The young country

Well it's been a long time between posts and I must admit I'm starting to get a bit weary so I think it's a sign that it's nearly time for home.
I'm posting this blog from Dili, East Timor and the internet isn't so fast here and most of my things are in Bali so unfortunately no photos just yet..
Going back I made it to Bangkok and spent a couple of days by the pool which was nice. It really is a big city though and I found it a bit overwhelming. It probably didn't help that I found out how much a city of the night is really is - particularly after 2 am when all the bars close and people move onto the street to eat and drink at little portable bars. I met some really interesting people there but maybe could have slept more!
Luckily my friend Berenice who I met in Laos and Cambodia flew over to meet me and we spent some time looking around the city. We caught a boat up the river to the Grand Palace and also went to Wat Pho which were both amazing places and absolutely beautiful. We also found a meditation centre before meeting up with my Spanish friends Rendo and Olalla and had a bit of a big night. It wasn't difficult for them to convince us to move across to to the Khao San area which was surprising much nicer than Sukhumvit where I stayed previously - maybe a bit more touristy but quieter too.
My visa had actually expired so I was illegal for a few days before I jumped on a flight to Bali. My old friend Jim's family live in Bali so they can go to school so I spent 1 night there before getting a plane for East Timor - the youngest country in the world(?).
I arrived in Dili and had a good afternoon catching up with my old mate and having a bit of a look around town. We ended up at a nightclub that night and I was blown away by the live band there. I think music is the only outlet for a lot of young people here and the music was great.
After a bit of a late start the next day we hired a 4 wheel drive and headed up out of Dili to have a bit more of a look around the island. We arrived at Baucau around dusk and stayed in what is a luxury hotel for East Timor which Jim was looking at for his East Timor Hotels website. It is a lot higher up that Dili and so was a bit cooler (but still warm).
The next day we headed even further east and it was great driving from up in the mountains down to the beach and back up again. We went to Tutuala which is the far east of East Timor and went down to the beach where you can get a local fishing boat across to Jaco Island. We didn'y actually go across but the beach was lovely.
We then headed to the town of Lospalos which is in the mountains to the east. It's rainy season over here and the rain kicked in just after lunch and it poured down for hours. Coming from Melbourne I haven't seen rain like that for years but I tried my best to send it home!
Jim has a mate Carlos who runs a hotel in Lospalos and it was Carlos son's christening which is a big, big affair in East Timor. I was lucky enough to experience a Timorese party with lots of locals and Portuguese.
The next morning we headed off early to beat the rain to Dili.
We're heading to Bali tomorrow and I think I will do a quick trick to Yogyakata before doing some bodysurfing in Bali and heading home.
Sorry to say that means that soon it will be the end of my blog for all those living vicariously through it! Thanks for your support though - and maybe there will still a post or 2 before I get back..