TravelStream™ news feed for member petef1 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/petef1 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:37:51 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1192524600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1192524600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1192524600/tpod.html Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:37:51 -0400 Chasing the dream

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Sungai Kinabatangan River, Malaysia

For once, the guidebook gets this one right - this was fantastic. For three days and two nights, myself and about a dozen other westerners were treated to the ultimate 'back to nature' experience. To get there requires a two-hour jeep ride, followed by an hour on a boat as you are taken deep into the rainforest to a very basic jungle camp. Most of the time not spent eating or sleeping is taken up by nature hikes and boat trips. The amount of wildlife we saw in this most idyllic of settings was remarkable: macaques; rare proboscis monkeys (very distinctive, unusual animals with huge bellys and noses); a family of orang utans; huge monitor lizards (despite their size are complete pussies when you try to get close for photos); bush pigs; a reticulated python; crocodiles; scorpions; all manner of colourful insects; and an absolute abundance of birdlife, including the impressive red-nosed hornbill. When it was time to go, every member of our party was sad to be leaving paradise.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1169892960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1169892960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1169892960/tpod.html Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:50:57 -0400 Chasing the dream

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Chiang Mai, Thailand

We rolled into town fairly pleased with ourselves for the time we'd made over the last few days and full of plans for the next week in this tourist mecca. Opportunities abound here for activities such as trekking, rafting and bungee jumping. Unfortunately, unbeknown to us, we checked into a guesthouse notorious for striking its patrons down with mysterious illnesses. Within a few days, first Mani and then I were confined to our room, only leaving to make frequent trips to the bathroom. Fucking A.
I did manage to make it out for a days worth of mountain biking. I realised I might be slightly out of my depth during the pre-ride briefing when the instructors wanted to assess our capabilities and asked everyone to list previous experience. After the other participants had made statements like, 'Yeah, I've done a few XT3 trails in my time' and 'I take part in downhill competitions', I felt a little inadequate saying 'Well, I know how to ride a bike.' Thankfully they put me on the easiest trail which still was by far the toughest terrain I've ever been on. Steeply downhill all the way, I pretty much had both brakes on for the entire ride though amazingly only fell off once.
And so, after a week or so of puking and occasional trips to the marketplace, it was time to leave. Northern Thailand has basically been a disappointment as we've not done half the things we wanted to so we may have to make time to come back.
Next stop, Laos.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1182676620/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1182676620/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1182676620/tpod.html Sat, 26 Jan 2008 04:44:42 -0500 Chasing the dream

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Mount Everest, Tibet, China

And so, after days of placing notices around the guesthouses and travel agencies of Lhasa, I was ready to head off into the Tibetan wilderness. The expedition is going to consist of a visit to the town of Shigatse, a three-day hike, then a long drive to Everest where we will stay overnight and finally the even longer drive back to Lhasa.

DAY ONE - June 24th
My group consists of three young Americans - Dan, Gary and Leslie-Ann - a Tibetan guide, driver, 4x4 jeep and me. We set off this morning at 7am from Lhasa and headed to Yam-Drok lake, which we arrived at mid-morning, stopping along the way at photo-worthy views. There are a few. The lake, as with many places in Tibet, is very high, enclosed by snow-capped mountains, spectacularly beautiful and, naturally, of religious importance (although I really didn't have any interest in exactly how). We stayed long enough to fully admire one of nature's wonders (I never tire of them) and attract the attentions of the local, desperate population who were persistently trying to hawk all of their crap. After nine months, my 'fuck off' face has been pretty much perfected and they largely left me alone.
We then set off for Shigatse. This is the first time I've been out of Lhasa and rural Tibetan life is shocking - the towns, villages and people along the way are horrendously impoverished. This is an area where time has stood still for centuries and people have to literally scratch around in the dirt to make a livelihood. Arriving into town around 1pm, we ate lunch and then visited the Tashilhunpo Monastery which, whilst obviously not as exceptional as the guide book suggests, is still impressive.
From here we went to the campsite from where we would begin the trek the following morning. Less a campsite and more an adequate patch of ground near to the farmland of the Ri-puk hermitage, it sufficed. Our guide, driver and a couple of other locals took great interest in assisting us set up our tents. A few farmers later came over to have a look - the idea of camping out to them must be totally bizarre and they seemed genuinely intrigued. After all, being Westerners, why would we choose to do such a thing when we could afford the comforts of a hotel?

DAY TWO - June 25th
Got up about 7.30. The guide asked us to be ready by 8 but I couldn't be bothered with the early rise that would entail so it was 8.45 by the time the donkeys we had hired to carry our rucksacks had been loaded up and we were ready to go. Already in a valley, we continued toward a large, rectangular shrine, set against a mountain. We paused here for a while so our donkeys could eat and then pressed on toward the day's challenge: the Himalayan mountain pass.
It turned out to be not too difficult, although the change in altitude as we got higher was noticeable and we therefore took things pretty slowly and with plenty of rest breaks. The way down was also at quite a slow pace as the Americans proved themselves to be no mountain goats. On the hardest section - a narrow, worn, curved path with a steep, potentially dangerous fall - I positioned myself in such a way as to assist them across. Dan slipped and for a brief second he and I both thought he was going down; a combination of him hurling himself against the cliff wall and my grabbing hold of his rucksack managed to steady him. I'm pretty certain he did actually physically shit himself though.
After the mountain, we found ourselves in another valley where we stopped under the shade of some trees for lunch. A schoolboy error with my trangia whereby I added ethanol to an already lit flame (I thought it was out) caused a minor explosion and led to the loss of a number of my forearm hairs, as well as half my remaining cooking fuel. Fucking A. At least it wasn't worse as for a moment I was panicked with thoughts of being covered in burning ethanol.
After a two hour lunch break, much of it spent in the company of local farmers taking time out from ploughing their fields and other laborious activities, we got going. Under the fierce midday sun of around 4pm (all of China is bizarrely under Beijing time, meaning that Tibet's sunlight is approximately three hours behind schedule), and our energy levels were waning, our legs were stiff from the long break and the walk was hard going, despite being flat. Across we traipsed in what was starting to resemble Death Valley - most demoralisingly, for hours afterwards we were still able to see the trees where we ate lunch.
We arrived at Lower Lungsang around six and, after a rest and debate with our guide and donkey herder, pressed on to Upper Lungsang. Awaiting us was a beautiful, lush spot for camping amidst open woodland - perhaps the most welcome sight I've seen in Tibet. Again, local curiosity was aroused by our presence, the sight of my trangia mesmerising them. To a man we were knackered and were all in bed before darkness fell at around ten.

DAY THREE - June 26th
Today was much shorter than expected. We set off at 9.30 and proceeded through another valley to the base of the mountain. A pass took us up the easiest route which, at this altitude, was fairly tough. With frequent breaks we reached the peak (of the pass, not the mountain) at around midday. Our destination, Ngor Monastery was now clearly visible, less than an hours walk away down the other side. I had quite a long wait for my companions who were wheezing and spluttering their way up, during which time I took photos of the landscape and then showed them to a Tibetan mother and daughter who showed the usual delight and amazement at modern technology. We then descended to the monastery.
Unimpressive from the outside, we never bothered looking around but merely set up camp in the gardens and spent the rest of the day and night there. For the first time since Lhasa, the altitude was affecting me and I felt unduly tired with accompanying headache for much of the afternoon. I don't think this was helped by the Americans. They spent a good few hours having unnecessarily protracted discussions on such matters as free will, the death penalty and religion. Whilst pleasant people, and not stupid, they are not nearly as intelligent as they think. As such, they have that fucking irritating American characteristic of saying a lot without actually saying anything of substance. Otherwise known as verbal dhiarrhoea. Some of their opinions are the kind of things you'd expect from sixth form students, not university graduates who have spent a year living abroad. That one of them went to one of the States' top business schools is frightening; or maybe not, knowing some of the cretins that succeed in business.
As previously, some of the local Tibetans joined us in our camp and displayed their interest by simply standing nearby and staring. It's goodnatured but starting to get a little annoying as I really just wanted to relax and not be the local spectacle. One thing Tibetans certainly do not possess is any concept of or respect for personal space.
And so, overwhelmed by stimulating company and razor-sharp conversation, it was early to bed to the righteous sleep of the physically exhausted.

DAY FOUR - June 27th
Today was the day I got angry. It started well enough when we were picked up at about 9 to drive to Dzong Lugari from where we would hike to Nartang Monastery, a distance of only a few kilometres. Unfortunately, our young and increasingly incompetent guide didn't know the area and so we ended up driving through Dzong Lugari and halfway across the plain we were supposed to walk through. Cue first bollocking. If he didn't know where he was going, he shouldn't have pretended otherwise. The Americans and I got out and walked.
The walk to the monastery and accompanying town was very pleasant and took about an hour. After that, the long drive to Everest commenced. First, two hours to Lhatse, where we stopped for lunch. I gratefully wolfed down food I would normally find barely palatable - the first properly cooked and varied meal for three days. And then, on to Base Camp and a moment of euphoria filled our jeep when we were afforded our first glimpse of some proper, snow-capped Himalayan mountains.
One thing really staring to piss me off by now was the guide's lack of English. I'd been trying to ask him questions about Tibet, only to get basic answers to different questions. A typical example would be as follows: Me - "How high is the road we're on right now?"; Him "Yes, Mount Everest is 8800m high". Obviously, I made him aware of my annoyance, telling him that if he didn't know the answer to a question then not to bother trying to answer. In Asia however, people will rather answer you incorrectly and hope for the best rather than admit to not knowing. Ah yes, that wonderful concept of 'face'.
We got off the beautifully named Friendship Highway and onto the Everest road at about 4. Its really more of a track than a road but the more worrying thing was the weather - dark clouds were descending and rain starting to fall. As we wound our way slowly up a mountain, the rain turned to hail with construction work further hindering our progress. Upon reaching the top, a famous view of the Everest range was utterly obtsructed by cloud. Great.
We ploughed on through a few towns and villages, with the usual grubby occupants begging for handouts. Around 8 and still accompanied by steady rain, we arrived at Rongphu Monastery (the highest in the world), 8km from Base Camp (BC). We still hadn't seen the mountain as dark, thick rain clouds were utterly obscuring it. We passed the monastery campsite and drove on to the tourist BC, a further 4km. Quite bizarre, this is a selection of around 30-40 large, permanent tents that offer accomodation, food and shitty souvenirs. A small Tibetan community seem to live here, children included.
The Americans decided they wanted to stay here but I didn't fancy it and quite liked the idea of camping at Rongphu and hiking the whole way the next day. I told the guide I'd like to be driven back and he said this was fine. So I went and sat in the jeep and waited for the driver for around 15 minutes but when he arrived, it was only to park up and he refused to take me. The message had not been delivered. So off we went to find fuckwit, who was in the same tent as the Americans.
Me: "I want to go to Rongphu. What's going on?"
Him: "OK, right" (Talks to driver) "Sorry, cannot. You stay here"
Me: (Getting angry) "No, I told you 20 minutes ago that I wanted to go to Rongphu. I'm not staying here."
Him: (Talks to driver) "Driver does not want to go."
Me: (By now yelling) "I don't give a fuck what the driver wants" (At this point Leslie-Ann can be heard emitting whines of distress at my manner) "Tell him to take me. You're the guide. Do your job."
Him: (Talks to driver) "He needs petrol money to drive there."
Gary: "That will come to less than one yuan"
Him: (Talks to driver) "Oh, he needs to drink first"
Me: "Now. I'm losing the light. I need to get my tent up"
We were on our way.
At the campsite, it was now raining more heavily than before. As quickly as possible, I pitched my tent though because of the numerous poles and pegs, this takes a bit of time, especially with the hard ground I had no choice but to use. And so, whilst it was lying on the grass being put into place, the inner sheet became soaked. I got it up, attached the flysheet and hammered all the pegs in as tightly as they could go - I was determined to do everything possible to prepare for a night in this climate and weather.
By the time I eventually got inside my tent, my trousers were wet. Not a problem, I've got more. There's also a hell of a lot of water inside the tent. Fantastic. None coming in thankfully - what water was there was from when the inner sheet was lying flat on the ground, exposed to the downpour. With my small towel, I proceeded to dry it all out and even had to scoop out a small puddle that had formed in one corner with my mug. Everything wet was put in plastic bags and I put on dry clothes; quite a few of them because there was now a chill. I ate a surprisingly satisfactory meal of ham and chocolate and felt very contented. Around 9.30, it got dark and I readied myself for sleep. I was soon snuggled cosily up, listening to the increasingly harsh rainfall and looking forward to the day ahead, dearly hoping for better weather.

DAY FIVE - June 28th
I'm at Everest baby!
I woke up at dawn (7am) and eagerly opened the tent to discover what the view was like. Beautiful! Amazing! That first sight of the majestic peak is one of the most magnificent things I have ever seen. I hope I never forget it. Also, a clear day with not a cloud in the sky. Shortly afterwards, the sun broke over the Eastern side of the mountain, bathing one half in an orange glow whilst the other remained in its own shadow. Today would be a good day.
The other thing that awaited me was a thick layer of snow. Around three inches had fallen in the night and covered everything, including my tent. I thought it had been light rainfall and that the snow that was sliding down the canvas was someone hitting it - I had even called out though hadn't been so convinced as to go outside and investigate. The snow also explained the cold night-time temperature. I was wearing two pairs of socks, trousers, T-shirt and jumper - these proving only just adequate. Icicles that had formed overnight were still frozen so I guess the temperature had dropped to about -5C. I survived a Himalayan snowstorm!
I leisurely made a breakfast of tea and porridge, pausing often to take in the view and happily snap away with my camera. I decided I wouldn't risk another night in the tent - although my equipment had handled itself admirably, not letting any moisture in and keeping me adequately warm, any colder and it could have been problematic. So I checked into the sparse Rongphu Monastery Guesthouse, unnecessarily as it transpired.
I eventually got going on the 8km trek to Base Camp at around 11.15. The great thing about this walk is that you can see Everest practically the whole way, as you walk directly toward it. Also, the sky remained largely cloudless, allowing a tremendous view for hours. Walking at this altitude (5300m) is difficult. The walk is flat so the temptation is to do it at normal walking pace, but after 10 steps, you find yourself out of breath. You literally have to walk at around half your normal speed, if that. At the top of the mountain, apparently it is one step every five minutes. As such, it took me a good hour to reach the tourist BC. Upon arrival I learnt that the Americans (who had already been to BC that morning) had agreed to leave today in order to reduce the slog tomorrow. That's OK with me but no way am I rushing myself. I pressed on, called in at the highest post office in the world, was disgusted at their prices, and walked out.
Just over an hour later, at 1.45, I arrived at BC. Being here a few weeks later than the end of the season for summit attempts, the place was deserted, not to mention desolate. No tent city, just a handful of tourists and plenty of manned police and military structures to prevent a repeat of the recent 'demonstration'. Also a fluttering Chinese flag. Nice.
There are also signposts warning of huge fines for anyone stupid enough to attempt to progress any further up without the proper authority. I can see how you'd be tempted as once here, the rest of the mountain is only another 3,500m and whilst it doesn't look easy, neither does it look impossible. I guess this is the kind of thinking that leads to one in eight climbers dying during the attempt. The problem isn't the difficulty of the climb; its the altitude. God knows its tough enough at 5,300m on flat ground, let alone any higher or steeper.
The view is amazing and I sat there a long time happily admiring it, taking photos and writing. After an hour or so, clouds had descended upon the peak and I made the slow walk back to tourist BC, pausing to photograph the mountains and mountain goats. I arrived at 4.30 to find everyone eager to leave and so off we set. Such is the rapidity of weather and temperature change that all the previous evening's snow had by now melted.
The drive to the Friendship Highway took us along a more rugged terrain than the one we took yesterday, including sometimes driving along (not across) shallow rivers. It was more scenic than the alternative route - or possibly merely that the visibility was better - and definately not to be attempted in anything but a 4x4.
We decided to overnight in Lhatse and arrived at the guidebook's two chief recommendations dreaming of hot showers and huge beds. No showers, disgusting toilets and adequate beds. The shower could wait another day, a few Immodium tablets sorted the toilet issue and the beds felt like heaven. Home cooked food and beer too. Considering what a dump the place was, I couldn't have been happier.
Today was one of the best days of my life.

DAY SIX - June 29th
Woke up at 7.30 smug with the pleasure of having slept in a real bed and the satisfaction of not having to pack my bags and take my tent down. We got moving at about 8.15 and after a while were pulled over for speeding on the main highway. The limit was a ridiculously slow 70km/hr and the fine a ludicrously high 1000 yuan. The driver only had 500 on him so we were held for over an hour as negotiations took place. The journey passed otherwisely uneventfully enough, stopping for lunch in Shigatse and finally arriving into Lhasa about 4.30.
It's strange - and probably indicative of just how fully indoctrinated my mind now is into the backpacker lifestyle - but returning to the Yak Hotel and my clean 4-bed dormitory with luxuriously comfortable single bed, small table on which to store my very few possessions, hot shower across the corridor, Western restaurant nearby, and internet access down the road, felt like coming home.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1196951820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1196951820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1196951820/tpod.html Sat, 26 Jan 2008 04:15:55 -0500 Chasing the dream

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Shanghai, China

It is one year, two months and 18 days since I bade a tearful farewell to my family and stepped aboard the plane that would take me away from home. Now I am in Shanghai, looking for work and a place to live and ready for the next stage.
The time I have spent travelling has been some of my most worthwhile. To see and experience cultures, people and ways of life completely foreign and removed from one's usual sphere of existence is something only the most closed-minded can fail to benefit from. It may be a cliche, but travel - real travel - is, I think, the surest way to broaden one's horizons and gain perspective on life; to get one step further to realising the bigger picture. But as with anything, you soon understand that the more you know, the less you know. To understand the world in which you live, you need to leave your comfort zone and experience parts of it that are unfamiliar.
Over the last year and a bit I have seen some of the marvels of the world; and one or two complete shitholes. I have been utterly inspired and touched by the human spirit at it's strongest and most beautiful; and utterly disgusted at it's basest and most uncivilized level. I have seen things that have sent my soul soaring towards the heavens; and others that have broken my heart. I have taken 17 plane journeys, several train and boat, and countless bus and taxi rides. I have stayed in fabulous hotels, extremely basic huts, 16-bed dormitories, my tent and been invited into people's homes. I have walked endless miles, stood atop mountains and in the shadow of the greatest of them all. I have dived under the seas. I have met many fantastic people, made good friends, shared bonding experiences and broken up with the love of my life. I have also met complete arseholes. I have laughed with most people I've met, philosophised with some and argued with a few. I have faced life-threatening moments, looked death in the face, and stared him down. I have learned a great deal and found my zen. I know better what I want out of life, and know better how to achieve it. I know my place in the world.
I also know that no matter how hard you plan, whatever your expectations, things often don't work out quite how you imagined. But with ambition, drive, a lot of hard work and a bit of luck, you can steer things in the right direction.
It's called life.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1196433120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1196433120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1196433120/tpod.html Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:37:02 -0500 Chasing the dream

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Hong Kong, China

Having failed to obtain either a cheap flight to Shanghai or a three-month visa for China, a stopover in Hong Kong was in order. I always thought the reason so many expats sorted things for China here was because of the location. In fact it's because you can get anything you want in this city.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1195731720/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1195731720/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1195731720/tpod.html Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:32:54 -0500 Chasing the dream

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

After our beach-time bliss, Mary and I headed to KL from where I would get a Chinese visa and flight to Shanghai. Obviously, the massive levels of bureaucracy that need wading through in order to obtain both of these pieces of paper meant I was in town longer than intended. And then there was my moment of incredible stupidity when I purchased the wrong plane ticket online. Thankfully my guesthouse proved a good place to while away a few days, mainly in the drunken company of a French-Australian couple, Manu and Jasmin.
And so to an end my time in Malaysia. Beautiful place, beautiful people. Can't wait to come back someday.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1195036980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1195036980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1195036980/tpod.html Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:30:51 -0500 Chasing the dream

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Pangkor, Malaysia

Strange how things work out. Over the last couple of weeks I've decided to stop travelling. Not that I need to - I could afford to carry on for a little while yet, but I'm ready to stop. Ready for a change: ready for a bit of normality and routine, and relationships that last more than a few days; ready to stop moving around; ready to get my life going again. After the Highlands, my plan was to make my way to Bangkok. First I would go to Langkawi, off the north-west coast of Malaysia, from where I would head directly into Thailand. Maybe a bit of beach time at Koh Phi Phi and then straight to Bangkok from where I would fly to Shanghai, where I will live and work for a while. That was the plan anyway. And the plan lasted right up until about an hour before I was due to catch my bus when, over breakfast and on a whim, I changed my mind and ended up heading for the island of Pulau Pangkor with Mary, an Australian girl I'd been hanging out with. As soon as we arrived I knew I'd made the right call. Paradise! What a georgeous place. Pristine beaches, clear water, great people, the works. Our daily routine was soon established: wake up late morning; wander down to the beach and splash around for an hour or so; grab some lunch; go back to the beach until sunset; spend the evening eating and drinking; go back into the sea late at night to swim with the phospherence; go to bed around 3 or 4. We spent over a week here, utterly absorbed in the luxury of our surroundings. The thing that makes it is the friendliness of the locals - the island is small and the town we were in tiny yet provides well for tourists and manages to retain a pleasant sense of community. The vast majority of people would at least smile at you, many coming over for a brief chat or simply to shake your hand. Without doubt, along with Cambodians, Malays have been my favourite nationality.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1194423060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1194423060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1194423060/tpod.html Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:27:05 -0500 Chasing the dream

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Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

One of the most vaunted attractions of Malaysia is the Cameron Highlands - one of those places travellers linger for days longer than intended. I was expecting some sort of remote hill town but found perhaps the richest place in the country as it seems to be the most desirable place for Malays to take their vacations. The day walks into the mountainous jungle are pleasant and rewarding, with good views assuming its not too cloudy.
The thing that really made my stay here was my guesthouse - Daniel's Lodge - who, recipients of an unfavourable guidebook review, have a framed home-made poster above reception proclaiming 'Fuck the Lonely Planet - Load of rubbish!'. A statement to capture the hearts of backpackers everywhere! The social here is the best thing - not least because of the all night bar and bonfire - and I had good fun hanging out and bullshitting the hours away. I generally got into a routine of getting up early, going hiking all day, returning around late afternoon and then drinking into the early hours. The following day would be spent hungover, sleeping late and sat reading and chatting on the outdoor couches breathing in the beautifully clean air. The next day walking and drinking. And so on.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1193381880/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1193381880/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1193381880/tpod.html Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:24:21 -0500 Chasing the dream

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

KL is a reasonably cool city though it takes a few days to get used to. Not that its overly hectic or anything, just that its first impression is a little disappointing in that there's not so much for the visitor to do. After a couple of sweaty days walking around Little India and Chinatown and, of course, taking in the brilliantly impressive Petronas Towers (which the tourist board rather cheekily proclaims as 'The tallest twin towers in the world' - well, they are now anyway), there really isn't that much to grab your attention.
However, there is a sizeable expat community so I decided to feel out the job market. This obviously took a few days so I was here longer than most and by the end of a week had quite grown to like the place. It has that nice, laid back friendly Malaysian feel to it which it manages to combine with a certain level of big city sophistication and modernity. That and amenities are hardly lacking. Nothing happening on the job front though, so on I moved.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1193296500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1193296500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petef1/south_east_asia/1193296500/tpod.html Tue, 11 Dec 2007 03:17:51 -0500 Chasing the dream

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Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Flying in and out of Sabah seems to be only done via KK, so a day-long bus journey was in store to get back here for one night only, before flying back to the mainland the next day.
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