Blogs from Terengganu, Malaysia, Asia - page 9

part 1 - 10/5/2011 So, as Jan promised, a little bit more about what we did in Georgetown, Penang Island. It was actually my wish to visit Georgetown as I read so much about how amazing the remains of the colonial architecture are and that some buildings are under UNESCO’s protection, so I thought it would be amazing to see. We joined a German girl, Sandra, who stayed at the same dorms at Cameron Highlands, and went to the bus station to catch the early morning (8.00) bus to Georgetown. We were joined by another German, Mario, also our dorm-mate. 5 hours later we arrived to Georgetown, and to say it was hot is, well, it just doesn’t even begin to describe it. We separated in search of a hostel, as Jan and I found a ... read more

I'm so sorry for those of you who have been waiting patiently and faithfully for our first entry to this blog. This is my first time online for 2 weeks and I feel like I've forgotten how to type. Well, we are currently on the Perhentian Islands off the coast of Malaysia. It's all white sands and clear blue sea, like being in a catalogue photo. There are lots of little beaches everywhere and you can catch a boat taxi to each one for about £1. We were originally on the smaller Island (Kecil) on Long Beach which was more of your 'party island' but after drinking three bottles of their potent monkey juice between us one night we decided to opt for some peace and quiet on the bigger island (Besar). Here we've just been ... read more

We took the train from a city in southern Thailand (Hat Yi) all the way to the Malaysian border, the train journey took about 6 or 7 hours of which we had to stand the entire time and I have never seen so many people in such a small place, I will never complain about trains in the UK over booking again and having to sit on the floor. We were in 3rd class meaning we paid about 90 pence for the trip, can’t argue with that really. It was on the train that we were told as western people, we were brave to come to Hat Yi, giving it’s had its fair share of terrorist attacks in the past. Its better to be told this sort of information when your leaving somewhere, as apposed to ... read more

Perhentianin saarilla meitä vastassa odotteli jo Annemiekin sisko Marleen. Päästiin heti perille paikan sukelluskuvioista sekä hostellin huonoista ja hyvistä puolista. Hyvän mainospuheen jälkeen päätettiin alottaa open water-sukelluskurssi, ja kattoa kuinka Eve selviää hankalien korviensa kans. Ennen eka sukellusta piti palata takas koulun penkille, mikä tuotti vähän hankaluuksia reissurouville, kirjoja kun on tähän asti luettu vaan omaksi huviksi, jos siksikään. Lukemista vaikeutti myös uteliaat hostellin pojat, jotka pyöri koko ajan ympärillä kysellen ja höpötellen. Ensimäisen koulupäivän jälkeen, innokkaat opiskelijat sai tarpeeksi aktiivisuudesta ja päättivät vaihtaa vapaalle, opettajien liittyessä seuraan. Illalla oli siis luvassa sikäläinen kuuluisuus, Monkey Juice. Huvitusta tämä apinoiden juoma soi meille useampanakin iltana ja Long Beachin yöelämä tuli tutuksi aina auringon nou... read more

Welcome to part 5 of the blog. Apologies for the lack of blogs/contact recently but we have been on perhentian kecil, an island with no roads or cars, where the electricity only runs for 10 hours a day, as im sure you'll understand its been a little difficult getting online. Anyway, when i finished the last blog we were waiting in an internet cafe for a taxi to take us to the bus station, in order to catch the 21:45 coach to kuala besut, the departure point for ferry to the islands. Whilst waiting at said internet cafe we had a slightly scary moment. A guy dressed only in a loin cloth, with his face painted in bizarre patterns, was running up and down the street shouting at passers by. This was all quite funny until ... read more