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Published: November 15th 2006
It was a lazy morning this morning, did a bit of clothes cleaning and chores, after which we headed out to the train station to purchase our ticket to Singapore as we depart tomorrow. We had a walk around the Main Square (Merdeka Square) where England handed back the country to the Malay people in 1957. The Square now hosts the largest flag pole in the world (wow I hear you all say!) We also walked around the old Station which is a beautiful Moorish style building, and the main City Mosque's and then went off for a spot of lunch.
After lunch we started our next adventure... we were collected once again from the hostel by the tourist board guys, this time heading off to Fort Altingsburg about 1.5 hours outside of the city to the West, not only to visit the Fort but to feed some Silvered Leaf Monkeys and take in the views over the Selangor River and the Kuala Selangor Nature Reserve.
The driver had bought some green runner beans at the road side en route to feed them and as soon as they had caught sight of them we were swarmed! It was like
feeding the pigeons in Trafalger Square but a bit more exotic - it was great fun. Many had little babies clinging to their chests which are bright orange as nippers.
We then went off for dinner on the riverbank at a fantastic seafood restaurant where there were about 5 dishes from king prawns to snapper to crab- it was the most amazing meal, you couldnt get much fresher - all caught today.
Lastly (all still included in the price), we set off up river- now completly dark- in a battery powered boat so it made no noise (very eerie), as we watched fireflies dance in the Mangrove trees. The particular fire flies we were watching only appear in this area of the world due to the habitat that exists there and is now protected. Millions of the critters flash continuously in a mating ritual. It is quite a hypnotic sight.
There was no way to take photographs of fluorescent insects as any time there is light they disappear. Whilst we were out on the river a lightning storm crackled some distance away, and as a result they reacted accordingly and so it was time to head back...
Another magical day.
One thing we haven't mentioned yet is the standard of driving in Malaysia. It is basically every man for himself. Also Motorbikes also use every route available to cut corners - driving over pavements, wrong way up motorways, through red lights etc! It is madness!
Night!
2 Smelly Backpackers.
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Jeni
non-member comment
My baby!
Thanks Dan! You know what worries me, not that my baby may well have ginger hair (poor thing), but you have also likened me to a hairy monkey ..... thanks!