Rumblings of a marketing man on tour…

Well, Asia wouldn’t be Asia without a deathtrap tuktuk ride now, would it?

It lashed down with rain for 30mins about 5pm. Properly torrential. Which was nice in the way really hard rain can be. A lot of the side / smaller roads aren’t too road like, so it was a rather bumpy ride.

Factor in a bike that’s probably not seen a service since 1972, and, well, you get the idea. That and actually picking a side of the road to travel on. It’s broadly the right, but this seems entirely at the drivers discretion…

Several wheel spins, one near tip (and a quick word to Ganesha), we make it to Blue Pumpkin (highly recommended by KC). Its clearly something of a Cambodian institution.

Downstairs, we have tables spilling onto the busy street. Inside downstairs, very average café like.

Upstairs however, is mostly white. Extended sofa type beds mean you can kick your shoes off and stretch out. Perfection…

The comfy Blue Pumpkin

Special little tables allow your food to perch around your bad self, assuming you get round to feeding yourself. If only I could stretch out and have someone feed me grapes….

Big ceiling fans keep you cool, and the free wireless ensures them regular visitation from the laptop luvvies. Handy, as the wireless in my hotel is about as reliable as 3 broadband customer services back in Blighty. Bad…

The waiter, well, he’s his own variety of delectable. No doubt Lady Muck (whose boyfriend seemed to like that nickname), wouldn’t approve, him being a worker and all….

Skipping back to KL for a moment if I may (almost over the lack of koala / oompaloompa sightings), when we were at the meeting at the airline, she noticed me clock a very fit, very handsome, and rather dirty technician in an overall.

Quite short, but muscled, stunning pearly whites, and a wicked grin I could read from 60,000 feet. He could easy have posed for an Asian Anne Geddes catalogue. Or, did she do babies? I’m thinking of the dude with two big car tyres greased up in overalls. Meh, anyhoo…

A slap to the arm, a firm yank, a loud no and marching orders proceeded. I was left somewhat stunned…

I was horrified to learn, I could do better than ‘a worker’. I mean, me and a worker, perish the thought ladies and gentleman. He was a baggage handler, therefore in a lowly social class all of his own. Apparently…

My argument of him not being for Christmas (well, it worked for all those puppies), didn’t wash. A valiant effort on my part, but it seems the race / sex / status fixations in Singapore run deep. And I thought we were class obsessed in Britain.

Still, beer number two beckons. The signature fish ravioli in coconut sauce was rather special. Very melt in the mouth. Speaking of which, that waiters smile, could melt a lot more.

Note to self, no more beer here. I don’t have Robert Redford’s millions after all!

Iain doesn’t want to leave Blue Pumpkin…

So, last day in SG. What do I get?

Fly in, meeting, fly out. Can’t complain, should  be a kick arse meeting. Especially if I work my magic…. Then, a date with Dave awaits me Friday night, and it’s Cambodia for a week on another 6am Sunday flight.

I can pick em!

Iain is almost in holiday mode…..

The local death trap. Or taxi (that would have helped my feet)

So, I somehow manage to start the day with my brain unable to make my legs work and really hurt two toes by bending them back the wrong way flailing about the bedroom in the dark like a compete idiot.

Bumpy landing, near bowel evacuation at turbulence and hey presto, hello Penang.

Stomp about all day (tick box tourism list, temple, temple, mosque, old colonial building, museum, etc) all great fun. The gayest Chinese-Malay tour guide in all the world, but more on him later…

Remember Portugal in the 70′s? Loads of old cars, traffic, no pavements. Or unfinished pavements?

Well, smart arse here was precariously balanced taking a lovely arty shot of the open sewer / lack of pavement, and wham. I go arse over tit, hit the deck, and land on my (by now very sore after 6 hrs of being walked on) pained toe from this mornings incident.

Nobody saw. Dignity almost intact…

Wearing some trainers that are comfy, but a bit past it (and cursing / blaming them, snot my fault obviously), I go into a shop to try on some new ones.

See some nice sandals.

Socks off, and there’s my big purple headed warrior screaming up at me, LOOK WHAT YOU DID FU@KING DID TO ME YOU CLUMSY IDIOT!

Swollen lots.

Cut inbetween both toes. And now I know its there, pain increasing tenfold.
Smarting a little, I hobble to my 5 star hotel to check in looking a little shabby (up since 5am, walked in heat all day, fallen lots, sweaty etc), and a stray pen decides to burst in my pocket as I get to the desk…

I obviously haven’t noticed, before touching everything in sight, the desk, my white top, my grey trousers which are filthy from the fall. Oh, and rather handily, my face. Was like Iain does an audition for the minstrels at the Shangri La.

Quite a first day in Malaysia. God knows what tonight will bring! But I’m hoping for something hot, strong, and spicy with real kick.

Iain is off for a local (curry obviously)

Am up and off to Penang, but have already had a (less than enjoyable) trip.

Lots of coffee yesterday, plus excitement = hard to sleep. Alarm wakes me, stumble out of bed, legs not working, trip, bend two toes over backwards.

Cue much cursing and swearing at silly am….

Still, at airport, all on time so far. Let’s hope the next part of my trip leads to more enjoyment…

Iain is tired, grumpy, and just about still excited.