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Published: September 10th 2006
Hello again! Been a while since the last entry, and we've been to a few different places in that time, so will try to give you the short version!
Firstly we spent 2 days in Kuala Lumpur (KL); had planned to spend 4 but a number of factors changed our minds, namely (1) we saw everything we wanted to see, (2) budget accommodation not particularly good (think no windows!), and (3) neither of us particularly liked it there (probably aided by point 2!). We spent a day seeing the Petronas Towers (went to the skybridge on the 41st floor, 170m above ground), and also saw Merdeka (independence) Square as well as visiting Chinatown; this was basically one manic street with lots of stalls selling some pretty good looking copies (damn the small rucsac!). It was highly amusing watching the DVD "salesmen" scarper round the corner with their tables & walkie-talkie when Police were nearby - very Dell Boy! We also spent a fair bit of time on air-conditioned malls (our haven from reality!), and even went to a Debenhams clearance sale!
After KL we headed to Taman Negar, a 130 million yr old rainforest. This included a 3hr "boat"
journey up river to Kuala Tahan, the main village there. Quite an experience, although the illusion of isolation was somewhat dampened when we booked a bus back from the same village! Whilst there we did a trek up to a viewpoint, which included a canopy walkway - think ladders/rope/planks 40m above ground - that we both handled remarkably well! The heat there was amazing though, and both were sweating buckets after a 45 min climb to the viewpoint; luckily the view was worth it! We also did a night safari, and spotted some interesting snakes & lizards, but alas no leopards/tigers that live there too. Zoe went on a caving adventure, and got up close & personal with some bats (much to her delight) - came back covered in bat poo!
After a few days here we headed to the Perhenthian Islands, and to Perhenthian Kecil (small island). This involved another all-day trip, and only a 45min boat ride which I survived! Miracles do happen. Here we stayed for 5 nights at Long Beach, and it was heaven (know this is just what you all want to hear!). Really quiet, peaceful place, and we spent 4 days under sun
umbrellas (too hot to sit out in it) & still managed to get burnt! The sea was just like a warm bath (only cleaner and with jellyfish!), and was often used to cool off. During our time here we also encountered numerous lizards, including one that was from head to tail as big as Zoe, and a scorpion in our bathroom! Zoe dived here, though was on the look out for sting-rays (after hearing about Steve Irwin - gutted).
We've now headed back to the mainland and are currently in the Cameron Highlands, where the cooler temperatures (due to the altitude) are a welcome relief. It's like England here, complete with rain and cream-teas! We visited the highest point in Malaysia today (6,666 ft) and also went on a trek through a 220 million yr old moss-forest, where you literally are walking on roots & moss as opposed to solid-ground! We also visited the BOH tea-plantation (a Siu family haven!), and saw how the leaves become that cuppa. Naturally we sampled some brews - I went for a "caramel teachino" which was very exotic! You'll be pleased to know it's raining at the moment, hence internet. We're off on
our own for a Jungle-trek tommorrow (ambitious) before heading to Penang to sort out our Thai visa then hit Thailand....
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Timmy Ra
Tim Akers
Hey you two!
Hey Zoe and Dan, Just a quickie - me, Mike and Olly are on hols in Gran Canaria. Like in the Cameron Highlands, it has also been raining here today! Like the Cameron Highlands, we also have been purchasing tea (although PG tips mind you, none of this posh Boh stuff!). Glad you are both well, and keep up the good work with the blog. Tim, Mike and Olly