Travel Stories  

Rome, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Egypt, Tanzania, Malaysia

Traveler's Tales: Europe – Persia – Africa – Malaysia

Hi from Roma. Wow!!  Roma as the Italians, what an amazing city. 

ROMA - The sensuous moods, the depth of history, the passion of the people. Accommodation was awful.  We had booked into a hostel.  Location was great but it was cramped and noisy.  We have been told that next time it would be more comfortable to book into a convent – same price but more luxurious. Traveler's lesson – after a long flight always book a great hotel to help recoup.

We felt quite proud of ourselves being able to negotiate the train from the airport to the city centre. Visited the Coliseum, “old Roma”, the Trevi Fountain (from the famous song “3 coins in a fountain” - Legend says that if you toss a coin into the fountain over your shoulder, you will one day return to the eternal city – we tossed plenty) and the Vatican.  The Vatican was amazing.  Wealth beyond imagination.  The Sistine Chapel was a highlight.   Enjoyed the narrow streets, men walking arm in arm, (intimacy comes with history), exposing some pickpockets, and feeling thousands of years of history oozing between my toes.  Before we left Roma we spent the day in Tivoli at the Villa D'Este.  What an amazing place and gardens.  The rich of the 15th century sure knew how to enjoy their wealth.  The gardens were beautiful and there were amazing fountains.  A great image and memory to hold as we left Italy.  

Athens, Greece - We have arrived in Athens.  I was really surprised that customs between Italy and Greece were not interested in passports etc.  In fact there is no record or stamps on our passports to even show that we have been to Europe. We have a lovely hotel room overlooking

the Acropolis in a trendy area called The Plaka.  It's a bit like Parnell/Ponsonby in Auckland but a lot older. We can not understand the language or writing.  Lucky that some speak English. We can notice the difference between the Italians and Greeks.  The Greek men seem to chase the image of the Greek gods.  The Greek women do not seem so hell bent on chasing the body beautiful like the Italian women.  Hundreds outside a shop.  I thought it was a football game. It was Matrix, the movie.  Big hit here. We have two days here then off to Meteora to visit the monasteries and quite likely Olympus.  hen we will do some island hoping for the next 2-3 weeks.  The weather has been perfect so far.

Meteora on mainland Greece was just magical.  Huge huge mountains with monasteries built on the top of them.  We were both awestruck.  It is a very spiritual place. We teamed up with a couple of Aussies to site see at Meteora.  I reckon the Aussie guy is a spy cause he works for

the govt travelling the world (External Affairs Dept). He talked of fraud in Russia, trips to Thailand, and Nairobi.  He is an ex cop. Anyway, we travelled by bus to Ioannina and passed through these wonderful little villages and through the mountains next to the snow.  It is fairy tale picture book stuff.  It is difficult sometimes knowing what bus to catch ‘cause we can't read Greek. Will probably take your advise Ross and go to the Islands of Santorini and Naxos then maybe Lesbos or Samos which have ferries to Turkey. Corfu. Heard tell it's raining in NZ.

We are sitting in an internet cafe in Corfu.  The old town is lovely but the island is very touristy.

Luxury where we sit on our balcony and look out over the Ionian Sea towards mainland Greece and Albania.  It is very warm about 25 degrees. Time for a Heinekin again.  We are in Corfu for a week to enjoy the relaxation of doing very little.  The hotel has 2 swimming pools and the usual trappings.  Tomorrow we hire a scooter and cruise. Tuesday we will check out the casino. 

Paul suggested we pop up to Bosnia for a day or two but Shirley thinks it is toooooo dangerous.

We must have upset the gods with our arrogant teasing.  The day after our last email it rained.  Ahhh but it was a pleasant warm rain and we still were able to sight see the island by motor scooter.  Lots of little treats like old women on donkeys and driving through little mountainous villages. We had the delight of experiencing a bus conductor who was a gem.   He really enjoyed his job and he had such a glow about life. It's the little treasures that make the day.

Thanks as always for your tips and updates of life back in the Antipodes. 

We get a buzz when we drag ourselves away from the sun and beers etc to check the emails. 

Oh the very beautiful Greek Islands. We travelled from Santorini to Naxos Monday morning. Santorini is said by some to be the site of the lost city of Atlantis.  It is a collection of volcanic islands that circle the crater of a volcano that erupted circa 1500BC.  The Minoan people that lived here deserted the island before it erupted but there is no record of where they went to.  Some say that they were all drowned in the tidal waves that followed the huge eruption.  We visited an archealogical site dating back to 2000BC.  They were a sophisticated culture with frescos, water ducts, and music. Santorini itself is a magnificent island with whitewashed houses built into the cliff faces.  Lots of churches, a castle or two, and windmills.  The island has been invaded by the Greeks, Romans, Turks, Venetians, and during world War 2 by the Germans and Italians. Nowadays the invaders are tourists. We hired a scooter and explored some villages and experienced a blazing red sunset on the island's east coast.  Santorini means Saint Irene.

Arrived at Naxos by ferry and searched and found wonderful cheap accommodation in the Port township with views overlooking the harbour.  We eagerly explored the alleyways and were drawn to the melodic sound of classical piano in a cave dwelling on the edge of the Venetian castle. 

It turns out that a well known Prague trained pianist, Irini Mavrogenous was practising for her recital this weekend.  We enjoyed the pleasure of our own personal recital in a setting that was angelic and magical. Did the tourist thing on Tuesday and joined a tourist bus around the island.  The landscape with it's terraced farming, huge cliffs and azure coloured water was just amazing.  We overindulged on Tuesday night by having a wonderful dessert - crepes with chocolate, banana, coconut and ice-cream.  We ate this delight on the quayside promenade whilst watching the sunset. Life is so romantic. 

Tonight we travel by ferry to an island called Fourni. It is tucked away beneath Samos off the Turkish coast.  We arrive at 4am with no knowledge of the island, no accommodation booked - in fact none of the Travel Agents could give us any info on the place. Wish us luck.

One thing that Shirley and I have really noticed over here is how trusting the people are.  Pay for gas and they leave the money on the top of the petrol bowser! Outside when the shops are closed you will see boxes of goods, drinks and other items left there until the shop reopens.  This would never happen in Auckland. We will write again soon if we can from Fourni ...............

Fourni Island turned out to be quite wonderful. Accommodation found us in the form of a woman waiting at the ferry wharf asking any travellers if they needed a bed to sleep in.  I think we were the only backpackers who disembarked.  The fishing village is small and the dock had about 50 little and colourful boats.  The fisherman paint their boats red blue and yellow.  Narrow streets and friendly people.  We hiked the hills, swam the beaches and sunbathed.  Three days later we ferried to Samos Island which is off the coast of Turkey. We picked a place on the map and thought “what the heck, let’s stay there for a few days”.  Our room was right on the waters edge.  The tides in the Mediterranean only rise about 6 inches  so there are many houses and cafes with the sea lapping up to the edges.  Because Turkey and Greece are not very politically friendly there are military posts scattered around Samos.  We visited Pythagoria the home of Pythagorus, drank local wine, and chatted with the locals before departing for Turkey.

Turkey. 

Stayed at Selcuk and visited one of the seven man made wonders of the world, Ephesus. 

This historic city Circa 2000BC is well preserved with beautiful marble paved streets and a magnificent library.  The statue of Sophia the goddess of wisdom graces the library's entrance.  Ephesus has been visited by the Apostles St John and Paul, Alexander and Cleopatra, many Roman emperors as well as many of histories famed leaders and us. Here’s an example of our attempt to write on a Turkish keyboard (notice the different fonts)

“Dad and Ýrene,

thanks for the updates.. we now have some news to tell the other kiwiþ that we bump into.

We are now in Turkey. At a place called Ephesus.  The ruins are just overwhelmýng . 

We wýll wrýte an update when we get to Istanbul. Tomorrow we travel to Gallýpolý to pay our respects.”

We journeyed to Ecebat which was our base for our day trip to Gallipoli.  Gallipoli was quite special. It touched our hearts and souls.  We carried an Anzac Day poppy with us from NZ and respectfully laid it at the Anzac monument.   Met some Kiwis on the bus and have travelled with them to Istanbul.  The bus trip to Istanbul was awful.  The driver kept turning off the air conditioning and he chain smoked, which meant a hot smoky smelly bus with no windows to open.

ISTANBUL is a surprise.  There are 13 million people who hustle, bustle and hassle.  Only men drink in the cafes.  Everywhere and I mean everywhere Turkish men pretend to befriend you and then ask if you would like to see their cousins carpet shop. We tell them we have already bought 35 rugs.  Only one man said what about number 36! At all hours of the day and night there are children as young as 5 and 6 selling trinkets, toys, and tissues. The markets are great, cherries are cheap, accommodation is excellent and the history is so intriguing.  Turkey seems to be the birthplace of the world that has lost a big chunk of its soul to the western ways. We sailed up the famous Bosphorous to the Black Sea heads , visited the fabulous Blue Mosque, and St Sophia and tonight we dine with our Kiwi travel friends.  Tomorrow we travel to Cappadocia the home of the amazing tunnel and cave houses.  This will be a refreshing and exciting change from the city.

Just to let you know that the earthquake in Turkey this week was centred north of Ankara but not felt here in Istanbul.

Today is the 9th of June, 2000. We are writing from Cappadocia in the centre of Turkey. Last night we slept in a cave house and I am now on the deck, basking in the sun, overlooking the fabled cone shaped mountains of Cappadocia.  We are staying in a popular backpacker's village and with the exception of the small satellite television dish and solar heating panels we could be in the 15th century.  I sit here listening to the cackle of the hens and the bray of the donkeys.  A small colourful bird was sitting nearby singing a sweet sound I've never heard the likes of in New Zealand.  The deck on which I sit overlooks hundreds of these amazing cone shaped hills.  (This was the true life set for the Star Wars village of the little furry creatures??)   During winter the decks, houses and hills are covered in glistening white snow.  The animals (cows, hens, and donkeys) are all housed downstairs to keep them warm and they live on dry feed. But today is 28 degrees, warm and sunny with a gentle zephyr of a wind.  I can hear someone playing a wooden flute and moments before a family of six meandered their way down the cobbled street in their wooden wheeled donkey drawn cart. We are but 3 minutes from the centre of town yet this morning we ate fresh farm eggs, homemade cheese, home grown tomatoes and cucumber for breakfast.  The apple tea is superb. Our daily costs for food and accommodation in this little touch of paradise is only $NZ30 each.  This of course includes beer and chocolate. Shirley is resting in the lounge, which is an outdoor seating area off our cave bedroom.  The lounge is traditionally Turkish with a low table and multi coloured hand-woven floor cushions.  The walls are covered with Turkish rugs, kilims, and farmyard antiquities.  I look around and see pots of pansies, marigolds, petunias, and snapdragons.  There is a hookah pipe resting in one corner.  Something has started the donkey braying and its voice bounces through the valley. Goreme valley is one of the most amazing sights in Turkey and has its beginnings during the volcanic periods of 30 million years ago.  Over the centuries a thick layer of volcanic tufa has been eroded into these fantastic cone shapes.  Early Christians carved chambers, vaults, and labyrinths into the cones to hide from the marauding predators and these hills became their homes, stables, and churches.

As we bathe in this history and I sit writing this piece I think of how young New Zealand is.  I think warm thoughts of family and friends, particularly for my daughter Sophie who is 20 today.  (Happy Birthday Sophie).  Shirley and I talk about you all in our conversations and miss you.

But as I sit here in little Utopia I am starting to struggle with the thought of returning to the cold, wet, historically immature New Zealand.

Must go now ... my beer, Tom Clancy novel, and the sunshine are calling.

Syria

21st June and we are in SYRIA.  Cappadocia by bus to Antakia.  Met up and spent the next 7 days travelling with 2 American woman, Laurie and Lani.  Crossed the border from Turkey into Syria. For the two Americans this was a scary journey. Syria is an anti American, anti Israeli dictatorship and both woman are American Jews and Laurie is a journalist.  Their reality is that they could have been arrested and imprisoned at any time. It was a challenge crossing the border because we did not have the official paperwork but discovered that US$50 in the passport opened all the right doors. We have settled for the night in a city called Alleppo.  Unfortunately for us President Assad (the country's tyrannical dictator) had just died and everyone was pretending to mourn.  This meant all the shops and businesses were closed. Luckily we found some simple food at the bus station and found lodgings at Madame Olga's guesthouse. Olga's grand daughter on hearing we were from New Zealand wanted to know if we knew Xena the Princess Warrior.  (Satellite TV knows no bounds).  Next day was very exciting.  We went to the local souq (market place).  Lots of shops and sights, even donkeys in the middle of town.  Here we met some young guys who escorted us round and were proud to inform us that Alleppo is the gay capital of the Arab world.

All the shops were open even though the government wanted 40 days of mourning.  Most of the locals were happy with one day.  The new president is Assad's son Bashar.  He is 34 and an eye doctor in London.  The joke is that he has a vision for the future. (haha).  He is also progressive with new technology and has promised to extend the public internet to more than the one sole outlet in this country of 16 million people. Syria is new to tourism and the people are very friendly. 

Travelled next to Homa to visit the famous Krak de Chevalier castle.  It was magnificent and in such good condition even after 900 years.  Next we went to Palmyra which is an oasis in the middle of the desert.  40-50 degrees ... hot .. hot ..hot.  All we could do was drink beer and relax.  One morning we rose at 6am and wandered around the fabulous city of ruins that are 3000 years old.  Palmyra, with its Bedouins, food, and lifestyle is a very special place to visit.  We are used to the squat toilets by now and Shirley is contemplating writing a book called “Toilets that have known me”.

Journeyed to the historical city of Damascus with our American friends.  It's a friendly city with lots of markets and mosques.  This is by far the strictest Muslim place we have been to. Relaxed sightseeing and exploring before leaving the Americans and flying down to Cairo.  Damascus is one of the world’s special cities.

Egypt

Cairo, I look back with fondness to Damascus.  Such a huge contrast between Syria and Egypt.  The Arabs we have mostly encountered in Egypt are more aggressive where as the Syrians were more gentle and courteous. (Shirley unknowingly dropped her watch in Alleppo, Syria, and a man chased our minibus to return it).  The people seemed caring and respectful.  When the Syrian men and women looked at us it was out of curiosity, trying to understand our western dress and mannerisms. The god called 'tourism' has not yet devoured their souls. The Egyptian hearts are mean spirited. The men physically and mentally molest western women.  Tourists are constantly harassed and men and women are openly aggressive, hitting and pushing each other. Egypt has the second highest child abuse death rate in the world.  Mohammed must be turning in his grave.  Can't wait to get out of Cairo so we are off to Dahab, a small seaside village on the Sinai Peninsula. The journey through the Sinai was very interesting because of the remnants of the Egyptian-Israeli war in 1982.  Bomb craters, burned out vehicles, and at least 4 passport checks.  Dahab is an oasis on the edge of the desert directly facing Saudi Arabia.  In the Aquaba Sea we snorkeled and saw the most wonderful fish and coral.  One day we even saw 2 dolphins frolicking.

Phoned the UK when we were in Cairo. The cost is 10EPound every minute. Today was another

sweltering day, we think about 35 degrees.  But luckily we have an apartment right on the beach and were able to go snorkeling.  It was amazing seeing all the colourful fish that you can imagine. We've been here for four days and are enjoying the relaxed lifestyle of this small village. Being on the Sinai Peninsula does have its exciting moments.  Yesterday we saw two warships patrolling, two jet fighters and were buzzed by a big black helicopter.  Today has been quiet and peace has broken out.  In fact we are surprised there has been a war here at all because everyone is so laid back. Meeting more Aussies, and a American and Canadian for Dinner.  We'll be back in Cairo in 2 days. Enjoyed many hours of conversation with other travellers, days of sunshine and the hot desert winds. 

Back to Cairo to meet up with Shirley's daughter, Kirsty, and her English boyfriend, Jamie. Kirsty has been working in England for the last 2 years. We arrived at Pension Roma, Cairo City all set up to met with Kirsty and Jamie.  Surprise ... they had already arrived and we were more than embarrassed about mixing up the dates.  Apparently date and time confusion is a common thing with travellers. We all visited the Egyptian Museum.  It is marvellous.  Tutankhamun's treasures, the royal mummy room, Chephren's statue and 100,000 other relics of historical importance.

The Pyramids are a sight to behold but also a big disappointment.  Expensive to see, touts are

everywhere, and they (the Pyramids and the touts) are in rapid decay.  Inside they are sweaty, smelly, blocks of stone.  Our days lately have been made special because we have met up with Shirley’s daughter, Kirsty, and her boyfriend Jamie. Cairo.  It’s hot dirty and noisy and ever so mystical and bizarrely attractive! Went to a café that has been open 24/7 for over 200 years. 

We will write an update soon.  This computer is terrible.

More about Egypt

Can I get you a taxi ... good price. Have you got a minute Mister .... Where are you from ... I have a cousin in New Zealand. Egyptians are the world's best con artists.  We have been misdirected away from where we want to go, to go to their world famous gift shop, subtlety seduced into thinking they are genuinely friendly then pounced upon like a vulture at a feast.  Egypt would be great without the Egyptians.  But they haven't worn us down and we have enjoyed walks through the most interesting back parts of the city of Cairo, visited their excellent museum and of course the Pyramids.  The Pyramids were spoiled by the constant harassing of touts and guides.  One even tried to charge us to leave a tomb after we had paid to go into it.  There is a definite sense of wonder and 4500 years of history at the Sphinx and Pyramids.

We leave in 2 days to go to Nairobi (many travellers call it Nairobbery because your chances of getting mugged there are very high) and then off to Arusha in Tanzania where we will meet up with my brother who teaches there.  It will be his birthday on July 6th (47 years) so our arrival will be a surprise for him. He has organised a 2 day safari for us and I am looking forward to catching an elephant or giraffe. We may not be able to send any emails till we arrive in Dubai or Malaysia because the regularity of telephone connection in Tanzania can be a bit erratic but we will try especially hard if we spot a wild pack of hyenas feeding on a group of Egyptians. Today was 32 degrees. Tonight we are all watching the Euro cup final Italy vs France.  Every country we have been to is obsessed with soccer...  viva Italy ... After our usual exploring of back streets and market places we farewelled Jamie and Kirsty and departed for Nairobi.

Africa  Salama (Hello in Swahili)

We left Cairo at midnight, flew into Nairobi at 6.30am.  Nairobi was scary.  Lots of dishevelled

people milling around and we were certainly given the once over by some curious and not so friendly eyes as we walked the street.  It was a relief to hop onto a minibus and begin our journey south.  We travelled for 5 hours, crossing the border into Tanzania and arriving at 6.30pm.

The bus trip was amazing.  Wide open plain with trees and bush (we have not been in a bushy environment since Goreme in Turkey when we walked trough the lush Rose Valley) We sighted Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru, and to our delight animals including giraffe, ostrich, gazelles, zebras, camels, donkeys and plenty of bird life. All through the journey we saw the local Maasai tribes people.  They are herds people who live a subsistence life in traditional round thatched mud huts, and tend their flocks of sheep and herds of cattle during the day.  Their dress style is a mixture of very colourful and patterned garb.  Women carry an assortment of goods on their heads and wear the most amazing necklaces.  The men walk the plains carrying their spears and bows.  We have since learned that their colourful clothing is to scare away the lions.  For many of these people the 21st Century AD is the same as the 21st Century BC! I was pleasantly stunned that in this age that holds the trappings of affluence that so often destroys the individuality of culture, the

tribes people of the Maasai choose their authentic lifestyle. It was a different story at the border crossing and when our bus arrived at Arusha.  The tourist dollar attracts the touts and rogues

and taxi drivers like ants to honey.  A guard at the gate where the bus stopped was using a bullwhip and rubber hose to keep them away from our bus that had parked in a fenced compound. Arrived at St Constantine's School where my brother Chris is headmaster.  The school is set on a 35acre compound and has fifteen guards.  Great to see Chris. Today is his birthday and we will be going to a restaurant for dinner.  It is luxury here at his house compared to some of the places we have stayed. A soft bed, the comforts of home, AND the house girls did our washing today whilst we went into town for a look around. (We like the idea of servants) After a full day of travelling we slept all night and well into the next day.  It is winter here and temperatures are fifteen degrees but no rain.  We are wearing our polar fleeces.  We were kind of getting used to the desert and temperatures of 35 – 40 degrees. Tomorrow Chris is taking us on a 2 day safari in his landrover.  We travel to the game parks of Nongorogoro (site of the worlds 2nd largest volcanic crater) and Manyara.  Hope to catch an elephant or two.

WOW Travelling to the wildlife parks is a journey in itself.  The roads must be the worst in the world. Potholes as big as elephants and the dust (cough...cough) from the unsealed road, just gathers everywhere.  But the sights are worth a thousand potholes.  It is a real bonus that Chris can speak a little Swahili.  It makes our encounters with the locals a lot more relaxed plus it is so much easier ordering food and getting access to where we want to go. We stayed in a horrid camp one night and a luxury hotel the next.  The camp had geckos, bats, mossies and horrid toilets.  The hotel had warm showers and a view of the Nongorogoro crater that would take your breath away.

We saw the big four at the wildlife parks..... Elephants with huge white tusks, lions casually meandering with such a regal air, wildebeest stampeding, and a rare sighting of an enormous rhino.  Plus of course hippos, zebra, giraffe, flamingos, eland, gazelles, monkeys, and a host of other animals and birdlife.  It was also a real treat to see so many newborn creatures.  The animals, although not tame, and often dangerous would walk close to our vehicle.

My camera was furiously clicking away and both Shirley and I were overawed by the beauty, majesty, and aura of these parks.  Words do not aptly describe our safari...  How can we put into words the joy of seeing a baby zebra suckling off its mother, the silent way an elephant walks in the bush, the menacing mood of a hyena. You'll just have to go there yourself. Kwa heri (goodbye in Swahili)

Dubai is what we would call a "VERY" city.

VERY HOT ... temp 46 degrees humidity 92%.  Wow did we sweat.  Air conditioned shops were visited every 5 minutes.  It is a very modern city built on the edge of the desert.

VERY WEALTHY ... Saw the biggest black stretch limo we have ever seen.  Lots of Mercedes etc.  Huge buildings with very classy architecture. Saw some huge houses that looked like palaces.

VERY INEXPENSIVE ... had a very nice hotel for less than $40NZ each.  Bought a pair of binoculars for $NZ36.  We wish we had of bought a couple of laptops cause they were a lot cheaper than NZ.  Maybe next time.

VERY LOVELY PEOPLE ... strong Muslim country the service was great (picked up from airport to hotel at 4 am.)  A man shouted us a can of coke each because the storekeeper did not have change for our big note. Pleasant people with no hassling like Cairo.

VERY NICE PLACE TO VISIT ... took a ride on the local ferry.  Very modern city.  The airport is so plush. We will return to Dubai.

Malaysia.

KL was a pleasant surprise.  I expected it to be a bit run down like other Asian cities I have visited ...  but no ... it is modern friendly and helpful. Travellers are treated with respect and courtesy.

Went to Chinatown, Malaysia's version of Skytower, Twin towers (the tallest buildings in the world) and some huge shopping centres.  Travelled to Malacca, which has a colourful history of Portuguese, English, Dutch, Arab, Indian, and Japanese invasion, plus Pirates as well.  The maritime museum there is great. Now we are at Cherating, a beach on the East Coast which has sunshine, and is soooooooooooo relaxed. We have a cottage right on the beach. The water of the South China Sea is really warm and yesterday it rained for just 10 minutes.  Our first rain in months.  Last night we watched an amazing natural lightening show.  Special treat was to visit the Turtle Sanctuary and watched the mom turtle lay 150 eggs. 

Then by bus (crazy drivers) to a town called Jeruntut. Tomorrow morning we travel by minibus (via a rubber plantation) to stay in the wildlife park called Taman Negara.  It is in the middle of Malaysia and is the oldest rainforest in the world.  It also has the longest swing bridge in the world 480 meters (I think) which traverses the roof of the forest.  It was so pleasant and peaceful being in the middle of the jungle.  Ate every night at floating restaurants on the river and the meals averaged at about $NZ 10 for two.  Swam at the Cascades, hiked in the jungle though we didn't see any tigers, and across the world's longest canopy walkway amongst the tree tops. 

Travelled down by traditional longboat from Taman Negara on Thursday. The journey took two hours by water and then 5 by bus.  

Malaysia is a genuine fake shoppers paradise. For example .... Oakley triangle shaped Shoulder bags. ... Any brand of sunglasses you can imagine including the new square shaped oakleys. ... Perfumes ... Any sort of watches including Swatch and Rolex and in most colour preferences ...Shoulder and pouch knitted bags with or without beads. These are meant to be really fashionable at the moment Most brands of T Shirts or hats including Nike, All Black, Addidas etc.

Home is getting closer.  Oh dear... Yes it's Sunday evening in KL and we are sending of our last overseas email to you.  Tonight we are eating in the Chinatown street market (we have a favourite stall). I will have a big bottle of Tiger beer and some spicy Thai style chicken.  Shirley will have a freshly squeezed orange juice and ginger pork.  This will cost about $16 NZ. Now we are staying right in the middle of Chinatown and every day we see the hustle and bustle of the market place.  It is wonderful.  Yesterday we went to the Malaysia Agriculture and Horticulture show.  Enjoyed the exhibits and demonstrations.  We travelled there by rapid rail transport.  It stopped right at the stadium.  Talk about efficient.  Auckland is long over due for some of this efficiency.  We were also treated to a display of Malaysian dance and the chance to hear and see some Bollywood stars. (Bollywood is India's version of Hollywood and attracts more fans and revenue than anything in the States). Went to some modern shopping centres earlier in the week and were amazed at how big they are ... acres and acres of shops and food.  I have bought some shirts, shoes, and jeans, and Shirley has bought a couple of things as well.

The next two days will be more walking about,  maybe a bit of shopping, and then mentally preparing ourselves for the rain and cold.  We are looking forward very much to seeing you all. 

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