charge $3 a bottle - shocker.  Need to make sure we drink all of that tonic!

View from our Apartment - Airlie Beach

Shute Harbour

Saturday 11th December 2011
Time to update the I-Pod.  Downloaded some more travelling music as we will be back on the road on Tuesday.  5 nights in Airlie has been a great decision - love it here, cant think of anywhere else in Oz that is like this.  Weather has been great, a day by the pool in order.  Trying to go a little bit off white which is a challenge in itself for Rich and I.  Reading books, blogging, Gray's online bidding for wine bargains (my new favourite pass time aside from blogging), sun, relax, happy hour, wedding planning, dinner, TV, bed - good day!!

Sunday 12th December 2011
Our first day of rain since the start of our road trip.  Stormy day with loads of rain.  A day for indoor entertainment.  Purchased a Weekend Australian and brought ourselves up to speed with Wikileaks - how could you miss it - there were about 15 articles.  Very interesting - we will be watching to see how that unfolds.  A whole day enjoying the newspaper and relaxing.  Such a joy to have a proper newspaper that does not feature a snake or crocodile on the front page.  Georgia trecked accross from, Hayman Island for a visit.  Great to see her and catch up - it has nearly been 2 years.  Talked about old times in Torquay - thought we would snack on some nice cheese and crackers - like old times - but she has given up eating cheese!  Whoops - but at least main course was desirable with some nice roast lamb and cous cous salad.  Looking forward to seeing her again at our wedding.



Mel & Georgia

Monday 13th December 2011

Last day in Airlie Beach - relaxing day at the apartment.  Finished 2 books that I started nearly a year ago - read Side By Side - book about Collingwood losing in the Finals in 2009 to Geelong - quite depressing but looking forward to the new book - I like happy endings!  Made friends with Greys Online.  Fits in with our new careful spending policy.  Secured 2 cases of Foxes Island Pinot Noir for $39/case - RRP for these is currently $44 per bottle - so feeling very pleased with myself.  Wine delivered to Sydney for Xmas - might be some left over for wedding time too - that would be good.

Chilling Out in Airlie Beach