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May 30, 2005
The Islands around Krabi
(Day 103) Krabi, with its abundance of guesthouses, is a popular place to make base in. Everything from elephant treks, to rock climbing, to day trips out to the various islands, is available. Every travel agent has the some collection of brochures and tours, it's just a matter of finding who can book at the most competitive price.
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Posted by markyiin at 05:37 AM | Comments (9)
May 29, 2005
Wat Tham Sua
(Day 102) Two weeks after I had decided to do my world tour, the infamous tsunami of late 2004 ravaged Thai coastline. Though every news station covered the event, I don't think we knew how catastrophic the disaster was until days later. I remember being asked if it changed my plans any. At the time, I wondered if I'd have to revise my itinerary. But the thought of cancelling the trip was never seriously considered. My resignation letter was turned in, making me too far committed to turn back. How pathetic would it have been to ask for my job back just a week after quitting?
I paid careful attention to the situation, and learned that the area had gotten back on its feet quickly. All that was missing were the tourists. And so here I am...
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Posted by markyiin at 10:32 PM | Comments (3)
Crossing the Thai border
(Day 101) "Your taxi driver is here," my guesthouse owner told me.
I checked my watch. He was half an hour early! Hadn't we agreed on 9:00am? I hastily threw the rest of my belongings in my big. In my rush, I accidently grabbed my razor the wrong way and cut a big chunk of skin off my finger. Shit. They'd have to wait a few minutes while I stopped the blood from gushing out.
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Posted by markyiin at 07:21 AM | Comments (5)
May 28, 2005
Kota Bharu, the Islamic City
(Day 100) Can you believe it? Here I am, on what could be set of the next Temptation Island (by the way, did that show ever make it to season two?), and I would only stay one day.
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Posted by markyiin at 06:44 AM | Comments (4)
May 27, 2005
A vacation from my vacation
(Day 99) The Perhentian Islands, home to arguably Malaysia's finest beaches. Water the color of precious gems, sand as fine as Angelina Jolie. A beach lover's dream, really.
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Posted by markyiin at 10:54 AM | Comments (7)
Breakfast in the highlands, dinner on the beach.
(Day 98) I came to the Cameron Highlands with the intention of staying only two nights. James and Yvonne's hospitality made me stay for five. A home away from home is the best way to describe it. The cast of characters that showed up almost every evening made for some very entertaining nights. At one point, I wondered when I would have the heart to move on.
At 10:00am, a minivan came to take me to my next destination. James and I shook hands. "Ahh, what the heck," we agreed, and gave each other a companionable hug.
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Posted by markyiin at 10:43 AM | Comments (0)
May 26, 2005
Jungle Walk No. 7
"So have you seen any pitcher plants on your treks?" asked Yvonne. It was my last day here, and I was trying to plan the day's activities.
"Pitcher plants? No, I haven't seen any."
"Some of our guests have reported seeing some. You didn't notice any on Jungle Walk No. 1? The one you did your first day here?"
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Posted by markyiin at 06:21 AM | Comments (9)
Lata Iskandar
(Day 96) "I think I had a bit too much to drink last night," confessed James the next morning. "I can't remember what happened."
"I think we all had a bit too much." Pulling myself out of bed took a herculean effort. Thankfully, I was hangover-free.
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Posted by markyiin at 06:00 AM | Comments (1)
May 23, 2005
Jungle Walk No. 9A
(Day 95) "Most travellers just hike up really fast and don't really get to enjoy the walk," James (the guesthouse owner) was saying the night before. "What you really should do is take your time and enjoy nature. Stop every so often to look and listen. You will realize the forest is a living thing. Love the forest, and it will love you back."
Now the last part may have been the alcohol talking, but he had a point. It's not about how fast you can complete a trek, or how much distance you can cover. If you're just going to put your head down and walk, why go? The trip is just as important as the destination.
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Posted by markyiin at 07:21 AM | Comments (10)
Jungle Walk No. 1
(Day 94) In 1885, a government surveyor by the name of William Cameron hacked a path through dense jungles, and came across, "A fine plateau shut in by the mountains." The area took his name, and has become one of the major highlights of Peninsular Malaysia, not only for backpackers, but for local Malaysians as well. Strawberry farms, flower nurseries, butterfly farms, and even a golf course highlight some of the attractions that draw thousands of visitors each year. For the more adventurous, a network of jungle treks are also available. And since I consider myself 'adventurous,' I decided to take a stroll through the lush rain forests.
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Posted by markyiin at 06:17 AM | Comments (3)
May 22, 2005
Up to the Cameron Highlands
(Day 93) The room I stayed in had just the basics. Four walls, a fluorescent light, and a bed. No windows, no electrical outlets. Small enough to give claustrophobic people fits. I'm can't remember exactly what I was dreaming of, but it must've been of home, because I woke up in the dark completely disoriented. Where am I? Oh, that's right... KL. I fumbled for my watch and checked the time. Half past ten! Wow, I must've been really tired to sleep in so late!
Checkout time was at noon; there was still plenty of time. I went downstairs, where a slew of ticketing agencies operated, to check fares and bus schedules.
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Posted by markyiin at 03:52 AM | Comments (4)
May 21, 2005
The rest of KL
(Day 92) Sometimes I wonder, if I skip a day in the blog, would anyone notice? I mean, if I sat around in the hostel lounge all day, and pretended the day never happened, would someone realize, 'Hey, it should be day 93, not 92!' Because as hard as I try, some days, there's just not much that happens. Even in a big city, like KL.
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Posted by markyiin at 04:55 AM | Comments (6)
May 20, 2005
The Petronas Towers
(Day 91) When I think of the Petronas Towers, the first thing that comes to mind is... Catherine Zeta-Jones. Second thing that comes to mind is... Catherine Zeta-Jones. No visit to KL is complete without seeing the two towers that the stunning actress made famous. (Or is vice versa?)
I had heard it's important to get there early. Admission is free, but limited. Once the daily allotment of tickets are given out, no more visitors are allowed. First, though, there's the small matter of getting my debit card back.
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Posted by markyiin at 03:38 AM | Comments (6)
May 17, 2005
The card eater
(Day 90) One day in Melaka is enough to see everything worth seeing. Many travellers like to spend three or more days in each spot, passing time by watching reruns of Malaysian Idol when activities become scarce. They have plenty of time to spare, often dedicating half a year to southeast asia. I have a lot of ground to cover; I want to be done with this region in two months, tops. So I have to press on.
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Posted by markyiin at 11:48 PM | Comments (10)
Historical Melaka
(Day 89) My stay in Singapore was very relaxing. I had my own air conditioned room, and Auntie did more than enough to ensure my comfort. Transportation is convenient, the streets were clean, and I've already gone over how great the food is. Everything was so easy, I was a bit reluctant to throw myself back into the rigors of living on the road.
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Posted by markyiin at 11:31 PM | Comments (3)
May 16, 2005
The Sri Lankan Crab
(Day 88) Dr Fwa is a busy man, often travelling out of town (ie out of country) on business. Even on a saturday, after returning home after a week in Korea (I think), he had to go into work for a few hours.
"I'll treat you to dinner tonight. I'll pick you up at Ang Mo Kio at around 5:00pm," he told me over the phone in the morning. That was fine with me. Even though Singapore doesn't have much in the way of attractions, it's a very easy to waste time here.
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Posted by markyiin at 10:59 AM | Comments (11)
May 15, 2005
After 20 years...
(Day 87) It's an inevitable part of growing up. People move, interests diverge, friends become acquaintances, then strangers.
Tao and I were buddies back when we lived in Indiana. Our dads were both working on PhD's, and when Tao's dad finished, their family moved to Singapore. We were about five years old at the time. Even if email and instant messaging existed back then, we weren't literate enough to use it. Being so young and living on opposite sides of the world, there was almost no chance we would stay in touch. He faded from my memory like an old photograph. I couldn't tell you anything about him. Except that such a person existed, somewhere.
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Posted by markyiin at 11:36 PM | Comments (5)
Singapore's sights
(Day 86) I think I'm getting a bit spoiled. After seeing Borobudur and Prambanan, I really had no desire to visit the many small temples scattered throughout Singapore. The natural beauty of Fiji and New Zealand's coastline made the artificial beaches of Sentosa Island unappealing. And I always prefer watching wildlife in their natural habitat, so I couldn't be bothered with the Night Safari. I'm getting harder and harder to please...
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Posted by markyiin at 05:03 AM | Comments (5)
May 14, 2005
The making of a secret agent
(Day 85) I was still undecided about whether or not to buy anything. Do I need anything? Probably not. Could I use something? Probably. Would it kill my budget? Probably not. Could the money be used for better purposes? Probably. I couldn't decide.
I read that the Funan IT mall was also a great place for shopping. The MRT took me to city hall, and from there, it was only two blocks away. I'm sorry if my rambling about electronics isn't the most interesting of topics, but to me, it's fascinating stuff. The prices at Funan IT were better than at Sim Lim, but still no killer deals. There would have to be a significant discount for me to pull the trigger.
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Posted by markyiin at 02:58 AM | Comments (8)
May 12, 2005
Shopping in Singapore
(Day 84) Singapore actually scares me a bit. I mean, we've all heard the stories about the nanny state. No gum chewing. No littering. No spitting. I have a tendency to spit whenever something unpleasant is in my mouth. That would be one of the many bad habits I'd have to curb. A caning might be an interesting experience, but it's one I'd rather not go through.
By the time I woke up, Auntie had already gone to work. I bummed around a bit before getting my act together and dragging my butt out the door. From my MRT stop, Ang Mo Kio, it was only about a 15 minute ride to the action. I got off at Orchard Rd, known for it's plethora of shopping malls. From here, I started walking, with no destination in mind. I just wanted to get a feel of the city.
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Posted by markyiin at 12:38 AM | Comments (8)
May 10, 2005
Final thoughts on Indonesia and arriving in Singapore
(Day 83) I didn't sleep very well. I spent most of the night trying to keep the mosquitos off. I covered myself with insect repellent, but when i woke up the next morning, I still had a couple new itchy bumps. Mosquitos are supposed to become more of a problem as I head up into Malaysia and Thailand. I'm going to have to come up with an effective protection strategy...
Many people had warned me about what to expect before coming to Indonesia. Beware of racism. Don't let on that I'm American. It's true, the country has had some internal conflicts in recent years. During my one and a half week excursion through Bali and Java though, I've felt fairly safe. I've presented myself as Korean, Chinese, Singaporean, and even Canadian on a few occasions, not because I feared American backlash, but because I didn't want to advertise deep pockets. But several times when I've admitted to being from America, the response has been positive.
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Posted by markyiin at 11:40 PM | Comments (3)
Can't say I like Jakarta very much
(Day 82) Mosquitos feasted on me all night. I have a habit of sleeping without a shirt on in warm weather. When I woke up, my arms and shoulders were covered in mosquito bites. So many I lost count just on one arm. One reason my memory of Jakarta won't be the fondest.
If Yogyakarta is Indonesia's cultural center, Jakarta is the financial hub. It's not exactly the best tourist destination. There are a few monuments scattered throughout the city, but it wasn't worth walking through the smog filled air to reach them. No lie, if you strolled outside for fifteen minutes and then wiped your face with your shirt, you'd have a black smear on your clothes.
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Posted by markyiin at 11:32 PM | Comments (2)
May 09, 2005
Ayam Goreng
(Day 81) My becak operator was waiting in front of the hotel at 8:00am, with a grin as wide as the Grand Canyon.
"How much to go to Tugu (train station)?"
"You decide."
"Ten (thousand)?"
"Maybe... a little more?"
"Fifteen (thousand)?"
He nodded, and I climbed into the seat. By now, having motorbikes and cars speeding past is no longer unsettling. I've gotten used to it. About half an hour later, we were at the train station. I paid my fare and went inside to figure out which platform I would be leaving from.
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Posted by markyiin at 10:51 PM | Comments (4)
May 08, 2005
Prambanan
(Day 80) It's low season for tourists at Yogya, which actually posed some problems for me. Tours ran only when a certain number of people signed up. Going to Borobudur was no problem, since that's what everyone comes for. But getting to Prambanan wasn't so easy. The interest wasn't strong enough to make it worthwhile for any of the tour operators to go. My only options were to hire a private car (expensive) or try and use public transportation (time consuming).
Posted by markyiin at 04:06 AM | Comments (7)
May 07, 2005
Borobudur, Batik, and the Ramayana
(Day 79) In the middle of the night, muslim prayers woke me up. I looked at my watch. 4:30am. Perfect. I had to be up by 5:00am anyways.
Borobudur is the main draw in the area. Located about 40km north of Yogyakarta, the massive temple is a relic of the country's Buddhist past. Constructed in the 9th century, it became neglected as Islam replaced Buddhism as the dominant religion. The eruption of Gunung Merapi buried the structure, and it was only rediscovered in 1814, when the Dutch ruled the archipelago. The Dutch began a restoration project, but erosion of the hill it rests upon had nearly ruined the whole foundation. Not until recently, when an internationally funded, US$25 million dollar restoration project was completed, was Borobudur returned to its former glory.
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Posted by markyiin at 11:31 AM | Comments (3)
May 06, 2005
Looking around Yogya
(Day 78) The bus pulled into the Umbulharjo station sometime around 7:00am.
"Do you know what you're doing?" asked Ed after we had collected our luggage.
"Uhh..." No, I didn't.
He pointed me in the general direction I needed to go in, and then added that it would be approximately a four km walk if I chose to do it on foot. He suggested that I hire some transportation. Which wasn't hard to find. A horde of taxi drivers were already vying for my business.
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Posted by markyiin at 06:29 AM | Comments (5)
May 05, 2005
Heading west to Yogya
(Day 77) Your fearless host admittedly had some worries about today.
It was time to leave Bali and head west to Java. Except I didn't know how to do it. The obvious way was by bus, but I wasn't sure where the bus station was located, much less how to get there.
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Posted by markyiin at 01:51 AM | Comments (6)
May 04, 2005
The heart of Bali
(Day 76) Iwayan (the guy I met at Goa Lawah yesterday) arrived at Nakula Familiar Inn on time at 9:00am. However, I was running a bit late. While I finished my breakfast, I outlined the route I wanted him to take me on, and the fee I would pay him for his services. I borrowed a helmet from the inn manager (who was a little amused at the method I had chosen to see Bali), hopped on the back of Iwayan's 110cc Shogun, and was soon breathing in exhaust fumes of the trucks and motorbikes in front of us.
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Posted by markyiin at 04:47 AM | Comments (5)
Besakih Temple
(Day 75) I would've had no problem hiring the Made's for another day trip, but I was curious whether a tour from a travel agent would be better. It cost nearly twice as much, 230,000 rupiah (roughly US$23),which wasn't a bad deal, considering the distance we would cover. They picked me up from my hotel, and after ironing out some final details, we were on our way.
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Posted by markyiin at 04:31 AM | Comments (1)
May 01, 2005
Kuta to Ubud
(Day 74) Everywhere in Kuta Beach, there were travel agents trying to sell me tours. I allowed myself to be flagged down by the 'tourist information centers' to try and get a gauge on what they would cost. Prices ranged anywhere from US$20 to US$50 (a lot of the travel agents liked to quote prices in US dollars). Compared to tours in Australia, they were pretty cheap, but now I had to measure them from a different point of view. I wanted to get the best deal I could.
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Posted by markyiin at 11:00 AM | Comments (7)