I traded in my old shoes for a nice new comfy blue pair. A bargain indeed at only $100 Aud.

KK you have redeemed yourself with this delicious simple lunch. Tuna and egg sandwich with coffee and the coffee was fantastic,  best coffee I’ve had in a long time.

It’s so good to be in a country where they understand English in its purest sense and not corrupted  by the stupidly of all things American. We also have a ground floor once more,  ah civilisation feels so good. 

I decided to go to one of the islands today, I went to Gaya island which was about 23 mins from the Kota Kinabalu. I got the boat at Jessleton Point and there are many companies here ready to ferry you out to the islands. I was not sure what to do today but then I thought I could go to the island and maybe go for a walk, have a cuppa and read my book and just relax. Yes this is the plan. Now I admit it does look tranquil but getting here was a different kettle of fish. Our trusty boat captain decided to sink the welly and the boat was thumping and crashing over the waves and to be honest it was quite exciting, however I did not expect to get soaked to the skin in the process. We were going against the current which was very strong and of course the seas are being whipped up due to the tropical storm in the South China Sea, but none the less we carried on. One minute we were soaring above the waves and the next falling into a trough with an almighty thump. People on the boat were screaming, but some people do at the slightest thing of course. A few times he did misread the waves and we nearly got caught out but finally we reached calmer waters and we got off the boat. I however was drookit. Everything was wet. I had tried to shield my backpack and thankfully the camera, phone and other contents were OK but I was soaked form head to toe. What a fucking prick. If I had had my Sou’wester then I would have enjoyed this wee trip.

When I got to the island I didn’t really feel like going anywhere and so I found a seat near the beach and dried oot. There was so many people on the island to, I expected a few but it was worse than Sauchiehall Street. I was here for 3 hours and so I felt a bit like a Shag on a rock drying its plumage as I perched myself on the edge of the seat.

On the way back I expected it to be a little better because we were going with the swell and so I tried to take a video of this but it was so difficult just trying to hang on to the phone and so the video quality is pretty shit but it will give you some idea of what it was like. Mind you you will need to add lots of spray and bigger waves to imagine what it was like on the way out. And as for an adrenalin ride, then this would have been the best 30 ringgit I have spent. Next time I will wear my wet suit.

Well I’m a little underwhelmed with Kota Kinabalu and it’s my own fault for not doing more homework when I booked the flights so many months ago.  But I’m here so I’ll make the most of it. There’s not much to do here really and so I should have gone to the other side of Sabah where I would have found national parks and a more natural environment. 

I walked around the streets yesterday and came across a few landmarks, such as the Atkinson Clock Tower dating from the 1800’s. The mosque is designed to hold 12,000 people and I walked there along the sea front but was a little disappointed with the structure as it’s in a sad state of repair.

The mosque was a fair way it and I didn’t want to walk back but then I discovered the Uber option in Google Maps. I can order an Uber and I can pay by cash,  how good is that. 

I got the night flight from Pudong to KL. I arrived just after 7am and didn’t really get much sleep. I had a window seat but I couldn’t find a comfy spot to rest me noggin. I’d wake up every so often, mouth open catching flies and it felt like an Arabs sandal by the morn.  And then to add insult to injury they wake me up to give me a complimentary meal and then have the cheek to ask for my boarding pass.  I said” I don’t want it thanks”,they offered me water and I said ” yes” she said “boarding pass” I said nothing and closed my eyes.

It’s nice to be away from China, I mean,  I can use Google again and my phone works all the quicker, I can even look at Facebook without the need of the vpn…….bloody luxury I say………………

Well the adventure begins today, I’m heading back to the non vpn world for some freedom hopefully. I’ll go for a wee jaunt around south East Asia and then hopefully Europe but it all depends on how well I can stretch the pennies. 

Today in Suzhou it is absolutely bitter and so it will be good to feel some warmth again.  I have 4 layers on and can still feel the wind cut through me. But at least the sun is shining and the sky is blue. Oh and I’m having coffee of course. 

China is such a big country and at the moment I am in the west in Yunnan province. It doesn’t get light here until about 8 am which is a little strange as I usually wake up long before that.  Nothing really happens until after 9 am. 

There is one time zone in China and no day light saving which in many ways avoids a lot of confusion but it only really suits the eastern cities such as Shanghai or the capital Beijing.

So now I’m at the airport and it’s 7.40 and the sun is still in its bed. I’m heading back to Suzhou for a few days before leaving China for a few months.  I’m looking forward to being able to access websites without the use of a vpn and to get a bit of warmth. 

My hotel is in the old Lijiang town and it’s like many old towns in China that have been rejuvenated and gentrified and then turned into a tourist trap. You’re supposed to pay 80 rmb just to enter into it but as my hotel is inside I ain’t paying. 

It’s a beautiful day although it’s a little chilly in the shade.  You could easily spend a few hours aimlessly wandering around amongst the many selfie sticks,  I left mine at home.  

I had lunch here and the Yak meat is really good and they give you a lot on the plate, usually in Suzhou you have to try and find it. Lijiang has an amazing mountain backdrop and at the moment there is still snow on the peaks. I’m not going to do too much over the next two days apart from enjoy my comfy room, maybe read my book and just generally chillout.

I thought I would treat myself for the last 3 nights of my trip to Yunnnan. I’ve had very little comfort and hot water for a shower and so I picked the King Size Suite……………………….