We arrive in the town of Melacca on the west coast of Maylasia, and manage to get accommodation in China town in an old Perakian style shophouse with antique furniture including Opium den beds, took a bicycle rickshaw around town to see the sights, had dinner overlooking the estuary where we saw Salamanders swimming in the water below, walked back through the lively night market before bed. Next morning we shared a breakfast table with 2 Singaporian /Chinese women who invited us to their cousins restaurant for a specialist hannon chicken dish, this was straight after breakfast about 10.30am - difficult to digest.Took the coach from melacca coach station where the driver in his haste to leave, drove about 5 miles before receiving a call on his mobile from his office to say that he had left half the passengers behind, so we had to go back and pick them up. Got to Kualar Lumpar ( KL ) on time and checked in to our Hotel. Spent Monday 19th December sightseeing Kl including the Petronas twin towers - highest in the world, and the telecommunications tower, fantastic views of Kl and the surrounding countryside.
Tuesday 20th December 2005
Took tourist bus to Cameron Highlands, the bus developed a puncture on route and to our amazement 2 of the Maylanan passengers helped the driver change wheels in under 30 minutes, while we all watched.
Had dinner in Tanah Rata the main town in the highlands, we notice the difference in temperature as we are at an altitude of 1500 metres - a lot colder than at KL. Dinner is a local dish called a steamboat, whereby you cook your own food fondue style with seafood, vegetables and chicken in a central pot of chinese noodles.
Sadly we receive news that mikes dad has died and have to rethink our future travel plans.
Wednesday 21st December 2005
Visit a tea plantation, a strawberry farm and a butterfly park. Cameron Highlands turns out to be more commercial than expected so we decide to make tracks for a small island off the mainland called Pulau Pangkor, we were a bit concerned that we may have difficulty finding accommodation being near to Christmas, but are lucky to find a chalet style room at the Waterfront resort overlooking the beach right in the centre of Teluk Nipah, one of the best beaches on the island. Weather was warm but overcast, however this didn't stop us swimming and having some of the best seafood to date at a small shack on the beach where you selected your own fish from the display and they grilled it for you. We watched large colourful hornbill birds, that frequent the Island, descend onto the trees along the beach and take any opportunity to swoop down and gather any morsels left by the locals.
Spent time discussing with the Insurance company our situation and what options we have for travelling back to the UK for Funeral.
Friday 23rd December 2005
We hire bicycles and cycle around the Island, struggling up the steep hills and walking down others as the brakes on bikes are a bit dodgy, the central part of the Island is all jungle and we hear and see wild monkies on route. At the market in Pangkor town we stop for a breather and have fresh whole coconut from a straw wedged into the top, we then buy some Rambutans, a world first for us these fruits are not exactly attractive to look at, but once you break open the red, leathery and hairy skin you taste the sweetest semi translucent white flesh similar but nicer than lychee. we cycle back soaked to the skin from persparation in the hot humid climate.
Saturday 24th December 2005
Wake up to Christmas carols being played over the Hotels speaker system, they have put up a small fake Christmas tree with lights in reception and a few decorations to make the westerners happy. We take out Kayaks to a some nearby deserted islands good exercise and fabulous views of coral and nature. Its a day for meeting, we meet a German couple also on holiday, an English couple who live and work in Thailand who are on holiday in Maylasia and a foursome from Rimini in Italy.
Sunday 25th December 2005
Christmas day - Our Italian friends tell us about a small Island in southern Thailand that they plan to visit, apparently its very Robinson Crusoe, unspoilt with very few tourists we decide to tag along and prepare to travel with them.
Spend some time contacting all the family to wish them Happy Christmas.
Monday 26th December
Up very early to travel in one of Pangkor Islands pink taxis to the ferry port to catch the first ferry to the mainland and a coach to Thailand, the next 2 days are spent travelling north through Maylasia across the border into thailand and via Hat Yai and Pak Bara to catch a 3 hour ferry across the Andaman sea to one of the most beautiful islands on earth - Ko Lipe.
Wednesday 28th December 2005
We part company with our travelling companions the Italians as they stay at a different Hotel at a different beach on the Island. Ko Lipe has a population of about 500 Sea Gypsies ( who live from fishing and any sea related trading ) and some cultivation of vegetables and rice on the island. The island is only open to visitors 6 months of the year and is still very laid back with peaceful jungle trails and delightful secluded beaches. we stay at Sunset beach, named, not surprisingly for its fabulous sunsets where everyone gathers to photograph the view every evening.
The weather is glorious, hot and clear blue skies, and the sea water is emerald and crystal clear. A footpath joins the other beaches around the Island, walking through the only village with its school and playground for the locals on route. This is heaven !!! We swim out for about 100 metres and still see the sea bed, with coral and colourful tropical fish. Accommodation on the Island is resticted to small chalet style huts, which are dispersed amongst the trees - no high rise concrete blocks, thank god, it will be a major shame if developers are let lose to spoil this paradise of tranquility.
Thursday 29th December.
We meet up with our Italian friends who invite us to BBQ dinner on the beach, as they are going fishing and the small beach bar has offered to cook the catch. Fabulous evening spent around the camp fire on the beach eating freshly caught fish, we walk back to our accomodation in semi darkness and only the moon for light as the batteries are flat in our torches.The Italians were so enthusiastic about the fishing / snorkeling trip, that we decide to book for some of the same during the day of New years eve.
Saturday 31st December
We leave early for a day at sea aboard a long tail boat accompanied by 2 local fishermen, our first experience at snorkelling, which was like turning on a colour TV and seeing a kalidescope of colourful coral and sea shells and underwater tropical fish never seen to us outside a tropical fish tank. Then we sail into open sea for a spot of fishing where Martine shows a hidden talent for catching our lunch, which the fishermen cook on a small fire they make on a nearby beach under the over hanging branches of palm trees skirting another deserted island. Sheer bliss !!!
It's New Years eve and we take a few of the fish we caught during the day and repay the compliment to the Italians as they join us for BBQ on the beach. All along the beach people have lit candles and a party mood is in the air, Thai beer is flowing and everyone is waiting for the Midnight hour.
posted by MartineandMike @ 11:32 AM
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