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Published: January 21st 2008
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Pulau Pangkor
Beautiful beaches There is so much I want to say about Malaysia, that I don't know where to start. I don't remember anymore what I expected from Malaysia when I arrived to the country over two weeks ago, but whatever it was, I never dreamed of finding myself in a place like this!
When I left home a lot of people wanted to warn me about how unsafe this part of the world is. I had to listen to so many people explaining to me how to make sure nothing happens to me and promise at least hundreds of times not to talk to strangers, not to walk on the streets during night and so on...
But now I want to explain to all of you who had these toughts a couple of things. First, nowhere in the world have I met such friendliness like here!! People stop their motorbikes on the streets just to say "Welcome on Malaysia", everyone makes their best to help you whenever you look a bit lost and the people i Malaysia really treat you as a human beeing and not like a tourist who you easily can lurk money from. However (and his is the
Pulau Pangkor
Enjoying the sun! second thing) the best thing about the malaysians is the fact that very one is smiling! I dont think you people in Finland even in your wildest dreams can imagine how it is to walk on the streets and see people (young and old, men and women) smiling at you. The finnish people surley could learn a lot about openess from malaysians! And when it comes to safety just belive me when I say that this country is safer then any country in Europe! However, I will remember to continue beeing careful and I hope that no one of you gets worried when you read this=)
Another thing that for finnish people is different here is the mix of different ethnic groups. There are malays, indians and chinese, all with their own religions and traditions, still living together and letting each and everyone belive exactly what they want. It looks so easy, that I start to have a hard time understanding why there is so much fights between different ethnic groups in this world.
But know is should make a short update about what I've been doing since i left Kuala Lumpur. After seeing a couple of big
Pulau Pangkor
I'm doing my best to get a nice tan. cities, Anna and I really needed a more relaxing environment. We spent a couple of days in Pulau Pangkor, a beautiful and calm little island. We didn't do much, just spent time on the beach and had really good seafood in the evening. Anna and Ville was there at the same time as we, and it was a lot of fun seeing them again!
After the beachy Pangkor it was time to change to something totally different again. We headed up to Cameron Highlands, 1500 m above the sea,where we went djungletrekking and saw a teaplantations. I also bought new glases for only 35 euros!!
In Penang we went to Pikas (our friend from KL) cousins wedding where they had invited us a week earlier. It was a malay-muslim wedding and totally different from what we are used to. I'm very thankful to Pika and his family for giving us the opportunity to see this!
Everyone we met in Malaysia said that we have to go to Langkawi (an island very close to the Thai border). We hadn't planed to go there because we tought it was to touristy for us, but in the end we decided
Cameron Highlands
View over the highlands that we had to see what's so good about this place. We stayed there for 4 nights and again the best thing about this place was all the people we met. Some of them offered to show us around and some people we hang out with in the evenings. Even the vice president for tourism Malaysia wanted to have drinks with us and gave us his card in the end of the evening (if there is anything we need anywhere we are, we can call him). Langkawi emptyed our wallets from money (don't worry, we where not robbed, just had a few too man strawberry margharitas) but filled it with a lot of visiting cards, e-mail adresses and phone numbers.
I make this country sound like the perfect place and mayby it is. Still there is a couple of things I miss from back home. For example the traffic! People here does not only drive on the wrong side of the road, they also drive like crazy people. I also miss a normal breakfast. In the hostels we can buy omelets with toast but I'm starting to feel it is coming out from my ears now. What I miss
most of all is however Hanna and i hope that someone of you can give her a hug from me!!
See you again i Thailand, our next adventure!!
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Viveca
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Ja, vad kan man säga? Avundsjuk,avundsjuk,avundsjuk...Tittar ut ur fönstret och ser en mycket grå dag, skulle gärna också gömma mej i djungeln:) Kramar