Back in the UK

For my mum's birthday. Ah!

Breakfast Malaysian-style

Back to Hari Raya

We met up with Mokhtar and co in Kuala Lumpa and they're still eating at Hari Raya parties!

Kuala Lumpur

Goodbye Rusty

We sold our beloved tandem in Phuket. A sad moment. I've been reading a lot about Buddhism in Thailand so that makes it easier. Knowing that none of this actually exists and it's just suffering makes it easier.

Bus to Hat Yai now and tomorrow KL.

Last ride

More jamming

Offerings

Sightseeing

Locals

Locals

Taj at work

Beautiful home he designed himself

Onstage in the Rocking Angel

Backing band at an impromptu show

Not too shabby

Learning Thai cooking

Home cooking

Chinese breakfast Thai style

Taj and Chom

For the past week almost we've been staying with Taj and Chom in Phuket. A really lovely couple who've looked after us so well.

They're both architects but don't dance much. And have travelled extensively in India and China and have great travelling stories. It's been a blast.

Made it down

Slower going down

Tiger temple

Worth the climb. We got up there before the sunrise at 6. The exercise for the day done before breakfast.

Sunrise at Tiger Temple

Stunning coastline

Trang jamming

Botanical gardens

Locals

Knotted

Canopy

Not good for my vertigo

Waiting out the waves

Tour guides and diving instructors waiting for the waves to stop and the season to start next month.

Today's root

Go west. That's all we know

Trang

We're in Trang now. Mid-thailand. The whole countries under-water judging from the news.

We hitchhiked with rusty from phattalung, over the mountain pass in the back of a van in the pouring rain, and got dropped off in the local mall, which are identical the world over. Just dried off and then Maria knocked her coffee over and it went on her legs and she was badly burnt. We couldn't get any help in the mall and ended up in hospital as she was in such pain. After that we got a tuktuk to the cheapest hotel, which turned out very nice. €3.80 per night by the station. You can live cheap in Thailand!

We just had a lazy sunday watching the rain.

Spices

Blending in

Trang Market

Sunset

Wat

Templetastic

Pattalung

Thai train

Beach cabin

Perentian islands

After Hari Raya all the locals advised us to go to the nearby perenthian islands, an hour off the coast by bone-jarring speedboat.

We found a cheap cabin for 30 ringit (about €8) and after volleyball laid on the beach for three days. Which wasn't as nice as it sounds, as we were both sick from the heat. On the last day we managed snorkelling and were glad we came. The coral was teeming with life and we were surrounded by fish.

After the island we cycled north back to Kota bhura. Then another day to just near the thai border. We almost made it but thunderstorm struck. We have a small window of riding, as we can only start at 4pm because it's too unbearably hot, and then thunderstorms kick in around 6. In the morning it's boiling by 8.

Across the border next day we got the train north to better countryside and cooler weather. We hoped.