Day 186 : Ao Nang

• Had a look around town and walked to the beach. It’s a bit chavvy and touristy but surrounded by stunning limestone cliffs and forest.
• Dramatic rocky islands visible from the beach.
• Did a mini Christmas shop for each other.
• Had a drink in the Irish pub where we’re having lunch tomorrow and watched an Irish folk singer.

Day 185 : Penang to Ao Nang

• Epic minivan journey via Hat Yai to Ao Nang in Krabi Province, Thailand. We weren’t sure how long the journey would be or aware that we would have to change minivans in Hat Yai. After two hours of driving we noticed we drove past our original pick up point – the driver had just been running errands around Hat Yai! He then got lost around Trang. Finally, after 12 hours in the minivan we arrived at Krabi and got a taxi to Ao Nang.
• Arrived at our beautiful apartment (our Christmas treat!).
• Got stuck at the Thai border because the Malaysian officials didn’t stamp our passports with the correct date – we had to walk half a mile back to Malaysia and then he just fudged it with a biro! Everybody else on our bus also had the wrong date but they all got through.

Day 184 : Another mansion and temples

• Went to another Peranakan mansion similar to the last one but full of random stuff from over the years. There was also a temple which had lots of little bats roosting across the walls.
• Had a wander around, went to a chinese temple.
• Had lunch in Old Town coffee house (Malaysian chain cafe).
• Had dinner in the Red Garden again had nice simple chicken, veg and rice for £1

Day 183 : The Blue Mansion and the Red Garden

• Went to the Cheong Fatt Ze Mansion (or Blue Mansion) - the biggest of its kind outside of China. Had a really good tour and learnt lots about traditional feng shui. There was so much intricate detail and hidden symbolism in all the shapes (like ying and yang in the wooden shutters) and animal decorations. The floor tiles were from Stoke on Trent and the iron pillars from Glasgow as it was only the best for him. (couldn't take photos inside).
• Had a cheap eat in an Indian cafe and chose from a vast array of cheap food in the Red Garden night market which is suitably adorned with fairy lights and Christmas music.

Day 182 : KL to Penang

Got a coach to Georgetown (the coaches are cheap as there is a lot of competition, they are luxury, wide seat coaches in various states of deterioration). Checked into our hostel on love lane which seems nice.

Day 181 : Batu caves, Luna bar and foot massage

• Took a bus to the Batu caves – a cave that is up a huge flight of stairs and contains Hindu temples. The statues and temples are beautiful and the limestone caves and cliffs amazing. One of the monkeys on the steps tried to steal our alcohol hand rub and hissed viciously!
• Went to Luna bar which is at the top of a hotel, looked at the amazing views and had happy hour beers. Had such a cool seat in a enclave jutting out over the view.
• Had an amazing foot massage in one of the many massage shops in town.
• Had some roti and dips at the hostel – the Indian cafe next door pass take away over the wall – amazing and cheap!

Day 180 : KL

• Up early to get a ticket for the Petronus Towers. They have a limited amount of tickets each day and we got there just in time – we were the last people before they closed the ticket queue and were allocated a slot at 1615.
• Took the train to the central market – walked around there and the nearby Dataran Merdeka (independence square). There was a drift racing event going on there so I guess it normally looks a bit different!
• Went up the KL Tower – the tallest observation deck in KL – fantastic views of the city and the Petronus Towers.
• Took the Monorail to Bukit Bintang and looked around the shops.
• Went up the Petronus Towers skydeck (halfway) and the observation deck at the top.
• Back to Bukit Bintang for an evening shop – picked up some clothes for Thailand (our current stuff is wearing out quickly!).
• Played with kittens at the hostel.