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Andreas and Whitney
Andreas and Whitney

Andreas and Whitney

This is the travel page of Whitney and Andreas. We love to see the world. Read more🇺🇸Solana Beach
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  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    The Gibbon Experience, Laos

    September 20, 2017 in Laos ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Does zip lining through the jungle and sleeping overnight in a tree house sound like fun? If so, welcome to Laos and the Gibbon Experience! Whitney was told to do this adventure by a family friend and we are so happy we splurged and decided to do it.

    We initially walked for two hours in the lush bush before zip lining eight times to our jungle tree house. The tree house was an immense three story structure 20m off the ground which you can only access by zip line. There is an open air shower with a fantastic view inside the tree house and your meals are zip lined to you (there is a tiny kitchen 10 minutes walk from the tree house).    Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Chiang Rai, Thailand

    September 18, 2017 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Waiting out rainstorms in makeshift bus stops, visiting the unique white temple, eating delicious Italian meals, and relaxing in our hotel room. Although we are currently traveling in the rainy season, Andreas and I don't mind it. The rain brings a welcome break to the heat and the thunder and lightning provide great entertainment. This was our last stop in Thailand. Next we take a bus east to Laos!Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Pai, Thailand

    September 17, 2017 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    After a three hour bus trip through the mountains we arrived at the hippy wonderland of Pai. Whitney was over the moon with the organic vege-based cuisine served all over the place here. Her favourite was a vegan Buddha bowl, full of fresh greens hand picked from a farm surrounding the restaurant (a big contrast to the meat and rice dishes of Japan).

    Our activities included hiking up and down the narrow tracks of Pai canyon and cooling off afterwards in a jungle waterfall. Another traveller lost their Go-Pro while swimming in the waterfall and I dived under to help him find it. After pulling something from the murky depths, I surfaced to discover that it was a waterproof camera lost by a different tourist in July this year (it turned on and still worked!). I then headed back underwater and also found the lost Go-Pro. While it would be nice to own a rigorously tested waterproof camera, Whit and I are hoping to get it back to its rightful owner if possible.    Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Chiang Mai, Thailand

    September 14, 2017 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Cooking class, elephants, and lady boys! We spent one day in Chiang Mai in the country at an organic farm for a cooking class. After a visit to a local market, we had all the supplies we needed. Our cheery instructor led us through a day of cooking and eating. Andreas and I made curry paste, Pad Thai, basil chicken, green and red curry, and a coconut banana desert. It was fun to learn about the different foods of Thailand that we have been eating. They gave us a recipe book so hopefully we can recreate some of these dishes for you.

    Our second day we woke up early to go to the Dumbo Elephant Spa (we did our research and it is an ethical elephant sanctuary). They had six elephants including a 500kg 'baby'. We spent the day feeding them bananas and sugarcane, getting hugs and wet kisses, giving them mud baths, and washing them off in a nearby river. The elephants absolutely loved playing and rolling around in the water. This was a day Andreas and I will never forget.

    That night we went out to a cabaret show. We knew nothing about the show before hand. When we got there we realized it was all ladyboys! These were no ordinary ladyboys, they were drop dead gorgeous, complete with breast implants, dance moves, and great costumes. It was a fun evening of singing and dancing.    Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Tokyo, Japan

    September 10, 2017 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    We could not travel to Japan without visiting Tokyo! We spent five days exploring its various city districts including the Shibuya crossing, Shinjuku red light district, and sumo centre of Ryogoku. At Whitney's firm encouragement, we dined on candy salad at the 'Monster Cafe' while watching the Japanese hostesses dressed in anime dance to strange techno music; only in Japan! On one evening, I managed to convince several new friends from our hostel to attend an all-night, all-you-can-drink, karaoke evening. It was everything I dreamed it would be.

    Our next stop is Chiang Mai in northern Thailand continuing the South East Asian leg of adventure.    Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Fukuoka, Japan

    September 5, 2017 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    We headed back to Fukuoka and turned in our rental car. We were lucky enough to have Edwin's friends act as local tour guides while visiting this city. They took us to an island 20 minutes off the coast of Fukuoka and we explored its stunning flower fields and historical village. Another day we visited an old temple town and attempted to play some traditional music in the Kyushu national museum.Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Kyushu, Japan

    September 2, 2017 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We made it to Japan! We rented a car with our friend Edwin and embarked on a road trip around Kyushu, Japan's southern most island. Our first day was very eventful. First, our short flight over was delayed from 3pm until 2:45am (damn you cheap airlines)! After about two hours of sleep, we arrived in Fukuoka. We checked into our hotel for a few more hours of sleep. Waking up about five minutes before our check out time and we had just enough time to throw on some clothes before there was a knock on our door. It was the hotel manager asking us in Japanese to do some sort of interview (we quickly discovered that almost no one speaks English in the south of Japan). We hesitantly consented and found ourselves ambushed by a full news crew with cameras rolling. With bags under our eyes, I think we gave an interview about our opinions on the hotel not serving dinner? It was a very confusing but funny experience.

    That out of the way, we knew Japan was going to be a good time. We spent the next few days in our rental car exploring quaint towns and villages. We enjoyed a gondola ride and an impromptu two hour hike to a temple on a mountain. It is amazing how similar to New Zealand this area of Japan is. We spent one day (Edwin's birthday!) eating our way through a beautiful mountain town and perusing the unique shops full of anime, hello kitty, and chop sticks.

    One of my favorite parts about Japan is the public bath houses. Everywhere we stayed they had these mini spas that are separated based on gender. You shower very thoroughly before you get into the giant hot pool fully naked. Proper etiquette is to not make eye contact or talk to anyone else in the pool. Once bathed, you put on your kimono and take time to relax. I'm told most Japanese people do this twice a day.

    We also spent a day exploring an active volcano, Mt. Aso. We had fun walking through the tall grass, watching the horses play, and taking in Japan's natural beauty.    Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Hong Kong

    August 28, 2017 in Hong Kong ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Our week in Hong Kong consisted of some much needed down time and wild weather! We spent time exploring various city districts and dined on the local fare with our guide Edwin (an old friend from Palmerston North). The local cuisine we sampled included chicken porridge, moon cakes (a dense sweet tart with solid egg yolk in the center), and milk-egg pudding. We also attended a Cantonese opera while in Hong Kong. Despite a slight language barrier, Whit and I both enjoyed ourselves attempting to follow a story of war, forbidden love, and deception. It's funny how even in different languages our stories are still so similar.

    Two serious typhoons struck while we were in Hong Kong. The larger of the two, Typhoon Hato, was a signal 10 storm, the maximum rating on this scale. Hato was so wild that it toppled a crane on a building adjacent to Edwin's apartment. Luckily this building was under construction so no one was injured.

    Relaxed and freshed, we now fulfill Whitney's dream of visiting Japan, where we explore Kyushu with Edwin and Tokyo! Arigato!    Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Singapore

    August 21, 2017 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    We flew back to Singapore to visit our friends Jess and Brook from New Zealand. They moved to Singapore last month after Jess was offered a job there. It was so nice being in someone's home; unlimited body wash, face creams, hair masks, and makeup. We spent our first day exploring the huge Singapore aquarium; our favorite part was seeing the giant manta rays and hammerhead sharks. It was fun seeing Andreas and Brook together because it is always a nonstop stream of political and historical debates. That night we all went out for dinner and drinks. We attempted to go to karaoke, but it cost $300 to rent a room!!!

    The next day we went on a 10km hike through a forest and across a swing bridge. Our old travel companions Alli and TJ happened to be in town so they joined us. The highlight was that after an hour of me carrying a banana on the walk, I looked up to see a monkey charging me. I tried to hide my banana in my shirt but the monkey kept coming. I tried to stuff it down Andreas' shirt but he wasn't too happy about that; this monkey was pretty aggressive. In the end we had to sacrifice the banana and run away. The monkey looked pretty pleased with himself as he munched on my banana.

    That night we went swimming at Jess and Brook's pool and headed out to see NZ vs the Aussies in a rugby game. NZ dominated.

    Our final day Andreas and Brook stayed in their underwear playing computer games while Jess and I headed to the mall to shop for jewelry for her wedding. It was so nice having a bit of normality and to hang out with our old friends.    Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Kampot, Cambodia

    August 17, 2017 in Cambodia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Our group loved our time in Kampot. Kampot is a small city sitting next to a large river near the southern coast of Cambodia. We ate at a number of restaurants dotted along the river front. My highlight was a place called 'The Rusty Keyhole' which legitimately boasts Cambodia's best spare ribs on their menu. Needless to say, Paul and I demolished a huge portion of these at this fine establishment (not sure what the girls ate).

    We rented scooters on two of our days in Kampot. On one of these days, we travelled on dirt roads through rural villages to a series of large caves housing a small shrine. Even in this remote area, we had to fend off village children offering to give us unnecessary tours for money. On our other scooter day, we rode into the nearby mountains to an abandoned casino. It started to rain while up in the mountains giving the entire place an eerie feel. On our way back down, Whitney and my scooter got a flat tire. Being in the middle of nowhere without a usable cellphone, we loaded Whit onto Paul and Arnetia's scooter (like the the locals do) and slowly descended for 30 minutes to a roadside mechanic who spoke no English. Luckily I'm excellent at charades. All part of the adventure I guess.

    Paul and Arnetia now fly back to New Zealand while Whit and I head to Singapore to see our soon-to-be-wed friends from New Zealand, Brook and Jess.    Read more

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    2

    Koh Rong, Cambodia

    August 12, 2017 in Cambodia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Fluffy white sand beaches, lush jungle, turquoise waters... this island has everything. As it is a less developed island, we traveled to it without a booking and walked place to place until we found suitable accommodation. I loved our daily $1 fruit breakfast plates. We spent one day lounging at the beach and swimming in the clear warm water where my goggles came in handy! Paul and Arnetia, fresh from a NZ winter, got badly sunburnt, turning a distinct tomato red all over. We spent our evening eating barbecued fish on the beach.

    On one day we decided to 'splurge' on an eight hour boat trip that cost us $10 a piece. We went to a great snorkeling spot and fished like the locals with a hand reel (although we didn't catch anything). Our boat trip took us to Long Beach where we played a soccer game with a group of locals (soccer is definitely a universal language). We then had drinks in the waste deep warm water while we watched the sun set over the ocean. Next, the boat drivers cooked us a barbecue on the boat. When it got dark we swam with the bioluminescent plankton. It looked like the stars were underwater as people swam past us. It was an amazing experience we will never forget, and definitely worth the $10.

    Sadly, this was our last tropical island for a while. Next stop, the riverside town on Kampot.    Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Phnom Penh, Cambodia

    August 10, 2017 in Cambodia ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    While we only stayed in Phnom Penh for two nights, our experience of the city was generally positive unlike many backpackers we had met during our travels.

    We spent our only full day in Phnom Penh visiting Tuol Sleng (S-21), a high school turned Khmer Rouge prison, and the Killing Fields, where thousands of Tuol Sleng prisoners were executed and buried. The most poignant moment for me was the story of a 27 year old New Zealander who was captured by the Khmer Rouge while attempting to sail the world. Just like many Cambodians, he was tortured, forced to sign a damning confession, and executed. Personally, it is strange and saddening that despite the deaths of over two million Cambodians, the story of a same-aged New Zealander was needed to intensify this experience for me. My reflection is that his story made the Khmer Rouge's atrocities and the vicitims' suffering seem so much more real. Needless to say, it was a very quiet, sombre, and surreal day for our travelling party (watch the movie The Killing Fields if your interested in learning more).

    We now head to Koh Rong island off the southern coast of Cambodia for some RnR.    Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney
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    Siem Reap, Cambodia

    August 7, 2017 in Cambodia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    We said our goodbyes to Thailand (for now) and flew to the Cambodian city of Siem Reap. We felt as if we were transported back in time when we were picked up from the airport in a small tuk tuk and driven through the countryside to our upmarket hostel in the heart of the city. It was fun seeing the small children ride by on huge bikes.. they had to get a running start to jump up onto the seat.

    Our first evening we went to a phenomenal Cambodian circus performed by refugees from the Cambodian war. The circus school trains 1200 performers, musicians, and artists each year and there was some serious talent in that tent. The whole audience was engrossed and amazed.

    We spent a day exploring the city by bikes and haggling with vendors at the local market. I think we are finally getting the hang of this bartering business.

    Our final day we woke up at 4am to see the sunrise over the famous temple of Angkor Wat. It was amazing how many other people had the same idea as us. In the dark we walked with the masses to our viewing spot. As the sun rose we saw a spectacular sight as the temple pillars reflected onto the glassy lake below. It was a very special and surreal experience seeing these ancient ruins. We spent the next few hours walking around the temple enjoying the architecture and the ancient carvings. It is hard to imagine that elephants dragged each stone about 40km to the temple site in the early 12th century. Our tuk tuk driver spent the rest of the morning taking us to other temples. We saw a temple with large heads that reminded us of Aztec ruins as well as an overgrown temple covered by giant trees. Apparently this was the temple where they filmed the old Tomb Raider movie. It was an amazing experience we will never forget. Next, we bus to Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh.    Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney
    1

    Bangkok, Thailand

    August 4, 2017 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    When Whitney and I arrived in Bangkok, we headed straight to the airport to unite with our New Zealand friends Paul and Arnetia. Because of flight times and stopovers in various airports, Paul and Arnetia had been travelling for about 23 hours and looked exhausted! After greeting them at the arrivals gate, we rushed them to our airbnb near the tourist district of the city for a much needed shower and some rest.

    During our time in Bangkok, we spent one day visiting Wat Pho, a large temple complex housing a 100m long reclining Buddha statue; an hour 'sampling' at an upmarket award-winning grocery store (free dinner anyone?); as well as an evening partying on Khao San road where we met other travellers, convinced each other to eat insects (fried crickets), and visited an infamous ping pong show!

    After three days in Bangkok we had had our fill of big city chaos. Next we fly to Siem Reap in Cambodia to visit the Angkor Wat temple and its surrounding ruins.    Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney
    1

    Hua Hin, Thailand

    August 1, 2017 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    Andreas and I enjoyed visiting the coastal city of Hua Hin wjere we stayed at a hostel that reminded me of Harry Potter (possibly because I am currently re-reading the Harry Potter series). We rented a scooter for the duration of our stay and used it to explore the city and the surrounding areas.

    One day we rode the scooter an hour each way to see a giant waterfall. However, when we arrived with numb butts we realized that the waterfall was closed with a flash flood warning. We didn't mind as we went for a swim with the locals in the river and enjoyed the hundreds of butterflies fluttering around. The next day, we rode an hour each way in the other direction to a national park. There we hiked along the coast to breathtaking caves. The caves were around 150m tall filled with hundreds of stalactites and stalagmites. One of these caves even housed a Buddhist temple!

    One evening we explored the Cicada market. They had many delicious food stalls, as well as about 100 craft, clothes, and art markets. I found something I wanted to buy in just about every market, however I exercised self-control and only bought a beautiful navy blue scarf with gold embroidered feathers. I will be mailing this home! Just pretend that we bought you all presents there :)

    Next stop Bangkok, where we meet up with our New Zealand friends Paul and Arnetia!    Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Koh Tao, Thailand

    July 27, 2017 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Whit and I arrived to Koh Tao after a two hour ferry trip from Koh Pha Nang. Since starting this adventure, other travellers have consistently had good things to say about this relatively small island with the highlight being its affordable SCUBA diving.

    At the recommendation of my brother, we rented a scooter and some snorkelling gear and spent one day visiting several different spectacular snorkelling spots across the island. We discovered a phenomenal Thai vegetarian restaurant and devotedly attempted to eat each item on the menu during our numerous visits. While we had reserved a SCUBA trip to 'the best dive site in the Thai peninsula',  unfortunately the weather failed cooperate, cancelling this excursion and dashing our hopes of diving in Koh Tao. After four relaxing days we left Koh Tao feeling refreshed and ready to travel to the city of Hua Hin, two hours south of Bangkok.    Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Koh Pha Ngan, Thailand

    July 22, 2017 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    We spent our time on the island of Koh Pha Ngan visiting the secluded beaches by scooter. To get to one beach, Andreas had to put his mountain biking skills to use, taking the scooter across some seriously steep off-road terrain which I opted to walk down. This adventure was worth it however as it led us to a very magical beach that most people got to on their dirt bikes! On the way back up this steep terrain our little scooter struggled to make it, so I pushed as Andreas navigated up the various ditches and loose dirt. We finished off the day by eating a much deserved ice cream and watching the sunset. Next stop Koh Tao.Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Railay, Thailand

    July 19, 2017 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    Railay is a rock climber's dream destination. While it is attached to Thailand's southern peninsula, it is only accessible by boat because of the sheer limestone cliffs surrounding its white sand beaches.

    Whit and I, having rock climbed regularly in New Zealand, were super excited to put our abilities to the test in this Thai paradise. Unfortunately, our bodies had different ideas. On the night that we arrived, I became violently ill and did not leave the room (or its attached bathroom, praise the gods) for the next day either. Then, two nights later and after I had partially recovered, it was Whit's turn for a sleepless night experiencing all of the same symptoms I had suffered. We left Railay the following day exactly how we had expected to leave, aching all over. Sadly this had nothing to do with rock climbing :(    Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Kho Phi Phi, Thailand

    July 16, 2017 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Our first Thailand island was a success. Although it rained heavily our first evening, the rest of the time the weather was beautiful! Koh Phi Phi is famous for being in a lot of movies and there was a movie being filmed while we were there (Changeland directed by Seth Green). We also watched a Muay Thai tournament and tried our first Thailand bucket drink. The water continues to be bathtub warm and my new goggles helped me see underwater! On our last day Andreas started to feel sick with stomach pains... so we will see how that goes...Read more

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    3

    Phuket, Thailand

    July 14, 2017 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    We made it to Thailand! First stop was the wild island of Phuket. We stayed on the famous Patong beach - full of bars, massage parlors, and lady boys. We spent our first day exploring the town, watching tourists parasail from the beach, and gawked at sunburnt old fat men walking hand and hand with beautiful Thai girls. We are definitely back on the tourist trail. In the evening, I researched a reputable massage parlor and Andreas and I both got amazing massages for cheap. I got a Thai massage (a combination of stretching and deep tissue) and Andreas got a relaxing oil massage.

    The second day we rented a scooter and took it all around the island. Scooters are a great way to see the sights. I have not yet driven one and I don't think I want to with all the crazy drivers. Andreas' mountain biking skills really shine weaving around cars and obstacles. I totally trust Andreas and his driving but I can't help being on high alert the entire ride, letting out the occasional "WATCH OUT!", "SLOW DOWN!", or just a general scream. We spent a few hours swimming at a remote beach and then visited the 45m tall Big Buddha statue! While at the Big Buddha, we escaped the heat by attempting to meditate in its presence with a number of tourists and locals. It was a very relaxing and special experience.

    When we exited the Buddha we noticed the sky getting darker. When we started riding away we began to feel a strong wind that almost blew us over. Time to put the pack cover on. Then the rains came and Andreas and I were soaked! We made it to a cafe in Phuket city and waited out the rain. When it finally stopped we headed back to our hotel. Except that was back over the hill into the storm. Suddenly the skies opened and full monsoon rains pelted us so hard it stung. Andreas and I pushed on and arrived back at our hotel soaked through... quite the adventure. Next stop Ko Phi Phi.    Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    George Town, Malaysia

    July 10, 2017 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    George Town was fantastic! The city is on the island of Penang off Malaysia's north west coast (two hours south of the Thai border). It is considered to be one of South-East Asia's food meccas and its streets are coloured with vibrant street art.

    During our week in George Town we stayed at the Tipsy Tiger party hostel, in a flash apartment with an infinity pool, and in a hostel above a karaoke bar (great times). We spent our days hiking and swimming in the national park on Penang island, sneaking into hotel pools when we didn't have our own, walking George Town's street art trail, watching the All Blacks vs Lions game in an English pub, and visiting a cat cafe! Our meals were exceptional and affordable with our highlights being local chicken rice and cendol (a Malaysian dessert with coconut, green spaghetti noodles, and red beans). Whitney and I now leave our travel companions TJ and Alli to travel to Phuket. Bring on Thailand and its delicious curries!    Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

    July 2, 2017 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    We wore our jackets and it was magical! We traveled up into the mountains, and as we did the temperature dropped. The Cameron Highlands is famous for its tea fields, strawberries, hiking, and a place for locals to cool down. One day we rented scooters to explore the famous Boh Tea Estate. We imagined we would have a relaxing time sipping tea among the vast tea fields, however, our idea of a peaceful time was quickly shattered when we arrived. It was the last day of a public holiday celebrating the end of Ramadan and the place was packed. The fancy tea estate we had pictured was more of a cafeteria mass producing tea for the long lines of people. We got our tea to go and ended up finding a quiet spot outside. We also went on a factory tour to see how the Boh tea is made. We also spent two days hiking through the jungle. We were amazed at how similar the trails felt to New Zealand. At one point we had a close encounter with a pack of wild dogs which led us to hiking half the trek with big sticks to protect ourselves. The food in Cameron Highlands was great! We had Indian most mornings for breakfast (Idli) and ate like locals using only our right hand without utensils! We also had a delicious steam boat soup which you add all sorts of goodies to. Overall the Cameron Highlands was a beautiful escape. Next stop George Town.Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Perhentian Islands, Malaysia

    June 28, 2017 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Let me start by saying that the Perhentian islands off the north eastern coast of Malaysia are awesome! Crystal clear turquoise waters, long white beaches, and cheap but fantastic diving, what more could you want?!

    We got to the smaller of the two Perhentian islands (Kecil) after a 40 minute boat ride from the small port town, Kuala Besut. We stayed on the southern coast of Kecil on a long white sand beach caed Long Beach. It is packed with dive shops, restaurants, hotels, and bars. Because the island is so small, we weren't confined to this tourist area, instead we ate most mornings at an all you can eat resort buffet ($5 NZD) on a beach on the nothern side of the island (about a five minute walk).

    During our time on the island, our group kayaked for about six hours around Kecil, frequently making landfall to explore secluded beaches and gathering much needed supplies. We hiked to a windmill in the middle of the island and stumbled upon a decrepit staircase leading us down to a semi-sunken concrete pier. I went diving at the Temple of the Sea where I paid my respects to an underwater mountain buzzing with all kinds of marine life. Whit and I also dived a 90m long sugar transporter wreck which was so big that we swam through it's propeller shaft surrounded by circling barracuda. On the evenings that it wasn't raining (about half), our group was entertained by live fire dancers while we sipped cold Tiger beers.

    After a week of paradise, we leave the Perhentian islands to explore the more temperate Cameron Highlands in the middle of Malaysia.    Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Pulau Tioman, Malaysia

    June 18, 2017 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    We spent the past five days in paradise. After a six hour bus ride from Kuala Lumpur, a night in the port town of Mersing, and a two hour ferry ride, we arrived on the small island Pulau Tioman off the east coast of Malaysia. It has thick jungle, white sand beaches, and turquoise clear waters. Our accommodation was very basic, but we had AC so it felt like luxury. There were basically two places to choose between to eat but they are both delicious and super cheap. Andreas and I were both stuffed for around $5 NZD.

    Andreas and I decided to get our PADI advanced open water certification. We dived five times over two days. We did a deep dive down to 30m to see a ship wreck. We also learned to navigate with compasses underwater and about fish identification. On our favorite dive we swam through a series of underwater caves in crystal clear water which were packed with schools of fish.

    We made friends with everyone at the dive shop and spent most evenings hanging out on their deck. One evening the guys cooked us a huge meal of "chicken rice" and we spent the night playing music and singing. Andreas enjoyed showing off his ukulele skills. We managed to find some wine (a rare occurrence in Asian countries) and spent our last evening drinking it on the beach. Next we move up the coast to the Perhentian Islands.    Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    June 15, 2017 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    After a two hour air-conditioned bus ride for 24 RM (about $8 NZD), Whitney and I arrived in Kuala Lumpur. We reunited with TJ and Alli (our counterpart U.S. travelling couple) and took to the city to see the local attractions. Just north of the city, we visited the huge Batu caves, a Hindu religious site guarded by a 40m high golden statue. We took the railway to Bukit Bintang, a shopping district harbouring dozens of malls including one with an inside theme park, and were caught out in a tropical thunderstorm (Uber came to the rescue). Most nights we ate a second dinner for cheap at an Indian restaurant near to our hostel (between 50c and $2 per meal). Kuala Lumpur is huge, but very accessible with its metro system. We now head to the east coast of Malaysia for a week of relaxing on the tropical island Pulau Tioman.Read more

  • Andreas and WhitneyWorld AdventureAndreas and Whitney

    Malacca, Malaysia

    June 11, 2017 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    After crossing the Singapore/Malaysia border by bus, Whitney and I took a two hour air-conditioned bus to the city of Malacca on the West coast of Malaysia. Malacca is best known for its Dutch and Portuguese heritage, so we spent the following two days visiting ancient forts, ruined churches, and night markets in China town. We devoured local Malaysian delights including Malaysian laksa (seafood coconut cream soup), nasi lamak (coconut rice, fried chicken, and sambal), onde onde (rice pastry balls filled with liquid palm sugar), and coconut shakes (ice cream in coconut water and ice); Malaysians sure do love their coconuts! We also survived our first torrential downpour. Now we head to the Malaysian capital city Kuala Lumpur to reunite with our travelling companions, TJ and Alli.Read more

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