The Batu Caves - No bats thank god (but snakes and monkeys!)

Built in 1891, Batu Caves is a series of caves and temples and has one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside of India... Around 13 kms north of KL, it is a great place to visit and is just a half day trip.  We hired a taxi as it was three of us and it was really cheap to do it that way... otherwise you can take the bus or train there pretty easily. It feels kind of mystical, the shrines, the deities, the monkeys, snakes, incense and mantras being played through bad hi-fi systems. The light is amazing, it comes through a hole at the top of the main cave and really trippy beams of sunlight shine down...

 The Murugan statue

Nerdy facts: The limestone forming Batu Caves is said to be around 400 million years old. Some of the cave entrances were used as shelters by the indigenous Temuan people (a tribe of Orang Asli). Batu Caves was promoted as a place of worship by K. Thamboosamy Pillai, an Indian trader. He was inspired by the 'vel'-shaped entrance of the main cave and was inspired to dedicate a temple to Lord Muruga within the caves. 

Almost 100 m above the ground, the Batu Caves temple complex consists of three main caves and a few smaller ones. The biggest, referred to as Cathedral Cave or Temple Cave, has a 100 m-high ceiling and features ornate Hindu shrines. Wear comfy shoes as you have to climb a steep flight of 272 steps!!

Dan doing his blue steel

Fearless!

Cynomolgus monkey... this guys are cheeky little bastards that steal food and drinks!

Adrenaline Junkies - Next stop KL!

Next stop was KL to meet the amazing and talented Dan Introna who I first met in the parking lot of a bar when I was 15... a couple (ahem!) years later and he is still one of the kindest, coolest most kick-ass people I have ever met!  Helena joined us in KL for the week which was amazing.  Going backstage and hanging with base jumpers was an eye-opener.  I haven't seen that many tats and dreadlocks since Vortex parties in Cape Town 15 years ago...

Crazy base-jumpers jumping off the KL Tower

Dan ready to go...

This girl has NO FEAR!! Respect.

KL is a great spot for eating, shopping, hanging out etc.  Very cool peeps and places, especially Dan Thompson's place - 21 Kitchen and Bar .  He kept the champagne flowing all night.  You rock Dan!

Highly recommended for awesome drinks and beautiful people... crammed and crazy this is Asian partying at its best.

The Yoga Sisters

The yoga sisters together, one of the last days of the yoga teacher training.  What a bunch of fabulous girls!

Kat, Sarah, Me, Jess and Helena x x

A Family Visit

Mum came to visit for a couple of weeks.  I swear she travels more than I do! We met in Koh Samui for some shopping (Chandra is an awesome store that sells clothes from India and Bali as well as their own stuff but it isn't cheap...) and then we went back to stay in Koh Phangan as I was finishing up my teacher training... We lived it up at the Centara hotel.  A bit of comfort after 4 weeks in a wooden hut was a welcome change!

Nice sunset from the boat Samui - Koh Phangan

Mum befriending and feeding the stray dogs

Then we flew up to BKK to the hustle and bustle.. I was there the year before with Ali and loved it but I think because I had been chilling out on the islands for a month I didn't enjoy it this time. Too loud, too busy, too crazy, too much family time... eek...

Ahhhh, massage time!

Then before going back to the island, I got to stay in luxury at the Dusit Thani with Charlotte for a few days... Thank you Charlotte it was so nice to be in luxury!  (Ermmm I mean so nice to stay in luxury)

Then it was back to the island for some more fun where I met the animali!!

Same Same Nice 'n Spicy

I did a Thai cooking class at Same Same Restaurant in Haad Rin... this grotty little town is best avoided except when you need supplies or cash as Haad Tien and Haad Yuan are sans cash machines.  Don't let the taxi boat drivers rip you off though... Haad Yuan is a magical place, one of the few unspoilt places in Thailand but even here, things are starting to get expensive and touristy...

Taking a cooking class with friends is a fun way to connect and then you get some awesome food to share with everyone as you make tons which you can take away with you.  Don't eat before class as there is so much food!  You can choose 5 dishes that you want to make.  It is easy, fun and cheap.  A great way to spend an afternoon.

Seafood salad!

Helena, Jess and me!

Yoga and Thailand Peeps and Animals...

 Teacher training posse

James thank you for trying to get me to jump off the rock, sorry I didn't make it!! Next time!

Tiger, I love you!

Forget Roller Girl, Hula girl!

Beach yoga with Helena... x

Kaimo!! King of the beach

Some of the incredible people and animals in Thailand.... I miss you guys!!

Evolution- a long & winding road

It all starts with yoga... I started my trip on the beautiful and now not-so-secret island of Koh Phangan where I did my yoga teacher training with Lily Goncalves.  It was an amazing experience where I met very cool, like-minded people.  It was really great to start of healthy and to learn a skill that I can use on my travels... Dancing at dawn, feather earrings, Guy's bar, Mayan calendar readings... it is a hippie's dream and a paradise that I was so lucky to be in for nearly 2 months.  Ahhhh... I can't wait to go back!  And this is where I start my evolution, sure to be a long and winding road, but fun nevertheless!

The Beginning of the Journey

So after 9 months of travelling, why am I starting a blog now?  Because I feel I am forgetting stuff, because I am too lazy to write in a journal with any regularity and because I am on my computer all the time anyway. So, I might as well be posting stuff that will help me remember all the amazing places I have been and all the incredible people I have met.  So I can look back and remember what a dufus I can be sometimes and that maybe, just maybe some of this will inspire people to do the same, make them laugh or just give them a glimpse into the wonderful world that we live in.