Michael Portillo's rail tour of south east Asia resumes in the southern archipelago of Indonesia. Michael is in Java's Central province, travelling east towards Surabaya. Beginning in Java's royal city, Yogyakarta, Michael visits the Sultan's palace and admires the ancient art of shadow puppetry known as wayang.

Struck by the colourful patterned fabrics in the city's markets, Michael investigates the process of batik, a Unesco world heritage textile, and is tempted by a saucy sarong. Moving north to Ambarawa, Michael boards a scenic heritage line constructed by the Dutch with carriages dating from the time of his Bradshaw's guidebook. Today, this restored relic of the colonial era is cherished by Javanese tourists.

Michael Portillo's 2,500-mile rail tour of south east Asia reaches Malaysia.

On the island of Penang, Michael traces the origins of the former British colony in Georgetown, rides one of the world's steepest funicular railways and is enchanted by exotic specimens at Malaysia's first butterfly sanctuary.

Travelling on Malaysia's hi-tech railway network, Michael visits the wettest town in the country, Taiping, and learns how the discovery of tin made this land a prized possession for Britain.

Next stop is the regal town of Kuala Kangsar, home to the Sultan of Perak and to one of Malaysia's most prestigious schools, known as the ‘Eton of the East'. Michael joins pupils in a game of Eton Fives.