North of Darwin into Malaysia....

At Easter we made a short trip into Malaysia.We spent a short time in Singapore(en route) keeping well off the beaten track, and walking the back streets. Quite by surprise we found this beautiful Buddist temple. it was unbelievably peaceful in a city of 4 million people. It was built in 1995, has a library, shop, and an area on the ground floor where they have services.We spent several hours inside just absorbing the peace...

The island of Singapore is not very big, so we weren't surprised to see tenement blocks by the hundreds... not for me I'm afraid.

The city is an amazing mix of some beautiful old architecture-

mixed with some very modern skyscrapers.

From Singapore we took a train north through Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth (previously an Australian Navy base), now stopping place to go to island of Penang.We spent 14hrs on the train, no stopping of any use, and no buffet. It was a long day with just a bottle of water.The internet had said there was food on board!!!! Next morning in Penang we were found by a tour operator!!! I had forgotton how obvious a redheaded freckled person is in a population of darker skins and black hair.... The tour operator was superb- took us all over the island for the day, for about $20...

This is the largest temple is Malaysia..built over several cliffs-quite an engineering feat.

As soon as I have resized my photos I will tell you some of our adventures in Penang, and in the Cameron Highlands.

Take care, and enjoy Autumn..I do miss the seasons.

AND STILL IT RAINS...EVERY DAY......

Yes I am still here, I have been very slack keeping up my news. Life really does roar along at a great pace.I spent a month at home over Dec/Jan, but saw very few people. I spent all my time, apart from a week in the Catlins, emptying my house and putting it into storage. An awful job, but it is now done. I have a lovely tennant who is also looking after my two dear cats- how lucky am I?

I am still enjoying my work- it is very busy.We are planning to do the change to digital very soon- as soon as the government give us the promised money!!!!! This will make life easier- no more chemicals, processors etc, just computers all the way...(and those associated problems).

I have left my expensive apartment, and am living for a short while in a caravan on a property owned my a work colleague. It is 40mins out of town, but we share a vehicle so its all good.

this is my home at present...

It is very peaceful and I do enjoy trying to identify noises in the night. I regularly have possums tapdancing on a water tank nearby. A family on wallabies snuffle most nights.Many birds live around me- many I can't identify- very frustrating.

Something else I really must share are the amazing storms...I know I do go on !!!! But they are spectacular!!!!!!These few I took on the way to work the other day....enjoy....

AND A FEW MINUTES LATER IT ALL CAME DOWN........

I am still enjoying this challenge over here, but I am really missing friends and my very precious family. My new grandchildren are growing rapidly, and I hate to miss their growing up. I will beback before end of year-

keep safe, keep well love to all