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Tourists as a tourist attraction

Written by James Clark on March 31, 2009 · 1 Comment

Returning from a jungle trek in Bukit Lawang our tour party passed a family swimming in the nearby river. The family saw us and ran up to us to say hello. They all wanted photos with us, which they used their mobile phones to take pictures of us with them.

Tourist Attraction Tourists

I asked for my picture as well. At the last minute the dad thought it would be a good idea if I held the young daughter, and he put her in my hands just before the photo was taken. As you can see I am not versed in the ways of holding children. I more look like I am holding a prize chicken at the royal show.

Our Indonesian tour guide told us that the family were from a town that doesn’t see any tourists, so we were something of a novelty. I have found it common to have people want to take photos.

Categories: Travel Blog - Tags: bukit lawang, indonesia, yours truly

Coffee of the day: Bukit Lawang – Indonesia

Written by James Clark on March 30, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Sumatran coffee in Sumatra. It beats getting your Sumatran blend from Starbucks. The coffee in Sumatra is served with lots of grinds floating on top, which eventually settle.

Coffee Of The Day - Bukit Lawang

Like in much of Asia the milk in the coffee in Sumatra comes in the form of sweetened condensed creamer. Here though you get the creamer in the can and you can dispense your own serve. I am becoming addicted to this stuff. A non coffee drinker in our tour party was even helping himself to the creamer straight from the can.

Bukit Lawang is a jungle village about 4 hours north of Medan. The town is a base for visiting the orangutan rehabilitation centre in the Gunung Leuser National Park.

Categories: Travel Blog - Tags: bukit lawang, coffee of the day, indonesia, sumatra

Penang Hill – Penang Malaysia

Written by James Clark on March 28, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Penang Hill is one the most popular attractions on the island of Penang, Malaysia. The peak is reached by a funicular railway and it is a great place to escape the heat of the island.

The Penang Hill Railway terminus is in Air Itam, which is easily reached by a local bus from George Town, the main tourist district of Penang.

The railway is very popular so when buying a ticket for the train you will be given a departure time. When it is busy you may have to wait 2-3 hours.

Rather than waiting around in the tramway terminal, spend your time by visiting the nearby Kek lok Si Temple, the largest Buddhist Temple in malaysia. Being the biggest of something means there is also a big souvenier area and food market.

[Kek Lok Si Temple]

When your train is ready the funicular journey takes half an hour over two stages (4 MYR/ $1.10 USD Return).

[Penang Hill Railway]

The summit is over 800 metres above sea level and is noticably cooler. Apart from the best views of the Island of Penang there is also a bird sanctuary, a canopy walk, food stalls and an Indian Temple and Mosque.

[Penang Hill View]

Categories: Travel Blog - Tags: malaysia, penang, railway

Nomads of the sea

Written by James Clark on March 27, 2009 · Leave a Comment

This advertisement was posted on walls around George Town the last time I was in Penang in 2006.

Sail The World Advertisement

I don’t know if it is the same ad or if it has been reposted since I was last here.

It sounds like an idyllic lifestyle but I am too addicted to the internet to go long stretches at sea without.

Categories: Travel Blog - Tags: georgetown, malaysia, penang

Queen Victoria's Dowdy Silhouette

Written by James Clark on March 26, 2009 · 4 Comments

I saw this statue in Penang too late in the afternoon to get a decent photo with a pocket camera. There could be no mistaking from the silhouette who it was though.

Queen Victoria Statue

Queen Vic has a distinct plumpness that you would think was a charicature if it wasn’t actually the true facsimilie. The only other statue I recall being so easily spotted from a distance are the Gandhi statues that can be found all over India.

Categories: Travel Blog - Tags: malaysia, penang, queen victoria, statue

George Town the UNESCO World Heritage City

Written by James Clark on March 25, 2009 · Leave a Comment

I was in George Town Penang in 2006 and left it a mere mortal of a city. I have returned to George Town in 2009 to a UNESCO World Heritage City.

I have enjoyed the city more on this second trip. The first time here I had read such good things about George Town that it didn’t really meet my expectations. Now on my second time here I have come without expectation and have found this city to be one of my favourites in Asia. Now that I have told you this I have loaded you with unfair expectation and you may thus arrive disappointed.

I came back to George Town to get the ferry to Medan in Sumatra. I try not to back track to cities I have been if I can go somewhere else. Sometimes though you end up passing through visited cities to get to new ones. I would be happy to come back to George Town again.

Categories: Travel Blog - Tags: georgetown, malaysia, penang, unesco

Wireless internet access in Malaysia

Written by James Clark on March 20, 2009 · Leave a Comment

So far I have been impressed with the wireless situation in Malaysia. In Kuala Lumpur I paid 10 MYR ($2.75 USD) for the privilege of gaining the wireless code at the guesthouse I was staying. You can use that code for the length of your stay.

In Tanah Rata in the Cameron Highlands the rate was 5 MYR ($1.37 USD) for unlimited access for the length of your stay.

My final stop in George Town Penang has been even better – Free! was looking online to find which place offered free wireless but it is not prominently advertised as a feature. My first night here I stayed in one of those classic backpacker flophouses and I was surprised to find when I opened my laptop that I had access to free wireless.

- In George Town even the flophouses have wireless -

I upgraded myself to a nicer guesthouse on my second and third night also had free wireless.

It is good living for a nomad in George Town. There is so much great food, accommodation is cheap and good access to wireless.

Categories: Travel Blog - Tags: cameron highlands, georgetown, kuala lumpur, malaysia, penang, tanah rata, wireless

The Switzerland of Malaysia?

Written by James Clark on March 19, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Prominent on cars all around the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia are these CH stickers.

Cameron Highlands Car Sticker
[Confoederatio Helvetica? No, Cameron Highlands.]

CH is also painted on the sides of the old 4WD’s in the area. I spent six months of my life in the original CH, the Confoederatio Helvetica that is Switzerland, so I couldn’t help but think I was seeing Swiss cars all the time.

The Cameron Highlands are certainly mountainous enough to stand in as Switzerland, just not as clean.

[Switzerland - CH Car Sticker]

Categories: Travel Blog - Tags: cameron highlands, malaysia, switzerland

Southeast Asia guesthouse bedding

Written by James Clark on March 19, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Guesthouse accommodation is a cheap and popular way to stay in Southeast Asia. I like staying in guesthouses because of the price and they are also more homely than a hotel.

It would be unusual to stay in a guesthouse in Southeast asia that had matching bedsheets. Two of the three guesthouses I’ve stayed at in Malaysia on this trip has had a cartoon bear motif. Japanese Manga superstar Doraemon is also popular on guesthouse bedsheets.