Rumblings of a marketing man on tour…

Would I have lasted from the 12th century if I were in Peckham?

A few things as I pause from ongoing templeage…

• Am off the beaten track today. Smaller temples, largely just me, no tourists. Heaven…
• Despite having been wronged by most civilised nations, the Cambodians are a remarkably tolerant, open, welcoming, friendly race
• The ‘you waaan baaaaay teeeeshaaaaat meeeestaaaaaah?’, doesn’t grate. Despite hearing it a hundred times an hour, it’s done with such charm
• And they can close a sale better than most professional salespeople back home. Talk about objection handling!
• Aside from the odd faint hum of a tuktuk, and the odd local ramble, I could be hear alone. Silence is golden, and I could sit here for hours watching the ants crawl by, the butterflies sail through the air, as the ancient temples stand over yet another day…

I won’t though.

Coffee, a very late lunch and a massage are all waiting for me. Am loving this back to nature moment, but c’mon. A two hour massage for less than 25 dollars?

I’d be mad not to….

Iain could be a monk. For a week or two at least…

Tasty. And less than one pound a meal...

I set off, and end up not finding the bar I was looking for (run by some ‘famous’ Malay tranny. Instead….

• I end up getting deliciously lost, take lots of pix
• find a random Chinese street party, dancing dragons AND a cheesy pop stage!
• see some locals play draughts with different colour beer bottle tops
• talk to a few friendly locals
• get an intro to local coffee in a local bar (no foreigners who seem to go to one or two pubs in the same street. Losers.(amazing coffee, more on that soon)
• eat a stack of curry, without doubt the best I’ve had out of India
• end the night soaking my poorly feet in the ‘full size’ bath I have that fits a proper adult and allows you to stretch out properly

Simple things….

Iain is stomping about seeing more local sights before scooting back to the ‘pore tonight…

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.

Singapore, vegan restaurant. More on that later…

I’m packing for Penang in Malaysia, not taking the netbook, just me, some temples, some culture, some mental hectic backstreets, some locals, some beaches and some hawker food for the weekend. Fly out at 7am tomorrow, and fly back late Sunday night.

I just wanted to leave you with this thought for the week I saw in my local coffee shop on the way to work…

Take note, wise words...

Iain can’t wait to go to Malaysia tomorrow. Penang (with your amazing fare), here I come…

My order: venti skinny wet latte, extra hot with an extra shot. GOT THAT?

Whenever the family went on holiday as a kid, my Father (tosser), always seemed to bump into someone he knew. As a youngstrel, I was in awe at this.

Could the world really be that small? Did Scottish people only go to one place on holiday?

Did they hold a meeting and arrange their dates so they were all there at the same time?

Was it just a big fat coincidence?

Anyway, today I feel a bit dirty. I did something bad. No, I haven’t seen Dave again (yet), but I did go to Starbucks to work…

Now I have a swish white Samsung netbook (white, N110,  sexy as), I don’t mind getting it out (so to speak) in coffee shops. So, I’m hammering out my presentation for tomorrow (largely inspired by the good Dr. Harrison), and I look up. And there she was.

Mrs. Jones.

No, not she of the song of the same name. Polly Jones, a former colleague from the glory days at Harrison Troughton Wunderman. Her brother works in Singapore (presumably in the Shell building where  my ‘bux was located), and she popped out avec the little ones to visit him.

Although deeply shamed that I didn’t go local for today’s coffee, I am somewhat pleased I bumped into a friendly face.

Good to see you Polly!

Iain is on day three. And was pleased the barista didn’t know what a wet one was (nowt pervy, tis a latte with no foam)…