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Masjid Ubudiah in Kuala Kangsar
I think this was so far the most impressive mosque I have seen in Malaysia, triumphing not because of size but beauty. Since Singapore 24 days have passed, 7 places have been visited and Thailand been planned. Originally I thought to stay around 2 weeks and to move on to more interesting places, now that I have spend (with Penang, before Australia) 3 weeks in this country I feel, that I still have a lot more to explore, which makes me leave with a partly unsatisfied feeling.
However, the country has shown a lot of beauty, cultural and religious understanding and many interesting people, teaching me a different life style (just today I talked to 2 lively and very chatty young Malay girls, whilst eating sushi in a restaurant - uh I always wanted to eat in one of those sushi bars, when the food rolls by in front of your eyes). One of them to be trained a teacher and the other one working as a clerk. They were all girly and excited hearing my story and said that Malay women would never travel - backpack like what we Europeans are used to. They are 21 and 23 and still live at their parents house, taking care of the family and saving money at the same time until their own
Bird Cages
Both in Malaysia and Thailand birds seems to be an important part of the household. Pretty but look at the size of the cage! lives will start in the future.
Ipoh Ipoh is one of these places that is only visited, because you have to either you have a friend in Ipoh, or like 2 other swedish girls I met, were doing their placement with disabled people in town or like me - that are stranded due to transportation reasons. As I couldn't get a ticket for 2 days for my journey to Kota Bahru in the north-east, I had to face the fact that I am one of the crowd to visit Ipoh.
Surprisingly it offered a variety of seights and activities around town that were easy to reach. Two that I enjoyed the most were a cave temple, were I saw a 10m high Buddha and walked numerous stairs up just to see fromt the top of the mountain the industrial skyline of Ipoh. The chinese style huts on the top I welcomed with a big smile after I was drained in sweat and could not wait to have some water and a cookie (I bought at a baker some brilliant nut cookies beforehand).
The second interesting day trip was to Kota Kangsar the Sultan city, showing off the
Masjid Kinta Dato Paglima
This mosque was build solely because of the mourning of a man about his dead wife. Heartbreaking... wealth of the sultan in glamorous buildings, parks on a riverbank and museums. I guess the pictures tell the story.
In Ipoh I enjoyed the luxury of a shopping mall to keep my body temperature level during the day and wander around evening markets, endulging on local food stalls and copied clothing (like soja bean meals) at night.
Kota Bahru city on the East coast This arts and crafts town was a must for me to see. As you can see on the pictures a lot of Malay heritage is shown itself within the city, as it is one that has been saved by external influences, due to its location.
I staid in a small guesthouse just off the city center (seems there were only 4 of them), where I rented a small, not very taken care off room, which gave me suitable shelter from the continuous downpours of rain and some good nights of sleep 😊. Even when travelling you need lots of sleep - even more so because of all the new impressions, food, weather and the major point because of the constant move from one place to the next.
My 3
Colonial Style Train Station
Impressive train station in Ipoh, differing from the rest of the town that much that I just had to take a picture. days in town were market by an everyday stroll through the city, its central market, arts & crafts village and tourist events, showing off the cultural heritage. Also I managed to go on a day trip with Sham, the guesthouse guy (who wanted me to stay for weeks, guess to earn more money), who showed me several temples and a shadow puppetier factory. All in all it was a very educational stay.
Coming back to the question why was Malaysia difficult to leave I will tell you following story, which sounds like out of a movie.
Imagine a lone women making her way from a beautiful island on the East coast of Malaysia towards the East, just to cross the border to Thailand - the land of spicy food, Buddhist temples and smiles. She was carrying a big packpack as she couldn't spare the thought of not taking what is needed in any emergenzy - big blanket, sleeping bag, mosquito nets, proper shoes etc. She appropriately dressed, despite the heat in long trousers and a long shirt, to blend in some more with the locals - even if it meant sweating from every single pore she posessed.
Perak Tong
Buddhist temple build in a complex structure of limestone caves and grottoes. With a content smile on her face - from days of joy at a sunny beach, she made her way to the bus station after going by a pink cap to the ferry, being shipped over and carrying her belongings in the heat to the counter, just fo find - that the promised ease of getting a direct ticket to Kota Bahru has been sold out. No wonder she thinks it is bank holiday. Not loosing hope she went for Ipoh a central transport link where all northern buses depart from. Again she was promised that from there it would be no problem to get that longed for ticket.
Now imagine her surprise when again she was told that there is no ticket for the night, despite that there was no tickets for 2 nights ahead. All sold out! No wonder she thought it is a long bank holiday....
Lets halt and set the setting she was in, after now travelling 5hours on busses, ferries and on foot the clock turned 11:30pm. She was standing at a bus station in Malaysia, where she did not plan to stay over night, not even dreaming of 2 nights. Now, a
Perak Tong -view
An impressive staircase led to the top of the temple making me bath in my own sweat. Uh, but the seight over Ipoh in a shadow was worthwhile. row of 'helpers' started to lurck around her
"Miss, you go to hotel so und so?" , "Miss, I help you, you can stay at my sisters house.", "Miss, let me carry your bag!".... and so on. After getting someones random phone number for the next days, being put into a cap, off she went. Of course she changed to which hotel she went, so except the taxi driver no one knew.
Revived after 2 days off she goes again, this time with a ticket in her hand to Kota Bahru a night bus, not of a VIP kind (was no going to Kota Bahru) but one that meant kuddling in the dark with strangers. So it happened that she sat to a young guy, who unfortunately was the double size of a normal sized 19year old. He was friendly and kind offering her snacks and to talk. However, she did not feel too comfortable with a head bumping once in a while on her shoulder, once even causing her a bump on her own head.
Now imagine the next surprised look when the bus arrives at 3:30am at the planned destination Kota Bahru (was supposed to arrive
House Shrines
How naive I can be, I thought in the beginning that the Malay have impressive post boxes at every house, until I saw one from the back - revealing a buddha shrine :) at 6 am!). To cut an 8 hour journey by 2.5hours is an impressive achievement I believe. What to do in the dark at a lone bus station, knowing that the guesthouse will be fast asleep at that time? Her eyes searched the surroundings and found an empty cafe/stall with a TV and a half asleep waiter. Brilliant spot to wait for 3 hours until the sun rises.
Luckely the young lad from the bus joyned her and entertained her until it was time to leave. He must have felt horrible from embarrasingly dropping his bodyparts on her and repaid by a nice conversation and a hot tea with condensed milk. Mh!
To cut a long story short, we have now 3 days of travelling towards the northern East coast. This was than added by another 10 hours journey - first 1 hour taxi, walk across the Thai border, lift with a motorbike (yes with the all famous backpack as third passenger) and an 8 hour local bus ride (which Lonely Planet posted as a comfortable 5 hour ride). Always keeping in mind that the bus is driving through a critical area, which was visually supported by gunmen,
Bus Station
This is called a bus station, me sitting on the road and waving heavily at any bus going into my direction in hope that they will see me and take me with them. It works. Maybe I missed a sign? But the locals seem to have invisible markings for bus stops. army wires and sandbags. Oh and don't forget - no food.....
Hey, the story just shows how diverse and challenging transportation from Malaysia to Thailand can be. I survived and am richer of an experience mixing my skills for patience, my own safety and total discomfort.
Ali said that I will laugh at that experience in the future when looking back, as there will be even worse once 😊. He can be sooooo funny at times.
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Béa
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waoooouuuu
Hello you. Just to let you know that I will be flying to Malaysia on Friday. Can't wait for it. Will get to Singapore, KL, Cameron Highlands, Kota Bahru, Perhantian Island, south Thailand and finish with Bangkok on the 10/06. Keep me informed perhaps can we arrange to meet somewhere depending on your plans.