Another 2 days on Tioman Island (10.03.09))

Yesterday was rainy most of the day. I didn't do much, just red some more on Malaysia and came up with a travel plan. I also went to the next beach all the way till the airport. It is amazing how pilots can land a big plane on such a small strip surrounded by mountains.
Today weather seems to get better, so I went again for snorkeling. Unfortunately, the water visibility wasn't that great like 2 days ago, buy I still enjoyed. I saw again a turtle, 2 sharks at the same time, thousand fish. I spent most of the day snorkeling or laying on a secluded beach (Monkey beach). In the evening I went again for happy hour deal at a small beach bar. In Malaysia alcohol is expensive, but on this island there is duty free so that explains it.

Expenses (RM)
breakfast 5
lunch 12.5
water 3.5
laundry 9
dinner 3.5
snorkel rental 8
room 2x30=60
beer 10
burger 3
breakfast 12

Tioman Island - best snorkeling ever (08.03.09)

When I though it can't get any better than yesterday, comes a day like today. I went snorkeling again and this time to a different place, about an hour walk, to a place called Monkey Bay, a secluded beach. The water visibility was unbelievable, probably 15-20 meters, the white sand on the bottom made it even better, everything was so colourful, I felt like I was inside a big aquarium. I enjoyed so much, I did some free dives, probably 5 meters deep, around the corals. it never been more beautiful than today. On the other side of the beach, on the bottom I've seen a turtle. I looked at it for about a minute, standing still, then it slowly began going away. I followed for about a minute, then I couldn't see it anymore. When I looked on my left, about 5 meters from me and half meter from the surface, I saw a shark, about 2 meters long, looking at me. I studied it a bit, then it became curious and circled me slowly one time (...Oops...boss... I didn't mean to bother you). Then it went its way, along the reef. Later one I saw another shark, this time smaller and on the bottom, that completely ignored me. I saw few stingrays and again thousand of fishes, and few big fish (I would eat probably 2 weeks from one) I snorkeled for another hour and come back so happy. Life is good.

Expenses (RM)

room 30

breakfast 5

snorkel rental 7

internet 1

lunch 8.5

water 3.5

tuna sandwich 3

Tioman Island -sun and water (07.03.09)

In the morning, as I was walking around, I saw a group of monkeys. Later, while I was having breakfast, I saw huge lizard. Didn't seem to be bother by the people walking nearby. At the small place I had breakfast I have found good cheap price for snorkel rental, and although I didn't plan for snorkeling, I went for it. I walked all the way to the north of the beach, where I got on the water. From there I went around the shore line north and back, for about an hour and half each way. I saw a small (about 1.5 m) shark, 3 stingrays, and beautiful corals and thousand fish. I spent about 3 hours in the water. There is so much beauty in the water. I don't think diving can get much better than this. For lunch I had fried noodles with chicken, it was different from same thing in Thailand, very tasty also. I had a good nap and went walking south of the beach, to the next one. There are nicer beach with good sand, if I was into laying there and getting a sun tan. Also I have seen a small beach bar ( I though there are none on this island), but it was quiet. The other beach - Tekek - (which is the main on the island) is going through slow development. I guess 10 years from now this will be over crowded with tourists, just like Thailand. After I returned and went the other way I have found another small and quiet beach bar (I do hate them for the noise). They have a great happy hour deal so I stayed and got 3 beers. While I was sitting there, 3 meters from the water, watching the sunset, the light reflecting into the water, the horizon line and vast see, I was just hit by the beauty of this picture. The words can not possibly describe it. I am so happy for being here. Watching beautiful places at TV is not anywhere close to actually being there. I know that this will not last forever, but, after all, what does? Later on I has a burger and walked more around. It is a bit windy and the sea seems agitated. Because I live few steps away from water, I will take some precaution measures: I will put my valuables higher, I case I will get water in my bungalow at night (extreme unlikely though).

Expenses (RM)
omelet 3
milk 2
snorkel rental 7
lunch 8.5
water 3.5
3 beers 10
burger 3
room 30

From Singapore to Tioman Island - Malaysia (06.03.09)

In the morning I took a bus from Queen st. (Singapore) to Larkin bus terminal in Johor Bahru (Malaysia). For some reason, they wouldn't let me use Romanian passport and insisted on using the one I used for Singapore. Anyway, I got a visa for 3 months and they used the same page as for Singapore. In the Larkin bus terminal I had about 2 hours to wait, so I looked for breakfast. It was a bit difficult, as I didn't find anything I could recognize. I finally got a beef omelet. It came with a sauce on the side I couldn't eat, because of the curry.The trip to Mersing took 2 hours. The roads are good, and they also drive on the right side. From there I took an express boat to Tioman. As the boat was approaching the island I found out why this island was voted one of the most beautiful. It's like a mountain, covered by very thick green vegetation, with the peak of the mountain rising above the clouds. I got off the boat at the Air Batang beach. I looked for accommodation in two resorts but it was all booked. Turns out that it was a public holiday in Malaysia and the season just started on this island. On my way back I found something available but ridiculous expensive. In the end I found a cheap bungalow few steps away from the sea. On this beach there is only a very narrow strip of bungalows, at the base of the mountains, and it is very quiet. This is how is supposed to be an island. The beach is just 3 meters wide, and there are shells and rocks on it, but I don't care. This is definitely the most beautiful island I've been. I went for a swim and it was lovely, the water didn't seem that salty. It was warm and very clear. The vast sea gives me the sensation that this is the end of the earth. later I spent a couple of hours in a hammock, just looking at the sunset.

Expenses (Malaysia ringgit RM)

boat ticket 2x35=70

room 30

bus ticket 12

ice cream 3.5

water 3

burger 3

omelet 6

drink 2

chicken pie 2.8

water 2

tuna sandwich 3.5

banana shake 2.5

More on Singapore (05.03.09)

My day didn't start very well: my laptop gives me a headache, the wireless is gone. I have to fix it and that will cost time and money. I'll see what I can do.The tour I took has 2 circuits: one is focused on central and northern part of the city, the other one on downtown and shopping areas. I took the first one in the Little India, through Arab quarter, and China Town. This city is very dense populated: it has 4.8 million people on less that 700 sq km. 30% of the land is reclaimed (it was water before). It rained a little bit on the first tour. The weather is unpredictable. Since is very close to equator, the temperature is 33-35 degree Celsius. Most of population is Chinese (over 70%), followed by Malay, and then Indians. There is a very interesting colonial district, with old buildings since the British occupations. Most notables are Raffles Hotel and Fullerton The second tour included the famous Orchard road, full of malls that sell everything, synonym for Fifth Avenue and Champes Elysee. The Central Business District includes all the high rise buildings. Both tours have common the flyer, a big wheel with cabins (bigger than the one in London) from where you can see the city, and also can see Malaysia to north and Indonesia to south. I really like this city. I never thought I will say this, but I think I miss living in big, clean cities. I miss living in Toronto. After the river cruise I was tired, but satisfied.I went to a big IT mall to have my laptop fixed. It was so expensive I decided to buy an external DVD writer (my laptop doesn't have one) That wasn't cheap either, I was left only with bus money for the second day. In the evening I manage to reinstall the original Linux operating system and to my surprise everything went smooth and I am back in business.

Expenses (S$)

bed in dorm 20

sightseeing tour 33

external dvd writer 94

food 10