We are being eaten alive.

(By mosquitos)
But Abi's Lariam does not seem to be making her any more mental than she was before so that is fine.
After Dubai we took yet another flight to Jakarta where we stayed for a night (Jakarta is not the nicest of cities) before swiftly moving on to Cirebon by train. Cirebon was hassle central. Every time we left our hotel we were followed by rickshaws and street vendors who insisted on suggesting that Abi and Egg were fat/pregnant/with child. In Cirebon we saw a rather old palace (built by the 1st of 14, 49 or 19 sultans - our guide's english was a little patchy) he also told us that the palace was used for "Happy Birthday Mohammad" which was sweet.
After Cirebon we took an executive class train through some beautiful mountainous jungley scenery across to Yogyakarta, where we had arranged to meet Skelly and Smem (or the B Team, as we like to call them). After sleeping three in a sweat filled bed in a hostel that cost 3 pounds a night but was the temperature of Dubai (see above) we found a new hotel, ate some Nasi Goreng and twice got duped into seeing "Batik Art Exhibition". Batik is a lovely form of art which we now know far too much about but the people of Yogyakarta are v v keen for tourists to see/buy (mostly buy) .

After avoiding some scams and having a night of air con we left our hotel at 5am for Borobodur and Prambanan - beautiful ancient Buddhist and Hindu temples. Borobudur is situated on top of a mountain and across from a stunning mountain landscape called the 'sleeping Buddha' (it looked like Buddha, asleep). We cannot describe how amazing all the views and temples were and we have a horrible feeling the photos will not do them justice either. But we took a million anyway, just in case.(Abi on her super hi-tech disposable camera, so fingers crossed...)

While some people were asleep the rest of the party ventured out and Skelly managed to get wee-ed on by a small Indonesian girl. Highlight of the holiday so far...

We later watched the story of Rama and Sita (for the second time that day) performed by traditional Javanese dancers (and one toddler dressed as a green monkey soldier, who was clearly the star of the show).

Today we have been driven to the beach and back, by the most patient of taxi drivers (who continued to try and find all the crazy non-existent places we asked despite being crashed into by a moped on a near vertical jungle track). We eventually found a slimy pool to swim in, walked on the beach, drove quads on the beach, drove quads into the sea*, watched the sunset and then traveled back to Yogyakarta to post this blog. Having tea in Yog now, then braving a night train to see Mount Bromo.

Until then we must remain as we are, sticky, sand covered and being eaten alive.
xx


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*This was not, strictly speaking, us. It was Hugh. Silly Hugh.

wed 18th August

So we have kind of missed 1 week of posting but we have been busy. So busy that we aren't sure we can remember everything we have done.
After flying from Newcastle to Heathrow we then flew from Heathrow and ended up in Dubai (or the hottest place on earth as its more commonly known)we ventured outside of the airport in Dubai as we had too many hours to kill inside and although Dubai airport was huge and beautiful we thought we should take a trip into the city. This was our first FAIL. At 37 degrees with 68% humidity we melted into sweaty monsters as soon as we left the building. We attempted a trip to the big palm island thing but got 100m from the tube and went to the nearest restaurant (which was in a Holiday inn in a random industrial estate. We then managed a trip to the tallest building in the world (or so we were told) it is massive though (170 floors!).
Apologies we have none we must take a train now stop over and out stop

Indonesia I hear your call

So me and Helen are off to Indonesia in no less than 7 days .. Woop! However our planning is a little off abismal. (hahaha. no? not funny. I thought it was. No I didn't, I'm lying.I just liked the fact that my spelling mistake spelled my name) So we have 7 days to get our money changed .. decide when we are coming back into the country and get everything we need to survive. Enough time? yes, but only if we actually start sorting this stuff out instead of freaking out cos we haven't done it yet. So this is me .. complaining about not being organised .. taking up time I could be organising .. Score.
So far, me and Hel, have managed to get flights from Newcastle to Heathrow and Heathrow to Indonesia (in a round about way) unfortunately we still haven't managed to get to Newcastle or back from Heathrow.. but hey what kind of adventure would it be if we didn't get stuck somewhere?
Oh and I started taking Lariam today and it causes paranoia, hallucinations and depression ... Fun times lie ahead.

With Love Abi