Snake man

I went to Kuala Lumpur, in Malaysia, for eight days recently. One day I was walking through the streets of Kuala Lumpur and saw a crowd. I stopped to see what they were looking at. This man was there. He had a cobra rising up right in front of him. A cobra is a deadly snake. If it bites you, you could die. Many people would be very frightened of a cobra. I don't think I'd like to get too close to one. But the man was closer than me. If it was going to bight someone it would bite him first. So I got my camera out and took some photos. He had some other snakes too and showed them after he put the cobra away. He was talking about the snakes but I couldn't understand him because he was speaking in a language I don't know.

Love from your Grandpa John

Cool dreadlocks

Are dreadlocks cool? Well guys check out this lady. She must be the coolest person in the world. Her dreads go down her back almost to her feet, then they bend and go half way up her back and bend down again.

What do you think, Iz? Will yours ever get this long?

I took this photo at Batu Caves.

BTW, Ben, Zac and David say the little people should be named Fruity, Shorty, Red Nutz, Nut Head, Butterfly, Selfish and Muscle Monkey. What do you think?

What is this?

Hello, could you see the frogs in the leaf picture?

Here is another one for you to look at. What do you see? Look very carefully and you might be able to tell.











Is it a leaf or is it something else?

Here is another picture of it.












Now can you see that it is a butterfly?

When it opens its wings it has beautiful colours. When it thinks a bird might want to eat it, it closes its wings and looks like a leaf. It is called an Indian Leaf Butterfly.

Grandpa's new friends

Once up a time when Grandpa was visiting Batu Caves he met lots of little people. They were friendly but they didn't seem to know how to speak. Well sometimes they made noises but Grandpa couldn't understand them. Grandpa has heard many languages in his travels but this didn't sound like any of them.

Grandpa asked his new friends their names but they didn't answer. Perhaps you can think of names for Grandpa's friends. Your Mum or Dad can help you send an email to Grandpa with the names, then if Grandpa goes back to Batu Caves he can tell his friends what their names are.






What do you think this one is eating?











These little people like big people to give them things like peanuts.











They like to eat all the time.










This lady is pregnant. She is going to have some babies soon. Unfortunately she's not very good at picking up litter.











Oh, here's Grandpa.

No, it's not Grandpa. It just looks a little bit like him.











Someone gave this one an iceblock and it wouldn't share it with anyone.











This one likes to eat wheat. Do you think it makes him look healthy?





That's it. Well there were more but that's all the photos Grandpa has for you. Can you name all these people?

The end

What are these?

If you were walking through the forest and saw this, what would you think it was? Look closely and tell your Mum or Dad what you think it is.

Did you say a pile of old leaves? That's what I thought it was. But look closely. Can you see eyes, maybe legs and bodies? Now what do you think it is?

Do you know the word camouflage? It means a disguise. Some animals have natural disguises so that the animals that might eat them won't see them. These are frogs. (It's true. No story.) If an animal that eats frogs comes along and sees them it thinks, 'No frogs here, just leaves.' And the animal doesn't eat them. Smart frogs, hey.

Grandpa's fantastic adventure at Batu Caves

Once upon a time Grandpa went to visit Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur. The caves are half way up a big hill. Guess how many steps there are?

Grandpa was going to count all the steps but he didn't have to. Someone had painted numbers on the steps.



These are the top steps. You can see for yourself just how many steps Grandpa had to climb. Do you think you could climb all these steps?

But your Grandpa is much older than you. When he got to the top he was feeling very tired. He decided to take a rest. While he was sitting he closed his eyes. After a while he felt someone rubbing his shoulders and neck. 'Mmmmm,' thought Grandpa. 'That feels very nice. I wonder who is doing this for me.'

Then he heard a lady's voice say, 'Do you like this?'

'Mmmmm yes,' said Grandpa. 'Rub some more.'

'Do you like me?' the voice said.

'Yes,' said Grandpa. 'I especially like the way you rub my shoulders.'

'Would you like me to rub you some more?'

'Mmmmm yes please.'

So the mystery lady rubbed Grandpa's back and arms. Grandpa still had his eyes shut. He felt this lady cuddling him. He felt very relaxed and happy.

'Do you like me?' the voice asked again. The lady seemed to be wrapped right around Grandpa.

'Yes I do,' said Grandpa.

'Then open your eyes and give me a kiss.'

'So Grandpa opened his eyes and gave her a kiss.'

Do you like Grandpa's new friend? Isn't she beautiful? Would you like to give her a kiss too?




The end

From the dragon's mouth

Once upon a time when your Grandpa John was in KL (Do you remember what KL stands for?) his friend took him to a special shop on the corner of Petaling Street where they sold Chinese herbal teas.

'Would you like some tea, John?' Grandpa's friend asked.

'Where does it come from?'

Grandpa's friend pointed to the big brass urns on the counter.



Grandpa looked closely. On the other side of each urn was a tap and do you know what the tap was made from? Yes, a dragon's head.



Your Grandad did not think the dragon looked very happy. He said 'No thank you, I won't have any tea.'

'Then would you like some herbal jelly? It's very good for you.'

'Where does it come from? Does it come from the dragon?'

'No. It's already made up in this bowl.'

'OK. I'll try it.'

'How do you like it, John'



'Mmmm, it's different. But it's OK.'

The next day, your Grandad was walking with another friend and they passed the shop again.

'Do you see those jellies, John? They're made with tortoise shell'

'Oh no!' said Grandpa. 'Now you tell me.'

The end

Greetings from KL

Hello again to all my dear grandchildren. I had a wonderful time meeting you all again and meeting Chloe and Isaac for the first time. Now I won't see you again for a long time but I think of you often. I will write to you here whenever I can. At the moment I can't show you any pictures as I need to buy a new computer first.

It's a pity because right now I am staying in Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur (KL) and there are many dragons. Maybe you would like to visit here one day and see for yourself. Are you brave enough?

Kuala Lumpur is in Malaysia. Perhaps your Mum or Dad can show you where that is in an atlas.

Love from your Grandpa