Festive Season

And festive it has been indeed, with dinners, church, parties & carols :)

Kat & Meike, you guys are incredible!

Meike's mum sent her (read: us) gingerbread and other German Christmas goodies :)

After the busy-ness of Christmas, Csilli and I headed to the cool and peaceful Cameron Highlands for a few days of quiet reflection. I first went to Cameron almost 18 months ago just after I first arrived in Malaysia, and since then have been planning, post-poning, cancelling and making new plans to go back! I've finally made it, and it was just what I needed!

• Cool, dry mountain air making for cold nights and crisp mornings
• Trekking through the jungle (and getting lost!)
• Eating strawberries (in roti, in jam on toast & scones, with icecream)
• Lying on the grass at dusk and dreaming of picnics
• Reflecting on my time here in Malaysia and starting to plan for my last weeks here and my next adventure in Canberra
• Spotting beautiful flowers and weird bugs

For anyone who's keen to go, we stayed in the dorm at Father's Guest House, which is cheap but just lovely and full of backpacker types from everywhere (some of whom snore louder than others...!). The people who run it are very friendly, and even came to fetch us when we couldn't work out how to get off the top of the mountain before dark - cheers guys! :)

Tanah Rata township

Oliver (our random Budapest-loving Aussie friend!), Flic & Csilli

Funky fungi in the forest

New Year's has not been quite as festive, with a spot of gastro or something last night so I didn't make it out, BUT I'm eating a little today and am full of optimism for an exciting 2008 ahead! Best wishes to all of you for a year full of laughter and adventure! :D