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Published: August 29th 2008
We arrived to the Tioman Islands and Air Batang a small village about halfway up the island. Headed straight for My Friends Place and checked into our Bungalow-home for the next 3 days. We quickly sunk back in the vegetative mode that comes with living on an island for any amount of time. We met our neighbours from the UK and spent the day chatting, napping and relaxing.
Our time on the Tioman islands went quickly and was a mixture of taking dips in the ocean, reading our latest books and checking out the town of Air Batang (which is basically a few guesthouses, shops and a single- deathly slow- computer connected by a sidewalk).
After 3 short days we headed back to the mainland by ferry before catching our bus to Melaka. The journey took us about 5 hours and when we arrived we were desperate to "get there". As we disembarked the bus we were approached by a hotel owner who of course said his hotel was the "best in town" and "brand new" to boot. We had already put our name down for a hostel but in search of a better deal we were suckered into
the bargain.
So we hopped in the cab and off we went to the hotel. We ended up on a back street behind Chinatown to a hotel that was composed of boarded up shops. Our taxi left and we went upstairs to check in. We quickly found the room infested with fleas and mosquitos, gathered our things (all 25 kgs each) and started walking down the street away from the hotel of horror!
Enter our Polish rescuers. Being on a back street there was no sign of a cab and we were miles from the hostel we booked. When suddenly out of nowhere a Polish couple appeared and invited us to join them for a free ride across town. They would take us anywhere we wished just because our bags looked heavy. Bless them! Our faith in the human race restored we enjoyed a tour of the town (with commentary) until they deposited us safely at the hostel we had booked. They wanted nothing more than to do a good deed and boy were we in need of one. Thank you Polish rescuers wherever you are!
Our hostel was a vast improvement with lovely common areas, evening
movies, amazing staff and a rooftop garden! Headed out for an Indian meal and stayed close to the hostel for the night.
The next day we headed out with a list of places to see on foot. First stop the National Monument of Malaysia. The free museum told the full history of Malaysia from Dutch to Portugese to British colony and finally to independence on August 31, 1957. From there we went next door to the Sultan's Palace (sort of). The original palace no longer exists however blueprints were found of the structure and it has now been rebuilt on a much smaller scale. We walked in stocking feet around the entirely wooden building built without a single nail. Quite impressive.
Continuing on we explored the Porta de Santiago (the last remaining gate of the Portugese fort) and up the hill to a ruined Dutch church.
The the rain began. We headed for shelter in none other than McDonalds with a group of school kids wearing a variety of dress depending on their religion (full head scarves and long dresses for Muslim, no head covering and dresses to the knees for those of alternative religion) and waited
for the rain to stop. Who knew it was dry season in Malaysia? It seems to rain daily here.
After abandoning our place of Western solace we continued our foot tour to Studhuys (the oldest Dutch building in the East). This old government seat is now the Museum of Ethnography, History and Literature. After a short gander inside we explored the square, Christ Church and the riverfront before the rain started pelting down again.
To round out our day we headed for the shopping centre for some grocery shopping, the biggest mushrooms of my life followed by a ridiculous exercise in fun!
Just outside the grocery store was a demonstration stand for all sorts of weird and wonderful Asian exercise, massage and therapy machines. Who knew that vibrating machines were still used to fight flab? We enjoyed a free 30 minute foot massage each using the latest machine, tried out the vibrating toning machines and the relaxing head thing (combined squeezing, sound and heat-weird!). Well over an hour later we walked away in bliss and promising to "come back tommorrow"- travellers' terminology for thanks for the free test but you will never see us again!
Enjoyed
some calamari for dinner and sunset on the rooftop terrace. After one short day in Melaka we hopped the direct bus (that stopped twice!!!!) to Kuala Lumpur (KL).
Arrived to KL and didn't make the same mistake twice-headed straight for the hostel we wanted. After a brief taxi ride we arrived to a shabby building that was our hostel and held our breathe that we wouldn't hate it. Pondok Lodge is a 3 floor walk up and actually a really lovely place minus the big furry animals who sometimes stop by for tea - also know as rats as big as housecats! Don't worry they got one of them- so much for my "I've never seen a wild rat before".
After recovering from our bus ride with a lovely curry we waded through the downpour (I've never seen rain like this before) that created 3 inches of standing water in the streets back to our hostel. It rained relentlessly all night until the sun rose over KL. Awoke too early to head to the Vietnam embassy for our tourist visas only to arrive 1.5 hours before they opened. Finally got in to see them and they told us
Swinging
and look no boot!it would take 3 working days to get our visas when we only have 1 day. Uh oh!
Returned to the hostel a bit downtrodden at the thought of changing all our plans and about the money it would cost us when the phone rang. Thank goodness for public holidays- they agreed to have our visas done in a single day as they have Monday off. Headed out on the town with renewed happiness bound for the KL Tower. The 4th highest tower in the world with a great view of the city and the Petronas Towers.
Last day in KL and woke up covered in bites (Ev didn't- lucky bugger). Thought it a bit odd as I hadn't seen any mosquitos around and yet had bites across my shoulders, lower back, neck and everywhere else for that matter. Shrugged it off (and applied heaps of tiger balm for itch relief) and set out to see and walk the town solo. First stop the Petronas Towers. These buildings are fantastic. I know we have all seen skyscrapers before and often you just think "wow that's tall" but these buildings are something more. They glitter in the sunlight and
I couldn't seem to stop myself from gazing at them. Truly architectural works of art.
Hopped on the LRT (light rail) and headed for the historical centre of KL- Merdeka Square. This is the place where on August 31, 1957 the first flag of Malaysia was raised as the Union Jack was taken down marking the beginning of a country free of colonial rule. The square was decked out for a party as Independence Day is only a few days away.
Kept walking all the way to Chinatown and a lovely authentic lunch (you know it's a good place to eat when there isn't a westerner in sight but instead you are surrounded by locals). Hopped back on the LRT which nearly left without my arm and headed back to the hostel. Tiresome day on foot but absolutely the best way to see a city. And got our Vietnam visas- thank goodness!
Arrived back to the hostel to find Ev had spent all morning moving rooms. When I asked why he said "we had bed bugs". Well at least that explains all those bites. Talk about experiencing new things everyday... first day rats.. second day bedbugs..good thing
we are leaving I can't take many more new creature experiences.
Tomorrow we fly to Borneo for three more weeks in Malaysia before heading north to Vietnam and Cambodia.
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Christine
non-member comment
relaxation is the name of the game
Alicia does look very relaxed in the hammock picture! Thanks for showing us the historical pictures of KL.