As time is running short in Bangkok and there are more exciting things to do then sitting in an internet cafe I will keep this passage very short.
Cameron Highlands were nice to visit, but I didn't stay more than one day. U can do some day tours, but we (I traveled with a Dutch girl, Elske, at that time) decided to do just half a day trip and then relaxing in the afternoon, before going to bed early (I still needed recovery from the Perhentian Islands at that time). After Cameron Highlands we made our way to Penang. Very nice city with a colonial charm. Also much to see and good food. We rented a scooter for two days...made a trip around the whole Island. I just can recommend that! We had an amazing time, though I never had driven a manual scooter before and the people from the shop where we rented them seemed very happy when we came back in one piece.
With the scooter we had big city traffic feeling in Georgetown and went to some amazing places in Penang, where there were no tourists at all (waterfalls with local children playing, fishing towns,..).
In the hostel we met some nice other people, we went out with the second night. The day before we had found a very nice bar (B@92), with a very nice Serbian owner and locals drinking Johnny Walker...when we got there the second day Aleks (owner) was just about to close at 1 am...but he reopened for us and we statyed and had some crazy conversations to 4am.
The next day I went to Langkawi...as it is low season, there were not so many people. The Island is nice (also rented a scooter for one day), and I saw an amazing sun set...but never the less...it couldn't really match up with the Perhentians.
On Monday I had to leave Langkawi to get my flight in Krabi...I left early in the morning and just arrived 1h before departure (was quite stressy).
Montag, 26. Juli 2010
Perhentians
How should I start...I planned to stay 2-3 nights...I couldn't leave before a week of beach life.
Perhentian Islands...or more accurate Long Beach is just paradise, and that on a budget level. A mixture of jungle life, paradise beaches and some great night life. Maybe the nicest Island Ive been in my life.
So some basic infos. If u go there on budget, without reservation, u have to find any place that is available the first night (I stayed in a dorm...and was lucky to find to place to sleep). The next morning u get up early...as for the budget options it is walkin&walkout (if possible try to get on the waiting list at the place u want). The budget A-Huts are not closed (space between walls and roof)...so u might have some Gecko friends once and a while (I liked them...but they can kill ur nerve with their "Gecko sound"). For couples their are also "more luxurious" options, with ur own bathroom or AC. Electricity is only available at night and during a short period at lunch time.
In addition to the nice beaches and the transparent shallow water u have the jungle in your back, including snakes, geckos, and lizards (also quite big ones). There are no streets...just one walkway from one to the other side.
Beside lying on the beach there are many other and more fun things to do. For example: Diving, and that to incredible cheap prices (dive = 70 ringgit = 18 Euros). I made 6 dives, including a deep and wreck dive I now got the certificate for. The best sites were Sail Rock, Temple of the Sea and T3. The latest one includes incredible dive (or pull) throughs...kind of a James Bond feeling included for free. And u see a lot: sharks, turtles, sting rays, puffer fish, fire fish,...! Just stupid there is no diving equipment out for my camera yet. For people who don't want to dive the snorkeling trip is mandatory. U go up to 7 sites and see turtles, sharks and a lot of fish. The locals selling the trip are also quite nice.
I was a bit flashed when I walked up to the beach the first day...it was quite empty. When u spend one night @ Monkey Bar, Buffalos or Black Tip on the beach, then u know the reason. Some people can just be seen when the sun is down, with a bottle of monkey juice (local booz), rum, etc. that u can buy for 25 ringgit (6 Euros). The quality of music changed quite a lot...but they also played some good vibes. The Monkey Bar has to be outlined in that aspect. They had some great live music (enough talents on that Island to make a casting show :), including a violin player who accompanied the solos and also sometimes the DJ). I also saw a great reggae performance (Bob Malay ^^).
People on the island were mostly backpackers...young...and many couples. I met some very nice fellows. Most time I spend with a French girl, Dominique, who tried to teach me the art of swearing in French. She was a very nice wing buddy for the week on the Island. Tim & Tom and their girlfriends were two couples we were hanging out with most of the time...but it is impossible to mention everybody, as u meet (more or less interesting) people every night & day.
The staff at Matahari (the place where I stayed and dived) were very cool. I played ocassionally football and beach-volleyball with them. That and the fact, that the food at Matahari was just amazing and cheap made us spending quite some time in their restaurant (most places play also movies at 8pm).
There maybe much more stuff to tell...but I am running out of time. The last day before I left, I had a great time on the beach...maybe to great. Getting up at 7am, packing in 5min to get the boat and a curvy journey to the Cameron Highlands was in my "condition" not so much fun.
Perhentian Islands...or more accurate Long Beach is just paradise, and that on a budget level. A mixture of jungle life, paradise beaches and some great night life. Maybe the nicest Island Ive been in my life.
So some basic infos. If u go there on budget, without reservation, u have to find any place that is available the first night (I stayed in a dorm...and was lucky to find to place to sleep). The next morning u get up early...as for the budget options it is walkin&walkout (if possible try to get on the waiting list at the place u want). The budget A-Huts are not closed (space between walls and roof)...so u might have some Gecko friends once and a while (I liked them...but they can kill ur nerve with their "Gecko sound"). For couples their are also "more luxurious" options, with ur own bathroom or AC. Electricity is only available at night and during a short period at lunch time.
In addition to the nice beaches and the transparent shallow water u have the jungle in your back, including snakes, geckos, and lizards (also quite big ones). There are no streets...just one walkway from one to the other side.
Beside lying on the beach there are many other and more fun things to do. For example: Diving, and that to incredible cheap prices (dive = 70 ringgit = 18 Euros). I made 6 dives, including a deep and wreck dive I now got the certificate for. The best sites were Sail Rock, Temple of the Sea and T3. The latest one includes incredible dive (or pull) throughs...kind of a James Bond feeling included for free. And u see a lot: sharks, turtles, sting rays, puffer fish, fire fish,...! Just stupid there is no diving equipment out for my camera yet. For people who don't want to dive the snorkeling trip is mandatory. U go up to 7 sites and see turtles, sharks and a lot of fish. The locals selling the trip are also quite nice.
I was a bit flashed when I walked up to the beach the first day...it was quite empty. When u spend one night @ Monkey Bar, Buffalos or Black Tip on the beach, then u know the reason. Some people can just be seen when the sun is down, with a bottle of monkey juice (local booz), rum, etc. that u can buy for 25 ringgit (6 Euros). The quality of music changed quite a lot...but they also played some good vibes. The Monkey Bar has to be outlined in that aspect. They had some great live music (enough talents on that Island to make a casting show :), including a violin player who accompanied the solos and also sometimes the DJ). I also saw a great reggae performance (Bob Malay ^^).
People on the island were mostly backpackers...young...and many couples. I met some very nice fellows. Most time I spend with a French girl, Dominique, who tried to teach me the art of swearing in French. She was a very nice wing buddy for the week on the Island. Tim & Tom and their girlfriends were two couples we were hanging out with most of the time...but it is impossible to mention everybody, as u meet (more or less interesting) people every night & day.
The staff at Matahari (the place where I stayed and dived) were very cool. I played ocassionally football and beach-volleyball with them. That and the fact, that the food at Matahari was just amazing and cheap made us spending quite some time in their restaurant (most places play also movies at 8pm).
There maybe much more stuff to tell...but I am running out of time. The last day before I left, I had a great time on the beach...maybe to great. Getting up at 7am, packing in 5min to get the boat and a curvy journey to the Cameron Highlands was in my "condition" not so much fun.
Kuala Lumpur
Arriving in Kuala Lumpur (KL: really everybody, including the locals, calls it just KL), I met a Dutch couple with which I made my way from the bus station (which is a bit outside KL) into the city. The metro system is not as good as in Singapore and run by different companies (which can be quite confusing when u have to change all the time to different stations), but I finally arrived at Chinatown, where I checked in in the Monkey Inn (was a recommendation from backpackers in Singapore).
The Monkey Inn was the best place I have stayed in so far...I would say European standards, a big common room with flat screen and DVDs, couches and PCs and nice staff. It was located in Chinatown (maybe my favorite place in KL). For 1-4 Euros u can get any kind of food. Basic stuff like fried noodles, satay to go (6 pieces for 3 ringgit = 70 cents), or more expensive...seafood. At night the night-market is a highlight. They have some really nice stuff and when u like something u can bu it at many shops...which puts u in a very good bargaining position ^^... that way u can get discounts up to 65 %.
KL itself has some nice parks and main touristic cites. I did some of those at the first day on my own. But the Petronas Towers are just not that flashing when u have been standing at the ground of the Burj al Kalifa. Much more I liked Chinatown and Little India. Full of life, flavor and color.
When I came back to the hostel, my real KL experience started. I met Edmund , his girlfriend and Cassandra (all from Singapur). They just came to KL for clubbing. When they asking me if I want to join, I didnt hesitate, even though I spend that night a lot (European prices) but it was worth it. KL at night is much more fascinating than at day (as I didn't bring my camera...there are also no pictures:( ). Full of bright colors and people. The problem with being in an islamic country is just that you shouldn't drink on the streets and stay in the club & bar areas. After meeting an Iranian friend of Edmund in the city, we had a Shisha, bought some drinks at 7eleven and then made our way to the Zouk club (very fancy, dress code, mostly locals...just few tourists). Before I got some introduction into club behavior (communication is done by passing a text message on a mobile phone, and there a some basic rules for getting a light, making cheers, etc.). The club and the music was great...and I found out Emund is fully into dancing. He (and others) made some crazy moves (don't know how its called...a mixture of break & robo dance?). Close to 4am we went home...and had a noodle soup before going to bed.
The next day...after some Aspirin and Satay, I went to the Batu Caves with Tarek, a French guy I had met in the hostel. He was a really nice fellow...had a good talk. Batu Caves was the most impressive site in (near) KL. Though it is kind of hard to get up all the steps while being chased by monkeys, its totally worth it.
So far I had only done some sightseeing at the different places I went to...now I was really looking forward to beach life. For my trip to the Perhentian Islands I had booked a flight in advance which was very convenient. From what I have heard, the jungle train must also be very nice.
The Monkey Inn was the best place I have stayed in so far...I would say European standards, a big common room with flat screen and DVDs, couches and PCs and nice staff. It was located in Chinatown (maybe my favorite place in KL). For 1-4 Euros u can get any kind of food. Basic stuff like fried noodles, satay to go (6 pieces for 3 ringgit = 70 cents), or more expensive...seafood. At night the night-market is a highlight. They have some really nice stuff and when u like something u can bu it at many shops...which puts u in a very good bargaining position ^^... that way u can get discounts up to 65 %.
KL itself has some nice parks and main touristic cites. I did some of those at the first day on my own. But the Petronas Towers are just not that flashing when u have been standing at the ground of the Burj al Kalifa. Much more I liked Chinatown and Little India. Full of life, flavor and color.
When I came back to the hostel, my real KL experience started. I met Edmund , his girlfriend and Cassandra (all from Singapur). They just came to KL for clubbing. When they asking me if I want to join, I didnt hesitate, even though I spend that night a lot (European prices) but it was worth it. KL at night is much more fascinating than at day (as I didn't bring my camera...there are also no pictures:( ). Full of bright colors and people. The problem with being in an islamic country is just that you shouldn't drink on the streets and stay in the club & bar areas. After meeting an Iranian friend of Edmund in the city, we had a Shisha, bought some drinks at 7eleven and then made our way to the Zouk club (very fancy, dress code, mostly locals...just few tourists). Before I got some introduction into club behavior (communication is done by passing a text message on a mobile phone, and there a some basic rules for getting a light, making cheers, etc.). The club and the music was great...and I found out Emund is fully into dancing. He (and others) made some crazy moves (don't know how its called...a mixture of break & robo dance?). Close to 4am we went home...and had a noodle soup before going to bed.
The next day...after some Aspirin and Satay, I went to the Batu Caves with Tarek, a French guy I had met in the hostel. He was a really nice fellow...had a good talk. Batu Caves was the most impressive site in (near) KL. Though it is kind of hard to get up all the steps while being chased by monkeys, its totally worth it.
So far I had only done some sightseeing at the different places I went to...now I was really looking forward to beach life. For my trip to the Perhentian Islands I had booked a flight in advance which was very convenient. From what I have heard, the jungle train must also be very nice.
Freitag, 16. Juli 2010
Melaka
I left Singapore at about lunch time. That is a bad idea when u have to carry your backpack in the middle of the day. Nevertheless I made it to the station. From there I went to Johor Bahru, which is located right after the boarder, where I got a bus to Melaka. This way u can save half the money as direct buses out of Singapore are very expensive.
Talking about the bus trips I have to say that all buses are pretty OK. The local ones are just normal buses, as we use them in Europe...a bit more fucked up and no AC. The VIP buses...which are available for trips >2h are very very comfortable. U got plenty of space and an AC (also good for taking a nap)...not bad at all.
Coming back to the trip. On the bus to Melaka I met Mara. Mara was from Romania. She was traveling, even on a lower budget...for free. She had found a guy via couch surfing. He was the host of a guesthouse and let her stay for free. Later that day I went with both of them for dinner.
In Melaka I got the first experience which somehow influenced my further journey, my stay in the Eastern Heritage. When I arrived at the Eastern Heritage, it looked alright from the outside, so I booked for one night before taking a look at the dorm or the rooms (NEVER DO THAT!). Even though it was really cheap (8 ringgit = 2 Euros)...its no fun to stay...so I spend most time in town and slept there only 4h.
Melaka is a beautiful city with a very historic background. The city center is quite small, and one can visit the most famous sites easily in one day. In addition to the historical buildings from the Dutch, French, Portuguese and English (they like us Germans here ^^), Chinatown was my favorite place, full of life and with nice little restaurants and shops. The weather was great...but it was really hot (36*C) and humid. Never walk in the sun too long, have water with u and spend some time in the shops or cafes. That seemed to be a good strategy for me.
People I met (the night before and the next day in the town) were mostly Dutch. Conversation starts often with football...even Dutch girls are quite into it.
After spending one day in Melaka I decided to leave in the afternoon (as accommodation was bad and nightlife didn't really exist). By bus (VIP :)), I made my way to Kuala Lumpur.
Talking about the bus trips I have to say that all buses are pretty OK. The local ones are just normal buses, as we use them in Europe...a bit more fucked up and no AC. The VIP buses...which are available for trips >2h are very very comfortable. U got plenty of space and an AC (also good for taking a nap)...not bad at all.
Coming back to the trip. On the bus to Melaka I met Mara. Mara was from Romania. She was traveling, even on a lower budget...for free. She had found a guy via couch surfing. He was the host of a guesthouse and let her stay for free. Later that day I went with both of them for dinner.
In Melaka I got the first experience which somehow influenced my further journey, my stay in the Eastern Heritage. When I arrived at the Eastern Heritage, it looked alright from the outside, so I booked for one night before taking a look at the dorm or the rooms (NEVER DO THAT!). Even though it was really cheap (8 ringgit = 2 Euros)...its no fun to stay...so I spend most time in town and slept there only 4h.
Melaka is a beautiful city with a very historic background. The city center is quite small, and one can visit the most famous sites easily in one day. In addition to the historical buildings from the Dutch, French, Portuguese and English (they like us Germans here ^^), Chinatown was my favorite place, full of life and with nice little restaurants and shops. The weather was great...but it was really hot (36*C) and humid. Never walk in the sun too long, have water with u and spend some time in the shops or cafes. That seemed to be a good strategy for me.
People I met (the night before and the next day in the town) were mostly Dutch. Conversation starts often with football...even Dutch girls are quite into it.
After spending one day in Melaka I decided to leave in the afternoon (as accommodation was bad and nightlife didn't really exist). By bus (VIP :)), I made my way to Kuala Lumpur.
Donnerstag, 15. Juli 2010
Singapore
So how should I begin. First of all: Mom & Dad, I am still alive and doing great. I have trouble uploading photos from the hostel...I will try to upload some tomorrow from an I-Net cafe.
After my 16 hours flight, including a short stop in London, I landed in Singapore at late noon, not really knowing how to get to my hostel. But people in Singapore are nice and soon I was in the right metro heading to little India. It was still quite warm and humid, but durable even with a backpack at that time of the day. I stayed two nights at an Australian bar/hostel (Prince of Wales). The hostel was very clean and people were nice. The dorm consisted of approximately 20 loft beds. While being shown the facilities I met 2 German girls. 10 minutes later (after taking a shower) we were on our way to the night zoo (quite nice but touristy and expensive). On the way back we stopped at an Indian restaurant...and what should I say: the food was great! The next day, after getting up at 9 (didn't really had to fight a jet lag) we (Jasmin, Andrea and myself) had breakfast (two eggs and two toasts were included in the price (18 S$)...a cooking corner was outside, next to the house) and made a power sightseeing tour. I really walked my ass off...but it was worth it. Singapore is a very clean & modern city, reminding me a bit of Dubai. But fines, e.g. for drinking in the bus, are enormous. Got more than one reminder from the girls :). After visiting different sites and the national museum we had a splendid lunch in Chinatown. As the girls had to check in at their new hostel, I made a side trip to the cafe del mar (nice place for laying back...but one of the most expensive). On the way back to the city center I got lost and took a taxi to the Singapore Marina, where I made some nice shots of Singapore at night. The the next day I made my way to Melaka.
After my 16 hours flight, including a short stop in London, I landed in Singapore at late noon, not really knowing how to get to my hostel. But people in Singapore are nice and soon I was in the right metro heading to little India. It was still quite warm and humid, but durable even with a backpack at that time of the day. I stayed two nights at an Australian bar/hostel (Prince of Wales). The hostel was very clean and people were nice. The dorm consisted of approximately 20 loft beds. While being shown the facilities I met 2 German girls. 10 minutes later (after taking a shower) we were on our way to the night zoo (quite nice but touristy and expensive). On the way back we stopped at an Indian restaurant...and what should I say: the food was great! The next day, after getting up at 9 (didn't really had to fight a jet lag) we (Jasmin, Andrea and myself) had breakfast (two eggs and two toasts were included in the price (18 S$)...a cooking corner was outside, next to the house) and made a power sightseeing tour. I really walked my ass off...but it was worth it. Singapore is a very clean & modern city, reminding me a bit of Dubai. But fines, e.g. for drinking in the bus, are enormous. Got more than one reminder from the girls :). After visiting different sites and the national museum we had a splendid lunch in Chinatown. As the girls had to check in at their new hostel, I made a side trip to the cafe del mar (nice place for laying back...but one of the most expensive). On the way back to the city center I got lost and took a taxi to the Singapore Marina, where I made some nice shots of Singapore at night. The the next day I made my way to Melaka.
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