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Lori goes to SE Asia
  • Lori B
Sep – Oct 2024

Lori goes to SE Asia

A 29-day adventure by Lori Read more
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  • Lori BTravelerLori goes to SE Asia
    Apple Store.

    In Singapore. Time change

    October 2, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Ferry to the Singapore harbor. Thousands+ boats in the deep port.

    Well water and beer went from $1 to $10 today. lol.
    If you have not been to Singapore, it’s unlike any city in the world. Shopping is like Paris, New York, Chicago, Milan all combined x5. Every fancy store from around the world. Zero garbage. Zero graffiti, zero anything.

    Smoking and vaping are pretty much illegal. Gum is illegal. Jaywalking is illegal. Not bussing your table is illegal. Changing your clothes with the drapes open is illegal. Feeding the birds is illegal. Pretty much everything gets you a $250-$10,000 fine. And you will be caught! Drugs of any kind are very illegal and earn you the death penalty. It’s very safe and very clean. Cameras and undercovers are everywhere. It’s amazing. Signs advising you everywhere you look. I wish I had read the bathrooms signs about a week ago. lol.

    The city is gorgeous, modern and vibrant! It’s phantasmagorical in the most positive of ways.

    Tomorrow we explore!    Read more

  • Lori BTravelerLori goes to SE Asia

    Too much shopping!!

    October 3, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Last day in Singapore.
    Which meant shopping and eating. Tough day and night indeed.

    Here is a look at some more reminder signs that are everywhere.

    Took a small trip to an amazing Puerh tea shop! How could I resist. Long taxi ride where the driver shared how safe all of Singapore is. He explain to Jean and I that we could walk anytime day or night and no one would both us. Not sure why he told us this, but he said that men are not allowed to hit on, touch or bother any women at any time, whether gorgeous or unattractive. If any man bothered us, he would be caned, fined and jailed. All righty then. We are safe, no matter what we look like.

    Off to dinner to get some beauty food. Special hot pot with collagen bone broth and ginseng. Yummy!

    View of the town at night and off to bed for early morning move to Malaysia. Fourth country already.    Read more

  • Lori BTravelerLori goes to SE Asia
    1

    Johor Baruh, Malaysia

    October 4, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Leaving Singapore and over the bridge to Malaysia. Customs and immigration on the road.

    And yes, I have my own lane. I am a truck driver! lol.

    So much food. And the exchange rate is 4:1. So if the price is $8; is $2 US.

    And yes, I tried the Durian. Hmmmmm. Tastes like ripe soft cheese and Carmel. Hmmmmm.

    Kinda needed to change the flavor in my mouth. So a quick trip to Baskin Robbins for the flavor of the month. Spicy ghost pepper and chocolate. I wonder if this is the flavor back home. Spicy!
    But it did the trick.

    Oh, and a hard boiled egg cooked in herb tea to go for dinner. Taste notes later. Haven’t tried it yet.

    Everything is halal, even the Tony Romas. Martin was craving some pork, so he had to pass a quick interview to confirm he was not a practicing Muslim to enter the small non-halal section in the grocery store to have access. Successful pass, and Martin was happy and eveyone was well fed.    Read more

  • Lori BTravelerLori goes to SE Asia
    Even more steps inside

    Batu Cave- Malaysia

    October 7, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    Wow! Batu Cave is a 150 yr old Hindu temple just outside of Kuala Lumpur and absolutely stunning. It was built by a private individual to honor the Hindu God of Morgan. The story is lovely. Morgan is the Hindu God of war and his brother is the God of Wisdom. One day the two brothers both wanted the same juicy mango. To settle the dispute, their father told them that whichever son circled the world seven times and returned home first would have the mango as their reward. Given their unearthly powers, Morgan mounted a flying peacock and set off to fly around the world seven times; certain the mango was his. His brother, Ganesh, however, simply walked around his parents seven times declaring them “His World”. Ganesh enjoyed the mango. Morgan was upset and retreated to the hills. Thus the steep stairs assenting to the hills and heavens beyond and to the beauty of a cave.

    With a blessing to start at the vibrant temple at ground level, we assented 272 stairs to be surrounded by beauty and serenity and more blessings. All were welcome. All were blessed.

    Many pictures as the feeling was overwhelming. Some from physical exhaustion and knowing I would not return; and some just from amazement. And of course the monkeys. The man carrying the cans of soda pop up the stairs; I believe may also be a god. He had to have superpowers, indeed.    Read more

  • Lori BTravelerLori goes to SE Asia

    Treasures of KL day 2; part 2

    October 8, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    Now a visit to the Royal Selangor pewter and silver birthplace and factory. RS is the hallmark of private artistry in Malaysia. Currently being operated by the fourth generation of the original founder, the wares remain handmade and a luxury made and priced for royalty.

    At the entrance to the only factory of its kind, you are greeted by handprints of every worker in the building. The actually handprints represent and remind the artists how essential their hands are to the process. After forty yrs of employment and craftsmanship, the handprints are surrounded in gold. It was an impressive tribute to the treasure of craftmanship and focus on the personal tradesmanship and uniqueness of handcrafting items to be adored by others.

    The items below are the founder’s lucky teapot that “saved his life” and the way money was originally used in Malaysia. The original money for commerce where made from metal in the form of animals. Hard to carry in a pocket; so the money tree was invented. A tree with coins that could be broken off, and a remaining trunk that could be melted down to reuse. Everything from functional to ornamental.

    The woman who trained for over a year to perfect the hand hammering finish has golden hands that have double hammered each dent for over 40 years. Each small cup she is making has the same number of dimples, but is unique and bears her prints. Gorgeous! And Gorgeously expensive. Really wanted a lucky melon teapot; but I’ll save for a house instead.
    Few small purchases and we were off to the next blessings from KL    Read more

  • Lori BTravelerLori goes to SE Asia
    Not sure I did it right; but I did my best.Wedding photoshoot.

    KL part 3

    October 8, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    More blessings; why not. This trip is my self-discovery trip; so blessings should be abundant. I have enjoyed reading up on each religion’s base beliefs and history. All with many beautiful dogmas in common, all abundant in human insight, tradition, beauty, grace and goodwill.

    Next to the Chinese temple and the National Mosque. Again, all are welcomed and blessed and shown around. The Chinese temple is a wedding photographer’s dream and one could get married on the spot; if you had a partner, of course.

    You are greeted at the mosque with special headwear and gown and ushered through a peaceful and serene temple to the prayer area. Everything was approachable and welcoming. And repeated blessings at each stop as well as beauty and amazing structures.
    Lunch in Little India and a tour of the Petronas Towers; the tallest twin buildings in the world. Wow! What a view. No harness needed this time. Just open your eyes to see the setting sun from a glistening building.

    Blessed and awed, but starving.. time for the night market with over 100 food choices and even more fruit stalls and wonderful smells. Well, then there was the fresh durian. Finally!

    I did it.

    Much better fresh than in ice cream. And the taste is growing on me. While at first it tastes somewhat like what I would imagine could be found in septic tanks; with focus and acceptance of the aroma, you pick up on a complex palate of cheese, onion, garlic, sweet caramel and warmth. Quite filling and quite delicious. I believe the second taste and recognized scent eliminates the surprise factor and helps with the appreciation. I won’t crave it; but I will miss the quest and the decadence of the exotic delicacy.

    Now saying goodbye to Malaysia and waving at the endless acres and miles of palm oil trees. Malaysia has to be one of the largest producers of palm oil, given the massive amounts of palm farms.

    Back to the Philippines in the early hours for more adventures. Can’t wait. It keeps getting better and better! Come along.    Read more

  • Lori BTravelerLori goes to SE Asia

    Palawan, PH

    October 10, 2024 on the Philippines ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    I’m in love with this area. It’s a beautiful Province made up of over 1,000 islands all focused on the sustainability of nature. Breath taking. 2.5 jam packed days here; because why not! Lots of planning and research paid off. I never want to leave. So many unique animals that only exist here. Many still being discovered. And the systems to sustain and preserve its beauty and nature should be duplicated as an example for the world. I will be back. Again and again. So much more to explore in Palawan. I only had time to explore one area, Puerto Princessa. And I could have explored just this one area for weeks. Many more towns and 1,000 islands screaming my name! I am amazed.

    Highlights of day 1:
    Upon arrival the airline gave us all umbrellas as we left the plane to keep the sun’s rays from warming us as we deplaned. Never seen that before; even for rain.

    We somehow arrived with the governor of Luzon as PP is being recognized internationally as it is fully carbon neutral and port ready for cruise ships and tourism.
    It also has two recognized natural wonders and Unesco designations and it’s a feast for your eyes and senses.

    (https://beta.tourism.gov.ph/news_and_updates/pa…)

    Not sure why, but we were mistaken as part of the celebrants and ushered in, adorned with local necklaces and made a part of the celebration. Way to kick off our first day! Wow.

    Off to the hotel for a quick change into water clothes for the first activity. Firefly and star watching. Amazing boat ride to a mangrove area where the stars blanket the sky with the brightest star being the planet Venus, which is visible to the naked eye. What?! Venus, the planet?! Not the razor in my shower?! The fireflies (actually beetles) were hard to capture on film as my camera quality failed me. But imagine millions more (like a tree adorned with millions of twinkling lights). The male fire flies each have a unique flash or blink. And they mate the last 3 months of their life. What you witness is the boys showing off the individual and their unique pattern. If one catches the eye of a female, the female replicates her chosen male’s blink pattern and a couple is made. Not swipe left- but blink left. lol.

    A lovely chef cooked on our boat while we were looking at the sparkles, and we had a feast on water.

    The last picture was not part of dinner but once off the boat we were greeted by a night market at the dock area. The eggs are the famous Balut, a delicacy in PH. It’s a fertilized duck embryo that is boiled in its own broth and high in protein. I was too “full” from dinner to try one. Perhaps another day. Or perhaps not at all.

    PS- the animal is the PP symbol and an animal unique to Palawan. It is a Palawan peacock pheasant.    Read more

  • Lori BTravelerLori goes to SE Asia
    Monitor Lizard

    Puerto Princessa, Palawan - day 1

    October 11, 2024 on the Philippines ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Warning- it was a Lori Day! For those that have not traveled with me before, a Lori Day is a day the average human cannot complete. Only those with too much energy can bear a Lori Day. LDs involve massive research, study and planning and are filled from sun up to sun down with scheduled activities planned and crammed to the minute so that all the special sights can be accomplished in a day. Wake, coffee, go, go, go and go! Smiles all along the way.
    Buckle up, here we go!

    We started with the most amazing private driver and guide extraordinaire, Mary Grace Chinedo!
    We started by driving to our first boat to see the underground river. But along the way we drove next to the most amazing man on a motorcycle carrying what appeared to be long bamboo poles to make a raft or side balance for boats. Quick request to see it closer and Mary Grace waved him down and he kindly allowed me to have some fun. He loaned me his saw and machete; but I didn’t get the job. So back in the van. Few photo ops along the way. And poof we’re there. Now to a boat to get to another boat. And I’m in the cave. Wow. It has yet to be fully explored, but a 22+ million yr old Manatee species fossil was found about 3 kl and remains in situ. We explored about 1.5 in silence so as not to disorient the many species of bats and other creatures. It was awe inspiring. And the bats must be in the millions. Again, the pictures can’t convey the scope or beauty! Hikes past monitor Lizards and more boat rides.

    Lunch time. Fish and oysters. Well, it’s was described as the world’s longest oyster. So why not?! I like oysters! Luckily I read the sign after doing the recommended quick slurp. Tastes like a fresh and juicy oyster, indeed. But alas I read the sign and saw the decayed wood where it lives after I ate several. It’s a worm! Hmmmmmm.
    Somethings are better left unknown.
    Last photo is my next destination. Stay tuned.    Read more

  • Lori BTravelerLori goes to SE Asia

    PP end of day 1. Wheh!!

    October 11, 2024 on the Philippines ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Raft to a boat to the explore the mangrove forests up close with a local guide. This area was previously over fished and the mangrove wood was used for charcoal and building by the locals. To prepare for tourism and sustaining a neutral carbon footprint, the locals were educated on sustainability and given jobs to protect the mangroves and their environment. They are now the educators for protection and eco friendly tourism. And the pride just exudes and is effervescent and contagious about value and wonders of this areas now. The ride felt like a real life Disney Jungle cruise meets Pirates of the Caribbean. And I learned too much. And once again saw exactly where those “oysters” come from. Mangrove wood worms. Hmmm.

    Time for a shower. And perhaps a massage and some sleep. Big day tomorrow will be 5x more physically demanding. I can’t wait!!    Read more

  • Lori BTravelerLori goes to SE Asia
    1

    Palawan - whale shark adventurer!

    October 12, 2024, Sulu Sea ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Well, broke bananas today! I overcame a giant fear today and jumped in when the giants came. Started my day like Otis Redding at 6 am. Coastguard check was 15 min behind, so I jumped the docked ship to grab an iced latte. The quirky coffee shop across from the boats had random (or not so random) books for coffee sippers to puruse. I kind of took the titles as a message for the day and embraced the message. First time in (video attached) I did the mandatory “slide into the water” but hovered back to let the others be eaten or tossed around first (haha), but as the only “solo” in the group, the guide chose to team up with me and grabbed my hand underwater to swim with me to the front. Or he knew I was a lurker and scared shitless! Next time I’m bringing a whale friend to cower with me. lol.

    Intimidating and amazing at the same time. And the unusual current and long fast chase (executed many times) is surprisingly exhausting. Oh, and swimming after your iPhone that floats away doesn’t help either. Someone forgot her water phone neck cord and had to McGyver one lol. Lost all fear as they are absolutely gorgeous and the whole thing doesn’t feel real. I’m soooooooooo glad I did this. Again and again. Finally decided to do the Titanic thing and watch for flying fish on the way back- which is also amazing. Once in a lifetime experience. And magical.

    In addition to the gentle giants we were blessed with skip jacks, birds and schools of fish to mesmerize and amuse our eyes. The sea glistened and was the most amazing color and if the water temperature had an adjustable dial; it was set to perfection. 6 am to 3pm of chasing these beauties in their natural habitat. I chose to do it ok this island vs in other counties or Ceibu as there is no feeding, touching or chumming allowed. It’s a encounter in their natural environment and wide open waters. Lots of boating and searching for the jumping fish (skip jacks) that hang out with the plankton which is whale sharks food. After you see the jumping fish, you look for bubbles and the guides announce when to slide in and swim! Amazing. Did I say “amazing”?! Well it was. Another fine meal prepared on the boat by a whale spotting chef and I’m tanned, waterlogged, exhausted and exhilarated. So glad I didn’t chicken out! It was National Geographic in real life. Note: I was the oldest in the water by maybe 30+ plus years. My fellow swimmers were from all over the world and all under 25ish. Of everything, this was a game of endurance and athleticism. Or for me- endurance, excitement, stubbornness, determination, tenacity and self competitiveness. All of which, I’ll admit to having more than my share of….

    I am blessed and grateful to my friends Jean and Martin who I would never be here without! I am changed for having done this.

    Palawan did not disappoint and I will be back many times.    Read more

  • Lori BTravelerLori goes to SE Asia
    4

    PP day 1- pt 2

    October 12, 2024 on the Philippines ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    You guessed it. A loooooong hike and climb to zip line over the ocean. Worth every bead of sweat and sore muscle. I almost broke rule number 8; but controlled myself. lol.

    Some stops to enjoy along the way to the next stop. I wanted to actually do some rock climbing, cave exploring and spelunking. Lots of ropes and pulling yourself and some very tight spaces to squeeze or crawl or lift yourself through. But motivated by the calorie burning sign. Up and up and up and up and up. Ladders and ropes and humidity with a reward of a quick flight down. So fun. Glad I had the wet suit, but perhaps I should have rubbed myself with butter first! Got to play Wonder Woman and Aqua Man coming down which provided some natural air conditioning to recover. Turns out I was finally too in shape to finish the decent. The parachute slowed me down too much; my same day minted sweat loss left me too light to complete. I guess the sign was right! lol. Time for a cold higher alcohol local beer to rehydrate!
    Now to the last physical activity of the day! All refreshed and ready.

    But first we must stop to ask a nice man working on the side of the road what he is doing on such a hot day. He kindly stopped his work to explain that he was spreading out his freshly picked rice to dry. Lots of work and I said a prayer that it didn’t rain this afternoon.    Read more

  • Lori BTravelerLori goes to SE Asia

    Last days in Manilla. Time to go home.

    October 16, 2024 on the Philippines ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

    Quick stop at the local Palawan mall for Mass. Short flight back to Manilla. Health check vending machines at the airport - convenient.

    Off to the Filling Station for an evening of dancing and cheer with Great friends and new ones.

    Last days must list:
    Facials- ✔️
    Karaoke- ✔️
    Referee boxing match- ✔️
    Snap a tendon on way to airport-✔️
    Finally found the perfect use for the Magic Tissue (numbs the ankle)- ✔️

    What an amazing adventure. Time to go home. 😢    Read more

    Trip end
    October 16, 2024
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