Blogs from Perak, Malaysia, Asia - page 8

Day 34: Lumut to Sabak Bernam We woke up early, but it was dark and rainy, and I was tired from staying up to watch the storm, so we went back to sleep. At 10:30, we really got up, packed our stuff and rode our bikes around the corner to a busy breakfast place, named after Nasi Goreng, the national dish. J weighs forty pounds more than me, but wears the same size bike shorts as me (medium). So he carries three of our bags down flights of stairs and I carry one. That sounds right, right? We ate fried chicken, rice, vegetables and roti and drank strong, sweet coffee with condensed milk. The place was bustling with people, locals and tourists, and J’s favorite sport, table tennis, was playing on the Olympics on TV. Teenagers ... read more

Day 32: Burkit Merah to Taiping We began the day biking along the highway but after only fifteen miles spotted a sign for the zoo. The zoo!!! I wonder what animals would be at a zoo in Malaysia? J wondered too. So we detoured, and rode ten miles off in another direction to the zoo. It was fabulous! We got the ticket agents to hold our bags in their little ticket booth, and locked up our bikes in the parking lot. We saw giant Malay cats, civets, lizards, barking deer, crocodiles, monkeys, rhinos, giraffe, zebra and elephants. We enjoyed seeing the reindeer get fed, watching the zebras and the bulls break bread together and seeing the mama and the baby elephant cuddle. The monkeys and chimps were unfortunately depressed, but I think thats common for monkeys ... read more

Large trees with foot-long broad leaves and box-shaped fruits stretch almost parallel to the sand out towards the sparkling sea, providing a natural canopy under which to escape the heat or the rain. Under the trunk of one is a triangular mosquito net (mine) with sand piled on its sides and attached to wooden sticks in the corners to keep out vermin and mosquitos. Draped width-wise and covering half of it as well as the trusty pack is a dark blue rain poncho. It provides shelter from rainstorms if I crouch in the middle of the makeshift "tent" and fold up my mat and sheet under me. Also under its generous canopy are two glass bottles containing kerosene at various degrees of fullness. And to complete the picture -- in addition to my sheet airing and ... read more

These are all photos of when we walked up to the viewpoint on Ko Phi Phi to see the sun set (bit cloudy but nice view all the same!). There seem to be several pictures of ladies bottoms, might have to have words with John about that!!!... read more

I arrived at the train station just in time for departure. They changed the platform very last minute with a mumbling announcement one cannot quite make out what it's about. I asked the conductor and was able to get on the right train. I always have the fear of getting on the wrong train and find out hours later that I'm in a place far far away from where I want to be. The late night trip was slightly draining. The train moved in complete pitch darkness. I couldn't make out what we have pass by. Every once awhile, we came across shimmering lights as signs that we were pulling into another station. Traveling late at night seem to be a Malaysian standard. I'll be boarding another midnight train to my next destination tomorrow. I am ... read more