Goodbye KL, Hello Penang

13/06

Had to say the horrid farewells to these wonderful people as we are off to Penang. Ken Jasmine dropped us at the train station. Oh dear we got lost, we missed the change-over station so had to go back. Eventually we made it onto the bus, which left at 2:30pm. The drive was magnificent. The scenery around Ipoh is out of this world, wild ferns growing on the side of the mountains like a thick luxurious carpet!

Finally arriving in Penang we had to catch another bus to Georgetown, where we met up with our new host.

There was a do at the Chinese Town Hall which we went to. Oh boy trying to eat with chopsticks was hysterical. I could not stop laughing 'cos I couldn't pick the darn things up and of course I had everyone trying to show me how. What a laugh! We went home and crawled into bed at about 12:30am, sleeping in a single bed - head to toe! Haven't done that in a while!

14/06

Had coffee early and then went to find the beach. It was awesome sitting there and just chilling before it got too hot.

Frank had to do running repairs on trolley case. Oh dear it still has a long way to travel!

Later in the day our host, Chin, drove us around a large part of the island. It is very pretty.

Ooooh before I forget, I tasted Durian. Surprisingly it wasn't bad. Like one guy said "It smells like shit but tastes like Heaven!" I won't go so far to quite compare it to heaven but like I say not bad! Frank won't try it he can't get passed the smell which I must admit is pretty horrendous.

15/06

Chin dropped us off at the Botanical Gardens. It was stunning taking a slow amble through. We have some wonderful plants in SA but wow, here they are awesome!

We now went for lunch and had Pineapple Fried Rice which was very tasty, then we were dropped in Little India while our host went back to work. "Little India" is very much like Indian Town in Durban so not much to say in that regard.

We caught a bus home. Chin went out in the evening and we went down the road and had a divine lamb curry. Afterwards we walked through the night market which is always an education. I fell in love with an oil painting which was marked at RM128 (about R260) by the time we had walked away the price had dropped to RM45.

16/06

This morning we walked along the beach. It is so goreous early in the morning before the heat of the day starts. Chin dropped us off at the largest Chinese Temple in Malaysia. It is gigantic!!!! We managed to go maybe half way before our "old" legs decided ENOUGH stairs! Unfortunately I didn't think to count how many stairs we climbed but it was way too many! What a mind blowing spectical.

We now catch a bus into town and meet Anghou who took us to a Chinese Opera. I went backstage as well to watch the actors putting their make-up on which was fascinating! My word the perfection! Their costumes match their make-up.  We didn't understand any of the opera but it's nothing like we know, with soprano singers etc.   We were so glad that we hadn't made an excuse not to go .  Wicked cool!

Chin picked us up around 9:30pm and we went looking for Pork Satay.  Chin says if you haven't had Satay you haven't been to Malaysia - Mission Accomplished!  Very tasty, peanut sauce, interesting!

Goodbye Melaka, Hello KL

11/06/2010

Up early again, shower (that's all you seem to do, I could probably take a shower nearly every hour here) and off for ambition! We are leaving Melaka today. Not too sorry to leave. Mr & Mrs Yee collected us from the house and dropped us off at the bus station. We caught the 10:20 bus through to KL.

Once there we had to catch the train to Masjid Jamek Station. Now we had to cross over the road and catch the LRT (Light Rapid Transport, I think) to Taman Paramount where our new host would pick us up.

Wow the traffic and people in Masjid Jamek was a nightmare. I have never seen so many people and cars in one place at one time!

We went to Ken's condo. What a nice change from the last place. And again what a nice person!

After dropping our stuff and having a wash we went into town as Ken needed to do some shopping. I bought some lightweight shorty shorts. At least when we aren't travelling around I can change into something more appropriate for this climate.

We then went to another centre and we saw the most awesome furniture from Pakistan. I got some great ideas for my scroll-saw, when I get back home. Now we made our way to a restaurant. Oh boy, now how to explain this place....... Imagine a paved rugby field with chairs and tables in the middle. Around the outside perimeter were all these individual stands, all with different foods. Wicked!!! I think it would take a year of Sundays to try each one.

We had clay pot Pork and Chicken Rice, with plenty chillies. Just writing about it is making me hungry again. We sat chatting for ages after supper - A really super evening!

12/06/2010

Ken made us some breakfast and then dropped us at the train station with instructions of where to find places and what to eat. We went to KL Lake Gardens, it was beautiful but boy did we walk..........Again?! What an interesting walk though, staghorns growing wild in the trees, streets clean and so attractive with their plants alongside.

We met a young guy from Canada and he showed us how to get to Chinatown from where we were. He is waiting to go to India. He is also registered on CS but has never used it, but now reckons he is going to check for hosts in Calcutta.

We got back to Ken's condo where Jasmine had already arrived and started preparing our dinner.

What an awesome evening. Some of Ken's Iranian students joined us and there was a German CS guy as well. We crawled into bed around 01:00am. Everybody else carried on.

Goodbye Batu Pahat, Hello Melaka

09/06/2010

Off again for ambition! Later we all went to a Chinese restoran for breakfast. "Pau" with Pork - A white dumpling thing with a pork meatball inside. Very Num-Num! We also had individual items, "dim-sum". They look like our sushi cut these are cooked and so much nicer. The seaweed is tender and does not have a harsh taste.

We then went to a temple where a ceremony, releasing the animals and the fish back to the wild, was taking place.The stone carvings were awesome! The workmanship was of such a high quality!

We went back to the house and got our stuff and had to, once again, say goodbyes to wonderful people. Justin dropped us off at the bus station to catch our bus to Melaka. It was an interesting and scenic trip also. I can't get over how pretty Malaysia is!

Arriving in Melaka just after 4:00 pm we made our way around to the Central Bus Station to catch the town bus to meet our next CS host. We left our pull-along with him at his shop and went walking around. Very much for the tourist! Prices denotes this as well!

At 9:00 pm Mr Yee brought us through to the house that we are staying in. I won't say too much other than, "Add it to the experience!"

10/06/2010

Early this morning we went hunting for ambition. Wow we found it alright. The coffee was strong enough to put hairs on a stone wall let alone anything else.

Afetrwards we wandered further down the road and met Hassim outside his gate. He started chatting to us and then invited us into his home to chat. He is 76 years old. What a charming old man! This is what I mean about coming across something or somebody just 'cos you chose a path to take! The friendliness of this complete stranger just lifted the spirits and made us feel so good. Fantastic!!

We walked to Chinatown the long way round and nearly died from the heat! Frank reckons he now knows what Chinese torture is! It's called walking about 25 km in the Malaysian heat!

We did the tourist thing and went for a river boat ride. It was very pleasant.

Wow I managed to find an Internet Cafe to check on our emails and catch up a little on the blog. Another new experience! It only cost RM2 for an hour, R1.00!

On the way back to the house we stopped for dinner - Chichen Curry 'n Rice, Malay style! I also managed to get the recipe for Roti Changi.

Now it is time to go to sleep! Goodnight!

Goodbye Pontian, Hello Batu Pahat

07/06/2010

Mmmmm off for breakfast and coffee again. The restoran that we normally go to was closed so we went to another and had chicken and rice and of course coffee. Good grief - Rice for breakfast???- how strange!!! I must admit though it was quite delicious.

Oh well bags are all packed and we have the sad task of saying good-bye to this wonderful family who hosted us so warmly and welcomingly.

Shia Ting caught the bus with us to the Pontian Bus Station and saw us safely on the bus to Batu Pahat and our next adventure.

The bus trip was very scenic and very pleasant. It took just over and hour or there abouts to reach Batu Pahat where we were greeted by our new CS hosts.

One thing has really impressed us is the friendliness of the people in Malaysia. When you walk in the streets people actually smile at you and greet you, maybe they find us comical but I don't think so. Come when this happens in SA (if ever) you automatically try and fathom what is going to happen next - Not here in Malaysia!

We have been warned about crime here, but it certainly is not as prolific as SA. You are not constantly looking over your shoulder. What a pleasure!

Right we picked up Mr Yo (a distant relative of Peck's). What a nice man! Very very interesting!

We were taken out for dinner to a Chinese/Malaysian restaurant. Oh boy! There was baby squid (delicious), Chicken & Tofu dish (tasty) and a whole fish in a sour sort of sauce (absolutely fantastic!) and the veg was Celeric and Mushrooms. Yum-Yum!

We then went to a camera shop to try and sort a problem out with a camera I had bought. Finally we managed to get something sorted so that I can charge the damn thing. Now we made our way to a coffee shop where I had a cuppochino. I must say the coffee in Malaysia is way better than the travel books make out! It is very good ambition, especially in the morning! It gives you a good kick start to your day.

08/06/2010

Frank & I awoke early like normal and did our normal hunt around for coffee. We didn't have to go far there was a restoran awake and serving ambition just around the corner from where we were.

After Roti Changi at an Indian restoran we went to a temple in town and then onto a fishing village with an enormous temple that was unbelievable. We rubbed the "beast's" (he only eats but does not excrete) bum and put the wealth in our pockets quickly. The large fish you are meant to touch for good luck wouldn't come near us. Oh well we will just have to make our own luck!

We picked Mr Yo up and then went for lunch! Boy Malaysians eat lots!! Frank & I weren't hungry so decided on "Ice-cream on toast"!?......2 slices of toast with ice-cream in the middle. Most Strange! We also had a Dragon Fruit Float and both felt like absolute ticks afterwards!

Early evening Justin and Peck went to teach their class at their school. We made our way down later and got grilled by the students about SA. We had a question & answer session with them which was very interesting. What a lovely bunch of youngsters! We wish them well in the paths they choose! Remember Kids Travel! Travel! Travel! It is wonderful being able to meet people like you! Thank you!

We then made our way home, stopping for a bite to eat, of course!

Pekan Nanas, Pontian, Malaysia

05/06/2010

First thing in the morning Frank called me to come and see - The mobile shop had arrived - They parked their small truck on the pavement and proceeded to sell their wares, from fresh prawns, fish filleted (on the sidewallk), vegetables and tinned goods. They come around 5 days a week and the locals come over and buy what they need.

Right now it was off to the local corner coffee shop for breakfast this morning. Mmmmmm coffee was strong but very good ambition for the start of the day.

We walked around the the town and residential area for a while. Frank was checking out the motorcycle repairs shops looking for spares for his toys at home.

The plants and flowers around are stunning. I came accross a garden with the most perfect orchids just growing outside on the pavement. Unbelievable!!

We went back to the house and Grandmother Tan had made us the most delicious soup for lunch. Soup in this heat, you ask?, but was just right somehow!

We walked up to the plant nursery in the afternoon. Oh what bliss! The orchids - Wow, The staghorns - Wow, The bonsai trees from China - Big, Big Wow!

On the way hame we walked through the night market. We tasted Rambutan (similar to litchi) and Dokong (loquat family). Mmmmm very, very, nice Pieter!

A little boy at one of the stands we passed was so astonished at seeing "White People", quickly pulling out his cell phone, he asked if he could have a photo taken with us. What a giggle. One of the other funny things we have heard during our stay was, "I thought all people from South Africa are black!"

Mrs Tan made the most amazing soup and curry chicken for supper.

06/06/2010

This morning it was off for breakfast and coffee again. We could definitely get used to Roti Prata for breakfast everyday. It is a type of dough that is stretched very thin, then folded over like an envelope and cooked on a hot plate. It is then served with a small bowl of curry gravy. Yummy!!! You can have egg and onion filling as well (it is put in before folding).

Shia Ting's friend, Esther Teow, came and picked us up. We went to the fishing village at Kukup. What an interesting place. the houses are built on stilts, with pathways running between them. We had a seafood lunch which was simply delicious (I am now starting to sound like a broken record). Several different dishes are ordered, which are placed in the middle of the table and then your individual plates arrived with a serving of rice on it. You then proceed to help yourself to a little of this and a little of that. We had Baby Squid in Sweet 'n Sour Sauce, a Fish Cake sort of thing, Seafood Noodles with Shrimps, mushrooms and who knows what else. Oh yeahy you get a plate of vegetables also.

With bellies full we went and did the tourist thing and went for a ride on a fishing boat around the area (Melacca Strait)We then stopped at one of the platforms in the middle of the water. Here they breed fish and it also looks like a holding cell for fish they have already caught.

Now we made our way to Tanjung Piai, the southern most tip of Asia mainland, which is in Taman Negara Johor (Johor National Park). We walked on platforms paths through the mangrove forest. It was awesome. It was now about 6:30 in the evening so we made our way back home.

Frank went with Mr Tan to the bar/coffee shop/restoran(same place we had breakfast) and sat chatting with the guys while I tried to catch up with the blog.

England - Singapore and Start of Malaysia

31/05/2010

We went walking around Swindon Town with Russell to buy Chleo's birthday present. It was great walking around without having to look over our shoulder all the time, although I still clung very heavily to my purse in my hand. I suppose old habits die hard!

Chleo made us some delicious cheese scones and crumpets in the afternoon and then I made hot chocolate pudding which we had with ice-cream.

01/06/2010

We left at about 8:30 for the airport. We were on an even bigger Boeing this time. Same story played video games, watched a movie and obviously NO sleep!

Well the two Zombies arrived in Changi Airport, got maps and info books from the tourist centre. We then caught the MRT to Aljunied station and went to find our hostel, Sky Orchid Hostel. My heart sank when I saw it and wondered very seriously, "What the hell had I gotten us into!" we entered very cautiously only to be greeted by a very warm friendly face. What a fabulous "New" experience.

I must admit the lack of sleep, the strange food smells (which I have since discovered is a fruit called Durian), and the unknown all worked together to make me feel quite ill!!!! Oh yes include the heat into the scenario as well. I could not eat anything I basically just drank water!

We rested in the afternoon for a while and then went sight-seeing in Orchard Road.

03/06/2010

After a good night's sleep we went to Chinatown. Now this is what I'm taking about. We spent the day there walking left, right and centre and sitting and doing people watching. What an interesting day it has been.

We are staying another night in our hostel!

Tonight legs and backs are just a tad weary so we shall rest them, 'cos the ole' fogey legs still have very far distances to carry us in the tomorrows!!!!!!

04/06/2010

Chinese/Japanese Gardens - what a beautiful and tranquil setting. It was so hot though we couldn't walk very far before having to sit and catch our breaths, but wow what a setting to sit in! We went through the Tortoise and Turtle Museum. They have over a thousand different species there - By the way I am talking about LIVE ones! It was so interesting, what started out as a jade ornament bought in Taiwan has now developed into this informative centre.

We now had to call it a day and head back to the hostel to pick up our bag and go and meet our first Couchsurfing host, Tan Shia Ting.

Ok now it is official, we have decided that our bag is totally inappropriate. It is WAY too big and bulky. Trying to manoeuvre it on and off local buses is a tad difficult to say the least.

We caught a bus to the border - did the official thing without too much fuss - got into the bus again to the Malaysian side - And then of course the same thing. The customs building in Johor Bahru was very impressive, and the systems all worked very well. We then caught a bus to Pekan Nanas, Pontian, which took about 45 minutes or so. The bus driver was overheard saying, "We have two White People on board!" So funny to now become the oddity.

Mr Tan, Shia Ting's father, bought "take-away" for our supper which was simply delicious.

We tasted Dragon Fruit, a most unusual looking fruit, which has become my favorite fruit of all time. It is hard to describe the taste but all I can say "It's Scrumptious"!!!!!!!