Malaysia in the wet season

Malaysia is the third border in a row that we have negotiated ourselves, as we did not relish the stay in the National Park during the wet season or the subsequent long drive. We opted for an overnight train to Penang and saved two days which we spent in and around Penang Island. On the 25th Sept we booked an Island Tour and were lucky to have our own driver for the day. He was very knowledgable and the four hour tour lasted 6 hours and we returned exhausted. The highlights for us were Snake Temple, Butterfly Park, the local Tea and Coffee factories, a Batik printing clothes shop, where of course Sandra found a skirt to buy, Fishermans Village and Spice and Exotic Fruit tastings. The group arrived at 7.00pm and we had a nice meal in the night market opposite the hotel with our Canadian friends Sylvia and Russell.
Monday the 26th and a trip to the Vernicular Railway for some spectacular views of Penang only downside was the heavy rain showers which are getting more persistant as we get into the wet season. We went back to the hotel by the same route up, but Russell and Sylvia decided to walk back from the top, unfortunately it turned into an epic for them and they arrived back late in the afternoon after a really long walk.
A drive across Malaysia to the Perhentian Islands (27th Sept) and a speedboat out to our Island Beach Resort called Watercolours. Unfortunately we felt the accomodation was not great and moved next door to the Coral Island Resort into a bungalow right on the beach front which started a stampede and eight others soon followed. We had a relaxing time on the beach lazing just in or around the water. It was Zoe's Birthday, and to celebrate, Zoe and Susan arranged a Truck Olympic Competition on the beach with plenty of silly games and Sandra was again in the winning team which makes it a 100% record for her in all the truck games as she has always been on the winning team.
An early start on 1st Oct with Kuala Lumpur our next destination, this is a big concrete city with not much to do other than shopping. We did however find the Worlds Largest Free Flight Walk in Bird Aviary and found lots of exotic birds flying around inside a giant net. I got bitten on the thumb by a Lorikeet parrot and Sandra had a problem with a Pelican who managed to open its beak and had her head inside before a warden intervened.
We spent the last night being entertained at "Smellie Nellies" by a little irish git called Ben who seems to think he's some sort of comedian (as if), it was his Birthday Celebration and he had been promising us a gig for 6 months you would think after all that time to practise .... Seriously it was a riotous evening and very funny even the locals were in stitches, the other local comedian was very good and the group had some great sing a long songs.
Next stop Melaka 5th Oct and we just really lazed around chilling out with the group, must mention the cycle Tuk Tuks covered in plastic flowers and fairy lights blaring out pop music was much better than a taxi, and they were also very knowledgable about the City and sights . This is where we said goodbye to Calypso our trusted home and travel companion over the last six months, she has travelled over 23,000 km without a breakdown or puncture not bad for a converted dustcart. It's a shame, but the powers that be said it was" too expensive" and difficult to drive into Singapore - not sure that the right decision was made on this one.
I think our lives seriously changed on 6th Oct with the arrival of our first grandchild Darcie Matilda and we can't wait to get into Perth and meet up with Karen and Nick and have a cuddle with little Darcie.