Whirlwind tour of Malaysia
Trip Start
Oct 20, 1999
1
4
12
Trip End
May 15, 2001
Bangkok, Thailand
Wednesday, February 2, 2000
Howdy!
A quick update...
It is February 2nd, 2000, I'm in Bangkok, sick as a dog and in a holding pattern til I'm well enough to go to India. I spent a few days in Krabi...again(I LOVE that place!!) and did some rock climbing at Railey Beach. I recommend the place to anyone...the rock climbing is like nothing you've seen and neither are the beaches!
The night bus to Bangkok was a little surreal as that's when this flu virus really started to hit me...anytime I hop on a bus over here it's an adventure and this one was no different. What with a passing Orange-robed Monk hitching a ride on the back of a motor scooter and someone's pet monkey in the back of a pick up truck...face in the wind doing his best farm dog from Saskatchewan imitation!
That and the sewage of the bus toilet deciding to back up at exactly 1:30am in the morning which gave off the most disgusting smell. A freaky German guy quite vocally expressed his displeasure to the driver: "You have to stop the bus now...I cannot stand it anymore!!" So waking me up to enjoy the smell.
For the twenty minute lunch break I gulped down a bowl of Tom Yam Kai(VERY spicy chicken soup)which I thought would help fight the flu that was coming on, and perhaps would have if I didn't chase it with a ham sandwich and yogurt. Back on the bus, I spent the next twenty minutes hoping the rolling in my stomache wouldn't cause me to need the thing at the back of the bus they were calling a toilet. Luckily we had to stop for a tourist check and I slipped off to use the washroom.
So here's me its the middle of the night, lining up over some mosquito-ridden hole in the ground, running a fever, feeling the cuts sustained from rock climbing and my ill fitting sandals starting to infect, my stomache doing its own aerobics, the smell of the sewer bus impregnated into my clothes...and all I can think of is "It just doesn't get any better than this!" What can I say? I love this traveling gig!!
Bangkok when not staying at a five star hotel as I did with family last month, is a bit of a freak show. Or should I say Khao San Road is. I am just off of Khao San road which caters soley to the Western backpacker and walking around it is sometimes difficult to remember I'm in Thailand in that the Travellers far outnumber the Thais. It is actually a little overwhelming...the people who stay here for the most part seem like hard core travellers and have the dreadlocks, big-ass tattoos, various piercings, bizarre clothing and spaced out look to prove it. Not sure that I'd ever in my lifetime have anything in common with these folks and so want to leave here as soon as possible. There are normal people here as well but so far I've spent most of my time here recovering from the flu so have yet had the opportunity to meet anyone.
On the bus I met someone from my hometown of Kamloops and we've hung out a bit and shared a few laughs. I never get tired of and in fact seek out my fellow Canadians. I may be biased but I can appreciate fully why people from all over the world like us...we are such a mellow easy going bunch - who wouldn't?
Anyhow I'm working on getting a cheap flight to India...looks like it's going to cost me about $350.00 CDN return to Calcutta. I've been told that in order to get a good feel for what India is about, a person needs to spend at least a month there...in which most of the time is spent coming to terms with the bizarre cultural differences...and apparently the smells.
As much as I'm looking forward to India, I fear I may not be up to it...that its going to be just too bizarre. Crazy, eh? I'm sure it will be fine...just got to get there and see!
A quick word about email...part of the pleasure of this trip is getting some great emails from friends, family and people I've met on the trip. So much so that I find it hard to respond to everyone as I'd like to. There is nothing better coming off a bad day than having a couple of letters waiting for you at the closest internet cafe. As I've had the pleasure of time and cheap access I've been able to return alot (not nearly all) emails. In fact I still "owe" a few and will try to finish up while I'm in limbo here!
Once I'm in India, in the interest of saving money and spending my time exploring as apposed to looking at the computer screen, I will try to keep my emailing to a minimum(short replies) and send a group update about once a month. With that said please don't hesitate to drop a line now and again!
That's it for now...short but sweet!
Cheers,
Darren
P.S. For those who wonder what happened between my last update and this one, what follows is a summary of what I did mid December through mid January. Pretty dry stuff though...the dates are only roughly correct:
Bangkok, Thailand - December 19th - 22nd
What a place! Saw the amazing Royal Palace, Kho San Road, and some of the best seedy parts of town(Pat Pong, Soi Cowboy) districts that cater to the sex trade. You can hire a "travelling companion" for very cheap. There are actually sex tours where busloads of men come to exploit the locals and I guess the locals are all too willing to be exploited as there is a huge market for it.
Melaka, Malaysia - December 23rd
Very Historic. At one time THE center of power in South East Asia until the Portuguese destroyed it.
Christmas and New Years in Kuala Lumpur
Hanging out with some family(aunt & uncle, grandfather, aunt and mother of aunt). A little bit of home away from home! Both xmas and New Year's was very low key although we did spend New year's eve under the Twin Towers with about a million other people. Can you say near mob scene?? Scary at times! Great fireworks though. 3 hour traffic jam coming home!
Cameron Highlands, Malaysia - December 27th, 28th
A "hill station" North of Kuala Lumpur where we stayed at an awesome English Inn and toured a tea plantation. I was in awe of all the old Land Rovers! Hundreds of them!! All with their own character. Kicked ass in a blow pipe contest!!!
Borneo
Sarawak - January 3rd thru 7th
Shopped for krafts in perhaps the nicest town in Asia-Kuching, where "The White Raja" ruled in the 19th century. The White Raja was an English adventurer who acquired the kingdom from the Sultan of Brunei for quelling a rebellion. Quite a history behind this town.
Travelled to a traditional long house and were served rice wine(mmmmmm) and watched and participated in a ceremonial dance. This was deep in the rain forest reachable only by longboat.
Before going to this long house we stayed at the Hilton which was modeled after a traditional long house but of course with all the modern amenities. Weird to have such luxury in the middle of the rain forest. Here we celebrated my grandfather's 90th birthday! what can I say? Having the opportunity to share this trip with him has been amazing and a memory I will always cherish!
Sabah - January 8th thru 11th
Went to Mount Kinabalu National Park and stayed at a really funky mountain retreat. The food was awesome and plentiful and the nights were pleasantly cool. I was able to climb part of Mount Kinabalu, South East Asia's highest peak but wasn't able to make the summit due to time restraints! I was SO disappointed!!!!!
As all these activities were organized by Norm and Lory Tours Inc. Where ever we went we stayed at the best hotels which was kind of a treat compared to my usual $4.00 a night rooms. What made it affordable is the deferred payment plan than Norm and Lory have me on! i.e. I pay them back when I start making money again!
So I've had a pretty busy month!! In between all this whirlwind travel, I've had a chance to spend some time kicking around Kuala Lumpur. I have really come to like it here and am seriously entertaining thoughts of looking for a job here. The heat is stifling(I can just feel the sympathy from those experiencing a Northern winter!) but that aside it is a great place. I have a lot of travel planned before I make a decision though.
My plan for the next few months is as follows:
India in February
Very excited about this, as it is supposed to be a very extreme experience, and not necessarily all good. This should make for some interesting emails! Advice I've been given include "beware the smells" and "Keep an open mind"
Nepal in March
I bought my guidebook a week ago and every time I look through it my mood goes up a notch. I have heard so much about this mystical place and am looking forward to it even more than India! What can you say about a place that has the highest mountain in the world and claims none other than the Buddha as one of its native sons. Canada has the Rockies and Shania Twain so I guess that's pretty close eh?
Mynamar in April (Tentative)
This is new on the itinerary, but Lory says out of all the places she's been, she would go back here, must be worth checking out!
This should take me well into April and, I have no idea where I'll be mentally or physically then so I am planning on taking a break and decide what to do. Basically my choices are: go home, continue travel, or look for work. Decisions that will have to wait until April
