After a rather emotional flight, we landed back in the airport where it feels like so much has happened. We've seen this airport so many times now so it was strange this was to be almost our last time here. We quickly jumped in a taxi to the city to avoid any hassle of trains or buses. It was an hour's drive from the airport to our hotel in the city and as we sat listening to the music it was hard not to reflect back on us arriving here 11 months ago and everything that's gone on since. It felt like a very long hour as we were both starving, thirsty and very tired. Unlike the rest of our trip, we had gone for a bit of luxury with our hotel choice to finish things off nicely. We didn't arrive until around 9:30pm so we were very glad to finally get checked in and get a quick bite to eat. Our hotel choice had paid off, as our room was perfect. It was very modern with a lovely big soft bed and an amazing glass wall bathroom, the most exciting thing though was that we had hot fresh shower water again. After nipping into the coffee house next door for food and a drink, we headed back to bed to get some sleep before our last day. 

After a lovely comfy night's sleep, we got up to sample our buffet breakfast . We filled ourselves with all sorts of delicious food including scrambled egg, roti channi, pasteries, fresh fruit and yoghurt before we got our day under way. We had come up with the idea of going back around the city to recreate a couple of our first moments from our time away. First up was the "I heart KL" sign. We had a very friendly taxi driver who pulled up and waited on the road while we ran up for a photo. Just seeing it again brought back so many memories. After posing for a few pictures, we went back to the taxi and headed for the main attraction: the Petronas Towers. These towers feel quite monumental and special to us and our trip so it was only right we came back to see them again. It worked out that it was 332 days since we had first arrived here - late at night, in the dark, worried and confused when we were greeted by the amazingly lit up towers standing proud. It really was a strange feeling which I just can't explain as we stood to look up at their beauty again. Luckily, we met a nice Irish couple who liked our idea of recreating the photo and very patiently took photos until it was just right .
 
It was boiling hot and rainy last time we were here but this time it was just hot as it was now in the dry season so we had no worries of hiding from the rain like before. We walked through the amazing shopping centre in the towers to the garden and fountain area out the back. Although several places had been really hitting our emotions, none had done so quite as much as the fountain area. This is such a beautiful area with a lovely relaxed atmosphere, as the fountains and trees surrounded by the high rise buildings shelter you from the hustle and bustle going on around. We both felt very emotional as we stood looking around thinking way back to our first day here. It was such a contrast as we were so excited, nervous, scared, white skinned and shocked by our surroundings and situation. Now though we were relaxed, confident, tanned and just deep in amazement at the things we have done since those days. It was almost bringing tears to our eyes as we were saddened by the thought of this being our final day and the fact we were going our separate ways in the morning . 
 
To take our minds off things we went into the shopping centre again to have a good look around the shops. Matt needed to buy some jumpers as it was going to be very cold in Australia and it would be much cheaper here than in Perth. We love this shopping mall as it has amazing shops and such a nice feeling about it. On our way round, we stumbled across a group of people outside a pop up stall selling watches. The shop had a game where there were lots of cash prizes or watches frozen in big blocks of ice. If you can get the prize out, you can keep it and you could use what ever you wanted to get it out, this meant there were several people frantically chipping away at the ice with pens and car keys. We got to see 1 man get a watch out after quite a while chipping away. As much as it was quite fun, we didn't have time to stand and do this so we carried on around the shops. We had a very successful shop as Matt ended up with 3 hoodies and 2 T-shirts and all at really good prices so we were very happy. We decided to go for a rest and a drink in the Dome cafe out the back by the fountains as we had eaten there before . Yet again, it was so nice and relaxing having lunch sat looking over the fountains and garden.
 
After dinner, we walked down to the KL tower to find out about the revolving restaurant as we thought that would be a perfect place to have dinner later. It's only a 20 minute walk to the tower but this gave us a good reminder of how hot it was as we were very sweaty by the time we made it to the entrance. The last time we were here we ended up with TV cameras in our faces whilst taking part in Malaysian Masterchef. We weren't so popular this time as nothing was going on so we were left alone to look around. Unfortunately, the revolving restaurant was full so that spoilt that idea but it was probably a good thing as is was 200RM/£40 each for the buffet dinner and we weren't actually hungry enough to warrant that much money and food so we went back to a nearby Irish bar for a few beers. 
 
We had a few hours to kill now as we had decided against going all the way down to China Town market so we relaxed and drank beer whilst sorting a few things out that we had to do . It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon as we chatted and reminisced about several things we had done. Once it got to about 6pm, we changed our plans again and went back to the Petronas Tower fountains to have dinner around there and watch the light show. This was going to be lovely but of course was quite a dangerous idea as we both had our emotions bubbling away inside us knowing our time together was ticking away. We had both been keeping a brave face all day as we had been enjoying ourselves but we still couldn't help feeling very sad at times when you just couldn't stop yourself from thinking about tomorrow. We treated ourselves to a beautiful steak and chips dinner with another beer as our last night together drew to a close. Arsenal were even playing football on the TV which Matt would have loved to have watched but all that mattered at this moment was us being together. After the meal, we sat watching the fountain light show and we joked that it was like our pretend firework display lighting up the darkness and celebrating the ending of our trip . Finally Lauraine's brave front was starting to crack and she shed a few tears as we sat cuddling. We had had such an incredible experience together and we now felt so together and in love, it was such a special feeling as we sat feeling so proud of ourselves. 
 
Even though we could have sat there all night, the time had come to go. We took a last look around us at a scenery we'll never forget and jumped in a taxi. Once back at the hotel, it was time to sort our bags for the morning. We had done most of it already but there was still a bit to do. It was so strange having things like paper work and documents go in my bag which hadn't been there before, but on the plus side the wash bag was now nearly empty as Lauraine took all her beauty stuff out and left a typical man's wash bag with not much in it at all and the medical bag had been reduced to practically just a pack of paracetamols. Once packed, we climbed into bed for the final sleep of our trip. It didn't seem real that Lauraine was actually going home in the morning, it was the day that we thought was never going come!
 
Suddenly the 5am alarms were ringing and we kind of leapt out of bed . As we showered and got ready there was an air of sadness but not quite as bad as I'd expected, I think maybe we were just too tired to be sad. Our taxi driver was waiting downstairs and so our journeys began. We arrived at the airport just before 7am, this gave us plenty of time to relax and make sure we weren't late. 
 
As Lauraine checked in, it finally dawned on us what was about to happen as her bag was taken away on the conveyor belt leaving mine on the trolley. Over the next 2 hours, we seemed to take it in turns switching between being happy and chatty and fighting off the tears and sadness. We went for breakfast but with a stomach full of butterflies it wasn't very enjoyable. Finally the moment came when Lauraine had to go through to departures and leave me behind. This was possibly one of the saddest moments of my life. Even though I knew I would be seeing her again very soon, it was just so hard to say goodbye. We had been side by side for 11 months, day and night practically, and we had made such a partnership with hardly any argument, we really had been there for each other . After one last kiss, we told each other we loved them and off she went. I just got to stand and wave goodbye from the balcony as she went through passport control, it just didn't feel right that I was being left behind.
 
So that was it, my best friend had gone and it was just me, Melman and a 10 hour wait... that was until I found Mr Bean on the TV. I got to sit for hours writing the blog whilst watching the same clips over and over again along with seeing the same adverts and 2 songs that repeatedly got played. I hadn't seen Mr Bean for years and I had completely forgotten how funny it was. Even though I watched the same 4 or 5 short episodes over and over they made me laugh every single time. Sometimes even out loud along with other people watching. This was a good way of lifting my spirits and taking my mind off things. I walked around the airport many times and went for a Mc Donald's to get rid of my left over Ringets. Over 8 hours passed pretty quickly and I eventually headed through to my departure gate. By now, Lauraine had just landed in Dubai so we could chat quickly on our What's App . It was so nice to hear she was okay and had completed the first half of her journey safely. Just as I was about to board, my flight got delayed by an hour - just what I needed after spending a full day at the airport! But an hour later and I was on the plane and on my way back to Australia!
 
I finally landed at 1am and it was pouring with rain, it was hardly the welcome back I had wanted. I finally got to the hostel at 2am. I was staying in the Wickham again so this wasn't a problem as Charlie had left me a note. Everyone was asleep when I arrived so I freshened up and snuck into bed. Funnily enough, Lauraine landed in England just as I was getting into bed so I messaged her until she was able to run through the arrivals and finally meet up with her waiting Mum, Dad and Gareth. I was so pleased for her as I knew how much she had been looking forward to seeing them all. 
 
All in all, it had been quite an emotional few days but it was always going to be. I think these last few days really had highlighted for us both how much we had grown together over the last 11 months. We had shared with each other, side by side, places and experiences we never would have dreamed of before, taking each other out of our comfort zones on many occasions. Never before had a partner been such a key figure in our lives, like Lauraine had become for me and I had become for her. We had faced many fears and worries together and come out the other side still in one piece and even stronger together. Although we will miss each other a lot, now it is time to for us to go our separate ways for a bit as we look to start building the rest of our future together.