Best Western Suria Cherating Resort

... these things (with about a 4 foot extension rod/grabber) I have to have all these badges and yahda ya whatever send me to work.

Its Friday night and I'm going to step out with the international crowd again. Last weekend I met people from all over the place, including Australia, Indonesia, Iran, Canada, England, and KL. Strangely enough, on THIS side of the world people also like to go out and socialize on the weekends. Weird. Anyway, thats all I got for now.

Through with exhausting jungle trekking I'd made my way once more to the east coast for a few relaxing days by the beach before flying on the 11th. Although now passed it's heyday, Cherating was once a favourite stop on the travellers route up the coast, with a long stretch of sand, good accommodation options and a bohemian paced atmosphere people quite often lingered for much longer than anticipated.

I arrived in the village after ...

... We arranged to go turtle hunting that evening. The trip started at 10.00 pm, he said we would see the baby turtles and let them go in the sea. Then we would relaxe for a few hours and wait until a big turtle would come to the beach to lay eggs. So we headed to the turtle sanctuary and the baby turtles where so cute just trying to run everywhere. I tried to upload a video but only a little quick one as the others ...

... trip to Scotland!), the game is quite popular here.

Cherating is the sort of place that up until now has had liitle development and most travellers go there just to stop for a while; for us three days but for many much longer. Characters popped up all over the place like Dieter, the german software guy who contracts now and again and is just travelling the rest of the time ........ but he's got a bit of catching up to do to beat David whose been on the go for 7 years! David ...

... whining cat waiting at our door waiting to lead us to the breakfast table to enjoy the waking sun. After breakfast, it was a quick trip to the wooden bridge to giggle at the frisky monkeys and their babies cavorting in the water, swinging from branch to branch and falling off. After the crazy monkey sight seeing, and much to the boys' relentless complaints, we sat down for school lessons. After lunch and more lessons, we ...

... all-natural repellant. So, we are being eaten alive while stinking of citronella. We will head into Kuantan (an hour south of here) in search of some DEET tomorrow. Some of the great ...

... to the endless barrage of programs, pseudo-holidays, real holidays and testing. Since February, there have been good and bad developments in my schedule and role at the school. Two up, one down. Up: English Team Finally, after some haranguing, I got together my 'English Team.' This is a group of 12 students with whom I will spend one hour every day, teaching pronunciation and public speaking skills. At the end of May, they will perform at the going-away ceremony ...

... 21 choices. It was not a very streamlined process at first, but it did the job, and once the station supervisors started to settle into a routine, it became much faster. I voted about tenth at the station for teachers and staff. When I reached the station, I noted, much to my surprise that each of the teachers and staff had voted for all of the same candidates. The election was rigged! Seeing my surprise, my "mentor" Kartini explained very ...

... on a mutually agreeable price 11. Slip the fisherman some cash I didn't even get to try the shrimp! Later, I went with Fauzi, his wife and two year old daughter, Ira, to Dungun and my school and new home, Sekolah Imtiaz Dungun. The school is located right on the beach. My apartment is two rooms connected by a bathroom (clearly built for two people). I have an air-conditioner and a fan, and a little television. It's quite comfortable. Later, I went with Fauzi and his ...