Miri (28.03.09)

From Sibu I took a bus (7.5 hours) to Miri. This is another city where I had no map and not much info, but I guess I was lucky. I found my way around quick, manage to catch a bus from the long distance bus terminal, and the get a very nice room (TV, air con, hot water) for a good price. I walked around few hours but it wasn't much to see, other than plenty of shop houses, malls, and rather airy streets.

Expenses
taxi 13
bus ticket 40
breakfast 4
lunch 4
dinner 9
room 30 Fairland Inn

Sibu (27.03.09)

From Kuching I took a nice boat ride (5 hours) to Sibu. This is another city in the state of Sarawak. The most known landmark is the seven-storey pagoda. I didn't have a map of the city, but in the end I found a cheap room, could have been nice if it was cleaner. I had for lunch local food and a chinese beer, Tsingtao. In the afternoon I walked around the city center streets, and went to a very sad movie (Seven pounds).

Expenses
breakfast 2
local bus 1
boat sibu 45
lunch 9
dinner 12
movie 8
water 2
room 25 Holiday Inn

Kuching (26.03.09)

The day didn't start well, the direct bus to the airport has been canceled, but in the end I made it. I took a flight to Kuching, which is on Borneo Island (this is a huge island - home of the headhunters). I found accommodation at Anglican rest house, which is an very old Chinese house located in the big yard of the Anglican church. There are many temples, but what I liked the most was the riverfront. While I was resting on a bench watching the sunset I realized I am lucky to be here.


Expenses
skytrain 2
metro 2
shuttle bus airport 8
room 20 Anglican rest house
taxi 7
breakfast 3
lunch 4
dinner 9

Batu Caves (KL) (25.03.09)

Having one more day to spend in KL, I went to Batu Caves just outside of the city. Those caves have been used by Hindu priest for more than a hundred years. There were so many monkeys around, some of them getting very close (and eventually try to steal).
In the afternoon I went to a mall where I saw a movie and run into an old friend, Carls' Jr.

Expenses
room 30 Travelers
breakfast 6
bus batu caves 4
KTM train 2
skytrain 3
towel 22
sunglasses 5
razor blades 9
lunch 8
dinner 15

Taman Negara (24.03.09)

The day before yesterday I took the Jungle Railway train. It is a mail train that leaves 6 AM from train station (10 km off Kota Bahru) and goes valleys, jungles, and rural areas. It was an interesting ride, I could see brown rivers running for kilometers through jungle. After 11 hours I arrived at Jerantut and I made it just in time for the bus to Kuala Tahan (a village just across the river from park). The accommodations were expensive so I settled for a dorm bed. Yesterday I cross the river around 8:30 and entered the park. This is an 150 million years old rainforest. First I went for the canopy walkway. This is a swaying bridge made of ladders and bound by ropes set at 40 meters above ground. It is the longest in the world. It was a nice experience, although I couldn't see any bird or animal there. Then I went to a 340m hill where I could have a good view. After that, I went for Lata Berkoh. It was nothing spectacular, and I walked more than 8 km for that. There I thought I could take a boat back, but I wasn't so lucky, so I had to return by foot, another 8 km. The trekking through jungle was interesting. The jungle was hot and humid, but I was well protected from the sun. The vegetation outside the path was thick, I couldn't see too far. A couple a times when I've lost the trail I barely made it around, without a machete it will be very hard outside of the beaten path. At some point I've notice a little blood on my sock, I thought I probably cut myself in some tree, but when the stain became larger I stopped to have a look and I found leeches having a feast. An experience that I would prefer not to have it. On the other hand, I heard that they might actually do some good, sucking the bad blood. This morning I took the boat downriver to the Kuala Tembling. It was a pleasant 2 hours ride. From there I took a minibus to Jerantut and later the bus for KL.

Expenses
taxi 7
train Jerantut 13
bus Kuala Tahan 7
room 10
lunch 10
dinner 10
room 10
boat 35
minibus 5
lunch 9
dinner 10
bus KL 19

Perhentian Islands(21.03.09)

The day before yesterday I took a bus to Kota Bharu (almost 8 hours). I didn't do much in the afternoon, except watch the movie on the rooftop at the hostel I was staying. Yesterday morning was raining hard when I took the minibus to Kuala Besut. This is a small town 45 km away from Kota Bharu; when I got there it wasn't raining anymore. From there I took a speed boat to the Perenthian Kecil (small island). After I got the room on the Long beach, I went for a swim. The weather was great. I have spent the entire day at the beach, under an umbrella. The beach has fine sand and water is warm and crystal clear. What I liked the most was the cool breeze in the late afternoon. At night there was a beautiful clear sky. Today I spent the day at the Coral bay, a 10 minute walk from the long beach. I returned to the Kota Bharu late in the evening.

Expenses
bus ticket Kota Bharu 37
room 20
minibus Kuala Besut 10
ferry 2x35
dinner 7
breakfast 2
room 30
park fee 5
taxi boat 2
umbrella rental 10
lunch 22
beer 9
dinner 11
breakfast 9
lunch 15
taxi 17
dinner 10
clothes 17
fruit 2
water 1
room 20
baggage storage 2

Penang (18.03.09)

Yesterday I took a bus from Cameron Highlands to Penang (4 hrs). This is an island connected to the land by a bridge 13 Km long. I found accommodation in China town and in the evening I went walking around. I've seen few streets in China town and some parts of te colonial city - Fort Cornwallis, Victoria Clocktower, City Townhall. Today I rented a motorcycle and went first to the Penang Hill.I took a funicular to the top on the hill, where was a mosque, a Hindu temple, a small hotel. When the weather is good, view from the hill is great. Unfortunately, when I got there it was cloudy. The next place I went was Kek Lok Si Temple, a large Buddhist temple. After that I headed north, and had a great ride along the sea for many kilometers. I went through 2 beach towns and at the end stopped to a national Park, where I took a 45 minutes hike (each way) to Monkey beach. The ride back along the coast was just beautiful. In the evening I had mexican food and beer, which was pretty expensive.

Expenses
breakfast 2
bus 30
room 25
lunch 8
bus local 3
water 3
juice 3
room 25
dinner 40
lunch 7
moto rental 25
gas 5

Tea plantation in Cameron Highlands (16.03.09)

In the first part of the day I went to Bharat tea plantation. It looks like a huge garden, spread over many hills. I had no idea so till now how a tea plantation looks like. I also wondered who drinks that much tea. There are many tea plantations in this area, as well as many farms. I understand now why this beautiful area attracts so many tourists. In the afternoon rained again.

Expenses (RM)
room 30
breakfast 6
lunch 9
dinner 7
water 2
laundry 6

Hiking in Cameron Highlands (15.03.09)

Yesterday I took a bus from KL to Cameron Highlands. This is a hill area, where are a lot of plantation. It is at higher altitude, so a lot of people come here to escape the heat. It looks like a mountain resort. I arrived in the afternoon, after more than 4 hours journey. Because it was raining, I couldn't go trekking. I just walked the main road in the small city I stayed, Tanah Rata. Today I went for a long hike. In the morning the sky looked OK, some clouds that I hoped they'll go away. A couple of hours into my trip, it started raining. When I got to the top of the mountain - Gurung Beremban (over 6000 ft) it was raining and I was in a cloud, I couldn't see anything. After another 1 hour I got to point where it was clear, even the rain stopped. I had a beautiful view from there. Should I've seen that valley from the road, it wouldn't be probably so interesting; after hiking for hours in jungle, while was raining, I have appreciated the view a lot more. On my way back I visited Robinson waterfall, a nice 20 meters drop with a good flow. When I got back it was raining again.

Expenses (RM)
bus ticket CH 28
room 30
lunch 12
breakfast 4
water 2
dinner 9
breakfast 6
lunch 14
dinner 6
water 2
room 30

Celebrating my birthday at Petronas Twin Towers (13.03.09)

In the evening I bought a combo burger and a beer. I drop the drink and put beer in the glass. I stayed on a bench in the park behind the Petronas Twin Towers, where there is a big fountain. The view of the towers and the surroundings is even more beautiful at night. Once the world tallest building, it is still very impressive today. Petronas is the National Oil company, so no wonder they had money to finance it. At the base of the tower is a huge shopping mall. The fountain is not anywhere close to those of the Bellagio in Las Vegas, but is still nice. In these area (KLCC = KL City Center) there are a lot of very tall buildings. In the end I am glad I came to KL today.

Day trip to Kuala Lumpur (13.03.09)

The tickets for Ipoh have been all sold out, so I had to change my plans and went to Kuala Lumpur. I stayed at a hotel in Chinatown, and the first building I wanted to see was the Twin Petronas towers. I have notices another very tall building, KL tower. It looks like CN Tower from Toronto and other towers built mainly for communication purposes. After that I went by foot for hours. I visited the colonial district, where I've seen many interesting buildings. I was very impressed with the Old Railway station, KTM building, Sultan Abdul Samad building. I have visited the National Museum. In the evening I went back to Petronas Towers.

Expenses (RM)
bus ticket KL 13
room 50
recharge phone 10
lunch 12
breakfast 4
local bus 1
water 3.5
skytrain 3.2
dinner 10.5
beer 8

Melaka (12.03.09)

Yesterday I left Tioman Island in the morning. The boat was late. The bus left 3 hours after I got to Mersing. Somewhere on the way the bus broke down so we switched to another bus. All this made me to arrive at Melaka in the evening, instead of noon as I desired. I found accommodation in China town, close to the center of the city. I had time just to walk a bit along Melaka river and in the China town, along the main street named Jonker. Today I went and visited a lot of historical sites. It was easy because they are all near each other, in historical center. The city was ruled by Malay, Portuguese, Dutch and British. I have visited the Maritime museum and Istana Kesultanan, a replica of 15th century palace of the sultan. Other attractions I've seen were St Paul's Church, Christ Church, Stadhuys, Porta de Santiago, Cheng Hoon Temple. I liked the city. It is charming and has a lot of history.

Expenses (RM)
burger 3
fruit 1
lunch 9
water 2
dinner 2
water 1
room 30
bus ticket 22
internet 4.5
room 30
water 2
breakfast 7
sunglasses 5
movie 7
museums 5
dinner 12
lunch 13
batteries 5