Krabi to Penang Part II

13.11-15.11 Krabi
13.11 arrived in Krabi from Phuket
We were very lucky cos it was the Krabi Food Festival, and there were loads of cheap stalls- we found a Muslim food hawker, where I had some kind of curry noodles and Janis had beef curry with rice... paet! (spicy)

14.11 Railay http://www.thailandparadise.com/krabi-railay-beach.htm
 Took a longtail boat to Railay- beautiful views of Chicken Island and the coast, mangrove trees along Krabi pier.
Railay- mostly good for the rock climbing- beach was crowded, expensive...
Maybe kayaking too..
Rained.
On the way back-
Fisherman's clothes drying on their boats in the sunset.
Tino got to steer the boat with the boatman and his big grin.
A Kodak moment- but no camera- will stay in my memory.

Turkey Island?

Met Susanna on the way back- lovely to see a friendly face.
Love Krabi...
15.11 Krabi - Penang long journey some accidents... 1 hour Malaysian immigration.
Phew...
New problem- Janis passport will expire in 4 months.
Thinking about getting visa for me for Thailand, and wait for passports there.
IF I can get avisa...
Watch this space...

Phuket or London? Or Penang?

Rawai Beach (not my own pictures)

So we've been in Phuket for about a week now...
Looking for beaches and jobs..
Now I finally got invited for an interview!
And I'm having second thoughts..
Do I want to work in Thailand? Will the salary be enough? Will I be working too much?
Then the other.. Do I want to work in the uk? And I don't even have a job in the uk...
So the proper question would be
Do I want to be pennyless, jobless in the uk or work on an island in tropical Thailand?
Hmmm.

 This...
Or...

Starting Over

Penang - Krabi :)

Up at 4.30 am tidying and last minute packing...

The receptionist snoring in his wicker chair next to his desk.
5am the horn beeps and we're off in a minivan, bumping along the motorway.
It started raining just before the border, houses and roads under water.
A woman stands stricken in front of her house, the roof under water. I wish I knew what I could do to help her.
I realise that my situation is not so bad. I have money, I have my kids and warm, dry clothes.

Border crossing at 9am, then change a bus in Hat Yai at 9.30am.
Then drove on and on till Krabi at 1pm. We checked into a guesthouse, changed money. It kept on raining...
After lunch at Chokedee (pasta, chicken soup and fried rice) Janis persuaded me to go to Ao Nang beach (above, although that's not what it looked like in the rain- but still beautiful)
A short bus trip then a magnificent view, limestone cliffs and clear water despite the drizzle.
It's really amazing here, although probably gets busy in good weather.
Hasn't stopped raining.
Tomorrow we're off to Ko Lanta, to stay with our cs host.
Can't wait.
(sorry for the pictures- no camera)

Pumpkin Pooh

Pumpkin pooh is the gunk in the middle of the pumpkin you have to take out to make a jack o lantern.
Copyright by Tino

Going to Thailand and Halloween

Today is our last day in Malaysia.
I sold my laptop for 1100 Ringgits, and that's all I've got left until....?

So I've got to be careful with money, a skill which I haven't really acquired, but have to!

Tomorrow we're off to Krabi, then Ko Lanta Yai and Phuket.
Can't wait!
Fingers crossed I can get a job in Phuket or therabouts. It would be amazing!
Let's wait and see.

No camera either, so record by sight, and in writing..

Impressions of Shah Alam

 Natasha and Shafril's wonderful house. Minimalist oriental style.

 Shah Alam Mosque, impressive, graceful

 Streets of Shah Alam- a planned city, built in 1970s, the capital of Selangor state.

 In the Lake Gardens of Shah Alam.

 Teh Ais, Milo Ais, and Kopi Cham...

 In front of the mosque.

 Natasha, Syafril, Alicia, Tino and Janis at a Malay/ Chinese Wedding...

Making Onde2- Rice flour, pandan, water, kapur sirih and of course lots of brown sugar and coconut!

brother and sister...

Teh Tarik and Maggi noodles The best! 

At least they had a great playground at Cameron Highlands

Aaaaaaahhhh brother and sister... not fighting! 

Starting Again

 

 Tea Plantation from the bus to Cameron Highlands

Walking to Parit Falls

30th of October 2010
Thought I'd be in UK by now... But that's not the way it's gonna be.
We don't have a ticket anymore.
My son couldn't get a visa for the uk, and now we have to try to get a passport.

It's not even sure he can get that.
But I'm happy to say this situation has set me free.
I grasped for other alternatives. I'm a teacher.
I can work anywhere in the world.
Now I'm off to find work and relax on a beautiful beach.
God is good.

Flight

28/9


He keeps on threatening to take my son. "Maybe tomorrow, or next week or next month, your son will be gone"
He hardly ever in the 5 years of our son's life put the children to sleep. Tonight he takes my son upstairs, bathes with him, feeds him and suddenly before 9 pm he carries our son down. Seems like he is sleeping in his arms.  This is very strange. But then this is a strange situation.


He puts our son to sleep in his bedroom. He goes upstairs while saying to my daughter (13) "Call me if he wakes up."
I wait for him to go upstairs. I move my sleeping angel into the children's bedroom. I am afraid.
In the middle of the night he comes in. "Give me my son!" he commands. I beg him: "Please don't.Please please please".
"Don't panic. I'm not going to rape you. I just want my son."
I refuse. He walks out.
I wait for him to sleep.
I pack our clothes and some special belongings.
I place it in a place where he is unlikely to look.
29/9/10
I wake up at 5am.
He is snoring with the door open.
I move around quietly. My heart in my mouth.
I shut the door of the bed where he sleeps.
My daughter awakes and asks me what we are doing?
"We're leaving" she nods. She had expected it. Things were that bad.
At 6 am I take a trishaw to the school where I work.
It is still dark and deserted.
I put my bags next to my desk.
On the way down I meet a colleague.
I jump.
"Wow, youre early" she says.
"Just had to bring some things," I reply.
"Oh."
I return home.
I make breakfast.
We get ready for school, like any other day.
He continues to snore. 
After work and school. We move into a boarding house with security. I am afraid. Afraid of someone spotting us.

A New Life Starts HERE

Why am I making a blog?
I have left behind my old life. I want to keep on reminding myself to live for the future, remembering lessons from the past. I owe this to myself and my children. This blog will capture our adventures and challenges.