Penang, Malaysia:

I've arrived in the north of Malaysia after a much more grueling bus ride than I would have expected [considering the transporrt was realatively comfortable and there was even air conditioned.] Actually, to tell the truth, I think the arduousness was more a result of the amout of cheap vodka that was consumed as a part of our Cameron Highlands Travel family farwell.

The accomodations here are far superior, albeit far more expensive than those in Tanah Rata. A splinter of the group from the Cameron Highlands including myself are stying in an old two story Chinese house/hotel. There is a fairly large open courtyard garden in the middle that is slightly submerged to allow any rain that might enter through the open roof to drain. The wood details and the sweeping staircas also add to the charm of the very large lobby [I'm starting to feel like I'm writing a guidebook here.]Regardless, it's nice to be out of the cell block loft.



- posted by Unknown @ 2:02 AM

 
Tanah Rata, Malaysia:

Today I saw strawberries grown from plastic bags -- ate some, too -- cabbage by the bushel, liliies like you've never seen, drastic hillsides of tea -- and the tea factory where it is processed -- and more mud on a hiking trail than I'd prefer.

This is a good place, not so hot, good people, excellent scenery. Albeit, the accomodations are a little slim [read: fire-trap dorm rooms with more people per square meter than there should be,] but worth the "hardship" for the entertainment of it all.

- posted by Unknown @ 4:10 AM

 
Tanah Rata, Malaysia:

[Cameron Highlands]



First, a report from Malaka...The booming voice -- slight British accent -- sounds: "You, who have called my name, [rejoice with the spirit of Malaka." The highlight of the evening -- last evening -- was the presentation known throughout the land as the "Sound and Light Show." Terribly entertaining, if only for the characters that were at the same time somewhat familar and reminciently offensive as Amos and Andy. [The servants had mock Malaysian accent and the kings were clearly British.] Through the fourty-five minute -- was it that long? -- show, the strangely centralized historical buildings [some were partiallu obscured but still lite] were exposed by hidden spot lights to accent certain parts of the story. If there was a battle, the thin array of strobes would flash to signify the turmoil. Actually, the most entertaining part of the whole thing was the little Indian [not Native American] girl who could not sit still. Her antics became louder and louder until the tourists sitting a few rows in front of me were clearly upset.

Today I travelled, seven hours to arrive here in the Cameron Highlands. Three buses, a seemless transfer in Kuala Lumper, and a terrific [and two-hour long] final segment of road that wound its way up to the town where I will spent the next few days hiking about. Hopefully, before daybreak, the rain will dull to a point of only slight annoyance....

- posted by Unknown @ 3:33 AM

 
Malaka, Malaysia:


Walking along the street the other day -- yesterday, in fact -- in the small town of Muar in the Johor province of Malaysia, I happened to look down through one of the grates in the sidewalk. Actually, it wasn't really a sidewalk, but really a covered sewer by the side of the road that was a mite safer -- or so I thought -- than the side of the road itself. I was just looking down to see the trickle of water that I had seen through all of the other grates I had passed over, when I am certain that I left the earth for a moment in my surprise. There, not two meters away, was the largest lizard I have ever seen in my life outside of a nature preserve. Essentially, in the middle of the city [a stretch, for certain] there was an animal the size of a small alligator staring up at me through the [thank the non-exsistant imortal being] grate that was certainly too small for it to make a strike at him. I got a picture, so if you doubt my recount I can prove it.

In other animal news, I did a one-thousand vertical foot walk this morning to check out a waterfall on the side of Johor province's largest peak -- at four thousand feet, this is a bit of a misnomer I know -- and saw a number of very interesting [read: scary] friends. Amongst the most memorable were: the twelve centimeter [six inches] millipedes, the ten centimeter [five inches] spider, the two centimeter [~ three quater inch] ants, and the lizard (that was smaller than yesterday's, but still quite big] that was crossing the road in front of me. Is there any bad luck in that?

Also worth note: the food here is quite good. The Chinese and Indian populations are equivalent to the Malay thus far, and the cusine seems to be comingled [sic] quite nicely. There are bakeries everywhere with yummy breads, and the sides of many streets are lined with stalls providing a range of culinary treats. Other places offer -- and this is also the case in Singapore -- "hawker stalls" which is somewhat similar to a food court except there are no western or other franchise restaurants to be seen. Only delicious, and inexpensive, food.


- posted by Unknown @ 2:14 AM