Vagabonding : 2009 July |

Tioman Island

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A large monkey stepped out on the trail in front of me and showed me some nasty teeth. I could hear the rest of his clan making their moves around me getting into position.

Not again. I reached down to grab a nearby stick and he made his move to grab my water bottle. They usually just use their grubby brown fingers to open the lid and harmlessly pour it out in front of you, but this was a matter of principle….it was my water damn it and it was nearly full.

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Posted in Malaysia |

Island Life

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Thump! Thump! Thump!

Our fiberglass speedboat was spending more time in the air than in the water.

Fifteen of us passengers were holding on for dear life, the ones with suitcases looked scared out of their wits and the rest of us were smiling. Our driver had the throttle wide open and we were literally catching air and slamming hard back into the choppy sea. Above us the sky was gray and I prayed the rain would wait just a few more minutes.

I was on my way to the island of Perhentian Kecil from the mainland. After taking a sleeping pill to survive a long night bus from Kuala Lumpur, the insanely rough and vibrating boat ride was exactly what I needed to wake up.

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Posted in Malaysia |

KL Update

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Kuala Lumpur is a fun city, but one thing is sorely missing to make the 90F temperature and polluted humidity bearable - water! (and sand)

I just purchased a ticket for an overnight bus to Kuala Besut on the coast tomorrow, where I hope to catch a boat to the famous Perhentian Islands. “Perhentian” means “place to stop” because it was a big stop for traders in the old days. I think the only trading that I will be seeing there is backpackers trading lots of money for food and accommodation.

Like on any other island in the world, you pay a “paradise tax” to be someplace beautiful - hopefully the snorkeling and beaches are as sublime as the image I’ve constructed in my head.

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