Georgetown, Penang

I arrived in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia, this afternoon, having lost an hour crossing the border due to time zones. Its really strange, but I always feel like Ive come back home whenever I enter Malaysia, its just really cool here. The only time I was ever homesick, like in my life ever, was the first time I left Malaysia to go back to the UK, way back in '97....I really must find some way of staying here and getting a proper job, that would be so cool.

Anywyas, this afternoon I got my hair cut, nowt fancy, just a bit shorter all round; this Malaysian hairdresser must have spent like an hour washing/cutting/drying my hair, all for the princely sum of RM19 (<>

Im staying at the same cheap little guesthouse that I stayed in last time (back in Sept 05), and it was really kool when I walked in and the owner recognised me and so did another staff member :)
Which reminds me, I really must make a note of transportation that I use, guesthouses that I stay at and good places to eat - it would be handy to be able to find out how much bus X to town Y costs and how long it takes etc, cos its really hard to remember, plus everyone always tries to charge farangs (=foreigners) more, so it would be good to make a note of actual real prices once I find them out.

Went to see a film this evenning, The Garden State, was surprisingly good considering I knew nowt about it before; actually Ive seen quite a few good films lately, including The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and The Butterfly effect [more later].

Thailand > Malaysia Visa Run

Ok, so I kinda havent updated my blog for like a month, but I been busy chillin! Anyways, Im here now, altho not for long, cos Ive just started my visa run - today Ive come from Khoa Lak in Thailand to Phuket, Im off to Hat Yai (also in Thailand) by bus in 1hour, then Im gonna cross the border into Malaysia at Padang Besar, and spent a couple of days at Penang, before heading back up to Khao Lak again (altho I might also visit Phi Phi island on the way back up).

Ive spent the last 3 weeks on Phi Phi, doing a bit of voluntary work and showing some of the local Thais how to do things with their computers. I also spent Xmas and New Year at Phi Phi, which was really kool, will try and back-fill in some details later on.

Im currently in a very funky net cafe in Phuket (funky cos its got leather comfy chairs, black glass tables with frosted glass screen so everyone gets a bit of privacy and nice lighting), having just wandered round the local market that I chanced upon as I was walking down this street to see where it lead. I was debating whether I should get my hair cut at the hairdressers next door, altho not sure if they would understand me enuff for it to work out ok, seeing as my Thai is rather poor, and not many people speak English, but then again its only 200baht (3GBP) so I cant really complain... I wanted to grow my hair so I could have it braided, but Ive been told its still not long enought (it hangs about 2inches down my neck at the back, if that makes any sense).