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Published: March 3rd 2009
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Feb 7th, I got to Lankawi Malaysia a nice island. I was well prepared. I spoke to some backpacker before and I knew a few hostel to go. Some people from the boat shared a taxi to the cenang beach so I joined them. Two swedish girl also asked to be dropped in that beach but once there they didn't know where to go. I asked the driver where were few hostels I knew and they were all around were he stopped in a walking distance. I asked the swidish girl if they knew where they were staying but they had no idea. They were a bit lost or not prepared. We started to look for a hostel together. We end up reading an ad on a palm tree and headed for that hostel the rainbow backpacker. There was a dorm and private room. We meet Karim a canadian expat living there temporary. He knew a lot of people and show us around. He was a good reference he knew a lot of expat on the islands so with his help we were able to plan a good wine and chesse. A swiss girl Valérie joined our group.
After few
days on the island, we rent a car and I was the driver again. it was cheap abut whitout comprehensive ansurance. We were able to see the whole island in one day ( cable car, beach, small town). At the hostel, we did some beach. One evening we had cheese and wine snack. Wine was very expensive in Thailand and China so I bought some wine there duty free price. The wine and cheese was a success.
After Langawi I started to travel with the two swedish girls since we had the same plan. Valérie also joined the group. We found a hostel in Georgetown ok but I thing we could have gotten a better room for the same price. A lot of people warned us that Georgetown is a city like many other and there is not much to do. If you stay in the town maybe it's true but there is more to do on the island. The city bus was good so we went to a natioal park for a small hike and we saw some big lezard.
After We went to a farm fruit but the price for the visit was too high. Because
of the public bus schedule we were stuck to that place for few hours so we hitchhiking. A british familly had visited the farm and were on their way back. So we asked if we could have a ride to the nearest town. They were happy to help us and we had a good chat in the car with them. After that afternoon we had one more thing to do which was Penang Hill we arrive too late for the sunset but the night view was great. I realized that this day we did a lot of thing withtout planning the transportation we were adapting to what was available where we end up. We were lucky that day I don't know if I would travel taht way all the time.
The after all that heat and humidity we travel to Cameron Highland. it was a big difference in the weather cold at night and mild and dry during the day. That was the perfect weather to hike in the "jungle". Just for the weather I could have stayed there much longer. Again we had to hitchick since at the end of the walk there was no public bus to
bring us back to town. During the day 2 cars both from Kuala Lumpur gave us a rides. We even did almost a full they with a couple since they were there on a day trip and wanted to visit the same things than us. We did in a afternoon what would have taken us 2 days to do by public bus.
After thoses mountains I wanted to go to the Taran Negara national park. Most bus (travel agent) bring you to the south entrance but we tried very hard to go to the north entrance without good result. We endup in KL and booked a tour from there. We met a lot of backpacker in our bus and did some activities together. We didn't pay for guide for the walks and it was fine. The Map could be a bit more precise but I get that the way to force people to pay for guide. The canopy walk was amazing and worth the trip there. You walk in a suspended bridge over the forest. We also took a night jungle guided tour but there was too many peoples so I did another one alone...quite scary in the jungle
at night alone with all the noise.
Just before leaving for the national park we found a nice guesthouse in KL and booked 3 night at the reggea guesthouse. Also I sent a email to Couchsurfing KL group for a get together or event after my trip to the national park. My request was well hearded the night I came back to KL the couchsurfing people were having a dring in the bar just under my guesthouse. I saw the email a bit late at night but I decided to go. I met quite a lot of people and plan the next few days with them. I did some shopping and sightseen but instead of going to TV tower for 38$. I did some research I found the luna bar a roof top terrace just beside the petronas tower. We had a amazing view of the city and later the feeling of a real tropical rain storm. A couchsurfer from india, studying in Singapor and visiting KL contacted me and joined me and new swiss girl Aruna for this.
With my mobile number broadcasted on the CS forum it was easy to reach me. We started 3 persons
a the luna bar and end up 10 people going out for the night at Club 21 later that night. The following day Zara offered her house and organised a pool party. A lot of people showed up and the ambiance was great. After the pool party I had a ride back to town but we end up continuing the social meeting at someone place. I very like KL mainly because CS people were very dynamic. It was 3 intensive days. I felt I did a lot durint that short time. I like to be busy like that.
Now I am in Australia let see how it go...
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