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  • LouisaJames

Malaysia

A 35-day adventure by LouisaJames Read more
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  • Trip start
    December 2, 2016
    LouisaJamesMalaysiaLouisaJames
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    Melaka (Malacca)

    December 2, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Left Singapore by bus over the no-mans land bridge (over water actually!), simple and quick. Left Singapore in the sunshine, arrived in Melaka to monsoon storm and flooding..... Rain held off for a jaunt through the Jonka Road night market - lots of tasty street food including fried chicken/pork dumplings with chilli sauce, bbq corn on the cob and fresh fruit juice/pulp. So busy and noisy but fun - including street karaoke and line dancing in the pagoda temples.Read more

  • LouisaJamesMalaysiaLouisaJames
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    Out & about in Melaka

    December 3, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Joined a local tour for a morning walk around the old city, including the Dutch and British forts and public buildings. Also had a slow wander round Chinatown where the house fronts are just 12 to 16 feet wide but up to 300 feet long (due to Dutch tax laws). Local market to buy fruit then night market for dinner. Even busier and louder, karaoke even better - sequins and backing dancers! Loads of tasty street food - korean crispy chicken basket and huge chocolate waffles the highlights. Crazy themed rickshaws with music and lights keep the Asian tourists amused.....Read more

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    Melaka continued...

    December 5, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    Both yesterday and today we thought about hiring a ricksaw but couldn't decide which design so settled on our own pedal power (for a change). Went to the coast to see the 'floating' mosque, found ice-cream on the way back and had a look around the non-tourist parts of town. Happened across some cute 1920's traditional kampung houses (wooden houses on stilts). Splashed out on a pint too - yes, that's Guinness!Read more

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    Kuala Lumpar

    December 6, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Had a smooth journey (taxi, bus and two trains) to get here. Staying in Chinatown so lots to see in this busy part of the city. Saw the old cricket ground and club house (looks a bit like Worcester club house) and other historical buildings including the victorian fountain orginally built in England. Had a lovely Chinese for dinner, after all, while in Chinatown ....Read more

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    The Heritage of KL

    December 7, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Went on an excellent Heritage walking tour all morning and learnt a lot about Malaysia and went inside many of their historic buildings including the cricket clubhouse that you should be a member of. Not sure about the male only bar... James liked it though, although didn't sample any of its delights. The two rivers merging is where KL got its name (happy to see they are going to make something of it soon). Hard to imagine this huge city began there. Found an amazing crepe stall so had to try savoury and sweet varieties. Petronus Towers looked good at night lit up and with colourful fountains.Read more

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    Around KL

    December 10, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Three days of sightseeing - wandered around Chinatown, the park around Petronas Towers and took a guided walk around Kampong Baharu, one of the original settlements of KL, and then a night walk where we sampled all sorts of delights at the market, including Indian sweets, peanut butter and corn pancakes as well as jack fruit.Read more

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    Borneo (Sabah, Malaysia)

    December 11, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Flew to Kota Kinabalu today so seemed to spend most the day travelling. Good view on the approach to the island. Had a look around some of the town and saw plenty of seafood for sale, oh how we wish we liked it. This is a seafood lovers paradise...Read more

  • LouisaJamesMalaysiaLouisaJames

    Island Hopping - Snorkelling

    December 13, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Great day, took a speed boat across to a small island with coral off the shore. Saw many colourful fish including Nemo and friends! A quick hop across to a larger island for the afternoon of more snorkelling and more beautiful fish. A surprise evening with the town's Christmas celebrations, including traditional dancing and singing in both Malaysian and English.Read more

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    Jungle Night Walk, Day 1

    December 14, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    The after dinner night walk was a adventurous experience - pitch black, thick mud and dense jungle (oh, and some potentially dangerous creatures!). Once the safety briefing was done, disclaimer forms signed, high-vis vests on and wellies hired we were off but didnt have to go far before we saw a baby, deadly green tree frog followed by the most unusual looking centipede we've ever seen. The water spider could move fast when it wanted to and thankfully so did the tortoise so we narrowly missed treading on it as it was well hiden in the muddy path. The star of the show definitely had to be the rainbow coloured kingfisher sleeping with its beak hidden under its wing, so close it was within touching distance. So many moths and butterflies kept flying at us, attracted by our torch light.Read more

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    Borneo River Jungle

    December 14, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Picked up at 7 and had a long drive (7 hours) across the island,past Mount Kinabalu, to the Borneo Natural Sakau Bilit Resort on the Kinabatangan River. Unbelievable to see the amount of palm tree plantations, all standing where jungle once stood. We had a long early evening boat ride up river and saw one of the two types of animals we really wanted to see - the proboscis monkeys with big droopy noses). There were long tailed macaques, hornbills and a wild boar too. On our return the night sky kept lighting up as a thunderstorm passed by in the distance. Our guides head torch picked up the eyes of some tiny crocodiles from about 150 meters away.Read more

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    Jungle Day 2, Morning

    December 15, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Away on another boat ride by 6am which gave us a lovely sunrise. Thankfully the rain had stopped just before and gave way to slightly cooler temperatures. We saw a gold crested eagle, more monkeys and hornbills before seeeing the second of the two animals we really wanted to see- an orangutan in the wild! And what a view we had, he was right in front of us, up a tree, at the waters edge. After watching him eat his breakfast of leaves he climbed down before appearing again up a fruit tree this time but alot more hidden. We realise we were very lucky to have seen him so clearly. After breakfast we went on a walk through the jungle which we cut short as we heard an elephant nearby. This was after seeing a fully grown dear about the size of a cat.Read more

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    Day 2 Evening / Day 3 Morning

    December 16, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Another trip on a boat and with more of the same birds and animals, including the unusual proboscis monkeys again. Saw a large (1 meter long) monitor lizard resting on a tree, looking very relaxed. Once again the evening sky was lit by lightening and more baby crocs were spotted- all we could think about was 'where's the mother?'. It was a quiet start to our evening walk but thankfully the wildlife didn't disappoint in the end with a show of sleeping birds, frogs, a turtle and insects. We managed to get a very quick glimpse of a mother and baby orangutan during our morning boat ride before leaving the jungle. A bit of rest in a hammock is needed...Read more

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    Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

    December 17, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    With some 40 sq km of forest, the centre has no fence boundaries to keep the orangutans in so they are free to roam where they want. Very lucky to see so many of these amazing animals that share so many human characteristics. The feeding platform and open nursery gave close up views but not as close up as the ones who we shared the walkways with! A very amusing highlight was following one of them along the walkway and when it reached a short gate that read 'no entry', it ever so gently lifted the bolt latch and slid the bolt along before slowly opening the gate to walk through and then gently letting go of the latch. One of them had taken a liking to the ornamental bamboo plants at the front entrance. We also saw what we think was a rat snake, that was about 2 meters long, sliding along the ground until it hid under the board walk we were stood on.Read more

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    Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre

    December 18, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Today we spent the day admiring these lovable sun bears, named so because of their golden collar on their chest that looks like the rising sun when seen from upside down. They are the smallest of the bear species growing up to 140cm tall when standing up. Watching them climb is admirable although they look incredibly uncomfortable when sleeping high up in the trees wedged between branches.Read more

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    Rainforest Discovery Centre

    December 19, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Forest walks and elevated canopy walkways at the RDC. 40m high towers gave an excellent view over the surrounding forest, with some wildlife highlights. One of the more remote towers let us watch two wild Orangutan build a nest to have an afternoon nap. Also saw a flying lizard, Giant Squirrel and Asian Hornbill. Amazing plants in the Botanical garden, some of which look truly alien. A few light rain showers with really high humidity made it tough going..... Relaxed in hammocks to get over it!Read more

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    Orangutan and Sun Bear's Again

    December 21, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    We enjoyed the experiences so much that we decided to spend another two days going to see them again. Felt sorry for poor orangutan who has no hair! Will be sorry to leave this place tomorrow as it's been a lovely place to stay and an exciting place to explore.Read more

  • LouisaJamesMalaysiaLouisaJames
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    Kinabalu National Park

    December 23, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Glad we had a view of Mount Kinabalu when we passed through here last week as it's been completely covered by cloud recently. Went for a walk through the hills and jungle at the base of the mountain. The clouds turned into heavy rain and the narrow trails into rivers! Had an all too close encounter with a leech.Read more

  • LouisaJamesMalaysiaLouisaJames
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    Merry Christmas! (And bonus quiz...)

    December 23, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌙 11 °C

    Merry Christmas to all. We hope you are having a wonderful festive period and have eaten, drunk and slumped in front of the telly far more than you should have done! Thinking of everyone we know back home and around the world.
    A big thank you to everyone who has followed our progress so far and left comments. This doesn't let us respond directly to posts, but rest assured we love reading all the messages left.
    In the spirit of Christmas, there is a bonus 'Where's Wally' style quiz to keep you entertained after the Queens speech'. Just spot where and what wildlife is hiding in each photo. There's an Orangutan, Giant Squirrel, Water Spider, Sun Bear and a rarely seen Louisa Fish surfacing. It's all for fun and no prizes on offer....!    Read more

  • LouisaJamesMalaysiaLouisaJames
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    Christmas at Kota Kinabalu

    December 26, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Christmas Day snorkelling on the island of Manukan again, following a relaxing night in the hostel with a film, take away pizza and a G&T of course! Back to Kuala Lumpur tonight with a lovely view of the island we were on yesterday from the plane. Where else in the work can you buy frozen fish to take on a plane with you?Read more

  • LouisaJamesMalaysiaLouisaJames
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    George Town, Penang Island

    December 27, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    James finally got around to having a haircut and it turned out alright! Had a look around Little India and enjoyed a proper tandoori and tandoor naan. Like the look of this Unesco Heritage town.

  • LouisaJamesMalaysiaLouisaJames
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    Penang Street Art

    December 28, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Spent a hot day wondering on foot and by bike around the old part of town where there is street art dotted all around. Street names are explained in both writing and metal art work. Mainy of the art work is painted with 3D elements on random walls all over the place. There are so many coffee shops too which we will gradually work our way around.Read more

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    Protestant Cemetry and Art Bus Depot

    December 29, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Used their equivalent of Boris bikes to get around again today. The Northam Road Protestant Cemetery was created soon after the British East India Company established a settlement in Penang in 1786. Tropical diseases, like malaria, cholera and hepatitis were leading causes of death, with frequent outbreaks of diseases, it is ironic that the island was regarded as a 'change of air' for British civil servants and military personnel based in India. The majority of people buried are aged between 18-30! It closed in the late 19th century and was left untouched although suffered badly from Japanese bombing in WW2. We visited an old bus depot that hasn't been altered much but is now used as an art gallery.Read more

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    Georgetown China Town and Little India

    December 30, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Walked miles in the China Town region of Georgetown, taking in the old architecture, food, culture and shops - including some bizarre medical ones. The photo that looks like horse droppings are compacted tea bales!! On the way to dinner, came across two separate street processions for the Hindu and Hare Krishna faiths in the Little India part of Georgetown. Lots of noise, crowds, oxen and chanting from the considerable crowds. Two Chinese dragons were also involved....Read more

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    New Yeas Eve, Georgetown

    December 31, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Happy New Year to everyone! Out and about on the bikes again round the city. Visited some of the old colonial buildings and the Chinese Clan jetties. These are where the Chinese settlers originally had wharfs to bring in food but over time have morphed into homes over the water. There are about 8 individual jetties - each occupied by a Clan or family group from China. There are up to 50 homes along each jetty and are pretty self contained. Quiet New Years Eve near the hostel with a few fireworks and a couple of gins!Read more

  • LouisaJamesMalaysiaLouisaJames

    New Years Day, more bikes and buildings

    January 1, 2017 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Ventured further out of the city to see the architecture of the older residential part of Georgetown. So many beautiful colonial houses and club houses, many of which have seen better days but have a certain charm about them. Near by is the Botanical gardens started in the late 1880's, a lovely peaceful place away from the city. Cooled down in the stream that runs through it. More parading of religious statues around the streets - but even they need to stop for red traffic lights! We seem to be asked for more photos by passers by, often not speaking each others language but good fun trying to communicate (one lady said her father really wanted a photo and would that be ok!!).Read more

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