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  • Day 2,339

    Monkey madness

    April 24, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

    I really want to go to batu but James isn't so keen but says I can borrow his scooter to go there. Its an automatic with a kick start so we have a trial run down for breakfast but I just can't get it back on the stand so he kindly offers to take me on his bike after his lesson. We ride the 20 mins to the cave and I'm mesmerised. Batu means cave in Malaysian and this is the biggest Hindu temple outside of India. There is a colossal gold statue of the deity Murugan at the base of the 272 multicoloured steps that lead you up to the main temple inside the limestone rocks. Annually they host the festival of Thaipusam here where hundreds of thousands of pilgrims attend. Devotees carry ornamental structures attached to there body with spikes and hooks piercing there skin. We then make the hours journey to Malawati Hill which is the former Sutance Palace and contains the first Sultans tombs, but the main attraction here and the monkeys. As well as the common Macau the are silver leafed monkeys and they are so called and live here because of the silver leafed trees that they live in and are only found in this area. They are so timid and we spend a few hours watching and feeding them. They literally are so human like with toe nails on their fingers. I'm amazed at their friendliness. After a wonderful dinner of Scallops and Prawns on the river we make our way to see the fireflies. We wait around for a short time before boarding a boat on the river. As it travels just a few metres we start to see the glowing and within minutes the guy paddles us close to a bush that looks like a xmas tree. I'm blown away by the amount of them there are and so glad we stayed to see it. Its an hours ride home and no sooner have we hit the motorway and about 30 motorbikes overtake us from both sides weaving in and out of the traffic like idiots. There are known as Mat Rempit and are widely common throughout Malaysia They are known for their illegal street racing and stunts. Safely back home i get a shower and go and meet James friends for a quick beer and a game of pool and luckily for me they have the liverpool game on. Another win and I go to bed with sore cheeks from smiling. Another epic day.Read more